Hello Everyone,
It is the best time of the year as the brackets have been released and we will have nonstop basketball starting Tuesday night during the First Four (and also some NIT action). As those that have read this blog before know, I do not like giving out predictions. Instead, I prefer to just provide you with information that will help you make picks that you feel comfortable. With this mind, I am going to change it up a little and place teams in categories based on methods that people use to make their picks. It may not be as detailed as in the past, but I think it will better help those understand who they are picking and why. So, without further delay, let's look at this year's tournament.
Before I dig into the teams, I would just like to touch on the selection process really quickly. I don't have very much to say. The committee did not make any egregious errors, and even the ones people are trying to stir up controversy over today are not that crazy. Michigan State probably should not be in the same region as Duke. However, they do get a geographical edge over Michigan by going to DC instead of having to fly across the country and that is a part of the selection criteria. I would really love to see teams like UNC Greensboro, Lipscomb, and Furman get spots over the likes of St. John's, Arizona State, and Florida (I mean, how many times are we going to have Arizona State limp out to Dayton and lose in the First Four). However, the committee was able to get Belmont in there, some of the mid-major conference champions got some nice seeding, and UNC Greensboro would have made the tourney had Oregon not won the Pac 12 tournament Saturday night. The divide between the power conferences and the mid-majors is shrinking and hopefully the committee will notice this trend for years to come. With the committee out of the way, it is time for the good stuff.
If you like Chalk, these are the teams for you:
Duke - I don't have too much new to say about Duke. They have the best player in the country, arguably the best coach in the country, and they are the overwhelming favorite to cut down the nets. So while you hear their praises over the next few days, I will try to play devil's advocate. First, the Blue Devils cannot shoot it from deep. They ranked 333rd(!!!!!) in the country at 3 point shooting this season shooting at a 30.6% clip, easily the worst in Coach K's tenure. Of course, Zion and RJ Barrett have no issues getting to the rim. However, they are going to have matchups against teams who could get hot from behind the arc like UCF, Virginia Tech, and Michigan State (and that's just in their region). If one of these teams gets hot, will Duke be able to keep up? Along with their poor 3 point shooting, the Blue Devils also struggle to get it going at the free throw line shooting a bad 68.9% ranking outside the top 200 in the country. They won't be able to blow everybody out. There are going to be a couple of games where they are going to need to close games out. Will they be able to find a cure for their poor free throw shooting or will they falter when they need it the most? Despite the poor shooting numbers, the one thing that could plague them the most is their lack of depth. Sure, they have three guys that are going to be drafted in the top 10 of the NBA draft, but after that, there isn't too much. Tre' Jones is a solid point guard and Javin DeLaurier is starting to find his niche. However, we all saw what happened when Zion went down. Hell, even when Tre' Jones went down, the Blue Devils lost at Cameron to Syracuse (and they had Zion). If teams can find ways to get Zion, RJ, Cam, or Tre', Duke could struggle to recover. So, if we have learned anything, the key to beating Duke will be keeping the studs from being able to get into the paint while forcing them to shoot from the perimeter and get them into foul trouble and exposing their lack of depth.
Virginia - I'm sure seeing UVA brings up very dark memories for many looking at the bracket. Everyone said that they were the real deal, and that they were really one of the two contenders last season. Then, the impossible happened. They became the first number one seed to ever be upset by a 16 seed. Being the victim of the biggest upset in the tournament's history could have led to an unbreakable tailspin that would haunt the program forever. However, the Cavs came back stronger this year and are looking to erase their demons of the past. They have all of the ingredients to make a tourney run. They have the floor general, Ty Jerome, the sharpshooter, Kyle Guy, the NBA prospect, DeAndre Hunter, and a deep rotation that can overcome foul trouble. They were the best team in the country this year according to KenPom, and their only losses in the regular season (ACC tourney loss to Florida State) were to the Zion-led Blue Devils. Many will look to their loss in the Semifinals of the ACC tournament as a sign that they still cannot compete in the one and done setting. However, I think this could be the year that Virginia exorcises the demons and gets to the Final Four. They have the friendliest draw of all of the #1 seeds. Teams that could beat the Cavs are going to need to be able to pick up the tempo and hit shots at a ridiculous rate. There isn't really an opponent in their region that has the ability to that. Tennessee, Purdue, Kansas State, Wisconsin, and Villanova are all teams that really grind and play almost as slowly as Virginia. At the end of the day, Virginia is just better than these teams and will most likely be able to outwill them over 40 minutes. While many may cower in fear looking back at their past, I think there is reason for optimism when it comes to the Cavs.
