TEMPE, ARIZONA – JANUARY 20: The NCAA men’s basketball championship trophy is displayed before the game between the Arizona State Sun Devils and the USC Trojans at Desert Financial Arena on January 20, 2024 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
1. Florida
CHARLESTON, SC – NOVEMBER 22: The Florida Gators logo on a pair of shorts during a second round Charleston Classic basketball game against the Miami (Fl) Hurricanes at the TD Arena on November 22, 2019 in Charleston, South Carolina. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
A roster with plenty of great guards, solid size, and depth is riding into the NCAA Tournament with all of the momentum after winning the SEC Tournament.
2. Texas Tech
BATON ROUGE, LA – NOVEMBER 18: Detailed view of the Texas Tech logo seen on a players uniform during a game against the LSU Tigers at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on November 18, 2014 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. LSU won the game in overtime 69-64. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
JT Toppin has the chance to carry this squad all the way to the national championship.
3. Maryland
COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND – MARCH 03: A view of the Maryland Terrapins logo on their uniform during the game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Xfinity Center on March 03, 2024 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
How much different would we look at this Maryland team if they hadn’t had 4 buzzer beaters hit against them?
4. St. Johns
NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 7: The St. John’s Red Storm uniform logo at Carnesecca Arena on November 7, 2022 in the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Porter Binks/Getty Images)
Rick Pitino has built a squad of DAWGS but they’re going to have to generate some offense if they want to have a long run.
5. Missouri
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 29: A view of the Missouri Tigers logo prior to a game against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the Goodyear Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium on December 29, 2023 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)
Need to have a healthy Mark Mitchell if they want to make it out of the first weekend.
6. Kansas
MORGANTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA – JANUARY 20: A view of the Kansas Jayhawks logo on their uniform during the game against the West Virginia Mountaineers at WVU Coliseum on January 20, 2024 in Morgantown, West Virginia. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
This is (finally) Hunter Dickinson’s last ride.
7. Drake
LYNCHBURG, VA – NOVEMBER 17: The Drake Bulldogs logo on a pair of shorts during the quarterfinals of the Paradise Jam college basketball tournament against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at The Vines Center on November 17, 2017 in Lynchburg, Virginia. The Bulldogs won 77-74. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
DJ Khaled wrote a song about this team. All they do is win.
8. UConn
WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 10: A view of the Connecticut Huskies logo on their uniform during the game against the Georgetown Hoyas at Capital One Arena on February 10, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
I’m not betting against Danny Hurley in a first round game in March.
9. Arkansas
LAHAINA, HI – NOVEMBER 22: The Arkansas Razorbacks logo on a par of shorts during a second round game of the Maui Jim Invitational college basketball Tournament against the Creighton Bluejays at Lahaina Civic Arena on November 22, 2022 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
Potentially having Boogie Fland back in the rotation could provide a major boost
10. Memphis
LAHAINA, HI – NOVEMBER 25: The Memphis Tigers logo shown on a pic of shorts during a Maui Invitational college basketball game against the Connecticut Huskies at The Lahaina Civic Center on November 25, 2024 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
Potentially having Tyrese Hunter out with injury could be a major problem.
11. Colorado State
one of the hottest teams in the nation entering the NCAA Tournament.
12. Oklahoma
NORMAN, OK – DECEMBER 05: The Oklahoma Sooners logo on the basket before a college basketball game against the Providence Friars at Lloyd Noble Center on December 5, 2023 in Norman, Oklahoma. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
I have a hard time backing a team that is this bad at rebounding.
13. Grand Canyon
Returned their two best players from last year’s team that beat St Marys in the round of 64 in Tyon Grant-Foster and JaKobe Coles
14. UNC Wilmington
Takayo Siddle is a name to remember for potential mid and high-major coaching openings.
15. Omaha
Generic view of a Spalding NBA basketball dropping into the hoop during the FIBA European Basketball Championship on 25 June 1989 at the Dom Sportova in Zagreb, Yugoslavia. (Photo by Gray Mortimore/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
Peyton Manning’s favorite school is very one-sided as a top-100 offense and sub-250 defense.
