Predictions. More often than not they’re wrong. In the playoffs, you’ll see guys like Rasheed Wallace run their mouth and predict victory in a pivotal game Game 3 when his team is down 0-2. But even if they lose that game, the prediction serves a purpose. It rallies the troops, it gives the pundits something to talk about, and it makes for excellent chalkboard fodder.

After last year’s third straight Final Four run, UCLA freshman Jrue Holiday is going out on a limb. He believes four’s a charm.

“National championship, national championship,” Holiday said. “We’ve gone to the Final Four three years in a row, the history here. What else do I have to say? National championship.”

Last year’s squad that lost to Memphis in the Final Four featured Kevin Love, Russell Westbrook and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute – all three left early for the NBA. Nonetheless, UCLA features the No.1 recruiting class in the nation, a bumper crop of freshman including Holiday, Drew Gordon, Malcolm Lee, J’mison Morgan and Jerime Anderson. Along with seniors Darren Collison and Josh Shipp, this squad should do damage in the Pac-10 under Ben Howland.

Right now, most media outlets have at least North Carolina and UConn ranked ahead of the Bruins in the preseason rankings. Who would you say is the team to beat?

Source: Los Angeles Times