The Mayhem Is Back!: A Guide To the 2021 NCAAMBB Tournament

Last year, March Madness was taken away from us and all we could do was weep and guess what would’ve happened. Alas, the mayhem returns to the state of Indiana here in 2021 and we have 68 teams ready to dance! With that being said, why waste any more time with an introduction when we have a cumulative 67 (including play-in games) games to go over!?

*This is suuuuuper long, so feel free to skip to a certain region and just look at how my bracket shapes*

WEST | EAST | SOUTH | MIDWEST | FINAL FOUR | FULL PICTURED BRACKET

FIRST FOUR

16 Texas Southern (16-8, SWAC) vs 16 Mt. St. Mary’s (12-10, NEC)

Thursday, March 18th at 2:10 PM PST on TruTV

How they got here: Both teams received automatic bids via winning their conference tournaments.

Players to watch: The leader for Texas State is Senior guard Michael Weathers, who is averaging 16.5 PPG, 3.6 APG, and 5.2 RPG. For Mt. St. Mary’s, eyes should gravitate to Damian Chong Qui, a 5’8” guard averaging 15.1 PPG, 5.5 APG, and a surprising 4.2 RPG. Short kings must band together, so I know I’ll be rooting for a big game from Damian.

Breakdown: Both teams peaked at the right time, as Texas Southern overcame a 2-7 start, while Mt. St. Mary’s was sitting at 8-10 before making a run. Mt. St. Mary has been good at stopping the three ball and getting boards, while Texas Southern sports an up-tempo offense and a team that can also rebound well. Two very different teams, Texas Southern needs to get going fast and dominate the tempo, force MSM to change their style to keep up. For Mt. St. Mary, they have to dominate the boards and be efficient on offense to win. While Texas Southern is prone to turnovers and other mistakes with the pace they play at, the prospect of some hot streaks going their way, I like them to advance into the field of 64.

Winner: Texas Southern

11 Drake (25-4, MVC) vs 11 Wichita State (16-5, AAC)

Thursday, March 18th at 3:27 PM PST on TBS

How they got here: Neither team received an automatic bid, rather getting at-large bids after a loss in the conference championship (Drake) and a semi final loss (Wichita State).

Players to watch: Drake is led by leading scorer Shanquan Hemphill, who in 20 games has averaged 14.1 PPG, 1.5 APG, and 6.3 RPG. For Wichita, Fred VanVleet isn’t walking out of that door, but Sophomore Tyson Etienne is averaging a cool 17 PPG and matches it with some cool hair.

Breakdown: Drake has played near 30 games this season in the small MVC, while Wichita State has played closer to 20 in the legit AAC. Wichita State is probably the better shooting team, while Drake plays fantastic defense. Neither team plays at a frenetic pace, so expect a gritty 40 minutes of basketball where around 60 points can win you the basketball game. The Shockers always come to play in March, but Drake started from the bottom, and now that they are here, I’m rolling with Bulldogs.

Winner: Drake

16 Appalachian State (17-11, Sun Belt) vs 16 Norfolk State (16-7, MEAC)

Thursday, March 18th at 5:40 PM PST on TruTV

How they got here: Both teams received automatic bids via winning their conference tournaments.

Players to watch: The top scorer for App State is Junior Adrian Delph, who averaged 13.2 PPG, 1.3 APG, and 4.5 RPG. For Norfolk State, Devante Carter averaged 15.5 PPG, 4.0 APG, 5.3 RPG.

Breakdown: App State, for better or for worse, lives and dies with the 3-PT shot. The way this game turns out is going to be entirely based on if the Mountaineers make their threes because that is all they do. Norfolk State doesn’t do anything excellent, but a fine overall game with good perimeter defense is all they need.

Winner: Norfolk State

11 UCLA (17-9, Pac-12) vs 11 Michigan State (15-12, Big Ten)

Thursday, March 18th at 6:57 PM PST on TBS

How they got here: UCLA was positioned to make a run at the outright Pac-12 title before losing 3 games to conclude the regular season. Then, they were bounced after a single game in the Pac-12 tournament. An up and down season, Michigan State added marquee victories versus Illinois, Ohio State, and Michigan to earn an at-large bid, despite a poor showing in the conference tournament.

Players to watch: Not a world-renowned scorer, UCLA PG Tyger Campbell makes plays for his teammates, averaging 10.5 PPG and 5.6 APG as the Bruins gritty leader. Michigan State goes super deep into their bench, so there are a lot of guys to look at for the Spartans, but I’ll pick exciting guard Rocket Watts. Whether or not he starts or comes off the bench, Watts can be a spark plug for his team. If he can come close to replicating his 21 point performance versus Michigan, MSU should feel good.

Breakdown: The Spartans 2020-2021 season epitomizes the term “ups and down.” From preseason top 5 to a brutal midseason stretch, MSU worked hard to get the chance to dance. UCLA faced their own struggles, including the loss of Chris Smith due to injury. On the court, Michigan State plays solid defense to the 3 pointer and rebounded well in the Big 10. Not much of an offensive juggernaut, but they go about 10 deep into the bench and have various threats to score. There isn’t too much special about this UCLA team, they’ve been able to consistently shoot the rock well and are pretty decent all around. For all of Michigan State’s inconsistencies throughout the season, I think Tom Izzo’s men rise to the occasion and get a hard-earned victory over UCLA.

Winner: Michigan State

WEST REGION

ROUND OF 64

1 Gonzaga (26-0, WCC) vs 16 Norfolk State/App State (16-7, MEAC)

Saturday, March 20th at 6:20 PM PST on TBS

How they got here: Gonzaga cruised to an automatic bid with a perfect season, while Norfolk State (hypothetically) beat App State in the play-in.

Players to watch: Gonzaga is full of talented guys, but Freshman phenom Jalen Suggs stands out. He put up 14.3 PPG, 4.5 APG, and 5.5 RPG en route to a lottery selection in this upcoming NBA Draft. Norfolk State isn’t a star-studded group, so I’ll stick with Devante Carter, who averaged 15.5 PPG, 4.0 APG, 5.3 RPG.

Breakdown: Gonzaga is the #1 overall seed in the tournament for a reason. The ghosts of UMBC remain, but I see no scenario where the Zags stop dancing after the Round of 64. At least Norfolk State got a win in 68!

Winner: Gonzaga

8 Oklahoma (15-10, Big 12) vs 9 Missouri (16-9, SEC)

Saturday, March 20th at 4:25 PM PST on TNT

How they got here: Oklahoma secured an at-large bid on the heels of wins over Kansas, WVU, Texas, and Alabama. Missouri also got an at-large bid with important wins over Alabama and Arkansas.

Players to watch: Oklahoma moves at the pace of Senior PG Austin Reaves, who has averaged a phenomenal 17.7 PPG, 4.7 APG, and 5.7 RPG. Tied for the lead in PPG on the team, Senior Dru Smith is a key piece for Mizzou, averaging 14.1 PPG, 3.9 APG, and 3.5 RPG.

Breakdown: Following a big midseason spurt, Oklahoma hasn’t won a non-Iowa State win since the beginning of February. The Sooners don’t shoot it exceptionally, but also lack inside presence. The talent is in place for Oklahoma, they just need guys like De’Vion Harmon and Elijah Harkless to show up. Missouri is plenty similar, a roster with lots of talent that went through a cold spell in the back half of the season. Dru Smith is the unquestioned catalyst, the team performance is largely based on how he performs. Again, these teams are super similar, but I think De’Vion Harmon can make enough plays on both sides to secure a Sooner victory.

UPDATE: De’Vion Harmon is OUT, so the pick is now Missouri.

Winner: Missouri

5 Creighton (20-8, Big East) vs 12 UC Santa Barbara (22-4, Big West)

Saturday, March 20th at 12:30 PM PST on truTV

How they got here: Creighton received an at-large bid after losing to Georgetown in the Big East title game. UCSB, on the other hand, clinched the automatic bid after defeating UCI in their conference tournament.

Players to watch: For the Creighton Blue Jays, Marcus Zegarowski is the unquestioned man to watch. The Junior guard is averaging 15.5 PPG, 4.3 APG, and 3.7 RPG while shooting over 40% from 3 point range. For the Gauchos, Jaquori McLaughlin is the engine that gets this team going. As a fifth year Senior, McLaughlin has averaged 16.2 PPG, 5.2 APG, 3.4 RPG, and a 3P% above 40%.

Breakdown: Creighton found itself firmly behind Villanova throughout the Big East season, while UCSB ran roughshod on the Big West. Creighton boasts a near-elite offense that can score at any level. Meanwhile, Santa Barbara has won 9 of their last 10 and put up just slightly worse offense rates than Creighton. Creighton is probably the better team, hence the seeding, but this UCSB team can play and I like the Gauchos pulling off the first upset of my bracket.

Winner: UC Santa Barbara

4 Virginia (18-6, ACC) vs 13 Ohio (16-7, MAC)

Saturday, March 20th at 4:15 PM PST on truTV

How they got here: Virginia was pulled from the ACC Tournament due to COVID-19, but still landed the at-large bid. For Ohio, they broke out from the middle of the pack MAC teams to win the conference tournament and punch their ticket automatically.

Players to watch: Not the best player on UVA, Kihei Clark stands a mighty 5’9” and has been the primary ball handler these past two seasons for the Cavaliers. He averages 9.5 PPG, 4.6 APG (flashy!), and 2.0 RPG. Short kings power! For Ohio, Jason Preston has been the man, averaging 16.6 PPG, 7.2 APG, and 6.8 RPG.

