Mr. Predicto Under Review

With the end of the college basketball season it's time to look over my preseason predictions and see how I did. Here's how I envisioned the final regular season top 15 back in November:

1. Florida
2. Duke
3. Missouri
4. North Carolina
5. UConn
6. Kentucky
7. Gonzaga
8. Arizona
9. Kansas
10. Notre Dame
11. Stanford
12. Indiana
13. NC State
14. Michigan State
15. Louisville

Clearly I put way too much stock in the Gators, who I predicted were good enough to take home the national title. I should have seen them for the soft, directionless team they actually were. I also completely whiffed on Mizzou (as did most people), Arizona, Notre Dame and Indiana. I was pretty dead-on with Duke, Kentucky, Gonzaga, NC State and Michigan St. As for the rest, let's call it a push.

As for my All-America picks, I was waaaaaaaay off on Ike Diogu as player of the year. Was there a more surpising underachievement this season than that of the reigning Pac 10 freshman of the year? I mean he was a total non factor in the conference, which is why Arizona St finished dead last in a weak conference this year. My other first team members were Emeka Okafor, Julius Hodge, J.J. Redick and Raymond Felton. These were decent picks as all of these guys had good or great years. But I clearly underestimated eventual Naismith winner Jameer Nelson and I clearly didn't put enough stock in our own Josh Childress.

I think my most ridiculous prediction was Indiana to win the Big 10. Hey, you gotta go out on a limb sometimes. And sometimes that limb will break and you fall and break your collar bone. But I am undetered. Predictions are one of my favorite aspects of this blog and my Nostradamus skills will continue to get plenty of practice. NHL playoff picks, anyone?