With conference tournaments concluding this past weekend and nothing but the agony of waiting in the way of 68 teams, the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee finalized their selections for the 2022 NCAA Tournament.
The top four seeds are Gonzaga, Arizona, Kansas, and Baylor. All of which are heavy favorites to win the entire tournament and each is worthy of recognition after great seasons. Duke, Villanova, Auburn, and Kentucky all earned two seeds in the tournament, Wisconsin, Purdue, Texas Tech, and Tennessee will find themselves facing off against 14 seeds as the 3 seeds in their region. The top four seeds are rounded out with Providence, Illinois, Arkansas, and UCLA.
Some notable absences from the tournament include Texas A&M who had a magical run in the SEC tournament at the tail end of this past week with some energized play in Tampa Bay. Dayton put together a solid season but did not play up to par in the Atlantic 10 tournament semifinal, where they lost to eventual champion Richmond. SMU had four double-digit scorers this season and played well in the American Athletic, but split their top quadrant matchups to Houston and Memphis and failed to advance far enough in their tournament.
Cases for other snubs can be made for Wake Forest and Xavier who had notable wins against top tournament teams, but could not pull enough aces out of their sleeves to make noise in their conference tournaments. Thus, much like the Church of Christ, no dancing for them.
Let’s take a look at each region and break down which matchups are interesting and could result in some very upset and self-proclaimed “bracketologists.”
WEST REGION – Portland, OR / Buffalo, NY / San Diego, CA / Greenville, SC
Out west, Gonzaga has the top seed and will face off with Sun Belt Conference champion Georgia State. The Zags made the championship game and their second final four, only to fall short last year after an amazing run. Vengeance is in the mind of many in Spokane. GSU started their season far behind the pack, but claimed victories in 12 of the season’s final 13 games and rode their hot-shooting hands to the Sun Belt title. Unlikely spot for a tumultuous upset in this game.
Duke (28-6) pulled out all the stops for legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski’s last hurrah in Durham during the end of the regular season. A wonderful ceremony was planned and balloons were inflated honoring a tradition of winning, spurned by Krzyzewski and his iron-like demeanor. Those balloons were popped loudly after a loss to rival UNC at home in Coach K’s last home game, and then the Blue Devils were knocked off by Virginia Tech in the ACC Championship. With such a bad taste in their mouths, Duke might be a very tough team to take down in this tournament.
They earned a #2 seed and will play CSU Fullerton (21-10), the Big West winner. The Titans are an older squad who shoot well at the charity stripe, but falter under consistent defensive pressure and are unlikely to give a talented Duke squad much of a scare.
Texas Tech (25-9) is the #3 seed in this region. They ran into a buzzsaw in last year’s Round of 32 and failed to make the second weekend. They are much improved this year and reloaded on great talent in the transfer portal. Mark Adams led his Red Raiders to a season sweep of #1 seeded Baylor and Texas, who stole their coach after their loss last season. Tech claims one of the country’s best defenses and has been stifling top-notch opponents all year.
Montana State (27-7) ended a nearly three-decade-long conference tournament championship drought and have been playing their best basketball down the stretch in Big Sky Conference. The Bobcats have a very good effective field-goal percentage and have several high-level scorers that might give Tech some fits. Chalk the higher seed though, Texas Tech plays fundamentally sound basketball and has too many scorers to be stalled by Montana State.
#13 seed Vermont (28-5) claimed their America East title in an unspectacular fashion, they easily dispatched their opponents in the conference tourney with three blowout wins, and that pattern was nothing new, as they did that basically all year. The Catamounts claim a very high rate of effective field-goal shooting and their halfcourt offense limits careless turnovers. They have 22 wins in the last 23 contests, likely making them a tough out in this part of the bracket.
They will be matched up with #4 seeded Arkansas who has shown elite team basketball in spurts and are led by great free-throw shooting, scrappy and intense defense, as well as some elite scoring threats. The Hogs beat Auburn, Kentucky, and Tennessee this season all at home, playing a New England school in Buffalo, New York is essentially a true road game that will test the Razorbacks. The edge here is athleticism and experience, not to mention Vermont lacks any notable size that can contend with the Razorbacks’ skilled bigs. Advantage Razorbacks.
