GREENFIELD — One year after not a single team from Indiana made the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, us Hoosiers have plenty to cheer about this time around.
Five Indiana colleges were selected for the Big Dance. We, apparently, don’t expect to be cheering for long.
In the Daily Reporter’s annual polling of area “celebrities,” there is little conviction that a native university squad will make it to the Final Four. This doubt of Butler, Indiana, Notre Dame, Purdue and Valparaiso surely stems from their slot in the tourney.
Each of the state schools is in the Midwest Regional with Kentucky, which is on track to have the first undefeated championship season since Bobby Knight’s Hoosiers in 1976.
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Of the local big-wigs to express an opinion, David Spencer of NineStar Connect is predicting an upset. He said he believes Purdue will shock the world to win the Midwest Regional. And — wouldn’t you know it? — Spencer is a Purdue grad.
Our own staff writer, Kristy Deer, joins Spencer as the only other soothsayer picking the Wildcats to fall short of Indy. She said she believes Notre Dame will make to the Final Four, instead. The Irish have become a bit of a sleeper pick the past few days with national basketball prognosticators.
Here are the best Final Four guesses of the Daily Reporter sports staff:
Brian Harmon, sports editor
Kentucky
It’s a longshot, but Kentucky could have to go through three Indiana teams to get to Indianapolis.
Arizona
Arizona finished on the wrong end of a 64-63 score to Wisconsin last season in an Elite 8 overtime thriller. Sean Miller’s team gets redemption this month.
Villanova
A year ago, Villanova fell in the third round to eventual champ Connecticut. These Wildcats will beat Kentucky for the national title.
Duke
Tempted to go with Larry Brown’s SMU squad here, but the Blue Devils are always the safe NCAA bet.
Jim Ayello, sportswriter
Kentucky
Size. Speed. Strength. Depth. What doesn’t this team have? Give them the title now.
Wisconsin
Bet on the best players in the biggest games, i.e. the Badgers’ Frank “The Tank” Kaminsky, who also happens to have one of the best nicknames in sports.
Virginia
Defense-first team rarely have off nights. Near-perfection is what it takes to make it to the Final Four.
Gonzaga
Few teams are more efficient at putting the ball in the basket.
Our esteemed panelists:
Chuck Fewell
Greenfield mayor
Kentucky (winner)
Wisconsin
Villanova
Duke
Bobby Cox
IHSAA commissioner
Kentucky (winner)
Wisconsin
Michigan State
Duke
James Roberts
Greenfield Fire Department chief
Kentucky
Ohio State (winner)
Virgina
Gonzaga
Steve Vail
NineStar Connect, chairman of the board
Kentucky (winner)
Wisconsin
Virginia
Gonzaga
Zach Muegge
Muegge Plumbing, Heating and Cooling
Kentucky (winner)
Wisconsin
Oklahoma
Wisconsin
Bill Riggs
Mt. Vernon Community Schools Superintendent
Kentucky
Wisconsin (winner)
Villanova
Duke
Dave Scott
Hancock County Visitors Bureau
Kentucky (winner)
Wisconsin
Michigan State
Duke
Wayne Addison
Hancock County chief probation officer
Kentucky (winner)
Wisconsin
Michigan State
Iowa State
Jason White
GBC Wealth Management
Kentucky (winner)
Arizona
Virginia
Duke
David Spencer
NineStar Connect, director of marketing
Purdue (winner)
Arizona
Villanova
Gonzaga
Noelle Steele
Daily Reporter, editor
Kentucky (winner)
North Carolina
Oklahoma
Gonzaga
Barbara Roark, Hancock County Public Library
Kentucky (winner)
Wisconsin
Virgina
Duke
Tim Retherford, Neighborhoods Against Substance Abuse
Kentucky (winner)
Arizona
Villanova
Iowa State
Jeannine Gray, Stillinger Family Funeral Home
Kentucky (winner)
Wisconsin
Michigan State
Duke
Brian Croel, Novelty Inc. Wholesale
Kentucky
Wisconsin (winner)
Virginia
Iowa State
Michael Mack, Edward Jones
Kentucky
Arizona (winner)
Virginia
Iowa State
Mike Burrow, NineStar Connect, president
Kentucky (winner)
Baylor
Virginia
Duke
J. Scott Wooldridge, Wolf Law Firm, attorney
Kentucky (winner)
Arizona
Villanova
Duke
Kristy Deer, Daily Reporter, staff writer
Notre Dame
Wisconsin
Michigan State
Duke (winner)
David Flench, Hancock Regional Hospital
Kentucky (winner)
Ohio State
Virginia
Duke
Mike Low, Forty Financial Inc.
Kentucky
Wisconson (winner)
Virginia
Duke
Skip Kuker, Hancock County Economic Development Council
Kentucky (winner)
Arizona
Virginia
Duke
Derek Rogers, Shepherd Insurance
Kentucky
Wisconsin (winner)
Northern Iowa
Duke
Tom Russo, Daily Reporter, staff photographer
Kentucky
Baylor
Michigan State
Duke (winner)
