Rock with the Jayhawks
It may be chalk to go with top-seeded Kansas, but its guards will roll to title
Former Xavier, Providence and Virginia coach Pete Gillen, a CBS Sports Network college analyst and NYC Basketball Hall of Famer, shares some of his March Madness thoughts and predictions with The Post. As told to Steve Serby.
Iknow why I had a bad decade picking the NCAA Tournament: I got soft when I left New York City. So to toughen myself up to get ready for my picks, I took some charges off a Greyhound bus, I caught some javelins in my backyard, I did some push-ups on a picket fence. I’m certain some of my picks are the biggest locks since Yale started the company.
There’s not one great team — 12 or 13 teams can win it — and I see plenty of bracket-busting upsets.
Here’s a look at some of the more intriguing games along the way until the nets are cut down in Glendale, Ariz., on April 3.
EAST
First round East Tennessee State over Florida: Very long and athletic juco transfers and dynamic guard T.J. Cromer are too much for a Florida team that will miss big man John Egbunu. Marquette over South Caro
lina: Marquette shoots 43 percent from 3-point land. South Carolina is a great defensive team, but they go through scoring droughts. The game is in Greenville, S.C., but the baskets are the same, like in “Hoosiers,” so that doesn’t matter. Second round Villanova over Wisconsin: Wisconsin struggles to score sometimes, and Villanova can play at any pace, fast or slow. Josh Hart dominates the game and Villanova’s quickness is too much for Wisconsin. East Tennessee State over Virginia: Virginia has trouble scoring, and East Tennessee State pushes the tempo and owns the boards. Marquette over Duke: Greatest upset since Maryanne Guacamole went with me to the junior
prom. Pupil (Steve Wojciechowski) upsets mentor (Coach K). Luke Kennard will get 25, but Marquette’s shooting is the difference. Regional semifinals Villanova over East Tennessee State: Hart, Jalen Brunson and Kris Jenkins end the fairy tale. Regional final SMU over Vil
lanova: They’re re al ly cohesive, athletic enough to slow down Hart a little and they can match up wi t h Brunson. They’re a better defensive team than Villanova is. They’re a more skilled Butler, which beat Villanova twice, they play better D and can hurt you from all five spots. Jay Wright will be at the Final Four, but he’ll be there commentating.
WEST
First round F lor ida Gul f Coast over Florida State: There’s a saying a hungry cat hunts best. Florida State has terrific talent, but they don’t always show up. It’s Florida Gulf Coast’s Super Bowl. Northwestern over Vander
bi l t : They’ll try to di s t ra ct Vanderbilt by talking about hedge funds and global warming’s effect on agriculture. Point guard Bryant McIntosh is like a coach on the floor. Notre Dame over Princeton: Matt Farrell won’t let the Irish lose the day before St. Patrick’s Day, and Bonzie Colson is a Terminator in the low post who is playing out of his mind right now. Regional semifinals Ar i zona over Mar yla nd: Lauri Markkanen dominates the boards, and Maryland, even with Melo Trimble, doesn’t have
enough firepower. Notre Dame over Gonzaga: Przemek Karnowski, the Zags’ big 7-footer, is too slow to guard Colson. Regional final Arizona ove r Notre Dame: Markkanen, the 7-foot Finnish freshman, takes over the game and Allonzo Trier attacks the basket.
MIDWEST
First round Rhode Island over Creigh
ton: Rhode Island is small, but when the Rams get knocked to the ground, they bite people in the sneaker, and I don’t think Creighton likes to be get bitten in the sneaker. So I think that’s a strategy they’re
gonna use, and Rhode Island is quick and athletic. Creighton’s got more holes in their defense than a golf course, and it’s not the same without Maurice Watson Jr. Iowa State over Nevada: Nevada’s Marcus Marshall is a great 3-point shooter; if it feels like leather, he’s gonna shoot it. But Iowa State’s Monte Morris is one of the top five point guards in the country. Oregon over Iona: Dillon Brooks is one of the best players in the country and Iona does not defend very well. Regional semifinals Kansas over Iowa State: Bill Self has the best guard tandem in the country, and Josh Jackson is arguably the best freshman in the country. Louisville over Oregon: Donovan Mitchell gets hot from 3-point land and the Ducks miss big man Chris Boucher. Regional final
Kansas over Louisville: Jackson and Frank Mason III handle Louisville’s press. Mason reminds me of Mateen Cleaves, a good leader. Jackson knocks down 3s against Rick Pitino’s zone. Louisville can go through cold spells.
SOUTH
First round Middle Tennessee State ove r Mi n ne s ot a : MTSU has Reggie Upshaw and Giddy Potts, a terrific 3-point shooter, back from the team that shocked Michigantransfer JaCoreyState last Williams.year, and They’readded deep Daytonand hungry over and Wichitaplay great State:D. ProbablyDayton has first the team experienceto 50 wins, and butis better offensively. Arkansas over Seton Hall: I love Hall coach Kevin Willard, but the Razorbacks are too big and physical. Regional semifinals North Carolina over Middle Tennessee State: The Heels have arguably the best frontcourt in the country. UCLA over Kentucky: Lonzo Ball goes crazy. Regional final North Carolina over UCLA: The Tar Heels’ size up front and experience, and Joel Berry II, slows down Ball a little bit.
FINAL FOUR
National semifinals Kansas over North Carolina: I love guards — bodyguards, lifeguards, security guards, crossing guards, but I really love point guards who can penetrate and get the North Carolina big guys in foul trouble. North Carolina doesn’t defend at a high level. Ar i z ona over SMU: The Wildcats are too big and physical. Finally, SMU’s depth hurts them: They only play six guys really. National Championship
Kansas 64, Arizona 62: Self has been here before. Mason and Devonte’ Graham distort the defense with their dribble penetration, they create shots for themselves and for their teammates. In the tournament, a lot of times you’re playing not to lose. The pressure’s on, usually it gets more into a half-court game, it’s not a shootout at the OK Corral.