Kansas City Wizards midfielder Kerry Zavagnin, a University of North Carolina graduate, wrote from Argentina Tuesday with his thoughts on the 2007 NCAA college basketball tournament.
"UNC will win the title this year because we have a good inside game in Tyler Hansborough, a good point guard in Ty Lawson, the deepest team in the tournament and an outstanding coach," Zavagnin said. "We are gaining momentum as the tournament progresses and when at our best, there is no better team in the tournament."
Zavagnin did acknowledge, however, that at least one other team has a strong chance to win the tournament this year.
"Florida is dangerous," he said. "They have experienced players who have won the title before. Also, they have the easiest path to the Final Four."
True to his Carolina blue pedigree, Zavagnin showed his extreme disdain for that other team on tobacco road and his happiness at their early exit from the tournament.
"I would give my left eye, and perhaps more body parts, if it would keep Duke from ever winning another championship," he said. "Besides, those guys don't really like college basketball. It was awesome to watch Virginia Commonwealth put Duke in its place."
This year, another team member shares Zavagnin's hatred for Duke. First-round draft pick Michael Harrington is also a UNC alumnus, and the two have become fast friends.
"We keep each other updated on any UNC news," Zavagnin said. "I believe we are the only two who have picked UNC to win the title in the team pool. I guess we will split the prize at the end."
With North Carolina already defeating teammate Ryan McMahen's Michigan State team so far in the tournament and AJ Godbolt's Maryland during the regular season, Zavagnin has his sights set on a team from the West Coast.
"I hope we meet UCLA and beat them in the finals because there are three guys that would have to hear it from me," Zavagnin said. "I would rub it in the faces of Jimmy (Conrad), Kevin (Hartman) and Sasha (Victorine) all season long."
Zavagnin anxiously awaits North Carolina's upcoming game against the Trojans of Southern Cal Friday at 9 p.m. CT in East Rutherford, N.J. KCWizards.com will check back with Zavagnin after this weekend's games to see how North Carolina faired and get his reaction to the latest match-ups.
