March Madness will be here soon and let’s go quickly over 5 teams that could be in line for a Cinderella run.
5. San Diego State
San Diego State has flown under the radar this season so far. Sitting at 11-5 so far, this is just another solid Brian Dutcher team. They don’t have a clear star player but a lot of guys who know their roles. A very good defensive team but might struggle offensively from time to time, so like I said just another solid Brian Dutcher team. Those solid Brian Dutcher teams always show up in March. Making the sweet 16 last season before getting stopped by the eventual champs UConn. Then being the runner up the season prior. SDSU is currently sitting on the better side of the bubble, and we still need to continue to play good basketball and keep winning games to get a spot in the NCAA tournament, but I would expect them to be anything from a 7-12 seed this year. A team that could very well make a solid run into the second weekend.
4. Clemson
Clemson is having a great season so far, sitting at 15-4, probably the top three team in the ACC. Clemson is led by star guard Chase Hunter, who is averaging nearly 18 PPG, and forward Ian Schieffelin, who is averaging 13 PPG and 10 rebounds. Clemson, who made the elite eight last year, is destined to make the NCAA tournament once again. Guys like Hunter and Schieffelin were on that team last season. Brad Brownell learned how to win some games in March last season and with his experienced team having another elite season, he will be destined to win some games this year in March.
Expect the Tigers to be anything from a 4-9 seed this year and whoever gets put on their side of the bracket, will have a tough time with them they got have a star players in great starting lineup a very good coach and a hungry team who is ready to make another far run after just coming up short last year in the elite eight to Alabama.
3. West Virginia
A team that will be a higher seed come March probably in the 3-7 range, but with a first year head coach, a lot of people don’t have them on their radar. Led by guard Javon Small who is averaging about 20 PPG, they have been a surprise sitting at 13-4, but they have gotten some very good wins so far this season. Something to monitor is Tucker Devries, who has been out since December with an injury. If he were to come back at some point this season, they would be very scary. Head Coach Darian Devries, a COTY Candidate, has done an excellent job this season despite one of the best players (his son) being out for most of it. They have a very balanced team who has good depth, but has dealt with injuries so if that team gets healthy, they could definitely be a dark horse final four contenders. WVU is definitely a squad to keep on your radar as we head towards March.
Creighton
Greg McDermott and his team got off to a slow start but this past Saturday they showed that they really could be, getting a nice road win at Uconn. A very experienced team with a very experienced coach that will be hungry to make another run into the second weekend and potentially the final four. Star Center Ryan Kalkbrenner is having a great season once again, averaging 17.7 PPG and 8.4 Rebounds, along with guard Steven Ashworth, who is averaging 17 PPG as the season will go on as long as this team stays healthy. They will just continue to get better and better and get more and more wins. These past few seasons, Greg McDermott has always gotten his team off to a slow start, but once conference play begins, his teams really show what they are capable of. Creighton is sitting at 12-6 as of now, they are in that 8-11 on the Line, but I expect them to be around 4 or 5 in March. This is a team that can win a national title get not just to the final four. Come March, make sure to have Creighton winning some games in your bracket.
UC Irvine
UC Irvine, sitting at 17-2, will be a team to monitor as we get closer to March. Head Coach Russell Turner has had some great success in his long career at UC Irvine, but this might be one of his best teams, yet they are 7-0 in Big West conference play so far, and I really don’t know if I see a loss coming anytime soon. They have just been dominating their opponents. The only 2 losses were at Oregon State, who Oregon almost lost to, and also at Duquense, a team that got off to a slow start but has been very good in the past month. 2 very good losses are keeping this team from being undefeated. UC Irvine is led by Center Bent Leuchten who is averaging 15.9 PPG and 8.9 Rebounds. UC Irvine will probably not be a team who makes a run to the final four, but a team that could very well make a nice little run to the second weekend. If they were to stay undefeated the rest of the way, they would maybe be able to earn a at large bid, but even if not, I don’t think they will have any trouble winning the Big West tournament. Expect them to be on the 10-13 Seed Range, a squad that could bust some brackets this year.
Eli Saari
@ThatManChe on X
@Sidelines_SN on X
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