Jan 25, 2025; Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Cooper Flagg (2) brings the ball up courtroom in opposition to the Wake Forest Demon Deacons through the second half at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Obligatory Credit score: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Photos With the School Soccer Playoff behind us and the NFL winding down, extra folks start listening to faculty hoops.
We’re lower than 50 days away from Choice Sunday, which means we are able to begin hunting down the contenders from the pretenders. Who’s going to make the Closing 4, and who’s destined to be picked off earlier within the NCAA Event?
Whereas it’s largely as much as how the bracket unfolds and which groups are given essentially the most optimum paths, right here’s how I see it as of late January. Let’s attempt to put the insanity in March Insanity and never simply decide one of the best 4 groups on paper.
Not into consideration
Jan 25, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Connecticut Huskies ahead Alex Karaban (11) drives to the basket in opposition to Xavier Musketeers guard Dante Maddox Jr. (21) within the second half on the Cintas Middle. Obligatory Credit score: Aaron Doster-Imagn Photos UConn: Sorry, this crew isn’t three-peat worthy. The Huskies have performed virtually solely shut video games in convention motion, and their protection specifically is missing.
St. John’s: Rick Pitino can be again within the NCAA Event and St. John’s appears to be like actually sturdy in opposition to the backdrop of a weak Large East. A darkish horse, however not Closing 4-caliber fairly but.
Kentucky: Mark Pope’s Wildcat revival has been an ideal story. You simply can’t win each event sport 100-90.
Simply missed the lower
Jan 25, 2025; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; Kansas Jayhawks ahead Flory Bidunga (40) celebrates with heart Hunter Dickinson (1) after scoring in opposition to the Houston Cougars through the first half at Allen Fieldhouse. Obligatory Credit score: Denny Medley-Imagn Photos Iowa State: Skilled, well-rounded and extremely environment friendly at each ends of the ground. Don’t be shocked if that is the 12 months the Cyclones break by, however they haven’t gained a second-weekend event sport within the Fred Hoiberg/T.J. Otzelberger period.
Kansas: Nice defensively, higher offensively than final 12 months when issues fell aside on the Jayhawks. However they’re too one-dimensional with the ball and by no means get to the foul line.
Tennessee, Alabama and Florida: Lumping these three collectively as a result of any one in all them might find yourself successful the SEC, and any one in all them might hit a wall when going through top-15 crew after top-15 crew on this brutal regular-season schedule. Florida is healthier defensively than the Tide and higher on offense than the Vols, for what it’s value.
Mississippi State: Yet one more from the SEC, and yet one more darkish horse I like loads. The Bulldogs have expertise, steadiness and the flexibility to win away from residence.
Marquette: Talking of expertise, not solely is that this a grasp class in roster retention, however Shaka Sensible has taken a decrease seed to the Closing 4 earlier than. The Golden Eagles’ turnover-heavy protection will make anybody mad.
Illinois: The Illini’s experiment of importing Kasparas Jakucionis and Tomislav Ivisic to hold the crew gave the impression to be working earlier than they just lately misplaced three of 4 video games, permitting 82, 80 and 91 in these defeats.
Purdue: No Zach Edey, no downside? In contrast to prior iterations of Purdue, this one is powered by guard play, and Braden Smith is among the greatest within the nation.
The Closing 4
Jan 22, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Utah Utes ahead Keanu Dawes (8) makes an attempt to shoot as Houston Cougars ahead J’Wan Roberts (13) and guard L.J. Cryer (4) defends through the second half at Fertitta Middle. The Cougars defeated the Utes 70-36. Obligatory Credit score: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Photos Duke: For all of the occasions we’ve written in regards to the ACC’s obvious demise, the convention has gotten a crew to the Closing 4 three years working, together with No. 8, 5 and 11 seeds. No have to overthink this 12 months’s participant. Duke is greater than Cooper Flagg: It’s top-of-the-line defenses within the nation and really environment friendly from the 3-point arc, the foul line and in shut. My early nationwide title decide.
Houston: Kelvin Sampson bought the Cougars to the Closing 4 in 2021, and the previous three campaigns have appeared like disappointments relative to the energy of his groups. For many who didn’t catch the loopy approach the Cougars beat Kansas in double extra time on Saturday, this 12 months’s group has the psychological fortitude to deal with any scenario.
Auburn: The Tigers’ solely lack of the season was by six factors to Duke, at Duke. They’ve gained blowouts and pulled out shut video games, high-scoring battles, and defensive struggles like Saturday’s slugfest in opposition to Tennessee. They’ve gained when their greatest participant, Johni Broome, was sidelined by damage. They only win. I see virtually no weaknesses holding them again in March.
Michigan State: Assuming the opposite three groups are No. 1 seeds, right here’s the place I’ll keep away from additional chalk. There’s hypothesis this can be 69-year-old Tom Izzo’s final stand, and love him or hate him, the person coaches out of his thoughts within the event. I like the Spartans’ statistical profile, depth, expertise and 4-0 file in true highway video games. They’ll find yourself a No. 3 or 4 seed within the tourney and go on one final experience with Izzo as they search their second nationwide championship.
Championship sport: Duke 84, Houston 72