With the end of college football behind us and the NFL season nearing its close with the Super Bowl looming, the sports world will slowly shift its focus to NCAA men’s college basketball. This season has been one of the wildest, with teams constantly shifting in the Top 25 Rankings and Power 5 conferences being as competitive as ever. It will be difficult to make your college basketball picks today and this March, as fans should be gearing up for one of the most exciting tournaments ever.
Constant Change Amongst Projected One Seeds
It has been a very tough season for guys like Joe Lunardi and Jerry Palm to predict their brackets and all of the teams that will be in the 20223 NCAA Tournament. Lunardi currently has Purdue, Houston, Alabama, and Tennessee as his one seeds, though that can change nightly.
Kansas has fallen out of this group after suffering two losses in the last week. It will be fun to watch down the stretch and see what teams will end up with one seeds.
Surprising Play in the ACC
A surprising team currently sits atop the ACC rankings: Clemson. The Clemson Tigers were picked to finish 11th in the conference but are now in first place with a 9-1 record in the ACC. Regular top teams like Duke, North Carolina, and Syracuse have all struggled this season. They will need to turn it around quickly if they want to make a deep run in this season’s tournament.
Purdue Leads the Way in the Big 10
Purdue has by far been the best team not only in the Big 10 but all of conference basketball this season. They have a 19-1 overall record and are 8-1 in conference play. Purdue is the clear favorite to win the Big 10 and have a one-seed in the NCAA Tournament, but there are a few teams that they need to look out for in the Big 10. Teams like Rutgers, Michigan, and Illinois all still have their sights set on a Big 10 title.
Dominance in the SEC
Alabama has been one of the biggest surprises in the country this season. Everybody knew they had a good team, but very few predicted they would be as good as they are this season. They are 7-0 in conference play and are leading the way in the SEC.
They are barely ahead of teams like Auburn and Tennessee, both of whom are right on their tail with 6-1 records in the SEC. It will be fun to watch how the SEC unfolds heading into the last month of the regular season.
Mid-Major Buzz
Mid-majors always have to be considered when it comes to the NCAA Tournament, as there are usually one or two teams from non-power 5 conferences that make a deep run in the tourney. Teams like St. Mary’s and Boise State are two teams to keep on the radar.
They have experience against the best teams in the country and are regular attendees to the dance each year. Don’t count out teams like FAU and Kent State, either. Each of these two teams will be looking to make it as far as the Sweet 16 and beyond.
Final Four in Houston
This year’s tournament will wrap up in Houston, which is a great place to host a Final Four. It may even feature a hometown team if the Houston Cougars are to make a run in this year’s tournament. All college basketball fans can have an amazing time at this year’s Final Four and fan experience in Houston, Texas.
The stage will be set to crown a champion in college basketball, and that crown could be worn by probably a couple of dozen different teams. This year’s college basketball landscape will have our brackets up in flames after the first couple of days of this year’s March Madness tournament is over.
