Ryan Deal ’16

1. Kansas – Bill Self’s squad is beginning to truly catch its stride. With a deep roster that includes senior Perry Ellis (who has seemingly been on the team forever) and junior guard Frank Mason, who is having his best season to date, the Jayhawks look as dangerous as any team.
2. Michigan State – Tom Izzo may be the best tournament coach in college basketball. While he often must trek the tournament with a second-tier roster, that will certainly not be the case this season. With triple-double threat Denzel Valentine ‘16 leading the way, Izzo is in a great position to win his second national title.
3. Virginia – After some early season struggles, the Cavaliers look like they are back to being one of the most dangerous teams in the nation. When senior Malcolm Brogdon plays like he has in February, there are few teams who can keep up with this defensive juggernaut.
4. Xavier – Yes, they’ve lost to some rather suspect teams (Georgetown, Seton Hall, Creighton), but they also have some of the most impressive wins around (#1 Villanova, Providence, Butler). A true team, the Musketeers can beat anyone on any given day. No team wants to play Chris Mack’s squad in the tournament.
5. Miami (FL) – A great backcourt combo can go a long way. Miami knows all about this, for seniors Sheldon McLellan and Angel Rodriguez have carried the ‘Canes all season. If they can keep up their play in March, Miami might enjoy their first ever basketball title.
6. Oklahoma – Player of the Year frontrunner Buddy Hield is a star. When properly complemented by the rest of the starting lineup, which includes senior big man Ryan Spangler and sharpshooter Isaiah Cousins ‘16, the Sooners boast a lethal unit. The big question for this team is depth. Can their bench eat up some valuable minutes? If yes, they may be the favorite, if no, they’ll struggle to make it to the Elite 8.
7. Villanova – The Wildcats are the NCAA’s Atlanta Hawks, they make the postseason every year looking promising, but always fail to deliver. They have been consistent this year, and at one point even spent three weeks as the top team in the country, but doubts remain that they can get the job done in March.