Breakdown: As it stands currently, we don’t know how much Virginia will be able to practice or if they’ll have full availability due to their quarantine. Assuming everything is full strength, Virginia will continue to play its pesky defense, which they’ll need to stop Preston. Ohio was merely mediocre for most of the season, but boy are they peaking at the right time. The contrast of snail tempo vs up tempo will be interesting to follow, especially if Virginia is indeed rusty. Ohio is a trendy pick, and for good reason, but I like Virginia getting a few big stops to win it.

Winner: Virginia

6 USC (22-7, Pac-12) vs 11 Drake/Wichita State (25-4, MVC)

Saturday, March 20th at 1:30 PM PST on TNT

How they got here: USC just missed out on a regular season title and conference title, but still got the nod for the at-large bid. As mentioned above, Drake got an at-large bid.

Players to watch: The cog for this USC team is future lottery pick Evan Mobley. The 7’0” Freshman won Pac-12 POTY with 16.8 PPG, 2.2 APG, and 8.6 RPG. To repeat for Drake, they are led by leading scorer Shanquan Hemphill, who in 20 games has averaged 14.1 PPG, 1.5 APG, and 6.3 RPG.

Breakdown: USC wasn’t perfect in the Pac-12 Tournament, but Evan Mobley was damn near it. Odds are Darnell Brodie will draw the assignment, so he’ll have to be on his A game. Don’t sleep on Tahj Eady either, he’s a walking bucket for the Trojans. Defensively, the Trojans are a stout group that dominates the board, so don’t expect many second chance opportunities. Look for the Trojans to turn good defense into good offense and, unfortunately, end the fun run of the Drake Bulldogs.

Winner: USC

3 Kansas (20-8, Big 12) vs 14 Eastern Washington (16-7, Big Sky)

Saturday, March 20th at 10:15 AM PST on TBS

How they got here: Kansas, like Virginia, pulled out of their conference tournament due to COVID-19, but was still positioned to get a bid. Eastern Washington reeled off 3 wins in their conference tournament to get the auto-bid.

Players to watch: After only appearing in two games last season, Jalen Wilson has found his stride for the Jayhawks. Standing at 6’8”, he averaged 12.1 PPG, 2.0 APG, and 8.2 RPG. Right from Spokane, Tanner Groves has been the guy for EWU, averaging 16.4 PPG, 1.4 APG, and 8.1 RPG.

Breakdown: Availability is a big question mark for Kansas, as they’ll need a guy like David McCormack to make it deep. In terms of play styles, EWU plays at a quick pace and have been shooting the lights out of the ball. This isn’t an electric offensive team from Kansas, but they play good team defense and have several guys that could go off. Eastern Washington has won 13 of its last 14, and salute to those who are willing to take the chance on them, but I’m rocking with the Jayhawks.

UPDATE: Jalen Wilson won’t arrive until Monday

Winner: Kansas

7 Oregon (20-6, Pac-12) vs 10 VCU (19-7, A-10)

Saturday, March 20th at 6:57 PM PST on TNT

How they got here: The Ducks won the regular season Pac-12 title, but fell prior to the conference championship. They have an at-large bid, as does VCU after they lost in the A-10 championship.

Players to watch: There are a lot of guys to look at for Oregon, but I’ll single out L.J. Figueroa. Figueroa has gone dancing with St. Johns before and put up 12.3 PPG, 1.5 APG, and 6.1 RPG this season for the Ducks. For the Rams, Nah’Shon Hyland is averaging nearly 20 PPG, sitting at 19.5 PPG, 2.1 APG, and 4.7 RPG.

Breakdown: Iron sharpens iron in this matchup, as Oregon’s high-powered offense meets a staunch VCU defense. Oregon doesn’t have the makeup of a great defense, but they are super athletic with essentially 5 wings on the court. VCU runs on Hyland, so if the Oregon defense buys in to shut him down, it’ll be on to the Round of 32. When it comes to March, Dana Altman and co. always seem to turn it up.

Winner: Oregon

2 Iowa (21-8, Big Ten) vs 15 Grand Canyon (17-6, WAC)

Saturday, March 20th at 3:25 PM PST on TBS

How they got here: Iowa secured an at-large bid after a successful season in the gauntlet Big Ten. For Grand Canyon, they rode a strong regular season into a conference title and automatic-bid.

Player to watch: Seems like a gimme, but lets talk about how phenomenal Luka Garza is. The 6’11” Senior averaged 23.7 PPG, 1.8 APG, 8.8 RPG and shot 40.7% from 3! The chalk pick, but man he is so good. Grand Canyon has a pair of stud big men as well, one of them being Asbjorn Midtgaard. Native to Denmark, the 7 footer averaged 14 PPG and 9.9 RPG while shooting 70.6% from the field.

Breakdown: In most cases, you’d think small schools like GCU would struggle to size up with a team like Iowa, but alas, Grand Canyon has TWO 7 footers in Midtgaard and Alessandro Lever. With that being said, Luka Garza is a beast like none other. Lost amongst these big men, Jovan Blacksher is a crafty guard for GCU, while Joe Wisekamp and Jordan Bohannon are elite shooters from outside. Maybe it’ll be close at half, but Iowa should manage to pull out a victory.

Winner: Iowa

ROUND OF 32

1 Gonzaga vs 9 Missouri

Times TBD

How they got here: Gonzaga beat Norfolk State in 64, while Missouri took down Oklahoma.

Players to watch: I showered Jalen Suggs in love for Gonzaga the first time, but against a smaller OU team, let’s look at 6’10” Drew Timme. Timme had 18.7 PPG, 2.0 APG, and 7.1 RPG during his Sophomore campaign. For Missouri, look at Jeremiah Tilmon to attempt to neutralize Timme. The 6’10” Senior averaged 12.3 PPG and 7.0 RPG.

Breakdown: Gonzaga has gone undefeated and is the #1 overall team for a reason, they’re phenomenal in every facet. They’re top 10 offensively and defensively, with all 5 starters having the power to have a big game. The Zags don’t usually go deep into their bench, but they have no need to. For Missouri, they’ll have a challenge in stopping Drew Timme in the post. The Tigers haven’t been consistent offensively, and to compete in this game, they have to be able to score efficiently and score outside of just Dru Smith and Xavier Pinson. Ultimately, I don’t see Missouri knocking off mighty Gonzaga.

Winner: Gonzaga

4 Virginia vs 12 UC Santa Barbara

Times TBD

How they got here: Virginia handled the Bobcats of Ohio, while UCSB upset Creighton to advance.

Players to watch: After sitting out last season due to transfer rules, Sam Hauser has emerged as the leading scorer of the Cavaliers. The Wisconsin native averaged 16 PPG, 1.8 APG, and 6.7 RPG with a 43.4 3P%. McLaughlin is that guy for UCSB, but when looking at size, San Diego’s own Miles Norris stands at 6’10” for the Gauchos. Norris averaged 9.6 PPG, 1.8 APG, and 4.5 RPG in his first season at Isla Vista.

Breakdown: Virginia, albeit by a technicality, is still the reigning national champion and the Cavs are a very veteran-led team. The experience is nice, but we don’t know who all will be available for UVA, so some expectations need to be tempered. We do know that regardless of who exactly is on the court, we can expect hard-nosed, good defense, and a slow pace from Tony Bennett’s team. For Santa Barbara, they’ve been one of the more efficient teams in the country and are top 100 for both adjusted offense and defense. Faster than Virginia, UCSB doesn’t run a high-pace offense by any means. With Virginia COVID effects lingering and Jaquori McLaughlin and Amadou Sow on fire, I’m rocking with the Gauchos to continue on.

Winner: UC Santa Barbara

3 Kansas vs 6 USC

Times TBD

How they got here: Kansas took care of Eastern Washington, while USC fended off the Drake Bulldogs.

Players to watch: Assuming he’s cleared, David McCormack will be the most important player for Kansa versus USC. The 6’10” Junior, who averaged 13.4 PPG and 6.1 RPG, will be tasked with Evan Mobley, one of the toughest assignments in CBB. If Mobley is “neutralized,” look at USC to give the ball to Tahj Eady, a 6’2” perimeter threat who averaged 13.7 PPG during the regular season.

Breakdown: I sound like a broken record, but with Kansas and Virginia in the same region, I’ll keep prefacing the COVID concerns and questions. Either way, Kansas has a deep roster that can compete. USC tails off a bit after Mobley and Eahdy, but it’s easier said than done to stop those two. The other Mobley, Isaiah, needs to perform and the Trojans need to use their size defensively to get their offense running. The formula could be similar for Kansas, as they rank at 6 in adjusted D per KenPom. A pretty even matchup, I like the depth and experience of Kansas’ backcourt to narrowly advance.

Winner: Kansas

2 Iowa vs 7 Oregon

Times TBD

How they got here: Iowa beat Grand Canyon and Oregon defeated VCU to meet here.

Players to watch: I don’t wanna do this again, but in this matchup, Luka Garza is once again the guy to watch for Iowa. Oregon will likely go with some kind of committee approach to play Garza, but I’ll single out Eugene Omoruyi as a key to slow him down. Omoruyi stands at 6’6” and averaged 16.7 PPG, 2.2 APG, and 5.2 RPG.

