New Teams Rise to Top Rankings with March Madness Near
The first-class time of the sports activities 12 months has finally come. On March 19, 68 Division I college basketball groups will come collectively for one of the most amusing, loopy, and unscripted tournaments in all of the sports that has rightfully earned the nickname, “March Madness.” A lot has changed when you consider that we closing looked at the pinnacle groups in competition for the name, with plenty of new faces rising thru the ranks. Let’s look at the brand new top-3 groups within the kingdom and see which college has an excellent shot to cut down the nets this year.
Gonzaga
Earning their first No. 1 ranking of the season currently, the Bulldogs were splendid all 12 months sitting at 29-2 on the pinnacle of the West Coast Conference. Gonzaga’s handiest losses came to crest ranked Tennessee and North Carolina in again-to-returned video games, at the same time as additionally earning an impressive win over Duke earlier in the year.
The major challenge with Gonzaga is the toughness in their timetable. Going 1-2 in opposition to top-ranked teams with an easy conference schedule does not bode properly come tournament time because the Bulldogs went undefeated within the WCC through outscoring fighters 86.2 to fifty-nine .2. Gonzaga will want to comprehend early in the match that they will maintain pushing the tempo like they did against their conference foes if they need to stay successful.
One of the most whole teams in the kingdom, there’s absolute confidence the Bulldogs will make a run in March. Gonzaga can also get Killian Tillie back this season, a versatile big guy that has dealt with damage for most of the season but may want to upload an additional measurement to the Bulldogs play. Gonzaga simplest has their convention event left to play, as they look to sweep their way through much like they did inside the healthy season.
Virginia
Remaining as one of the top-ranked teams considering our last evaluation of the college basketball area, Virginia has persevered its ancient season with awesome wins over the top-ranked North Carolina, Virginia Tech, and Louisville transport to 27-2 at the yr. With the Cavaliers remaining recreation of the regular season staying at home in opposition to Louisville, Virginia’s only losses were on the arms of Duke.
Much adore it has all season; Virginia’s protection has been on fire, now not permitting combatants to attain more significant than 60 factors of their final six games. Only 3 times have the Cavaliers allowed more significant than 70; twice in their losses to Duke, and is a win within the first month of the season in opposition to pinnacle ranked Maryland. As for the event techniques, it’s exciting to peer if Virginia can hold remarkable offensive teams like Gonzaga and Tennessee or if they’ll falter like of their video games in opposition to the Blue Devils.
The Cavaliers are actually playing their first-rate basketball of the season right now, maximum these days coming off one of the most amazing 2nd-half performances of the year on the road against Syracuse. Virginia outscored the Orange with the aid of 28 factors and made 10 of thirteen threes during a stretch in the 1/2. Over the beyond three video games, the Cavaliers are also capturing sixty-two. 1 percent from in the back of the 3-point line. This protective-minded crew, in reality, has a few offenses and could deliver lots of team trouble on each facet of the ball come event time.
North Carolina
Sneaking their manner into the pinnacle-three ratings recently, the Tar Heels have also been gambling some of their great basketball down the stretch, earning wins on the road in opposition to Duke and domestic towards Florida State and Syracuse. North Carolina currently sits at 25-five on the year, with their only losses in opposition to non-top-ranked groups from Texas and Louisville whilst also dropping to ranked Michigan, Kentucky, and Virginia.
A large key to the Tar Heels achievement has been the production from their bigs, who mixed for 70 factors and 30 rebounds inside the win in opposition to Duke. Luke Maye additionally dropped 17 factors and grabbed 20 rebounds in North Carolina’s maximum recent win in opposition to Boston College, setting the Tar Heels one win far from a proportion of the ACC’s everyday-season identify.
North Carolina’s closing sport of the regular season is a rematch in opposition to Duke on a senior night at home. As Duke has struggled without Zion Williamson, it should be a recreation for a while. However, he is ever so determined for a win against a top-tier opponent.
