This 12 months’s males’s NCAA Tournament is as large open because it’s ever been.
As an Associated Press Top 25 voter, I can attest to that. Filling out a ballot this season was a weekly problem tougher than previous years. There are actually a handful of favorites to chop down the nets in Houston in April, however there aren’t any dominant groups. The hole has closed between high-major, blueblood packages and the remainder of the pack. The further 12 months of eligibility because of the pandemic – making for extra skilled groups throughout the panorama – and the introduction of NIL are among the many elements.
All of that is to say – this must be one other extremely thrilling match. Let’s dive into among the high storylines because the tourney begins Thursday with a 12:15 p.m. tip between Maryland and West Virginia.
Can Kansas repeat?
The defending champion Jayhawks had a terrific common season even after shedding Ochai Agbaji and Christian Braun, profitable the Big 12 regular-season title and profitable 17 Quadrant 1 video games – an NCAA metric that’s used as an analysis instrument – which is essentially the most because the NCAA’s NET rankings went into impact in 2018.
Jalen Wilson, Gradey Dick and Co. earned the No. 1 seed within the West area, however they face a troublesome street again to the Final Four. They missed out on going to the Midwest area, the place they’d have performed video games in Kansas City. If the Jayhawks advance to the Sweet 16, a possible matchup with UConn – which was a Top 5 group at first of the season and has surged not too long ago – looms, then presumably both UCLA or Gonzaga within the Elite Eight. They got no favors.
Controversy follows Alabama
The Crimson Tide are within the midst of their finest basketball season in program historical past. They earned the No. 1 total seed after profitable the SEC common season and match titles. But nationally, the discuss surrounding Alabama isn’t basketball-related.
On the morning of Jan. 15, a number of gamers had been concerned within the occasions that led to the tragic capturing demise of Jamea Harris, a 23-year-old mom, in Tuscaloosa. Alabama, participant Darius Miles was charged with capital homicide and faraway from the group. Weeks later, it was discovered that Brandon Miller – probably the greatest gamers within the nation and a projected NBA lottery decide – transported the gun that was used within the capturing after driving it to the scene. Miller’s attorneys mentioned Miller didn’t contact the gun, was not concerned in its alternate and didn’t know criminality would happen. Miller has not been charged with against the law.
Still, the varsity and group has confronted vital backlash and criticism for his or her dealing with of the scenario and since Miller has continued to play because the capturing. The scenario hasn’t affected the group’s play – the Tide gained the SEC match final weekend – however the controversy will loom bigger as they start NCAA Tournament play. The farther they advance, the larger the story will turn out to be.
Storybook ending?
Houston is a No. 1 seed within the Midwest area and if the Cougars could make a run to the Final Four – which will likely be performed at NRG Stadium in Houston – it might make for a becoming sendoff for longtime CBS broadcaster and Houston grad Jim Nantz, who is asking his remaining NCAA Tournament this season.
The Cougars – who play within the American Athletic Conference – aren’t typically examined like different high-major packages however their 31-3 report options seven wins over Quad 1 groups and have probably the greatest coaches within the match. Kelvin Sampson has guided Houston to a Sweet 16, Final Four and Elite Eight within the final three tournaments. The Cougars’ largest query mark? The well being of All-American guard Marcus Sasser, who went down with a non-contact groin harm within the AAC match. His return is unsure. It could be a tough street with out him, although Houston made the Elite Eight whereas Sasser nursed a foot harm final 12 months.
Providence’s distractions
The Friars – seeded eleventh within the East – have already got their palms a lot full in opposition to John Calipari, Oscar Tshiebwe and Kentucky as they put together for a primetime tip on Friday, however there’s additionally some exterior noise they’ll want to dam out. Their finest participant, Bryce Hopkins, transferred from Kentucky after his freshman 12 months final season as a consequence of a scarcity of minutes and now faces his previous squad on the most important stage. How he manages his feelings will likely be key for PC in Greensboro. “I have to stay level-headed,” Hopkins mentioned on Tuesday. “I can’t come out and do too much because that’s when you get in trouble. People are saying it’s the Bryce revenge game, but I have to stay level-headed, stay focused, and do whatever my team needs me to do to win.”
