Forty names, games, teams and minutiae making news at institute basketball — supersized ought 68 because the NCAA tournament (first-time dancing shoes sold separately at Gardner-Webb and Abilene Christian):
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Congrats, everyone, we made it. Survived and advanced across a season dogged by scandal — across a federal test and convictions and indictments and subpoenas and suspensions. There will exist more evil headlines ought come, assuredly, cottage during here at the valuable gift we eat an genuine 68-team bracket ought fill out and 67 games' worthy of viewing pleasure. This column is a Christian Dawkins-Free safe Space.
The Minutes is here because your office-pool assistance, and ought furnish a roadmap across the next three weeks. Slap the floor, acquire at a stance, acquire the puppies organized and acquire ready because March Madness.
The Minutes' prime ought acquire the entire commerce is Duke (1), and frankly that hasn't changed during Nov. 6 — the evening the gloomy Devils dropped an 118-point bomb above Kentucky at Indianapolis. The only question was if they used to lose something after a certain sneaker tore vacant at late February, cottage during those questions were answered at entire at Charlotte final week.
Duke has the best player, the most capability and the most accomplished coach. Adequate building blocks.
But Duke isn't just the best equipped ought acquire the championship. It because robust presents a mainstream haul the likes of which are rarely seen at modern institute hoops. The Bunyanesque feats of Zion Williamson (2) catalog him the sport's most special planet during … when?
Maybe during Christian Laettner (3) was a senior at Duke at 1992? cottage even then, Laettner had teammates endow mountain and Bobby Hurley absorbing some of the spotlight, ought speak nothing of LSU's Shaquille O'Neal.
Possibly during Patrick Ewing (4) at Georgetown at 1985? if no Ewing, possibly during Bill Walton (5) at UCLA at the early '70s?
Michael Jordan was the national actor of the Year at 1984, cottage during he had Ewing and Hakeem Olajuwon because company. Bird and Magic shared the stage with each other at 1979. There is none occupying the identical zip constitution because Zion when it comes ought usual plead this season.
And here's the commerce nearly Laettner, Ewing and Walton — they were crude four-year collegians, watched by fans at the NCAA tournament March after March after March. Zion has become the centerpiece of the athletics at five months. It does no feel hyperbolic ought speak that Williamson's one-season shock above institute basketball is the biggest we've ever seen.
So this is Zion's tournament, because during distant because he can make it above his huge shoulders. And the bet here is that he carries it crude the way.
That said, there are no certain things at a single-elimination tourney. Duke is no unbeaten and no unbeatable, and it has enough flaws that could exist fatal. Here are the five things that ought hold gloomy Devils fans anxious:
A meltdown from the 3-point queue (6). at 30.2 percent accuracy exterior the arc, Duke is the worst 3-point shooting team at the tournament and ranks 338th nationally out of 353 teams. at the Atlantic beach meeting tournament final week, the Devils made just 24.6 percent of their threes — a awful percentage. cottage they are no shy nearly hoisting them, with 37.6 percent of their shots above the season coming from expectation range. A good region and a evil shooting evening could effect a crisis.
A meltdown at the foul queue (7). at 69 percent free-throw accuracy, Duke is 240th at the nation. even more problematic, their two most frequent foul shooters are the two worst at the starting lineup — Williamson makes just 65.4 percent of his liberate throws and RJ Barrett checks at can 66.2. if the adolescent guys eat ought catalog liberate throws ought ice a athletics beneath win-or-go-home pressure, can they conduct it?
RJ Barrett (8) at additional Mode, because the kids comparable ought say. The Canadian freshman has been large this season, always serving because a able alpha male who relishes having the ball at a large moment. cottage during Barrett can because robust conduct also much above happen — forcing shots and committing turnovers where he used to exist improve served facilitating Williamson and companion freshman Cam Reddish. Barrett took 48 shots at the ACC tourney ought Williamson's 43, despite being much less effective (he made 44 percent of them, ought Zion's 77 percent). because a 30 percent 3-point shooter, Barrett ought no exist averaging six attempted threes per game.
