Each single No. 1 and No. 2 seed superior to the Candy 16 for the fifth time for the reason that event expanded to 64 groups and first time for the reason that 2019 NCAA Match. However what? Brackets being busted occurs to one of the best of us. Even in a comparatively chalky 12 months.
So we’re giving ourselves yet one more chunk on the apple with a contemporary bracket with the sector now right down to 16. Our panel of faculty basketball consultants and analysts did not make each choose proper — who had NC State and Clemson making the second weekend?! — however we’re certain to nail it this time. (Proper?)
The excellent news is that with so many favorites advancing, most of our title picks are nonetheless alive and within the hunt, so there’s not many modifications so far as how we see the ultimate few video games enjoying out. There are, although, quite a few modifications to the bracket elsewhere now that a number of groups we did not choose to be within the second weekend, made the second weekend.
Who will win each faculty basketball sport, and which favorites needs to be on upset alert? Go to SportsLine now to get picks and predictions for each faculty basketball sport, all from a mannequin that simulates each sport 10,000 occasions.
Here is a take a look at how our consultants see the regional motion unfolding as we shut in on the Candy 16.
Click on on every bracket to enlarge
Gary Parrish, faculty basketball insider
Authentic choose for champion: Purdue
My authentic Ultimate 4 picks featured Purdue, UConn and Houston. They’re all nonetheless alive. So I am going to hold them — even when Kelvin Sampson’s Cougars have appeared unusually susceptible in current weeks. Baylor was my preliminary Ultimate 4 choose within the West Area. However I misplaced the Bears to Clemson and have changed them with North Carolina. Sure, meaning I now have 4 No. 1 seeds within the Ultimate 4. Will it occur? Who is aware of? However in a season the place three of the No. 1 seeds so clearly separated from the remainder of the pack weeks prematurely of Choice Sunday, it might be sort of becoming if we received 4 No. 1 seeds within the Ultimate 4 for simply the second time in historical past and first time since 2008.
Matt Norlander, faculty basketball senior author
Authentic choose for champion: UConn
I all the time welcome and luxuriate in a Candy 16 with a Cinderella or two sticking round, however we do not have that this 12 months. What now we have as a substitute is an Eleventh-seeded power-conference program with two nationwide championships to its identify as an ersatz Cindy story — and NC State, you are greater than welcome to proceed charming us. However I additionally haven’t got the run persevering with past this Friday. Of my preliminary Candy 16 picks, I landed solely 10, which is a disgrace. But it surely additionally provides me the prospect to regroup and get it proper from right here on out.
I am going to hold UConn over Illinois within the East. That is what I’ve had from the beginning and I am going to financial institution on offense profitable out. Within the West, I believe any of the 4 groups can emerge — sure, even Clemson; particularly if it will get acquainted ACC foe UNC within the Elite Eight — however I refuse to be chalky and go along with a minimum of three No. 1 seeds, so give me Arizona to push via and make its first Ultimate 4 since 2001. I’ll stick with Houston, which has regarded shakier previously two weeks than I may have imagined. Duke is peaking, however Houston is the hardest group on this area and Jamal Shead is one of the best participant within the South, narrowly rating above Marquette‘s Tyler Kolek. Within the Midwest, I believe now we have one of the best probability at getting three nice video games. I took Creighton on Choice Sunday to make it out and I will not shift off that. I just like the Bluejays to win two thrillers and break via to their first Ultimate 4 in class historical past.
From there, my picks stay unchanged. UConn over Houston to win the nationwide title and go back-to-back. My reasoning is straightforward and pragmatic and strengthened after watching Connecticut in particular person in Brooklyn. There may be a group that can beat UConn, however I don’t know who is thrashing UConn on this event.
Kyle Boone, faculty basketball author
Authentic choose for champion: UConn
UConn was my choose to win all of it forward of the NCAA Match and UConn stays my choose after the primary weekend of the NCAA Match. I notice that is not going out on a ledge, nevertheless it’d be disingenuous for me to choose some other group. Purdue appears to be like nice, Duke appears to be like nice, Houston appears to be like like a drive — all that’s true. However nobody has regarded extra dominant and harmful towards good and dangerous competitors alike the way in which the Huskies have been. As long as they keep wholesome I like my pre-tourney choose to return to fruition, and for UConn to be the primary repeat champs since Florida in 2007.
David Cobb, faculty basketball author
Authentic choose for champion: Purdue
All 4 of my authentic Ultimate 4 are nonetheless alive coming into the Candy 16, and I am sticking with them. Clearly, UConn is rolling and looking out totally able to repeating because the nationwide champion. However upsets occur, and if anybody left on this area is able to eliminating the Huskies, it is Illinois. The Illini are on a roll behind two of one of the best offensive gamers remaining within the area in Terrence Shannon Jr. and Marcus Domask. The veteran wings are each artful, savvy scorers and complement one another nicely.
Cameron Salerno, faculty basketball author
Authentic choose for champion: Houston
I am sticking with Houston to chop down the nets in Phoenix subsequent month. Regardless of giving up 95 factors in an exciting additional time win over Texas A&M a number of quick days in the past, I nonetheless imagine Houston has one of the best protection within the nation. My preseason Ultimate 4 prediction has three groups remaining within the area (Purdue, Duke, and Creighton), however I am not going away from the choose I made lower than two weeks in the past. Jamal Shead is the actual deal. He’ll lead the Cougars to glory.
Chip Patterson, faculty basketball author
Authentic choose for champion: UConn
By two rounds of the event my opinion has not modified that UConn is the alpha of the game and has the entire instruments essential to win the hardest video games within the event and declare a second-straight nationwide championship. My largest change from pre-tournament evaluation is whether or not Purdue can get out of its area, and after two dominant wins I do assume the Boilermakers will attain the Ultimate 4 for the primary time within the Matt Painter period.
If not for UConn’s presence, I might have Zach Edey and a much-improved supporting forged finishing the redemption tour to win all of it, however with Donovan Clingan working sizzling I believe the Huskies even have a solution for the nationwide participant of the 12 months.
Jerry Palm, Bracketology professional
Authentic choose for champion: Purdue
In case you missed the Boilermakers within the first two rounds – nicely, the second spherical…everybody watched the primary to see if they’d lose once more – this isn’t the Purdue you have got seen the previous few years. This can be a group on a mission.
That appears significantly true of Zach Edey, who has taken his domination to a different stage thus far. He was the primary participant to attain a minimum of 50 factors, seize 40 rebounds and shoot 65% from the ground within the first two video games of the event since Lew Alcindor in 1968.
The remainder of the group has been clicking too, even when it is a completely different man every sport. Trey Kaufman-Renn has 29 factors and 15 rebounds in two video games enjoying alongside and typically in place ofZach Edey. Braden Smith was restricted towards Utah State resulting from foul bother and when he was out, Purdue went on a run.
Everyone seems to be on UConn as a result of they’re enjoying at a excessive stage – they usually completely are – however do not sleep on the Boilermakers. They might need to re-win the Maui Invitational to get there, however Purdue has an important probability to be enjoying for – and profitable – its first nationwide championship.