North Carolina - I feel like UNC has been somewhat overlooked this year. While their arch rivals have the monster recruits, the Tar Heels have mostly depended on their experience to carry them this season. Past March hero, Luke Maye, is the do everything leader of the team that will be looking to get his second national title. Cameron Johnson, the senior transfer from Pitt, is probably the best natural scorer on the team. They also have sharpshooter, Kenny Williams, who has struggled to find consistency this season. Although the upperclassmen have played a gigantic role on this team, they also have a couple of freshmen who they need to come up huge this March. Starting point guard, Coby White is probably the fastest player, getting from one end to the other, in the country. At the beginning of the season, he was a little too quick and would force the issue a bit much. However, with a little seasoning, White has transformed into one of the best point guards in the country and really peaked in the second meeting between UNC-Duke. Along with White, there is Nassir Little, who was actually their highest ranked freshman coming into the season. Little has struggled to find the court coming off the bench this season, however, he could be the X-Factor this team in the tourney. Although it probably won't be as a guy playing 30 to 35 minutes a game, he could be the high-energy defender who hit timely buckets in limited minutes. If he can fit this role, it could elevate his draft stock and help the Heels win the title. The Heels will be fan favorites as they love to just run up and down the court with the fifth highest tempo in the league. Honestly, the Tar Heels will run into trouble if they run into a team that is able to slow the game down and limit the number of possessions UNC can get. The perfect example is Virginia as their previous meeting in Chapel Hill showed (a 69-61 Virginia victory). The one team in their region that could really give them fits is Kentucky. They play at pretty deliberate pace and could throw the young White off his game and create turnovers. UNC appears to be in a good spot and should be able to advance as long as they are able to play at their pace.
Gonzaga - The Zags continue to be an enigma to most of the country. Their detractors will say that they don't play anyone. They say Mark Few can't coach in the tourney. They say you play too late at night, play earlier. First, the Zags went out and challenged themselves in the non conference portion of the schedule. They faced off against UNC at the Dean Dome, Tennessee on a neutral floor, and went to Maui and came back to Spokane the champions after defeating Duke. They were the only team to beat a full-strength Blue Devils team thus far this season. Second, Mark Few is one of the best coaches in the country. Anybody that can build a top program at a small Jesuit school in Spokane, Washington will never receive the proper amount of credit that they are due. Also, the man made the national championship game two years ago. Lastly, yeah, they do play games pretty late at night. You can't win them all. On a serious note, this team is increidbly deep. Their best NBA prospect at the beginning of the season does not even start at the moment, Killan Tillie. Their starting lineup currently includes a Japanese sensation, Rui Hachimura, a freakishly athletic big man, Brandon Clarke, an experienced point guard that has played in a national championship, Josh Perkins, an athletic sharpshooter, Zach Norvell, and a bulldog (see what I did there), Corey Kispert. Along with a deep bench, this is probably the best team that Mark Few has ever had. For being the lowest seeded #1, their road to Minneapolis isn't too daunting. While many may overlook the Zags, it is in your best interest to respect this squad for being incredibly deep and incredibly athletic.
WOW!!! That took way too long. From here on out, I'll probably just so some quick strengths/weaknesses when it comes to teams. If I need to describe players, it will probably be more detailed
If you like Blue Bloods, these are the teams for you:
Kentucky -
Strengths: . Incredibly deep rotation
. Coach Calipari is one of the best in the country.
. Incredibly strong frontcourt prescense led by PJ Washington and Reid Travis (best graduate transfer this season.
. Ashton Hagans has really grown throughout the year and really gives the Wildcats some much needed stability at the point.
. Tyler Herro is the best college player to come from the state of Wisconsin since Sam Dekker.