Breakdown: Oregon has a knack for turning it up in March, but boy are they mismatched here. The Ducks can shoot the lights out of the ball, almost all 5 guys on the court at any time can make a three. The issue for Oregon is that they put out essentially 5 wings, so they don’t have a pure ball handler or legit interior presence. Cue the best big man in the sport, Luka Garza, and you have yourself an issue. Garza is in the spotlight, but that doesn’t mean he’s only a one man wrecking crew. Surrounded with shooters, Iowa’s offense is set up to take advantage of a team like Oregon. To win, Oregon would have to nearly perfect from the field, and it’s possible, but I don’t see it happening.

Winner: Iowa

SWEET SIXTEEN

1 Gonzaga vs 12 UCSB

Times TBD

How they got here: Gonzaga breezed by Norfolk State and Oklahoma, while UCSB upset Creighton and Virginia.

Players to watch: For being a mid-major school, Santa Barbara does have some length, but no one that can match Drew Timme. Shooting 65.6% from the field, Timme can thrash any defense he faces. For Santa Barbara, playing the top dogs of Gonzaga, it’s gonna have to be the Jaquori McLaughlin show to have a chance. He averaged 16.2 PPG this season, but to win this game, the Gauchos will need McLaughlin to hover closer to 25 points.

Breakdown: Gonzaga remains perfect coming into this game, but boy do they have a hot team in UCSB rolling into the arena. Winners of 9 of their last 10 coming into the tourney, Santa Barbara would be coming off two electric upset wins. As evidence by them being in the Sweet 16, I believe in the Gauchos! However, it’ll be challenging to maintain that energy against big bad Gonzaga. The Zags are just too strong on both sides of the ball to be taken down by a mid-major. A phenomenal run, but Santa Barbara is sent home.

Winner: Gonzaga

2 Iowa vs 3 Kansas

Times TBD

How they got here: Iowa blew by Grand Canyon and Oregon, while Kansas beat EWU and escaped USC.

Players to watch: The head three point assassin for the Hawkeyes, Joe Wisekamp averaged 14.7 PPG, 1.5 APG, and 6.6 RPG while shooting nearly 50% from 3. He wasn’t super hot during the Big Ten tourney, so him finding his footing would go a long way for Iowa. Once again, David McCormack will be the most important player for the Jayhawks, as he is tasked with Luka Garza. Following a battle with Evan Mobley, if McCormack rises to the occasion, Kansas can move on to the Elite 8.

Breakdown: Two very talented teams, Iowa brings a top 10 offense, while Kansas boasts top 10 defense. How McCormack fairs in the post will have a big effect on the game, as will Iowa’s perimeter shooting. They’ve been a great shooting team, but went dry against Wisconsin (2-20 from 3) and were below their usual mark in the loss to Illinois. The 2-20 was likely an anomaly, but the point remains that to beat a top tier team, they have to shoot it well. Kansas has an experienced back court with Agbaji and Garrett, but can they pace the shooters of Iowa? I think this will be a tight game to the end, but in crunch time, I like Iowa to make plays on offense to move on.

Winner: Iowa

ELITE EIGHT

1 Gonzaga vs 2 Iowa

Times TBD

How they got here: Gonzaga handled business with Norfolk State, Oklahoma, and UC Santa Barbara to get to the Elite 8. The Hawkeyes of Iowa beat Grand Canyon, Oregon, and outlasted Kansas.

Players to watch: When these two teams met in December, Jalen Suggs announced his presence as a star with 27 points on 7-10 shooting from 3. On the flip side, Jordan Bohannon was a dreadful 1-8 from the field and 0-5 from 3. Suggs wants more of the same, while Bohannon hopes to improve his stroke.

Breakdown: Gonzaga pulled off an 11 point victory that was never that close after about midway into the 1st half. However, Luka still went for 30 points and 10 rebounds. The Hawkeyes shot a horrendous 18.2% from 3 in that game, meaning they’ll have to shoot closer to their 38% average. Wisekamp, Bohannon, and Frederick need to be efficient and smart in their shots because the way to beat Gonzaga isn’t coming from behind. Although Luka nabbed ten boards, Gonzaga guard Joel Ayayi had a whopping 18 rebounds with his 6’5” frame en route to Gonzaga winning the boards battle. Iowa can’t afford to get thrown around on the boards, they need to limit Gonzaga to one shot per possession or else it’ll get ugly. The Hawkeyes have the resources to knock off the Bulldogs, but boy do I love me some Jalen Suggs. Look for the star PG to further push his NBA stock through the rough with a big performance to get his team to the Final Four.

Winner: Gonzaga

EAST REGION

ROUND OF 64

1 Michigan (20-4, Big Ten) vs 16 Mt. St. Mary’s/Texas Southern (16-8, SWAC)

Saturday, March 20th at 12:00 PM PST on CBS

How they got here: Michigan won the Big Ten regular season title, but was knocked out by Ohio State in the Big Ten Tournament before receiving an at-large bid. Texas Southern (in this scenario) beat Mt. St. Mary’s in the First Four to advance here.

Players to watch: With Isaiah Livers out for Michigan indefinitely, look to see how a guy like Brandon Johns Jr. can perform. The 6’8” Junior averaged only 4.1 PPG during the regular season, but was forced into the starting five against Ohio State. To pull of the major upset, Texas Southern will need their leader Michael Weathers (16.5 PPG) to absolutely erupt.

Breakdown: There really isn’t much to it, Michigan should win this basketball game. Even without Livers, Michigan is one of the elite teams in college basketball this year and they’d have to play a dreadful one to lose. With how streaky Texas Southern is, they could keep it close for a bit, but they also could go down big early on.

Winner: Michigan

8 LSU (18-9, SEC) vs 9 St. Bonaventure (16-4, A-10)

Saturday, March 20th at 10:45 AM PST on TNT

How they got here: LSU came up short vs Alabama in the SEC Championship, but still received a bid. St. Bonaventure got the job done in the A-10 and got the automatic bid.

Players to watch: Cam Thomas is the leading scorer for LSU, but I want to focus in on Ja’Vonte Smart, the veteran guard for this young Tigers time. Smart averaged 15.9 PPG, 4.0 APG, and 3.6 RPG while shooting 42.1% from 3. St. Bonaventure boasts the Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year in Osun Osunniyi, who averaged 10.5 PPG, 2.4 APG, 9.5 RPG, and nearly 3 BPG. The 6’10” Junior is a menace for opposing offenses.

Breakdown: One of the toughest games for me to pick, LSU brings all-world scoring ability, but little defense. KenPom has LSU with the 5th best offense in the country, but the 125th best defense. The Bonnies, who rank in the top 25 of KenPom, are #38 in offense and #17 in defense. Trendon Watford and Cam Thomas are both phenomenal scorers, but don’t sleep on Kyle Lofton or Jaren Holmes for St. Bonaventure. Stopping LSU’s offense is challenging, but the presence of Osun Osunniyi goes a long way in trying. A concern of mine for St. Bonaventure is their lack of depth, as all of their starters average 32+ minutes. They have been able to have success with this lack of rotation, however, and I’m willing to take a chance on the Bonnies because of the horrendous defense that LSU plays.

Winner: St. Bonaventure

5 Colorado (22-8, Pac-12) vs 12 Georgetown (13-12, Big East)

Saturday, March 20th at 9:15 AM PST on CBS

How they got here: Colorado fell short of a Pac-12 Title, but still surpassed 20 wins and got a tournament win. Georgetown went on a furious run through the Big East to win the tournament and automatically go dancing.

Players to watch: When you talk about Colorado basketball, McKinley Wright IV has been that guy for the past four years. During his Senior campaign, he averaged 15.5 PPG, 5.6 APG, and 4.3 RPG. Wright is the heart and soul of this Colorado team, as well as one of the best players the Pac-12 has to offer. Georgetown is led by Senior guard Jahvon Blair, who averaged 15.8 PPG, 3.7 APG, and 3.8 RPG.

Breakdown: Maybe not the pure best 12 seed, there might not be a hotter team in the nation than the Georgetown Hoyas. Riding their four game win streak, I have my concerns about Patrick Ewing’s squad. They shot super well in the Big East Tournament, hitting 36.7% of their shots from 3, but they also turn it over at one of the worst rates in the country. Essentially 1 of every 5 Hoya possession has been a turnover, not a good stat. Colorado isn’t a sexy team, but they’re top 30 in both offense and defense with a bonafide star in Wright. Georgetown is the trendy upset pick, but I don’t see it.

Winner: Colorado

4 Florida State (16-6, ACC) vs 13 UNC Greensboro (21-8, Southern)

Saturday, March 20th at 9:45 AM PST on truTV

How they got here: FSU lost to Georgia Tech in the ACC Championship, but still got the bid to the tournament. UNCG took care of the SonCon Tournament to enter the field of 64.

Players to watch: Florida State may use him off the bench, but don’t let that fool you, Scottie Barnes is a stud. This Freshman year, he’s averaged 11.0 PPG, 4.2 APG, 4.3 RPG, and has made exactly 50% of his shots this season. At 6’9”, he’s a nightmare for opposing teams. For Greensboro, it’s all about Isaiah Miller, the Senior PG who’s averaging 19.3 PPG, 4.0 APG, and 6.9 RPG.

Breakdown: UNC Greensboro is a good team, but this is a tough matchup for them to pull off. The Seminoles have their flaws, but their length across the board is gonna pose mismatches for UNCG. Defensively, Florida State has the athleticism to challenge Isaiah Miller, which is concerning for me. Can UNC Greensboro pull off the upset if they don’t get 20 from Miller? I’m not so sure, so I’m sticking with the ‘Noles.