#5 seed Connecticut (23-9) will take on #12 seed New Mexico State (26-6). UConn had to trudge through the Big East conference that placed nine schools in the tournament and will have to rely on their tenacious rebounding and shot-blocking to make a deep run. Some key wins this season helped their cause for a generous seed, but they could face trouble with either matchup in the Round of 32. NMSU has two guards that can put up 50 points between them on any given night. The Aggies have been on a nice tear piecing together wins while winning the WAC championship. UConn might have some trouble with this one.
Alabama (19-13) has underperformed this season which was not expected. Yet, their talent shines through because they have wins against Gonzaga, Houston, and Baylor. The Crimson Tide live and die by the three-ball, and when you shoot barely over 30% on the season, you might find yourself playing from behind. They have the tools and the coaching to possibly make a Sweet 16 with the right amount of luck. Bama will face the winner of the play-in game between Rutgers (18-13) and Notre Dame (22-10). Those two schools will face off on Wednesday at 8:10 p.m. I like the Irish against Bama. If they win, Rutgers is likely to be overmatched.
In the #7 and #10 slot, we have Michigan State (22-12) and Davidson (27-6) respectively. MSU seems to be one of those teams that always brings along a little “March magic” and they bring a red-hot shooting stroke to this year’s tournament. They stole a game from Purdue and have two wins against Wisconsin, proving they can beat the top teams on any given night. Their game against Davidson might be tough on the heart rate of the guy in the sweltering Spartan costume seeing as how Davidson has four players who score in double-digits and shoot well from distance with notable versatility. The name of the game for the Wildcats is a molasses-like tempo that frustrates teams and pops veins out of coaches’ necks. Flip a coin for this one.
In the dreaded #8 and #9 seed matchup we have Boise State (27-7) and Memphis (21-10). The Broncos have a rotation full of size which brings great defensive prowess and glass-cleaning abilities. Boise State knocked off a stout San Diego State program three separate times this year, including in the Mountain West Tournament Final. If Boise State wants to make a run they need to improve shooting consistency from the field and from the free-throw line.
Memphis had high expectations for this season and some were fulfilled, while others were left behind. March holds a special place for broken and unfulfilled dreams. Hopefully, Memphis can make some noise seeing as how they finished the regular season winning ten of their last eleven. A team with a deeper bench than most, the Tigers can score and force turnovers well but need to take care of the ball in order to secure victories in the tournament.
For those struggling with this selection, open Craigslist and find the nearest soothsayer, or raid your childhood toy box for that coveted magic 8-ball. Keep shaking if it says “ask again later.” March waits for no man, woman, or child.
EAST REGION – Fort Worth, TX / Portland, OR / Milwaukee, WI / Indianapolis, IN
In the East Region, the top seed Baylor failed to make the Big 12 Championship but looks to repeat as national champions this year. The Bears are 26-6 and should roll easily over #16 seeded Norfolk State (24-6). Baylor has the highest number of wins in quadrant 1 competition and has four different scorers averaging double-digits. Norfolk has heart, and on a given night will rely on their experience to overwhelm you or just shoot you out of the gym. Take your pick.
#2 seed Kentucky will match up with the Metro Atlantic Athletic champs, the St. Peter’s Peacocks (19-11). Kentucky has a National Player of the Year candidate in Oscar Tshibwe who pulls down rebounds as effortlessly as he breathes in air. It’s an art form in its own right. Big Blue Nation has scoring guards, talented bigs, and a solid bench. Familiar tools to their previous championship squads, aside from the fact that this year’s team has experienced players, something that pays dividends in the tournament.
St. Peter’s has experienced players of their own who can shoot, defend, and pass as well as anyone in college basketball. A defensively efficient team that limits opponent field-goal attempts and makes, will likely not have the size or perimeter defense to keep up with Kentucky.
Purdue (27-7) fell short in the Big Ten championship but locked their #3 seed status like Fort Knox. They could be higher, but Michigan schools got the better of them a couple of times, and they could not topple Wisconsin. The Boilermakers are not quite as blue-collar as their name, but man can they put the ball in the basket. The top-ranked offense in the country is led by fantastic backcourt play but must improve their defense seeing as how they do not take away many shooting opportunities from their opponents.
The Old Gold faithful drew the Ivy League representative; the #14 seed Yale University Bulldogs (19-11). Yale does a lot of isolation-style offense and relies on efficient scorers, but they have more turnovers as a team than assists and will need to take care of the ball and pass better if they want to prove their intellect is not the only thing they have going for them. Purdue should slide through the first round without too much sweat on their brows.