Weaknesses: . Tyler Herro spurned Wisconsin to go to Kentucky.
. The Wildcats struggle to hit from three point land.
. The Wildcats can also struggle to defend from three point land.
Essentially, the Wildcats will falter if the games gets decided from behind the arc. If the Wildcats are able to limit their opponents to mid-range shots and are able to get into paint on the offensive end, they should be good to go.
Michigan State: -
Strengths: . Tom Izzo
. Big Ten Player of the Year, Cassius Winston
. Tons of experience with Winston, Nick Ward, Matt McQuaid, and Kenny Goins
. Top ten in terms of efficiency in both offense and defense
. Incredible at rebounding
Weaknesses: . Tons of injuries (Josh Langford and Kyle Ahrens are out for the year)
. Lack of NBA talent
. Duke is in their region
. Nick Ward is incredibly foul-prone.
The Spartans are tough, gritty and talented. Tom Izzo has made his mark in March before and he will look to do it again. While the team has tons of experience, it is mostly due to the fact that most of these guys will not be playing in the NBA in the future. A possible battle with Duke in the Elite Eight will be your favorite narrative (Freshmen NBA prospects vs experienced college players)
Michigan -
Strengths: . John Beilein
. Incredible on the defensive end of the floor
. Most of the team that played in the National Tournament game last season is back
. Great pedigree in the one and done format
. Do not turn the ball over
Weaknesses: . Offense sputters at times
. Lack depth, especially at the point
. Zavier Simpson really struggles at the free throw line
John Beilein has really become the czar of March. He's won two of the past three Big Ten Tournaments went to the National Championship last year, and he will be looking to replicate that this year. Michigan is incredibly strong on the defensive side of the floor. The key for them will be to avoid long spells on the offensive end of the floor. Their defense will be able to keep them in most games, but if Charles Matthews and Ignas Brazdeikis are unable to put the ball through the net, the Wolverines will fall short of expectations.
Kansas -
Strengths: . If they get to the Sweet Sixteen, they will be playing in Kansas City
Weaknesses: . The losses of Azubuike and Vick
. They can't win outside of Phog Allen
. Incredibly inexperienced
. Their Big 12 Championship streak ended
. Embroiled in scandals
If you couldn't tell, I am not very high on Kansas. It is really in their best interests for their season to just end. I think it just might against Northeastern.
If you like hot teams coming off Conference Tournament Championships, these are the teams for you:
Auburn -
Strengths: . One of the best backcourts in the country (Jared Harper and Bryce Brown)
. Deep rotation
. Getting hot at the right time.
. Chuma Okeke is a baller
Weaknesses: . Bruce Pearl is a crook.
. This season probably won't count
. Bryce Brown has not been the same player this year as he has in the past
. Lack of tournament pedigree
Auburn had fairly high expectations this season. A preseason ranking of #11 had people in Alabama feeling high on this team. However, a rough non conference slate and a bad start to the conference season tempered expectations a bit. The Tigers caught fire last week and won three straight games including their second victory over Tennessee in a week to capture the SEC tournament. The biggest reason for their success was their ability to hit from deep. They just kept shooting away all weekend, and the ball just kept going in. They are going to need more of the same to continue their hot streak, and it starts with their two-headed monster in the backcourt, Jared Harper and Bryce Brown. Brown has not been the same player this year, but he seems to excel in a tourney setting. In order to get to the second weekend, he will need to keep showing up in the one and done format.
Iowa State -
Strengths: . Fan base travels well
. They have six to seven guys who are capable of putting up points consistently
. Virginia transfer, Marial Shayok, is an asbsolute game changer
. They can shoot from deep
Weaknesses: . They are not a great rebounding team
. Only one starter is taller than 6' 5''
. They aren't the most amazing team defensively
Iowa State is incredibly efficient offensively, and it all starts with Marial Shayok. The Canadian born star must have brought over some of Virginia's secrets when he transferred. The guy is an amazing athlete and can shoot from anywhere on the floor. He may be their biggest weapon, but the Cyclones can get scoring from all over the floor. They have three other starters who average double figures and even have a guy off the bench (Lindell Wigginton) that averages 13 a game. This team can score, but they are going to run into trouble against teams with big bodies. If they can get to the Sweet 16, which will be a difficult task, a front court like Kentucky's would likely wreak havoc on a team like Iowa State. Hopefully, their sharpshooting can carry them far in this tourney.
