Candy 16 groups, ranked by their nationwide title possibilities in males’s March Insanity

The primary weekend of the 2024 males’s NCAA event had all of it. There have been upsets (bye, Kentucky), there have been new stars born (hey, D.J. Burns and Jack Gohlke), and there have been thrilling finishes. After 4 days, the event is now left with 16 groups who all consider they’ve what it takes to interrupt into the Ultimate 4.

Chalk principally held serve by means of the bracket. For under the fifth time since 1985, all the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds superior to the Candy 16. For as a lot enjoyable as the primary weekend was, the second weekend must be even higher with premier matchups and star gamers competing on the largest platform within the sport.

With the primary weekend wrapped up, we thought it could be an ideal time to re-rank the sphere by their possibilities at profitable the 2024 nationwide championship. Right here’s how we see school basketball’s championship image proper now.

16. NC State Wolfpack

The attractive factor about March Insanity is that (almost) each staff in DI will get to regulate its personal future. NC State is the final word proof of that. The Wolfpack had no likelihood to make the NCAA event this season earlier than they went on a run for the ages: 5 wins in 5 days — together with Ws over Duke, Virginia, and North Carolina — to finish a Cinderella run within the ACC event and earn their automated bid. NC State beat No. 6 seed Texas Tech to begin its run within the huge dance, then caught a break when No. 14 seed Oakland upset a Kentucky staff that was a stylish Ultimate 4 choose. The Golden Grizzlies gave NC State all it may deal with, however the Wolfpack prevailed in additional time to punch its first Candy 16 ticket since 2015.

Additional beefy huge man D.J. Burns is the breakout star March Insanity desires are made from as a talented inside scorer and high-feel passer. Casey Morsell is among the event’s finest perimeter defenders, D.J. Horne is a speedy guard main the offensive assault, and Michael O’Connell continues to be using the excessive from the largest shot of his life to maintain NC State’s season alive within the convention event. Cinderellas aren’t supposed to return from the ACC, however this Wolfpack staff checks each field for the label. Their March magic isn’t achieved but. — Ricky O’Donnell

Photograph by Justin Ford/Getty Photographs

15. Clemson Tigers

Clemson discovered itself within the uncommon place of being an underdog as a No. 6 seed in its first spherical recreation towards No. 11 seed New Mexico. The Tigers rapidly made bookmakers really feel silly by roaring out of the gates and ultimately delivering a 20+ level knockout punch. Clemson was once more a +4.5 level underdog within the second spherical towards a high-powered Baylor staff. After their 72-64 win to bust into the Candy 16, possibly it’s time to cease underestimating this group.

P.J. Corridor and Chase Hunter sat on the bench as freshmen for Clemson’s final event staff in 2021. Now they’re the Tigers’ two largest stars. Hunter adopted an incredible recreation vs. New Mexico with a fair higher efficiency towards Baylor. He completed with 20 factors and 6 assists towards the Bears whereas hounding their proficient guards defensively. Corridor has battled foul bother in each video games up to now, however the truth that Clemson reached the Candy 16 with out their finest participant taking part in his finest is a testomony to the remainder of the group. Guess what, Clemson is about to be an enormous underdog once more towards No. 2 seed Arizona within the Candy 16. That’s simply the way in which they prefer it. — ROD

14. San Diego State Aztecs

San Diego State went to the nationwide championship recreation as a No. 5 seed a yr in the past. They’re again into the second weekend as a No. 5 seed once more this yr. The Aztecs snuck previous UAB within the opening spherical, after which walloped Yale on Sunday evening to achieve the Candy 16. Similar to final yr, this staff will get it achieved with defensive, rating No. 11 total in defensive effectivity in line with KenPom. The offense is definitely barely higher this yr, thanks principally to the senior yr explosion of massive man Jaedon LaDee. LeDee couldn’t crack eight factors per recreation coming off the bench final yr; now he’s scoring 22 factors per evening and taking part in like a person amongst boys. Add in returning rotation gamers Lamont Butler, Micah Parrish, and Darrion Trammell, and it shouldn’t be a shock they made it this far. After all, the Aztecs run ended final yr to UConn, and the Huskies are once more the opponent this yr within the Candy 16. There can be no sweeter technique to get revenge. — ROD

Photograph by Chris Gardner/Getty Photographs

13. Gonzaga Bulldogs

Saturday’s recreation between Gonzaga and Kansas seemed on its approach in direction of changing into an prompt traditional. The Jayhawks led by one on the break as each groups began out scorching from the sphere.

