March Madness is in full swing, and the underdogs are taking over the storylines. Could we see another low seed cutting down the nets in April, or will the remaining Blue Bloods take over? In years past, the team that wins the NCAA Championship generates great offense, plays shutdown defense, and has a coach who has stayed with the team for an extended period.
The underdog teams that are championship ready are No. 4 seeded Auburn in the East Region and Illinois, which is also in the East region as the No. 3 seed. In the Midwest region Creighton, as a No. 3 seed and Texas, which got in as a No. 7 seed. Each team has made the tournament for the last three seasons, boasting experienced players and coaches who have been with the team during each of those tournament runs.
Texas: Longhorns Basketball is highlighted by their ability to get hot from deep and their depth at every position. The team’s inability to rebound will be their downfall if they do not remain hot from the three-point line. If they shoot well, they can beat any team in the tournament.
Photo Cred: Texas
Players to Watch: Guard Max Abmas, Forward Dylan Disu, Guard Tyrese Hunter, and Forward Dillon Mitchell.
Illinois: They have been a force in the Big Ten in recent years, winning the Big Ten Tournament this season. Illinois has faced off against Houston in the NCAA Tournament the last two seasons. With Houston on the opposite side of the bracket this year, this could be the year the Fighting Illini finally take the crown.
Photo Cred: Illinois
Players to Watch: Guard Terrence Shannon Jr., Forward Marcus Domask, Forward Coleman Hawkins, Forward Quincy Guerrier.
Auburn: Second-ranked in Blocks Per Game (BPG) among the tournament teams, Auburn is one of the best teams in fast break, averaging nearly 14 points per game. If they continue to outpace teams, they can be a headache for opponents to gameplan against. Moreover, they have the fourth-most points off the bench this season.
Photo Cred: Auburn
Players to Watch: Forward Johni Broome, Forward Jaylin Williams, Guard Chad Baker-Mazara, Guard Denver Jones.
Creighton: One of the three teams to beat UConn this year, Creighton should be considered a championship contender. While not perfect in any aspect of the game, they are solid in every aspect.
Photo Cred: Creighton
Players to Watch: Guard Baylor Scheierman, Trey Alexander, Center Ryan Kalkbrenner, Guard Steven Ashworth.
It goes without saying that the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds in the NCAA Tournament have a chance to win the tournament. With play set to begin on March 19, I wanted to take a deeper dive into who has a fighting chance outside of the top seeds. This year, the No. 1 seeds are Houston, North Carolina, UConn, and Purdue. The No. 2 seeds are Marquette, Iowa State, Arizona, and Tennessee.
