The NCAA tournament bracket was released Sunday, and is beginning to get underway. The Blue Zone is here to break down the top teams and possible upsets in each region:
The No. 1 seed: Florida Gators
The Gators’ basketball program is built on success; they stand as one of eight men’s teams to have won back-to-back national championships in the 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons. After its dominant 86-77 win against Tennessee in the SEC Championship Sunday, Florida was awarded the No. 1 seed in the West region. Head coach Todd Golden brought this team to the conference championship for the first time since 2014, demonstrating his talent in only his third full season in the position.
With four players averaging double-digit points per game, the Gators are stacked with talent to pile up the score of any game, leading them to average 85.4 points per game. Sophomore big man Alex Condon has been named SEC Player of the Week three times this season due to his defensive contributions to the team. He is the second Florida player of all time to receive this honor, joining Jalen Hudson in 2017-18. Averaging 7.9 rebounds per game and 1.4 blocks per game, he leads the team in these categories, exemplifying his influential impact on his team’s dynamic success.
On a six-game win streak with their last loss being to Georgia in late February, the Gators are looking for six more wins to secure their third NCAA title. A win would also be a big accomplishment for the SEC, which hasn’t had a championship winner since Kentucky in 2012.
The other contenders
The West is full of programs vying for a championship to prove to themselves and to the nation that they are the dominant team in the country.
UConn is the No. 8 seed, a disappointing position for the team as it failed to maintain the high of back-to-back NCAA crowns in the last two seasons. After losing 71-62 in the semifinal of the Big East Tournament to Creighton, the Huskies could come back roaring with a vengeance to push for the legendary third straight title. Or, this roar could quickly be snuffed out by No. 9-seed Oklahoma in the first round.
The Memphis Tigers are on an eight-game win streak after becoming the American Athletic Conference champions, placing as a No. 5 seed. They are led by sophomore guard PJ Haggerty, who averages 21.8 points per game and boasted a whopping 42 points in the quarterfinal win against Wichita State. The Tigers are an underdog team — easily overlooked, yet still with a shot at making a run due to this firepower.
No. 7-seeded Kansas has had a rough season, to say the least. Starting off the campaign strong with a seven-game win streak including a win against Duke, the Jayhawks have struggled since then, unable to maintain a win streak longer than three games. Even with Preseason All-American senior Hunter Dickinson averaging 17.6 points and 10 rebounds per game, Kansas has had a rocky season. Ranked No. 1 by the AP Poll in weeks one through five, the Jayhawks fell from grace, leaving them unranked by week 17. In March Madness, this program hasn’t been seeded outside of the top four since they were seeded at No. 8 during the 1999-2000 season. This drop might give the Jayhawks the push they need to make it farther than projected.
After missing the tournament last year, Saint John’s made an explosive return and dominated the Big East with a conference record of 18-2. The Red Storm indeed thundered on Creighton Sunday, taking the Big East Tournament crown in a surge and ending the game 82-66. Head coach and Big East Coach of the Year Rick Pitino turned up the noise about Saint John’s after winning the championship for the first time in 25 years, earning his squad the No. 2 seed. Pitino was honored as a Hall of Fame coach in 2013 due to his tactical coaching style, characterized by its aggressive defense and 3-point shot emphasis. Saint John’s has the energy to roll straight to the championship, fueled by three players who average 12.7 points and 6.4 rebounds per game or higher.
The potential Cinderella: Drake
All Drake needs are some long satin gloves, glass slippers and a tiara to dance right past Missouri. Seeded at No. 11, the reigning Missouri Valley Conference champions might just have what it takes. While the Tigers are the favorite, the Bulldogs could scramble their way above Missouri. With one of the slowest paces in the nation, ranking 364th in adjusted tempo according to KenPom, Drake has a methodological offense. Led by junior guard Bennett Stirtz who averages 19.1 points and shoots 38.6% from behind the arc, the Bulldogs could start barking, bringing down the powerhouses in the region.
The regional narrative: Wrangle the gators
With Florida seeded as No. 1, the Gators are the team to beat. Using a particularly impressive offense, which leads the nation with a KenPom adjusted offensive efficiency of 128.6, the Gators have the numbers on their side. However, this region is an incredibly competitive one, full of teams who each have a chance of upsetting the orange and blue team. And there is no better time than March for some underdog victories.
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