Image Courtesy: The Slipper Still Fits
Top-seeded Gonzaga leads a top heavy region that has a lot of challengers for the Bulldogs. Potential Cinderellas include Vermont and New Mexico State. This should be a fun region.
Match-ups:
Round of 64
Portland
1.Gonzaga
16.Georgia State
Only one number one seed has ever lost in the Round of 64 and it will not be the top overall seeded Zags.
8.Boise State
9.Memphis
Boise State and Memphis are playing well at the right time but I have the Tigers moving on, led by big man Jalen Duren.
Buffalo
4.Arkansas
13.Vermont
Vermont is believed to be underseeded as a thirteen seed as they won every game in the America East Tournament by double digits. An Arkansas team that has won fourteen out of its last seventeen games heads to Buffalo to face the Catamounts, led by talented guard JD Notae and incredible passing big man Jaylin Williams. The Hogs will be scared but they get a close win.
5.Connecticut
12.New Mexico State
Connecticut is a talented team out of the Big East but New Mexico State has had a lot of tournament success of late. Aggies win this one.
San Diego
6.Alabama
11.Rutgers/11.Notre Dame
Alabama has been inconsistent. They have wins over last year’s Final Four teams in Baylor, Houston, and Gonzaga but losses to SEC bottom dweller Georgia and Iona. I think Rutgers wins the First Four game but a hot-shooting Crimson Tide eliminate them.
3.Texas Tech
14.Montana State
Texas Tech first year head coach Mark Adams has guided them to a great season. The Red Raiders are phenomenal defensively and should get a win over Texas Tech.
Greenville
7.Michigan State
10.Davidson
While I would love to see a Tom Izzo-Coach K match up in the second round, hot shooting Davidson will upset the Spartans and get a date, potentially, with the Blue Devils.
2.Duke
15.Cal State Fullerton
Coming off of a loss in the ACC Tournament Title Game, Coach K and Duke should be focused on the task at hand, Cal State Fullerton. Blue Devils should win, easily.
Round of 32
Portland
1.Gonzaga
9.Memphis
While I could see Memphis pulling off the upset, the play of big men Chet Holmgren and Drew Timme will be too much for the tigers.
Buffalo
4.Arkansas
12.New Mexico State
Arkansas should use defensive minded wing Au’Diese Toney and bench guards Chris Lykes and Davonte Davis to make a run and beat the Aggies, eliminating them from the tournament.
San Diego
3.Texas Tech
6.Alabama
Mark Adam’s team will eliminate the three ball by Alabama and should get a ten to fifteen point win over the Crimson Tide.
Greenville
2.Duke
10.Davidson
After potentially beating his former team, Davidson guard Foster Sawyer and the Davidson Wildcats’ luck will run out in the Round of 32, losing to Paolo Banchero and the Blue Devils.
Sweet 16
San Francisco
1.Gonzaga
4.Arkansas
Arkansas and Gonzaga have two of the most experienced coaches in the country at getting to the second round of the NCAA Tournament and this game should be highly competitive. But, the balance of Gonzaga’s offense will be too much to handle for the Hogs and the Bulldogs will advance to the Elite 8.
2.Duke
3.Texas Tech
Texas Tech will again use their defense to make it tough on Duke’s young team to beat the Blue Devils and end Coach K’s career in the Sweet 16.
Elite 8
San Francisco
1.Gonzaga
3.Texas Tech
The two teams met in the Elite 8 in 2019, with Texas Tech winning. The game is between two first year head coaches that have been the best in the country among them. Texas Tech will upset the Bulldogs and get one step closer to a National Championship.
Picked winner of regional: 3.Texas Tech
Favorites:
1.Gonzaga
Gonzaga uses guard Andrew Nembhard, likely number one pick in the 2022 NBA Draft Chet Holmgren and talented, experienced big Drew Timme to run one of the best offenses in the country. The top overall seed in the tournament for the second consecutive season is good on the defensive side of the ball but could lose if they give up points via the three point line.
2.Duke
In Coach K’s final season, Duke should be picked by many to win the national championship this season. But, its young core, led by likely lottery picks in the 2022 NBA Draft Paolo Banchero and AJ Griffin and guards Trevor Keels and Jeremy Roach. Duke is a team that can also use their offense to win games but will need to stay consistent defensively to win it all.
3.Texas Tech
Texas Tech, unlike the other top seeds, has a terrific defense. Texas Tech has beaten top seeds Kansas and Baylor a combined three times and uses their talented defense to create transition and make the other team’s life on offense tricky. I would not like to see Texas Tech on my side of the bracket.
Sleepers:
6.Alabama
Alabama, as mentioned above, is one of if not the most inconsistent team in the country. But, talented guards JD Davison, Jaden Shackleford, and Jahvon Quinerly lead a Tide team that can get hot from three point range. The Tide have wins over top tournament teams Gonzaga, Baylor, and Houston but losses to Georgia, Iona, and Davidson, a team that ends up in the west region along with the Tide.
9.Memphis
After losing eight out of twelve games early in the season, Memphis head coach Penny Hardaway believed that the Tigers’ season was over. But a late resurgence, including two regular season wins over the American Athletic’s top team, Houston, has put them in the mix to beat Boise State in the Round of 64 and then potentially a shot at top overall seeded Gonzaga.
10.Davidson
Davidson’s top player is guard Foster Sawyer, who transferred from Michigan State. Of course, Davidson plays Sawyer’s team in the first round and there is a good chance the Wildcats take down the Spartans and move on to face Duke. Facing Duke will be a tough task, but the Wildcats, the regular season champs in the A-10, are a tough team that does not back down from any challenge.
