The stage is set! With March Madness right around the corner, there’s only one thing that everyone is looking to do: fill out their bracket. On top of that, this year's NCAA tournament seems to be a lot more exciting than usual, as the Covid-19 pandemic stopped there from being a tournament last year, and gave the opportunity for many new teams to have their say in the tournament this year. With the First Four having just taken place on Thursday, March 18th, and the first round tipping off today, March 19th, here’s a deeper look into all 32 games, and the tournament as a whole.
WEST Region
The Bulldogs come into not only this contest but the entire competition, undefeated, and with the best odds to win the tournament. After going 26-0 on the season, the Zags’ are looking to match Indiana's ‘76 run to the chip, and with a team like the one they have right now, that is nowhere near impossible. Gonzaga’s Jalen Suggs, a top 5 NBA prospect, and AP All-American 2nd team player, averaged near 14, 5, and 5 on the season, and also added 2 steals per game to his name. His court vision and ability to be a general on the floor puts him on a level above the guards of Norfolk State. The Zag’s also have a big man by the name of Drew Timme, another AP All-America, who stands at 6’10 and averages a little over 7 rebounds a game. Timme will be more than a problem in the paint offensively. On top of all that, the Zags have one of the best shooters in college basketball: Senior, Corey Kispert. Kispert, who shoots 44.4% from behind the arc, and averages 19.2ppg, will be another problem throughout the entire tournament. Kispert landed himself a spot on the AP All-American first team this year as well.
Norfolk St., who come into this contest after a MEAC championship over Morgan St., are led by guard Devante Carter, who averaged 15.5ppg on the season. Whilst Norfolk St. almost blew a 19 point lead in the first four, they were able to close out the game and earn themselves a ticket against Gonzaga.
With that being said, this game only goes one way, and that’s Gonzaga’s. Gonzaga’s ability to move the ball behind the arc and down low, shoot the ball from three, and defend all 3 levels, will lead them to a large victory here over Norfolk St., in their journey to 32-0.
The #8 vs #9 matchup is always a good one, and is scheduled to be again here in the West this year. Oklahoma comes into this game at 15-10, and were just ranked 25 in the AP top 25. The Sooners are coming off of a close 69-62 loss to the Kansas Jayhawks, who are the #3 seed in the West. On the other hand, Missouri is 16-9 and are also coming off of a tough loss to the #3 seed in the South, Arkansas. Austin Reaves leads the Sooners in not only points, but rebounds and assists too. Reaves is a complete guard, and is able to control the game on both ends for the Sooners. Oklahoma’s guard play is what has gotten them to the level they are at. Oklahoma, who are 5-7 against top 25 teams, come off as inconsistent though. The Sooners, who have lost by 15 to Baylor, beat both Alabama, and West Virginia twice; two teams who have strong guard play on both ends of the court. Missouri on the other hand, tend to show up in bigger games, going 4-2 against top 25 teams. The Tigers, who are led by guards Dru Smith and Xavior Pinson, along with forward Jeremiah Tilman, took down both Illinois, and Alabama, in two 3 point wins.
The keys to this game are this; If Missouri can stay consistent on offense and score the ball willingly, they can turn this game into their favor very easily, but if their inconsistent offense shows up again, Reaves and the Sooners should be able to take care of the Tigers. This 8-9 matchup can go either way and is bound to be a great game.
Creighton comes into this game after a tough loss to Patrick Ewing’s Georgetown, in the Big East tournament Final. On the other hand, UC Santa Barbara comes into this contest red hot. The Gauchos are 18-1 in 2021 and are coming off of a conference tournament win, led by JaQuori McLaughlin, and Amadou Sow. Santa Barbara is one of the best free throw shooting teams in the league, proving them to be one of the best closing teams as well. While this game seems like a major upset alert, which it may be, the Bluejays are led by experience and lights out shooting. Creighton’s ability to score the ball from the field and behind the arc, with all starting upperclassmen averaging double digits in points, will make it hard for the Gauchos to get by. This 5-12 matchup will be a great game, but one that Creighton should win. Do not rule the Gauchos out though.
