With the date being November 11th, I thought it would be an appropriate day to go over the four No. 1 seeds that will represent college basketball in the Final Four come early April.
1. University of North Carolina
-- As much as I hate the fact that the pre-season number one will go the entire year as the best team, UNC should do it.
AP Rank: No. 1
ESPN Rank:
PT Rank: No. 1
PT$: $174.00
UNC will return two first round NBA draft picks in Ty Lawson and Ty Hansbrough. Although the Tar Heels did lose Brandan Wright and Reyshawn Terry to the pros, they have the replacements waiting. Wayne Ellington and Deon Thompson will have to step up if UNC wants to return to the Final Four. Roy Williams has recruited a roster talented enough to run the table and win the National Championship.
1. University of Memphis
-- This team is no longer using their conference as a crutch, the Tigers have enough talent to make it to the Final Four.
AP Rank: No. 3
ESPN Rank: No. 3
PT Rank: No. 3
PT$: $151.00
After two consecutive Elite Eight appearances, the Tigers will look to get over the hump by returning five starters and adding one of the nation's top recruits. Derrick Rose -- who has been described as the fastest player in college basketball, a more talented Jason Kidd and an automatic lottery pick whenever he wants to be -- will join veterans Chris Douglas-Roberts, Joey Dorsey, Robert Dozier, Willie Kemp and Antonio Anderson. If the Tigers don't make it to the first Monday in April, they'll consider the season a disappointment.
1. Indiana University
-- Regardless of having to play sub-par Big Ten teams all year, the Hoosiers roster has the potential to sneak their way to the Final Four.
AP Rank: No. 9
ESPN Rank: No. 9
PT Rank: No. 7
PT$: $123.50
Ralph Sampson has made headlines for his recruiting practices, but that doesn't mean he can't win. Sampson has averaged 25 wins over the past eight seasons. Indiana will be satisfied with no less than 25 wins this season. One thing that will decide the fate of the Hoosiers is their size. Indiana's roster has just two players listed at 6'9" and two at 6'8". If Indiana's talented back court carries their smaller front court, the Hoosiers could return the National Championship game for the first time since 2002.
1. University of Tennessee
-- Tennessee will use last year's experience, talented transfer recruits and a player of the year candidate to get to the Final Four.
AP Rank: No. 7
ESPN Rank: No. 7
PT Rank: No. 8
PT$: $123.00
Get ready to hear this a lot: Tennessee's men's basketball team is starting to play on the same level as the women's team. As a school known for it's football team and the success of the women's basketball team -- the men's squad will be making the title run this year. The Vols return starters Chris Lofton (20.8 points), JaJuan Smith (15.2 points), Ramar Smith (10.7 points) and Wayne Chism (9.1 points). Tennessee also adds one of the nation's best transfer recruits Tyler Smith, who averaged 14.9 points last season at Iowa. Florida's reign over the SEC is over and Tennessee should begin a reign of their own.
Completing the Elite Eight:
UCLA, Kansas, Kansas State, Georgetown
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