Skip to main content

March Madness: What local coaches are saying


In March, anything can happen.

In this year's March Madness, especially, anything can happen.

Here are a handful of "expert" picks on this year's troublesome NCAA Division I Championship bracket. It's clear the champion is up in the air, as local high school coaches have made a variety of picks.

Barry Purvis, Chambersburg girls coach

Final 4: No. 1 Kansas, No. 1 Oregon, No. 1 North Carolina and No. 2 Michigan State

Winner: Kansas

Sleeper team: Xavier, "even though they're No. 2, they're probably not going to be favored to go that far."

Bracket breakdown: "Well, the whole thing is so wide open. I like Maryland, but that's going to be a tough game for them (versus South Dakota State). Other than that, it's always the last-second games, which makes them so difficult to pick 'em. I think it's wide open. How many times has the No. 1 changed over the season? It's gonna be a good time."

Trent Black, Forbes Road boys coach

Final 4: No. 1 Kansas, No. 4 Duke, No. 1 North Carolina and No. 1 Virginia

Winner: Kansas, "unfortunately."

Sleeper team: Duke

Bracket breakdown: "It's such a toss-up this year. I wouldn't even begin to guess what's going to happen. It's definitely going to be difficult this year."

Katie LaRue, Mercersburg girls coach

Final 4: No. 1 Kansas, No. 1 Oregon, No. 1 North Carolina and No. 2 Michigan State

Winner: Michigan State

Sleeper team: Kentucky

Bracket breakdown: "Kentucky isn't as good as I thought they would be this year. This year (the bracket) was easier than last year. I'll be surprised if Michigan State doesn't win; they've been playing well."

Gary Martin, Greencastle boys coach

Final 4: No. 1 Kansas, No. 3 Texas A&M, No. 1 North Carolina and No. 2 Michigan State

Winner: North Carolina

Sleeper team: Kentucky

Bracket breakdown: "I just feel that Michigan State got a real bad deal by not being a No. 1 seed. They won their league, both the conference and the championship game. Also, I thought Kentucky probably got a pretty bad deal, but I'll be interested to watch this tournament. High school is basically over and now we can watch the tournament, so I love this time every year."

Tom Hoffman, Waynesboro boys coach

Final 4: No. 1 Kansas, No. 3 Texas A&M, No. 1 North Carolina and No. 2 Michigan State

Winner: Michigan State

Sleeper team: Gonzaga

Bracket breakdown: "I just think it might as much of a flip-a-coin year that we've ever had. I don't think there's any clear-cut favorite."

Shawn Shreffler, Chambersburg boys coach

Final 4: No. 1 Kansas, No. 3 Texas A&M, No. 4 Kentucky and No. 2 Michigan State

Winner: Michigan State, "Tom Izzo is a proven leader."

Sleeper team: Saint Joseph's

Bracket breakdown: "There's a lot of sleeper teams this year. I think there's a tremendous amount of parity, and not a huge separation between a 1 seed and a 4 seed. It could be pretty crazy this year. I don't know if you'll see if a 16 beat a 1, but it could be this year."

Mike Rhine, Greencastle girls coach

Final 4: No. 1 Kansas, No. 1 Oregon, No. 1 North Carolina and No. 1 Virginia

Winner: North Carolina

Sleeper team: Maryland, "maybe."

Bracket breakdown: "The PIAA is set up very similar; the powerhouses will be successful. The big schools will make it to the end. Oregon has a great coach and can do a lot of damage. I don't like Oklahoma a lot."

Dane Pollock, McConnellsburg boys coach

Final 4: No. 1 Kansas, No. 2 Oklahoma, No. 1 North Carolina and No. 2 Michigan State

Winner: Michigan State

Sleeper team: Iowa

Bracket breakdown: "It's coming for a year that a 16 is going to beat a 1. It might not be this year, but it's coming. This is the most losses the 1 seeds have ever had combined, so I think there's more parity because of all the one and done's. I think a 16 is coming for a 1 - maybe not this year, but it's gonna happen soon."

Greg Best, Fannett-Metal boys coach

Final 4: No. 1 Kansas, No. 3 Texas A&M, No. 1 North Carolina and No. 2 Michigan State

Winner: North Carolina.

Sleeper teams: Iowa and VCU

Bracket breakdown: "I like the way (UNC) played in the conference tournament. They rebounded well and their defense was outstanding ... and that's what wins championships."

Editor's note: Sports reporter Lindsey Smith contributed to this report.