Why #1 Seed Houston Advances
The Cougars protection is elite. They permit a nation main 57 factors per contest on solely 37.9% taking pictures. It’s extremely troublesome to win when then different workforce suffocates you want that. They pressure 15.9 turnovers per sport and themselves common fewer than 9 per contest. They’ve three gamers, all guards, that common double determine factors: LJ Cryer, Jamal Shead, and Emanuel Sharp. Shead, the most effective of the bunch, might make a reputable case for being the most effective faculty participant in the complete area. Their 4 losses this season have been in opposition to a 4 seed (Kansas), a 9 seed (TCU), and a 2 seed (Iowa State – twice). Houston seemed like one of many prime groups within the nation from begin to end this season, and never many groups within the bracket are prepared for the bodily, suffocating fashion of protection the Cougars play.
Why #1 Seed Houston Goes Down
Pretty much as good as their protection is, if a workforce can discover a strategy to rating in opposition to them, Houston can battle to maintain up offensively. Of their 4 losses they averaged 56.5 factors and gave up a median of 68. Jamal Shead is a superb participant, however Houston struggles when groups are capable of preserve him from being the offensive initiator. If groups enable him to attain and set others up, Houston turns into extraordinarily troublesome to beat, however they don’t have anyone else to actually run the offense if a workforce could make him uncomfortable. One other good motive Houston might come up brief? They produce other proficient groups of their bracket. Marquette misplaced 9 video games this season, however 4 of them have been to #1 seeds UCONN (3 times) and Purdue. With two different losses coming to Creighton (three seed), and Wisconsin (5 seed). And if Marquette will get that deep, it’s possible they’ve Tyler Kolek again and taking part in effectively. The #3 seed, Kentucky, can lose to anyone, however can also be able to beating anyone when they’re at their greatest. The Wildcats have the kind of balanced offensive assault to seek out weaknesses in Houston’s protection and have scored 100 or extra six occasions this season. The 4 seed, Duke, has Kyle Filipowski, who has the dimensions to offer Houston some matchup issues. Houston is an elite workforce, however they don’t have a free cross to the Closing 4.
Candy 16 Sleeper
Texas Tech. The South Area is fascinating in that the groups in it are actually good, however exterior of Houston,they’ve some actually obtrusive weaknesses. Marquette’s greatest participant has been out injured, Kentucky can’t guard anyone some nights, Duke lacks rim safety and has felt disconnected as a workforce for a lot of the season, and Wisconsin has misplaced 9 video games since February 1st. So who’s the workforce that might sneak their method right into a candy 16? Texas Tech is a workforce with high quality guard play that’s battle examined popping out of the Large 12. Their first spherical matchup is in opposition to an N.C. State workforce that needed to win 5 video games in 5 days to win their convention match and make it to the massive dance. Their second spherical opponent would possible be a Kentucky workforce that’s extraordinarily up and down of their play. Texas Tech shoots the ball effectively sufficient from the surface to be a workforce that will get scorching and goes on a run within the match. Sophomores Pop Isaacs and Darrion Williams may lead this Crimson Raider squad to a Candy 16.
Closing 4 Sleeper
Regardless of the weaknesses of the highest groups on this area, it’s exhausting to make a case for a decrease seeded workforce to make it to the Closing 4. Might it occur? Certain. Nevertheless it’s unlikely that the entire prime groups on this bracket go bust. Kentucky has turn out to be a classy decide to go deep the previous few weeks, however their lack of ability to defend ought to provide you with pause in choosing them. Nonetheless, it’s at all times exhausting to beat the workforce with probably the most uncooked expertise, and that workforce is Kentucky. Freshmen Reed Sheppard[ and [Player: Rob Dillingham come off the bench and yet may be the most explosive guards in the bracket. Antonio Reeves, meanwhile, provides a veteran presence in addition to his 20 points per game. I’m a firm believer that guard play wins in March, and they have the best collection of guards. If they put it together, they could upset both top seeds on their way to a Final Four.
Top First Round Matchup
#8 Nebraska vs #9 Texas A&M. It doesn’t have the big names and they may not be marquee programs, but the guard play in this matchup should be really fun. Nebraska has a fireballer in Keisei Tominaga. He’s not afraid to fire from the outside and has scored 20 or more in seven games this year. On the other side, Texas A&M had a disappointing season, but Wade Taylor IV averaged 18.9 points and 4 assists per game and Tyrese Radford pitched in 16 a game himself. The battles won’t only be outside though, as Henry Coleman and Soloman Washington from A&M will have their hands full taking on the Cornhusker big man Rienk Mast. This game has the potential to be one of the more tightly contested first round matchups.
