Why #1 Seed Houston Advances
The Cougars protection is elite. They permit a nation main 57 factors per contest on solely 37.9% taking pictures. It’s extremely troublesome to win when then different workforce suffocates you want that. They pressure 15.9 turnovers per sport and themselves common fewer than 9 per contest. They’ve three gamers, all guards, that common double determine factors: LJ Cryer, Jamal Shead, and Emanuel Sharp. Shead, the very best of the bunch, may make a authentic case for being the very best faculty participant in your complete area. Their 4 losses this season have been in opposition to a 4 seed (Kansas), a 9 seed (TCU), and a 2 seed (Iowa State – twice). Houston regarded like one of many prime groups within the nation from begin to end this season, and never many groups within the bracket are prepared for the bodily, suffocating model of protection the Cougars play.
Why #1 Seed Houston Goes Down
Nearly as good as their protection is, if a workforce can discover a technique to rating in opposition to them, Houston can wrestle to maintain up offensively. Of their 4 losses they averaged 56.5 factors and gave up a median of 68. Jamal Shead is a superb participant, however Houston struggles when groups are capable of hold him from being the offensive initiator. If groups permit him to attain and set others up, Houston turns into extraordinarily troublesome to beat, however they don’t have anyone else to really run the offense if a workforce could make him uncomfortable. One other good cause Houston may come up brief? They produce other proficient groups of their bracket. Marquette misplaced 9 video games this season, however 4 of them have been to #1 seeds UCONN (thrice) and Purdue. With two different losses coming to Creighton (three seed), and Wisconsin (5 seed). And if Marquette will get that deep, it’s doubtless they’ve Tyler Kolek again and taking part in properly. The #3 seed, Kentucky, can lose to anyone, however can be able to beating anyone when they’re at their greatest. The Wildcats have the kind of balanced offensive assault to search out weaknesses in Houston’s protection and have scored 100 or extra six instances this season. The 4 seed, Duke, has Kyle Filipowski, who has the dimensions to provide Houston some matchup issues. Houston is an elite workforce, however they don’t have a free move to the Ultimate 4.
Candy 16 Sleeper
Texas Tech. The South Area is fascinating in that the groups in it are actually good, however exterior of Houston, they’ve some actually obtrusive weaknesses. Marquette’s greatest participant has been out injured, Kentucky can’t guard anyone some nights, Duke lacks rim safety and has felt disconnected as a workforce for a lot of the season, and Wisconsin has misplaced 9 video games since February 1st. So who’s the workforce that would sneak their method right into a candy 16? Texas Tech is a workforce with high quality guard play that’s battle examined popping out of the Huge 12. Their first spherical matchup is in opposition to an N.C. State workforce that needed to win 5 video games in 5 days to win their convention event and make it to the large dance. Their second spherical opponent would doubtless be a Kentucky workforce that’s extraordinarily up and down of their play. Texas Tech shoots the ball properly sufficient from the skin to be a workforce that will get scorching and goes on a run within the event. Sophomores Pop Isaacs and Darrion Williams could lead on this Pink Raider squad to a Candy 16.
Ultimate 4 Sleeper
Regardless of the weaknesses of the highest groups on this area, it’s onerous to make a case for a decrease seeded workforce to make it to the Ultimate 4. May it occur? Certain. However it’s unlikely that all the prime groups on this bracket go bust. Kentucky has turn into a classy choose to go deep the previous couple of weeks, however their incapability to defend ought to offer you pause in selecting them. Nevertheless, it’s at all times onerous to beat the workforce with essentially the most uncooked expertise, and that workforce is Kentucky. Freshmen Reed Sheppard and Rob Dillingham come off the bench and but could be the most explosive guards within the bracket. Antonio Reeves, in the meantime, offers a veteran presence along with his 20 factors per sport. I’m a agency believer that guard play wins in March, and so they have the very best assortment of guards. In the event that they put it collectively, they might upset each prime seeds on their technique to a Ultimate 4.
High First Spherical Matchup
#8 Nebraska vs #9 Texas A&M. It doesn’t have the large names and so they is probably not marquee packages, however the guard play on this matchup ought to be actually enjoyable. Nebraska has a fireballer in Keisei Tominaga. He’s not afraid to fireplace from the skin and has scored 20 or extra in seven video games this yr. On the opposite aspect, Texas A&M had a disappointing season, however Wade Taylor IV averaged 18.9 factors and 4 assists per sport and Tyrece Radford pitched in 16 a sport himself. The battles received’t solely be exterior although, as Henry Coleman and Solomon Washington from A&M can have their palms full taking up the Cornhusker large man Rienk Mast. This sport has the potential to be one of many extra tightly contested first spherical matchups.
