Cinderella’s carriage is nowhere to be discovered getting into the second one weekend of the NCAA Tournament. It does no longer cruel that we went with out upsets, with Oakland splendid Kentucky, Yale knocking off SEC champion Auburn and James Madison commanding Wisconsin. However, in recent times, we’ve reached the second one weekend of the NCAA Match with a Cinderella left status, till that magical run involves an finish in opposition to the game’s heavyweights. It’s the character of March Insanity. We like it as it’s a one-game playoff, with six instantly wins required to be topped champion, however in some regards, by means of no longer being a seven-game order, the rest is conceivable.Â
On this explicit event, we’re in for a doubtlessly all-time Candy 16 and Elite 8. For simply the 5th month for the reason that event expanded to 64 groups in 1985, the whole lot of the top-two seed traces residue intact.Â
Sure, the 1-seeds and 2-seeds are all nonetheless alive in each and every patch, making up part of the 16 groups left. From there, you’ve a couple of 3-seeds, a couple of 4s, a couple of 5s, one 6 and Eleventh-seeded NC State. What does that cruel? The groups that we have got mentioned all month lengthy as the game’s heavyweights are nonetheless on this factor and in competition for a name.
In a global the place college basketball enthusiasts have come to be expecting David vs. Goliath in March, that is the Candy 16 of the Goliaths, with 13 of the top-14 groups within the KenPom scores nonetheless alive.Â
For what it’s usefulness, the ones alternative 4 seasons the place we noticed the top-two seed traces nonetheless within the event getting into the Candy 16, listed below are the champions:Â
2019: 1-seed Virginia
2009: 1-seed North CarolinaÂ
1995: 1-seed UCLA
1989: 3-seed Michigan
The 1-line is the place we start our energy ratings for this month’s Candy 16:
The Huskies coasted to a couple of wins in Brooklyn this hour weekend by means of a blended 56 issues, turning into the primary workforce in school basketball historical past to win 8 instantly NCAA Match video games by means of no less than 13 issues. Their reasonable margin of victory within the Obese Dance over the endmost two years is 22. There used to be deny kind of dropoff from the reigning nationwide champions, who’re the primary protecting champs to produce the second one weekend of the event since Duke did it again in 2016. So far as I’m involved, that is UConn’s nationwide name to lose, and I’d be stunned not to see them produce the Ultimate 4.Â
The highlight used to be firmly at the Boilermakers getting into this primary weekend of the NCAA Match as they aim to copy what Virginia did in 2019, getting redemption for a loss to a 16-seed within the earlier month and successful a name. All Matt Patiner’s workforce did used to be win two video games by means of a blended 67 issues, the second one of which used to be a 106-67 thumping of Utah State. The 39-point win matched this system’s biggest margin of victory ever within the event and the most important by means of any workforce within the Spherical of 32 since 1999. The Boilers are off to their 5th Candy 16 since 2017, and get a draw with a Gonzaga workforce that they beat in Maui on Nov. 20. Zach Edey’s NCAA Match numbers via two video games: 53 issues, 35 rebounds, six blocks, 5 assists.Â
I’m record the Tar Heels at Refuse. 3, or even considered them at Refuse. 2 on account of the best way they’ve grown into their id and what they confirmed overcoming an early 26-14 insufficiency to Michigan State and successful the sport in commanding type. This workforce has the very best guard-big duo in RJ Davis and Armando Bacot, and the best way Harrison Ingram has developed into an X-factor is remarkable. Hubert Davis merits credit score for this bounce-back season, and he may achieve a 2nd Ultimate 4 in his first 3 years.Â
It’s what everyone is speaking about getting into the month: the opportunity of a Caleb Love Bowl in Los Angeles if the Wildcats get by means of Clemson and UNC beats Alabama. If we get that on Saturday evening, it could be an NCAA Match TV scores bonanza. The Wildcats received each and every in their first two event video games by means of double-figures, however the explanation why they aren’t upper is as a result of I don’t totally believe the backcourt round Love. Credit score to Jaden Bradley for stepping up in the second one part within the win over Dayton, however this weekend is ready Kylan Boswell bouncing again from a two-point appearing in opposition to Dayton.