Winner: Florida State

6 BYU (20-6, WCC) vs 11 Michigan State/UCLA (15-12, Big Ten)

Saturday, March 20th at 6:40 PM PST on CBS

How they got here: BYU couldn’t catch Gonzaga in the WCC, but they still got an invite to the tournament. Michigan State beat UCLA in the play-in to get here.

Players to watch: Former Purdue Boilermaker, Matt Haarms is a real life unicorn at 7’3”. He averaged a modest 11.3 PPG and 4.8 RPG, but has the ability to alter the game majorly. Aaron Henry is the guy for Michigan State, as he led the team in scoring with 15.3 PPG.

Breakdown: In a typical conference, BYU is probably top dog, but they’ve had to live in the shadow of Gonzaga. BYU can shoot with anyone in the country, hitting 39.8% of their shots from 3. There’s really nothing not to like about this Cougars team, as they’re top 30 in offense and defense per KenPom. With that being said, Michigan State is a talented team that is dangerous when they’re on a roll. I mentioned Aaron Henry and Rocket Watts as guys to watch these last two games, but don’t forget Joshua Langford or Joey Hauser. The offense has really been up and down for Sparty, but they’re a solid defensive team that can be tough to handle when everything is aligned. BYU is the safer pick, but a hot Tom Izzo team is too intriguing to pass up on.

Winner: Michigan State

3 Texas (19-7, Big 12) vs 14 Abilene Christian (23-4, Southland)

Saturday, March 20th at 6:50 PM PST on truTV

How they got here: Both Texas and Abilene Christian came out on top in their conference tournaments, taking automatic bids.

Players to watch: Matt Coleman is the leader for Texas, averaging 13.3 PPG, 4.1 APG, and RPG. Abilene Christian doesn’t have a clearcut superstar, but 7 footer Kolton Kohl averaged 12.3 PPG with 4.8 RPG this season.

Breakdown: Things have finally came around for Shaka Smart at Texas, with this team being one of the most talented teams in the country. Coleman, Andrew Jones, and Courtney Ramsey are all backcourt threats, while Greg Brown and Jericho Sims are great big men. Texas has flaws, like turning the ball over, but they are too deep and talented to go down this early. ACU plays tough defense, but can they neutralize a Texas team that is really deep? And if they do play that good defense, could they score enough? I don’t think so.

Winner: Texas

7 Connecticut (15-7, AAC) vs 10 Maryland (16-13, Big Ten)

Saturday, March 20th at 4:10 PM PST on CBS

How they got here: UConn was bounced in the semis of the AAC Tournament, but still had the juice to get to Indy. Maryland beat MSU before getting knocked out by Michigan in their conference tourney, but were able to stick on the bubble.

Players to watch: Learn the name James Bouknight, because the Sophomore from Brooklyn is a premier player in college basketball. In 14 games, Bouknight scored 19.0 PPG with 1.9 APG, and 5.7 RPG. Maryland has two veteran guards, so we’ll talk about Aaron Wiggins here, the Junior who averaged 14.0 PPG, 2.6 APG, and 5.9 RPG.

Breakdown: With Bouknight on the court, UConn has been nearly unbeatable. That said, the bread and butter of this Huskies team is their defense, which was undoubtedly the best in the Big East. Freshman Adam Sanogo and Senior Isaiah Whaley are anchors on the defense, combining for over 3.5 BPG. Maryland has been a very meh team all year, albeit in a tough Big Ten. Wiggins and Eric Ayala are experienced veterans, but they don’t really move the needle for me. Darryl Morsell was the Big Ten DPOTY, but as a whole, this Maryland team has shown 0 consistency all season. A healthy James Bouknight means a Connecticut W in my humble opinion.

Winner: Connecticut

2 Alabama (24-6, SEC) vs 15 Iona (12-5, MAAC)

Saturday, March 20th at 1:00 PM PST on TBS

How they got here: Alabama took the SEC title in the regular season and tournament, while Iona also won their conference tournament to come dancing.

Players to watch: Alabama’s leading scorer is Jaden Shackelford, a 6’3” Sophomore scoring 14.2 PPG. He leads the team in scoring, but he goes through cold spells and sometimes struggles with efficiency, so Alabama wants to get him on track. Isaiah Ross is the engine for Iona, averaging 18.4 PPG, 1.5 APG, and 3.8 RPG. Ross was a first team all-MAAC selection and he’ll have to continue his hot play to give his team a shot.

Breakdown: The Pitino factor is cool, but more of an interesting storyline than a tournament threat. Alabama is an elite defensive team, led by SEC Player of the Year Herb Jones. Jones can take Isaiah Ross out of the game and that leaves Iona in a bind. There really isn’t that much to it, Alabama is vastly superior to Iona and may just run Rick Pitino out of the gym.

Winner: Alabama

ROUND OF 32

1 Michigan vs 9 St. Bonaventure

Times TBD

How they got here: Michigan defeated Texas Southern, while St. Bonaventure took down the 8 seed LSU.

Players to watch: UM Freshman Hunter Dickinson went toe-to-toe with the finest of the Big Ten, averaging 14.2 PPG and 7.6 RPG. Again, Osun Osunniyi will be big for St. Bonaventure. The A-10 DPOTY will have to grab around his average 9.5 RPG and 2.9 BPG to hang around with mighty Michigan.

Breakdown: Sans Isaiah Livers, both of these teams don’t use a deep bench and rely heavily on their starting 5. Michigan is top 10 in offense and defense on KenPom, as they have several scorers and dominate the glass. Mike Smith has been playing phenomenal basketball for the Wolverines as of late and will need to be on his game throughout the tournament. The Bonnies can score at any level and rank top 20 in defense, which is encouraging. Against a top dog like Michigan, I don’t know if a 6 man rotation can maintain the stamina to overcome a 1 seed.

Winner: Michigan

4 Florida State vs 5 Colorado

Times TBD

How they got here: FSU took care of UNC Greensboro and Colorado cooled down the hot Hoyas of Georgetown.

Players to watch: RaiQuan Gray is averaging 12 PPG, 2.2 APG, 6.5 RPG and forcing about 2 TOs per game. At 6’8”, Evan Battey is a bit undersized as a big, but showed up big time in the Pac-12 Championship with 16 points. On the year, he averaged 10.2 PPG and 5.4 PPG.

Breakdown: Florida State is a premier perimeter shooting team that takes advantage on the offensive glass, led by RaiQuan Gray. They do have a turnover problem that needs to be limited, but there is a lot to like about this FSU team. The Seminoles’ length across the board helps them play good team defense and frustrate opposing offenses. Colorado isn’t the most exciting team, but McKinley Wright is a hell of a player and the Buffs have been an efficient offensive team. They shoot the ball fairly well and lead the country in free throw shooting, but they lack the length and athleticism throughout the roster that FSU has. This one will come down to the wire, but I tend to ride with coach Leonard Hamilton.

Winner: Florida State

3 Texas vs 11 Michigan State

Times TBD

How they got here: Texas beat Abilene Christian and MSU beat UCLA (First Four) and BYU to get here.

Players to watch: Highly-touted Freshman Greg Brown hasn’t had flashy stats, but 9.6 PPG and 6.4 RPG isn’t too shabby and he has the motor to go off. Joey Hauser, the Marquette transfer, has similar numbers at 9.7 PPG and 5.7 RPG.

Breakdown: Michigan State has had a nice run thus far, but I think they may be meeting their match with Texas. Both teams have depth, but Texas has CONSISTENT depth, while Michigan State has several guys that you don’t know what you’ll get out of. Everyone on the court for Texas is a threat to score, from Matt Coleman down to Kai Jones. Cassius Winston and Denzel Valentine aren’t coming out of that door for the Spartans, so I think Michigan State will see themselves back to East Lansing after this matchup.

Winner: Texas

2 Alabama vs 7 Connecticut

Times TBD

How they got here: Alabama put down Rick Pitino and Iona, while UConn defeated Big Ten foe Maryland.

Players to watch: Herb Jones won SEC POTY and DPOTY for a reason, and he’ll have a tough matchup with Bouknight. 11.2 PPG, 3.4 APG, and 6.5 RPG isn’t gaudy, but he forces nearly 3 TOs per game and makes plays that don’t show in the stat sheet. UConn is gonna need someone outside of Bouknight to step up, with the likely guy being R.J. Cole. Cole averaged 12.3 PPG, 4.4 APG, and 2.9 RPG and needs to be efficient in this matchup.

Breakdown: Alabama and UConn are very similar in certain senses, such as the gritty defense. The difference is the number of guys that can score for Alabama. Past Bouknight, it’s a lot of question marks for the Huskies. For Alabama, they have Shackelford, Petty, Quinerly, Primo (when healthy), and Jones who can all score from each level. James Bouknight is scary, but Herb Jones can be his kryptonite and send Danny Hurley’s team packing.

Winner: Alabama

SWEET SIXTEEN

1 Michigan vs 4 Florida State

Times TBD

How they got here: Michigan got past St. Bonaventure in 32 and Texas Southern in 64. Florida State beat UNCG and Colorado in their path here.

Players to watch: The second Wagner to go through Ann Arbor, Franz Wagner can cement his legacy near his brothers with a big March. The Sophomore averaged 12.8 PPG, 2.9 APG, and 6.2 RPG with a 3P% of 38.4. The Wolverines can’t afford a shooting slump from the German wing. For how good he is, it feels disrespectful how little I’ve discussed M.J. Walker. The Senior averaged 13.0 PPG, 2.4 APG, and 2.6 RPG, but those stats don’t tell the whole story of what Walker means to this team.

