2011 NCAA Final Four Predictions; Mid-December Picks National Championship

In 2009 I was somehow 3 out of 4 with my preseason Final Four picks, but 2010 took me by surprise as I only picked one out of the four contenders. My original Final Four picks for 2011 included: Michigan State, Purdue, Duke, and North Carolina. By the looks of those picks, you can clearly see why I am making new predictions now that the season has started.

Duke Blue Devils
Clearly the one correct pick I made during the preseason. The Duke have skated through a tough part of their early schedule with wins over Kansas State, Michigan State, Oregon, and Marquette. Duke is clearly the favorite to win the National Championship and it is hard to argue with that opinion. The main question that could determine if the Blue Devils can repeat is will Kyrie Irving, the outstanding Freshman, be able to return this season? Even without Irving, the Blue Devils will make a run into the Final Four and possibly repeat as National Champions.

Connecticut Huskies
Has any team risen from being non-ranked to a National Championship contender quicker than the 2010-2011 UCONN Huskies? The Huskies are now the 4th ranked team in the nation and have already taken out Michigan State and Kentucky. As long as Kemba Walker keeps playing like as the most dominant player in the Big East, the Huskies should have no problem making a run into the Final Four. Walker is averaging 28 points per game and is contributing to the team with five rebounds, four assists, and over two steals per game.

Syracuse Orange
Syracuse's toughest games are ahead of them in Big East play, but they have played like a National Championship contender thus far. The Orange have defeated the likes of Michigan State, Michigan, Northern Iowa, N.C. State, and Georgia Tech on the road. In recent years the Orange have relied on their guards, but this year the story is the strong play of Forwards Rick Jackson and Kris Joseph. Jackson is averaging a double double and nearly two blocks per game. Jackson is currently fifth in the nation in rebounds, averaging over 12 per game. Syracuse is doing all the right things, Boeheim is up for coach of the year again.

Kansas Jayhawks
Kansas is the least predictable of these Final Four picks due to their somewhat easy non-conference schedule. The Jayhawks have beaten the Memphis Tigers, but have not faced any other ranked teams so far this season. Kansas has their next 8 games against non-ranked opponents and should enter conference play still undefeated. The Morris twins have Jayhawk nation in a frenzy as they are both averaging over 12 points and 6 rebounds per contest. Look out for the Jayhawks come March.

National Champion Prediction: Duke Blue Devils
I hate to say it, but Duke has the best team in the nation. Kyle Singler will start to get his shooting percentage up as the season continues and Seth Curry has played well off of the bench. The Devils will repeat unless they have major injury issues or another team gets really hot at the right time and can knock off the heavy favorites.

Other Contenders: Ohio State, Michigan State, Kentucky, Kansas State, Georgetown