Cincinnati -
Strengths: . Jarron Cumberland is one of the most underrated scorers in the country
. Athletic junkyard dogs that can play D against anyone in the country
. They will be playing "home" games in the first weekend
Weaknesses: . Who else is going to score other than Cumberland?
. .500 record against Quad 1 teams
Cincinnati teams in the past have been built on defense. This one is no different. They are gritty, physical, big and will prevent you from getting in the paint. One thing this is Cincy team has that many previous versions did not is a stand-alone starter. Not since Sean Kilpatrick have the Bearcats had a bonafide scorer like Jarron Cumberland. The guy can drive to the hole or make shots from deep. Their big issue will be if Cumberland gets into foul trouble or he has poor shooting night. Will someone be able to pick up the load? Maybe Keith Williams or Tre Scott can be those guys? However, the Bearcats may need to depend on their proximity to home to get through Iowa and Tennessee in the first weekend.
Oregon -
Strengths: . Dana Altman
. Payton Pritchard
Weaknesses: Pac-12
No Manute Bol's son, Bol Bol
I don't have too much to say about the Ducks. Everyone is raving about how hot Oregon is. Guys, they play in the Pac 12. The Pac 12 is having the worst year by a power conference in history. Add in the fact they are still without Bol Bol, and we can disregard the Ducks.
If you like slow-paced teams that are "ruining the game," these teams are for you:
Kansas State -
Strengths: . Knocked Kansas off of their throne
. Incredibly efficient defensively
Weaknesses: . No consistency offensively
. If Dean Wade is out for the tournament, the Wildcats are done
Yes, Kansas State won the Big 12 this year and are able to stop teams consistently on the defensive side of the court. However, if Dean Wade misses any time in this tournament, the Wildcats will go down with him. He just means too much to this squad. He scores, he prevents players from coming into the paint, and he is an emotional leader. I just don't think the 'Cats will be able to recover without their King Meow.
Virginia Tech -
Strengths: . Justin Robinson is back
. Buzz Williams is a premier coach
. Kerry Blackshear is one of the most improved players in the country
. VT can shoot the 3 ball
Weaknesses: . Will Justin Robinson be rusty?
. Tough draw being in same region as Duke
. 4-8 record in Quad 1 games
. 4 guard lineup leaves open paint on defensive side of ball and leaves Blackshear prone to foul trouble
Although this Hokie team plays slow, they are a ton of fun to watch. They spread out the court in order to drive and kick for threes. Also, they get the ball into the post to Kerry Blackshear who either takes on the one-on-one matchup or dishes out to one of his fellow four guards to take more 3's. With Justin Robinson coming back after a 12 game absence, the Hokies become one of the most dangerous teams in the field. However, we really don't know what we are getting with Robinson. An early game against A-10 Champ, Saint Louis, will provide Robinson with a stiff challenge. It is worth noting that the Hokies beat the Duke Blue Devils in Blacksburg earlier this season However, that team did not have Zion. With a small lineup, a potential Sweet 16 showdown with Duke could be disastrous as Zion and RJ could have a field day in the paint and put Blackshear in serious foul trouble. The key to a successful March for VT will be hitting their shots and keeping Blackshear on the court.
Wisconsin -
Strengths: . Ethan Happ
. Incredible defense
. Don't really turn the ball over
Weaknesses: . Who will score when Happ isn't on the floor?
. Happ cannot shoot free throws
. Lack of athleticism
It is scary times in Madison. Basically, the Badgers run through Ethan Happ. They will get the ball to Happ in the post, and then he will either draw a double/triple team in the post that leads to open threes, or he can just take the guy one-on-one with his old school post moves. After Happ, there is a lot of standing around the perimeter and just throwing up threes. The worst part is that Happ hasn't even been that great lately, and his poor free throw shooting has made him a liability late in games. In order for the Badgers to be successful, Happ will need to be the stud that he has been throughout his career, and he will just have to hit some free throws. If coach, Greg Gard, needs to take Happ out of games due to his poor free throw shooting, the Badgers could be bowing out early.
