State Your Case: Students on the 2009 NCAA Tournament

Who knows a program better than the kids who live and die with it, right? We decided to go to the source.

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Can the 10 seed Maryland Terrapins make the Final 4? Laughable, right? Don't tell that to College Park.

We had this idea, albeit not tremendously original and a lil' late in the game: let's ask students of NCAA Tournament schools to justify why their team will advance far (and perhaps even win it all). Since this came to us in a moment of rewatching Jason Mraz videos on Sunday night, our dream of getting one student from all 64 schools was dashed rather quickly. We got a bunch, though. So if you want to know how the Maryland Terrapins are gonna go from the No. 10 line to Detroit, click through. Ahhhhh, the Madness is upon us.

OKLAHOMA STATE (NO. 8 SEED IN THE EAST, PLAYING TENNESSEE)
Oklahoma State relies on its wrecking-ball-of-a-point guard Byron Eaton to crash the lane and get to the foul line to make up for OSU's lack of size. Coach Travis Ford's fast-paced offense led the Big 12 in scoring, averaging 81 points per game. Sophomore guard James Anderson is OSU's leading scorer and is capable of going off for 20 or 30 points any night, while junior guard Obi Muonelo's recent hot shooting gives the Cowboys some extra offensive firepower. Oklahoma State's high energy approach is difficult to prepare for and it will have opponents tired early, which could provide the Cowboys the necessary opening to make a run in Detroit.
--- Adam Kemp, The Daily O'Collegian at OSU

PITTSBURGH (NO. 1 SEED IN THE EAST, PLAYING E. TENNESSEE ST.)
There's no question that the pressure is on for Pitt during this years NCAA tournament: without a doubt, it's Final Four or bust for the Panthers. But forget about everything else you've heard, because there are a few simple reasons why Pitt will take it all.

Leadership: Pitt has Levance Fields and Sam Young, two proven, hungry winners in the last three years. These are two of the most experienced players in college basketball. And don't forget about DeJuan Blair, who gets readings from the Richter scale every time he steps on the court.

Jamie Dixon: The sixth-year coach is due. After putting together one of the most consistently dominant teams during the regular season, he hasnt advanced past the Sweet 16. Knowing that this is his chance to win it all, hes kept the personalities and egos in check.

The economy: When the economy is down, Pitt is up. Last time Pitt won a national title was during the 1929-30 season, the heart of the Great Depression.

The President: President Barack Obama, who knows his basketball as well as anyone, picked Pitt to make the Final Four.
--- Michael Gladysz, sports editor of The Pitt News

UCLA (NO. 6 SEED IN THE EAST, PLAYING VCU)
The Bruins have one huge advantage over the rest of the field: experience. Three straight Final Fours will do that for you. UCLA also has one of the best point guards in the country, Darren Collison, and dangerous shooters like Josh Shipp and Nikola Dragovic. And you want to talk about tradition? There's always John Wooden, the greatest coach who ever lived, and those 11 national title banners hanging in Pauley Pavilion. The Bruins will bring their shoes to The Dance.
--- Kendall Salter, The Daily Bruin

MEMPHIS (NO. 2 SEED IN THE WEST, PLAYING CSU-NORTHRIDGE)
The University of Memphis will win the national championship this season for one reason: defense.

After losing Derrick Rose and Chris Douglas-Roberts to the NBA Draft last season, many people thought this year would be a rebuilding period. Though the offense has struggled at times, their defense may be even better than that of last year's championship runner-up team.

The Tigers lead the nation in field goal percentage defense, allowing opponents to shoot just 36.2 percent from the field. They also allow only 56.9 points per game, outscoring challengers by an average of 17.2 points.

Other teams may have defensive star power such as Connecticut's Hasheem Thabeet or Mississippi State's Jarvis Varnado, but the Tigers play pure team defense.

With their size and length—the starters have an average height of 6-foot-8—they're capable of shutting down the other team individually, or clogging the lanes with zone defense.
---- Richard Joseph Russell, Memphis

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Best coach never to win it all? We might not be saying that on April 7th.

