March Madness: Keeping It Heel picks the Final Four

Blake Cockrum’s Final Four picks

East Region: #1 Kansas

Kansas has a good combination of senior leadership, talent and outside shooting. When they are hitting their outside shots, they are difficult to beat. When they are cold from three-point range, they are susceptible to defeat. When times get difficult, senior Perry Ellis tends to show up and show out when they need him most. They also have that coach named Self on the bench. He’s pretty good.

West Region: #2 Oklahoma

I don’t love picking jump shooting teams to go far in March, but Oklahoma is a good team with the ability to beat its first couple of opponents on talent alone. After that, look for first-team All-American Buddy Hield to lead the way for the Sooners. When this team is shooting well from behind the arc, they’re very difficult to beat. When they aren’t shooting well, they’re much more vulnerable to lose.

East Region: #1 North Carolina

North Carolina is firing on all cylinders and putting it all together at the right time. They’ve got great senior leadership from Marcus Paige and Brice Johnson. Johnson, recently named first-team All-American by the United States Basketball Writers Association, anchors this high-powered offense. When Paige and sophomore guard Joel Berry are hitting outside shots, this team is nearly unstoppable. Look for the Tar Heels to be in Houston as East Regional champions.

Midwest Region: #2 Michigan State

Michigan State is led on the court by Wooden Award finalist and likely winner, Denzel Valentine. They’re led on the bench by legendary coach Tom Izzo. There are few coaches who are better at optimizing talent that Izzo, and his prowess in the month of March is well documented. He’s done more with less talented teams, so don’t be surprised to see this team in the Final Four in a couple of weeks.