Breakdown: If I were guaranteed a healthy Isaiah Livers, I’d probably roll with Michigan confidently. Without him, Michigan is gonna need to tighten up and get big performances from Brandon Johns Jr. and Chaundee Brown. FSU’s Balsa Koprivica will join Hunter Dickinson in the paint for a big man battle. Scottie Barnes is going to have to keep up his strong season and possibly go beyond for his Seminoles to win this game. The biggest key for Florida State is limiting turnovers, which will be a challenge against one of the most stout defenses in the nation. With those concerns noted, I don’t know what Michigan is gonna look like if they don’t have Livers versus a talented team like FSU. I’m going with what I know, and that is Florida State’s talent and depth.

Winner: Florida State

2 Alabama vs 3 Texas

Times TBD

How they got here: Alabama cruised by Iona and UConn, while Texas took care of ACU and Michigan State.

Players to watch: Big man Jordan Bruner missed some time during the regular season and Alabama is gonna need him to hold his own against the front court of Texas. Bruner had a modest 6.1 PPG and 4.2 RPG after nearly averaging a double-double last year at Yale. Jericho Sims is a guy to watch for on Texas. Sims averaged 9.2 PPG and 7.1 RPG during the regular season before a great conference tournament, where he had 21 PTS and 14 REBs.

Breakdown: This would be a fun Saban vs Sark matchup in football, but we’re talking about the hardwood. These are two deep teams with fun guard play, but stingy defense. On paper, Texas has a decent advantage in the front court and a slight edge in the backcourt. In reality, this Alabama team plays great team ball and collectively shut down opposing offenses. I don’t think Alabama will be able to entirely hold off the Texas offense, but Herb Jones and co. can take advantage of a turnover rate above 20% from the Longhorns and get transition offense flowing. This matchup could shape up to be a classic, and I may be a bit of a homer, but I’m rolling with the Crimson Tide.

Winner: Alabama

ELITE EIGHT

2 Alabama vs 4 Florida State

Times TBD

How they got here: Bama rolled through Iona, UConn, and Texas to get to the Elite 8, while FSU beat Georgetown, Colorado, and 1 seed Michigan.

Players to watch: John Petty Jr. has been in Tuscaloosa for 4 years now and each game means we inch closer to his final minute of college basketball. He’s been inconsistent throughout his 4 seasons, but 12.3 PPG, 2.0 APG, 5.1 RPG and 37.4% from 3 isn’t bad at all. Alabama isn’t a large team, so Balsa Koprivica could be in line for a good game. The 7’1” Serbian averaged 9.2 PPG and 5.9 RPG.

Breakdown: Here we go, two super athletic and well coached teams meet in the Elite 8. These teams have had three previous games of being scrutinized, so I’ll keep it shorter here. There really are a lot of similarities about these teams, but what really swings it for me is Florida State’s struggles to take care of the ball, which was the deciding factor for me in Bama vs Texas. Josh Primo being back would definitely be a leg up for Alabama as well, but they have the bodies to cover for him. In a thriller, I like Alabama’s late game pedigree to get them to the Final Four.

Winner: Alabama

SOUTH REGION ROUND OF 64

1 Baylor (22-2, Big 12) vs 16 Hartford (15-8, American East)

Friday, March 19th at 12:30 PM PST on truTV

How they got here: Baylor has been a top two team all season long, and despite falling in the conference tournament, they still had no doubts coming into Indy. Hartford got the automatic bid from the American East Tournament.

Players to watch: Adam Flagler has been a key bench piece for Baylor, averaging 8.7 PPG and shooting 38.7% from 3. He’s coming off a tough game vs Oklahoma State, look for him to bounce back. Austin Williams is the leading scorer for Hartford, averaging 13.7 PPG, 1.6 APG, 6.2 RPG this season.

Breakdown: Hartford isn’t bad at basketball, but Baylor is quite good at it. Baylor should be able to handle the Hawks of Hartford, barring anything unforeseen.

Winner: Baylor

8 North Carolina (18-10, ACC) vs 9 Wisconsin (17-12, Big Ten)

Friday, March 19th at 4:10 PM PST on CBS

How they got here: North Carolina overcame some hiccups and was able to get an at-large bid, as did Wisconsin.

Players to watch: What’s not to love about Caleb (Love)?! The Freshman guard averaged 10.5 PPG, 3.6 APG, 2.6 RPG, as well as 1.2 SPG. For Wisconsin, look at big man Micah Potter, who averaged 12.8 PPG and 5.9 RPG.

Breakdown: As UNC has been surging to close the year, Wisconsin has struggled. Wisconsin was pegged as a contender prior to the season because of their experience, but this season hasn’t been too smooth. D’Mitrik Trice is still an elite threat, while Brad Davison is still good, but hasn’t played as well as he did in previous seasons. This is a tough matchup for the Badgers because, 1) North Carolina is a fast pace team, and 2) the Tarheels dominate the offensive glass. North Carolina isn’t an overly flashy team, they just play tough defense and give themselves opportunities on offense with their rebounding. I think the Tarheels will force the Badgers to speed up and the edge on the boards will doom Wisconsin.

Winner: North Carolina

5 Villanova (16-6, Big East) vs 12 Winthrop (23-1, Big South)

Friday, March 19th at 6:57 PM PST on TNT

How they got here: Villanova fell early in the Big East tourney, but still sat pretty on Selection Sunday. Winthrop ran through their conference tournament to get to the big dance.

Players to watch: Star PG Collin Gillespie went down for the season, forcing reserve guard Chris Arcidiacono into a starting role against Georgetown. Arcidiacono appeared in 10 games, but didn’t accumulate many stats, putting up a 3 PT, 4 AST, 5 REB performance versus Georgetown. Winthrop runs largely on 6’7” Senior Chandler Vaudrin, who averaged 12.2 PPG, 6.9 APG, and 7.2 RPG. Vaudrin is a legit threat from deep.

Breakdown: Boy do I feel for Villanova with the loss of Gillespie. Yes, they still have Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, but losing your veteran PG is a massive blow, as evident by losses to Providence and Georgetown. Villanova still has plenty of talent, with a guy like Jermaine Samuels (40.3 3P%) flying under the radar. Winthrop has been nearly spotless, only suffering a close loss to UNC Asheville. Chandler Vauldrin was already mentioned, but he’s not the only guy for Winthrop. Adonis Arms and Charles Falden both average double digits and can shoot it from three, while D.J. Burns Jr. has shown ability to score in the paint. Interestingly enough, Winthrop is one of the better offensive rebounding teams in the country, so that’ll be something to monitor going against Jeremiah Robinson-Earl. I don’t want to sound like a broken record, but I am a fan of fast paced basketball, and Winthrop is #11 in the country in terms of tempo. In the context of Villanova down a key leader, Winthrop’s tempo may be a problem for Jay Wright’s crew. Possibly the longest breakdown of this whole article, I’m taking Winthrop for the upset.

Winner: Winthrop

4 Purdue (18-9, Big Ten) vs 13 North Texas (17-9, C-USA)

Friday, March 19th at 4:25 PM PST on TNT

How they got here: Purdue was rewarded with an at-large bid after a strong regular season, while North Texas had an upset victory over Western Kentucky to get the automatic bid.

Players to watch: It’s hard not to be infatuated with Zach Edey, the 7’4” Freshman for Purdue. He averages 9.0 PPG and only 4.5 RPG, but 7’4” is 7’4”. Javion Hamlet is the leader of the Mean Green, averaging 15 PPG, 4.5 APG, and 3.3 RPG.

Breakdown: Two slow paced teams, that play pretty good defense, I think Purdue may have a little too much for NT to handle. Javion Hamlet is legit, but so is Purdue’s Trevion Williams. There isn’t a clear way for North Texas to stop Trevion Williams, so it’s hard to be optimistic about North Texas from that perspective. North Texas is on a hot steak, winning four games in four days for the right to be here, but I think they’ve already peaked. Give me Matt Painter and the Boilermakers to the next round.

Winner: Purdue

6 Texas Tech (17-10, Big 12) vs 11 Utah State (20-8, Mountain West)

Friday, March 19th at 10:45 AM PST on TNT

How they got here: Texas Tech was middle of the pack in the Big 12, but a phenomenal Big 12, so they’re here with an at-large bid. Utah State was left in the dust by San Diego State, but was still set for an at-large bid.

Players to watch: Mac McClung is one of the most exciting basketball players in the country and he’s been as advertised in Lubbock, averaging 15.7 PPG, 2.2 APG, and 2.7 RPG. Neemias Queta, a 7’ from Portugal, makes everyone else on the court look miniature. Queta averaged 15.1 PPG, 10.0 RPG, and 3.2 BPG.

Breakdown: I’d probably take the under in this ballgame, as both teams rank top 25 in defense. One spot open for Utah State to exploit is the 3-pt defense from TTU, who gave up about 38% of shots from 3 in the Big 12. The thing about that, however is USU is a merely okay team from 3, ranking 180th in the country. Queta is gonna do his thing, but he’s not a dominantly skillful offensive player. What separates these teams for me is Mac McClung, the guy on the court most likely to put forth a superstar performance. In a defensive slugfest, McClung propels TTU.

Winner: Texas Tech

3 Arkansas (22-6, SEC) vs 14 Colgate (14-1, Patriot)

Friday, March 19th at 9:45 AM PST on truTV

How they got here: Arkansas landed an at-large bid, while Colgate won the Patriot to get an automatic bid.