UPSET ALERT! As Jay Bilas stated, “Jason Preston is the LaMelo Ball of college basketball.” The #13 seed in the West, Ohio University look to knock off the Cavaliers of Virginia in what is a huge first round matchup. The reigning 2019 champions, who held the best record in the ACC, had to drop out of the ACC tournament due to Covid-19. With that being said, Virginia will not be able to travel to Indi for the tournament until today, March 19th, a day before their game. The Cavaliers were led by senior forward, Sam Hauser, who will look to do most of the scoring in Saturday’s game.
Now, more about Jason Preston. The junior from Orlando, Florida, is averaging 16.6 points per game for the Bobcats, along with 6.8 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game. The near walking “triple-double” had no D1 offers coming out of high school, and ended up making his own highlight reel, before dwindling his way into the University of Ohio. This Ohio team, led by Preston has a balanced offense that will look to attack early. With the Cavaliers not being able to practice all week, this 4-13 matchup serves as the perfect opportunity for a big upset. If you were to ask me, I have Preston and the Bobcats moving on here, and maybe even farther.
Two words: Evan Mobley. The All American, 7 footer, and projected top 5 NBA draft pick, led the Trojans all year, averaging 16.8 ppg, 8.6 rpg, and a stunning 3.2 blocks per game. The Trojans frontcourt is one of the best shot-blocking and rebounding frontcourts in college basketball. The problem USC faces is their shooting, and free throw shooting especially. With only one player shooting 70% or more from the line, winning tight games is something the Trojans tend not to do.
On the other hand, this serves as a good opportunity for #11 seed Drake to pull off an upset. After a back and forth first four game versus Wichita St., the Bulldogs were able to close out and win by one over the Shockers. The Bulldogs have good size in 6’10 Darnell Brodie, but face a big problem after Roman Penn injured his foot, and took himself out for the season. While this 6-11 matchup faces a lot of potential, I can’t see Mobley and the Trojans losing this early in the tournament. I’ll take USC here.
This Kansas team isn’t the same Kansas team we usually see this time of year. The Jayhawks have been handed their fair share of Covid-19 struggles, having to withdraw from the Big-12 tournament, but still find themselves as a #3 seed as March Madness approaches. The Big 12’s most improved player, McCormack, has been a defensive presence for the Hawks all year, helping them rebound and protect the rim. Kansas guard, Ochai Agbaji, leads the Hawks in scoring and controls the floor for them. While Kansas is stacked with talent, their inconsistency with and without Covid-19, lead them to be one of the worse #3 seeds in the tournament. With that being said, this game should go Kansas’s way fairly easily, but if the Jayhawks are to match up against Evan Mobley and the Trojans in the second round, they could face some problems.
This matchup between Oregon and VCU will turn out to be a good one. Oregon has won 11 out of their last 12 games before losing to Oregon St. in the Pac-12 tournament. The Duck’s have a very consistent offense, and share the scoring between all five starters, who all average double digit points. On the other hand, VCU’s defense acts as one of the best in the country. The Ram's efficiency off of the ball will serve as a problem for Oregon. This 7-10 matchup is a coin toss, but I think Oregon’s consistent offense will be able to break down the Ram’s defense, sending them into the second round.
This Iowa team will have no problem getting around Grand Canyon, and should be able to walk their way into the Sweet Sixteen. Luka Garza, the soon-to-be player of the year, and All-American, averages 23.7 ppg, and 8.8 rpg for the Hawkeyes, acting as a walking double-double. Not only does Garza dominate down-low, but the big man shoots 40% from three on the season, and isn’t afraid to pop one from behind the arc. Speaking of shooting, the Hawkeyes have plenty of sharpshooters by the names of Jordan Bohannon, CJ Fredrick, and Joe Wieskamp. Wieskamp, who suffered a late season ankle injury, is looking to get back into his mid-season stride and help Iowa to a long tournament run.
