All 4 No. 1 seeds nonetheless stay as the lads’s Candy 16 is about to tip off on Thursday evening.
Whereas this 12 months’s NCAA Match has not had as a lot insanity as followers have come to count on, the shortage of upsets units the stage for what must be an exciting and fascinating Candy 16 with 4 of the ability conferences (ACC, Huge Ten, Huge 12, SEC) all represented.
Though the one-seeds will garner many of the consideration, and rightfully so, listed here are three groups that aren’t on the one-line which can be greatest positioned for a Closing 4 run.
No. 2 seed Michigan State
The 2-seed Michigan State is a pair of wins away from claiming the South area and its first Closing 4 since 2019. Michigan State (NET ranking of 11) has the third-most Quad 1 wins behind No. 1 seeds Auburn (16) and Houston (14).
The Spartans’ Candy 16 opponent, six-seed Ole Miss, has a NET rating of 28 however has definitely been battle-tested within the vaunted SEC. Michigan State thrives in bench manufacturing with a median of 34.46 factors per sport, which is fifth in the nation. Even when the Spartans get into foul hassle, they’ve the depth to beat it.
If Michigan State retains dancing to the Elite Eight, it might face the winner of the Auburn-Michigan matchup. The Spartans swept their in-state rivals through the common season and will pose a big problem to the top-seeded Tigers. Assuming Michigan State stays wholesome and maintains its bench manufacturing, its depth could lead on it to its first nationwide title since 2000.
No. 3 seed Texas Tech
The Crimson Raiders are the one staff within the Candy 16 that will likely be going through a double-digit seed after they go up in opposition to the 10-seed Arkansas on Thursday evening. Whereas John Calipari’s Razorbacks have the momentum, Texas Tech is a staff that completed second to Houston within the Huge 12 and is led by sophomore JT Toppin (18.1 PPG, 9.3 RPG).
Texas Tech’s assist-to-turnover ratio (1.71) speaks to its means to deal with the ball with out turning it over. If that continues, it will be troublesome for Arkansas to beat.
If Texas Tech reaches the Elite Eight, the Florida-Maryland winner could be ready. Assuming the chalk holds, Florida’s inconsistency from the free-throw line (71.91%, 187th within the nation) might go away the door open for a Closing 4 run from the Crimson Raiders, the place they haven’t been since 2019.
No. 4 seed Arizona
It was a rocky begin to the season for the Wildcats, who misplaced 5 of their first 9 video games. A type of was a 69-55 setback in opposition to Duke on Nov. 22. Regardless of the early adversity, the Wildcats have a NET rating of 12 and personal 10 Quad 1 wins. Additionally they have senior Caleb Love, who’s coming off a 29-point efficiency wherein he shot 5-of-7 from three-point vary.
The No. 1 seed Blue Devils confirmed their dominance within the first two rounds and seem to have freshman sensation Cooper Flagg again at full power. Nevertheless, Arizona will get a second likelihood in opposition to Duke, which is one thing any staff outdoors of the ACC has not had.
A possible Elite Eight assembly could be in opposition to the BYU-Alabama winner. Each groups are as explosive as any staff offensively however lack a constant protection that has confirmed to repeatedly get stops. That might play to Arizona’s favor and lead this system to its first Closing 4 since 2001.
