Former Xavier, Providence and Virginia coach Pete Gillen, a CBS Sports Network college analyst and NYC basketball Hall of Famer, shares some of his March Madness thoughts and predictions with The Post. As told to Steve Serby.
Two of my Final Four picks from the beginning of the tournament are in — three out of four when I was forced to adjust before the Sweet 16. That's 75 percent — which was my best grade in math when I was in the sixth grade for Sister Mary Ann Guillotine. I'm excited about next weekend, because I haven't picked a winner since the Franco-Prussian War. So I'm making a comeback.
Final Four
KENTUCKY over WISCONSIN: I'm sure practice all week at Kentucky is going to be like boot camp after the Notre Dame scare. I think John Calipari is going to put their feet to the fire and really kill 'em. I think the Notre Dame game will help them, it'll be more like, "Hey guys, Wisconsin's better than Notre Dame, we got to get our act together."
The Badgers can spread the offense out in their swing offense, they really have great spacing. … They can isolate the big guys and drive on them. And the big thing they can do is they can control the tempo. And the way they shoot 3s is ridiculous. They're extremely dangerous, so I'm very nervous, I'm itchin', twitchin', I'm bleeding from the eyes about this game.
Wisconsin is going to have to have double-team packages against Karl-Anthony Towns because they can't get Frank Kaminsky in foul trouble. Bo Ryan is a conservative coach, if Kaminsky gets two quick ones, he'll be on the bench for most of the first half, then the game could be over by halftime. Or maybe they'll go Nigel Hayes on Towns, and then bring Kaminsky to double-team, with less chance of fouling.
If they get it to the high post, they got to really pressure the passer. The best post defense is great pressure on the basketball. They can't let it go inside. Make Kentucky shoot from 18 or 20 feet. Kentucky will pressure the ball better than Arizona did because they're bigger and longer.
Willie Cauley-Stein could draw the assignment of guarding Wisconsin's Frank Kaminsky.Photo: Getty Images
I'm thinking Willie Cauley-Stein will guard Kaminsky and cause some problems on the perimeter. Think Kaminsky will still get his 18 or 20, 22 points.
Trey Lyles and/or Marcus Lee will probably guard Sam Dekker. It's a tough matchup for both those guys. Dekker's playing out of his mind right now. They might have to go small and put Aaron Harrison on him. Wisconsin's offensive efficiency is scary.
The pressure of 40-0 will grow for sure, but Cal does better with their mind than he does with their bodies.
Kentucky 70, Wisconsin 68
MICHIGAN STATE over DUKE: I think Matt Costello and Gavin Schilling will beat up Jahlil Okafor, and foul him, he's not a great free throw shooter. I don't think they double because they respect Duke's 3-point shooting.
Justise Winslow was home in Houston, that was his Final Four. But Branden Dawson on him is another story. He's a Terminator.
Travis Trice will be able to stay in front of Tyus Jones. Trice can have a big game against Duke's perimeter defense. And I think Branden Dawson will have a big game also.
Michigan St. 60, Duke 59
NCAA Championship
KENTUCKY over MICHIGAN STATE: I'm sticking with the Wildcats, I picked them in the beginning. I want to keep my job at The Post, so I gotta pick a winner sometime.
Michigan State doesn't have enough firepower. I think the Harrison twins can slow down Trice, and Dawson's not a great scorer.
Tom Izzo doesn't like doubling down, but he'll have to mix it up against Towns. Aaron Harrison is a money guy, he's going to hit a bunch of 3s. Devin Booker's going to get hot hitting 3s.
Kentucky 70, Michigan St. 62
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