Sadly, Grand Canyon won’t serve any match for Garza and the Hawkeyes. Iowa’s ability to run the floor, move the ball around the perimeter, and work it down low will become a problem for every team they face in the tournament. Defensively, Iowa does tend to struggle, especially against top 25 teams, but their offense tends to bail them out. I will say that the Hawkeyes will walk through the first few rounds, but as they approach the later stage, they will face their fair share of trouble.
EAST Region
This Michigan team is scary. Led by freshman Hunter Dickinson, and sophomore Franz Wagner, this well-rounded team looks to make a deep run in the tournament. Juwan Howard, a coach of the year candidate, coached the Wolverines to a 20-4 regular-season record. The Wolverines are a great rebounding team, with again mentioned, AP All-American, Hunter Dickinson standing at 7’1. Franz Wagner is a defensive presence, averaging a little over a steal and a block a game, along with 7 rebounds. Whilst this team is strong defensively, they know how to score the ball well too. Dickinson is dangerous down low, while guards Mike Smith and Eli Brooks are both efficient three-point scorers. Now, while the Wolverines see themselves as a Final Four candidate for sure, the absence of Isiah Livers says otherwise. The 6’7 senior averaged 13, 6, and 2, on the season, and provided a spark on the offensive end. While his absence is a key to Michigan’s success, the Wolverines will have no problem getting past Texas Southern, who are hot off of a controlled win over Mt. St. Mary's. This first round matchup should be a blowout, but the Wolverine’s path to success won’t be as easy as some may think.
SLEEPER ALERT! LSU comes into this tournament after an on and off regular season, but as a very dangerous team. After making a late run into the SEC tournament, and losing by 1 to Alabama in the final, the Tigers are seeking revenge. Freshman guard Cameron Thomas, who averaged 22.6 ppg, showcased his ability to shoot the ball against Alabama. Alongside him stands 6’9 Trendon Watford, an extremely versatile player who can do anything you want him to do on the court. Watford, who had 30 against Alabama, showcased all of his talents, going one on one down low, and shooting from behind the arc. If both Thomas and Watford can stay hot, I see LSU making a deep run into the tournament.
While LSU can be very dangerous, St. Bonaventure is no walk in the park. The Bonnies of St. Bonaventure offer a very balanced offense and are hot off of an A-10 tournament win vs VCU. The Bonnies, who are led by guards Kyle Lofton and Jaren Holmes, will give LSU a run for their money. Although LSU is a younger team, with not much experience, I think their talent will overcome this balanced St. Bonaventure team. I’ll take LSU in this one, and wouldn’t be surprised if they make a little run.
Georgetown came into the Big East tournament with a losing record. They now find themselves in the NCAA tournament after a crazy run ending with a Big East Title win over Creighton. The Hoyas, coached by the all-time great Patrick Ewing, are looking to pull off a huge upset here against Colorado. Georgetown is a good rebounding team that tends to have a size advantage over their opponent, but they do have their struggles scoring. Colorado, on the other hand, are an experienced shooting team that is balanced offensively from the inside out. The Buffaloes are one of the better free throw shooting teams in the competition, making them hard to beat in a close game. With the experience that they have in their guards, and their ability to move the ball, getting a good look on every possession, I think that Colorado will be too much to handle for the Hoyas. With that being said, Georgetown comes into this game hot, and an upset is very possible, but if you ask me, I’m taking Colorado.
The #4 seeded Florida St. Seminoles have a very well rounded team coming into this tournament. The Seminoles are surrounded with talent, with the likes of M.J. Walker, who shoots 44.4% from behind the arc, Scottie Barnes, the versatile 6’9 guard, and forward RaiQuan Gray. Whilst Florida St. has been inconsistent at times, their well rounded offense should put them ahead of UNC Greensboro. Don’t be surprised if the Seminoles make a late run in the tournament either.
