The March Madness bracket has officially arrived! There’s not a better time on the sports calendar than eagerly filling out brackets imagining how the entire tournament will play out. Lucky for you, we have every game covered with expert analysis and score predictions. In a year that promises to feature plenty of upsets, let’s dive in and break down how all 63 games will play out this March Madness.
Midwest Round of 64: (1) Purdue vs. (16) Grambling/Montana St.
Tip-off: March 22 at 7:25pm ET
In case you have been living under a rock this entire basketball season, broadcasters love to remind you that Purdue became the second #1 seed to be upset by a 16 seed in last year’s tournament. The first to ever do it (Virginia), then went on to win the whole tournament the following year. We’re not guaranteeing that to be the path for Purdue, but there’s no breakdown necessary – the Boilermakers will advance to the round of 32 this year.
Prediction: Purdue wins 94-56
Midwest Round of 64: (8) Utah St. vs. (9) TCU
Tip-off: March 22 at 9:55pm ET
This is one of the more interesting Round of 64 matchups in the Midwest. TCU is a very athletic team and has three players averaging 11 points or more — led by forward Emanuel Miller. The Horned Frogs have stumbled a bit ahead of the tournament (3-5 over their last eight), while Utah State finished 8-2 over its last ten. The Aggies finished atop a competitive Mountain West and are led by a forward who can stand up to Miller. Great Osobor led the Aggies in scoring (18.0 PPG), rebounding (9.2 RPG) and blocks (1.5 BPG). This game will go down to the wire, but TCU will seal the win with a late three.
Prediction: TCU wins 73-69
Midwest Round of 64: (4) Kansas vs. (13) Samford
Tip-off: March 21 at 9:55pm ET
If Kansas was healthy there would be no debate with this pick. However, the Jayhawks are limping entering the tournament and now Samford has a realistic shot at upsetting Kansas. Hunter Dickinson and Kevin McCullar Jr. — the two top scorers in the Big 12 — missed Kansas’ 20-point loss to Cincinnati in the Big 12 Tournament. Dickinson dislocated his shoulder in the final regular season game but is tracking to play against Samford. McCullar’s status remains murky. Not at full strength, Kansas is ripe for an upset.
Prediction: Samford wins 64-59
Midwest Round of 64: (5) Gonzaga vs. (12) McNeese
Tip-off: March 21 at 7:25pm ET
This is not the Gonzaga we’ve come to know over the past 15+ years. Still, the Bulldogs shouldn’t be taken lightly. McNeese has been a popular upset pick following the bracket’s reveal — and for good reason. The Cowboys finished the year 30-3 and two of their losses came by three points or less. McNeese will pressure the Zags and look to create a ton of turnovers. An upset wouldn’t shock us, but we are going with Mark Few’s men.
Prediction: Gonzaga wins 83-74
Midwest Round of 64: (6) South Carolina vs. (11) Oregon
Tip-off: March 21 at 4:00pm ET
This is another game that we could see going either way. At 26-7, South Carolina may be a bit under-seeded. The Gamecocks have wins over Tennessee and Kentucky but also have a few blowout losses — losing to Auburn by 40 in the regular season and by 31 in the SEC Tournament. They will be playing an Oregon team that is hot at the right time. The Ducks won the Pac-12 Tournament and knocked off a good Arizona team in the final. As healthy as they’ve been all year, the Ducks will win a fifth in a row.
Prediction: Oregon wins 77-70
Midwest Round of 64: (3) Creighton vs. (14) Akron
Tip-off: March 21 at 1:30pm ET
A battle of the Bluejays and Zips. One of three Big East teams in the tournament, Creighton is a popular pick to make some noise in the Midwest. Offensively, the Jays are led by a three-headed attack –Baylor Scheierman, Trey Alexander and Ryan Kalkbrenner average over 17.0 PPG — and they play better defense than people realize. Akron is a capable team, but it doesn’t have enough firepower to hang with Creighton.
Prediction: Creighton wins 75-58
Midwest Round of 64: (7) Texas vs. (10) Virginia/Colorado St.
Tip-off: March 21 at 6:50pm ET
While South Carolina was arguably under-seeded, Texas is on the other end of the spectrum. The Longhorns entered the year with high expectations but struggled to find consistency throughout the season. A matchup against Colorado State would be very entertaining — and we are hoping that is the game, as Virginia is the toughest watch in the country. In a close battle, the Longhorns narrowly defeat the Rams.
Prediction: Texas wins 79-78
Midwest Round of 64: (2) Tennessee vs. (15) Saint Peter’s
Tip-off: March 21 at 9:20pm ET
Saint Peter’s will not be making another miracle run. The Peacocks have turned things around as of late, but they are not a threat to Tennessee. An 11-11 start to the year was followed by an 8-2 finish including three wins in the MAAC Championship. The Vols enter the tournament on a two-game losing streak, but we don’t see any chance they lose a third in a row.
