The Daily makes its men's March Madness predictions

DILLON HOLLINGSWORTH, MEN'S GOLF BEAT WRITER

National champion: Indiana

Indiana seems like the most solid team heading into the big dance, and junior guard Victor Oladipo is the Hoosiers’ most electrifying player.

Cinderella: Montana

MVP: Indiana junior guard Victor Oladipo

MASON MORGAN, WOMEN’S GOLF BEAT WRITER

National champion: Duke

Duke hasn’t lost at all this season when senior forward Ryan Kelly plays. One of the key elements of winning a national championship is not losing. Indiana could give them trouble, but I like Duke as of right now.

Cinderella: Saint Louis

After the passing of former coach Rick Majerus, the Billikens have worked their way into the top 20, a great feel-good story for March Madness enthusiasts.

MVP: Indiana junior guard Victor Oladipo

Indiana junior guard Victor Oladipo is everywhere late in games. He can make a big block, have an emphatic dunk, hit a huge shot and anything in between. He sticks out the most out of anyone this year in college basketball.

CECILY TAWNEY, WOMEN’S GYMNASTICS BEAT WRITER

National champion: Indiana

Indiana has played well all season and is undefeated against top 10 teams. Heading into the tournament, the Hoosiers will keep their dominance going. Led by junior guard Victor Oladipo and player of the year candidate sophomore forward Cody Zeller, look for the Hoosiers to be dancing in Atlanta.

Cinderella: Butler

There is something about March that brings out the best in Butler basketball. For the most of the season, the Bulldogs have flown under the radar, but with the help of Oklahoma-native senior guard Rotnei Clarke, be ready for them to make a statement in a big way.

MVP: Indiana sophomore forward Cody Zeller

There is a reason why teammate Victor Oladipo said people would be stupid not to give the MVP to Zeller. Almost averaging a double-double this season, it’s hard to disagree. Look for the seven footer to continue his dominance and walk away with not only a national championship, but an MVP trophy as well.

JONO GRECO, ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR/BASEBALL BEAT WRITER

National champion: Indiana

Although this team has had its ups and downs — then again, too many top-ranked teams have had trouble maintaining that No. 1 spot — the Hoosiers are the best all-around team coming into March Madness. Coach Tom Crean will have his team ready for this tournament run without faltering like it did a few times when the nation's eyes were fixated upon Indiana.

Cinderella: Boise State

The Broncos may not have won their conference tournament, but don't fall asleep on this 21-10 team. They could burst a few people's brackets, so don't be too shocked if they're more than just one-and-done.

MVP: Gonzaga junior forward Kelly Olynyk

He's the best player on the hottest team in the nation. Although I don't think he'll lead his team to a national championship, Olynyk, who was named as a Sporting News first team All-American, will be outstanding in the tournament. Also, it's got to be the hair; it's beautiful.

ZACH STORY, THE DAILY’S THUNDER BLOGGER

National champion: Indiana

Indiana has played some of the best competition of any team playing in this tournament. Four of its five losses this season have come by six points or less. They have a player of the year candidate in junior guard Victor Oladipo, a lottery pick in big man, sophomore forward Tyler Zeller and a lights out 3-point shooter in senior forward Christian Watford. The Hoosiers have all the makings of a championship caliber team.

Cinderella: South Dakota State

The Jackrabbits enter the tournament as champions of the Summit League and have won 14 of their last 17 games overall. They beat the No. 15 New Mexico Lobos on the road and lost a nail biter to a bubble team in Alabama, 70-67, in their first game of the season. They also have one of the countries most prolific scorers in senior guard Nate Wolters who scored 53 points against IPFW earlier this season. There's definitely some potential to upset a No. 2 seed.

MVP: Creighton junior forward Doug McDermott

This guy has carried Creighton on his back all season, leading the team in points (23.1) and rebounds (7.5). I expect to see a Stephan Curry-like performance out of McDerrmott in the tournament as the Jays have the ability to go as far as the Elite 8, assuming McDerrmott plays at the same level which he has all season.

