Coming down with a case of March Madness

As the flurry of conference championship tourna-
ments come to close this Sunday, basketball fans everywhere will huddle around their TV sets, eagerly awaiting Pat O'Brien's announcement of the NCAA Tournament pairings. And as the drama of "Selection Sunday" fades, the real fever of college basketball, March Madness, will dominate the sports pages of newspapers and magazines across the country.

There's nothing quite like the NCAA Tournament. No other sport's playoff seems to capture the "do-or-die" spirit of the annual March festivities. One loss spells a one-way ticket back to Big State U., where a disappointed student body will have turned its attention to baseball and midterms.

The most attractive element of the tournament, however, lies with its unpredictability. Who can forget Princeton's stunning upset of 1995 champion UCLA in last year's first round? How about Syracuse, riding the undeniable spirit of senior John Wallace, rising to the Kentucky challenge in the finals? Simply put, anything can happen in the NCAA tournament. And this year is no exception.

The most important thing to look at when predicting tournament winners is the ability of a team to win six games in a row against the nation's best competition. This season, there are four teams with the goods to pull off such a feat: Kansas, Kentucky, North Carolina, and UCLA.

Even without the brackets officially announced, Kansas looks like the best bet to be cutting down the nets at the RCA Dome on March 31. The Jayhawks have had an extremely solid season, losing only one game, an overtime thriller to Missouri. The steady play of point guard Jacques Vaughn has allowed Kansas to maintain its early-season hold on the No. 1 ranking. The effective use of KU's deep bench by Coach Roy Williams has produced a reliable rotation of players and quality minutes for the players. The amazing thing about Kansas has been their tremendous consistency, even though Vaughn and forward Scott Pollard were missing for extended periods of time. The Jayhawks have dominated most teams, and come through in the clutch with a lot of heart and intensity. They'll definitely be in the Final Four.

Kentucky has certainly seen its ups and downs this year. The Wildcats were blown out by Clemson in their season opener, but have played solid basketball since. Rick Pitino is arguably the best coach in the nation, and has inspired his players to step up their game, especially on defense. All of this was achieved despite the loss of fifth-year senior, high-scorer, and emotional leader Derek Anderson to a knee injury. I really like Kentucky's chances for a repeat title. But for the Wildcats to truly contend, Ron Mercer has to pick up his offensive game.

I love to watch hot squads head into the tournament. Nothing can support a team quite like the feeling of confidence and momentum. North Carolina and UCLA know this. The key element for both teams, however, was early season struggle--they know how to overcome adversity. UNC started off ACC play 0-3; everyone wrote off UCLA after their coaching fiasco, when head man Jim Harrick was forced out due to recruiting violations. After last year's loss to Princeton, this UCLA squad has a lot to prove. As for Carolina, head coach Dean Smith has capitalized on the huge offensive play of Antawn Jamison and the backcourt skills of freshman point guard Ed Cota. His tactics have taken UNC within reach of a No. 1 seed in the tournament.

As for short-lived tourney teams and early exits, Wake Forest might top the list. I don't think I've seen a team self-destruct the way Wake has over the past few weeks. What looked like a team destined for the Final Four has become nothing more than a bunch of inconsistent players with little shooting confidence and a penchant for turnovers. Tim Duncan is a very good player, but has not shown the high-impact ability in close games necessary for a winning campaign. If Wake gets into a close one in the early rounds, it will be lights out for Dave Odom's crew.

Also headed for early-round bounces are Villanova, where overrated coach Steve Lappas has consistently proven that he can't win tournament games, and Minnesota. The Gophers have been the surprise team of the year, and are a near lock for a No. 1 seed. Big 10 teams, however, have struggled in recent tourneys, and the Gophers' non-conference schedule hasn't prepared them for tough tests later this month. Their lucky streak will wind down very soon.

There's nothing better than the NCAA tourney. It combines all of the great aspects of college basketball: intriguing matchups, nail-biting finishes, amazing upsets, and the purity of the college game. And don't forget the best part: no Dennis Rodman.

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