Hello again and welcome to the newest installment of the Friday Five! Last week I said that I would be covering the top 5 things to do in Knoxville this week, but I forgot that March Madness begins this week so I'm changing it up. Now, I will let you know that I'm writing this on Thursday, the day the tournament begins so barring any catastrophic upsets (which are pretty much guaranteed), these teams should still be in the tourney come Friday. Anyway, this week I'm going to reveal my top 5 teams I think can win the whole tournament.
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| hollywoodlife.com |
Really, you can't predict what will happen in the tourney; however, everyone has a couple of teams they think will go far and hopefully mine do! So let's get into it!
Number 5: Kansas Jayhawks: Number 1 seed in the Midwest (27-7)
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| kuathletics.com |
I know what you're thinking. This is going to be a list of 1 seeds and one 2 seed; NOPE. But I will say that I like Kansas to go pretty far. They played, and won, in an extremely loaded Big 12, but besides that they have arguably the best player in the nation in Devonte Graham. Am I picking Kansas to win the whole thing? No. I'm actually not even picking Kansas to get out of the insanely tough Midwest region; however, Bill Self can coach, and if they start playing good, watch out. Assuming they avoid a first round upset against Penn, and can get by the winner of Seton Hall/NC State, a potential Sweet 16 matchup with Auburn is tasty.
Number 4: Arizona Wildcats: Number 4 seed in the South (27-7)
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| pac-12.com |
This team is something else. After starting the season ranked in the top 10, they started the season 3-0, but went 0-3 in their next 3 games, all against big name conference teams. It resulted in the Wildcats finding themselves on the outside of the Top 25 early on in the season. They then were the pinpoint of a really bad NCAA investigation, one of their top players, Allonzo Trier, was suspended for alleged PED use, their coach, Sean Miller, was criticized by reporters and told he would never coach another game after the investigation centered around, and they're best player, DeAndre Ayton, is still being investigated for possibly being paid to go to Arizona. With all of those distractions, Arizona still won both the PAC-12 and still finished with a 27-7 record. If there's a team built to handle the pressure of March, it's them. However, that South region is being called the Region of Death. Virginia, Cincinnati, Tennessee, Kentucky, Miami...it's not going to be an easy road for the Wildcats. That being said, if they get by Buffalo late Thursday night, and Kentucky doesn't choke, it could set up the best matchup of the tournament in the Round of 32. If Arizona can get by Kentucky and Virginia, a potential matchup with Cincinnati or Tennessee would be all that would be holding the Wildcats back from a Final Four.
Number 3: Villanova Wildcats: Number 1 seed in the East (30-4)
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| time.com |
I promise this is the last 1 seed. But let's be real, the Wildcats deserve to be on this list. After a disappointing finish last year, Jay Wright has the Wildcats back and ready to contend for their 2nd title in 3 years. Yes they're in a weaker conference, but they've held their own against other conferences throughout the year with wins against Tennessee and Gonzaga, while sweeping the another number 1 seed in Xavier. Jalen Brunson is really all Jay Wright needs, but he has more options to play with on this team as well. Assuming they avoid an upset from 16 seed Radford, they have one of the easier roads to get to the Elite Eight. The 2 seed in their region is heavily overrated Purdue, and the 3 seed in Texas Tech is really the only potential hiccup I see for the Wildcats in the East. However, it is March and they are some crazy things that happen this time of year, and if Alabama and Collin Sexton can get by Virginia Tech, something crazy could just happen to Villanova.
Number 2: Duke Blue Devils: Number 2 seed in the Midwest (26-7)
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| accsports.com |
Two words: Coach K. Two more words: Marvin Bagley III. Two more words: Grayson Allen. A team that has changed more than a caterpillar changes to a butterfly, the Blue Devils are poised for a DEEP run in this year's tournament. And they have some quality wins over Michigan State, Texas, and Florida, not to mention playing in the best conference in basketball, the ACC, and finishing 3rd behind North Carolina and Virginia. They also have who I think is the best player in college basketball in Marvin Bagley III. Coach K is notoriously known for taking a team of freshmen studs and turning them into National Championship contenders. And I don't think this year will be any different. Duke beat Michigan State early on in the year by 7 without Marvin Bagley III, a potential Sweet 16 matchup with the Spartans would favor Duke. Then a possible matchup with Kansas should be a dandy, but I think Marvin Bagley III is too good and will power the Blue Devils to the Final Four and ultimately to the National Championship Game.
Number 1: Tennessee Volunteers: Number 3 seed in the South (25-8)
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| knoxnews.com |
Some might call it bias, some might call it wishful thinking, but I call it being woke to the fact that the Vols are actually really freaking good. Led by SEC Player of the Year, Grant Williams, and SEC Coach of the Year, Rick Barnes, this team is something else. Predicted to finish 13th in the SEC at the beginning of the season, the Vols went on to become co-regular season champs and finished runner up in the SEC Tournament. A 6'5 238 pound forward in Admiral Schofield will determine how far these Vols can go, and if he plays the way he has been of late, that can be pretty far. If they avoid an upset to 14 seed Wright State, they should be good until a potential Sweet 16 matchup with Cincinnati, a game that I think the Vols should win pretty easily. The kicker here is what happens on the top of the bracket. If Kentucky can win out, I believe the Vols will beat the Cats for a 3rd time in 4 meetings; however, if it's Arizona, DeAndre Ayton might be too much to handle. A potential matchup in the Final Four against North Carolina will be a rematch from earlier this year, and I think the Vols can pull that out as well. Hopefully I'm right and Deacon Barnes will be cutting down the nets in San Antonio. Either way, the best thing about this team is their fun to watch and they have the most fun of any other team in field. TURN ME UP.
So there you have it, my top 5 teams I think have a chance to win the tournament. But I need to include one honorable mention!
Honorable Mention: The other 59 teams in the tournament.
March Madness is fun! You never know what's going to happen, and there's so much going on at the same time; it really is a 2 week extravaganza! So fill out your bracket, maybe more, tune in and enjoy the games, but most of all, enjoy the Madness!
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