Players to watch: We’ll talk plenty about Moses Moody, so let’s single out 7’3” Connor Vanover. Super tall and super short people catch the eye of watchers, and this super tall person averaged 6.6 PPG and 4.7 RPG in limited minutes. Jordan Burns runs the show for Colgate, averaging 17.0 PPG, 5.4 APG, and 4.4 RPG with lethal outside shooting.

Breakdown: The previous game (TTU vs USU) was two slow tempo teams, while this one features two top 25 fast-pace teams in the nation. What separates them is Arkansas’s defense, which is #14 on KenPom, while Colgate is down at #140. On the other hand, Colgate is tied for #3 in the country as a three point shooting team, while Arkansas is up at #162. I think Arkansas has the talent gap to prevail, but I expect Colgate to hang with them till the end.

Winner: Arkansas

7 Florida (14-9, SEC) vs 10 Virginia Tech (15-6, ACC)

Friday, March 19th at 9:15 AM PST on CBS

How they got here: Florida landed an at-large nomination, as did Virginia Tech.

Players to watch: Without Keyontae Johnson for the bulk of the season, there has been a lot of added pressure on Tre Mann. The Sophomore guard has performed, averaging 16.0 PPG, 3.4 APG, 5.7 RPG. Keve Aluma has been the leading scorer for the Hokies, putting up 15.6 PPG, 2.2 APG, and 8.0 RPG.

Breakdown: I honestly don’t love either of these teams, but here we are, nonetheless. Both teams have had troubles out of their control, with the Keyontae accident for Florida, as well as the COVID pauses for Virginia Tech. On the court, I’m interested to see Colin Castleton guarding up on Keve Aluma, that matchup will have a big barring on the outcome. Florida has stumbled a little into the tournament, getting beat pretty good by Tennessee in two of their last 3 games. VT lost to North Carolina on March 11th after a (roughly) two-week layoff. Hard to get a good read on this game, but give me Aluma and Nahiem Alleyne making shots from beyond the arc and advancing.

Winner: Virginia Tech

2 Ohio State (21-9, Big Ten) vs 15 Oral Roberts (16-10, Summit)

Friday, March 19th at 12:00 PM

How they got here: Ohio State fell short of the Big Ten Tournament title, but still earned a 2 seed. Oral Roberts won the Summit to get here.

Players to watch: Native of Hawaii, Justice Sueing has been a key piece for Ohio State this season, putting up 10.9 PPG, 1.5 APG, and 5.6 RPG. Oral Roberts actually has the nation’s leading scorer in Max Abmas, who scores 24.2 PPG and shoots 43.3% from deep.

Breakdown: This matchup is definitely high on my intrigue list, namely because of Max Abmas. Oral Roberts is top 10 in the nation in shooting from three, and if you’re a double digit seed in March Madness, you got to shoot the rock to keep on moving. Past Abmas, Kevin Obanor nearly averages a double-double and shoots 46.9% from 3. Before I talk myself into this upset, Ohio State is a 2 seed for a reason. Sueing, E.J. Lidell, Duane Washington Jr., and all of this team just meshes so well together, culminating in KenPom’s 4th best offense in the nation. Look for ORU to keep this one respectable, but the Buckeyes handle business.

Winner: Ohio State

ROUND OF 32

1 Baylor vs 8 North Carolina

Times TBD

How they got here: Baylor got by Hartford, while North Carolina edged out Wisconsin.

Players to watch: North Carolina has some legit size, so Baylor is gonna need a good performance from Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua (yeah, great name). The Sophomore averages 6.7 PPG with 5.3 RPG. Armando Bacot has been stellar in his Sophomore season, scoring 12.2 PPG and grabbing 8.0 RPG.

Breakdown: Looking at this matchup more and more, I could understand some intrigue in North Carolina. The size and rebounding they bring is legit, but it will take more than just that to beat a 1 seed. UNC will have to adjust to Baylor’s deep guard play, which features several guys that can beat you. Adjusting to try to stop Butler, Teague, and Mitchell is virtually impossible, so that means North Carolina is gonna have to get it done offensively at a high rate. It’s possible, but I don’t see it as likely that North Carolina delivers. An interesting note, Baylor is also a top 5 team in offensive rebounding percentage.

Winner: Baylor

4 Purdue vs 12 Winthrop

Times TBD

How they got here: Purdue handled North Texas, while Winthrop upset Villanova.

Players to watch: You can’t talk enough about Trevion Williams, the guy is a certified baller who averaged 15.6 PPG and 9.0 RPG. D.J. Burns Jr., at only 6’8”, is the big man for Winthrop and will have a big challenge trying to handle the size of the Boilermakers. Burns averaged 10.0 PPG and 3.3 RPG.

Breakdown: Another case of contrasting styles, Winthrop runs and guns, while Purdue goes slow and steady. Purdue has ample size, but they don’t do anything exceptionally, especially shooting the ball. Winthrop needs to get hot early and make Purdue speed it up because the Boilermakers likely won’t be able to outshoot the Eagles. Winthrop has good athleticism across the board, which can help counter some of the size (and stiffness) of Purdue. The way this game goes will be set early, whichever team can establish their offense in the early stages of the game will have success. If you’ve been able to pick up on some of my tendencies and things I favor, you’d know that I love fast paced, good shooting teams, so I have Winthrop pulling off another upset and dancing on to the sweetest of 16.

Winner: Winthrop

3 Arkansas vs 6 Texas Tech

Times TBD

How they got here: Arkansas outlasted Colgate and Texas Tech slowed down Utah State.

Players to watch: Let’s talk about Moses Moody, the 6’6” superstar for Arkansas. As a true Freshman, Moody averaged 17.4 PPG, 1.8 APG, and 5.9 RPG. Kyler Edwards is the marksman from deep for Texas Tech, averaging 10 PPG, 2.7 APG, 4.6 RPG, and 41.5% from 3.

Breakdown: I’m not one to underestimate a Chris Beard team, but I really don’t see it for TTU here. They play slow basketball, are merely okay as shooters, and give up the three point too often. Again, Arkansas isn’t a phenomenal shooting team, but they play great defense (13 in KenPom), and run at a quick pace. Texas Tech doesn’t even have great size, so I could see Smith and Vanover doing some damage in the paint. Even it hasn’t been made clear already, I got the Hogs taking this game.

Winner: Arkansas

2 Ohio State vs 10 Virginia Tech

Times TBD

How they got here: Ohio State got by Oral Roberts, while Virginia Tech pulled a 7-10 upset on Florida.

Players to watch: Duane Washington Jr. has come into his own as a dominant force in college basketball, averaging 16.3 PPG, 2.9 APG, and 3.2 RPG. Nahiem Alleyne is the leading perimeter threat for VT, scoring 10.3 PPG with 41.9% of his three’s falling.

Breakdown: Virginia Tech got the best of Ohio State in football a few year’s ago, so how does it go on the court? Ohio State on paper is the vastly superior team, but with all this analysis I’ve put out, it gets lost that stuff happens in the tournament that just doesn’t make sense and isn’t predicted. Virginia Tech finishes 3rd in the ACC and picked up some legit wins like their 14 point win over Virginia. Virginia Tech is far from a lock to make it out of the Round of 64, especially with concerns about COVID fatigue and lack of games recently. For all these reasons, I am picking chaos and giving the Hokies another win over Ohio State

Winner: Virginia Tech

SWEET SIXTEEN

1 Baylor vs 12 Winthrop

Times TBD

How they got here: Baylor beat Hartford and North Carolina, while Winthrop took down Villanova and Purdue in their cinderella run.

Players to watch: We’ve talked about role players for Baylor in this column, so let’s examine Senior MaCio Teague. The 6’4” guard from Ohio averaged 16.2 PPG, 1.7 APG, and 4.2 RPG. Against Baylor, we got to look back at Winthrop’s leading scorer Chandler Vaudrin, who at 6’7” is averaging 12.2 PPG and shoots the three ball well.

Breakdown: David vs Goliath, colorized in 2021. My heart wants Winthrop to take down the 1 seed, but anything they can do, Baylor does better. Winthrop shoots well? Baylor leads the ENTIRE COUNTRY in three-point FG percentage. Winthrop gets offensive rebounds? Baylor does it better. Baylor isn’t super up-tempo, but they have the guards to run with Winthrop, so the Eagles can’t easily rundown the Bears to win. Never say never, but this looks like the end for my beloved Winthrop Eagles.

Winner: Baylor

3 Arkansas vs 10 Virginia Tech

Times TBD

How they got here: Arkansas blew by Colgate and Texas Tech, while Virginia Tech beat Florida before shocking Ohio State

Players to watch: Moses Moody gets plenty of love, but what about 6’1” J.D. Notae? The shifty guard averaged 13.3 PPG, 2.1 APG, and 3.2 RPG this season. Tyrece Radford, Sophomore from LSU country (Baton Rouge), averaged 11.9 PPG, 2.1 APG, and 6.1 RPG for the Hokies.

Breakdown: I beat around the bush for Winthrop, but I’ll be blunt here- it ends here for Virginia Tech. Arkansas will blitz them out of the gate and Moses Moody will put Keve Alum and his Hokies in too deep of a hole to recover. Wooooooo Pig Seweeeeeee!

Winner: Arkansas

ELITE EIGHT

1 Baylor vs 3 Arkansas

Times TBD

How they got here: Baylor did Baylor things in beating Hartford, UNC, and Winthrop. Arkansas also took care of business, defeating Colgate, Texas Tech, and Virginia Tech.

Players to watch: Jared Butler does everything right for Baylor, scoring 17.1 PPG, averaging 4.8 APG, grabbing 3.3 RPG and connecting on 42.9% of his threes. I love his game so much that I’ll talk about him again. 6’6” Freshman guard averaging 17.4 PPG, yeah that’s a game changing player that Arkansas has in Moses Moody.