Halfway by means of the second half that anticipated traditional changed into a rout.

Gonzaga used a 15-0 run early within the second half to construct a 63-49 lead, and by the point the sport reached the under-four timeout the Zags had constructed a 22-point lead. A pick-and-roll recreation gave Kansas matches all afternoon, and whereas the Bulldogs remained red-hot within the second half, Kansas instantly went ice chilly from the sphere. At one level the Jayhawks have been simply 4-for-23 from the sphere within the second half.

Trying forward, a matchup with Zach Edey and Purdue awaits. However their guard play, coupled with an offensive system that gave Kansas bother, may give Gonzaga an edge within the Candy Sixteen. — Mark Schofield

12. Alabama Crimson Tide

Alabama’s velocity is plain. If the shot clock dips under 20 on a possession, one thing could be very incorrect. The place the Crimson Tide excel is in transition, snagging defensive rebounds and flying down the courtroom. PG Mark Sears leads the cost, and sometimes contorts his physique to complete on the rim by means of contact. His heroics (28.0 ppg, 8.0 reb, 5.5 ast within the event) have carried the Tide to March Insanity’ second weekend.

Bama didn’t have a difficulty with 13-seed Charleston within the first spherical, scoring a tournament-high 109 factors. However towards 12-seed Grand Canyon, they have been solely in a position to draw back within the remaining couple minutes. GCU slowed the sport down by drawing fouls (they shot 37 free throws), and it noticeably affected Alabama, who solely scored 72 within the win.

There have been just a few moments within the second half towards GCU the place Alabama was compelled right into a gradual half-court offense and seemed genuinely confused. If Nate Oats’ squad goes to get previous North Carolina and into the ultimate weekend of the event, it’s going to be by doing what they do finest: placing the pedal down. — Adam Ward

Photograph by Sarah Stier/Getty Photographs

11. Duke Blue Devils

Duke’s matchup with budding Cinderella James Madison appeared like the final word lure recreation. As an alternative, the Blue Devils blasted the Solar Belt champs and left little question this staff may dwell as much as this system’s unimaginable lineage. Freshman guard Jared McCain looks like Duke’s largest ceiling raiser, and when he will get scorching from three-point vary the Blue Devils can get scary. He shot 8-of-11 from deep towards JMU on his technique to a breakout 30-point efficiency. Keep in mind this recreation when his identify known as within the first spherical of the 2024 NBA Draft.

Duke has been taking part in by means of sophomore heart Kyle Filipowski all yr, and it continues to reap the rewards. Filipowski can rating inside and outside, however his passing is admittedly what takes Duke to the following stage. With Tyrese Proctor lastly hitting his stride and Jeremy Roach offering one other regular veteran hand within the backcourt, Duke has some severe expertise even when the actual superstars aren’t coming in till 2025. Houston goes to be an immense downside, however it could be foolish to put in writing off these Blue Devils now. — ROD

10. Illinois Preventing Illini

The final time Illinois made the second weekend of the NCAA event, Deron Williams and Dee Brown have been powering a run to the 2005 nationwide championship recreation. Sure, it’s been some time. This Illini staff lastly broke by means of beneath Brad Underwood behind an electrical offense that at present ranks No. 1 within the nation, per KenPom. The Illini basically begin 5 wings, giving them a uncommon lineup the place everybody can confidently dribble, go, and (Ty Rodgers excluded) shoot. Illinois’ offense powered them to a Large Ten event championship, and it isn’t letting up within the huge dance.

