2024 cbhsports men’s NCAA College Basketball Tournament East Region Preview

Image Courtesy: Hartford Courant

Round of 64

Brooklyn (March 22)
1.Connecticut 31-3 (18-2) Big East
16.Stetson 22-12 (11-5) ASUN
The Huskies have been the best team in the country all season. They should not be the third one seed ever to lose to a sixteen seed.

8.Florida Atlantic 25-8 (14-4) American
9.Northwestern 21-11 (12-8) Big Ten
FAU was surprisingly picked as an eight seed despite three quadrant 4 losses in the NET. The Owls gained respect from their Final Four run a season ago. Star guard Johnell Davis leads the Owls versus star guard Boo Buie of Northwestern. This game should be back and forth between two great coaches, Dusty May and Chris Collins. FAU wins but it is very close.

Spokane (March 22)
5.San Diego State 24-10 (11-7) Mountain West
12.UAB 23-11 (12-6) American
San Diego State, another 2023 Final Four participant makes its way to the east region. Andy Kennedy’s Blazers had to win the American conference tournament to make it to the Big Dance. That being said, San Diego State must use their veterans and terrific defense to win this game and I believe they well.

4.Auburn 27-7 (13-5) SEC
13.Yale 22-9 (11-3) Ivy League
Auburn’s last SEC tournament title resulted in a Final Four appearance in 2019. The tigers did it again in 2024 so could they do it again? Yale beat Brown in the Ivy League title game at the buzzer. Auburn’s depth must take advantage of Yale’s short bench and advance to the round of 32.

Omaha (March 21)
6.BYU 23-10 (10-8) Big 12
11.Duquesne 24-11 (10-8) Atlantic-10
Duquesne seems overseeded as an eleven seed after winning the A-10 tournament as the six seed. The Dukes are a solid team defensively but rely on making three pointers to score. Funny enough, the team on the other bench is the game relies on very similar things. BYU finished in the top half of the Big 12 in their first season in the conference. The Cougars should win this game fairly easily if they make shots consistently.

3.Illinois 26-8 (14-6) Big Ten
14.Morehead State 26-8 (14-4) Ohio Valley
Illinois’ run to the Big Ten tournament championship vaulted them to a three seed in the NCAA Tournament. Terrence Shannon’s scoring run included scoring 31, 34, and 40 points over three games. Shannon versus OVC player of the year Riley Minix should be great TV in Omaha. If the Illini defend Minix well, they should coast and win this game with their high scoring outputs in Minneapolis in this past week.

Omaha (March 21)
7.Washington State 24-9 (14-6) Pac-12
10.Drake 28-6 (16-4) Missouri Valley
I have not picked any upsets yet in this bracket so give me the Drake Bulldogs to beat Kyle Smith’s Washington State Cougars, ending their run at the Pac-12 media days. The bulldogs were a popular upset pick in 2023 but ran into Miami in the round of 64, who advanced to the Final Four.

2.Iowa State 27-7 (13-5) Big 12
15.South Dakota State 22-12 (12-4) Summit League
Many people thought Iowa State may be the last number one seed after dominating Houston in the Big 12 tournament championship. The Cyclones should roll as they face TJ Otzelberger’s old team South Dakota State.

Round of 32

Brooklyn (March 24)
1.Connecticut
8.Florida Atlantic
If the Huskies’ let Johnell Davis get going, they may be in trouble. But, if Danny Hurley’s team does not make the Sweet 16 after such a dominant regular season, their season would be a failure.

Spokane (March 24)
4.Auburn
5.San Diego State
I will ride with Auburn to make it to Boston. The tigers will dominate the Aztecs inside with Johni Broome and Jaylin Williams.

Omaha (March 21)
3.Illinois
6.BYU
This game should be up and down with great offense. Both teams have a lot of experience in these types of games. The Big Ten has struggled in the Round of 32 of late, but this season’s Illini team is more complete than the Cougars.

Omaha (March 21)
2.Iowa State
10.Drake
Give me the Bulldogs to move to the Sweet 16 with an upset of the Cyclones in Omaha. Iowa State’s season ends in weekend one of the NCAA Tournament.

Sweet 16

Boston (March 28)
1.Connecticut
4.Auburn
The Huskies and Tigers will go blow for blow but it will be UConn winning this game in the last minute, led by freshman guard Stephon Castle. Castle has been clutch this season and it will help his team move closer to the Final Four.

3.Illinois
10.Drake
The Illini will finally make the Elite 8 under Brad Underwood after beating Drake. Terrence Shannon will lead the way and set up a match up with UConn in the next round.

Elite 8

Boston (March 30)
1.Connecticut
3.Illinois
The Huskies will return to the Final Four for the second straight year following a great defensive performance. UConn’s amount of talented defensive wings, like Cam Spencer, Alex Karaban, and the aforementioned Castle makes them hard to beat even with Shannon on the other side.

2024 East Regional Champion: 1.Connecticut