Final Four Frontrunners

Jumping from college football to college hoops, here are four teams that have a solid chance of reaching the Final Four based on early season performances and potential. The first three really are not any surprise at all, but they deserve to be on this list right now.

Florida – They return all their big players from a year ago when they won the National Championship. With six players averaging more than nine points per game, Florida can match up against any type of defense. Joakim Noah’s scoring average is down a couple of points from a season ago, but he is rebounding better and passing the ball better. Corey Brewer is back after missing some games due to mono. He has scored 15 and 18 in his last two games. This team just beat Ohio State, a team that very well could make the Final Four, by 28 points just last week.


UCLA – Could we have a repeat of last year’s national title game? That is definitely a possibility. The Bruins are playing the best basketball in the country right now and have an inside-outside combination that uses speed and quickness to match just about anyone in the nation. Darren Collison has made huge strides in his sophomore season, replacing the departed Jordan Farmar. Collison is averaging 13 points and 6.2 assists per game. Despite this team’s youth (no seniors), last year’s run to the championship game gives them all the experience they will need to be a strong contender for the national championship in March.

Ohio State – They got blown out by Florida just recently, but that still doesn’t mean they don’t have the chance to make a run at the Final Four. Freshman Greg Oden is still getting back into playing shape and adjusting to his new team after returning from injury. Another freshman, Daequan Cook, has been phenomenal, leading the team in scoring with 15.3 points per game. Mike Conley Jr. is another freshman playing as well as advertised. He is running the point exceptionally well – assist-to-turnover ratio is 3-to-1. Youth is the Buckeye’s biggest obstacle to making a deep run in the tournament.

Alabama – Don’t be surprised if the Crimson Tide make it to the Final Four. Jermareo Davidson and Ronald Steele are as good as they come in the nation. Davidson has endured some personal tragedy this season (death of his girlfriend and illness of his brother), but he is averaging nearly a double-double this season and should continue to put up those types of numbers. Steele has been nursing some minor injuries, but if he can get fully healthy in time for March, he is one of the top point guards in the entire country. Two potential All-Americans make this SEC squad one of the best in the country.

Photo Source: SECSports.com, Scout.com