UPSET ALERT! That’s right. I don’t see BYU lasting very long in this tournament. Although the Cougars are a very experienced team, I think that a tournament experienced team in UCLA will beat them. The Cougars shoot very well from behind the arc, with both guards averaging double-digit points, along with forward Matt Haarms. With that being said, the Bruins are hot off of a big overtime win versus Michigan St., shooting the ball well, along with rebounding it. UCLA is known to make a little run in March, and after a first four win over the Spartans, I think they are lined up to do just that. While this BYU team would really be 20-3 without having to play against Gonzaga, I think their story ends here in the first round.
This Texas Longhorns team is a very dangerous team, and will make a run into at least the Elite 8. The Longhorns, who are hot off of a conference title, are led by Andrew Jones, a player who can make a shot out of nothing. Behind Jones lies Matt Coleman III, who passes the ball with ease. A big worry for the Longhorns rested in the hands of Jase Febres, who was injured not too long ago, but has recovered as of late.
Texas is stacked with talent this year across the board, and has the experience to get themselves far in the tournament. With that being said, the 23-4 Abilene Christian Team is also hot off of a conference title, and is looking to give Texas some trouble. The Wildcats are exceptionally well at defending behind the arc, something Texas excels at, but struggle to get things going on offense. This 3-14 matchup sounds like it could be close, but it won’t be. Give me Texas.
This matchup is going to be an eye watcher for sure. The Huskies, who haven’t seen the tournament in a while, are also the most title heavy school in both men's and women’s basketball (combined 14 championships). The Terrapins, on the other hand, are a tournament team, looking to pull off an upset in this first round matchup.
When looking at the Huskies, James Bouknight, who averaged 19.4 ppg on the season, gives UCONN’s offense the spark that they needed all season long. This shot heavy Huskies team though is not known for their offense, but rather for their defensive efforts. The Huskies are a big team and play an aggressive style of defense, which leads to teams turning over the ball a lot. Maryland, on the other hand, is a very good shooting team from three point range. The Terrapins have a high 3-point percentage and are led in the backcourt by guards Eric Ayala, and Aaron Wiggins. The problem for Maryland though, is rebounding. The Terrapins tend to get dominated on the boards, and if they want to win this game, that’s going to have to change.
Whilst I have UCONN winning this matchup, this Maryland team can certainly pull off an upset, beating teams such as Illinois and Purdue earlier in the season.
Herbert Jones, the SEC player of the year, SEC defensive player of the year, and AP All-American 3rd team player, leads a strong Alabama team into the tournament, hot off a close win in the SEC championship. The Crimson Tide are arguably the best defensive team in the entire tournament. They led the SEC in both rebounds and steals per game. Their backcourt, led by senior John Petty Jr., averages over 5 rebounds and 1 steal a game. Jones averages over 6 rebounds, and more than a block and a steal a game. The big man is a force in the paint not only defensively, but offensively as well, coming off of a hot 13 and 11 game against LSU. On top of the team’s defensive efforts, the Crimson Tide shoot the ball well from behind the arc, especially Quinerly, who shoots 44.3% from three. This Alabama team has the size to run the floor and get points in the paint, and is going to make every game exceptionally hard for whoever they play against.
Rick Pitino, on the other hand, makes his 5th appearance with a different team in the tournament, with Iona. With that being said, this Iona team doesn’t have the size to put up with Jones and Alabama, and is going to have to work a miracle if they want to win this one. Give me Alabama in this one, and in my Final Four.
SOUTH Region
This Baylor team is looking to cut down the nets on April 5th. The Bears went 22-2 on the season, with their only losses coming from Kansas and Oklahoma St. Baylor had their doubts from time to time and weren’t a known #1 seed, but because of the backcourt that they have, have solidified themself as one. Baylor’s guard play is no doubt one of the best in the country, led by Jared Butler, an AP All-American first team player, Davion Mitchell, another All-American, and MaCio Teague. The three of them average a combined 47 points per game, and all shoot light’s out from three point range. The team has four players shooting over 40% from three, who average at least 15 minutes a game. The only concern for this Baylor team comes with their size, as they don’t have a spectacular big. But, the guard play is exceptional defensively, leading the Bears to only allow 66 points per game, whilst going 7-2 against top 25 opponents.
