[Regional Breakdowns: East | South | Midwest | West]
With the sphere for the 2024 males’s NCAA event now official, we’re breaking down every group within the bracket within the lead-up to March Insanity. Right here’s what that you must know in regards to the East area.
1. UConn (+400 to win nationwide title)
The defending nationwide champions have been even higher in the course of the 2023-24 common season than they have been a season in the past. UConn was a No. 4 seed on the way in which to the nationwide title final 12 months. This 12 months, the Huskies are the No. 1 total seed.
UConn shoots practically 50% from the sphere and holds opponents to fewer than 65 factors per recreation. 5 completely different gamers common over 10 factors per recreation as Tristen Newton has developed into probably the greatest all-around gamers in school basketball. Newton leads the Huskies with 15 factors per recreation, is second on the group with seven rebounds a recreation and averages a team-leading six assists per contest.
UConn is the favourite to win a second straight nationwide title and is trying to be the primary group since Florida in 2006 and 2007 to win back-to-back titles.
2. Iowa State (+1800)
The Cyclones completely dominated Houston on Saturday to win the Large 12 title and make it clear they’re nationwide title contenders. Iowa State would have in all probability most popular to keep away from being in UConn’s area, nevertheless.
Iowa State is without doubt one of the greatest defensive groups within the nation. The Cyclones quit 61 factors per recreation as opponents shoot simply 40% from the sphere and switch the ball over 17.5 instances per recreation. Solely UTEP averages extra steals per recreation than the Cyclones.
Keshon Gilbert leads the group with 13.8 factors per recreation because the Cyclones have used the identical beginning lineup in 31 of 34 video games to this point this season.
3. Illinois (+3000)
The Large Ten event champions can put up factors in bunches. Terrence Shannon Jr. had 34 factors within the Large Ten title recreation win over Wisconsin after he had 40 in opposition to Nebraska the evening earlier than.
Shannon is the third-leading scorer within the nation and missed video games earlier this season due to a college suspension. Illinois suspended Shannon in December after he was arrested by Lawrence, Kansas, police and charged with rape after an alleged sexual assault in September. He rejoined the group in January after a choose granted a brief restraining order in opposition to the varsity’s suspension.
Illinois wouldn’t be a No. 3 seed with out Shannon’s on-court contributions. If Shannon retains scoring like he did within the Large Ten event — he averaged 34 factors per recreation over three video games — the Illini could make a Last 4 run.
4. Auburn (+1800)
The Tigers beat Florida to win the SEC event on Sunday and enter the NCAA event on a six-game win streak. Oddsmakers clearly assume the Tigers are underseeded on this area; Auburn has higher nationwide title odds than all however six of the event’s 68 groups. That has lots to do with the Tigers’ KenPom rating. The superior analytics web site has Auburn at No. 4 within the nation behind Houston, UConn and Purdue.
Auburn is led by star ahead Johni Broome as he averages over 16 factors and eight rebounds per recreation. The Tigers make practically 55% of their 2-point photographs are seventh within the nation with 18 assists a recreation.
5. San Diego State (+8000)
Can the Aztecs make one other run to the nationwide title recreation? A 12 months after shedding to UConn within the nationwide championship, we may get a rematch within the Candy 16.
As soon as once more, San Diego State is without doubt one of the greatest defensive groups within the nation beneath coach Brian Dutcher. Opponents hardly shoot above 30% from behind the 3-point line, although the Aztecs aren’t a lot better themselves. SDSU shoots simply 31% from deep as a group and averages over 22 makes an attempt per recreation. Ahead Jaedon Ledee was a key reserve for the Aztecs a season in the past and has exploded right into a go-to scorer this season. After averaging eight factors a recreation final season, Ledee is placing up 21 factors per recreation in 2023-24.
6. BYU (+6600)
The Cougars greater than held their very own of their first season within the Large 12. BYU completed fifth within the convention — and beat Kansas within the standings through tiebreakers — earlier than shedding to Texas Tech within the second spherical of the convention event.
BYU averages 82 factors per recreation and is probably the most frequent 3-point capturing group within the nation. The Cougars’ 1,063 makes an attempt from behind the arc are probably the most of any group. BYU hits 35% of these photographs — simply above common — and 7 gamers common at the very least 9 factors per recreation.
7. Washington State (+15000)
The Cougars fell brief of their quest to win the ultimate Pac-12 event title however simply made the event as an at-large because of a 14-6 common season file in convention play.