WASHINGTON (NO. 4 SEED IN WEST, PLAYING MISSISSIPPI STATE)
Washington might be the most underrated team in this tournament. But the Huskies have all of the components of an under-the-radar team that can make some noise in March: senior leadership, good guard play and a solid, nine-man rotation. Jon Brockman is as good of a floor leader as there is in the country—and one of the nation's best rebounders—and both him and Justin Dentmon have been here before and understand that March is a different season. Venoy Overton is a big spark plug off the bench, and his pressure defense is going to be a brutal punch to the mouth for unsuspecting point guards. Nobody really realizes how physical this team is, and toughness is a hallmark of solid tournament teams.
---- Christian Caple, Washington

MICHIGAN (NO. 10 SEED IN THE SOUTH, PLAYING CLEMSON)
Kansas' 2008 National Championship came 20 years after 'Danny and the Miracles' took home the 1988 crown. Two decades ago, Michigan beat Seton Hall for the program's lone title. So, if there's one bubble team that's primed to make a run at an NCAA Championship, it's the No. 10 seed Michigan Wolverines.

Coach John Beilein's quirky 1-3-1 zone defense and his constant-motion, back-door cutting offense pose a tough matchup for any team not used to playing the Wolverines. In a tournament atmosphere where teams will have just a few days to prepare for Beilein's rare scheme, Michigan could catch some people off guard.

It worked against top teams like Duke, UCLA and No. 1 seed Connecticut, whom Michigan almost upset on the Huskies' home court.

And don't forget about All-Big Ten first team forward Manny Harris, second team forward DeShawn Sims and the plethora of 3-point shooters who provide offensive support if defenses collapse on Michigan's stars. And with Beilein, one of seven Division-I coaches to take four teams to the NCAA tournament, roaming the sideline, you may want to rethink your bracket if you easily dismissed this team already.
---- Andy Reid and Alex Prosperi, University of Michigan

ILLINOIS (NO. 5 SEED IN SOUTH, PLAYING WESTERN KENTUCKY)
Its been a rags-to-riches season for the Illini after a lowly showing in 2007-08. A finely tuned blend of senior leadership, talented underclassmen and overall athleticism makes this a dangerous tournament team. Demetri McCamey will rediscover his game-changing shooting touch, Mike Davis remains one of the most dynamic forwards in the country and Mike Tisdale's soft hook shot is a thing of beauty. The Illini may not stack up with the best in the country in the sheer-talent department, but a solid team-first mentality has left players and coaches preaching the arrival of a new era of Illini basketball one that will start with a championship.
---- Jim Shay, The Daily Illini

MISSOURI (NO. 3 IN THE WEST, PLAYING CORNELL)
The Missouri Tigers will win the NCAA Tournament because they are nearly impossible to prepare for. With so many games in so few days, getting ready to face a defense as intense as Missouri's will be a challenge for any team.

The best way to practice for a matchup with Missouri is by putting six or seven players on defense. But as coach Mike Anderson's organized chaos wears a team down in the second half, opponents' focus will lessen and the Tigers can take advantage of a few sloppy plays in a hurry.

Slowing down the Tigers won't help. The best way to win? Beat them at their own game. Play fast and hope Missouri has an off shooting night.
---- Lenny Goldman, Missouri

MARYLAND (NO. 10 SEED IN WEST, PLAYING CAL)
Maryland is all about passion. No other team in the field of 65 wants to win it all as badly as Gary Williams and the Terps. Williams has been under fire all season, forced to confront critics who have challenged his coaching record and his recruiting. The battle-tested Terps have played with an us-against-the-world mentality all season as a result.The players love Williams—Greivis Vasquez said he would die for him—and they are ready to do anything in their power to win Gary his second National Championship.
---- Greg Schimmel, The Diamondback at UMD

VILLANOVA (NO. 3 SEED IN EAST, PLAYING AMERICAN)
The Villanova men's basketball team is typically known for its guard play, but its current senior class of four forwards will graduate the winningest class in the school's history. It is because of this class, specifically Dante Cunningham, that the team is set to make noise during the NCAA tournament. After averaging 10.4 ppg and 6.5 rpg in his junior season, Cunningham led the team in both this year with 16.0 ppg and 7.2 rpg. His ability to dominate with either his mid-range jump shot or his low-post game gives Villanova the perfect complement to its talented group of guards.
---- David Cassilo, sports editor of The Villanovan

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