Prediction: Tennessee wins 80-54
South Round of 64: (1) Houston vs. (16) Longwood
Tip-off: March 22 at 9:20pm ET
The No. 1 seed in the South Region draws Longwood, the winners of the Big South tournament. The Lancers started the season 12-1 but lost 12 of their last 18 games before the postseason. They knocked off the top team in the conference, High Point, twice in March, including an overtime win in the semifinal. Houston is loosely comparable to the Virginia team that lost to UMBC in 2018. Both are defensive-minded squads who could be susceptible to three-point variance. However, this Longwood team is not a threat from the outside. The Cougars make quick work of the Lancers en route to their 31st win of the year.
Prediction: Houston wins 74-52
South Round of 64: (8) Nebraska vs. (9) Texas A&M
Tip-off: March 22 at 6:50pm ET
This one features at-large squads from the Big 10 and SEC facing off in what should be an even matchup. Nebraska is 7-2 over their last nine games and beat Purdue earlier this year. A&M hit a rough patch in SEC play, but picked it up to end the year. They had won five in a row before running into a Gator buzzsaw in the SEC tournament. In a game that should feature plenty of scoring, the Cornhuskers possess the more balanced attack. They had four players average over 11 PPG, including senior guard Keisei Tominaga, who finished fifth in the Big Ten in three-pointers made per game this season (2.3 makes on 37.2-percent).
Prediction: Nebraska wins 77-73
South Round of 64: (5) Wisconsin vs. (12) James Madison
Tip-off: March 22 at 9:40pm ET
This will probably be the highest-scoring game in the entire South region. JMU enters the NCAA tournament with 31 wins on the year and was the 10th highest-scoring team in the nation during the season. The Dukes play fast and get good looks on every possession. They’ll be facing off against the most potent Wisconsin offense in 30 years. Greg Gard’s team is averaging 75.1 PPG — their highest total since 1994. James Madison has made just one NCAA tournament appearance during that span. Wisconsin carries its momentum from the Big Ten tournament to overwhelm the Dukes.
Prediction: Wisconsin wins 83-77
South Round of 64: (4) Duke vs. (13) Vermont
Tip-off: March 22 at 7:10pm ET
While the Blue Devils struggled down the stretch, this is still a team that could make a deep run in March. Jon Scheyer’s team is filled with talent waiting to break out on the big stage. They’ll have their hands full in their first matchup, though. The Catamounts of Vermont are familiar with the bracket setting. This will be their fifth NCAA tournament appearance since 2017, though they haven’t advanced past the Round of 64 since upsetting Syracuse in 2005. The Blue Devils are a bit more of an experienced bunch than we’ve seen in the past. Senior guard Jeremy Roach was on the Final Four team from two seasons ago. Vermont will try to slow it down, but the Blue Devils are too good offensively to drop this one.
Prediction: Duke wins 80-68
South Round of 64: (6) Texas Tech vs. (11) NC State
Tip-off: March 21 at 9:40pm ET
This should make for one of the more compelling matchups of the Round of 64. NC State just polished off an incredible run through the ACC tournament. It caught fans off guard considering the way the Wolfpack limped through the end of the regular season. They picked up losses in 10 of 14 games before ripping off five consecutive wins to secure an automatic bid — with wins over three teams in the NCAA tournament field (North Carolina, Virginia and Duke). Texas Tech has been battling injuries all year long, but still managed to go 11-7 in arguably the best conference in the country (Big 12). We’re siding with the superior conference in this one. The Red Raiders have dominant wins this year over BYU (twice), Texas, Baylor, and Kansas. They’re the stronger team.
Prediction: Texas Tech wins 67-64
South Round of 64: (3) Kentucky vs. (14) Oakland
Tip-off: March 21 at 7:10pm ET
John Calipari has a team capable of making a run to the Final Four. They have excellent guard play, depth, and high-end talent fit to take over games. But, let’s not forget this is a program that hasn’t advanced past opening weekend since 2019. That stretch includes losing as a 2-seed to Saint Peter’s. The Horizon champion Oakland Golden Grizzlies are hoping for a Cinderella run of their own. They’re 17-3 over their last 20 games and have one of the best shooters in all of college basketball in Jack Gohlke (121 made threes on the year, second most in the nation). If the two teams try and trade buckets, it’s difficult to imagine Oakland keeping up with Kentucky’s No. 2 ranked offense.
Prediction: Kentucky wins 79-70
South Round of 64: (7) Florida vs. (10) Colorado/Boise St.
