COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND - DECEMBER 04: A view of the NCAA logo on a basketball before the game between the Maryland Terrapins and the Ohio State Buckeyes at Xfinity Center on December 04, 2024 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND – DECEMBER 04: A view of the NCAA logo on a basketball before the game between the Maryland Terrapins and the Ohio State Buckeyes at Xfinity Center on December 04, 2024 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
This list is based NOT on how the teams will finish the tournament but on who has the best chance to advance to the Sweet 16.
32. 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 ***
JT Toppin is going to be too much to handle
31. St. Mary’s
Always a tough matchup but Alabama’s pace is brutal
30. Baylor
MORGANTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA – JANUARY 18: The Baylor Bears logo on pair of shorts before a college basketball game against the West Virginia Mountaineers at the WVU Coliseum on January 18, 2022 in Morgantown, West Virginia. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
Ormier and Edgecombe are studs, but Duke is still Duke
29. 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)
Danny Hurley exits sooner than he hoped
28. Colorado State
Maryland is just too big on the boards
27. BYU
LA JOLLA, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 29: Egor Demin #3 of the Brigham Young Cougars dribbles the ball during the second half against the North Carolina State Wolfpack in the Rady Children’s Invitational at LionTree Arena on November 29, 2024 in La Jolla, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)
Wisconsin is going to be a hard out
26. UCLA
STANFORD, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 21: A detailed view of the hand towel the UCLA logo seen hanging out of the pants of Oluwafemi Oladejo #2 of the UCLA Bruins during the game against the Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium on October 21, 2023 in Stanford, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Looked tough in Round 1, but Tennessee is primed and ready
25. Creighton
OMAHA, NE- NOVEMBER 06: The Creighton Bluejays logo shown on the floor prior to a college basketball game against the UTRGV Vaqueros at CHI Health Center on November 06, 2024 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
Kalkenbrenner needs more help to pull off this upset
24. 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)
Do you think Pitino watched the way Arkansas struggled against the Kansas zone?
23. New Mexico
The Lobos need to play tough defense again to keep this one close
22. Oregon
MAUI, HAWAII – NOVEMBER 22: The Oregon Ducks logo on shorts during the Maui Invitation college basketball tournament against the Tennessee Volunteers at Lahaina Civic on November 22, 2016 in Maui, Hawaii. The Ducks won 69-95. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
Very tight matchup against a longtime rival
21. Illinois
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA – FEBRUARY 21: The Illinois Fighting Illini logo on a pair of shorts during a college basketball game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at the Rec Hall on February 21, 2024 in University Park, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
Kentucky is too strong for the Illini
20. Texas A&M
CONWAY, SC – NOVEMBER 18: The Texas A&M Aggies logo on a pair of shorts during a second round game of the Myrtle Beach Invitational college basketball game against the Colorado Buffaloes at HTC Center on November 18, 2022 in Conway, South Carolina. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
Definitely capable of winning if Wade Taylor goes for 25+
19. Iowa State
GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA – MARCH 17: The Iowa State Cyclones logo on. Pair of shorts during the first round of the 2023 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Greensboro Coliseum on March 17, 2023 in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
Lack of depth hurts
18. Houston
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA – MARCH 18: A detailed view of the “Jumpman” logo on a Houston Cougars jersey against the UAB Blazers during the first half in the first round game of the 2022 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 18, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
Love their defense, but do they shoot well enough?
17. Purdue
COLLEGE PARK, MD – JANUARY 10: The Purdue Boilermakers logo on their uniform during the game against the Maryland Terrapins at Xfinity Center on January 10, 2021 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Maryland Terrapins/Getty Images)
Matt Painter’s team struggles again
16. McNeese State
This year’s Cinderella?
15. Gonzaga
SPOKANE, WASHINGTON – DECEMBER 21: A general view of the Gonzaga logo on the court prior to the start between the Northwestern State Demons and the Gonzaga Bulldogs at McCarthey Athletic Center on December 21, 2020 in Spokane, Washington. Gonzaga defeats Northwestern State 95-57. (Photo by William Mancebo/Getty Images)
Brutal Round 32 matchup, but they could surprise
14. Ole Miss
CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA – NOVEMBER 18: The Mississippi Rebels logo on a pair of shorts during the Shriners Children’s Charleston Classic college basketball game against the Marquette Golden Eagles at TD Arena on November 18, 2021 in Charleston, South Carolina. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
Chris Beard is a defensive whiz
13. Michigan
PISCATAWAY, NEW JERSEY – FEBRUARY 29: The Michigan Wolverines logo on the uniform shorts worn during a game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Jersey Mike’s Arena on February 29, 2024 in Piscataway, New Jersey. Rutgers defeated Michigan 82-52. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
Wolf and Goldin are tough to keep out of the lane
12. 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)
Drake slows the game to a crawl, but the Red Raiders have way too many athletes
11. Arizona
MADISON, WISCONSIN – NOVEMBER 15: A picture of the Arizona Wildcats logo on shorts during the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Kohl Center on November 15, 2024 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)
Should be a bloodbath against Oregon
10. Kentucky
GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA – MARCH 17: The Kentucky Wildcats logo on a pair of short during the first round of the 2023 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament game against the Providence Friars at Greensboro Coliseum on March 17, 2023 in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
Not the best Wildcat team, but they advance to next week
9. Wisconsin
MADISON, WISCONSIN – DECEMBER 14: A picture of the logo worn on new uniform shorts of a Wisconsin Badgers player during the game against the Jacksonville State Gamecocks at Kohl Center on December 14, 2023 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)
Top guard play wins tourney games
8. Alabama
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – APRIL 06: The Alabama Crimson Tide logo shown on a chair of shorts during the NCAA Mens Basketball Tournament Final Four semifinal game against the Connecticut Huskies at State Farm Stadium on April 06, 2024 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
St. Mary’s is going to be a tougher test than many realize
7. Tennessee
CHAPEL HILL, NC – NOVEMBER 29: A detailed view of the “T” logo of the Tennessee Volunteers as they line up for the National Anthem before playing the North Carolina Tar Heels on November 29, 2023 at the Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 100-92. (Photo by Peyton Williams/UNC/Getty Images)
Should handle UCLA easily
6. 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)
Might be the best team that people don’t know
5. St. John’s
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)
Doesn’t get better than Pitino vs Calipari
4. Michigan State
COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND – JANUARY 21: A view of the Michigan State Spartans logo on their uniform during the game against the Maryland Terrapins at Xfinity Center on January 21, 2024 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
Tom Izzo has the Spartans rolling
3. Auburn
LAHAINA, HI – NOVEMBER 25: The Auburn Tigers logo show on a pair of shorts during a Maui Invitational college basketball game against the Iowa State Cyclones at The Lahaina Civic Center on November 25, 2024 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
Bruce Pearl’s team sets its sights on the Sweet 16
2. 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)
Playing amazing ball
1. Duke
DURHAM, NC – DECEMBER 18: A detail view of Nike basketballs prior to the game between the Elon Phoenix and the Duke Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium on December 18, 2021 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)
Cooper Flagg could go down as the best Duke Freshman of all time
