For much of the season, eight teams—Kentucky, Duke, Virginia, Arizona, Wisconsin, Villanova, Kansas and Gonzaga—have dominated the NCAA men’s basketball polls and storylines. These teams have combined for just 22 total losses, with Kansas owning seven of those against the nation’s toughest schedule.
So yes, those eight teams are extremely good, and it would not be surprising if the Final Four was comprised entirely from that group. However, we have all learned the month of March does not tend to work like that. Here are four teams that I think can bring the madness this March and have a realistic of crashing the Final Four over a member of the Big Eight.
Notre Dame (14-4 ACC, 26-5 overall)
The red flags are all over the place. Defense is a foreign language to these guys, they rely too heavily on the three ball, they have no size and Mike Brey has never escaped the Sweet 16 in all of his years with the Fighting Irish.
However, Jerian Grant can make a lot of those red flags turn green. The senior stud has played out of his mind, returning with a vengeance after serving an academic suspension last season. He has been the catalyst and focal point of a monstrous Notre Dame attack, averaging over 16 points and six assists per game.
While Grant is no doubt the leader and most important player on the team, his supporting cast certainly isn’t a pile of scrubs. Zach Auguste, Pat Connaughton and Demetrius Jackson all average over 12 points per game for an offense that shoots over 50 percent overall and nearly 40 percent from deep.
Don’t be mistaken though—if the Irish make a deep tourney run, I’ll bet my old pair of socks from eighth grade (still wearable with only two holes!) that it will be on the back of Grant, putting on his best Shabazz Napier or Kemba Walker impression.
Maryland (14-4 Big Ten, 26-5 overall)
The three-headed monster of Melo Trimble, Dez Wells and Jake Layman have propelled the Terps to a second place finish in the notorious B1G (RIP Biggie) with an outside shot at a No. 2 seed. Any one of those three could erupt at any moment to take over a game, and the team draws a ton of fouls, a major plus for tournament play.
While there is much to like about this resurgent Maryland team, caution must be applied to teams who have struggled on the road. The Terps are a mediocre 5-4 on the road in the Big Ten, with their largest margin of victory coming against a hapless Rutgers team. Three of those four losses have also been by double digits.
Fortunately for Maryland, there will be no true road games in the tourney, and they have shown their mettle on a neutral court, winning the CBE Hall of Fame Classic over a solid Iowa State team. If the Terrapins have flown a bit under the radar this season, they should definitely be popping up hard on the dashboard now.
Iowa State (12-6 Big 12, 22-8 overall)
Iowa State is essentially Notre Dame with more size and less reliance on one player. Both teams have nearly unstoppable offenses and play mediocre defense. However, the focal point of Iowa State’s attack is big man Georges Niang. The junior is a strong post player with a soft touch from beyond the arc. He also ranks second on the team with 3.4 assists per game.
Niang is definitely not a one man wrecking crew however, as the team has six (!) guys who average double figures. In anti-Kobe fashion, the team also spreads the ball around, accruing 16.8 assists per game, good for eighth in the country. Head coach Fred Hoiberg could find himself to be the mayor of not only Ames but also Indianapolis this April with this cast of Cyclones.
Wichita State (17-1 Missouri Valley, 28-4 overall)
After a Final Four berth and undefeated regular season in consecutive years, the Shockers might be back under the radar, if only slightly. However, these guys could easily shock the world again and earn head coach Gregg Marshall his second career trip to the national semifinals.
While the departure of Cleanthony Early certainly left a large void offensively, the team still has some excellent talents in Ron Baker and Fred VanVleet, both veterans from that Final Four team who know how to get it done when it counts.
While a troubling loss to Illinois State in the Missouri Valley Conference tourney can be worrisome, let’s not forget these guys are just a week removed from a 74-60 demolition of a Top 10 Northern Iowa squad. While this team might not be as talented as last year’s squad, the veteran leadership guided by Marshall’s fantastic coaching will make the Shockers a tough out per usual.
Who is your sleeper team to make a deep run in the tournament? Email Rushad at machhi@wisc.edu to share your predictions.