If you were born in the late 1950s, remember the dazzling and daunting decades that followed, and love college basketball you saw a lot of UCLA winning, and winning with style. UCLA (25-7) has returned to prominence after a miraculous run to the Final Four as an #11 seed. Coach Mick Cronin is a more intimidating force on the sidelines than the great John Wooden, but he could use a few of the “Wizard of Westwood’s” tricks. The Bruins have experience, excellent ball-handling, and the depth to make another key run.
I do not foresee the #13 seed Zips of Akron (24-9) pulling the upset in this game. That isn’t to take away from Akron who won the MAC championship and has that “punch you in the mouth, steal your girlfriend, and make you like it” vibe to their team. Akron gets to the foul line and plays with remarkable confidence that could make the game a nail-biter. Their lack of experience is likely to be their undoing.
The Folk-rock singer Cat Stevens once said that “I listen to the wind, to the wind of my soul.” For me, the wind typically is an annoyance, rather than something I personify into shaping my personality. Specifically, if the winds are strong enough to stagger me. The only winds I’ve felt this year were hurricane-force winds from the aptly named St. Mary’s College Gaels (25-7). St. Mary’s gave Gonzaga one of its trio of losses this year and has one of the best defenses in the country that pairs with a painstakingly deliberate offense who can still light it up from downtown. The darkest of horses is as bright as a rainbow compared to St. Mary’s, but the Gaels have the skill to beat teams they are not as good as.
St. Mary’s will take on the winner of Wyoming (25-8) and Indiana (20-13). This #5 v.s #12 matchup is certainly interesting. Both play-in teams work best when they defend well, and St. Mary’s has lost every game when shooting less than 40% on field goals. The Hoosiers have had March moments as mad as they come, and have the talent to take on all comers. Wyoming has an NCAA tournament championship from before the days of color television but after the start of the second world war. IU and Wyoming will compete for a spot to face St. Mary’s on March 15th at 8:10 p.m.
The age-old adage of defense wins championships has been proven time and time again, and you are unlikely to find a more sound defensive unit than the one squeaking sneakers in Austin, Texas. The #6 seed Texas Longhorns (21-11) take their defensive intensity from their first-year coach Chris Beard, who always looks ready to run through a wall. Texas has wins against Tennessee and Kansas, but at times looks like a murky stagnant pond on offense. No movement, just standing. Other times they beat you in transition so easily off of steals and fastbreaks that it does not matter.
However, the discipline for Texas must be at full capacity when taking on one of the hottest teams in college basketball right now. Enter Sandman. The #11 seed Virginia Tech Hokies (23-12) claimed the ACC championship after a less than stellar start in conference competition, but the Hokies look to be peaking at just the right time. Virginia Tech runs a methodic, low-tempo scheme when on offense that drains the clock and relies on good passing, a style that just might give the Longhorns fits. If Texas isn’t shooting well, I’d imagine the Hokies will bide their time and play the long game. An upset selection here might not be a terrible notion, a tough choice if you don’t like the color orange.
#7 seed Murray State (30-2) owns the best record in college basketball and is one of only a handful of teams with 30-plus victories on the season. They currently sit on a 20-game win streak and are led by players who remember their relative success in their last appearance in 2019. Murray State races to the offensive boards (pun absolutely intended) and pulls them down at a rate that is higher than their size would usually allow. The size of the fight in these dogs cannot be overstated, they scrap from buzzer to buzzer and will force you into playing right into their hand.
It is a PURE shame that they are matched up with another top mid-major school in the University of San Francisco ( 24-9). The Dons were a staple of college basketball in the middle of the last century and have struggled to stay above the tall grass since then. This year they have a balanced team that excels at limiting three-point shooting attempts but has fallen short at the free-throw line, which could prove costly. This game is likely to be a barnburner from the tip to the talk after the game, both schools play similar styles and it might come down to the last few seconds. Consult your local oracle for the ringer in this one.
In the last matchup for the East region are the Marquette Golden Eagles (19-13) as the #9 seed, and the North Carolina Tar Heels (24-9) at the #8 spot. UNC’s season can only be described chronologically as underwhelming, ugly, redemptive, and lastly, poetic. North Carolina ruined Coach K’s retirement tour and ceremony by blowing out Duke on the road in the last game of the regular season and have hit their stride late in the season. The Tar Heels are a staple of the tournament in their trademark blue uniforms and they have a great game plan night in and out with aggressive rebounding and a very high ceiling.
