Getty Picture, Baylor
Right here’s a take a look at the East Area of the NCAA Event as March Insanity 2022 will get set to tip off Thursday:
No. 1 Baylor (26-6)
Convention: Huge 12
Coach: Scott Drew
Put up-ing up: The reigning nationwide champs opened the season 15-0 — the final undefeated crew — earlier than accidents set in. Kendall Brown, a 6-foot-8 freshman guard, and freshman ahead Jeremy Sochan, who does all of it however stars defensively, have lived as much as expectations, however they'll want banged-up guard LJ Cryer wholesome and contributing.
No. 16. Norfolk State (24-6)
Convention: MEAC
Coach: Robert Jones
Put up-ing up: The Spartans have had one dropping season within the final 11 years, and have their most wins because the 2011-12 marketing campaign, after they shocked second-seeded Missouri within the NCAA Event. This crew, which has received 15 of its final 17 video games and is led by MEAC Participant of the Yr Joe Bryant Jr., could possibly be a menace.
No. 8 North Carolina (24-9)
Convention: ACC
Coach: Hubert Davis
Put up-ing up: Within the match for the primary time underneath Davis, who succeeded Roy Williams, the Tar Heels have one of many ACC’s finest large males in 6-foot-10, double-double machine Armando Bacot. They knocked off Duke within the regular-season finale however have been nonetheless solely 2-7 in opposition to Quad 1 groups this season and had some brutal blowout losses alongside the way in which.
No. 9 Marquette (19-12)
Convention: Huge East
Coach: Shaka Sensible
Put up-ing up: The Golden Eagles, who haven’t superior previous the primary spherical since 2013, will give it a shot of their first season underneath Sensible, the previous Texas and VCU coach. They've a pair of wins over Villanova and one other over Windfall on their résumé, with 6-foot-7 sophomore ahead Justin Lewis main the crew in scoring (17.1) and rebounding (7.9).
No. 5 Saint Mary’s (25-7)
Convention: WCC
Coach: Randy Bennett
Put up-ing up: The tiny Northern California hoops big was too younger final yr, however rebounded and topped each Notre Dame and Oregon in November to announce it was again. The Gaels’ protection is ranked among the many finest within the nation and better-regarded than powerhouse Gonzaga. Senior Matthias Tass, a 6-foot-10 ahead from Estonia, is a power beneath.
No. 12 Wyoming (25-8)
Convention: Mountain West
Coach: Jeff Linder
Put up-ing up: The Cowboys are within the match for simply the second time since 2002. They received right here on the backs of 6-foot-9 sophomore ahead Graham Ike, a strong presence within the paint who averages near a double-double (19.6 ppg, 9.6 rpg), and senior guard Hunter Maldonado, who combines a scoring punch with playmaking capacity.
No. 12 Indiana (20-13)
Convention: Huge Ten
Coach: Mike Woodson
Put up-ing up: Woodson, the previous Knicks head coach and assistant, has his alma mater again within the match for the primary time since 2016 regardless of dropping seven of its final 9 regular-season video games. The Hoosiers lean on their frontcourt duo of Trayce Jackson-Davis and Race Thompson, with Jackson-Davis serving as a robust defensive presence across the rim.
No. 4 UCLA (25-7)
Convention: Pac-12
Coach: Mick Cronin
Put up-ing up: The Bruins introduced again many of the items that led them to a shocking Ultimate 4 run as a No. 11 seed final yr. They nonetheless couldn't beat Gonzaga — dropping in extra time final yr and this season by 20 — however have returned a balanced group led by leading-scorer Johnny Juzang, a junior guard who averaged 22.8 factors in final yr’s match.
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No. 13 Akron (24-9)
Convention: Mid-American
Coach: John Groce
Posting-up: With an adjusted tempo ranked 351st-slowest within the nation, few groups play slower than the Zips. It has labored for shooting-challenged Akron, by way of retaining down the rating — it permits simply 63.1 factors per sport, a top-25 determine nationally — and limiting possessions. Ahead Ali Ali — not a typo — leads the Zips with 14.2 ppg.
No. 6 Texas (21-11)
Convention: Huge 12
Coach: Chris Beard
Put up-ing up: In his first yr, Beard has turned the Longhorns into one of many nation’s finest defenses. After knocking off Kansas earlier this season, Beard mentioned his squad is “a Ultimate 4 contender.” 4 of their high scorers — ahead Timmy Allen and guards Andrew Jones, Marcus Carr and Courney Ramey — are seniors.
No. 10 Virginia Tech (23-12)
Convention: ACC
Coach: Mike Younger
Put up-ing up: The Hokies are one of many high 3-point capturing groups within the nation, rating fourth with a 39.1 proportion, although that hasn’t essentially translated to a high-scoring offense. However additionally they have a stable frontcourt duo of redshirt senior Keve Aluma and grad scholar Justyn Mutts, who helped them end the season robust in a shocking run to the ACC Event title and an auto bid.
No. 3 Purdue (27-6)
Convention: Huge Ten
Coach: Matt Painter
Put up-ing up: The Boilermakers’ long-range capturing can preserve them in any sport, among the many nation’s finest from past the arc. Star guard Jaden Ivey has improved his jumper for his sophomore season, although he's higher identified for his explosiveness across the rim, whereas 7-foot-4 Zach Edey and 6-10 Trevion Williams are harmful inside.
No. 14 Yale (19-11)
Coach: James Jones
Convention: Ivy League
Put up-ing up: Yale is scorching, winners of 11 of its final 13 video games behind senior guard Azar Swain, the Ivy League’s second-leading scorer at 18.9 factors per sport. That is changing into a practice underneath Jones for the Bulldogs, their third journey to the dance of their final 5 alternatives. They’re hoping for a repeat of 2016, after they took down fifth-seeded Baylor.
No. 7 Murray State (30-2)
Convention: OVC
Coach: Matt McMahon
Put up-ing up: The high-flying Racers beat Memphis however misplaced to Auburn as they sought harder out-of-conference opponents. Sophomore level guard Justice Hill has emerged as one of many slickest passers within the nation, typically connecting with bruising junior ahead KJ Williams, their main scorer and a continuing double-double menace.
No. 10 San Francisco (24-9)
Convention: West Coast
Coach: Todd Golden
Put up-ing up: The Dons final reached the match method again in 1998, however they've been on upward trajectory over the past 5 years, first underneath Kyle Smith and now underneath Golden. It's a senior-laden group that was bolstered by the addition of two key transfers: Heart Yauhen Massalski (San Diego) and capturing guard Gabe Stefanini (Columbia).
No. 2 Kentucky (26-7)
Convention: SEC
Coach: John Calipari
Put up-ing up: After a uncommon down season, the powerhouse has been rebuilt. Led by Oscar Tshiebwe, the nation’s finest rebounder (15.1 per sport), beneath and Sahvir Wheeler, one of many nation’s finest passers (6.9 assists per sport), Kentucky can beat you in loads of methods. Knicks followers must be on the look ahead to Jacob Toppin, Obi’s brother.
No. 15. Saint Peter’s (19-11)
Convention: MAAC
Coach: Shaheen Holloway
Put up-ing up: The Peacocks held three MAAC Event opponents to 63 factors or much less, and allowed over 80 factors simply 4 instances all yr. Protection and depth — 10 gamers common no less than 10 minutes per sport, led by junior guard Daryl Banks III — are St. Peter’s calling playing cards underneath Holloway, the previous Seton Corridor star and assistant coach.
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