2013 NCAA Championship Preview

#4 vs. #1 8:23 PM CT CBS

Tonight, at the Georgia Dome, the 2013 NCAA Basketball champion will be crowned. In a tournament which has truly been unpredictable and a crazy end to a crazy season, the madness will be finally settled.

On one side, Michigan, a team so young, yet so talented. Led by sophomore Wooden award winner Trey Burke, the Wolverines have conquered every team that has come at them, overwhelming VCU's Havoc, coming back from 14 down to beat the top seed Jayhawks, lighting up Florida, and executing and hanging on against the 2-3 zone of Syracuse. 20 years after the infamous Chris Webber timeout call in the 1993 National Championship team, this team of young Wolverines (freshmen Nik Stauskas, Glenn Robinson III, Mitch McGary, and junior Tim Hardaway,Jr. are the core) is ready to win it all.

On the other side, Louisville, the #1 overall seed, and my pick to win it all at the beginning of the tournament. Riding experience, athleticism, and outstanding defense, the Cardinals have looked the team to beat in this tournament, taking out Colorado State, Oregon, and Duke (after the devastating leg injury to Kevin Ware) handily, before rallying late against Wichita State on Saturday. Led by junior guard Russ (diculous) Smith, junior forward Gorgui Dieng, and senior guard Peyton Siva, new Hall of Fame inductee Rick Pitino has this team in position to earn the school its first title since 1986.

The key in the game will be Michigan's ability to deal with Louisville's physical defense, and not crack under the pressure which they bring. The Cardinals thrive on forcing turnovers and creating a breakneck pace for the other team, so the Wolverines will have to play composed, something they did not do well down the stretch against Syracuse on Saturday night. In the end, I don't think they will be able to, as the defense and experience of the Cardinals will earn them their third championship. Plus, I can't go against my bracket.
My pick: Louisville