By Joel Neuschwander
The 78th NCAA Men’s College Basketball Tournament is underway since March 15th, with the first four matchups being held in Dayton, Ohio. 68 teams will battle it out for a chance to claim the National Championship. The teams are separated into four geographical regions, with 16 teams in each region after the first four teams are eliminated. Below you will find an outlook of the teams and players to watch out for during the next three weeks.
(All stats from ESPN)
Kansas
Record: 30-4
The Jayhawks arrive to the tourney after winning both the regular season and conference tournament championship in the Big 12 conference. The #1 overall seed, Kansas, is one of the most balanced teams in the field, with four players averaging at least 10 points per game. Senior forward, Perry Ellis, leads the squad with 16.7 points per game, good for third in the Big 12. Junior guard, Frank Mason III, has also been a big part of Kansas’s success so far. Mason finished 4th in the Big 12 with 4.7 assists per game.
How far can they go?
Kansas’s region is one of the toughest in the bracket, with teams like California, Maryland, and Villanova. That being said, the Jayhawks are arguably the favorite in this tournament and could make a run to the Final Four and beyond.
UNC
Record: 28-6
North Carolina is a #1 seed for the 13th time, which is the most in tournament history. Like Kansas, the Tar Heels, also won conference titles in the regular season and conference tournament. Brice Johnson, a senior forward, has carried UNC for the most part. Johnson ranks in the top 10 for the ACC in points and rebounds per game. The team has also been helped by solid play by Marcus Paige and Justin Jackson.
How far can they go?
North Carolina is in the East Region of the bracket and could face a tough matchup with Kentucky in the Sweet 16. If it comes to that, the Tar Heels will be ready since they’ve faced some of the nation’s best competition in the ACC.
Michigan State
Record: 29-5
The Spartans have a well-rounded and experienced lineup with the senior trio of Denzel Valentine, Bryn Forbes, and Matt Costello leading the way. Valentine and Forbes have proved to be valuable 3-point shooters, while Costello is among the best rebounders in the Big Ten.
How far can they go?
After winning the Big Ten tournament, many experts believe Michigan State should’ve been awarded a #1 seed. MSU got stuck with a #2 seed in the Midwest Region. The Midwest features Virginia and Utah, two teams capable of knocking off the Spartans. It will be interesting to see how far the team’s leadership group can take them.
Players to watch:
Buddy Hield, Oklahoma guard
Hield, a senior, is considered one of the favorites for the player of the year. His shooting touch is a big reason for the success of Oklahoma this year.
Jared Uthoff, Iowa forward
Uthoff’s ability to grab rebounds and get to the basket helped Iowa to a hot start before a late-season slide. He ranked 11th in rebounds per game and 2nd in points per game for the Big Ten.
