Girls and gents, we’ve acquired a bracket. It’s essentially the most thrilling week of the season for faculty basketball followers, so when you’re searching for any edge in your bracket swimming pools and need to be taught a bit about a few of the finest groups, try our tackle the 16 finest groups heading into the NCAA Event!
1. UConn (31-3)
Any doubt about who the perfect workforce in school basketball is went out the window with a wild, upset-filled weekend within the largest convention tournaments. UConn was the one top-tiered workforce to exit with a championship and can now enter the NCAA Event because the No. 1 total seed and favorites to repeat as champions.
2. Houston (30-4)
A blowout loss to Iowa State within the Huge 12 Championship is an entire aberration from Houston’s physique of labor this season. I’d warn anybody contemplating selecting the Cougars to be an early exit to judge extra than simply this most up-to-date loss. Regardless of some latest accidents, this workforce is constructed for a deep run in March with a “touring protection”, dependable guard play and the expertise to hold on in tight contests.
3. Purdue (29-4)
Right here’s the place Purdue’s season actually begins to matter. The Boilermakers haven’t proven up in March since Carsen Edwards went ballistic and in Zach Edey’s last season, they’ll have to take benefit. Their draw within the Midwest area is a superb begin and so long as they get previous the 16-seed, I like their possibilities to do exactly that.
4. North Carolina (27-7)
The ultimate top-seed doesn’t have the identical form of favorable draw however Hubert Davis and the Tar Heels received’t thoughts one bit. He did lead an 8-seed to the Nationwide Championship sport two years in the past, so a troublesome draw as a top-seed received’t be any tougher.
5. Iowa State (27-7)
How Iowa State wasn’t at the very least the highest second seed is a thriller to me as a result of the Cyclones had fairly an argument to take the ultimate one seed from North Carolina. A beatdown of Houston within the Huge 12 Championship confirmed simply how harmful this workforce could possibly be and if I had been UConn, I’d be hoping another person takes them out earlier than having to face off within the Elite Eight.
6. Tennessee (24-8)
It could possibly be an fascinating reunion for Rick Barnes with Texas within the second spherical, particularly if his workforce performs like they did in an early exit on the SEC Event. We hadn’t seen that aspect of Tennessee all season, however March is Insanity for a cause. I doubt there’s an entire lot of confidence within the Volunteer fanbase, however that is nonetheless one of the vital gifted groups within the nation heading into the NCAA Event.
7. Kentucky (23-9)
I’ve acquired Kentucky as the highest three seed on this subject with an awesome likelihood to get out of the South area led by Houston and Marquette. The Golden Eagles like to run and no one runs higher than the Wildcats. Particularly with Tyler Kolek’s well being in query, Kentucky has a terrific likelihood to get to the Elite Eight and hope Houston isn’t ready for them there.
8. Arizona (25-8)
Everybody within the nation will likely be begging for a Caleb Love and UNC reunion within the Elite Eight however the Wildcats have some issues to determine to make {that a} actuality. They’re taking part in their worst basketball on the worst time, which received’t instill quite a lot of confidence of their followers after shedding to No. 15 Princeton a 12 months in the past.
9. Marquette (25-9)
Tyler Kolek must get wholesome for the Golden Eagles to have an opportunity this March and the committee did them no favors for the second straight season. Florida is the hardest seven seed within the subject and will simply ship Marquette house early as Kolek tries to get again up to the mark following his damage.
10. Auburn (27-7)
That was some spectacular run by the Tigers to seize an SEC Event championship with the reward being a half of a bracket with the favorites in UConn and two different reigning Last 4 groups in San Diego State and FAU. If Auburn goes to make a run just like 2019, they’ll have gone by means of fairly the gauntlet to take action.
11. Illinois (25-6)
The winner of the Huge Ten Event is often a preferred choose to make a run in March (see Iowa in 2021), however after a 12 months of doubting the Illini, I’m prepared to purchase into that development and ship them to at the very least the Elite Eight. It will likely be an fascinating distinction of types ought to they meet Iowa State within the Candy 16 however with Terrence Shannon (pictured) on their aspect, something is feasible for Illinois.
