With the School Soccer Playoff behind us and the NFL winding down, extra folks start listening to school hoops.
We’re lower than 50 days away from Choice Sunday, which means we are able to begin hunting down the contenders from the pretenders. Who’s going to make the Closing 4, and who’s destined to be picked off earlier within the NCAA Match?
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 very best 4 groups on paper.
Not into account
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 Heart. Obligatory Credit score: Aaron Doster-Imagn Photos UConn: Sorry, this crew 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 might be again within the NCAA Match and St. John’s appears actually robust towards the backdrop of a weak Huge East. A darkish horse, however not Closing 4-caliber fairly but.
Kentucky: Mark Pope’s Wildcat revival has been an awesome story. You simply can’t win each match sport 100-90.
Simply missed the reduce
Jan 25, 2025; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; Kansas Jayhawks ahead Flory Bidunga (40) celebrates with middle Hunter Dickinson (1) after scoring towards the Houston Cougars in the course of the first half at Allen Fieldhouse. Obligatory Credit score: Denny Medley-Imagn Photos Iowa State: Skilled, well-rounded and extremely environment friendly at each ends of the ground. Don’t be shocked if that is the 12 months the Cyclones break by, however they haven’t received a second-weekend match sport within the Fred Hoiberg/T.J. Otzelberger period.
Kansas: Nice defensively, higher offensively than final 12 months 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 one in every of them could find yourself successful the SEC, and any one in every of them could hit a wall when dealing with top-15 crew after top-15 crew 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: Yet one more from the SEC, and yet one more darkish horse I like so much. The Bulldogs have expertise, steadiness and the flexibility to win away from residence.
Marquette: Talking of expertise, not solely is that this a grasp class in roster retention, however Shaka Good has taken a decrease seed to the Closing 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 crew gave the impression 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 among the greatest within the nation.
The Closing 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 in the course of the second half at Fertitta Heart. The Cougars defeated the Utes 70-36. Obligatory Credit score: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Photos Duke: For all of the occasions we’ve written in regards to the ACC’s obvious demise, the convention has gotten a crew to the Closing 4 three years operating, together with No. 8, 5 and 11 seeds. No must overthink this 12 months’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 obtained the Cougars to the Closing 4 in 2021, and the previous three campaigns have appeared like disappointments relative to the energy of his groups. For individuals who didn’t catch the loopy manner the Cougars beat Kansas in double extra time on Saturday, this 12 months’s group has the psychological fortitude to deal with any state of affairs.
Auburn: The Tigers’ solely lack of the season was by six factors to Duke, at Duke. They’ve received blowouts and pulled out shut video games, high-scoring battles, and defensive struggles like Saturday’s slugfest towards Tennessee. They’ve received when their greatest participant, Johni Broome, was sidelined by damage. They only 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 like the Spartans’ statistical profile, depth, expertise and 4-0 document in true highway video games. They’ll find yourself a No. 3 or 4 seed within the tourney and go on one final experience with Izzo as they search their second nationwide championship.
Championship sport: Duke 84, Houston 72