Tip-off: March 22 at 4:30pm ET
Some were a bit surprised to see Colorado not gain admittance to the initial field. The Buffaloes do not have the look of a team that should be battling for its tournament life in a First Four matchup. While Boise State finished second in a competitive Mountain West, they drew a tough matchup here. The Buffaloes had won eight in a row before losing in the Pac-12 title game against Oregon. Colorado’s top three of KJ Simpson (19.6 PPG), Tristan da Silva (15.8 PPG), and Cody Williams (12.6 PPG) will lead the Buffaloes past the Broncos and will engineer an upset victory over Florida two days later.
Prediction: Colorado wins 73-70
South Round of 64: (2) Marquette vs. (15) Western Kentucky
Tip-off: March 22 at 2:00pm ET
Health will be the primary factor for Marquette this March. Star guard Tyler Kolek has been out of action since February 28. They’re a completely different team when he’s on the floor. Before Kolek got hurt, Marquette was 11-1 over their last 12 games. They’ve gone 3-3 without him (though, two of those losses came against the No. 1 overall seed Connecticut Huskies). The Golden Eagles will face off against a Western Kentucky team that has had some ups and downs this year. The Hilltoppers lost four in a row to close the regular season, only to win the Conference USA tournament with three straight wins. Marquette coach Shaka Smart said that Kolek will be ready for the tournament. They probably won’t need him to do much to defeat the 15-seed.
Prediction: Marquette wins 76-59
East Round of 64: (1) UConn vs. (16) Stetson
Tip-off: March 22 at 2:45pm ET
UConn will roll in this game. It won’t be much of a contest — and Dan Hurley’s team will set the tone moving forward for what everyone expects to be another deep run.
Prediction: UConn wins 84-56
East Round of 64: (8) FAU vs. (9) Northwestern
Tip-off: March 22 at 12:15pm ET
This could be Dusty May’s last hurrah as FAU”s head coach. A multitude of Power 5 teams are circling one of the industry’s brightest young coaching stars. He’s notched a .651 win percentage since taking the head coaching job at FAU in 2018. His Owls play an up-tempo game — quite dissimilar from Northwestern. Chris Collins wants to play methodically, slowly, and with toughness. This is a classic contrast in styles. Whichever team can better control the tempo will win. The guard battle of Boo Buie versus Johnell Davis figures to be a lot of fun.
Prediction: FAU wins 64-62
East Round of 64: (5) San Diego State vs. (12) UAB
Tip-off: March 21 at 1:45pm ET
SDSU is a battle-tested team — and one with better talent than you’d think from a Mid-Major program. The Aztecs are led by two transfers JaeDon LeDee (Ohio State) and Reese Dixon-Waters (USC). SDSU might not shoot it well from three, but it’s a deep, athletic team with plenty of experience across the board. Brian Dutcher’s team will be too much for UAB.
Prediction: San Diego State wins 63-58
East Round of 64: (4) Auburn vs. (13) Yale
Tip-off: March 22 at 4:15pm ET
We’ve seen this story before. The uber-athletic team from a big conference getting chopped down by the Ivy League team that shoots the crap out of the ball from three. Yale just eked its way into the Big Dance by connecting on a buzzer-beater in its conference tournament. By all accounts, the Bulldogs were not the best team in the Ivy League. Auburn has won six in a row (including the SEC Tournament). Bruce Pearl employs a 10-man rotation, and the combination of pressure and athleticism will bother Yale’s shooters.
Prediction: Auburn wins 81-69
East Round of 64: (6) BYU vs. (11) Duquesne
Tip-off: March 21 at 12:40pm ET
BYU fared decently well in its first season within the Big 12. The Cougars by some estimations were projected to be a No. 5 seed. However, due to the fact that the school does not compete on Sundays, they were allegedly moved down a notch. That’s not great news for Duquesne. Guard Jaxson Robinson leads a balanced attack where seven Cougars average at least 9.0 PPG.
Prediction: BYU wins 73-62
East Round of 64: (3) Illinois vs. (14) Morehead St.
Tip-off: March 21 at 3:10pm ET
Illinois triumphantly won the Big Ten tournament — knocking off a tough Wisconsin team in the final. This could be Brad Underwood’s best team top-to-bottom when factoring in guard depth and big-man play. While the Illini have fallen victim to early exits in some of the more recent tournaments, this team has the look of one that can make a sizable run throughout March.
Prediction: Illinois wins 77-68
East Round of 64: (7) Washington St. vs. (10) Drake
Tip-off: March 21 at 10:05pm ET
Washington State is one of the more underrated teams in the field. Playing up in Pullman, Kyle Smith has done a fantastic job rebuilding a roster that lost multiple guys a year ago. Jaylen Wells has been fantastic as a wing scorer, Myles Rice is an all-conference player, and Idaho transfer Isaac Jones is a tough matchup in the post. On the other hand, Drake has taken down multiple tournament teams this year (Nevada, Akron). The Bulldogs have won 10 of their last 11 ball games. Tucker DeVries averages nearly 22 points a game, and the Cougars don’t have a great matchup for him defensively.