High Potential Participant Matchup
Tyler Kolek vs. Jamal Shead. If Houston and Marquette handle enterprise and wind up within the Elite Eight, we’d be handled to a matchup between the very best defensive guard within the bracket vs. the very best pure level guard. Shead makes life depressing for opposing guards and is the top of the snake for the Houston protection. Kolek, in the meantime, does all of it, averaging 15 factors, 7.6 assists, and 4.7 rebounds a contest. This matchup can be extraordinarily compelling and would function two of the finalists for the Bob Cousy award. On prime of all of it: it will be for a berth within the Ultimate 4. It’s onerous to beat a matchup like that.
High Beneath The Radar Matchup
#2 Marquette vs. #15 Western Kentucky. Talking of Tyler Kolek, no person fairly is aware of what to anticipate from him within the event with him being out with an indirect damage. Ought to Marquette nonetheless have the ability to beat Western Kentucky? Sure. However I’d not be shocked if it was a detailed sport with 8 minutes left to play within the sport. Oso Ighodaro and Kam Jones are each extraordinarily good gamers as properly who can carry Marquette, however Western Kentucky has Don McHenry who appears to be like poised to placed on a present within the event and 6’10, 240 lb Rodney Howard has the dimensions to matchup with Marquette’s frontcourt. WKU averages 80.6 factors per sport and Marquette averages 78.3, so this may very well be a enjoyable, excessive scoring affair. It’s in all probability not clever to anticipate the upset, however the Hilltoppers can completely make this a sport.
High 5 NBA Prospects
1. Cody Williams, ColoradoA 6’8”, 190 lb freshman ahead, Williams is the youthful brother of NBA wing Jalen Williams. Whereas he’s not the go-to participant on the Buffs’ roster, he has essentially the most professional upside. He’s not a quantity exterior shooter, however he shot 42.1% from behind the arc this season. He does a little bit little bit of every part, and fills within the gaps on the workforce. He averaged 12.6 factors, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.7 assists this season whereas taking pictures 56.5 % from the sphere. He’s liable to turnovers, however as he turns into stronger and will get the chance to develop what he does on the court docket, he has an opportunity to be particular. He has bodily instruments that the others on this checklist don’t have and will get higher as he develops his physique.
2. Reed Sheppard, KentuckyThe lowest ranked of all of Kentucky’s star studded freshman class, Sheppard has wowed this season. The Wildcats’ sixth man averaged 12.8 factors, 4.3 rebounds, and 4.5 assists whereas taking pictures 52.5% from three and developing with 2.5 steals per contest. He makes heady performs, comes up with large photographs, and wreaks havoc on protection. Regardless of being listed at 6’3”, he is an effective shot blocker each on the rim and on the three level line. His stellar rookie marketing campaign has him positioned to be a prime ten choose within the upcoming draft.
3. Rob Dillingham, KentuckyLike Sheppard, Dillingham comes off the bench for Kentucky. Not like his teammate, Dillingham is all offense. Dillingham is an electrifying scorer that may single handedly create a scoring run. He got here from Time beyond regulation Elite with the fame as a gunner, however refined his sport to turn into far more environment friendly and team-centric. He averaged 15.4 factors per sport with 3.9 assists. He’s distinctive at beating defenders off the bounce, has elite physique management going to the rim, and is a keen passer if the protection rotates to him. He’s extraordinarily troublesome to remain in entrance of when he has the ball in his palms and has all of the makings of an microwave scorer on the guard place.
4. Kyle Filipowski, DukeFilipowski had the chance to enter the draft final season and he would have doubtless been a mid first spherical choose. As an alternative, he opted to return again, and the seven-footer averaged 17.1 factors and eight.2 rebounds per sport. Whereas his rebounding went down, his assists and blocks went up. A profession 31 % three level shooter, he shot 35% from deep this previous season, exhibiting development in that space. He has the flexibility to shoot from the skin, however he’s greatest when he doesn’t accept the skin shot. After being Duke’s go-to offensive choice this yr, he once more appears to be like poised to be a mid-first spherical choose on this yr’s draft, assuming he elects to take the chance.
5. Antonio Reeves, KentuckyThe 6’6” senior led the Wildcats in scoring at 20 factors per sport. He’s outdated for a prospect, however he confirmed numerous development in his sport this season. Beforehand a defensive legal responsibility, he has improved that space of his sport, however his actual contribution is his means to attain the basketball. He’s a 44% three level shooter this season who attracts defenses out. This season he has developed an elite working floater that he makes use of when defenders run him off the three level line, and it’s made him essentially the most harmful scorer within the SEC not named Dalton Knecht. Along with his means to attain the basketball and his measurement, he appears to be like to be a type of seniors that may step in and assist an NBA workforce instantly subsequent yr.
