March Madness is in the air, and Warriors staffers took their shot at creating the “Perfect Bracket.” Staffers are competing to get the most points (using standard ESPN scoring) and be named the March Madness champion.

Kyle Melnick

Predicted NCAA Champion: Indiana

Unlike past years, there is no dominant team in college basketball this season. There have been five different teams ranked as number one in the AP poll; beginning with Indiana and ending with Gonzaga. No team has proven themselves to be an outright championship favorite. Although Indiana has hit rough patches along the way with six losses, the Big Ten regular season champion will leave Atlanta with their six national championship in program history. The Hoosiers got snubbed for the number one overall seed in the tournament. The team finished 14-4 in the best conference in college basketball with no loses that look particularly bad. They have quality wins over Georgetown, North Carolina, Minnesota, Michigan State (2), Michigan (2) and Ohio State. Wooden Award finalists Victor Oladipo and Cody Zeller have been lighting up the Big Ten. The two average a combined 31 points and 15 rebounds a game, as well as a 59% field goal percentage. To be the best, you have to beat the best; and that is exactly what Indiana proved through their quality wins and dominance in the Big Ten conference.

With so many upsets occurring this season, it is guaranteed to be a crazy tournament full of surprises. The North Carolina Tar Heels certainly seem a little underrated as an eight seed. Despite a rough start, the Tar Heels finished 12-6 in the ACC and gave Miami (FL) a tough time in the ACC title game. After starting the ACC at 6-5, Roy Williams decided to make a lineup switch and start P.J. Hairston. This switch immediately was noticeable when the Tar Heels won seven of their last eight games; including quality wins over Virginia, NC State and Maryland. The Tar Heels have an in-depth roster with nine players who average at least ten minutes a game. Watch out for North Carolina to make a run in the South Bracket and give number one seed Kansas a run for its money.

In the Midwest bracket, watch out for the Missouri Valley Conference champion, seven seed Creighton. The Bluejays are led by the second leading scorer in the NCAA, Doug McDermott, who averages 23.4 points and 7.6 rebounds a game. Despite a weak conference schedule, Creighton has defeated Wisconsin, Arizona State and California out of conference. They have the highest field goal percentage of any team in the NCAA at 51%. Watch out for the Bluejays to knock off Duke in the second round and make a run for Atlanta.

Indiana will be joined in Atlanta with Georgetown, Ohio State and Michigan State. Georgetown is led by Wooden Award finalist Otto Porter Jr., who averages 16.4 points and 7.5 rebounds a game. Georgetown finished 14-4 in the Big East and won a part of the regular season title. The Hoyas went on an eleven game win streak late in the season with quality wins over UCLA, Notre Dame, Louisville, Marquette and Syracuse (2). When Porter is hot, Georgetown is the best team in the country. Ohio State is coming off their third Big Ten championship in four years. The Buckeyes are led by Deshaun Thomas, who averages 20 points and 6.4 rebounds a game. Point guard Aaron Craft leads the offense with an assist to turnover ratio of 3 and averages 10 points a game. The Buckeyes have had some cold stretches, but finished the season on an eight game win streak and a Big Ten title. Around this time of year, Michigan State coach Tom Izzo always is ready for the tournament. The Spartans have found themselves in the final four twice in the last four years. The depth of their roster is almost unmatchable; with eight players averaging at least seven-teen minutes per game. The Spartans tied for second in the Big Ten regular season alongside Ohio State. The Spartans should never be taken lightly this time of year; they will make it to the championship game but fall to Indiana.