Prediction: Drake wins 72-70
East Round of 64: (2) Iowa St. vs. (15) South Dakota St.
Tip-off: March 21 at 7:35pm ET
Remember when lowly 15-seed Hampton took down No. 2 Iowa State and Jamaal Tinsley in the first round of the 2001 tournament? Well, history won’t be repeating itself this year. The Cyclones are loaded — and are a potential Final Four sleeper if things break correctly. ISU thoroughly dominated Baylor and Houston en route to winning the Big 12 Tournament. Tamin Lipsey is a stud, and Keshon Gilbert can fill it up on a moment’s notice.
Prediction: Iowa St. wins 77-54
West Round of 64: (1) North Carolina vs. (16) Howard/Wagner
Tip-off: March 21 at 2:45pm ET
North Carolina ran through the ACC on the backs of seniors RJ Davis and Armando Bacot. The inside-outside threat is a handful for virtually any team it can face in this region. The Tar Heels should make quick work of Howard or Wagner. We can’t envision an upset in this contest considering the veteran leadership and talent UNC brings to the table.
Prediction: North Carolina wins 90-65
West Round of 64: (8) Mississippi St. vs. (9) Michigan St.
Tip-off: March 21 at 12:15pm ET
The Bulldogs knocked off LSU and Tennessee in the SEC Tournament before bowing out to Auburn. Michigan State beat Minnesota before being upended by Purdue in what was a very close game. Neither team is playing exceptionally well heading into this contest. Michigan State has lost 5-of-7 — whereas Mississippi State has also dropped five of its last seven games. Ultimately, we give the slightest of edges to Tom Izzo and the pedigree of the Michigan State program. This game should go down to the wire.
Prediction: Michigan St. wins 61-59
West Round of 64: (5) Saint Mary’s vs. (12) Grand Canyon
Tip-off: March 22 at 10:05pm ET
Here is your classic 12-5 upset. It happens every year, and this is the year when Randy Bennett’s Gaels will be the hunted squad in this scenario. St. Mary’s has been fantastic all year long. Aidan Mahaney and Augustas Maruciulionis lead an offensive attack featuring five players averaging at least 10.0 PPG a game. Grand Canyon can score, too — evidenced by averaging nearly 80 points a game. The Lopes present some real matchup issues for St. Mary’s. Grand Canyon is arguably more athletic across the board, and guard Tyon Grant-Foster can really fill it up.
Prediction: Grand Canyon wins 65-63
West Round of 64: (4) Alabama vs. (13) Charleston
Tip-off: March 22 at 7:35pm ET
This is a scary matchup for the Crimson Tide. Charleston averages nearly 81 points per contest and has five players averaging close to double-figures. Taking care of the ball will be key here for the Crimson Tide. Nate Oats’ team likes to play with tempo as well, which should result truthfully in a very exciting game. The Crimson Tide does have a size and athleticism advantage. Grant Nelson will be a big X-factor for Alabama, as will Mark Sears (averaging 21 PPG on the year).
Prediction: Alabama wins 89-84
West Round of 64: (6) Clemson vs. (11) New Mexico
Tip-off: March 22 at 3:10pm ET
The Lobos are a dangerous team. In the competitive Mountain West, New Mexico won the conference tournament on the back of excellent guard play. Jaelen House (son of ex-NBA player Eddie), Jamal Mashburn Jr. (son of ex-NBA player Jamal Sr.), and Donovan Dent make up arguably the best trio of guards in the country. When factoring in springy freshman forward JT Toppin and rugged big man Nelly Junior Joseph, this is a very complete team. Clemson is ripe for an upset here. The magic of the Pitino family in tournament play will live on.
Prediction: New Mexico wins 70-66
West Round of 64: (3) Baylor vs. (14) Colgate
Tip-off: March 22 at 12:40pm ET
There is a bit of worry hovering around Baylor’s program at the minute. Rumors are swirling that Louisville could be launching a massive bid to land head coach Scott Drew. With that said, the Bears should have a major advantage at the guard spots. Talented freshman Ja’Kobe Walter leads the team in scoring. Six Baylor players average double-figures, and the team collectively shoots nearly 39 percent from three. Expect Baylor to avoid the upset and win semi-comfortably.
Prediction: Baylor wins 83-77
West Round of 64: (7) Dayton vs. (10) Nevada
Tip-off: March 21 at 4:30pm ET
Steve Alford’s team competed admirably in the rugged Mountain West. The Wolfpack notched wins over Washington, Temple, TCU, Georgia Tech, Colorado State, Utah State, SDSU, and Boise State en route to 26 wins. Senior guard Jarod Lucas is the straw that stirs the proverbial drink. On the other side, Dayton will boast the game’s most talented player in DaRon Holmes. The 20-point per game scorer also averages 2.1 blocks on the season. Nevada doesn’t have a great matchup for him, and if Holmes is cooking, it could open up the Flyers to bomb threes (the team shoots collectively 40.2 percent from beyond the arc).
