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Staff predictions
| Staff member |
Final Four |
Sleeper team
of the Year |
Player of
the Year |
Freshman of the Year |
Rob Miech,
Staff Writer |
Duke, Tennessee, Michigan State, Arizona |
Alabama |
Shane Battier, Duke |
Eddie Griffin, Seton Hall |
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National champion: Duke -- Rich history, loaded squad or premier coach -- take your pick as to why Duke will again stand atop the college basketball world.
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Ian Browne,
Staff Writer |
Duke, Seton Hall,
Kansas, North Carolina |
Utah State |
Shane Battier, Duke |
Omar Cook,
St. John's |
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National champion: Kansas -- Roy Williams, the best coach never to win a championship, finally gets one. And also the chance to beat alma mater North Carolina in the national championship game. In case you forgot, Williams came oh so close to leaving the Jayhawks last summer to coach his beloved Tar Heels. It was always his dream. But as Williams said, "dreams change" and now he finally lives his dream of championship glory.
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Don Borst,
Managing Editor |
Duke, North Carolina, Kansas, Arizona |
Long Beach State |
Loren Woods, Arizona |
Eddie Griffin, Seton Hall
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National champion: Duke -- Last year was just practice for this go-round. Remember all those hotshot freshmen last year? Well, they're battle-tested veterans now who will be toughened up for their March run by an improved ACC, and brought to life by superfrosh Chris Duhon, who'll mature enough to help make the difference late in the season. To be specific, the Devils will beat Carolina in the Metrodome on April 2 by an 86-79 score.
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Tony Mejia,
Producer |
Tennessee, North Carolina, Duke, Kansas |
Xavier |
Carlos Boozer, Duke |
Omar Cook, St. John's |
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National champion: Kansas -- You need players who think beyond their years and a bench deeper than Barry White's voice. Kansas boasts both. The team that nearly knocked off Duke in last year's tournament is a year wiser, and will exact revenge for that loss in this season's title game.
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| Jeff Nusser, Editor |
Duke, Maryland, Arizona, Notre Dame |
Alabama |
Troy Murphy, Notre Dame |
Jared Jeffries, Indiana |
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National champion: Duke -- Is there any better proving ground in the country year in and year out than the ACC? Since 1988, the ACC has put a team in the Final Four every year except one, and that includes seven appearances by the Blue Devils. Having Shane Battier on the floor is like having another coach running around. And with his defense and floor generalship, Battier simply won't let the Blue Devils lose.
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Ben Sherman,
Editor |
Duke, Arizona, Kansas, Maryland |
Creighton |
Troy Murphy, Notre Dame |
Zach Randolph, Michigan State |
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National champion: Duke -- Arizona is the most talented team in the nation -- maybe too talented. Midnight Lute needs to show the political savvy of, say, Ralph Nader, to keep the Wildcats happy this year. What happens when Richard Jefferson doesn't get his shots? Or Gilbert Arenas? The Wildcats will get to the National Championship game, but fall to a superior Duke team ... a team where Shane Battier is the clear-cut leader and everybody has a role.
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| Jason Singer, Senior producer |
Arizona, Kansas, Maryland,Seton Hall |
Xavier |
Loren Woods, Arizona |
Omar Cook, St. John's |
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National champion: Seton Hall -- Minneapolis will be rocking come tip off time in the national semifinals as the Wildcats, Jayhawks, Terrapins and Pirates roll into town with a mix of top returning leadership and talented underclassmen that have had months to season in preparation for the spotlight.
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