Joey Lavoie

Predicted NCAA Champion: Georgetown

An the brackets are set, a lot of questionable seeding but it seems as if there isn’t much controversy about the teams that are in and out.  In the Midwest Region I see Louisville, the number one overall seed advancing through their region with ease and into the final four. In the south I have Georgetown pulling it out against Kansas in the elite eight to advance to the final four.  The West is where it gets interesting is, with the Non power six school Gonzaga took the one, but I see the Buckeyes of Ohio State taking this region in a close elite eight matchup. And finally in the East, Indiana should take Miami out in the elite eight; The U just isn’t strong enough, too young to take the power house Hoosiers down.  Watch out for New Mexico out of the Mountain West, and Villanova from the Big East. Both had big wins during the season and I see the bracket setting up nicely for showdowns with power house schools that they could pull into their favor. In the final four, I see Otto Porter taking over against Indiana, and leading the Hoyas into the Championship game against Louisville. This is going to be an extremely interesting match-up with two Big East teams facing off in Atlanta. And the winner of the Last dance will be, The Hoyas of Georgetown, behind Porter and Coach John Thomson the third, I believe the Hoyas are just to loaded to be stopped, especially by a Louisville team who has shown weakness throughout the season.

Brendan Cudd

Predicted NCAA Champion: Louisville

In the Midwest region, Louisville has the most talented with the two powerful point guards that can lead this team all the way to the Championship. The only three teams in the West region that  have a chance to win are New Mexico, Ohio State and Gonzaga.  In the South region, “Monsters” like Kansas and Georgetown as well as sleepers like NC State and Minnesota could all make noise. The East Region is the most challenging, as several teams could make a play to go to the National Title Game; Indiana, Miami, Marquette, Syracuse, NC State, it’s really just a toss-up.

In my final four, I have Louisville, Ohio State, Kansas and Miami. They have the players that have the most experience and talent to go all the way. The sleepers in this tournament are North Carolina, San Diego St and Villanova. All of these teams are underrated and have a major shot with the Championship title they could all pull an upset on the bigger schools. Louisville will win the whole tournament in the Championship over the Miami Hurricanes with a score of 78-74.

Andrew Wasik

Predicted NCAA Champion: Kansas 

Picking my bracket this year I did what I do every year. Pick against the colleges people I hate go too. And other then that I picked by the seeds, this is my strategy and all though year to year I don’t do the best, I refuse to operate differently. Out of the Midwest region I chose Louisville, the number 1 seed because I don’t know anyone who attends the school and they were the first seed. Out of the West region I chose Gonzaga because I like that guys manly mane and the way it flows through the air as he jumps for rebounds. Coming out of the south region I chose Kansas because they have the most underrated player in college basketball in Kevin Young, a senior who knows his role and knows he may not be a star but still plays his hardest. And hey, his afro helps me like him even more. Finally out of the East region I chose Miami upsetting Indiana and moving on to the final four. In the final four I chose Kansas over Miami, because I bet I would hate everyone that goes to Miami even if I have never met them and then I chose Louisville over Gonzaga simply by coin flip. In the NCAA championship game, Kansas will triumph over Louisville because, well I don’t really know why. But when I win this little contest of wit and skill with the rest of the newspaper staff and am laughing in their faces, will it really matter that I chose my bracket like this?

Dylan Craig

Predicted NCAA Champion: Syracuse

There are multiple teams that have a decent chance at making deep runs into this year’s tournament, teams such as Louisville, Gonzaga, Georgetown or Marquette. I predict that these four teams will make the final four, Syracuse, Gonzaga, Duke and Kansas. All are solid teams that posses talent on both sides of the court. Every March, there is an underdog team that makes a deep ‘Cinderella’ run in the tournament. This year, I predict that LIU-Brooklyn will be that team. First, they have one of the nation’s best offenses. They’re scoring an average of 79.5 points per game, which is good for fifth in the country. They also score an average of 43 points in the second half, which is the best in the country. Look for LIU-Brooklyn to make some serious noise in this year’s tournament. The team in this year’s March Madness that has the best chance of winning is Syracuse. Rumors have surfaced about long-time coach Jim Boehiem retiring, and that could create an emotional spark for the young team and get the players motivated to play well. Syracuse is also a team that possesses an explosive offense and a stubborn defense, which should help beat the many elite teams Syracuse is sure to face in the Tournament. This March Madness should be a great one, since most teams included are powerful teams with a competitive drive.