The winners, losers and ultimate champion

Sporting News, The, Dec 6, 1993 by Gene Wojciechowski

New season means new predictions. Here are ours:

The South

Twenty-two teams you'll see in the NCAA Tournament: North Carolina, Duke, Virginia, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Clemson, Tulane, Old Dominion, Tennessee-Chattanooga, Tennessee State, Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Arkansas, Louisiana State, Georgia, Northeast Louisiana, Alabama State, New Orleans, Western Kentucky, Coastal Carolina, Florida International.

Bubble teams: Florida, Maryland, Virginia Commonwealth, Mississippi State, Auburn.

Final Four candidates: North Carolina, Duke, Louisville, Arkansas, Kentucky.

Barring the improbable, reserve a place for the Tar Heels right now. How good is North Carolina? Good enough that Coach Dean Smith hardly can think of a single criticism. Other than center Eric Montross' unsightly Sgt. Carter hairdo, the Tar Heels are a sight to behold.

Final Four long shot: Georgia Tech.

Is this the year point guard Travis Best plays up to his last name?

The five best players: center Eric Montross, North Carolina; forward Grant Hill, Duke; forward James Forrest, Georgia Tech; guard Billy McCaffrey, Vanderbilt; guard Derrick Phelps, North Carolina.

Coach of the year: Cliff Ellis, Clemson.

Ellis had to campaign to keep his job last season. This season he'll show Clemson athletic department officials why he wanted to stay. The Tigers return four starters, including center Sharone Wright, and are a cinch to do well in the NCAAs.

Coach for the year: Wade Houston, Tennessee.

Houston is a nice guy who doesn't compromise his standards and integrity for victories. But unless the Volunteers start challenging for a Southeastern Conference title soon, it will be only a matter of time before Houston is fired.

The Midwest

Seventeen teams you'll see in the NCAA Tournament: Iowa State, Oklahoma State, Kansas, Missouri, Kansas State, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Purdue, Cincinnati, Marquette, Memphis State, Xavier, Western Michigan, Illinois-Chicago, Bradley.

Bubble teams: Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Nebraska, DePaul, Alabama-Birmingham, Notre Dame, Southern Illinois, Northwestern, Ohio State.

Final Four candidates: Michigan, Minnesota, Kansas, Oklahoma State, Indiana.

Thanks to Chris Webber's early defection to the NBA, the Wolverines have been reduced to the Fab Four. There are worse fates. Minnesota's Clem Haskins spends at least half his seasons pleading for respect. This year he'll get it. Kansas Coach Roy Williams canceled most of his offseason gigs and concentrated on family and team. You'll see why in late March. Oklahoma State has the ideal Final Four combination, a star center and two experienced guards. Indiana has Bob Knight, but will it have a healthy Alan Henderson?

The five best players: forward Glenn Robinson, Purdue; forward Michael Finley, Wisconsin; guard Steve Woodberry, Kansas; guard Voshon Lenard, Minnesota; center Juwan Howard, Michigan.

Coach of the year: John MacLeod, Notre Dame.

Every season deserves the unexpected. This time it's MacLeod's turn.

Coach for a year: Joe Harrington, Colorado.

Is this a recipe for job security - seven freshmen on the roster and only one senior? Harrington, who left Long Beach State for Boulder, has two years remaining on his contract, but it's questionable whether he'll see the end of it. Harrington is worth the wait, though.

The East

Twelve teams you'll in the NCAA Tournament: Georgetown, Syracuse, Boston College, Connecticut, Temple, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Manhattan, Drexel, Coppin State, Wagner, Fordham.

Syracuse is back from NCAA probation, and Georgetown is back from the black hole known as rebuilding. Neither team played in the tournament last year, but lessons have been learned. Penn will do what no Ivy League team has done since 1984: win an NCAA Tournament game. Manhattan's Fran Fraschilla will put together another boffo year and be wooed away at season's end.

Bubble teams: Miami, Providence, St. John's, George Washington.

If any team is poised to have a breakthrough season, it's Miami.

Final Four candidate: Temple.

Oh, great, another March we have to spend watching Owls alum Bill Cosby mug for the camera. Consider it one of life's little tradeoffs.

Final Four long shots: Georgetown, Massachusetts.

As usual, the Hoyas frontcourt lineup is worth framing, but the backcourt starters can't hit the side of the National Cathedral. In point guard Joey Brown, the Hoyas trust. Massachusetts has more potential than any team in the East.

The five best players: forward Donyell Marshall, Connecticut; forward Bill Curley, Boston College; guard Aaron McKie Temple; guard Lawrence Moten, Syracuse; center Othella Harrington, Georgetown.

Coach of the year: Leonard Hamilton, Miami.

Surprise team of the year will mean surprised coach of the year,

Coach for a year: Paul Evans, Pittsburgh.

Word is that Pitt Athletic Director Oval Jaynes isn't a huge fan of Evans. If so, Evans' future at the school wasn't enhanced by the NCAA's recent decision to place the Panthers' program on probation for two years.

The Southwest

Three teams you'll see in the NCAA Tournament: Texas, Texas A&M, Baylor.