The 'More Than Five-Minute Bracket' from the self-described most powerful and influential basketball brain on planet Earth.
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While we, the"talent," have been down on bended knee for decades to beseech our bosses for a little bit more time to contemplate our picks, we are viewed as a group of Oliver Twists begging for more gruel from the tyrant Mr. Bumble. Of course, any resemblance of the ESPN cafeteria to the orphanage dining facility is purely coincidental. The answer we get is less delicately delivered than Mr. Bumble's relatively polite denial to Oliver.
Outside of UConn, nobody has been better than Purdue this season, and the Boilermakers have a weapon that no other team can boast:, the reigning national player of the year and the most efficient and impactful player in the country. Edey is the only player in the country who forces opposing teams to change their entire game plans to limit him. If you don't limit Edey, he will torch you by scoring or passing out of a double-team. But, Purdue is more than just Edey.
The Southern Conference champion enters the NCAA tournament at 29-5 and as one of the best 3-point shooting teams in the country. Samford hits 10 3s per game at a 39% clip from deep, good enough for seventh in the country in accuracy from deep. It is not just from one or two players. Seven different Bulldogs have hit 24 or more 3-point bombs, led byis the top scorer, averaging 26.5 points over his past two games.
I cannot recall a season when Carolina's defense was the lead story. Coach Hubert Davis has preached defense, impacting the ball, challenging shots and making catches difficult. And the Carolina defense is physical and gritty. The Tar Heels can still score, rebound and get to the free throw line, but the defensive profile is what makes Carolina a contender. Without sustained defensive effort, North Carolina is a good team, but not great.
The WAC champion is an impressive 29-4 with an early-season win over San Diego State and a close loss to South Carolina. The Lopes have a trio of outstanding players in. Grant-Foster is a transfer from Kansas and DePaul who seemed to be done with basketball after a heart condition sidelined him for nearly two seasons. After receiving medical clearance, he returned to the court and averaged 20 points and six rebounds for coach Bryce Drew and GCU on his way to WAC Player of the Year honors.
The Mountain West champion is an outstanding offensive team because it has multiple scorers that can each go off. The Lobos are 26-9 and won four straight after losing a heartbreaker at Utah State. They take care of the ball and defend at a high level. Point guardhas size and length and is a great passer, leading New Mexico in assists. Dent can really penetrate and make plays for himself or others.. An All-MVC performer as a freshman, Toppin is the Lobos' best NBA prospect.
The Wildcats are on the top tier of title contenders with UConn, Purdue and Houston. With an explosive, up-tempo offense and a substantially better defense than last season's version, this team can win it all. Arizona is balanced offensively, with explosive guards and very good size to score around and protect the rim. Excellent rebounding at both ends, a high assist rate, and great game planning provide Arizona with a legit chance to challenge for it all.
The Badgers have had a Jekyll-and-Hyde season. When at its best, Wisconsin can hang with most any team. When less than its best, Wisconsin has been blown out of gyms. Since the start of February, the Badgers lost seven of 10 games, with the three wins at home against teams not in the NCAA field. As per usual, Wisconsin is a low-turnover, low-foul, solid rebounding, tempo-control team. In past years, that meant the Badgers were hard to play against and hard to beat.
The ACC champion just won five games in five days, after losing four straight coming into the ACC tournament. It was likely the most improbable, incredible run in a conference tournament ever. The question is, will NC State have anything left in the tank for the NCAA tournament after the physical and emotional energy expended? NC State is unique because it has., a former Tennessee and Winthrop big guy who has the build of an offensive lineman and the feet of a ballerina.
Shaka Smart has an outstanding, unselfish team that can force turnovers, make the game chaos for an opponent and cut people up on the offensive end. The quarterback,, is the best point guard in the country and one of the most competitive. The lefty scores, gets out in transition and is surgical in pick-and-roll. And Kolek has weapons around him.is perhaps the most versatile big man in the Big East. Ighodaro is a playmaking big guy who can really pass.
Last year's national runner-up is back again as a No. 5 seed, led by arguably the most improved player in the country,. The Aztecs are top 10 in defensive efficiency for the third straight season. They guard the 3-point line as well as anyone and make opponents earn their points.Medium. The Aztecs play their share of tight games. As good as LeDee is, if the supporting cast isn't hitting shots, they could be sent home early.
The Cougars are really, really good. In its first season in the Big 12, BYU was simply fantastic. This is a terrific offensive team with great shooting, cutting and passing. BYU plays"five out" spread offense that puts defenders and opposing big guys in tough positions. BYU has seven players who had hit 27 or more 3-point field goals heading into the Big 12 tournament, and five players who had hit 40 or more.
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