How the teams were picked: We asked eight members of our college basketball team at ESPN Insider (Jay Bilas, Dan Dakich, Sean Farnham, Fran Fraschilla, John Gasaway, Jeff Goodman, Seth Greenberg and Joe Lunardi) not to make their Final Four picks, but to identify the 12 teams they would be least surprised to see reach the Final Four. A total of 21 teams were named, including two currently residing outside the Top 25. Meanwhile, six current members of the AP Top 25 were not cited by any of our Insiders as a no-surprise Final Four team.
No surprises (named on 100 percent of ballots)
Kansas Jayhawks (8 of 8)
I would not be surprised to see the Jayhawks reach the Final Four because ... "the Jayhawks are starting to come together. KU has played an extremely difficult schedule and Bill Self's team has only three losses. There may not be a bona fide star on the roster, but there is more than enough to win four games come March." -- Jeff Goodman
Mild surprises (named on multiple ballots, but 50 percent or fewer)
Iowa State Cyclones (4 of 8)[/B]
I would not be surprised to see the Cyclones reach the Final Four because ...[/I] "of their spacing in their offense. Fred Hoiberg's offense does an outstanding job finding the mismatch, and then using it to their advantage." -- Sean Farnham
West Virginia Mountaineers (2 of 8)
I would not be surprised to see the Mountaineers reach the Final Four because ...[/I] "of their ability to turn over their opponents, and create offense from those turnovers. In the NCAA tournament, you may have an off shooting night but your defense usually travels." -- Sean Farnham
[/I][/B][/I]Genius-maker no-surprise picks (named on one ballot)
Oklahoma Sooners (1 of 8)
I would not be surprised to see the Sooners reach the Final Four because ...[/I] "they have tremendous guard play, and a couple of quality bigs with Ryan Spangler. This group, which added Thomas, could really score a year ago -- and now the Sooners are much better on the defensive end." -- Jeff Goodman
[/I][/B]
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No surprises (named on 100 percent of ballots)
Kansas Jayhawks (8 of 8)
I would not be surprised to see the Jayhawks reach the Final Four because ... "the Jayhawks are starting to come together. KU has played an extremely difficult schedule and Bill Self's team has only three losses. There may not be a bona fide star on the roster, but there is more than enough to win four games come March." -- Jeff Goodman
Mild surprises (named on multiple ballots, but 50 percent or fewer)
Iowa State Cyclones (4 of 8)[/B]
I would not be surprised to see the Cyclones reach the Final Four because ...[/I] "of their spacing in their offense. Fred Hoiberg's offense does an outstanding job finding the mismatch, and then using it to their advantage." -- Sean Farnham
West Virginia Mountaineers (2 of 8)
I would not be surprised to see the Mountaineers reach the Final Four because ...[/I] "of their ability to turn over their opponents, and create offense from those turnovers. In the NCAA tournament, you may have an off shooting night but your defense usually travels." -- Sean Farnham
[/I][/B][/I]Genius-maker no-surprise picks (named on one ballot)
Oklahoma Sooners (1 of 8)
I would not be surprised to see the Sooners reach the Final Four because ...[/I] "they have tremendous guard play, and a couple of quality bigs with Ryan Spangler. This group, which added Thomas, could really score a year ago -- and now the Sooners are much better on the defensive end." -- Jeff Goodman
[/I][/B]
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