Hartford on the other hand, come into this one with little luck on their side. The Hawks don’t have much size and are going to have to put on a show defensively, and offensively, if they want to stand any chance with the Bears. The only way Baylor doesn’t make it far into the tournament, is if their defensive efforts are matched, and they struggle to shoot the ball from behind the arc, which is something I don’t see happening. Give me Baylor in the Final Four.
All of the “blue bloods” struggled this season, including UNC. The Tarheels find themselves sitting at an eight seed against a strong Wisconsin team. UNC went 18-10 on the season and found themselves not ranked in the top 25 going into the ACC tournament. With that being said, this inconsistent team went on a little run as of late, demolishing Notre Dame, and beating #22 ranked Virginia Tech, until losing in a nail-biter against Florida State. North Carolina was led by their frontcourt all season, with sophomore Armando Bacot doing most of the dirty work, alongside senior Garrison Brooks. The 6’10 forward, Brooks, has plenty of experience in the tournament, along with Head Coach, Roy Williams.
This Wisconsin team is exceptionally good at keeping the ball, and tend to make their opponent work for points. On top of that, the Badgers are also extremely experienced and have been here before. But, Wisconsin doesn’t have a definite scorer and will find it hard to get good looks down low and in the paint. Whilst this UNC team isn’t near as good as they usually are, I think that their coaching and bigs will be able to take care of the Badgers in this one. Again though, if Wisconsin doesn’t get dismantled down low, this game could easily go in their favor, so don’t count them out. Put this one on your calendar, cause this 8-9 matchup is bound to be a fantastic game.
The Wildcats are always a top team in the tournament, and in college basketball as a whole, but find themselves in a bit of a predicament as of late. After another spectacular start to the season, Jay Wright and his team went on what was a little bit of a downright fall. The Wildcats ended the season outside of the top 10, and really for one main reason: Colin Gillespie. Gillespie, the team's second leading scorer and leader in assists, went down with a torn MCL late in the season. The senior guard was the last piece of the puzzle for the Wildcats, and controlled the tempo for them the entire game. He was their floor general and the foundation of the team. With his absence, Justin Moore, who was also coming off of an injury, has had to step up, and do his best to fulfill his place. With that being said, do not rule Nova out.
Jay Wright, one of the best coaches in college basketball, has the experience to bring this team far into the tournament, even after an upsetting loss to Georgetown in the Big East quarterfinal. The Wildcats, who are now led by sophomore Robinson-Earl, who averaged 15.7 ppg on the season, are depending on their fundamental style of basketball, in which they move the ball nicely, finding a good look every possession. Now, on the other hand, Winthrop look at this game as a perfect opportunity to pull off an upset. The 23-1 Eagles haven’t played a top 25 team all year, but face a Gillespie-less Nova team in the first round. Their pace of play will for sure keep Nova on their toes, but I think the Wildcat’s coaching, and tournament experience, will get them by in this first round.
I see this game as a pretty straightforward win for the Boilers. But, remember, this Purdue team isn’t the same Carson Edwards team we saw in 2019. With that being said, this team still definitely has the potential to go dancin’ in the tournament. Purdue has arguably the most size in the tournament. Their rebounding and big-men play are led by Trevion Williams, who stands at 6 foot 10 inches. Zach Edey, the freshman center, stands at 7 foot 4 inches, making himself a presence in the paint. North Texas is coming off of a C-USA tournament win, and are looking to spoil the Boilers' plans in the tournament this year. While this team is strong defensively, I don’t think they have the size to compete in this one. I’ll give Purdue the green light here.