Prediction: Dayton wins 66-65
West Round of 64: (2) Arizona vs. (15) Long Beach St.
Tip-off: March 21 at 2:00pm ET
Don’t be sleeping on The Beach. After firing the team’s head coach Dan Monson prior to the conference tournament, Long Beach State miraculously won the Big West tournament with Monson still on the sidelines. Now, he’ll get to square off versus a guy he brought into coaching years ago in Tommy Lloyd. Arizona can’t possibly lose to another 15-seed…can they? Even though LBSU’s players will have plenty of familiarity with the Arizona roster, the Wildcats are poised to be the best team Lloyd’s had since coming to Tucson.
Prediction: Arizona wins 83-66
Midwest Round of 32: (1) Purdue vs. (9) TCU
Tip-off: TBD
Zach Edey will need to bring his A-game for Purdue to knock off a talented TCU group. Riding high following its win over Utah State, TCU will be up to the task against the No. 1 seed. Look for TCU to try to speed up the game and tire out Edey in the process. Ultimately, however, Edey’s size will be too much for the Horned Frogs to handle. Purdue by seven.
Prediction: Purdue wins 68-61
Midwest Round of 32: (5) Gonzaga vs. (13) Samford
Tip-off: TBD
Will Samford’s dream run continue into the second weekend? No. Gonzaga has been in Samford’s position before and it will not allow for an upset. Fresh off beating Will Wade and McNeese, the Zags will handle Samford by double-digits. The frontcourt duo of Graham Ike and Anton Watson will be too much to handle.
Prediction: Gonzaga wins 79-66
Midwest Round of 32: (3) Creighton vs. (11) Oregon
Tip-off: TBD
This is an appetizing matchup. Oregon has the athleticism and talent to take out No. 3 Creighton, but the Jays have been a more consistent team throughout the season. If the Ducks get hot from beyond the arc they can pull off a second upset in a row and advance to the Sweet 16. Creighton shoots 36-percent from deep as a team and is nearly 80-percent from the line. In a close game, Creighton’s ability to shoot will take it past the Ducks — Oregon shot 33.6-percent from three and 71.5-percent from the free throw line.
Prediction: Creighton wins 65-60
Midwest Round of 32: (2) Tennessee vs. (7) Texas
Tip-off: TBD
Texas’ tournament ends here. While talented, the Longhorns are susceptible to putting up a dud — and this will be one of them. As for Tennessee, this game will forever be known as the ‘Dalton Knecht game’. Tennessee’s best player had a bad game in its loss to Mississippi State (14 points on 4-of-17 FGA) but he is two weeks removed from dropping 40 on Kentucky. Knecht can light up any defense in America and he will do so in this game — 36 points for Knecht en route to an easy win.
Prediction: Tennessee wins 82-68
South Round of 32: (1) Houston vs. (8) Nebraska
Tip-off: TBD
Houston’s defense is suffocating. We’ve seen them take opponents completely out of rhythm with their constant ball pressure and stifling tactics. TCU — a 9-seed in the Midwest — was held scoreless versus the Cougars in a Big 12 tournament matchup for over nine minutes (the Horned Frogs missed their first 14 shots of the contest). That doesn’t bode well for a Nebraska team that relies on space and timing to get their shooters into rhythm. Houston’s dynamic backcourt will give the Cornhusker guards fits all game long. The Cougars win this one by double digits.
Prediction: Houston wins 66-53
South Round of 32: (4) Duke vs. (5) Wisconsin
Tip-off: TBD
A rematch of the 2015 tournament final. The Blue Devils — led by Jahlil Okafor and Tyus Jones — took that one over a Wisconsin team that featured Frank Kaminsky and Sam Dekker. The stars aren’t quite as bright this time around, but this should be a fun game featuring two of the nation’s best offenses. Look out for freshman Jared McCain to assert himself in this one. The California native struggled in Duke’s ACC tournament loss to N.C. State, but has improved steadily as the season has gone on. He nailed eight threes in a win over Florida State in February. He’s going to breakout in this one, and pour in 20-plus points in a Blue Devil win.
Prediction: Duke wins 78-74
South Round of 32: (3) Kentucky vs. (6) Texas Tech
Tip-off: TBD
There’s a lot to like about this year’s Kentucky team — which is exactly why fans filling out their bracket should be wary. It’s a great setup for Calipari’s team in a region that doesn’t feature a clear favorite. However, the Wildcats have been uneven all year long. It’s only fitting Kentucky experiences a misstep against a tough, rugged Big 12 team that has grinded in the most competitive conference in college basketball all year. It doesn’t help that Kentucky lost to Kansas earlier this year, a team that the Red Raiders routed by 30 just over a month ago. Texas Tech wings Darrion Williams and Kerwin Walton both shot 47-percent from three this season and will make it rain against a Kentucky team that trots out a ton of undersized guards.
