Every year I look forward to March Madness. My father and I have filled out brackets since I was 13 years old, so it’s safe to say I take NCAA basketball very seriously. To celebrate the St. Thomas men’s basketball team’s appearance in the Division III Final Four, this is my Division I bracket prediction.

1. Duke
I always have been and always will be a Duke fan. Every year my bracket is topped by the Blue Devils, except for last year. During the 2010 playoffs, I jumped on the John Wall bandwagon and chose Kentucky as my championship team. Sadly, karma taught me to never be a fair-weather fan when Duke claimed the championship. I have a good feeling about the Blue Devils this year after the team’s recent victory over University of North Carolina.

2. Ohio State
The Big Ten champions have the No. 1 overall seed, making them a great pick for the Final Four. The team’s weapon, freshman forward Jared Sullinger, has proved himself time after time this season. Sullinger is one of the season’s big-name players, pushing the team onto my Final Four list.

3. Brigham Young University
Everyone loves an upset. Even with their recent bad luck, I am willing to place BYU in my Final Four. BYU still managed to earn a No. 3 seed in the Southeast region, even with sophomore Brandon Davies off the team. Never underestimate a team’s desire to prove people wrong. The Cougars have something to prove, and that fire could lead to victory.

4. Purdue
The Boilermakers are seeded third in the Southwest region. The team managed to get ranked second behind Ohio State during the Big Ten season. Purdue’s top scorers, JaJaun Johnson and E’Twaun Moore, are seniors, giving them one last chance for a title. That inspiration may push the Boilermakers toward the championship, which is why the team makes my Final Four.

Gina Dolski can be reached at grdolski@stthomas.edu.