Editor’s note: This article is part of the Bracket Central series, an internal view of preparation for NCAA tournaments for men and women, along with analysis and selections during tournaments.
One of the highest NCAA tournaments in history has achieved its logical conclusion: all four seeds No. 1 are heading to Final Four for the first time since 2008. This tournament gave us all-time championship, with Mario Chalmers’ miracle sent the title game overtime to win Kansas over Memphis. And just like this Final Four, this tournament ended in San Antonio.
However, the burning question for this year: will these four superpower lead to great games similar to this classic? Only one of the four Elite Eim games had a lot of drama in the section, and Duke’s demolition could mean that Blue Devils would end in the last two games as UConn last season.
Their last four rivals, Houston, are not an easy team to throw away. In fact, Cougars did not lose more than five points throughout the season (and three out of four losses were overtime). In addition, Houston has added motivation for demanding revenge for the loss of the NCAA tournament just a year ago in Sweet 16 and on the other hand, Auburn also avenged: Tigers lost Florida and Duke this season.
Below our final evaluation of the power of the latest teams, along with one reason for optimism for each of the four heavy weights when they descend to San Antonio.
Conference ACC Big 12 Sec
Region East Midwest South West
Load
Try to change or reset your filters to see more.
Duke brought Alabama attack on Saturday evening on the offense. Blue Devils held a fertile influx offense to just 0.89 points for possession, the second worst performance of the season. Duke also beat Alabama on glass, 41-30, with Cooper Flagg and Khaman Maluach, each with nine boards. The Jon Scheyer team is Juggernaut at both ends of the floor, but Houston – whom the Duke defeated last season in Sweet 16 after Cougars’ Jamal Shead suffered ankle injury – could provide a tough test with its physicality and elite defense.
The biggest reasons for optimism: Duke is the best team and has a generation player. Quite solid reasons for enthusiasm! The blue devils have the second highest level of effectiveness in the history of Kenpom (which runs back to 1997) and can overcome opponents with elite units in offense and defense.
No. 16 Mount St. Mary’s
93-49
Texas Tech was a better team on Saturday for 37 minutes, but Thomas Haugh and Walter Clayton Jr. They refused to lose late in the game. The duo has joined in the last three minutes to hit four three, erased the nine -point deficit, and for the first time since 2014 it has regained Florida back to Final Four. Now they will receive Auburn, which they were smoked on the plains at the beginning of February.
The biggest reasons for optimism: Florida is deep and extremely talented and Clayton is best closer to university basketball. In this tournament they survived shaking performances, staring in the face and based on the other side. They will not be afraid in San Antonio.
No. 16 Norfolk State
95-69
Kelvin Sampson built his program on a hard defense foundation and Cougars showed how impressive they are at this end on Sunday afternoon. Tennessee managed only 15 points in the first half, a record low for the elite eight game, and Cougars maintained a double -digit lead for the second half. Emanuel Sharp (16 points) and LJ Cryer (17 points) hit only enough shots to keep any potential Vold comeback at bay. Houston will now shoot redemption against Duke, who sent Cougars home in the battle with 54-51 Sweet 16 last March.
The biggest reasons for optimism: Cougars, led by a long athletic frontcourt, have the best defense in the country. They also have three snipers in their initial backcourt and the guardian of the point guard Milos Uzan ascension to Stardom gave Houston to another chief creator of the shot.
The tigers basically led the whole game against the Michigan state and won the second performance of Bruce Pearl in Auburn. John Broome was masterful and 25 points and 14 rebounds scored after a ghost fall, although there was no piece of game. Broome’s health will be the main story going until next weekend, because both his right elbow and left ankle, he seemed to brake it even after returning to the game. The defense of the tigers allowed them to stay forward against the Michigan state, but against Florida – which was destroyed by Auburn in Auburn in February, despite the missing starter Alijah Martin – they will need a fully healthy Broome.
The biggest reasons for optimism: For longer sections against the Michigan and Michigan State, Auburn looked like a powerhouse that started the 27-2 season (including 15-1 at one of the most difficult conferences ever). This version of Auburn was the best team in the country, full of scoring and defensive versatility.
No. 16 Alabama State
83-63
State No. 2 Michigan
70-64
The Central holder series is sponsored by E*Trade of Morgan Stanley.
Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Sponsors do not have control over or entry into the process of reporting or adjustment and do not check stories before publishing.
(Illustrations: Dan Goldfarb / Athletic;; Photos: Jared C. Tilton, James Gilbert / Getty Images)