Marquette has also had a season full of peaks and valleys but has one advantage that is difficult to prepare for. The pace of the Golden Eagles is equivalent to a seven-year-old boy’s birthday party after the day-long binge of cake, cookies, ice cream, and candy. Rivaling the speed and stamina of sound itself. Marquette moves the ball, they attack the basket and cut to open spots with an unmatchable quickness. When they don’t have the ball, they give you nothing on defense and slow your tempo down to rates similar to that of a bad hangover. Marquette faced a “murderer’s row” of ranked teams this year and is battle-tested.
Also, if you do not base any of your picks on basketball whatsoever UNC has two players named Leaky and Puff, which sadly do not form a crime-fighting duo; nor do they play in a jam band. To add to that, Oklahoma transfer Brady Manek has the facial hair of a man who fights grizzly bears for sport. The edge in this one might go to North Carolina.
SOUTH REGION – San Diego, CA / Pittsburgh, PA / Indianapolis, IN
The South region is headed up with the Arizona Wildcats (31-3) claiming the #1 seed. Arizona has been a consistent juggernaut since November and has shown its ability to have a balanced attack on both sides of the ball. A younger squad with a lot to prove, there will be a great deal of money on Arizona to make it to the Final Four in New Orleans come April.
Arizona has the clear advantage over just about everyone in this region and especially so over their first-round matchup which will feature the winner of Wright State and Bryant. Both programs are not tournament regulars and are likely being fitted for the costumes of the
sacrificial lamb. Bryant has some elite scoring threats, but Wright State controls more tempo and has a more stabilized offensive attack that has been statistically more consistent.
#2 seed Villanova (26-7) has been playing a brand of basketball for years that purists of the game rave about. They stay out of foul trouble, rarely turn it over, and limit mental mistakes. The Wildcats have two guards who will need to keep their shooting strokes ready to fire and hit their targets if they hope to make a deep run as is expected.
Nova will take on the Delaware Blue Hens who they are 15-0 against in all-time matchups, and will likely improve that metric in the first round. Where Delaware can shine is with an upbeat pace and continued confidence after upsetting the heavy favorites in the Colonial Athletic Association championship. History tends to repeat itself and history is not in favor of chickens.
Celebratory banjos could be heard all across the Smokey Mountains and on Rocky Top as the Tennessee Volunteers (26-7) claimed the SEC tournament crown and earned a #3 seed in the process. A case could have been made for a higher seed for the Rick Barnes-led squad, but their draw is quite favorable. The Volunteers have a very sound offensive system that limits turnovers and relies on team-centered basketball, not to mention they have a depth with the elite size that grabs a plethora of offensive rebounds and defends as well as anyone in the country.
Longwood (26-6) relies on three-point shooting to win games and shoots beyond the arc at a respectable clip. The Lancers cruised through the Big South tournament and exceeded expectations, they have size and shooting, but likely can’t hold down the defensive perimeter to limit the Volunteers. Keep the banjos picking.
#4 seed Illinois (22-9) looks the part of a Final Four squad on paper and has fared decently against Big Ten competition that sent nine schools to the tournament. The Fighting Illini boasts three All-Big Ten players and a finalist for the Wooden Award that goes to the NCAA’s best player. They shoot well. They defend even better. Illinois will likely be hard out in this year’s undergoing of college basketball’s biggest spectacle.
Chattanooga (27-7) earned the #13 seed and earned the Southern Conference crown. An athletic team with great perimeter play could give Illinois a run for their money if they have the size and depth to keep up.
The Cougars of Houston (29-5) have only earned 1 quad-1 win and might be seeded too highly by the committee. This is not to say they do not deserve their accolades and recognition, their defense is more stifling than the heat in Houston in July. They smother opponents and hold them to shooting percentages so low the stats might reflect junior-high team merit. Improved free-throw shooting is a MUST for Houston to survive and advance.
Conference USA champions University of Alabama-Birmingham (27-7) are on the shorter end of the spectrum in overall team size, but make up for it with lightning-quick guard play that forces turnovers and limits their own. If Houston doesn’t rebound well, which they tend to do, UAB might “blaze” their way into a serious upset.
The #6 seed and #11 seed game features Colorado State (25-5) and Michigan (17-14). Many critics cited Michigan’s poor record away from home and bad losses (as well as a seriously egregious offense at the hand, or from the hand of Juwan Howard after their tussle with Wisconsin in February). The Wolverines had some very high points in their season and were preseason favorites by many, but have failed to meet those expectations.