Prediction: Texas Tech wins 71-69
South Round of 32: (2) Marquette vs. (10) Colorado
Tip-off: TBD
Marquette will need its point guard healthy for this one. Tyler Kolek is arguably the nation’s best, pure point guard. He had 18 assists in a game just a week before he went down with an oblique injury. His impact on offense is necessary for the Golden Eagles to get past a team like Colorado. The Buffaloes will enter this game with plenty of confidence having already won two games in the tournament. A healthy Kolek gives the edge to Marquette. If Kolek is compromised at all, this game becomes a coin flip. We’ll give the edge to the Golden Eagles after Shaka Smart reported that Kolek will be ready for the team’s opening matchup.
Prediction: Marquette wins 74-66
East Round of 32: (1) UConn vs. (8) FAU
Tip-off: TBD
The battle of the big men will be huge in this contest. FAU boasts 7’1″ center Vlad Goldin — whereas the Huskies have 7’2″ rising star Donovan Clingan. Goldin is a crafty player. He scores in the paint utilizing a plethora of different moves. He also averages 1.6 BPG. Clingan isn’t the offensive player Goldin is. However, he’s a bigger, better athlete, and has the size to be quite disruptive. FAU’s four-guard lineup meshes well with UConn’s personnel. The Huskies won’t be outflanked or surprised by the tempo FAU will try to incorporate.
Prediction: UConn wins 75-62
East Round of 32: (4) Auburn vs. (5) San Diego St.
Tip-off: TBD
Auburn presents a few matchup issues for SDSU. For one, the Aztecs aren’t very big. The tallest guy they play is 6’9″. Johni Broome should be able to establish himself in the paint for the Tigers early and often. Secondly, Auburn’s pressure defense should impact SDSU’s ability to shoot the ball. As it stands, the Aztecs as a team shoot only 31.3 percent from behind the arc on the year.
Prediction: Auburn wins 68-60
East Round of 32: (3) Illinois vs. (6) BYU
Tip-off: TBD
BYU is going to have a tough time defending Terrence Shannon Jr. There’s not one player on the Cougars’ roster possessing the length nor athleticism to bother the 23.0 PPG scorer. This is perhaps the single biggest reason as to why Illinois has an edge in this ballgame. The Illini in general are also a funky matchup for about everyone. There’s a lot of size up front and at the wing spots. BYU will have to shoot the lights out to combat the physicality Illinois brings.
Prediction: Illinois wins 80-76
East Round of 32: (2) Iowa St. vs. (10) Drake
Tip-off: TBD
There’s always a Cinderella story somewhere, right? In this case, Drake is going to be that Mid-Major squad that gets hot in a hurry. Many will have Iowa State as a trendy pick to make the Final Four. Not so fast, my friends! Guard Atin Wright will hit five threes in this contest. The Cyclones will be unable to turn the Bulldogs over — and instead, it’ll be Iowa State having issues taking care of the ball. Drake’s 6’10” 275-pound big man Darnell Brodie will also make his presence known.
Prediction: Drake wins 69-68
West Round of 32: (1) North Carolina vs. (9) Michigan St.
Tip-off: TBD
Michigan State’s offense has a tendency to get a bit bogged down — especially if leading scorer Tyson Walker isn’t hitting his shots. In this contest, the Walker-Davis matchup will be significant. Mady Sissoko will also have to keep Bacot off the boards if the Spartans have any shot at winning this game. The Harrison Ingram-Malik Hall battle also figures to be interesting. Ultimately, UNC will have too much firepower for the Spartans to stop. Michigan State might be the deeper team — though North Carolina has more talent.
Prediction: North Carolina wins 68-62
West Round of 32: (4) Alabama vs. (12) Grand Canyon
Tip-off: TBD
Grand Canyon will surely be a trendy pick to win this game. Between the way GC plays, coupled with the thirst in seeing lower seeds losing, Alabama will certainly face some blowback on social media. For all of these reasons, this is why I think the Crimson Tide will win. Alabama will not take this opponent lightly, and Nelson should be able to have his way with any of Grand Canyon’s bigs.
Prediction: Alabama wins 90-77
West Round of 32: (3) Baylor vs. (11) New Mexico
Tip-off: TBD
This should be a VERY fun matchup. It’ll be guards galore in this contest. Expect big shot after big shot, especially when this tournament is often geared towards the guard position. This game will be reminiscent of a classic boxing match — where two foes exchange blows constantly with each struggling to stand on their own two feet. In the end, Baylor will eek out a close win on the basis of having more NBA talent. It still wouldn’t be shocking if New Mexico did pull the upset.