This 6-11 matchup is going to be one for the ages. What’s interesting here though, is that I really like Texas Tech, and have them making a run far in the tournament. Mac McClung is one of the most fun players in college basketball. He averages 15.7 points per game this year and shoots 42% from the field. The Red Raiders don’t have a ton of size, but are great at forcing turnovers and getting quick buckets off the break. Everyone on the team can score, and getting to the line has proved to be one of their greatest strengths all season. Utah State, on the other hand, does have the size and is led by 7-foot Neemias Queta, who is a force on the interior. The Aggies find themselves top ten in rebounding in the country. With that being said, I think that the size of Utah St. will definitely give Texas Tech some problems, but their scrappy defense and ability to score at will, will get the Red Raiders into the second round, and maybe even futher.
Most #3 seeds find themselves getting into the second round quite easily, and while I think Arkansas will win this game, Colgate is going to give the Razorbacks a run for their money. Moses Moody is one of the best players in the SEC, averaging 17.4 ppg, and almost 6 rpg. The Razorbacks have multiple All-SEC players, and have a very deep roster, with SEC 6th man of the year in JD Notae. The team doesn’t have much size, but knows exactly how to box out, and get rebounds, making them a quick and dangerous team off of the transition. Colgate on the other hand only has 1 loss of the season. Patriot league player of the year, Jordan Burns, is known to do most of the scoring for the Raiders, and again averages over 15 points per game. Like mentioned about the Razorbacks, the Raiders are a fast-paced team, and are super efficient on both offense and defense. This makes for a great game on both ends of the court, but at the end of the day, I think the talent that Arkansas possesses, will get them by in the first round.
Florida versus Virginia Tech is another game that could go either way. Florida entered this season with a lot of potential before losing star Keyontae Johnson, for medical reasons. Since then Florida’s been an inconsistent team, going on both losing and win streaks from time to time. On the other hand, Virginia Tech is 4-0 against top 25 teams, and a consistent team to say the least. Whilst Virginia Tech is a #10 seed in the tournament, their consistency compared to Florida's should carry them to victory. The only way I see Florida winning this game is if they get on a run early, and don’t let off the gas. This game is another coin flip, but give me the Hokies.
This Ohio St. team is going to be a problem in the South. Ohio St. enters the tournament after a tough overtime loss to Illinois in the BIG-10 championship. The Buckeyes are led by E.J. Liddell and Duane Washington Junior. Both players can attack the rim and shoot at will, especially Washington, who went off for 32 points and 5 threes against Illinois. Not only does this team have the talent to score the ball at all three levels, but they can defend too. E.J. Liddell is a presence in the paint defensively, averaging almost a steal and a block a game for the Buckeyes. As long as the Buckeyes can stick to their gameplan, this Ohio St. team will win this game no problem, and make a far run into the tournament.
Midwest Region
Drexel makes their first appearance in the big dance in over 25 years, but their journey ends right here. Illinois is one of the best teams in college basketball, led by two All-American players. Ayo Dosunmu is one of the best players in the country, if not the best. He averaged 20.7 ppg on the season and earned himself a spot on the AP All-American first team. He can shoot, pass, dribble, and everything else. So long he is on the court, Illinois will be a problem. On top of that, Trent Frazier and Andre Curbelo round out the backcourt and offer more depth than any other team in college basketball. Both of these players can score the ball at every level and offer a presence on defense as well. On top of all of that, they have a man by the name of Kofi Cockburn, who is a beast, to say the least. The 7-foot monster averages practically a double-double and offers himself on both ends of the court. No team has been able to shut down Kofi yet this season, and for that reason, I have them not only heading to the “Big Dance”, but winning it. This first round matchup won’t be close, and neither will most of the games Illinois play in.
