March is here, and along with the often rainy month comes horrid allergies, the beginning of spring, and, of course, March Madness.
March Madness is where the best of the best, the cream of the crop, in men’s college basketball compete for a shot at the NCAA National Championship, a three-week tournament like no other. This year, 68 teams are competing for one shot at eternal glory.
But out of those 68, I see only seven teams making some real noise and making a run through the bracket as games tip off this week.
First up, a school you either love or hate after last Friday is UC San Diego (UCSD).
On Jan. 19, the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Los Angeles Rams as Saquon Barkley rushed for 205 yards. Coincidentally, this is the last time the UCSD Tritons lost a basketball game.
Winning the Big West Tournament after going 30-4 and winning their last 15 games, these boys have a chip on their shoulder and are ready to go dancing led by guard/forward Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones.
I see their ceiling as a great Cinderella story that gets them to the Elite Eight.
The next teams on this list are more obvious to the average basketball fan: Auburn Tigers and Alabama Crimson Tide.
Two behemoth powerhouse programs are brewing in the state of Alabama, and it sure isn’t in the football world.
Auburn forward Johnni Broome is arguably the best player in college basketball right now, only rivaled by Duke’s Cooper Flagg. On the other side of the state, the boys in Tuscaloosa are nothing to laugh off.
Starting guard Mark Sears plays at one of the fastest paces in all of college basketball right now. The only thing stopping him and the rest of the team has to be their shaky defense.
I see the ceilings for both of these teams as the Final Four.
Up next, the Florida Gators have killed the competition behind the play of center Alex Condon. The only problem with Condon is his ability to stay healthy.
With names like Zion Williamson, Grant Hill, Jayson Tatum, and now Flagg, Duke has always been a basketball powerhouse. And much like Florida, Duke’s main issue going into the tournament will be keeping their star healthy.
If Flagg stays healthy and plays the way he has all season, I believe Blue Devils will win the whole thing.
Michigan State is another contender that can’t be brushed off. With a record of 27- 6, this team has been out for blood from the beginning of the season. Golden State Warriors legend Jason Richardson’s son, Jase, is the Spartans’ lifeline, averaging nearly 17 points per game.
With an impressive coaching staff and a lot of rising stars, I think Michigan State could go as far as the Elite Eight.
Last but not least is the St. John’s Red Storm, and this is my team I expect to sweep away the competition and take home the title.
Coached by future Hall of Famer and college basketball icon Rick Pitino, the Red Storm won their first Big East championship since 1992, with a regular season record of 30-4.
Led on the court by an absolute stud in RJ Lewis Jr., who averages 18 points per game, this team is the one to make history this year and cement its place amongst the greats.