FAVORITES
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) March Madness tournament starts on March 13, and everyone is excited to see his or her favorite team play. There are many talented basketball players in this tournament ready to cause upsets and win the title. There is no doubt that this tournament can go in many different directions, and even the first round has very exciting games. Everyone has their title favorites, and mine are Duke, Virginia and Michigan State. Here’s why:
Duke (26-7)
This team has the arsenal to easily win the whole tournament. Freshman forwards Marvin Bagley III and Wendell Carter have each had a phenomenal season by averaging a double-double and slightly under a double-double, respectively. In addition, senior guard Grayson Allen and freshmen guards Gary Trent Jr. and Trevon Duval have been having a great season, averaging double-digit points and earning looks from National Basketball Association (NBA) scouts. If all five of these players are playing even decently in their games this tournament, it will not even be fair to the other teams.
Virginia (31-2)
Virginia clinched the first spot overall seed in the tournament and is one of the most favored to win the tournament. Kyle Guy leads the team in scoring, and senior forward Isaiah Wilkins’ relentless style is a game changer. This team is my favorite because they play as a team. As a matter of fact, they are known to have the most efficient defense in the nation, allowing about 52 points per game. This team is very exciting to see and reminds me of the slogan that suggests “defense leads to offense.”
Michigan State (29-4)
Michigan State is definitely one of my favorites because of their efficient offence and great three-point shooters. In fact, Michigan State shoots an unbelievable 41.3 percent from downtown. If you want to see some threes, you definitely want to keep up with them during the tournament. With a player like sophomore forward Miles Bridges averaging a stunning 17 points and seven rebounds per game, it is going to be tough to shut down this team.
UPSETS
However, even with many great teams leading the regular season, other teams have the potential to cause major upsets. I was able to narrow down my March Madness upset favorites to Murray State and New Mexico State. Here’s why:
Murray State (26-5)
The reason why Murray State can cause an upset in the March Madness tournament is that they have phenomenal shooters on their team. Seniors Terrell Miller Jr. and Jonathan Stark and junior Byron Hawkins have a great stats for their shot percentage. If they are feeling their shots, this team will be handing out L’s left and right.
New Mexico State (25-5)
New Mexico State definitely has the offensive front to be one of the top teams in the conference with senior guard Zach Lofton leading the team with almost 20 points per game. They are definitely an offensive threat; however, they are nothing like Virginia in their defense. The Aggies’ downfall is their defense. If they are able to clean up on defense with smarter formations or personal motive, they could steal the spotlight.