Let the madness begin!
It’s that special time of year again for fans of college basketball, it’s March Madness!
It felt good to sit back and watch the Selection Sunday show. The tournament tips off this Thursday with the First Four, while the first round begins Friday.
With the field of 68 teams set, it’s time to look at your brackets and smile at them — until they’re ready to implode.
As for the local schools, there’s plenty to keep an eye on.
Iona will face Alabama as a No. 15 seed. The Gaels won the MAAC Tournament to qualify with an automatic bid into the field. For head coach Rick Pitino, Iona is the fifth school he’s led to the NCAA Tournament.
Syracuse closed out their regular season with impressive conference wins over Clemson and North Carolina. The Orange took its momentum into the ACC Tournament and added another win for their resume. They took top-seeded Virginia to the wire before falling short on a buzzer-beater in overtime. It was enough for the selection committee to move them away from the First Four many experts were predicting. Syracuse, the No. 11 seed, will face No. 6 San Diego State in the Midwest bracket.
Rutgers is going dancing for the first time since 1991. The Scarlet Knights are in the Midwest region, as a 10-seed, and will face Clemson. Connecticut returned to the Big East conference this season and earned a No. 7 seed from the committee. Dan Hurley’s team will face Maryland in the East region.
And let’s not forget about Hartford. Someone’s going to have to try and wear Cinderella’s footwear and the Bears have their work cut out for them. Hartford, as a No. 16 seed, will play No. 1 seed Baylor in the South region. Hey, stranger things have happened, especially when it’s time for March Madness.
St. John’s and Seton Hall are not in the field of 68, however, both teams were extended invites to play in the NIT — and declined. The Red Storm and Pirates will begin preparing for next season.
No. 1 Seeds and Intriguing Subplots
Gonzaga, at 26-0, is chasing history as they head into the tournament as the No. 1 overall seed out of the West region. The Bulldogs will try to become the first team since Indiana in 1976 to complete an undefeated season.
The Big Ten conference, home to Rutgers, is so deep in the field, two schools were able to secure No. 1 seeds. Juwan Howard’s Michigan Wolverines are No. 1 in the East and the conference tournament winners, Illinois, in the Midwest.
In the Big Ten Tournament, Illinois showed how dangerous they are with a deep rotation. They’re one of a handful of subplots I’m suggesting to keep an eye on.
In the past 40 years, there have been 50 12-over-5 upsets, and at the same time there have only been 52 11-over-6 wins and 55 10-over-7 results. The 12 versus 5 matchup in the seedings are watched closely every year.
This year is no different as No.12 Winthrop faces No. 5 Villanova in the South region. The Wildcats are playing without their star senior point guard Collin Gillespie due to a torn ACL. Losing Gillespie was a major blow for Villanova. If you’re going to pick a 12 over 5 in your brackets this year, this is the game to take a long look at.
Georgetown is on everyone’s favorites list now after their run through the Big East Tournament. Patrick Ewing let the nation know who’s house it was with his Hoya’s winning the conference tournament at Madison Square Garden. This is one of those deals where riding with the hot team is the way to go. Georgetown is playing with so much confidence with now, Ewing deserves all the love he’s getting from the national media. And also, with their opening-round matchup with No. 5 seed team in the East region, Colorado , it’s another 12 versus 5 with bracket-buster stamped all over it.
Get your popcorn ready …
Last year’s tournament was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. This season, the impact of the pandemic was felt throughout college basketball and it has altered the dynamic of this year’s tournament.
All of the games will be played in or around Indianapolis, Indiana. Teams will follow quarantine-like protocols throughout the tournament. The championship game, scheduled for April 5, is at Lucas Oil Stadium.
It’s time to watch how the brackets play out.
Image: Rick Pitino – Matt Slocum/Associated Press
