Jan 25, 2025; Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Cooper Flagg (2) brings the ball up court docket towards the Wake Forest Demon Deacons through the second half at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Obligatory Credit score: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Photographs With the School Soccer Playoff behind us and the NFL winding down, extra individuals start listening to school hoops.
We’re lower than 50 days away from Choice Sunday, that means we are able to begin hunting down the contenders from the pretenders. Who’s going to make the Last 4, and who’s destined to be picked off earlier within the NCAA Event?
Whereas it’s largely as much as how the bracket unfolds and which groups are given essentially the most optimum paths, right here’s how I see it as of late January. Let’s attempt to put the insanity in March Insanity and never simply decide the most effective 4 groups on paper.
Not into consideration
Jan 25, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Connecticut Huskies ahead Alex Karaban (11) drives to the basket towards Xavier Musketeers guard Dante Maddox Jr. (21) within the second half on the Cintas Middle. Obligatory Credit score: Aaron Doster-Imagn Photographs UConn: Sorry, this staff isn’t three-peat worthy. The Huskies have performed virtually solely shut video games in convention motion, and their protection specifically is missing.
St. John’s: Rick Pitino will probably be again within the NCAA Event and St. John’s seems to be actually sturdy towards the backdrop of a weak Large East. A darkish horse, however not Last 4-caliber fairly but.
Kentucky: Mark Pope’s Wildcat revival has been an incredible story. You simply can’t win each match sport 100-90.
Simply missed the lower
Jan 25, 2025; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; Kansas Jayhawks ahead Flory Bidunga (40) celebrates with middle Hunter Dickinson (1) after scoring towards the Houston Cougars through the first half at Allen Fieldhouse. Obligatory Credit score: Denny Medley-Imagn Photographs Iowa State: Skilled, well-rounded and extremely environment friendly at each ends of the ground. Don’t be shocked if that is the yr the Cyclones break by, however they haven’t gained a second-weekend match sport within the Fred Hoiberg/T.J. Otzelberger period.
Kansas: Nice defensively, higher offensively than final yr when issues fell aside on the Jayhawks. However they’re too one-dimensional with the ball and by no means get to the foul line.
Tennessee, Alabama and Florida: Lumping these three collectively as a result of any considered one of them might find yourself profitable the SEC, and any considered one of them might hit a wall when dealing with top-15 staff after top-15 staff on this brutal regular-season schedule. Florida is healthier defensively than the Tide and higher on offense than the Vols, for what it’s price.
Mississippi State: Another from the SEC, and another darkish horse I like so much. The Bulldogs have expertise, stability and the power to win away from house.
Marquette: Talking of expertise, not solely is that this a grasp class in roster retention, however Shaka Sensible has taken a decrease seed to the Last 4 earlier than. The Golden Eagles’ turnover-heavy protection will make anybody mad.
Illinois: The Illini’s experiment of importing Kasparas Jakucionis and Tomislav Ivisic to hold the staff seemed to be working earlier than they lately misplaced three of 4 video games, permitting 82, 80 and 91 in these defeats.
Purdue: No Zach Edey, no downside? In contrast to prior iterations of Purdue, this one is powered by guard play, and Braden Smith is likely one of the greatest within the nation.
The Last 4
Jan 22, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Utah Utes ahead Keanu Dawes (8) makes an attempt to shoot as Houston Cougars ahead J’Wan Roberts (13) and guard L.J. Cryer (4) defends through the second half at Fertitta Middle. The Cougars defeated the Utes 70-36. Obligatory Credit score: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Photographs Duke: For all of the occasions we’ve written concerning the ACC’s obvious demise, the convention has gotten a staff to the Last 4 three years operating, together with No. 8, 5 and 11 seeds. No must overthink this yr’s participant. Duke is greater than Cooper Flagg: It’s among the finest defenses within the nation and really environment friendly from the 3-point arc, the foul line and in shut. My early nationwide title decide.
Houston: Kelvin Sampson acquired the Cougars to the Last 4 in 2021, and the previous three campaigns have appeared like disappointments relative to the power of his groups. For individuals who didn’t catch the loopy manner the Cougars beat Kansas in double time beyond regulation on Saturday, this yr’s group has the psychological fortitude to deal with any scenario.
Auburn: The Tigers’ solely lack of the season was by six factors to Duke, at Duke. They’ve gained blowouts and pulled out shut video games, high-scoring battles, and defensive struggles like Saturday’s slugfest towards Tennessee. They’ve gained when their greatest participant, Johni Broome, was sidelined by harm. They simply win. I see virtually no weaknesses holding them again in March.
Michigan State: Assuming the opposite three groups are No. 1 seeds, right here’s the place I’ll keep away from additional chalk. There’s hypothesis this can be 69-year-old Tom Izzo’s final stand, and love him or hate him, the person coaches out of his thoughts within the match. I really like the Spartans’ statistical profile, depth, expertise and 4-0 document in true street video games. They’ll find yourself a No. 3 or 4 seed within the tourney and go on one final trip with Izzo as they search their second nationwide championship.
Championship sport: Duke 84, Houston 72
