If you happen to went somewhat too wild along with your picks this 12 months projecting upsets and considering March may be particularly mad, then your bracket by now would possibly very nicely be busted to smithereens. With simply 16 groups left standing, each top-two seed remains to be within the hunt, marking simply the fifth time that has occurred since NCAA Event growth in 1985.
We have had wild outcomes the previous couple of years with two No. 1 seeds falling to No. 16 seeds, three No. 15 seeds ousting No. 2 seeds and rather more, so in fact we do not fault you in case you went out on a limb and bought some issues fallacious. Our consultants did, too. However every considered one of us under nonetheless has our title decide alive, and most of our Remaining 4 picks are advancing in addition.
We do not all the time nail issues precisely however we have seen sufficient video games this season to have some confidence in our picks wanting forward. So in case you’re already out in your pool or simply want some recommendation to possibly wager some cheddar shifting ahead, every of our brackets are within the house under. It’s also possible to discover all our picks in opposition to the unfold right here.
OK, let’s dive into the great things: The brackets. …
2024 NCAA Event bracket predictions
Click on every bracket to enlarge.
Gary Parrish
Watching UConn grow to be the primary back-to-back nationwide champion since Florida in 2006 and 2007 can be a blast. And let the report present that the Huskies are the betting-market favorites. So I understand choosing in opposition to them would possibly show dumb. However, that acknowledged, I’ll proceed to do what I have been doing most of this season and put my religion within the Boilermakers. Would not that be a terrific story — Purdue profitable the 2024 NCAA Event after shedding to a No. 16 seed within the opening spherical of the 2023 NCAA Event? Zach Edey holding the championship trophy as a two-time Nationwide Participant of the Yr? Matt Painter shedding his label as the most effective coach but to make a Remaining 4 by changing into the primary coach to take Purdue to the ultimate weekend of the season since 1980? It is all such great things. Simply attending to the Remaining 4 will likely be difficult contemplating Tennessee, Creighton and Kansas are additionally within the Midwest Area. However I am nonetheless taking the Boilermakers to make it to Arizona. After which, as soon as they get there, I feel they’re going to win two extra video games and lower nets on the second Monday in April.
Matt Norlander
A locomotive screaming down the tracks. The 31-3 reigning nationwide champions enter this NCAA Event because the strongest crew with the most effective likelihood to repeat of any squad since Florida in 2007. Dan Hurley’s Huskies are led by All-American guard Tristen Newton (15.2 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 6.0 apg), who holds the varsity report for triple-doubles. Within the center is 7-foot-2 “Cling Kong,” Donvan Clingan, a menace of a defender and the kind of participant you may’t simulate in follow. The Huskies boast the nation’s most effective offense (126.6 adjusted factors per 100 possessions, through KenPom.com) and overwhelm groups in a wide range of methods. Sophomore Alex Karaban (39.5%) and senior Cam Spencer (44.4%) are each excellent 3-point shooters. The Huskies have been overwhelmed by Kansas, Seton Corridor and Creighton, however all of these have been street video games, and there are not any extra street video games left this season. UConn will attempt to grow to be the fourth No. 1 total seed to win the nationwide title, becoming a member of 2007 Florida, 2012 Kentucky and 2013 Louisville.
Kyle Boone
The antagonistic aspect of me initially picked Purdue over UConn within the title recreation. However I sat and considered it and could not make any cheap case to select any crew apart from UConn as champion. After all, that does not assure the Huskies win all of it and grow to be the primary repeat champs since Florida in 2007. There’s rather a lot that may occur within the subsequent few weeks. However they’ve the electrical offense, the guard depth, the dimensions down low, the taking pictures [takes breath] .. the passing and the pizzazz of a crew that is finest within the nation and is aware of it. Each high crew on this area has a excessive degree at which they’ll play however nobody has a high gear like UConn.
Get each decide, each play, each upset and fill out your bracket with our assist! Go to SportsLine now to see which groups will make and break your bracket, and see who will lower down the nets, all from the mannequin that nailed a whopping 20 first-round upsets by double-digit seeds.
David Cobb
Purdue is ready for redemption after an embarrassing 2023 loss to No. 16 seed Fairleigh Dickinson within the first spherical. This time round, the Boilermakers are a significantly better 3-point taking pictures crew and have a extra favorable path than No. 1 total seed UConn. The Huskies have been essentially the most dominant crew main as much as the Large Dance the East Area bracket is full of peril.
Jerry Palm
This isn’t the Purdue you may have seen the previous couple of years. Braden Smith has made a giant leap from final season to this one. Fletcher Loyer is healthier. Lance Jones provides Purdue protection, taking pictures and one other ball handler. And Zach Edey is healthier too. It is a crew on a mission. That is the 12 months they accomplish it.
Dennis Dodd
What’s there to not like? The Heels received the ACC common season. They beat Tennessee and swept Duke. RJ Davis is an elite guard and ACC Participant of the Yr. Hubert Davis has settled in after going to the nationwide championship recreation in his first season and lacking the match in his second. That is his finest crew. There will likely be/and all the time is strain to win all of it.
Armando Bacot just isn’t as dominating as earlier. Harrison Ingram (Stanford) and Cormac Ryan (Notre Dame) have been huge additions within the portal. The West Area is pleasant, assuming right here that Alabama and Michigan State do not get in the way in which earlier than the regional in L.A. An attention-grabbing regional ultimate in opposition to Arizona looms. Ultimately, generally you go together with chalk. UNC has been to essentially the most Remaining Fours (21) and No. 1 seeds (18) all-time. It’s tied with Kentucky for essentially the most match wins ever (131). That is what the Heels do.
Chip Patterson
The choice committee arrange loads of obstacles for the reigning champs, putting what I imagine to be the most effective No. 1 seed, the most effective No. 2 seed (Iowa State), the most effective No. 3 seed (Illinois) and the most effective No. 4 seed (Auburn) within the Huskies bracket. And if carrying out a historic feat like the primary back-to-back title runs since 2007 goes to require that form of epic journey, UConn has each ability and gear wanted to make it again to the highest of the mountain. UConn can win in all other ways, overwhelming groups with their offense in high-scoring observe meets or out-executing the opponent in low-possession grinders, and it has a handful of key contributors who might every step up as wanted throughout a title run.
Cameron Salerno
Protection wins championships. That’s a part of the rationale why I am choosing Houston to win all of it. The Cougars have the top-ranked scoring protection within the nation and terrific guard play on offense to enrich it. Jamal Shead is arguably the most effective level guard within the nation, and J’wan Roberts is an X-Issue on each ends of the ground. Houston’s path to the Remaining 4 is favorable. The Cougars weren’t capable of attain the Remaining 4 of their house state final spring, however this would be the 12 months they run the desk and win their first nationwide championship in program historical past.