I am assuming that you all have filled out your billion dollar bracket, right?
March Madness might just be the most unpredictable thing in the entire world. Just ask Duke.
Last year's Champions, UCONN Huskies.
The four number one seeds include Kentucky, Wisconsin, Duke, and Villanova. Going solely off of records, I'm placing a bet on Calipari's Wildcats. Although maybe not going through a loss this whole entire regular season could hinder them. Some say that you must go through defeat to get to success... This team literally has not suffered a defeat this season. Notre Dame, the ACC Champions, are in the Midwest with Kentucky and could cause potential trouble with how they showed up in the ACC Tournament, beating Duke and North Carolina. Their play was impressive. The Fighting Irish held the Blue Devils to just 26 points in the first half. The second time that Duke was held to their season low of any half this whole season. That's not to say that Duke did not almost pull one of the greatest comebacks this season, but ND came out with the W. Against the Tar Heels, all five of Notre Dame's starters ended up scoring in the double digits. Besides Kansas, Notre Dame might be the last hope for someone to knock down the undefeated. John Calipari is one tough man to coach against. I mean, he's only produced just a couple NBA All-Stars.
40-0... Need anyone say more?
The Duke Blue Devils do not have the deepest team, but those starters can produce. Proof being that they were on a 12-game win streak before they met the Fighting Irish in the ACC Tournament. Leadership from senior Quinn Cook has been a major asset to the team this year. Although he seems to have been in some sort of "funk" as of late, you can expect him to turn things around for his last dance. Cook is normally shooting at 45% from the field and 40% from three-point range. Three of the five Duke starters are Freshman. You may have heard of one before. The Diaper Dandy himself, Jahlil Okafor. Okafor is leading the team in scoring with averaging 17.7 points per game. His field goal percentage is at an impressive 67%. Although experience is a huge help when going into March Madness, that is impossible to have when you have three Freshman in your starting five and four total. Mike Krzyzewski encourages his players to have team building activities which builds chemistry; something that will assist this already talented group. If the Blue Devils don't want another Lehigh or Mercer incident, they are going to have to step up their defense. Duke gives up an average of 65.6 points per game to their opponent. With Coach 1K on their side though, anything is possible. We all know that.
Some say that Duke is the only team that can take down the undefeated.
Kentucky and Duke are definitely the top two title contenders in this year's tournament... Not to say that there won't be some major upsets. Let's be honest now, it's March Madness and Duke knows all about those devastating upsets. Remember Coastal Carolina challenging Virginia in the first round last year? A sixteen seed has never pulled off that kind of upset against a number one seed, but the Chanticleers gave the Cavaliers quite the scare in the first half. Who's to say they won't scare the Badgers on Friday night? That might be difficult with the nation's best player, Frank Kaminsky, who is averaging just over 18 points per game, 8 rebounds per game, and shooting 55% from the field.
This guy has had such a legendary season. GOAT.
It is safe to say that Villanova is a three point team. 43% of field goals are from three point range. They have not lost since January 19th and went on to crush the Big East tournament; one of the toughest ones out there this year. The Wildcats average more points than any other team in the country per possession. If you have Villanova losing anytime in your bracket, you better be banking on an off night because that is the only way that it is happening. But, nonetheless, the Madness might be in your favor. Anything goes in March.
Winning the Big East automatically makes you a HUGE contender.
Arizona's speciality is their defense. They allow very few second chance opportunities and who is lined up for them to play in the West, the odds are in their favor. We can expect them to get passed Texas Southern, even though Texas Southern did beat Michigan State earlier this season. If and when Arizona gets to the Round of 32 and meets either VCU or Ohio State, could be an easy matchup for the Wildcats yet again. VCU is tough, no doubt, and by no means do you discredit the Dayton Flyers, but the Rams did not play well in the A10 Tournament and ended up almost losing to UD in the Championship game. And Ohio State? The inconsistency of star point guard D'Angelo Russell will be hindering to the Buckeyes. I guess it just depends on how many games he decides to show up for. The kid has NBA-stardom talent already, but we have all been waiting for him to show for multiple games at a time and it just hasn't happened.
It might actually be impossible to predict what the Buckeyes will do.
Sticking in the West, those Tar Heels are going to put up one heck of a fight and if you do not have them going a pretty decent length in the tournament, reconsider. North Carolina has a very talented backcourt. Have you seen Marcus Paige? He is averaging 13.9 points per game, 2.9 rebounds per game, and 4.6 assists per game. They made quite the run in the ACC Tournament, but ended up losing to Notre Dame. We don't discredit them for that one because Notre Dame is on fire right now. In order for UNC to make it to their Championship game they had some impressive wins against the Louisville Cardinals and the Virginia Cavaliers. The problem with North Carolina is that they are inconsistent. They did not beat any elite teams they met this season, but clearly they know how to turn it up during tourney time. Their size, rebounding, and depth should keep us all on the lookout.
Get used to this image.
Speaking of Louisville... The Cardinals are normally on all of our minds around this time of year, but it seems like they might be flying under the radar at the moment. Let's be honest, you don't predict them going very far, do you? I can't really say I blame you because Louisville has hit a downward slope towards the end of this season, but if anyone can get their team back in to gear, it is Rick Pitino. Montrezl Harrell is an absolute animal on the court and the Louisville Cardinals are ALWAYS a contender in March Madness. Seriously. I know they are about to be a bracket buster for some of you.
Just look at him... ANIMAL.
Gonzaga has not reached the Sweet 16 in the last five years. This could be good or bad news for North Dakota State and whoever else that they may face. It shows that they may crumble under pressure, but this is something that drives a team. Kyle Wiltjer is one of the best offensive payers in the nation. The Bulldogs are an all-around team. They have their big man in Przemek Karnowski, the 7-foot center who can pass like a guard. They have depth, but they could possibly meet Coach K's Blue Devils in the Elite Eight.
Those are the bigger names that we can all expect to do some damage in the tournament this year, but let's think about a couple bracket busters.
There's a first time for everything, right? 16 over a 1?
I bet most of you don't have Michigan State going very far. And that would be your first mistake. Tom Izzo has his Spartans playing their very best basketball right now. Branden Dawson is averaging 12 points per game and 9.1 rebounds per game, Travis Trice is averaging 14.8 points per game, 3.2 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game. Denzel Valentine is averaging 42% from three point range. This team is about to show up.
Cincinnati has one of the top 20 defenses in the nation. Indiana may not have much defense, but their offense is superb. The Hoosiers are filled with guards who can sprint, distance themselves, and shoot like no other. Maryland can just close games. Plain and simple. In close games, Maryland is 11-1 and considering this is March Madness, opponents are in danger.
Oh, dare I say UD? I know you know who I'm talking about. The Dayton Flyers killed most of your brackets last year when they made it to the Elite Eight. Well, they are back at it and I would not count them out. The Flyers are versatile and underrated. Not to mention they will be playing in Columbus, Ohio in the Round of 64. They have won 22 straight on their own floor and Columbus is not too far.
Cinderellas make college basketball so special.
Are any of you reconsidering your pick of UK winning it all now? I doubt it... And I can't say I blame you. There's not much you can say about them besides phenomenal.
No matter how well you try to break down the Madness, it never works. There's Cinderellas, there's bracket busters. We love them and we hate them. We love them because it's what makes March Madness, March Madness. We hate them because they ruin our chances of that million dollar bracket.
As Dickie V would say, this time of the time is underway and it is "AWESOME BABY!!!"
It wouldn't even right for one to talk about college basketball and March Madness and not include Dickie V. HE is the PTPer.
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