St. Mary's -
Strengths: . Jordan Ford is an efficiency monster
. Ability to frustrate opponents with methodical approach
. Just beat Zags, can beat anyone
Weaknesses: . 2-6 against Quad 1 teams
. Who will score outside of Ford?
. How will they play against better competition?
St. Mary's was able to take down the Zags in the WCC title game by taking up all 30 seconds of the shot clock during their possessions and absolutely frustrating Rui and Josh Perkins on the other side of the court. They forced Gonzaga to play at their pace, and it worked to perfection. In a different region, I would feel better about their chances. However, they got placed in the "region of patience" with teams like Virginia, Wisconsin, Kansas State, and their first round opponent, Villanova. Playing against teams just like them will be a detriment to the Gaels and may lead to an early exit this weekend.
If you like teams with gaudy records, these teams are for you
Houston -
Strengths: . 27-3
. 6-2 in Q1 games
. Experienced coach in Kelvin Sampson and experienced team
. Two elite scorers (Armoni Brooks and Corey Davis Jr.)
Weaknesses: . Was the American Conference too easy?
. Despite 27-3 record, they are only 15th in the Kenpom
. Rob Gray is no longer there to bail them out
Let's be real this Houston Cougars team is good. Are they as good as their 27-3 record states? Eh. Sure, they can hit three pointers, keep up on the defensive side of the floor, and most importantly they win ball games. They deserve much credit for their wins against LSU and Utah State in non-conference play and also for their two regular season wins over Cincy. However, in a tourney where they will be consistenly play top competition, can they keep up with limited rest? Last year, they should have beaten Michigan were it not for a miracle 3 from Jordan Poole. The Cougars have Sweet 16 potential, but they are going to need someone other than Brooks and Davis Jr. to step up (perhaps Galen Robinson, Jr or Dejon Jarreau) in order to get out of the first weekend.
Buffalo -
Strengths: . 31-3
. Most of the team that beat DeAndre Ayton and Arizona last year is back
. CJ Massenburg is a baller
. Nic Perkins averages 14 ppg off the bench
Weaknesses: . They play in the MAC
. Fast tempo leads to bad shots
I won't lie, I have not watched the Bulls too much this year. What I do know though, is that they have one of the best players in the country, CJ Massenburg. They have a lefty that can go off at any time, Jeremy Harris. They have possibly the best sixth man in the land, Nic Perkins. Lastly, their coach was a high school math teacher, who former coach, Bobby Hurley started a relationship with, and now he is the coach of the best mid-major team in the country. This team has proven in the past that they can compete with top NBA talent. The key for Buffalo will be taking smart shots and being able to stay in the moment. If they start forcing up terrible shots in the face of a little adversity, their season will end in disappointment.
Nevada:
Strengths - . 29-4
. Incredibly Talented
. Eric Musselman
. Will not have to play San Diego State
Weaknesses: . 27 in Kenpom
. Eric Musselman
. Didn't even win their conference tournament
. Team may not be on the same page
Nevada was at one point seen as the 7th best team in the country. Now, they enter the tournament as a #7 seed. This team is definitely talented and have true scorers in Caleb Martin and Jordan Caroline. However, the Wolfpack really didn't challenge themselves in their non-conference schedule. Also, they could not finish the deal in Vegas last weekend and win the Mountain West. In order to even get out of the first round, Nevada is going to need to get it together and become a team. If they can't do that, it's going to be a long summer in Reno.
Wofford:
Strengths - . 29-4
. Incredibly efficient offensively
. They can shoot from behind the arc
. Incredible backcourt duo of Fletcher Magee and Storm Murphy
Weaknesses: . 3-4 in Q1 games
. Not the most athletic team
Wofford has the potential to be the darlings of the tourney. They have two guys named Fletcher and Storm who just drain 3 pointers. They got a strong big man in Cameron Jackson, who is a monster inside. Plus, they have an adorable mascot, Terrier. If they are given any space on the perimeter, they are going to unload at will, and they are probably going to win the game. However, they will struggle against physical, athletic teams that will not give them any space to take jump shots.