Terrence Shannon Jr. is averaging 30.5 factors per recreation throughout the staff’s six-game profitable streak. Marcus Domask transferred in from Southern Illinois, and has developed right into a unbelievable secondary scoring possibility because the staff’s defacto level guard. Coleman Hawkins is expert huge man who stretches the ground on offense, and has held his personal on the inside defensively. It’s irresponsible to speak concerning the Illini with out mentioning Shannon is at present dealing with a rape cost within the state of Kansas. Our Illini neighborhood The Champaign Room has all the main points on Shannon’s case together with his subsequent courtroom date in Might. — ROD

Photograph by Christian Petersen/Getty Photographs

9. Arizona Wildcards

With round 11 minutes remaining in Saturday’s second-round recreation between Arizona and Dayton, a three-pointer from DaRon Holmes II minimize the Wildcats’ result in simply three. After breaking out to a 17-point lead within the first half, the Flyers upped the defensive strain, and the Wildcats have been in bother.

However Arizona discovered a technique to transfer on, withstanding the strain and defensive tempo to advance to the Candy Sixteen. As the sport unfolded Arizona began to match strain with strain, discovering methods to assault the Dayton press and create straightforward buckets for them. Whereas the Flyers held Arizona under their season common of 88 factors, Saturday’s win demonstrated that the Wildcats can discover other ways to win, and might face up to the strain recreation the Flyers dropped at the ground.

That resilience ought to serve them properly subsequent weekend. — MS

8. Iowa State Cyclones

On Choice Sunday, there was a severe dialogue about Iowa State sneaking a 1-seed after they walloped Houston within the Large 12 championship. As an alternative, they have been pegged as a 2-seed. In two video games they’ve made it loud and clear they in all probability deserved that 1-seed. They totally dismantled South Dakota State 82-65 within the first spherical, after which recovered from a gradual begin to take down pesky Washington State 67-56 to advance to the Candy Sixteen.

The important thing to their success: the Cyclones have compelled 28 turnovers in two video games. Their stifling protection traps aggressively, switches rapidly, and forces dangerous & panicked passes. On the offensive aspect they share the scoring load, by no means over-relying on any particular person to take over. They shoot extremely effectively, only a clip beneath 50% from three-point vary on 37 makes an attempt this event. They’re taking part in like one of many hottest groups within the nation proper now, however may face buzzsaw Illinois and defending champion UConn subsequent week.

If they will make it by means of these two although, there’s no motive they shouldn’t be title favorites. — AW

Photograph by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Photographs

7. Creighton Bluejays

The road between success and failure is impossibly skinny in March, and no staff personifies that greater than Creighton. A yr in the past, the Bluejays got here inside one controversial foul name of breaking into the Ultimate 4, a spot they’ve by no means been in program historical past. This season has had Ultimate-4-or-bust expectations from the very starting, however their yr was instantly on the brink within the remaining seconds of regulation of their spherical of 32 recreation towards No. 11 seed Oregon. Baylor Scheierman’s pull-up jumper took the Bluejays to additional time, however it took two further classes for them to return away with the win. Creighton can breathe a sigh of aid in a survive-and-advance event, however they’ll need to be so much tighter to get previous Tennessee and again into the Elite Eight.

Creighton has the items to compete towards any opponent. Ryan Kalkbrenner is an elite rim protector and lob menace, Scheierman is an enormous wing with a deep bag of scoring methods, and Trey Alexander is a 6’4 scoring guard initiating the offense. Additionally be careful for Mason Miller, the son of Mike Miller, a 6’9 sniper who’s taking pictures 45 % from three this season. Stopping Dalton Knecht must be precedence 1-2-3 towards Tennessee, and it’s definitely simpler stated than achieved. That is what Creighton has been constructing for the final two years. Now it’s time to make all of it value it. — ROD

6. Marquette Golden Eagles

A yr in the past, the Marquette Golden Eagles entered the NCAA event as a No. 2 seed however have been bounced out of the second spherical by a double-digit seed.

They made certain that didn’t occur once more in Indianapolis.