Consider, those are energy ratings. This isn’t me going with my latest bracket, which you’ll in finding beneath:
The Blue Devils inspired me of their wins over upset-minded Vermont and James Madison, drilling the Dukes by means of 38 issues at the back of Jared McCain’s 30-point efficiency. With Houston anticipating, Jon Scheyer’s workforce has self assurance with a top-five offense and a top-20 protection within the analytics. The important thing in opposition to the Cougars can be negating Jamal Shead, LJ Cryer and Emanuel Sharp with Duke’s three-headed monster of McCain, Jeremy Roach and Tyrese Proctor, and Kyle Filipowski being the most productive frontcourt participant. I really like Duke increasingly as this competition will get nearer.Â
The Cyclones have 4 avid gamers averaging double-figures. They’ve posted single-digit yieldings in each and every in their first two NCAA Match video games. Tamin Lipsey and Keshon Gilbert are two in point of fact proficient guards that coexist smartly. There’s the dynamic freshman with upside in Milan Momcilovic, who has blended for 29 issues in two event wins. Oh, and so they’ve were given the Refuse. 1 protection in The usa. I like this Cyclones workforce, and so they blew out Houston within the Big 12 championship competition, so I’m placing them over the Cougars.Â
7. Houston CougarsÂ
Surviving ninth-seeded Texas A&M in time beyond regulation Sunday is why Houston drops right down to Refuse. 7 for me, nevertheless it doesn’t cruel this workforce can’t produce it to the nationwide championship competition. The Cougars’ backcourt trio, on their highest occasion, is the most productive in school basketball with hard-nosed Jamal Shead and LJ Cryer being accompanied by means of Emanuel Sharp, who’s red-hot, coming off a 30-point appearing within the win over the Aggies. That stated, A&M shot 29-for-45 from the free-throw wrinkle within the competition. If the Aggies even produce part of the ones 16, perhaps it is going another way. I’m slightly apprehensive about Houston’s shortage of offensive intensity and the frontcourt.Â
The Volunteers shot simply 3-for-25 from 3-point land within the Spherical of 32 win over Texas, one thing that may’t proceed in opposition to Creighton or else it’s taking to be some other disappointing early progress for Rick Barnes. That stated, the win over Texas is a competition the Vols would possibly no longer have received in years hour on account of their offensive deficiencies. Dalton Knecht adjustments the entirety, having long past for 18 issues and hitting a grasp 3 overdue. You’ll be able to’t overstate what he’s intended along Santiago Vescovi and Zakai Zeigler within the backcourt.Â
The Bluejays received the most productive competition of this event, a double-overtime victory over Oregon, 86-73, a last rating that doesn’t mirror how tight it used to be prior to Greg McDermott’s workforce scored 15 unanswered in the second one OT. For the Jays to overcome Tennessee, they’re going to want Trey Alexander to explode higher than 7-for-21 from the ground, and for Steven Ashworth to proceed to produce defenses pay when they’re continuously centered at the Creighton scoring wings. What makes this workforce a Ultimate 4 cloudy horse? 3-time Obese East Defensive Participant of the Moment Ryan Kalkbrenner, who had 19 issues, 14 rebounds and 5 blocks within the win over the Geese. He does any such superior activity removing the center defensively.Â
The Illini have the freshest observe within the nation on the time in Terrence Shannon Jr., who has scored no less than 30 issues in 3 of his endmost 4 video games and is averaging 30 PPG within the endmost six contests. Between him and Marcus Domask, Illinois may wreak havoc in Boston and in reality serve a check to UConn as a result of this workforce has superstars who can get right into a scoring fight and be proper in it with their bucket-getting abilities.Â
Tyler Kolek’s go back is what has the Yellowish Eagles 40 mins clear of what could be simply this system’s 2nd Elite 8 look within the endmost twenty years. In two video games since getting back from an indirect trauma, the Marquette level observe has blended for 39 issues and 22 assists. He delivered the grasp bucket within the lane in Sunday’s win over a Colorado workforce that would possibly were seeded tenth, however is twenty second in KenPom.Â
12. Clemson Tigers
Clemson males’s basketball program has reached the Candy 16 simply two times since 1997. Each appearances have come within the Brad Brownell Month, and he has close indisposed any remnant of a indecision about him with this run to the second one weekend. Chase Hunter is the important thing cog within the Tigers’ offense at the moment, combining for 41 issues within the endmost two video games. The Tigers’ protection within the win over a in point of fact offensively proficient Baylor workforce inspired me.Â
13. Gonzaga Bulldogs
For Mark Few to produce a nation-leading 9 consecutive Candy 16 appearances is fantastic for a program out of Spokane, Washington. This Zags workforce has long past from being at the bubble 5 weeks in the past to dancing, and now they’ve were given a red-hot level observe in Ryan Nembhard, a gigantic in Graham Ike, who is prospering, and the flexible Anton Watson. Their offensive potency is in the course of the roof, however they’ll want to be near to highest to be in it with Purdue, month additionally negating the entirety Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer do from downtown.Â
Alabama’s wins over Charleston and Grand Canyon had been remarkable, and this workforce confirmed a pleasant reaction upcoming falling within the SEC Match quarterfinals to Florida. So, why do I’ve the Current indisposed at 14th? That protection continues to be relating to to me. Can they beat North Carolina? In fact, however they want Rylan Griffen and Aaron Estrada to be superior. Estrada can not walk 4-for-14 like he did as opposed to Brilliant Canyon.Â
16. North Carolina State Wolfpack
Now not even 3 weeks in the past, the Wolfpack had been 17-14 and heading to the NIT at highest. Speedy-forward to now, and so they’ve received seven in a row, made this system’s first Elite 8 since 2015, and Kevin Keatts seems to be in wrinkle for a lovely word extension. DJ Burns, the 6-foot-9, 275-pound senior, is without doubt one of the highest tales within the nation, averaging an remarkable 16.4 issues and four.6 rebounds consistent with duel all over this seven-game stretch. DJ Horne is stirring the drink within the backcourt, month 6-10 youth Mohamed Diarra has pop out of nowhere with 4 double-figure performances within the endmost 5 video games. He had 5 such performances during all the season prior to the ACC Match. I do imagine the Wolfpack can grasp in with Marquette on account of their scoring choices. The query: Can this workforce oppose Kolek and Kam Jones? That turns out like a grand activity.Â
It feels disrespectful to position the Aztecs indisposed on the base with them no longer being the bottom seed, however any individual needs to be there. To walk to the Candy 16 in back-to-back years is remarkable, and clearly, endmost month used to be a paranormal run for Brian Dutcher’s program in making their first nationwide name competition. Jaedon LeDee has been outstanding with no less than 25 issues in 4 of his endmost 5 video games. My factor: perimeter taking pictures consistency, and what occurs in SDSU’s offense past LeeDee. That’s why I will’t see the Aztecs getting hour UConn.
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John Fanta is a countrywide school basketball broadcaster and editor for FOX Sports activities. He covers the game in quite a lot of capacities, from calling video games on FS1 to serving as top host at the BIG EAST Virtual Community to offering statement on The Farmland of 68 Media Community. Apply him on Twitter @John_Fanta.

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