March Madness is known for its upsets and Cinderella runs, but it’s hard to overlook these eight teams.
Last year, I broke down March Madness and introduced all the newbies to “Bracketology 101.” This year, I’ll be making those impossible brackets last a bit longer with the teams I think are due for a big run in this year’s NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament.
If there’s one thing for certain, it’s that history will always repeat itself, and to accurately predict what team will be cutting the net on April 8, the history of the tournament will be crucial — as well as stats.
Since expanding to a 64-team format in 1985, the tournament has seen 38 national champions, 24 of which have been No. 1 seeds. Furthermore, 12 of the last 16 title games have been awarded to the nation’s top-ranked teams.
This year, the four teams honored with the No. 1 seeds are UConn (East Regional), Houston (South Regional), North Carolina (West Regional) and Purdue (Midwest Regional). So, naturally, these are the top four teams that should make deep runs in everyone’s bracket.
UConn
The Huskies’ (31-3) 81.5 points per game, 18.5 assists (fourth nationwide), 5.4 blocks (10th nationwide), 49.6 field goal percentage (sixth nationwide) and 36.7 three-point percentage led the Big East.
Additionally, UConn ranked second in the nation in point differential per game (+17) and ranked in the top 10 in both rebound and assist differential.
UConn is entering the tournament as the consensus No. 1 team and is looking to be the first program to win back-to-back championships since Florida did it in 2006 and 2007.
According to FanDuel, the Huskies are the heavy favorites heading into the tournament with +370 odds.
Houston
The Cougars (30-4) may not be the offensive juggernaut that the Huskies are, but rather excel on the defensive end where they hold their opponents to a nation-low 57 points per game and 37.9% from the field.
Houston is a team that relies on its defense to generate offense and double-digit steals per game allow the Cougars to run in transition, getting out and ahead early.
According to FanDuel, Houston enters the tournament with +600 odds (second highest) to win it all.
North Carolina
The Tar Heels (27-7) find themselves at the mountain top for the first time under head coach Hubert Davis and the first time since the 2018-19 season.
Led by four double-digit scorers, including the country’s 11th top scorer, RJ Davis (21.4), the Tar Heels will have no issue scoring.
However, the difference lies in the team’s rebounding. North Carolina is one of the best rebounding teams, snagging about 41 rebounds per game. Controlling the glass, especially when times get tough, can be the deciding factor in winning or losing.
Additionally, playing in one of the most competitive conferences in the ACC, the Tar Heels have shown the ability to consistently knock off elite competition.
Purdue
Purdue (29-4) is a program that has shown success in recent years but has yet to make any serious push in the tournament. This year might be different.
The Boilermakers will go as far as former Associated Press Player of the Year Zach Edey will take them. In his senior year, Edey led all scorers with 24.4 points per game to pair with his 11.7 rebounds and 2.2 blocks on nearly 62% shooting.
There isn’t much Purdue can’t do well. They shoot at an amazing clip from three (40.8%), they are extremely unselfish with the basketball (18.4 assists), they rebound well (40.4) and, most importantly, they get to the line 25 times per game.
Purdue has +700 odds (third highest) to be named as the 2024 NCAA champions according to FanDuel.
However, it’s March and anything could happen. So, here are four additional teams who could potentially make some noise in the tournament:
No. 2 Arizona, No. 3 Illinois, No. 3 Kentucky and No. 4 Auburn.
The common denominator between all four teams is high-level scoring. Arizona (87.9), Illinois (84.4), Kentucky (89.4) and Auburn (83.3) all rank in the top 15 in points per game.
Scoring isn’t everything but controlling the pace and energy of the game is and that’s what these offensive juggernauts can do. They all possess multiple players who can take over the game at any given moment, and that’s what the tournament is about — getting hot at the right time.
Though the No. 1 seeds are heavy favorites, and rightfully so, over the last 38 years we have witnessed five No. 2 seeds, four No. 3 seeds and two No. 4 seeds overcome the madness and become champions.
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