A robust second half — together with the return of Tyler Kolek from an indirect harm — helped Marquette knock out Fifteenth-seeded Western Kentucky within the opening spherical on Friday. Then on Sunday, the Golden Eagles confronted one other double-digit seed, Tenth-seeded Colorado. Early on it seemed as if Marquette was going to win going away, as they loved an 11-point lead on the break. However the Buffaloes opened the second half with a run of their very own to ultimately take a 55-54 lead with round quarter-hour left. However that’s when Kolek, the nation’s chief in assists per recreation, hit a brief jumper to present Marquette the lead again.

They by no means trailed once more.

What awaits Marquette in Dallas within the Candy Sixteen? A 3rd-straight recreation towards a double-digit seed. N.C State’s unimaginable run — beginning within the ACC Event — places them on a collision course with the Golden Eagles. But when Marquette shoots in addition to they did in Indianapolis (they shot 47.8% towards Western Kentucky and a whopping 61.8% towards Colorado) the Golden Eagles could possibly be headed to Phoenix. — MS

Photograph by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Photographs

5. Tennessee Volunteers

This Tennessee staff was presupposed to be completely different. The Vols all the time have elite defenses beneath head coach Rick Barnes, however the offense traditionally hasn’t been ok for a Ultimate 4 run. Dalton Knecht was supposed to alter all that as an All-American wing who can get buckets from all three ranges. After a dominant March Insanity opener, Tennessee’s worst nightmares performed out of their spherical of 32 matchup towards Texas: the Vols shot simply 33.8 % from the ground, and made solely 3-of-25 photographs from three-point vary. That’s sometimes a shedding method, however Tennessee’s trusty protection was sufficient to ship a Candy 16 journey.

It’s laborious to think about the offense can overcome one other inept efficiency towards a staff nearly as good as Creighton. Knecht can catch fireplace at any second, and a marquee matchup towards Baylor Scheierman ought to carry out his finest. Zakai Zeigler all the time will get after it defensively on the level of assault, however it’s straightforward to think about the Bluejays daring him to shoot after a 1-of-8 efficiency from three-point vary vs. Texas. Tennessee reached the second weekend partially as a result of it was in a position to dominate the offensive glass vs. the Longhorns, however that gained’t be really easy towards Ryan Kalkbrenner. If this Tennessee staff actually is completely different, it’s going to have to indicate it within the Candy 16. — ROD

4. Houston Cougars

Houston has quietly develop into among the finest school basketball applications within the nation beneath Kelvin Sampson, and this yr’s staff is one more instance of it. Houston entered this event as a No. 1 seed for the second straight yr. With a dramatic additional time win over Texas A&M within the spherical of 32, the Cougars are actually onto the Candy 16 for the fifth straight yr straight yr, the second-longest streak in males’s school hoops behind Gonzaga’s 9 straight journeys. Houston may have taken a step again this yr for a number of causes: a season-ending Achilles tear to Terrence Arceneaux, a transfer from the AAC to Large 12, and the lack of first two first spherical NBA draft picks from final yr amongst them. Nonetheless, Houston is rumbling into the second weekend once more with eyes on making their second Ultimate 4 within the final 4 years.

Houston has owned the No. 1 protection within the nation all season. The Cougars don’t have nice measurement within the center, however they contest each shot, drive turnovers on the No. 3 charge within the nation, and blow up a number of actions within the halfcourt on seemingly each possession. Jamal Shead is the pinnacle of the snake as a First-Crew All-American guard who initiates the offense and units the tone defensively on the level of assault. L.J. Cryer has discovered an ideal function as a secondary scorer, whereas Emanuel Sharp can even get scorching as a shot-maker. The massive males assault the offensive glass and put on you down over the course of the sport. For all Houston’s success, the expertise doesn’t really feel overwhelming right here, however the recreation plan and execution does. If Houston can survive an epic meltdown within the remaining minutes vs. Texas A&M, they need to be capable of survive something. — ROD

Photograph by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Photographs

3. North Carolina Tar Heels

North Carolina trailed No. 9 seed Michigan State by 12 factors solely 10 minutes into their spherical of 32 matchup on Saturday evening. All of the sudden, a change flipped: Armando Bacot began taking part in bully ball inside, freshman level guard Elliot Cadeau was dropping dimes everywhere in the courtroom, and the Tar Heels’ protection started producing cease after cease. UNC ran away with the win within the second half, within the course of totally cementing that final yr’s failure to make the NCAA event was nothing however a fluke. This program continues to be nearly as good as ever, and every little thing is clicking on the proper time.

