Top 10 Teams for March
With the NFL season coming to a close, all eyes will turn to the hardwood. The loss of sports in March last year left us feeling empty, but this time around a new NCAA Champion will be crowned. Here are the 10 teams with the best chance to cut down the nets in Indianapolis.
10. texas tech
Just two years removed from losing the National Championship game, the Red Raiders have a chance to get back there. Tech is led by Georgetown transfer Mac McClung. While McClung is known by many for his viral highlight reel, he is much more than that. He has proven to be one of the nation’s clutchest players with a game winner at Texas and a late-game surge to beat LSU. Future lottery pick Terrance Shannon Jr. and big man Marcus Santos-Silva are solid robins for a team that looks to make another deep run.
9. houston
Quentin Grimes is this Cougars’ teams most important players. When healthy, Grimes has proven to be one of the premier point guards in the country. However, he has trouble staying on the court. So far, Houston has coasted through a fairly light American Athletic Conference with their defense leading the way. They have held 13 of their 16 opponents to 60 points or less. Currently ranked as the 5th best team according to the AP, it will be interesting to see how the Cougars fair against major conference opponents.
8. alabama
2021 might just be the year of the Crimson Tide. After claiming the first NCAA title of 2020, the Tide look to claim another. Just like football, Bama presents a run-and-gun offense on the hardwood. Led by John Petty, Herb Jones, and Jaden Shackelford, this team loves to shoot the 3 ball. They are Top 5 in all of college basketball averaging over 10 made triples per game. People forget that John Petty was the 1A to Colin Sexton a few years back, and he has the ability to take over in March.
7. illinois
With three straight wins, the Fighting Illini are finally finding their groove. Illinois presents one of the most talented teams in a Big Ten Conference that is absolutely loaded. Ayo Dosunmu is averaging over 21 points per game and senior guard Trent Frazier is playing his best basketball at the right time. They also present the Big Ten’s best rim protector down low in Kofi Cockburn. While Brad Underwood’s squad has fallen a few times at home, they have proven they can beat anyone with wins over Iowa and Purdue.
6. villanova
Jay Wright has turned this program into a perennial powerhouse and this season is no different. Other than Virginia Tech, the Wildcats only competition has been COVID-19. They have had 10 games either cancelled or postponed due to the pandemic. Even so, they sit 11-1 and undefeated in the Big East. Guard play is huge in March, and senior leader Collin Gillespie displays an assists-turnover ratio of 4.7-1. The Cats will look to get back to their Championship ways as they aim for their 3rd title in their last 5 tries.
5. michigan
Last season, the Juwan Howard era got off to a very lackluster start as Big Blue went just 19-12 with a .500 record in Big Ten play. However, the Wolverines won their first 11 games to start this season. With 6 players averaging at least 8 points per game, Michigan has a different hero every night. Senior transfers Mike Smith and Chaundee Brown have gelled perfectly with youngsters like Isaiah Livers, Hunter Dickinson, and Eli Brooks. Sitting atop the Big Ten, the Maize and Blue look to make another push towards the Final Four.
4. texas
With a coach that has been there before and three experienced guards, Texas has one of the most talented rosters in the country. Shaka Smart proved his worth after making a run to the Final Four with VCU, and now he has his best team yet. Matt Coleman, Courtney Ramey, and Andruw Jones lead the nation’s best back court. Each guy could go for 20 on any given night. Pair those 3 with 3 athletic big men and Texas is a scary looking team. Kai Jones, Jericho Sims, and freshman phenom Greg Brown are all athletes that can jump out the gym. This Longhorns team isn’t just going to go far, they might win the whole thing.
3. iowa
The 3rd and final Big Ten team on this list is the Iowa Hawkeyes. Obviously, having the best player in the country on your team will always give you a good shot in March. 6’11” Luka Garza leads the country in scoring averaging 26.5 points per game. He is also one of the nation’s best rebounders and rim protectors. However, the Hawkeyes are much more than just one player. It is an offense that is nearly impossible to stop simply because they surround Garza with shooters everywhere. Jordan Bohannon, Joe Wieskamp, and CJ Fredrick will all make the opposing team play if they opt to put a double team on Garza down low. This Iowa team went toe-to-toe with Gonzaga early in the season and is a team no one wants to see late in March.
2. baylor
The gap between 1 and 2 on this list is razor thin. The Bears are 17-0 on the season and have won all but two games by double digits. Ranked opponents such as Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and Texas Tech had no chance against this defense. All five of those teams can score, yet none reached 70 points in their matchup with Baylor. Baylor had their best season in school history last season, but this year’s team is even better. Jared Butler has taken a step forward as one of the nation’s best players and a true Wooden Award candidate. The Bears only go 8 guys deep, but each guy would likely be a starter on any other team in the country.
gonzaga
When the Madness begins, the Zags will look to be the 7th preseason #1 team to win the National Championship. Their #1 ranking has never wavered as Gonzaga has won their 17 games by an average margin of victory of 20.1 points. Although not in a power conference, they have proven that they can beat the big boys already knocking off Iowa, Kansas, Virginia, and West Virginia. Corey Kispert, Jalen Suggs, and Drew Timme give Mark Few multiple scorers as he looks to win his first championship.