Prediction: Baylor wins 85-84
West Round of 32: (2) Arizona vs. (7) Dayton
Tip-off: TBD
This is the best defensive team Lloyd has had in Tucson. Landing Keshad Johnson from SDSU in the portal this past offseason completely changed the trajectory of this team. He does all of the little things — and is by far the team’s most physical player. His gigantic wingspan, coupled with experience and toughness, will bother Holmes. Arizona should be able to get out and run with the likes of Caleb Love and the country’s most underappreciated player in Pelle Larsson. Assuming Arizona can keep Dayton buttoned up from three, the talent should take over here.
Prediction: Arizona wins 71-64
Midwest Sweet Sixteen: (1) Purdue vs. (5) Gonzaga
Tip-off: TBD
Gonzaga will not be scared of this Purdue team. The Zags will rely on their frontcourt to put pressure on Zach Edey and hopefully get Purdue’s star into foul trouble. Both Ike and Watson are capable players and have had big games against good competition. These two teams met in November in Maui — with Purdue prevailing, 73-63. The Zags took a five-point lead into halftime but Edey and Co. dominated the final 20 minutes. Gonzaga won’t shoot 6-for-32 from three in this matchup, but Edey will once again take over. Purdue in a nail-biter.
Prediction: Purdue wins 85-78
Midwest Sweet Sixteen: (2) Tennessee vs. (3) Creighton
Tip-off: TBD
Tennessee and Creighton can put on a classic March Madness game in the Sweet 16. As we discussed earlier, Knecht can fill it up against any team in the country. The Vols also have two other players in their rotation –guards Zakai Zeigler and Jahmai Mashack — shooting over 35-percent from three. Creighton can shoot the ball, as well, with four players shooting better than 37-percent from deep. Both of these teams are capable of making a run to the Final Four, but we are giving the nod to Creighton.
Prediction: Creighton wins 75-72
South Sweet Sixteen: (1) Houston vs. (4) Duke
Tip-off: TBD
Houston’s No. 2 ranked defense will be tested against a Duke team that can score in bunches. The Blue Devils ranked 7th offensively on KenPom and boast a handful of players who can create their own offense and take over a stretch of gameplay. Duke will want to lean on Kyle Filipowski in this one. Asking its guards to win in isolation against Houston’s backcourt would be a tall task. Feeding Filipowski is likely their best chance at generating consistent opportunities. In a lot of ways, this Houston team is reminiscent of the Blue Devils from yesteryear. We could see L.J. Cryer and Jamal Shead slapping the floor on defense and taking charges en route to a crucial Houston victory.
Prediction: Houston wins 68-61
South Sweet Sixteen: (2) Marquette vs. (6) Texas Tech
Tip-off: TBD
This is what the tournament is all about – two teams from power conferences facing off for a chance at an Elite Eight berth. The Golden Eagles have been the No. 2 team in the Big East all year, and have a great chance at making a deep run. The Red Raiders from Texas Tech have gotten hot at just the right time, and how many instances of a team carrying its end-of-season momentum through the NCAA tournament have we seen over the years? Both teams can fill it up in a hurry, so this matchup will likely come down to whichever team buys in on the defensive end. This Marquette group is experienced and hungry after an early exit last year. They pull off a win in nail-biting fashion to advance.
Prediction: Marquette wins 74-73
East Sweet Sixteen: (1) UConn vs. (4) Auburn
Tip-off: TBD
Auburn wants to overwhelm opponents with depth and athleticism. Well, UConn is a team built to withstand both potential ‘issues’ that a team may face when playing the Tigers. Broome will struggle to score over Clingan and Alex Karaban. Cam Spencer will light up Auburn for multiple threes, and the Tigers will ultimately wilt against the toughness Connecticut brings to the table.
Prediction: UConn wins 77-71
East Sweet Sixteen: (3) Illinois vs. (10) Drake
Tip-off: TBD
The run will continue! On paper, Illinois should win this game. They have advantages in both size and talent. However, there’s just going to be something special about this Drake team. The Bulldogs will play freely — whereas Illinois will stall based on the pressure it has to win the game. Drake better enjoy this win, which could be the best in program history. Up next for the Bulldogs is a buzzsaw nobody wants to see…
Prediction: Drake wins 73-72
West Sweet Sixteen: (1) North Carolina vs. (4) Alabama
Tip-off: TBD
The pressure is going to get to Carolina here. Most people expect them to be competing for a National Championship given the fact Bacot and Davis are still in school. It’s asking a lot of them to carry this team — not to mention the list of role players who don’t have a ton of experience on the biggest stage. While Alabama will go into this game as a likely underdog, Oats will have a few days to gameplan for the Tar Heels. Sears will probably take the matchup with Davis personally — wanting to prove that he is the best guard in the game.