North Carolina’s beginning unit matches collectively completely. R.J. Davis is an All-American with a lethal three-point shot, Cadeau is a pass-first level guard all the time trying to arrange his teammates, Bacot owns the paint on each ends, Cormac Ryan is a veteran gunner from deep, and Harrison Ingram is the kind of huge wing who can play everywhere in the courtroom that this staff lacked final season. Head coach Hubert Davis is proving he was all the time the suitable man for the job. UNC might have been the “fourth” No. 1 seed on Choice Sunday, however it appears to be like like a real powerhouse proper now because it rolls into the Candy 16. – ROD

2. Purdue Boilermakers

No staff confronted extra strain in March Insanity than Purdue, not after the Boilermakers grew to become the second No. 1 seed to ever lose to a No. 16 seed in final yr’s first spherical. Purdue confronted no such downside this yr: their blowout win within the opening spherical towards Grambling was adopted by a fair greater blowout towards Utah State to punch their ticket to the Candy 16. Purdue didn’t simply exorcize its demons within the first weekend; they offered an indelible present of drive that certifies them as arguably the largest favourite to win the entire thing.

Zach Edey is generational in each sense of the phrase. On the point of changing into the game’s first back-to-back nationwide participant of the yr since Ralph Sampson, Edey is wrecking havoc by means of the bracket together with his gentle contact, excessive motor, relentless rebounding, and constant capability to generate free throws. Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer have seemed good as far as Edey’s main co-stars, however it’s the event of the deeper supporting solid that’s actually promising. Trey Kaufman-Renn had 18 factors and eight rebounds within the win over Utah State, whereas freshman guard Myles Colvin hit three three-pointers off the bench. Purdue has one of the best participant within the subject, and the staff round him is buzzing in excellent concord. The strain will proceed to be on this group, however in some respects the scariest half is already over. — ROD

Photograph by Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Photographs by way of Getty Photographs

1. Connecticut Huskies

A males’s school basketball staff hasn’t gained back-to-back nationwide championships since Joakim Noah and Al Horford’s Florida Gators in 2006-2007, in case you wanted proof of the issue of what UConn is making an attempt to do. A yr in the past, the Huskies gained a nationwide championship as a No. 5 seed final yr by beating their opponents by a mean of greater than 20 factors per recreation. By some means, they’re off to a fair higher begin this yr. Dan Hurley’s staff was by no means examined within the first two rounds, utilizing a whirling offensive system and smothering paint safety to waltz into the second weekend. This felt like one of the best staff in school basketball coming into the event, and nothing they’ve achieved up to now ought to dissuade that perception.

Donovan Clingan is a novel drive at this stage. At 7’2, 280 kilos with a 7’6 wingspan, Clingan is an immovable object with not possible size to dominate on the rim at each ends. He completed two blocks wanting a triple-double because the Huskies blasted Northwestern within the spherical of 32. The UConn guards are wonderful at discovering him for lobs after they’re not attacking downhill themselves or slinging passes to the corners for three-pointers. Tristen Newton continues to play like an All-American on this event. Stephon Fort, who is likely to be this staff’s finest NBA prospect, is blossoming right into a highly-versatile defender and strength-based creator for the halfcourt offense. UConn has shooters virtually in every single place else, and after they get scorching a blowout is normally within the playing cards. It’s superb UConn seemed so good towards a stable Northwestern staff regardless of taking pictures 3-of-22 from three. The Huskies have greater exams coming, however their finest recreation nonetheless feels higher than anybody else within the nation’s. — ROD