Each senior F Isaac Jones and freshman G Myles Rice common 15 factors per recreation and Jones leads the group in rebounding. Washington State is a worldwide group; the Cougars get contributions from gamers from North Macedonia (Andrej Jakimovski), Australia (Oscar Cliff), Nigeria (Rueben Chinvelu) and France (Kymany Houinsou).
8. Florida Atlantic (+10000)
Final season’s shock Last 4 individuals are once more poised to play spoiler after they opened the season within the High 25. This 12 months didn’t reside as much as these expectations; FAU performed a lofty non-conference schedule and went 14-4 in its first 12 months within the AAC. However the Owls have the components to make a deep event run as soon as once more.
Johnell Davis leads the group with 18 factors per recreation and Vladislav Golden averages practically 16 factors and seven rebounds a recreation. They each performed huge roles in final 12 months’s event together with Alijah Martin (13 factors per recreation).
9. Northwestern (+20000)
The Wildcats ended the season shedding three of their final 4 video games, although two of these defeats have been to groups that made the event in Michigan State and Wisconsin.
Because it has for years beneath Chris Collins, Northwestern performs at a glacial tempo. It ranks 342nd in KenPom’s adjusted tempo rankings. The group’s offensive energy is its 3-point capturing. Northwestern is fifth within the nation at over 39% from behind the arc. Main scorer Boo Buie averages 19 factors per recreation on 44% capturing from behind the road.
10. Drake (+25000)
The Bulldogs ended Indiana State’s NCAA event hopes with a win within the Missouri Valley title recreation per week in the past. Drake went 16-4 in convention play and beat the Sycamores twice of their three conferences.
Drake is led by Tucker DeVries; he averages over 21 factors per recreation on 16 photographs a contest. The Bulldogs are additionally distinctive at taking good care of the ball. Drake averages fewer than 10 turnovers per recreation and is without doubt one of the higher free-throw capturing groups at 76%.
11. Duquesne (+50000)
The Dukes are again within the NCAA event for the primary time since 1977 after beating VCU to win the Atlantic-10 event title on Sunday. Duquesne was a member of the Jap Collegiate Basketball League the final time it made the event. That league not exists.
This season’s group is coached by Keith Dembrot, LeBron James’ highschool basketball coach. The Dukes are led by senior guards Dae Dae Grant (17 factors per recreation) and Jimmy Clark (15 PPG).
12. UAB (+50000)
The Blazers received their second NCAA event berth up to now three seasons by beating Temple for the AAC title on Sunday. UAB is trying to win its first NCAA event recreation since 2015 when it upset Iowa State as a No. 14 seed earlier than shedding to UCLA.
UAB is without doubt one of the greatest offensive rebounding groups within the nation as Yaxel Lendeborg averages 13.8 factors and 10.5 rebounds a recreation. He additionally shoots 52% from the sphere.
13. Yale (+50000)
Matt Knowling hit a buzzer-beater on Sunday for a 62-61 victory over Brown and the Bulldogs’ second NCAA event berth in three seasons. Knowling is one in all 5 gamers who common at the very least 10 factors per recreation.
Yale is led by sophomore ahead Danny Wolf, who averages 14.5 factors and practically 10 rebounds a recreation.
14. Morehead State (+100000)
Morehead State beat Little Rock for the OVC title and has gained six straight video games since a three-game shedding streak in February. The Eagles misplaced to Indiana by only one level in December and gained 12 of 13 video games between that loss to the Hoosiers and their three-game shedding streak.
Riley Minix leads the group with 20.8 factors and 9.8 rebounds a recreation, whereas Drew Thelwell averages over six assists a recreation. Simply seven groups quit fewer than the 62.8 factors per recreation Morehead State permits.
15. South Dakota State (+200000)
The Jackrabbits beat Denver to win the Summit League title on March 12. South Dakota State was 9-9 after shedding to Denver on Jan. 13. Since then, the Jackrabbits have gone 13-3 and are on an eight-game win streak.
Zeke Mayo leads the group with 18.8 factors per recreation and shoots 47% from the sphere whereas averaging practically seven 3-point makes an attempt per recreation.
16. Stetson (+200000)
It’s the primary NCAA event look ever for the Hatters since they began taking part in basketball on the prime degree of Division I in 1972. The 2023-24 season additionally marks the second 20-win marketing campaign in program historical past; the primary got here again in 1974-75.
Jalen Blackmon averages 21.5 factors per recreation and shoots 39% from the 3-point line. As a group, the Hatters make 37% of their 3-point makes an attempt and rank twenty seventh within the nation.