Top Potential Player Matchup
Tyler Kolek vs. Jamal Shead. If Houston and Marquette take care of business and wind up in the Elite Eight, we would be treated to a matchup between the best defensive guard in the bracket vs. the best pure point guard. Shead makes life miserable for opposing guards and is the head of the snake for the Houston defense. Kolek, meanwhile, does it all, averaging 15 points, 7.6 assists, and 4.7 rebounds a contest. This matchup would be extremely compelling and would feature two of the finalists for the Bob Cousy award. On top of it all: it would be for a berth in the Final Four. It’s hard to beat a matchup like that.
Top Under The Radar Matchup
#2 Marquette vs. #15 Western Kentucky. Speaking of Tyler Kolek, nobody quite knows what to expect from him in the tournament with him being out with an oblique injury. Should Marquette still be able to beat Western Kentucky? Yes. But I would not be surprised if it was a close game with 8 minutes left to play in the game. Oso Ighodaro and Kam Jones are both extremely good players as well who can carry Marquette, but Western Kentucky has Don McHenry who looks poised to put on a show in the tournament and 6’10, 240 lb Rodney Howard has the size to matchup with Marquette’s frontcourt. WKU averages 80.6 points per game and Marquette averages 78.3, so this could be a fun, high scoring affair. It’s probably not wise to expect the upset, but the Hilltoppers can absolutely make this a game.
Top 5 NBA Prospects
1. Cody Williams, ColoradoA 6’8”, 190 lb freshman forward, Williams is the younger brother of NBA wing Jalen Williams. While he’s not the go-to player on the Buffs’ roster, he has the most pro upside. He’s not a volume outside shooter, but he shot 42.1% from behind the arc this season. He does a little bit of everything, and fills in the gaps on the team. He averaged 12.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.7 assists this season while shooting 56.5 percent from the field. He is prone to turnovers, but as he becomes stronger and gets the opportunity to expand what he does on the court, he has a chance to be special. He has physical tools that the others on this list don’t have and should get better as he develops his body.
2. Reed Sheppard, KentuckyThe lowest ranked of all of Kentucky’s star studded freshman class, Sheppard has wowed this season. The Wildcats’ sixth man averaged 12.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 4.5 assists while shooting 52.5% from three and coming up with 2.5 steals per contest. He makes heady plays, comes up with big shots, and wreaks havoc on defense. Despite being listed at 6’3”, he is a good shot blocker both at the rim and at the three point line. His stellar rookie campaign has him positioned to be a top ten pick in the upcoming draft.
3. Rob Dillingham, KentuckyLike Sheppard, Dillingham comes off the bench for Kentucky. Unlike his teammate, Dillingham is all offense. Dillingham is an electrifying scorer that can single handedly create a scoring run. He came from Overtime Elite with the reputation as a gunner, but refined his game to become much more efficient and team-centric. He averaged 15.4 points per game with 3.9 assists. He is exceptional at beating defenders off the bounce, has elite body control going to the rim, and is a willing passer if the defense rotates to him. He is extremely difficult to stay in front of when he has the ball in his hands and has all the makings of an microwave scorer at the guard position.
4. Kyle Fillipowski, DukeFilipowski had the opportunity to enter the draft last season and he would have likely been a mid first round pick. Instead, he opted to come back, and the seven-footer averaged 17.1 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. While his rebounding went down, his assists and blocks went up. A career 31 percent three point shooter, he shot 35% from deep this past season, showing growth in that area. He has the ability to shoot from the outside, but he’s best when he doesn’t settle for the outside shot. After being Duke’s go-to offensive option this year, he again looks poised to be a mid-first round pick in this year’s draft, assuming he elects to take the opportunity.
5. Antonio Reeves, KentuckyThe 6’6” senior led the Wildcats in scoring at 20 points per game. He’s old for a prospect, but he showed a lot of growth in his game this season. Previously a defensive liability, he has improved that area of his game, but his real contribution is his ability to score the basketball. He is a 44% three point shooter this season who draws defenses out. This season he has developed an elite running floater that he uses when defenders run him off the three point line, and it’s made him the most dangerous scorer in the SEC not named Dalton Knecht. With his ability to score the basketball and his size, he looks to be one of those seniors that can step in and help an NBA team right away next year.