Breakdown: As I’ve described them, both of these teams have had a relatively easy path to this point. Baylor is the better shooting team as a whole, I mean #1 in the country is pretty good. Arkansas isn’t necessarily a massive team, but they do have some size and a heck of a lot of athleticism, which you’ll need to keep up with Baylor. With the momentum that Arkansas is brewing, I think that the Razorbacks can stick with Baylor deep into the ballgame. Come clutch time, Baylor has the general pedigree, but I’m taking Moses Moody to put his team on his back and lead Arkansas to the Final Four.

Winner: Arkansas

MIDWEST

ROUND OF 64

1 Illinois (23-6, Big Ten) vs 16 Drexel (12-7, CAA)

Friday, March 19th at 10:15 AM PST on TBS

How they got here: Illinois cut down the nets in Indianapolis last week for the Big Ten Tournament, while Drexel also won their conference tournament.

Players to watch: I don't know if there is anyone more exciting to watch in CBB than Ayo Dosunmu. The Junior PG averaged 20.7 PPG, 5.3 APG, and 6.3 RPG this season. Drexel's leading scorer, Camren Wynter, will have to go above and beyond his already gaudy averages of 16.8 PPG, 5.3 APG, and 3.6 RPG to defeat the Illini.

Breakdown: Here for the first time since 1995, the Drexel Dragons shouldn't get too comfy. Ayo Dosunmu and Kofi Cockburn should give them a warm welcome to the tournament via beating them by double digits.

Winner: Illinois

8 Loyola Chicago (24-4, MVC) vs 9 Georgia Tech (17-8, ACC)

Friday, March 19th at 1:00 PM PST on TBS

How they got here: Both Loyola Chicago and Georgia Tech won their respective conference tournaments to get automatic bids.

Players to watch: Especially with Moses Wright hurt, Cameron Krutwig is gonna play a vital role in this game. The Senior has averaged 15.0 PPG, 3.0 APG, and 6.7 RPG. No Moses Wright, Jose Alvarado is gonna have to go crazy on both sides of the ball. The defensive stalwart for the Yellow Jackets averaged 15.3 PPG, 4.1 APG, and 3.6 RPG.

Breakdown: This isn’t the same Loyola Ramblers team that took America's heart and went to the Final Four. Led by Cameron Krutwig (15 PPG), he can take the Ramblers deep in this tournament. Georgia Tech is fresh off an ACC title, but GT’s best player is out for this game. While the Jackets are hot, the loss of Moses Wright will plague them in the end.

Winner: Georgia Tech

5 Tennessee (18-8, SEC) vs 12 Oregon State (17-12, Pac-12)

Friday, March 19th at 1:30 PM PST on TNT

How they got here: Tennessee received an at-large bid, while Oregon State went crazy through the Pac-12 Tournament to get the auto bid.

Players to watch: Jaden Springer has been as good as advertised for Tennessee, averaging 12.5 PPG, 2.9 APG, and 3.5 RPG. Ethan Thompson is the leader for the Beavers, averaging 15.3 PPG, 3.9 APG, and 3.6 RPG.

Breakdown: Tennessee is gonna come out with stifling defense, so it'll be about the offense execution for both teams to win. Oregon State wasn't making the tournament without winning a conference title, but they did it and here they are. It's been different guys getting it done for the Beavers recently, from Warith Alatishe to Maurice Calloo to Ethan Thompson. Tennessee, to a lesser extent, has also been inconsistent throughout the season. Momentum is a hell of a thing and the dam of Oregon State has been built strong.

Winner: Oregon State

4 Oklahoma State (20-8, Big 12) vs 13 Liberty (23-5, ASUN)

Friday, March 19th at 3:25 PM PST on TBS

How they got here: Oklahoma State, with their appeal pending, is eligible for the postseason and got here with an at-large bid. Liberty was able to win their conference tournament to get here.

Players to watch: Cade Cunningham is all the talk for Oklahoma State, but don't sleep on Avery Anderson III. Anderson averaged 11.7 PPG, 2.0 APG, and 4.0 RPG during the regular season. Liberty's guy is Darius McGhee, who averaged 15.6 PPG, 2.1 APG, 4.4 RPG.

Breakdown: Liberty is an intriguing matchup for the Cowboys, as Liberty is a premier shooting team. Darius McGhee and the guards can score, but they are super undersized. Oklahoma State doesn't have a typical dominant big man, but they'll be able to exploit the interior of the Liberty defense and get by.

Winner: Oklahoma State

6 San Diego State (23-4, Mountain West) vs 11 Syracuse (16-9, ACC)

Friday, March 19th at 6:40 PM PST on CBS

How they got here: SDSU breezed by the rest of the Mountain West and got the automatic bid, while Syracuse had to sweat out hoping for an at-large bid.

Players to watch: Terrell Gomez isn't talked about as a top player for SDSU, but he averaged a respectable 8.8 PPG, 2.3 APG, and 1.5 RPG. Former New York High School star, Joe Girard III averaged 9.5 PPG, 3.3 APG, and 2.8 RPG for the Orange this season.

Breakdown: Two teams that bring it when it comes to March, SDSU has a big advantage in their 11th ranked defense (KenPom). What always propels Syracuse in March is their 2-3 zone, so that is something to follow. SDSU is armed with experienced ball handlers in Jordan Schakel and Matt Mitchell, so I think they'll be able to break the zone. Nathan Mensah is an interior force, as is Marek Dolezaj. Syracuse has the pesky defense with the brand recognition, but SDSU is the better defensive team and should be able to handle Jim Boeheim's group.

Winner: San Diego State

3 West Virginia (18-9, Big 12) vs 14 Morehead State (23-7, OVC)

Friday, March 19th at 6:50 PM PST on truTv

How they got here: WVU got an at-large bid to dance, while Morehead State had to (and did) win their conference title.

Players to watch: Derek Culver is the inside guy for West Virginia, scoring 14.6 PPG and nabbing 9.8 RPG. Johni Broome, a 6'10" Freshman, leads Morehead State in scoring with 13.9 PPG and 9.0 RPG.

Breakdown: West Virginia may be a tad bit over-seeded, but they have too good of an offense to fall here. Broome matches up well with Culver, but Miles McBride is too tough of an out. The Eagles have been rolling, winning 15 of their last 16 outings, but they haven't seen a team with the talent that the Mountaineers have. Bob Huggins moves on.

Winner: West Virginia

7 Clemson (16-7, ACC) vs 10 Rutgers (15-11, Big Ten)

Friday, March 19th at 6:20 PM PST on TBS

How they got here: Neither team here went deep into their conference tournaments, but both got to Indy without breathing too hard.

Players to watch: No Trevor Lawrence, but Aamir Sims averaged 13.3 PPG, 2.7 APG, and 6.2 RPG. For Rutgers, you look at Ron Harper Jr., guard averaging 15.4 PPG, 1.6 APG, and 5.9 RPG during the season.

Breakdown: I don't love either of these teams, similar to the previous 7-10. Both teams rank top 20 in adjusted defense and are outside the top 50 in offense. The argument that gets me is the explosiveness and potential for Rutgers, as they have a heap of talent, even though they didn't play as well as they could've this season. Harper is a stud, Jacob Young has been nice from outside, and Geo Baker is a game changer when he's going. I don't know if Clemson can really match that, and down the stretch, Clemson's awful free throw shooting will cost them. Give me the Scarlet Knights.

Winner: Rutgers

2 Houston (24-3, AAC) vs 15 Cleveland State (19-7, Horizon)

Friday, March 19th at 4:15 PM PST on truTV

How they got here: Houston blew out Cincinnati in the conference championship for the AAC, while Cleveland State handled Oakland.

Players to watch: At only 6'7", Justin Gorham has been a good big man for the Cougars, scoring 8.6 PPG and getting 9.0 RPG. Cleveland State is led by Torrey Payton, the Senior who averaged 14.9 PPG, 2.7 APG, and 8.0 RPG.

Breakdown: The Vikings have some guards that can score, but they don't have the roster to hang with the likes of Quentin Grimes. Both teams play slow-paced basketball and when Houston brings elite offensive rebounding and leads the country in defensive FG%, it's hard to see a way for the Vikings to win.

Winner: Houston

ROUND OF 32

1 Illinois vs 8 Loyola Chicago

Times TBD

How they got here: Illinois beat Drexel, while Loyola Chicago got by a Moses Wright-less Georgia Tech.

Players to watch: Freshman guard Adam "Acewolf" Miller has been a good piece for Illinois, scoring 8.2 PPG as a perimeter threat. Going against the great guards of Illinois, Keith Clemons will have to step up. The 6'1" Senior is averaging 7.4 PPG and shoots 46.7% from 3.

Breakdown: The #7 offense in Illinois meets the #1 defense in Loyola Chicago. Cameron Krutwig, the final remember of Loyola's Final Four team, will have the ultimate test in guarding Kofi Cockburn. Lucas Williamson, the DPOTY in the MVC this season, will have to put up with Ayo Dosunmu. It'll be really tough for the Ramblers to slow them down, and then on the flip side, they'll have to deal with the #5 defense in the country for Illinois. The Illini play great basketball on both ends, so Loyola may be able to bring their elite defense and get some stops, but I don't think they can overcome how well-rounded Illinois is. Sorry Sister Jean!