If you think this is a college football bracket, these are the teams for you:
Tennessee:
Strengths - . Expereience
. Incredible resume
. Great balance
. All-American Grant Williams and All-name Admiral Schofield
. 9-4 in Q1 games
Weaknesses - . Sputtered down the stretch
. Rick Barnes' postseason record
. Not incredibly deep
I guess maybe Tennessee is more of a basketball school at the moment. The Volunteers have had an incredible year that has seen them exceed even their wildest expectations. They have the third most efficient offense in the land and can get scoring from anywhere in their starting five. They have an All-American in Grant Williams who has developed into one of the finer players in the country. While they have had a great season, there is some cause for concern heading into the tourney. One, their coach is Rick Barnes. Barnes has historically struggled in the NCAA Tournament. Hell, he couldn't get out of the first weekend with Kevin Durant and DJ Augustin in 2007. Second, their rotation only goes 8 deep, and two of the guys coming off the bench average less than 4 ppg. If they get into any foul trouble, their lack of depth could be exposed. Lastly, they just haven't been the same team over the past month. It may have just been the toll a season can take on a team, but something felt off with the Volunteers in the last month of the season. It has led me to believe that their season could end in a multitude of ways, unlike a month ago where it appeared they would at least get to the second weekend of the tournament.
Oklahoma -
Strengths: . Battle-tested
. Christian James
. Lon Kruger is a fine coach
Weaknesses: . Under .500 in conference play
. Really bad during the last month and a half of the season
. Who else can produce other than Christian James
I'm not going to too deeply into this team. Christian James is basically it, and he is really good. However, he isn't good enough to carry the Sooners very far. If they even get passed Ole Miss, Virginia is going to beat this team by 20+. Sorry, Trae Young isn't coming through that door. It is onto next year in Norman.
Florida -
Strengths: . Battle-tested
. Very strong defensively
Weaknesses: . Don't know where the scoring is going to come from
. What happened to KeVaughn Allen and Jalen Hudson?
Florida is a weird tale. While most players/teams get better with time, the Gators seem to have peaked early and regressed over the past couple of years. Maybe some of their offensively-driven players tailed off as they have committed to Mike White's defense first game. If Kevaughn Allen and Jalen Hudson can somehow find that scoring touch they had early last year when they were two of the most feared scorers in the country, the Gators may have a run in them. However, at the moment, it seems like more of a reach than a reality.
Ohio State -
Strengths: . Chris Holtmann is a wonderful coach
. Incredibly bright future for the basketball program
. Solid Defense
Weaknesses: . Kaleb Wesson and CJ Jackson are the only consistent scorers
. Did not challenge themselves in the nonconference schedule
. One of the lowest Kenpoms among at-large teams
Ohio State really doesn't have too much of a chance in the tournament this year. However, they have an incredible coach in Chris Holtmann, and he's got a top 10 class coming in next year. If anything, Holtmann could muster a run out of this team, but it is still highly unlikely. Don't worry though Buckeye fans, the future is very bright in Columbus.
If you like a Defending Champion, this is the team for you:
Villanova -
Strengths: . Championship pedigree
. Jay Wright
. Duo of Eric Paschall and Phil Booth
Weaknesses: . Lost a ton of last year's championship team
. Although they won the league, they struggled in a down Big East
. Where will scoring come from outside of Paschall and Booth?
When you are the defending national champion, you get your own category. This is the not same Villanova team that has dominated college basketball the past three seasons. This team really struggled at the beginning of the season, even losing to Furman at home. Then, they somewhat regained their status early in Big East play, but then stumbled again later in the season. Their season culminated in a Big East Tournament championship, and the hope that maybe they could repeat again. The committee does not feel this way and only gave the Wildcats a #6 seed. I'm going to have to side with the committee here. It's hard to throw doubt at a Jay Wright coached team, but they are a little too dependent on Paschall and Booth. If Jermaine Samuels and Collin Gillespie can provide some secondary depth, maybe the 'Cats can get into the second weekend. However, I think the magical run 'Nova has enjoyed over the past few years may be coming to an end.