Colorado State plays slow but productively on offense. The Rams squad has a lot of ingredients that mix together well for a nice recipe called “March Success, they faired well in a very deep Mountain West conference this year and in my opinion have the advantage in this game, despite playing a weaker schedule.
Ohio State (19-11) earned this region’s #7 seed and will face March magicians in Loyola Chicago (25-7) as the #10 seed. The Buckeyes fought with honor in the Big Ten and could actually be a sleeper pick to advance to the “named games” of the Sweet Sixteen and further. Shot blocking, and a tough schedule to get to this point are the Buckeyes’ most notable qualities. Which does not mean they won’t have their hands full.
In Chicago, I imagine Sister Jean is somewhere praying or rubbing rabbit’s feet to give the Ramblers another chance at pure chaos and bracket-busting miracles. Loyola shoots better than almost every team in the tournament from deep and inside the arc. A great defending team with an experienced roster and the youngest coach in Division 1 could prove to be Ohio State’s undoing.
Lastly in the South Region, we get the #8 seeded Seton Hall Pirates (21-10) and #9 seed TCU (20-12). Seton Hall has relied on one of the top rebounding marks in the country to earn their spot in the tournament. They play a very stifling and aggressive defensive scheme that has ead to foul trouble in crucial games.
TCU limits shot from three-point land better than almost anyone, but on the flip side shoot it poorly themselves. The Horned Frogs have wins against two #1 seeds from their conference in Baylor and Kansas, as well as one win against Texas Tech, which goes to show that their team backs down from no challenge. Swashbucklers and prehistoric-looking amphibians always tend to put on a good show. As for who to write in, try picking petals off of flowers until you find your choice.
MIDWEST REGION – Fort Worth, TX / Buffalo, NY / Milwaukee, WI
The Kansas Jayhawks (28-6) are one of the more storied programs in college basketball, and for the first time in several seasons, their play earned them a #1 seed. Bill Self has coached Kansas to a great season including a Big 12 tournament crown through smothering defensive efficiency and a consistently high-powered offense. They have the big man, they have the deep bench. Not much is standing in their way.
“Not much” in this regard will be either Texas Southern (18-12) or Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (23-11). Both squads won their respective conference championships and have shown a lot of promise this year. Yet, neither one will likely have the size or shooting prowess to stay with the Jayhawks. Rock, “Chalk” the Jayhawks down in this first-round matchup.
Auburn (27-5) earned the #2 seed in the South after one of the best seasons in their program’s history. They got bounced early in the SEC tournament and lost some questionable games in the cannibalistic conference. The Tigers are one of the younger teams in the country and are led by transfer portal players and All-American freshmen. This experience might be an issue in later rounds, but their ability to protect the rim is one of the most intimidating factors about this team. They have size and guard play that has either been nothing short of the best in the country or looking like it should be buried at the end of the bench. If December Auburn shows up, they might be hanging banners, if SEC tournament Auburn is playing, they won’t make it far.
Auburn has the pleasure of facing #15 seed Jacksonville State (21-10) who shoot one of the most efficient three-point rates in the NCAA and have an experienced roster. Yet, the Gamecocks will not have the size to compete with Auburn’s giants or the athleticism to limit their offensive rebounding. Take the Tigers.
Wisconsin (24-7) captured the Big Ten championship from their tournament and beat Purdue, Iowa, and Houston all in this season. Wisco takes care of the ball like it’s a priceless wheel of cheese, and for a team hailing from America’s dairyland, that is the utmost praise I can bestow. A top 50 ranking in adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency will certainly power Wisconsin into the second weekend with the right amount of luck.
Colgate (23-11) made the tournament as the winner of the Patriot League for the third time in the last 4 tournaments (2020 NCAAT was canceled due to ongoing issues with the COVID-19 pandemic). If you remember seeing them in the past, their recipe for winning has not changed. Shooting the rock like it’s their manifested destiny. Greater than 40% shooting from long range. Colgate knocked off Syracuse by 15 this season and has won 19 out of their last 20. Their starters all averaged double-digit scoring in the regular season, and they are not to be completely overlooked.
Colgate might not win, but there is no chance this game doesn’t scare the life out of Wisconsin coach Greg Gard from start to finish.