Winner: Illinois

4 Oklahoma State vs 12 Oregon State

Times TBD

How they got here: Oklahoma State held off Liberty, while the Beavers of Oregon State upset Tennessee.

Players to watch: On a young Cowboy team, Bryce Williams is the veteran presence. This season, he averaged 7.3 PPG, 2.0 APG, and 1.9 RPG. Against a small-ish Oklahoma State, 7'1" Roman Silva, who averaged 5.3 PPG and 2.4 RPG, could have an impact.

Breakdown: I hope the darling Beavers get past here, but their presence in the Round of 32 may already be a stretch. The Beavers heavily rely on Ethan Thompson and Jarod Lucas to make plays for them, and they've been hot lately, but Oklahoma State plays good defense and has the ability to shut them down. KenPom isn't that high on the Ok. State offense (ranked 54), but they don't have an algorithm for Cade Cunningham, the future #1 pick in the NBA Draft. His presence opens things up for teammates like Avery Anderson and Kalib Boone, so you have to execute flawlessly to stop the Cowboys. With all my heart, I want the Beavers to pull it off, but I just can't do it.

Winner: Oklahoma State

3 West Virginia vs 6 San Diego State

Times TBD

How they got here: West Virginia took down Morehead State, while SDSU ended the season for Syracuse.

Players to watch: Only a Sophomore, Miles McBride has blossomed into one of the best guards in the country. After averaging 15.4 PPG, 4.7 APG, and 3.8 RPG, he'll meet the veteran Jordan Schakel, who averaged 14.3 PPG, 1.0 APG, and 4.4 RPG.

Breakdown: West Virginia is typically known for its prolific defense, but it's actually the Aztecs who own the better defensive unit. Despite the 3 seed vs 6 seed, KenPom has SDSU 7 spots AHEAD of West Virginia in their rankings. McBride is gonna get his points, but I have a lot of faith in Schakel and Mitchell to match the offensive output. When push comes to shove, I think San Diego State is actually the better team and will get enough stops to make their routine trip to the Sweet Sixteen.

Winner: San Diego State

2 Houston vs 10 Rutgers

Times TBD

How they got here: Houston beat Cleveland State and Rutgers overcame Clemson in the Round of 64.

Players to watch: A Senior, DeJon Jarreau makes plays for the Cougars, averaging 11 PPG, 4.4 APG, 5.5 RPG, and forces nearly 2 TOs per game. Rutgers is gonna need a lot out of their Senior Geo Baker, 10.1 PPG, 3.1 APG, and 3.2 RPG, to pull this one out.

Breakdown: We're near the home stretch of this whole thing, so I'll keep it pretty simple. Houston will dominate the Scarlet Knights of Rutgers. Top 15 on both ends of the court for Houston, inconsistent shooting won't get it done for Rutgers. Rutgers might not give up 100, they play good defense, but they're severely overmatched in this game.

Winner: Houston

SWEET SIXTEEN

1 Illinois vs 4 Oklahoma State

Times TBD

How they got here: The Illini took care of Drexel and Loyola Chicago, while Oklahoma State beat Liberty and Oregon State.

Players to watch: The PG matchup sets the scene, Ayo Dosunmu vs Cade Cunningham. 20.7 PPG, 5.3 APG, 6.3 RPG vs 20.2 PPG, 3.6 APG, and 6.3 RPG. The takeaway? Expect fireworks.

Breakdown: I'll start by saying it's a damn shame that this is a Sweet Sixteen matchup, as I think these teams are good enough to be a Final Four matchup. Without a dominant paint presence for OSU, Kofi Cockburn is gonna have his moments, but OSU rotates well on defense and can find ways to defend. The assortment of guards for Illinois, i.e. guys like Curbelo and Miller have been good, but can they shoot it efficiently in this ball game? I'm a big fan of Avery Anderson III and what he does, so expect a big game from him. In the grand matchup between Ayo and Cade, they'll go blow for blow and each have a phenomenal game, but I lean towards the future #1 pick having the edge. A brutal draw for only their third game, Illinois is knocked out by the boys from Stillwater.

Winner: Oklahoma State

2 Houston vs 6 San Diego State

Times TBD

How they got here: Houston easily beat Cleveland State and Rutgers, while San Diego State sweated out victories against Syracuse and West Virginia.

Players to watch: It's time to talk about Quentin Games, Houston's star player who averaged 18 PPG, 1.9 APG, and 6.0 RPG. SDSU will ask a lot out of Nathan Mensah in this one, the Junior averaging 8.2 PPG and 6.1 RPG.

Breakdown: These two teams faced off in the Round of 64 in 2018, when Rob Gray hit a jumper at the end of regulation to propel the Cougars. Back again in the Sweet Sixteen, both of these teams are really good. My concern for Houston is lack of size, while SDSU needs Nathan Mensah to stay out of foul trouble and grab around 10 rebounds. If Mensah can do that, I like Schakel and Mitchell to keep the Aztecs going and move to the Elite Eight.

Winner: San Diego State

ELITE EIGHT

4 Oklahoma State vs 6 San Diego State

Times TBD

How they got here: Oklahoma State took care of business, beating Liberty and Oregon State, before dethroning the 1 seed Illinois. San Diego State got past Syracuse, West Virginia, and Houston to be here.

Players to watch: Cade Cunningham. That's it, that's the column. Well, not entirely, as SDSU needs Nathan Mensah to keep rolling. The 6'10" Aztec is hard to miss on the court and needs to own the paint.

Breakdown: Surprisingly enough, SDSU ranks 10 spots ahead of Oklahoma State in KenPom. That is why I don't put all my eggs into one basket, as I think Oklahoma State is worlds better than #30. I've preached SDSU's defense, and they just beat Houston with Quentin Grimes, but Cade Cunningham is a man on a mission and will make plays in crunch time. The Aztecs are the more experienced team, but down to the wire, game on the line, I'm taking the team with Cade Cunningham.

Winner: Oklahoma State

FINAL FOUR

1 Gonzaga vs 2 Alabama

Times TBD

How they got here: Gonzaga beat Norfolk State, Missouri, UC Santa Barbara, and Iowa to get here. Alabama, on the other hand, beat Iona, UConn, Texas, and Florida State.

Players to watch: For Gonzaga, how does Joel Ayayi, 11.8 PPG, 3.0 APG, 7.0 RPG, fare? If he turns in a performance like he did vs Iowa in December, Gonzaga is invincible. At this point, I'd assume Josh Primo is back and healthy, a big boost for the Tide. The Freshman averaged 8.1 PPG with a beautiful outside stroke, a stroke he'll need to be on for this game.

Breakdown: If there is any team that could slow down Gonzaga's offense, it's Alabama. Herb Jones may be the best defender in the entire country and Alabama lines up with long and athletic guys across the board. With that being said, Alabama will struggle to stop Drew Timme with his 6'10" frame. Jordan Bruner needs have to have a stellar game rebounding, or else Gonzaga will be able to push the Tide around. Nate Oats' squad has been resilient and stays in games until the very end, but I don't think they can quite conquer the Bulldogs of Gonzaga.

Winner: Gonzaga

3 Arkansas vs 4 Oklahoma State

Times TBD

How they got here: Arkansas won the South region on the heels of victories over Colgate, Texas Tech, Virginia Tech, and Baylor. Oklahoma State beat Liberty, Oregon State, Illinois, and San Diego State to continue dancing.

Players to watch: Don't worry the article is almost over, but I'm gonna talk about Moses Moody and Cade Cunningham again! Moody at 6'6" and Cunningham at 6'8", these big guards may combine for 60 points in this matchup.

Breakdown: Been a long road since these teams matched up in January, when Oklahoma State beat Arkansas by 4. In that one, Oklahoma State had the slight margin in every area, from FG% to rebounds to steals. Arkansas typically holds their opponent to around 70 PPG, but gave up 81 in their loss. To flip the script this time, Arkansas needs to be aggressive defensively in forcing turnovers. Oklahoma State ranks at 298 in TO%, so they definitely are vulnerable there. With that being said, I think Avery Anderson III and Cade Cunningham continue their dominant tournament run and replicate the January affair, a close win for Mike Boynton's team.

Winner: Oklahoma State

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

1 Gonzaga vs 4 Oklahoma State

Times TBD

How they got here: Gonzaga defeated Norfolk State, Mizzou, UC Santa Barbara, Iowa, and Alabama to get to the title bout. Oklahoma State beat Liberty, Oregon State, Illinois, San Diego State, and Arkansas to play for a championship.

Players to watch: Drew Timme is a crazy threat for Gonzaga, scoring 18.7 PPG and getting 7.1 RPG. Whether it be Kalib Boone (9.8 PPG, 5.6 RPG) or Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe (9.2 PPG, 5.1 RPG), Oklahoma State has to body up and get stops inside.

Breakdown: We've had some phenomenal PG matchups throughout the tourney, so it is fitting that it ends with Freshman superstars Jalen Suggs and Cade Cunningham matching up. Oklahoma State has made it this far on the heels of Cunningham and the guard play, but like I said above, they have to find a way to stop Drew Timme. Oh, Gonzaga also has a guy named Corey Kispert that scores nearly 20 points per game. I love Oklahoma State, they wouldn't be here if I didn't, but Gonzaga is too strong to be denied

Winner: Gonzaga

If you’ve made it this far, thanks for reading! Who do you have winning March Madness? Will there be any Cinderellas going far? Let me know in the comments down below.

Make sure to check out the Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/the.redshirt/), Twitter (https://twitter.com/theredshirtblog), as well as the podcast (The Redshirt Podcast on Spotify) where I did a breakdown of the tournament.