Alright, I need to shorten this again, I am just going to list teams and write maybe a sentence or two about them. Let's see how this goes.
Purdue - Carsen Edwards is one of the best players in the country. However, that could be a detriment to the Boilermakers. The game where they get knocked out of the tournament, Edwards will totally shoot 3 for 15 from the field. Purdue is pretty balanced and can get scoring in the paint and from behind the arc. However, I'm not sure how trustworthy Matt Painter is in March.
Ole Miss - The Rebels' coach, Kermit Davis, was the coach at Middle Tennessee a couple of years ago when Reggie Upshaw and the Blue Raiders pulled off one of the biggest upsets in tourney history over Denzel Valentine and Michigan State. With the backcourt of Terence Davis and Breein Tyree, could he do it again in round 2 against Virginia?
Iowa - The Hawkeyes have been absolutely dreadful the past month, depending on rather miraculous plays to win games against mediocre competition. Maybe if Tyler Cook and Luke Garza can get right, maybe they will steal a game or two.
UC Irvine - The Anteaters are really good and could pull off some shockers this March. Led by Max Hazard and Doc Rivers's son, Spencer, Irvine dominated the Big West this season. With a matchup against a downtrodden Kansas State team, let' see if Irvine can take advantage of this opportunity.
Old Dominion - If you are looking for some inspiration, Monarchs' coach Jeff Jones got his team to the tournament while battling Prostate Cancer. We all wish him the best in his battle and hope he can get a few games in this tourney. He can rely on the power duo of BJ Stith and Ahmad Caver to pull off some upsets.
Colgate - The Raiders had their first 20 win season in school history. It's crazy they couldn't accomplish that with Adonal Foyle.
Gardner-Webb - Sorry, it is the wrong year to draw Virginia.
LSU - Sadly, this team is a total mess. The coach, who is about to be charged with federal crimes, is calling out the Athletic Department. The fan base appears to have the crook coach's side, and the players are stuck in this mess. The really sad part is that the players are good. Tremont Waters is one of the best defenders in the country, averaging multiple steals a game. Naz Reid and Kavell Bigby-Williams are big men that can defend and fly at the rim. The Tigers are an exceptional basketball team but will they be able to overcome the controversy surrounding them.
Mississippi State - Ben Howland has done a great job down in Starkville. This team is pretty well-balanced and has a very strong backcourt. If you want to cheer for a senior who stuck it out through some rough years and will finally get his shot at One Shining Moment, Quinndary Weatherspoon is your guy. He is a great scorer and has ushered in a new era at Miss State. Good luck to you Quinndary.
Maryland - The Turtles are very talented and have made great strides this season. They also could have legit home games in DC if they can get to the second weekend. However, Mark Turgeon is one of the worst in-game coaches in the Power Conferences, and the fourth youngest team in the country will probably be unable to work around that.
Louisville/Minnesota - Both these teams don't have much going for them, but their first round matchup is the Pitino bowl. Minnesota's coach is Richard Pitinio, the son of former Louisville coach, Rick Pitino. Father Pitino was run out of Louisville for paying Addidas to pay for players. If Rick makes it to the game, it will be primetime television.
VCU - If Marcus Evans plays, they may win their first round game. If he doesn't, move on please
UCF - We've got a father-son coach-player duo: Johnny and Aubrey Dawkins. Aubrey can really shoot from 3, but the real attraction is 7'6'' Tacko Fall. If UCF can get to the second round, imagine Tacko going up against Zion #mustseetv.
Belmont - The whole world is excited to see Belmont get an at-large bid, and it looks like they proved their worth against Temple tonight. Let's see what they can do against Maryland.
Temple - Sad way for Fran Dunphy's career to end. However, it was nice that he got to the dance in his last year.
Liberty- They play really, really slow. If they are going to win, they are going to have to stick to their snail's pace of a game.
Saint Louis - SLU has a fun mascot, a Billiken. That's all I got.
Yale - The Bulldogs has one of those guys that you need to watch this weekend. Miye Oni has real NBA potential. He had one of those "magical growth spurts" and now he has the size and athleticism, along with a shot, to work for a sport in the association next year. Yale just loves to throw up shots and with a meeting with a reeling LSU on the horizon, could the Ivy Darlings pull off the biggest upset of the tourney?
