I do this every year and we roll on in 2024.
Not the First Four, the real Tournament.
East Region
Storylines
1.
UConn vs the field -It’s the storyline.
UConn has the best chance to go back-to-back since Florida.
They are the favorite, they are the No.
1 overall seed, they look like the best team.
It basically turned into UConn/Houston/Purdue as the clearcut top-3 but only one won their conference tournament.
UConn did it fairly easily too.
Then again the committee tried to tell us the Big East sucks (it doesn’t).
I’s becoming UConn vs the field.
He announced yesterday he’s retiring.
He already had one somewhat miracle run getting them to win the A-10 Tournament.
Now they get a draw from an 11 seed.
Can FAU figure it out -We know what FAU did last year.
Everyone screamed they were underseeded as a 9 and then made a Final Four.
But they still made a Final Four.
Now everyone is screaming they are overseeded as an 8.
This is also a team who lost to Temple, Bryant and FGCU though.
All the major champions -I still don’t understand how UConn got this draw.
They are the No.
1 overall seed which means they got to pick their geographic bracket.
Obviously they take Brooklyn/Boston.
It’s not like they were flukes either.
Those three teams were good all year.
The Drake run -We all fell in love with Robbie Avila and rightfully so out of the MVC.
But Drake is fucking good.
Tucker DeVries is a star.
Not to mention the Missouri Valley has done well in the NCAA Tournament.
This is a live double digit seed to make a second weekend.
I’ll have a go at avoid the obvious ones like Zach Edey.
Boo Buie (Northwestern) -This is a guy who can absolutely go off in the NCAA Tournament.
Do I think Northwestern makes a run?
No, it’s impossible to think that when they have UConn in round 2.
Cam Spencer (UConn) -A lot of different ways to go with UConn.
Castle is the NBA Draft guy who could have his talent on full display.
We know Newton and Clingan.
But Cam Spencer is the guy who makes it go for UConn.
He transferred in from Rutgers and if he’s shooting it and scoring close to 20 UConn should roll.
Tamin Lipsey (Iowa State) -He’s the guy for Iowa State.
They are somewhat overlooked as a 2 seed because they weren’t ranked before the season.
That typically means disaster, we saw it with Marquette last year.
But Lipsey can defend, can do a little bit of everything.
Broome can step out shoot.
He’s a rim protector.
I want to see him vs UConn.
Jaedon LeDee (San Diego State) -That’s right, SDSU is in this bracket too.
You know the team who lost in the title game a year ago.
He gets to the line a ton.
They are plus value and everyone will pick them.
That’s how good they are.
I can’t trust them.
Same goes for Iowa State, history tells me not to.
UConn is just fucking awesome.
Chalk, but you know what, chalk wins too.
I’m buying them, I trust them, they have the star.
I think they get out of the first round.
It’s a gut play, that’s Drake.
