After nearly eight months of doubt, the dust has finally settled and our prayers have been answered: college basketball will be back in 2020. While it may not constitute a reversion to the normal format, as there remains a chance that the NCAA reduces the current number of 68 teams in the tournament, any fan would prefer a shortened field to the abrupt and heartbreaking end to last season, which saw many players and teams miss out on potentially historic seasons as most conference tournaments as well as March Madness was cancelled. With at least the start to the season confirmed, it remains to be seen as to whether or not the rest of it including the postseason, will play out as planned. Nevertheless, in a year like this one, we must take the blessings as they come, and hope that we eventually get to witness One Shining Moment 2021. Without further ado, let’s get into the predictions.

Tournament 1-4 Seed Predictions:

1 Seeds:

Baylor, Gonzaga, Villanova, Virginia

2 Seeds:

Duke, Kansas, Illinois, Iowa

3 Seeds:

Kentucky, Wisconsin, Michigan State, Texas Tech

4 Seeds:

North Carolina, West Virginia, Creighton, Arizona State

Final Four Picks:

Baylor Bears:

The Bears return a lethal guard duo featuring the likes of returning 13.9 PPG scorer MaCio Teague as well as NPOY candidate Jared Butler, the heart of a team which spent four weeks at the No.1 spot last season. Additionally, Baylor brings in 6’3 Adam Flagler, who averaged 15.9 points last season at Presbyterian, and who presents a possible key to a fearsome 3-headed backcourt monster. Glaring issues still persist in the frontcourt, as leading rebounder Freddie Gillespie went pro, and the Bears now return just one big man to average 4 points last season (senior Tristan Clark). However, hope persists in the form of UNLV transfer Jonathan Tchanwa Tchatchoua, who averaged 3.4 points and 3.5 rebounds as a freshman. Baylor has the guard group to match up with anyone in the nation, but the ability of Clark and Tchanwa Tchatchoua to match up against other elite forwards such as Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, Corey Kispert, and Sam Hauser will be the key to how far Scott Drew’s squad advances come March.

Gonzaga Bulldogs:

WCC powerhouse and preseason No.1 Gonzaga begins the season missing four of its top six scorers from 2019-20, but nevertheless remain as lethal as ever. Junior guard Joel Ayayi and senior forward Corey Kispert headline the returning class, but it’s a new name on the roster that really makes this team interesting. Ranked 6th in his recruiting class, 5-star guard Jalen Suggs adds a menacing downhill threat to the Zags offense and gives them an additional interior threat, as if the likes of Kispert, Drew Timme, and Anton Watson weren’t enough. If Suggs pans out as hoped, the Zags may very well validate Mark Few’s illustrious career with an elusive national championship.

Villanova Wildcats:

The Wildcats may boast the premier returning class in the nation, as their only loss is Julius Erving Award winner Saddiq Bey to the Detroit Pistons. With NPOY candidate Collin Gillespie at point guard, reigning Big East Freshman of the Year Jeremiah Robinson-Earl down low, and a bevy of wing options from double-digit PPG returnees Justin Moore and Jermaine Samuels to 5-star redshirt freshman from 2019 Bryan Antoine to 16.9 ppg Tulane transfer Caleb Daniels, the Wildcats appear primed to contend for the third title of the Jay Wright era. If the Cats’ wings can pull their weight, watch out.

Iowa Hawkeyes:

Two words: Luka. Garza. The senior center was second in the consensus NPOY race to Dayton forward Obi Toppin, and has returned to Iowa to wreak even more havoc on the Big 10 for another year. After tearing up the conference with averages of 23.9 points and 9.8 rebounds on 54.2% from the field and 35.8% from 3, Garza returns as the overwhelming NPOY on an otherwise talented Iowa squad. However, the Hawkeyes only go so far as Garza takes him, and will he be enough to carry them past the other contenders?

National Championship:

Gonzaga over Baylor

In the end, the Zags’ star power is too much, and they take the first national championship in program history behind Ayayi, Kispert, and Suggs.

Awards:

National Player of the Year: Luka Garza, Iowa

Freshman of the Year: Cade Cunningham, Oklahoma State

Coach of the Year: Scott Drew, Baylor

Bob Cousy Award (Best PG): Jared Butler, Baylor

Jerry West Award (Best SG): Scottie Lewis, Florida

Julius Erving Award (Best SF): Keyontae Johnson, Florida

Karl Malone Award (Best PF): Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, Villanova

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award (Best Center): Luka Garza, Iowa