Bradley - The Braves are the only school in Illinois to make the tournament. Cool!!
UNC Central - If UNC Central can win their play-in game, we will have the battle of Durham between Duke and Central. Should be fun.
North Dakota State - Since, North Dakota State won the Summit League, I don't get to talk about Mike Daum, who lost to Texas in the NIT today. So, thanks, all I've wanted to do all year is talk about how great Mike Daum is. Now, I can't.
Utah State - Sam Merrill is a baller, and the Aggies have a real shot at possibly knocking off UNC in the second round.
Washington - The Huskies aren't that good. They play in the Pac-12. With their matchup zone, they could cause trouble against most teams. However, Utah State and possible next opponent UNC are not those teams
Seton Hall - I feel like the Pirates always come on strong at the end of the year. The 2018-2019 Pirates have Myles Powell, who is one of the few guys in the tourney who can win games by himself. Just pull up some clips from Seton Hall's games against Kentucky earlier in the year.
New Mexico State- Another team called the Aggies in this region, ha. I feel like the Aggies are always a popular upset pick, but then once they play, we realize they play in one of the worst conferences in the country and that they don't play any real competition all year. Will probably be the same thing this year.
Northeastern - I don't know much about Northeastern other than the fact that they won the Colonial, they have a wonderful Co-op program, and they were the fortunate ones to draw Kansas (don't hear that too often).
Georgia State - Ron Hunter is still the Panthers' coach. Remember when he fell off of the stool after his son hit the game winning shot against Baylor in 2015? Good times.
Abilene Christian - I imagine this is the most popular team in the country.
Iona - They love to run and run and run. Against UNC, they will probably give up triple digits.
Texas Tech - The Raiders go as Jarret Culver goes. If he goes off, Texas Tech will go far. If he falls short or gets into foul trouble, this will not be a great tourney in Lubbock.
Florida State - The Seminoles play a million different guys and are incredibly athletic. They upset Gonzaga last year and could get them again in the Sweet 16. Also, yes, Leonard Hamilton does look incredible for being 70 years old.
Marquette - The Golden Eagles are really good at offense and seem to have finally seemed to find some stability on the defensive end. They have the best pure scorer in the country in Markus Howard. The only question is if his wrist is totally healthy? If it isn't, it may be a total Ja Morant day on Thursday.
Syracuse - Syracuse finally wasn't a controversial bubble team this year, and yet they are still pretty irrelevant in this field. They probably won't get out of the first weekend, and Syracuse will try to get back onto the bubble next year so they can make the Sweet 16 again.
Baylor - Scott Drew doesn't get enough credit. He literally took a program that hosted a guy that murdered one of his own teammates in 2003 and completely saved it from total disaster. Baylor consistently makes the tourney and that is a testament to the great coaching of Drew.
Arizona State/St John's - Not worth the time. Congrats on being the last two teams in.
Murray State - Ja Morant is the Russell Westbrook of college basketball. Do whatever you can to watch this guy in the tournament. And if you miss him, it's okay. You'll see him in an NBA All Star Game in the future.
Vermont - The Catamounts should have won the America East last year. However, the UMBC Retrievers stunned Vermont with a buzzer beater three pointer in Burlington. Who knew the state Virginia would rue the result of that game?
Northern Kentucky - Another cool nickname: The Norse
Montana - I really wish I had good things to say about the Grizz in their rematch against Michigan, but the one guy they need to attack the Wolverines, Jamar Akoh, has been out since early February. With a lack of inside presence for the Grizz, it could be a very long night.
Fairleigh Dickinson - Mr. Dickinson was the founder of a Fortune 500 company that focused on medical technology and apparently the founder of the school that will lose to Gonzaga on Friday.
Prairie View A&M - Their football team had the longest losing streak in NCAA football history, losing 80 straight games. The streak lasted from 1989-1998. Well, at least they appear to be much better at basketball.
Well, there it is. Enjoy the madness and remember, pick your brackets how you would like. You only have control of so many things in life.