12. Creighton (23-9)
Individuals will speak concerning the guards of Creighton all day lengthy however the anchor and most essential participant for the Blue Jays is well Ryan Kalkbrenner. The massive man will shield the paint in addition to anybody and is a pressure to be reckoned with offensively as nicely. Akron is significantly better attacking the basket than letting it fly from the perimeter, so Kalkbrenner’s presence will likely be important on this first spherical matchup.
13. Duke (24-8)
A dreadful finish to the season has Duke followers seeking to 2025 earlier than the 2024 NCAA Event even begins. The Blue Devils are on critical upset alert within the first spherical and want to point out up as a totally completely different workforce to have an opportunity at making a run this season. The excellent news is that they have the expertise to do it – simply possibly not the mindset.
14. Baylor (23-10)
Baylor followers must be fairly excited with their half of the West area, apart from a really troublesome first spherical matchup with No. 14 Colgate. If the Bears keep away from the upset there, don’t be stunned to see them within the Elite Eight and even the Last 4 given Scott Drew’s monitor document in March.
15. Saint Mary’s (26-7)
The Gaels acquired revenge on Gonzaga within the WCC Championship however the social gathering is over now that Grand Canyon is subsequent on the schedule. The Antelopes could possibly be essentially the most gifted workforce within the subject on the 12-line and above and can present a scare on the very least for the WCC Champions on Friday.
16. Gonzaga (25-7)
Talking of the Zags, they’ll additionally face off with an uber-talented 12-seed in McNeese State but when they will get by means of that matchup, Mark Few’s group has an honest likelihood to knock off Kansas and Purdue to get to the Elite Eight. Even with one of many more durable first-round matchups, Gonzaga is likely one of the center of the pack seeds to look at on this 12 months’s event.
Subsequent 5 (Sleepers): Florida, Mississippi State, New Mexico, Samford
Gamers of the Week:
Terrence Shannon, No. 13 Illinois Combating Illini
Shannon is essentially the most dynamic participant in school basketball proper now who’s surging on the good time. The Combating Illini are one of the vital thrilling, and unpredictable, groups within the nation due to it with the southpaw who dropped 40 within the Huge Ten semifinals poised to be the subsequent celebrity of March Insanity if they will go on a run.
DJ Burns, NC State Wolfpack
DJ Burns was the most important fan favourite of the week whereas main NC State to 5 wins in 5 days to clinch a spot within the NCAA Event subject. The senior massive man scored, created, defended and did nearly every part for the Wolfpack to finish a dream week that saved Kevin Keatts’ job.
N’Faly Dante, Oregon Geese
Dante and the Geese had been already having an awesome week earlier than Saturday’s Pac-12 championship that the workforce wanted to win to earn a spot within the Huge Dance. The extremely touted recruit from 4 years in the past delivered once more within the title sport with an ideal 12-12 capturing efficiency, 9 rebounds and 4 shares to defeat Colorado and earn an automated bid.
AJ Storr, Wisconsin Badgers
Wisconsin’s run to the Huge Ten championship doesn’t occur with out St. John’s switch AJ Storr. The sophomore averaged 24.7 factors within the last three video games of the event, together with a terrific 30-point efficiency to sneak previous Northwestern. The Badgers should be feeling good after an awesome run within the Huge Ten Event and Storr is a large cause why.
Jaelen Home, New Mexico Lobos
How ‘bout these Lobos? Jaelen Home’s play, and his father’s response to it, went viral this previous week and helped New Mexico steal a bid to the NCAA Event with a win over San Diego State within the MWC Championship. They’ll be a preferred upset choose on the 11-line this week, and rightfully so, with an elite backcourt led by Home.
Play of the Week
It may not be a terrific play, per se, however any buzzer-beater that punches a ticket to the NCAA Event is value recognizing. That’s precisely what Yale did on Sunday afternoon and the celebration alone earns the Bulldogs the play of the week. Test it out and Comfortable March everybody!
https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/39752682
Video Credit score: ESPN
