The first-round showdown with Oral Roberts should not be overlooked, and an Elite Eight matchup with Marquette would test Duke's defense significantly. One more victory, and Duke returns to the Final Four. Memphis needs to create transition moments to avoid bogging down in half-court sets, but a senior-loaded rotation could overwhelm the freshmen in Purdue's backcourt.Ĭould the Blue Devils land a more favorable hypothetical path? First, avoid Tennessee. Whichever team controls the pace of this matchup gains a serious edge. In a classic contrast of styles, Purdue ranks 322nd in KenPom's adjusted tempo compared to Memphis at No. But if Louisiana's 23rd-ranked perimeter group is hitting shots from beyond the arc, the Vols are in trouble.īiggest second-round upset: No. Only one of Tennessee's six players averaging five-plus points has a field-goal percentage higher than 41.8-a stunningly low number. Tennessee is a thorn because of its outstanding defense, but the Vols' offense can be frustratingly mediocre. Kyle Filipowski David Jensen/Icon Sportswire via Getty Imagesīiggest first-round upset: No. Any school that can rebound with Alabama will be a tough matchup for the top-seeded Tide, and Arizona's backcourt has a deep group of perimeter options led by Courtney Ramey and Kerr Kriisa. However, their draw is considerably move favorable in 2023 even after dipping to a No. Last season, I believed in the Wildcats.and they proceeded to lose in the Sweet 16. The nation's worst rim-protecting defense, per, might have no answer for 7-foot Creighton star Ryan Kalkbrenner. Given how poorly Baylor finished the season, a second-round departure wouldn't be shocking. While it's tempting to pick an Alabama loss, both Maryland and West Virginia have struggled against their best competition. Virginia finds itself in legitimate danger for another early NCAA tourney exit.īiggest second-round upset: No. All nine members of Furman's rotation shoot at least 1.5 threes per game, and the Paladins-who lead the country in two-point percentage-rank 40th in turnover rate thanks to four players averaging two-plus assists. 4 Virginiaīreaking down Virginia's defense is a five-man effort complete with off-ball spacing and safe passes.
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