As the season winds down, college basketball’s fun is only just beginning with the conference tournaments and, soon, March Madness. Let’s look at some NCAA Tournament sleepers to watch down the stretch and see who has a chance to make an impact.
Illinois is a wildcard here when it comes to Final Four sleepers. The last few months, Illinois hasn’t played the best and right now seems to be trending in the wrong direction when it comes to the NCAA tournament, but if anybody can figure it out, it’s Brad Underwood.
With one of the best rosters in college basketball, Illinois has yet to put it together, but expect a strong finish down the stretch from the Illini. Future lottery pick Kasparas Jakucionis is likely to figure things out, making them a tough out in March when it’s all said and done.
If anybody can get hot in the tournament and make a March run, it’s Mark Few and the Bulldogs. In the last few tournaments, Gonzaga has been a top seed in March, but this year they’ve encountered some struggles along the way, dropping out of the Top 25 and currently sitting in second place in the WCC conference.
The Zags brought back four starters from last year’s Sweet 16 run, but they just haven’t clicked this season when it matters. However, don’t count Mark Few out, because he’s a coach who can prepare his team like no other. That’s why this squad is one you definitely don’t want to see as a lower seeded team in the bracket.
I know, I know, this is out there, and UConn has won back-to-back national titles, but this season the Huskies just aren’t living up to the standard everyone expected at the start. It’s been a rollercoaster ride, from the losses in Maui to setbacks against St. John’s and Xavier. It’s been a rocky road, to say the least, for Coach Hurley and his staff.
If anybody can get it together in March and make a run, it’s Dan Hurley. Hassan Diarra has also been a huge part of their national championship success, and if anyone can turn it on, make shots in March, and win six straight, it’s the UConn Huskies.
As the season winds down, it’s clear who some of the favorites are, including teams like Florida, Auburn, Tennessee, Houston, and Purdue. However, there are always potential underdogs that could make a surprising run in the tournament. Teams like, Creighton, or even a mid-major like New Mexico could sneak in and create some upsets. It’ll be interesting to see which teams step up when the pressure is on!
More teams to keep an eye on include Kentucky, Texas Tech, Michigan State, and even Ole Miss, all of which could make a strong push down the stretch. Kansas is another interesting case; despite not playing up to par recently, they have the talent to turn things around quickly.
Additionally, Arizona, who started off slow, is now playing at a high level, making them a team to watch as we head into the tournament. With so many strong contenders, it’s going to be an exciting finish to the season!
With so many possibilities, this year’s NCAA tournament is shaping up to be one for the ages. The competition across conferences like the SEC, Big 12, Big Ten, and even the Big East is fierce. A team like St. John’s, coached by Rick Pitino, could surprise some folks and I’d definitely consider him a contender for coach of the year honors. It’s going to be an exciting ride!
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