SAM HOFFMAN, MEN’S TENNNIS BEAT WRITER

National champion: Indiana

Indiana is the best all-around team in the nation. Its two All-Americans, sophomore forward Cody Zeller and junior guard Victor Oladipo, will lead the Hoosiers to its first tournament title since 1987.

Cinderella: Saint Mary’s

Saint Mary’s is used to winning and have virtually no “bad losses.” Out of the Gaels’ six losses, three are to No. 1 Gonzaga.

MVP: Indiana junior guard Oladipo

Oladipo is the most athletic player in college basketball. The clutch plays he will make down the stretch will keep Hoosiers nation dancing into April.

GARRETT HOLT, MEN’S BASKETBALL BEAT WRITER

National champion: Indiana

The Hoosiers are just too complete not to win the NCAA tournament. With National Player of the Year candidate junior guard Victor Oladipo’s backcourt play complementing sophomore forward Cody Zeller’s skills on the low block, the Hoosiers have just the right mix of players to win.

Cinderella: Creighton

Despite not winning the Missouri Valley Conference as easily as most people thought that they would, the Bluejays remain an incredibly dangerous team in the tournament. Junior forward Doug McDermott is one of the best players in the country, averaging 23.1 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.

MVP: Indiana junior guard Victor Oladipo

Big players make big plays. Oladipo might not be the most statistically dominant player in the country, but he always seems to make the right play at the right time. I think that this continues into the tournament and he leads Indiana to a title.

JOE MUSSATTO, SOFTBALL BEAT WRITER

National champion: Duke

The Blue Devils (27-4) will win this year’s tournament. The season has seen a handful of teams reach the No. 1 ranking, including Duke, but three factors make them the team to beat: Coach K is the best in the business, the Blue Devils can drain the deep ball, and they have a dominant post player. Need another reason? Duke is 7-1 against teams with a top-25 RPI.

Cinderella: Belmont

Located in Nashville, Tenn., nicknamed the Bruins, a member of the Ohio Valley conference. But that’s not important. Belmont has a legitimate shot to mess up thousands of brackets. The Bruins (26-6) like to score, they like to score efficiently, and they like the deep ball. Belmont ranks fourth in field goal percentage in the NCAA, including better than 38 percent from three. If they get hot, then watch out.

MVP: Duke senior forward Mason Plumlee

The Duke senior is the best player on the best team and will showcase his skillset in the tourney. Plumlee is averaging a double-double this season and is shooting nearly 60 percent. When the 3-point shots aren’t falling for the Blue Devil guards, Plumlee can carry the team. The senior will be more than motivated to win his second national title.

DILLON PHILLIPS, SPORTS EDITOR

National champion: Georgetown

The age old adage of “defense wins championships” has proven itself true countless times, and college basketball’s devolution into lower scoring games with fewer possessions lends itself to teams that can grind out wins with hardnosed defense. The Hoyas can do just that — ranking in the top 10 in both scoring defense and opponents’ field goal percentage. On top of that, Georgetown also boasts an elite scorer, sophomore forward and Wooden Award finalist Otto Porter.

Cinderella: Stephen F. Austin

Again, in a sport of variable streaks and runs, the ability to play stifling defense consistently is a recipe for success. And nobody plays defense better than the Lumberjacks. Stephen F. Austin ranks first in the nation in scoring defense — surrendering a stingy 50.2 points per game — and sixth in opponents’ field goal percentage — a measly 37.5 percent. A lot of how deep the Lumberjacks can go in the tournament depends on whom they draw — ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi projects them in a first-round matchup against New Mexico — but no matter who they play, expect them to frustrate the heck out of them with their tenacious, pesky defense.

MVP: Georgetown sophomore forward Otto Porter

The Morley, Mo., native leads the Hoyas in scoring and rebounding with 16.4 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, respectively. Porter also shoots above 50 percent from the floor and a respectable 44 percent from beyond the arc. If he can carry the Hoyas to the Final Four, the award will be his to lose.

Staff Reports

Staff is a former staff member of The Oklahoma Daily who worked as