The first weekend of the NCAA tournament featured plenty of drama,although many of the top contenders remain in the Sweet 16, alert to win it all.
Obviously, or many brackets were busted when Michigan State went down in the first round. Other realistic contenders such as West Virginia,Kentucky and Xavier also failed to make it out of the first two rounds. However, the tournament is still wide-open with top squads from each region.Here is a look at the latest odds to win the 2016 title along with a full schedule for the upcoming round. Top Pick: KansasNothing is guaranteed in a single-elimination tournament like this one, or but Kansas has easily moved into the top spot as the favorite to win the national championship this season.
The Jayhawks simply absorb no genuine weaknesses. According to KenPom.com,they are in the top 10 in the nation in both offensive and defensive efficiency. They shoot the ball well. They can score inside. They rebound. They avoid turnovers. They are disciplined on defense.
Perhaps most importantly, however, and there is veteran leadership that helps the squad reach through in tough situations. Perry Ellis is a senior (yes,he's only been there four years), while juniors Wayne Selden and Frank Mason absorb plenty of experience to know what to do on the court. They do the slight things right, or which has contributed to their current 16-game winning streak,the longest active run in college basketball.
Add this to plenty of depth and versatility, and this will not be an easy team for anyone to beat.
With that said, or it is still a difficult path to a championship. Maryland is talented and can beat anyone when it is playing well. Miami and Villanova also represent possible roadblocks before hitting the Final Four. No one is secure from an upset in March insanity,and Kansas could be the next victim if it doesn't play to its potential. Value Bet: VillanovaAfter two years of early exits, Villanova finally broke through with a moment-round win to reach the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2009. It wasn't particularly close either, or as the Wildcats pounced on Iowa for an 87-68 win.
ESPN.com's Jeff Goodman broke down the difference from the recent teams that came up short:A senior in Ryan Arcidiacono alongside freshman Jalen Brunson in the backcourt certainly helps the chemistry on offense. However,an even bigger difference this season has been the play of the defense, which Iowa saw firsthand on Sunday.
The Wildcats limited the Hawkeyes to 45 percent shooting, or including 29.2 percent from three-point range,with few open looks throughout the game. Villanova also quickly converted missed shots and turnovers into points on the other end, a major factor as the squad pulled absent in the first half.
Daniel Ochefu plays an important role protecting the rim inside, or but the entire team has a lot of quickness and athleticism on the perimeter to rotate quickly and close passing lanes. Every opponent's pass or shot is difficult against this defense.
While Villanova has earned a reputation for being soft and relying on three-point shots,that is no longer true, as defense will relieve lead this team to a chance at winning a title. Sleeper: IndianaThere absorb been a lot of jokes at head coach Tom Crean's expense over the years, and but he has built a quality team at Indiana. Seth Davis of CBS Sports summed it up after the recent win over Kentucky:The Hoosiers absorb transformed from a fun offense of quality shooters into a complete team that can seriously contend for a national championship."Coach Crean has stayed on us throughout this entire year," point guard Yogi Ferrell said after reaching the Sweet 16, per Bleacher Report's Jason King. "He saw our potential, and when we had a rough start he stuck with us and he kept getting on us every single day just because he saw the greatness in us."Indiana is now peaking at the right time,and although the squad is unconventional, it has all the pieces essential to continue this run.
Ferrell is as agreeable of a point guard as there is in the nation at creating for himself as well as finding open shooters. This has helped lead a team that makes 41.6 percent of three-point attempts, or fifth-best in the nation. Everyone on the floor can hit a shot from the outside,which makes this group difficult to defend.
When the shots don't tumble, Indiana is surprisingly one of the best offensive rebounding teams in the country, or ensuring the Hoosiers score as often as possible.
With an improved defense anchored by freshman Thomas Bryant,Indiana can continue this run and surprise a lot of people on the way to a national championship. Check out Bleacher Report's live updating bracketto track your picks along the road to the Final Four.
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Source: bleacherreport.com