Prediction: Alabama wins 88-86
West Sweet Sixteen: (2) Arizona vs. (3) Baylor
Tip-off: TBD
Arizona must try and speed Baylor up on the offensive end of the floor. There could be turnovers to be had in the form of Bears guard RayJ Dennis. The 5th-year senior is averaging nearly four turnovers per contest. While Yves Missi is a rim-protecting threat, there’s not a ton of depth behind him. Look for the Wildcats to get Oumar Ballo engaged early and often. If Missi gets in foul trouble, that could open up driving lanes for Love and the fleet of Arizona guards.
Prediction: Arizona wins 77-72
Midwest Elite Eight: (1) Purdue vs. (3) Creighton
Tip-off: TBD
Which team will cut down the nets en route to the Final Four? Creighton has reached the Elite Eight twice — including last season when it lost to San Diego State by one point — but has lost both times with a Final Four berth on the line. As for Purdue, the Boilermakers have reached the Sweet 16 six times under Matt Painter and have only won one time. This time around, Painter’s group will do just enough to advance to the Final Four for the first time since 1980.
Prediction: Purdue wins 69-64
South Elite Eight: (1) Houston vs. (2) Marquette
Tip-off: TBD
The top two seeds in the South face off in what would be an epic battle. Houston’s defense has carried them all season long, and they should still be considered a national title threat even after suffering an embarrassing loss in the Big 12 championship. Marquette had a rough end to its regular season, though there is no doubting the overall makeup of Shaka Smart’s squad. In the end, we’re siding with the team that can get consistent stops. Houston has been elite all year and didn’t miss a step after moving to the Big 12. Head coach Kelvin Sampson and the Cougars will be cutting down the nets in Dallas before making their way to Phoenix for the Final Four.
Prediction: Houston wins 70-65
East Elite Eight: (1) UConn vs. (10) Drake
Tip-off: TBD
Connecticut will not be denied. When Clingan, Karaban, and Tristen Newton came back to school, you knew this team was on a mission to repeat. All of the ingredients are there — from size and athleticism to shooting from the perimeter. When factoring in the experience from last year, along with the pedigree this team collectively has cultivated, there’s no doubt that this is the favorite to win it all. Unfortunately for Drake, the Cinderella story ends here.
Prediction: UConn wins 76-63
West Elite Eight: (2) Arizona vs. (4) Alabama
Tip-off: TBD
Arizona is finally going to get over the hump. A Final Four appearance will be in the cards here for the Wildcats. With this game being played in Los Angeles, it will be a HEAVY Arizona crowd. Fans from Tucson travel exceptionally well, and there are a ton of Arizona alums living in the greater Los Angeles area. Between Love and Johnson’s experience, Larsson’s savvy, Ballo’s presence in the post, and the dynamic ability of bench players Jaden Bradley and KJ Lewis, this is a very complete team. Throw in a couple of threes from Kylan Boswell and some dunks from 7’2″ Motiejus Krivas, and this group will be tough to stop.
Prediction: Arizona wins 81-72
Final Four: (1) Purdue vs. (1) Houston
Tip-off: TBD
This battle of 1-seeds would be must-watch television. Head coaches Kelvin Sampson and Matt Painter may be the two most successful coaches in college basketball still missing a national title appearance on their resume. While Painter and Purdue are known for their free-flowing and efficient offense, Sampson’s Houston squads are known for defensive tenacity. In a clash of styles, the difference will ultimately come down to the (likely) back-to-back Naismith Player of the Year. While the Cougars don’t fear anyone, Edey will prove to be too good and too big for an undersized Houston team.
Prediction: Purdue wins 67-60
Final Four: (1) UConn vs. (2) Arizona
Tip-off: TBD
With the Final Four taking place this year in Glendale, Arizona, the Wildcats know what’s ahead of them if they can escape from the West region. In what would essentially be a home game against the defending champs with a place in the national championship on the line, how could the Wildcats not pull it off? The simple answer is that UConn is just really good. Despite the well-balanced attack the Wildcats employ, UConn has an answer for everything. Donovan Clingan can neutralize Oumar Ballo, and UConn’s trio of guards is even better than Arizona’s. Despite the game being played in their home state, Tommy Lloyd’s squad will come up just short once again.
Prediction: UConn wins 71-65
National Championship: (1) UConn vs. (1) Purdue
Tip-off: TBD
This year’s two most dominant programs all season will square off with a title on the line. Zach Edey vs. Donovan Clingan and Braden Smith-Lance Jones-Fletcher Loyer vs. Tristen Newton-Cam Spencer-Stephon Castle has all of the makings of an instant classic. Can Purdue avenge last season’s humiliating first-round exit while cementing Zach Edey as one of college basketball’s most dominant players ever? Or can UConn become the first team to go back-to-back since Florida did it in 2006-2007? With legacies on the line in what would certainly be a nail-biter, UConn ekes out the victory on a buzzer beater by Tristen Newton.
Prediction: UConn wins 70-68