The #4 seed in the midwest belongs to the Friars of Providence (25-5) who have an unfortunate draw against one of the better mid-major schools we have ever seen in #13 seed South Dakota State (30-4). Providence likes to feed the post on offense and certainly takes their time to establish a slow pace when they have the ball. They have shown a lot of clutch shot-making and defending in close games all season, but rarely force turnovers, which does not help their case.
SD State has notched 30 dubs this season and claims the longest win streak in D-1 with 21. NO team in the NCAA shoots it better from beyond the arc and the Jackrabbits have not lost a game when leading at the half this year. It is also worth mentioning that the Summit League champs have won their first game in the last two tournaments.
Upset brewing?
The Hawkeyes of Iowa (26-9) have failed to make even a Sweet 16 since before the turn of the millennium and with their newfound confidence in claiming the Big Ten tournament championship, they might lift the monkey off their backs.#5 seed Iowa is hot, red hot, and has one of the best players in the country in Keegan Murray. The Hawkeyes can beat you in a lot of different ways when the ball is in their hands, and they have depth as well as size. Yet, their defensive metrics do not stand out in any way, and that is cause for concern,
Spiders are a necessary evil in this world. In Richmond, they are worshipped. #12 seed Richmond (23-12) won the A-10 Tournament thanks to a frontcourt as talented as any. They make more assists than turnovers and really show a determination to control the flow of the game. Where the Spiders lack the necessary traits of a bracket buster is their rebounding, it progressively got worse over the last month of the season and needs to be better than it ever has been if Richmond is planning on spoiling Iowa’s dreams of a Final Four.
#6 seed LSU has found itself in murky water without their head coach amidst allegations of a multitude of Level 1 NCAA infractions. This may be the last time we see Bayou Bengals in the tournament for a few seasons. This is a shame because they have a very skilled roster that might end up knocking off better teams in spite of the uncertainty. Tall, long, and quick the Tigers have one of the more efficient defensive ratings in the country, but the chemistry is not quite the same as it has been in years past and Iowa State (20-12) at the #11 seed has to be licking their chops.
The Cyclones had a losing conference record but netted quality wins against Texas, Texas Tech, Iowa (by 20), and Creighton. A Cinderella story in the making might not be too far-fetched, they limit opponents shooting attempts and percentages from three-point. An elite trait that will serve them well. Cyclones, sharpie.
In the #7 seed v.s. #10 seed matchup we have USC (26-7) and Miami (23-10). USC has tremendous size across their rotation that is better than most in college ball, with that stature the Trojans nab a colossal amount of rebounds on both the offensive glass and off of opponent’s missed shots. That height makes it hard to shoot free throws, and uncontested points come at a premium in March Madness.
In comparison, Miami does not rebound that well but gets nearly 50 points a night from their backcourt. The Hurricanes won 18 out of their last 24 to end the regular season with five of those L’s by five or fewer points. They compete and showcase a lot of high-motor players that can easily take over a game.
#10 seeds have faired very well against #7 seeds in the last two commencements of the NCAA tournament, but once again, if you don’t know who to advance, ask someone you know which school’s colors they like more.
Lastly, the #8 and #9 seed game in this region might be the best matchup of them all. #8 Seed San Diego State (23-8) has formed a wall in front of the hoop all year and sends shots back at a crazy rate. No team in this tournament leans on their defense more than the Aztecs, which makes them a little sluggish on the flip side. Yet, if the game gets ugly the Aztecs are hardened veterans of tough-to-watch contests, and they prefer it that way.
The Blue Jays from Creighton earned the #9 seed after playing well in the Big East and gaining just enough top quadrant wins to stay afloat. Windex doesn’t clean the glass as well as Creighton and San Diego State is one of the few teams in the NCAA that protects the rim better than Creighton. This one is likely to be a total brawl from start to finish, we’re talking legitimate fisticuffs. Both teams rely on defense to win, so that means one team has to be on their game.
Find a spinner wheel for this matchup, it’s the best you can do.
No amount of calculations, simulations, sensations, or degradations can quantify who wins which matchup. Trust your gut when filling out a bracket, and applaud these young men for pouring their hearts and soul into their craft and laying their bodies on the line for all of us to enjoy. The time is now. March is here.
Thanks for reading up on the NCAA Tournament. For more great content follow my Twitter: @_coltonlittle_ and @OT_Heroics! Also, make sure you visit OvertimeHeroics.net. And follow our main basketball Twitter account, @oth_basketball.
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