What a game this will be: Loyola vs. Georgia Tech. This Loyola team is led by AP All-American Cameron Krutwig. The Ramblers are a tournament team, known for their late run in the tournament a few years ago, which gives them experience over this Georgia Tech team. With that being said, Georgia Tech is hot off of an ACC tournament win, proving themselves to be one of the better teams in the tournament, but are without star player, and ACC player of the year, Moses Wright. Without Moses Wright, and Krutwig on the court for the Ramblers, I see Sister Jean and Loyola Chicago dancin’ into the round of 32.
While Tennessee may be a #5 seed, their inconsistency shows otherwise. The Vols ended the season going 8-7, while struggling to get hot at any point and get on any type of win streak. With that being said, there is talent on their roster. The Vols have a strong defensive unit and good free-throw shooting, but again struggle with consistency on offense, and they lack depth.
Oregon St. on the other hand is hot off of a tournament win and is looking to pull off the upset in this first-round matchup. Oregon St. is also very inconsistent though, and tend to lack on the offensive side of the game too. With both teams being unpredictable, I have to side with the more talented team, in the Vols. I have Tennessee winning this round, but no more after that.
Two words: Cade Cunnigham. Oklahoma St. has arguably the most influential player in college basketball on their roster. Cade Cunnigham can change the course of any game, at any time, anywhere. He is that good. The All-American guard stands at 6’8 and can do anything you ask him to do on the court. With Cunningham on the floor, and the Cowboys scoring in transition consistently, this game shouldn’t be a problem for them.
Liberty though will try and remain efficient in their offense, and continue to score from behind the arc. My only worry for the Flames comes with stopping Cade, which is something I don’t think they can do, or any other team. Give me OSU here, and in the next round.
It’s a shame that last season San Diego St. wasn’t able to participate in the NCAA tournament, due to Covid-19, because that top 5 team was strong; a lot stronger than this team. With that being said, this Aztecs team is still very strong defensively, but very dependent on their guards to score points. Syracuse, though, is usually a very good team, but find themselves as a #11 seed this year. The Orange, who weren't guaranteed to make the tournament, are an efficient team offensively, and very good defensively as well. Syracuse also has that tournament experience that San Diego St. does not. This game is a toss-up, and could definitely go either way.
I really like this West Virginia team. Now, it may seem bad that this team tends to come up short in big games, and can't close, but in the early rounds, I'm not worried about that. Derek Culver is a monster in the paint, as with the rest of the team, and for that reason, this team is so good. They are well balanced. West Virginia is a very efficient team offensively, but do struggle on defense. Their interior defense is not good, and is inconsistent, which leads to them being 5-7 against top 25 opponents.
Again though, I think West Virginia's offense is good enough to get them by the first few rounds, but once they start seeing better and tougher opponents, I worry about how they close out games and defend inside.
UPSET ALERT! I really like Rutgers's chances in this game, against a good #7 seeded Clemson. Clemson, who is a strong defensive team, will give Rutgers trouble throughout the game. Rutgers's leading scorer, Ron Harper Jr., is going to have to give his usual workload if he wants to win this game. If Clemson can stop Harper Jr., this game can be there's, but if they don't, Rutgers will run them around on the defensive end, and get the points needed to come out on top.
In 2019, four #10 seeds came out on top of #7 seeds, so this Rutgers Clemson game is definitely one to watch. I like the gritty way that Rutgers play basketball, especially on the defensive end, so with that being said, I'll be taking them over the Tigers in this one.
This Houston team is on and off to me. The Cougars went 24-3 on the season but didn't necessarily play any top teams. With that being said, they've blown out teams such as Cincinnati multiple times. The Cougars, though, do have a talented team, for the first time in a while, and are led by All-American Quinten Grimes. Grimes is the main man when it comes to scoring for Houston, and provides a lot on the defensive end too. Again though, this fundamental, scrappy, style of play that the Cougars play by, seems a bit lackluster to me. I think this first-round matchup will be no problem for the Cougars, and while Cleveland St. has had a good and exciting season, they won't be a problem for Houston. My worries lie in the later rounds for the Cougars though.
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