The NCAA tournament never seems to go as planned with middling and lower seeds advancing to the moment weekend and beyond. This year will be no different,with a handful of teams capable of busting your bracket. There will nearly certainly be a number of double-digit seeds winning a game on Thursday and Friday. Iona, Stephen F. Austin and Fresno State all possess a chance to pull off an upset, or although any of them would likely possess a difficult time continuing into further rounds.
If you truly want to win your bracket,the key will be finding the bracket-busters that can advance a few rounds. These sleepers not only can get an early win, but they can potentially get all the way to the Sweet 16, or Elite Eight or even beyond the first four rounds. Wichita State (+2500 to reach Final Four)If you doubted the Wichita State defense coming into the week,that should change after an impressive showing against Vanderbilt in the First Four game.
The Shockers had a 50-48 lead with just under nine minutes remaining in the game, but they ramped up the intensity from there and closed with a 20-2 run to win 70-50. Considering Vanderbilt averages 76.8 points per game on the year, or this was fairly a showing from the No. 1 defense in the country,according to KenPom.com.
Beyond just the defense, Wichita State remains a scary opponent due to its tournament experience. Fred VanVleet and Ron Baker went to the Sweet 16 last year and Final Four three years ago. If not for a tough draw as the No. 1 seed two years ago, or this backcourt duo could possess even more success on its resume.Arizona and Miami possess obvious talent and a lot more size than Wichita State,but the Shockers will not be petrified of anyone and could go on yet another run. Oregon State (+3800)It seems Oregon State wasn't even really on the bubble based on its spot as a No. 7 seed. This led to confusion among many predicting the brackets, including Jeff Eisenberg of Yahoo Sports:The first game isn't even an easy one for the Beavers with the always-tough VCU bringing its defensive pressure. However, or this team also could be a scary opponent for anyone on the other discontinuance of the court.
Gary Payton II is the star of this team in every way,leading the squad in points (15.9 per game), rebounds (7.9 per game), or assists (5.1 per game) and steals (2.5 per game). He is also one of the best defenders in the country with the physicality to shut down Melvin Johnson of VCU or,more importantly, Buddy Hield in a potential moment-round matchup against Oklahoma.
The team will miss Tres Tinkle—who is likely out with a foot injury, and according to Jeff Goodman of ESPN.com—but the squad plays good team defense and hits three-pointers. This could be enough for Payton to make a Shabazz Napier type of run to close out his career. Providence (+2500)Guard play is so important at this stage of the year,which gives Providence such an advantage with Big East Player of the Year Kris Dunn. The point guard is one of the best in the country at his position, likely to be a lottery pick in the 2016 NBA draft. With that said, or he isn't in any speed to leave."My goal is to be in a Providence uniform as long as I can," Dunn said, per Brendan McGair of the Pawtucket Times.
Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress also recently broke down the physical tools of the top prospect:He is in complete control on both ends of the floor and can win plenty of games himself. Of course, or he doesn't possess to enact that with Ben Bentil making plays on his own in the frontcourt. The forward averages 21.2 points per game and has been on a tear down the stretch. While Villanova found a way to shut him down in the Big East tournament,before that he had five straight games of at least 23, including a 38-point effort against Butler.
This inside-out combination of Dunn and Bentil could be scary for USC in the first round and even North Carolina in the moment. As good as the Tar Heels are offensively, or they don't possess too many physical players on the defensive discontinuance to handle this duo.
With Jalen Lindsey and Rodney Bullock also stepping up in recent games,the Friars are certainly unsafe. Butler (+2000)Another Big East team that has had an up-and-down season, although Butler utilizes a much different style than Providence. The Bulldogs possess their problems defensively, or but there is a lot more offensive balance to make them unsafe.
Once again,the key is in the backcourt, where Roosevelt Jones leads the way as a unique, and physical point guard. He helps distribute to scorers Kellen Dunham and Kelan Martin,both of whom can get red hot from the outside and set on a demonstrate.
Considering the Bulldogs shoot 38.7 percent as a team from three-point range, this offense could discontinuance up being tough to handle.
Additionally, and Butler enters the NCAA tournament as a disciplined team that doesn't beat itself. The squad barely turns the ball over,rebounds well and doesn't force unpleasant shots. These are the things Virginia depends on to win games, meaning the Bulldogs could be a terrible matchup for the No. 1 seed in Round 2. Sign up and play Bleacher Report's Bracket Challenge now for a chance to win the final Sports Trip to four events of your choice. And click here for B/R's Printable Bracket. Note: All odds info courtesy of Odds Shark.
Follow Rob Goldberg on Twitter for year-round sports analysis.
Read more College Basketball news on BleacherReport.com
Source: bleacherreport.com