Now with the common season full and a few computerized bids already punched in mid-major tournaments, males’s Champ Week takes heart stage.
Forward of what’s certain to be an action-packed week of video games to determine the NCAA Event subject, listed below are 5 storylines for males’s Champ Week:
Can Duke, Houston carry regular-season dominance into convention tournaments?
With simply two mixed convention losses between them, Duke (28-3, 19-1 ACC) and Houston (27-4, 19-1 Large 12) have risen to the highest two within the newest Related Press High 25 males’s basketball ballot and seem poised for deep postseason runs.
In line with ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi, the ACC is solely projected to get three groups within the “Large Dance.” A possible matchup with No. 2 seed Louisville or No. 3 seed Clemson — the one group to beat the Blue Devils in convention play — might current a problem. Nonetheless, with a protection that has solely allowed 70 or extra factors in convention play 4 instances in 20 video games and the Nationwide Participant of the Yr candidate, Cooper Flagg, Duke is the clear favourite within the ACC Event.
Other than a 82-81 additional time loss to the three-seed Texas Tech on Feb. 1, the Cougars had a dominant run by way of Large 12 play. The convention at the moment has eight groups projected within the NCAA Event and has loads of depth, together with the red-hot BYU Cougars, who’ve gained eight straight.
It won’t be a straightforward feat for Houston to win the convention match, but when its Division I-leading protection (58.1 PPG) has any say, the Large 12 Event will undergo the Cougars.
St. John’s seems to construct off first regular-season title in 40 years
After profitable its first Large East regular-season title since 1985, St. John’s (27-4, 18-2 Large East) seems so as to add some extra {hardware} within the Large East Event. The convention solely has 5 projected NCAA Event bids, however the street won’t be simple for the Crimson Storm.
St. John’s will be the favorites, however groups like Creighton, the two-time defending-champion UConn and Marquette are greater than able to stunning them.
Michigan State carries momentum into Large Ten Event
With seven straight wins, together with two towards in-state rival Michigan, the Spartans (26-5, 17-3 Large Ten) are as scorching as any group within the nation. With 10 Large Ten groups projected within the NCAA Event, although, will probably be a difficult stretch of video games.
No. 2 seed Maryland has gained three straight since its most up-to-date loss to Michigan State and a possible third sport towards its rival might have Michigan arrange for revenge. Contemplating the nine-seed within the convention, Indiana, upset the Spartans on Feb. 11, something is feasible within the Large Ten Event.
SEC Event is wide-open
Though Auburn (27-4, 15-3 SEC) enters as the highest seed, Florida, Alabama and Tennessee all pose a powerful problem to the Tigers. The convention is projected to get a file 13 groups within the NCAA Event.
Now that groups have went by way of the SEC gauntlet in the course of the common season, it might set the stage for some upsets and unpredictability in Nashville. Auburn has earned the No. 1 seed, however the SEC Event is as wide-open as any match within the nation.
One group that may shock in March
Whereas Saint Mary’s (27-4, 17-1 WCC) is ranked nineteenth, the Gaels haven’t been talked about close to as a lot as the facility convention groups. Nonetheless, their NET rating of 19 and the fifth-best protection within the nation (60.8 PPG) level to a group that has the potential to make some noise.
