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March Madness is right around the corner, signaling the start of the best time of the year for NCAA basketball. While conference tournaments are still to be decided, each team is making its final case for why they deserve to be in the field of 68.
Here are a few top dogs to watch who are the biggest threats to cut down the nets after the NCAA Tournament.
Three teams that could go all the way
#1, Alabama
The ceiling of second-ranked Alabama (25-4) is higher than any other team in the country. Simply put, no team can beat them when the Crimson Tide are playing their best.
The Crimson Tide play with great pace and hold a level of athleticism that is difficult to match. However, they have not proven to be capable of doing this on an every night basis.
Led by freshman phenom Brandon Miller, the Crimson Tide have the inside track on securing a top seed in the tournament, ranking second in the Net and third in KenPom rankings overall. Miller has looked every bit of the best player in the country this season, and no moment has been too big for him so far. Don't expect this to change in the tournament.
#2, Houston
It's no surprise to see the top-ranked Cougars (27-2) on this list, as Houston closes the season as the top team in the country by Net and KenPom rankings. They are 12-1 in Quad 1 and 2 matchups and are the only team in the country that ranks in the top 10 in both offensive and defensive efficiency.
With veteran Marcus Sasser leading the way and projected one-and-done Jarace Walker looking every bit the future NBA standout he was labeled coming into the year, look for Houston to clear the Elite Eight hurdle that tripped them up last year.
#3, UCLA
As one of the more experienced teams in the tournament, fourth-ranked UCLA (25-4) cannot be fully counted out.
The Bruins play an impressive level of defense and are driven by the strong guard play of Tyger Campbell, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Jaylen Clark. The emergence of freshman duo Amari Bailey and Adem Bona has provided the team with a new element, and the Bruins are the type of hard-nosed squad that appears ready for the biggest stage.
Strong guard play, an All-American wing and high-level defense are a recipe for success in March. Expect Mick Cronin's squad to be well-prepared and for no one on the roster to be rattled by the big stage.
Three teams capable of producing an upset
It is difficult to fully project upsets without the bracket or matchups being established, but there is quite a bit of talent beyond the top teams this year. It feels as if every week, there has been a shocking upset from an under-the-radar team, and this should not be expected to change in the tournament.
Here are three teams to watch that could exceed expectations and possibly make a run during March Madness despite being outside the top seeds.
#1, Duke
While Duke basketball has been a staple of basketball royalty throughout the past 40 years, it is an age of change in Durham, North Carolina. Jon Scheyer has taken the reigns and has led the team to a 21-8 record in his first season.
After having the best recruiting class coming into the season, expectations were still high for Duke. While the Blue Devils have stumbled out of the gate and look destined for a mid-level tournament seeding, Duke has played its best basketball recently.
Freshman standouts Dariq Whitehead, Derek Lively II and Kyle Filipowski are each finding their stride, so don't be surprised if the Blue Devils put it together and make some noise in the tournament.
#2, Arkansas
Arkansas has also underperformed expectations after coming into the season with the second-ranked recruiting class. They have a "prove-it" week to close the season against 234d-ranked Kentucky (20-9) and 12th-ranked Tennessee (21-8), which could slide them up the bracket, but they look set for a mid-level seed for now.
Their 19-10 record has been uninspiring, and they are coming off a heartbreaking 86-83 loss to Alabama, which would have been a huge notch on their resume. Even still, they have the talent, and Eric Musselman has experience coaching in the tournament. Don't count them out from catching fire at the right time and showing this on the big stage.
#3, Creighton
It should not be forgotten that Creighton (18-10) came into the season ranked as a top 10 team. While a six-game losing skid to start the year tempered expectations quickly, this team checks many boxes for what to look for in a team capable of making a deep run.
Star center Ryan Kalkbrenner was notably off the court for three games during this poor stretch, and they are a different team with him on the floor. The Bluejays are far from a one-man show, as all five starters averaged 11.8 points per game or more. With some notable experience and various ways to win, look for Creighton to open some eyes and overplay their seeding.