There’s one other larger potential distraction. Ed Cooley, who has coached Providence since 2011 and made the Friars a perennial NCAA Tournament group, is rumored to be a powerful candidate for the top coach opening at Georgetown, which fired Patrick Ewing. Cooley has not confirmed or denied curiosity and declined to finish hypothesis a few potential transfer, so the whispers will solely develop louder. “I don’t think it’s a distraction,” Cooley mentioned Sunday evening. “It’s part of the business. It’s part of what we do as coaches. It’s what you guys (the media) do to do your jobs. It’s part of what we do. … We’re sought after every single year. I answer these questions every year. I’m the Providence College coach, and Providence College is playing Kentucky on Friday.”
Duke ushers in new period
For the primary time since 1980, Duke will play an NCAA Tournament sport with out Mike Krzyzewski as its head coach when the Blue Devils face Oral Roberts on Thursday evening. Krzyzewski, who retired after main Duke to the Final Four final season, stepped away to make Jon Scheyer the brand new man in cost this season. Krzyzewski’s former participant and assistant led the Blue Devils to a powerful marketing campaign in his first season, ending with a 26-8 report and surging into this NCAA Tournament after profitable the ACC match.
Duke drew the vaunted No. 5 seed – a preferred first-round upset sufferer – but when it might probably get by Oral Roberts, which made the Sweet 16 as a 15-seed two years in the past, it faces a positive path ahead. Tennessee and Purdue, the Blue Devils’ potential second-round and Sweet 16 opponents, are each weak. It wouldn’t be shocking to see Duke – even with out Krzyzewski – again in its acquainted territory of the Final Four.
Upset specials
A large-open NCAA Tournament discipline means one factor – there’s a powerful chance of some main upsets that make this tourney so nice.
Once a rarity, a No. 15 seed has gained a minimum of one sport six instances since 2012, together with the final two tournaments. Last season, St. Peter’s made the Elite Eight as a No. 15 in probably the most thrilling runs in match historical past. Which 15-seed has one of the best probability at pulling off an upset this season? Colgate is an skilled squad and boasts probably the most environment friendly offenses within the nation. If Matt Langel’s Raiders can hit photographs, they might give Texas a scare.
Looking for a 13-over-4 upset? Tennessee misplaced its place to begin guard, Zakai Zeigler, to a season-ending torn ACL on Feb. 28. The Volunteers are ripe for a loss to Louisiana. Virginia and Indiana have additionally regarded a bit shaky.
At least one No. 12 seed has gained a first-round sport in 32 of the final 37 tournaments. The College of Charleston frolicked within the Top 25 this season and ranks within the Top 20 in each offensive and defensive effectivity. The Cougars are worthy as a preferred upset alternative in opposition to fifth-seeded San Diego State they usually’re a Cinderella candidate.
Must-see matchups
The first spherical has a handful of tantalizing matchups, together with one with some New England curiosity. Fourth-seeded UConn faces previous buddy Rick Pitino and Iona in Albany on Friday afternoon, and the Gaels might actually put a scare into the Huskies. It appears inevitable that Pitino – who has coached the final three seasons at Iona – makes a transfer for an even bigger job on the finish of this match. He’s been linked to the St. John’s opening.
The committee didn’t do any favors for top-seeded Purdue within the East area after drawing up an insane 8-9 matchup between Memphis and Florida Atlantic, who’re ranked nineteenth and twenty second, respectively, on KenPom. The skilled Tigers have been battle-tested this season and are peaking after profitable the AAC match over Houston, whereas the Owls have dominated Conference USA. Whoever wins has an awesome shot of beating the Boilermakers.
Texas A&M was underseeded as a No. 7 after ending second within the SEC, which makes for some intriguing matchups within the Midwest. If the Aggies can get by Jalen Pickett and Penn State – no simple process after the Nittany Lions almost knocked off Purdue within the Big Ten title sport – there may very well be an all-Texas second-round matchup between A&M and Texas. The Longhorns gained’t be joyful about that draw.
Source: www.bostonherald.com
