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NCAA Tournament picks 2017: Predicting the March Madness bracket

By Cody Williams

Mar 23, 2016; Louisville, KY, USA; A view of a March Madness logo on a basketball during practice the day before the semifinals of the South regional of the NCAA Tournament at KFC YUM!. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 23, 2016; Louisville, KY, USA; A view of a March Madness logo on a basketball during practice the day before the semifinals of the South regional of the NCAA Tournament at KFC YUM!. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 11, 2017; Hartford, CT, USA; Southern Methodist Mustangs guard Sterling Brown (3) reacts after play against the UCF Knights in the second half of the semifinals during the AAC Conference Tournament at XL Center. SMU defeated UCF 70-59. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 11, 2017; Hartford, CT, USA; Southern Methodist Mustangs guard Sterling Brown (3) reacts after play against the UCF Knights in the second half of the semifinals during the AAC Conference Tournament at XL Center. SMU defeated UCF 70-59. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports /

Final Four

6. SMU vs. 2. Arizona

Without question, the biggest issue that the SMU Mustangs will face heading into the tournament is their lack of depth. For all intents and purposes, Tim Jankovich basically runs a six-man rotation. After four games to punch their ticket to the Final Four, there’s at least the possibility that their lack of depth becomes problematic. However, I don’t think that’s the case against Arizona. While there’s no denying the stars and the potency of the Wildcats at their best, they don’t possess the same cohesiveness or even top-end performance that SMU does. Call it a hot take, but SMU advances to play for the title.
The Pick: SMU

1. Kansas vs. 1. North Carolina

Get ready for the million “Roy Williams faces his former team” storylines, because they’re inevitable with this matchup. However, the real story should be the fact that Kansas and North Carolina are ostensibly two teams that boast the same general strengths. These are elite offenses with above-average defenses complementing them. Thus, the winner will ultimately be determined by the matchups and where one team can exploit the other. To me, that key matchup is in the frontcourt in terms of rebounding. While Kansas is solid, they don’t have the glass-controlling big bodies that North Carolina does. Fueled by second-chance points and not allowing such things on the defensive end, the Tar Heels return to the title game.
The Pick: North Carolina

National Championship Game: 6. SMU vs. 1. North Carolina

It feels safe to say that this isn’t the matchup that many people have pencilled into their brackets, and it surely isn’t the matchup that many people would’ve predicted coming into the 2016-17 college basketball season. However, it’s a matchup that’ll be filled with storylines (Tim Jankovich vs. Roy Williams, Underdog vs. Powerhouse, etc.) and one that should be fantastic to watch.

For SMU, the key in this matchup to try and become unlikely champions will be their outside shooting. The Tar Heels have been burned this season (and in years past) when they allow teams to beat them from deep. The Mustangs converted on 40.3 percent of their 3-point attempts on the season, so they’re capable of exploiting that weakness of the Tar Heels.

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On the other hand, North Carolina remains one of the deeper teams in the country as Ol’ Roy is comfortable going nine deep into his bench, even without a healthy Kenny Williams. With the pace that the Tar Heels like to play, that’s a pivotal component in this matchup. SMU’s roster is ultimately shallow and, it’s hard to imagine that they’ll be able to keep up for 40 minutes with the type of pace UNC wants to play at. In the end, that’s the deciding factor. Redemption is on the menu for North Carolina as the return to the title game for the second year in a row, but emerge as the champs this time around.
National Champion Pick: North Carolina

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