25 Jan 2025; Winston Salem, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils Guard Cooper Flagg (2) takes up the ball against the court against Wake Forest Demon Deacons during the second half at Lawrence Joel Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn images With the College Football Playoff behind us and the NFL the settlement, more attention is begun to pay attention to college -hoops.
We are less than 50 days from the selection on Sunday, which means we can start weeds out the challengers from The Pretenders. Who will do Final Four, and who is intended to be picked by earlier in the NCAA tournament?
Although it is largely up to how the console develops and what teams are given the most optimal roads, here I see it at the end of January. Let’s try to put the madness in March Madness and not just choose the best four teams on paper.
Not under consideration
25 Jan 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Connecticut Huskies forward Alex Karaban (11) drives to the basket against Xavier Musketer’s protection Dante Maddox Jr. (21) During the second half at the Cintas Center. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images Uconn: Unfortunately, this team is not worth three peat. The Huskies has played almost exclusively close games in conference measures, and their defense is missing in particular.
St. John’s: Rick Pitino comes back in the NCAA tournament and St. John’s looks really strong in the light of a weak Big East. A dark horse, but not the last four-caliber yet.
Kentucky: Mark Pope’s Wildcat Revival has been a fantastic story. You just can’t win every tournament game 100-90.
Just missed the incision
25 Jan 2025; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; Kansas Jayhawks forward Flory Bidunga (40) celebrates with Center Hunter Dickinson (1) after scoring the Houston Cougars during the first half at Allen Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images Iowa: Experienced, well rounded and very effective at both ends of the floor. Don’t be surprised if this is the year the cyclones are breaking through, but they have not won a second week of tournament in Fred Hoiberg/Tj Otzelberger era.
Kansas: Big defensive, better offensive than last year when things fell apart at the Jayhawks. But they are too one -dimensional with the ball and never come to the foul line.
Tennessee, Alabama and Florida: Clumps these three together because one of them can end up in the SEC, and any of them can hit a wall when they meet the top-15 team after the top-15 team in this brutal regular season schedule. Florida is better defensive than the tide and better at crime than Vols, for what it is worth.
Mississippi: One more from Sec, and a more dark horse I like a lot. The bulldogs have experience, balance and the ability to win away from home.
Markett: Speaking of experience, it is not only a master class in Roster -Karansänning, but Shaka Smart has taken a lower seed to Final Four before. Golden Eagles turnover -heavy defense will make everyone crazy.
Illinois: Illini’s experiment with importing Kasparas Jakucionis and Tomislav Ivisic to carry the team seemed to work before they recently lost three out of four matches, which enabled 82, 80 and 91 in these defeat.
Purdu: No Zach Edey, no problem? Unlike previous iterations of Purdue, this is run by guard games, and Braden Smith is one of the best in the country.
The last four
22 Jan 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Utah Utrah forward Keanu Dawes (8) tries to shoot when Houston Cougars forward J’wan Roberts (13) and guard Lj Cryer (4) defends during the second half at Fertitta Center. Cougars defeated excluding 70-36. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Immagn images Duke: For all times we have written about the ACC’s obvious passing, the conference has received a team for the last four years in a row, including no. 8, 5 and 11 seeds. You don’t have to think about this year’s participants. Duke is more than Cooper Flag: It is one of the best defenses in the country and very effectively from the 3-point arch, Foul Line and nearby. My early national title choice.
Houston: Kelvin Sampson got cougars for the Final Four 2021, and the last three campaigns have worked as disappointments in relation to his team’s strength. For those who did not capture the crazy way that Cougars beat Kansas in double overtime on Saturday, this year’s group has the mental strength to handle all situations.
Maroon: Tiger’s only loss of the season was with six points to Duke, on Duke. They have won the blows and drawn out near games, high points and defensive fights as Saturday’s slug party against Tennessee. They have won when their best player, Johni Broome, was on the side of injury. They just win. I see almost no weaknesses holding them back in March.
Michigan State: Assuming that the other three teams are No. 1 seeds, here I will avoid further chalk. There are speculation that this may be 69-year-old Tom Izzo’s last stand, and loves him or hates him, the man trains from his mind in the tournament. I love Spartan’s statistical profile, depth, experience and 4-0 records in real road games. They will end up a number 3 or 4 seeds in the tour and go on a final ride with Izzo when they seek their second national championship.
Championship game: Duke 84, Houston 72
