Benny Scheinmann
Sports Editor
March is the time when the flowers are beginning to bloom, spring break is right around the corner, and 64 of the best college basketball teams battle it out to crown a March Madness champion. With the tournament right around the corner, here are the tips and teams to pick that will help you win your bracket.
Top seed: UConn Huskies
It’s not often that the raining champions are the best team for two consecutive seasons, however, that is exactly the case with the UConn Huskies. With most of their major contributors returning from last year, UConn has cemented themselves as the best team in college basketball. Through an undefeated season this year at home, UConn has proven to be the team to beat in the tournament.
Sleepers: Northwestern Wildcats
Northwestern may not have the star studded lineup that Purdue has but Northwestern has the tools to be the best team coming out of the Big Ten. With their superb shooting ability, the Wildcats have the ability to run up the score which comes in handy in March.
Utah Utes
Although in a bad Pac-12 conference, the Utes have a solid all-around team this year on both sides of the floor. Let by redshirt senior and seven-footer Branden Carlson, the Utes can protect the rim, unlike many other teams.
Potential Cinderella teams: Grand Canyon Antelopes
Grand Canyon's fast-paced, firepower offense is what I think makes them a potential Cinderella team in this year’s tournament. Led by two seniors, Tyon Grant-Foster and Gabe Mcglothan who can score in bunches. Grand Canyon has a real shot to make a deep run in March.
McNeese State Cowboys
McNeese State is not on this list for their elite offense but for their lockdown defense. Allowing the least points in the southland conference McNeese States tempo is what is best about them. They play efficient basketball and shoot the three-ball consistently. All of these factors make them a team that a powerhouse offense fears in March and a potential Cinderella team.
My Pick: Creighton Bluejays
Led by South Dakota State transfer Baylor Scheirman, the Creighton Bluejays' streaky nature and ability to stay in games is what makes them my favorite team in this year's tournament. Although I am writing this before the Big East tournament, their win against UConn shows that they could be the best team in the Big East.
This year's tournament should make for an exciting conclusion to college basketball with many fun to watch teams. Unfortunately, no matter how much research I do I tend to always lose to people who have never watched a game the entire season: so maybe it's best to forget everything I’ve said and just pick randomly.