March Madness is one of, if not the greatest, postseason in sports. There are so many crazy endings to games, clutch shots, and iconic moments. After three rounds, only eight teams will remain and they are called the “Elite Eight” for a reason. These eight teams are the squads that are playing the best basketball out of anyone in the nation. These are the teams that I believe will be the eight elites coming late March.
One of these eight teams will be the Michigan Wolverines. This offseason they had the best transfer portal class and it has shown. Star forward Yaxel Lendeborg is averaging 14 points and seven rebounds a game. The Wolverines defense is one of the best in the nation as well, only giving up around 68 points a game. This team could not just be in the Elite Eight, but also make a run at the National Championship.
Another team that I believe will make it is the Duke Blue Devils. Star Freshman, Cam Boozer is already a lock for an All American and will be a top three draft pick. Duke’s defense isn’t just one of the best but it is the best. They smother whoever they play, but they can also score at a high clip. The Dukies will definitely be a team to look out for.
The Arizona Wildcats will also be in the Elite Eight this year. They started the year 22-0 and won each game in dominant fashion. The Wildcats are known for their big men and their rebounding. They don’t give up many second chance points which is a great recipe for winning. They are led by two freshmen Brayden Burries and Koa Peat who are almost unstoppable together.
The next team I believe will make it is the Florida Gators. They were a preseason top-10 team who started very slow but are heating up at the right time. They have the best frontcourt in the nation headlined by Tommy Hough. They get more offensive rebounds than anybody else and they also shut teams down on the defensive end. If I was any other school in the tournament, I wouldn’t want to see this Gators team in late March.
Another team that will be in the Elite Eight is the Illinois Fighting Illini. Their offensive firepower is unmatched and teams will be lucky to hold them under 80 points. Breakout freshman, Keaton Wagler, has led the Illini all year long, averaging 18 points per game. They say in March, you can’t win without a good offense and Illinois looks to be sitting pretty in that sense.
The UConn Huskies have been rolling this year. They have the best coach in college basketball in Dan Hurley and he has himself a team. Sharpshooter Solo Ball and playmaker Silas Demary lead the way for the Huskies. These two on the court together are unfair to opponents. UConn also is in the D1 top 10 for assists, so they share the rock.
Kansas has either looked like a national title contender or a first round exit this year. I believe they will turn it on in March and make a run. Darryn Peterson, when he plays, is the best player in college basketball. They also have big man Flory Bidunga, who has had a breakout year and takes the paint over every game. The Jayhawks are very hit or miss, but I believe they will be hitting when it matters.
My last and final Elite Eight team is my sleeper or Cinderella team, the Texas Longhorns. They have so many good wins but a lot of bad losses as well. They have the leader in isolation points per possession in Dailyn Swain, which just means nobody can guard him. They get to the free throw line better than anybody and have a top offense in the SEC. You can’t make a March Madness prediction without a Cinderella, and I think Texas has a shot to surprise people.
The NCAA tournament is called March Madness for a reason; anything can happen. These eight teams are just who I believe will go to the Elite Eight, not the top eight teams in the country. These predictions could be spot on or I could go 0/8 and I wouldn’t be surprised with either. I’m just excited for some madness in my life.
