The teams to look out for in the annual men’s basketball tournament
The month of March has come to be known as a sacred space in the world of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men’s basketball. You win and you move on; you lose and you go home.
What does it take to succeed in a competition that is so intense and so variable? Few have cracked the code as only one Final Four in tournament history has housed all four of the number one seeds. This proves that it doesn’t matter whether you’re the fan favourite or bracket buster, and the question remains: what does it take to win the men’s basketball NCAA tournament?
Fan favourite: Gonzaga Bulldogs
The Gonzaga Bulldogs came into the NCAA tournament with a regular season record of 33-1, which landed them with a number one seed. Many questioned the ability of this team to win on the big stage, but the Bulldogs made it clear that they could lean on their veterans for success.
After winning the West Coast Conference Tournament, odds that the Bulldogs would win the NCAA championship shifted from 80-1 to 10-1. Clearly the experts saw someone they liked; that someone being junior guard Nigel Williams-Goss.
Williams-Goss came into the tournament a well-rounded player averaging over 16 points per game, along with five assists and rebounds.
This performance continued into the NCAA tournament, where Williams-Goss worked with other veteran players to defeat both South Dakota State and America’s sweetheart, Northwestern.
The Bulldogs apply consistent pressure to their opponents, leaving them ranked second nationally for opponent field goal percentage.
Gonzaga has made it to the regional semi-final in their past two seasons, meaning this team has some seasoned leaders.
They will play West Virginia in their sweet sixteen match-up.
Average Joe: Wisconsin Badgers
Wisconsin came into the tournament with an eighth seed ranking and a record of 26-9. Despite the mediocre position, Wisconsin has proven they can be lethal in crunch time. This is also their 19th consecutive trip to the NCAA tournament.
The Badgers have often looked to their forwards, such as senior Nigel Hayes, to help clinch victories late in the game. This was no different in the round of 32 where Hayes broke the game open with a Michael Jordan inspired drive and finish.
Another player who has proven to be invaluable in the closing seconds of games is senior guard Bronson Koenig, affectionately known as “Klutch Koenig.” The impactful guard hit two three-point shots to close out the upset win over the reigning champions Villanova. This season, Koenig has shot a whopping 54.8 per cent from beyond the three-point arc in the last five minutes of games in which he has played.
Composure from upper year players seems to be the underlying explanation for the success of the Badgers. Wisconsin shot an impressive 53 per cent in the round of 32 game that took down Villanova, proving that the madness of March does not scare them.
The Badgers will face off against Florida for a chance to crack into the elite eight.
Bracket buster: Xavier Musketeers
The Musketeers came into the tournament seeded 11th in the West after a record of 22-13.
Xavier relies heavily on their juniors, primarily Trevon Bluiett—a guard averaging 17.7 points per game to go along with his two assists and 5.7 rebounds. Bluiett continued his impressive performance in the tournament with a 29-point showing in the round of 32 upset against the number-three-seeded Florida State.
Xavier also has lock down defense with unique positioning, which makes communication and an understanding of the system vital to their success. This team may be the sleeper of the tournament, with their maturity showing in both the starters and on the bench.
The Musketeers’ next challenge comes against Arizona in the sweet sixteen.
Final thoughts
Teams from all over the country come to play in this tournament, with different personnel and playing styles in hand. Reviewing the trends of teams from a variety of standings, it looks like experience is the key to success. March Madness does not produce typical basketball games, and it takes a steady hand to raise the trophy.
Photo courtesy of March Madness via CC0 Public Domain.