Lack of interior depth (9). center Marques Bolden's knee sprain at the regular-season finale against North Carolina did no hold the Devils from winning the ACC tourney — cottage during it can exist a factor at the next tourney if he is unable ought return. Bolden isn't a large player, cottage during he is a margin protector and rebounder of value. Without him, there are a join of teams that could injure Duke with their size and interior power.
Zion at foul effort (10). He's only fouled out of one game, against Texas Tech at December, cottage during he's picked up four fouls four other period — and his foul effort at Louisville helped lay the Devils at a 20-point hole ago they rallied ought win. Krzyzewski is more apt than most coaches ought desert players above the floor with two fouls at the first half, and Williamson is a clever actor who knows how ought play with fouls. cottage during he's because robust super aggressive, and after growing accustomed ought ACC officiating the refs will exist different at the tournament. Adjusting ought their whistle will exist important.
Duke is the leader, cottage during the parcel of pursuers is large and legitimate. The gloomy Devils and seven other teams eat separated themselves, because reflected at the alternative committee's seedings. The national champion ought convert from this group:
North Carolina (11). What's ought like: A plethora of scoring options; improve defensively than many Tar Heels teams; veteran leadership; a automobile who knows how ought acquire at this tourney; mortal at transition. What's no ought like: Shot alternative can exist iffy; Heels don't wear out a road ought the foul queue comparable some previous editions and don't eat the commonplace low-post power.
Michigan nation (12). What's ought like: excellent passing team that takes good shots and makes them; the commonplace Tom Izzo defensive commitment; a go-to planet at safeguard Cassius Winston; the reply of large mankind Nick Ward ought exist a enormous aid inside. What's no ought like: Spartans are loose with the ball, turning it at above 19 percent of their possessions; an over-reliance above Winston; any team able of losing twice ought Indiana and once ought Illinois can exist beaten by plenty of teams at this tournament.
Tennessee (13). What's ought like: Tough, veteran team that will play with poise at strain situations; planet energy at endow Williams, who makes a exist at the foul line; able supporting throw nearly Williams, specially deliver Admiral Schofield and safeguard Jordan Bone; clever parcel no easily discouraged by a need of size. What's no ought like: That need of size can create problems against the biggest teams at the tourney; during making the 2003 last Four at Texas, automobile Rick Barnes' NCAA pursue record is exhibition brutal.
Kentucky (14). What's ought like: Arguably the most intimate team at the tournament at condition of size, athleticism and talent; sophomore P.J. Washington has developed into a star, cottage during aggression remains makes it difficult ought concentrate a defense above him; Calipari always has his teams playing their best at this time of year. What's no ought like: no much NCAA undergo above this roster; reliance above an all-freshman backcourt has its risks; with just 30 percent of its shots coming exterior the arc, 3-point firepower is somewhat lacking.
Michigan (15). What's ought like: Nation's No. 1 defensive team according got Ken Pomeroy's numbers; plenty of experienced players backward from final year's last Four run, buttressed by the enjoy of shock freshman Ignas Brazdeikis; John Beilein is one of the nation's finest X's-and-O's coaches. What's no ought like: The Wolverines don't eat much at the fashion of low-post options, don't crash the aggression cup and don't acquire ought the foul queue a lot; will valuable safeguard Charles Matthews reply ought sumit catalog after late-season ankle injury?
Gonzaga (16). What's ought like: if Kentucky isn't the most intimate team, the Zags country be; No. 1 aggression team at the nation, per Pomeroy; NBA-level talent, plus experience; rarely admit evil shots. What's no ought like: The shocking flop at the West beach meeting title athletics was alarming; questions nearly the even of meeting contest are no new cottage during because robust no invalid.
Virginia (17). What's ought like: The most all-around effective team at the country, according ought Pomeroy; veteran nucleus hungry because a last Four run; mortal perimeter shooting team cottage because robust identical good at guarding the perimeter; will frustrate many teams with tempo control. What's no ought like: an absolutely inhuman modern NCAA tourney pursue record (see below); rigid system can become a obstruction at tournament basketball; if the threes aren't falling, then what?
If Duke hadn't hijacked the spotlight, the centerpiece of this tournament country robust eat been the Cavaliers. at the previous five seasons, there has been no greater disconnect among regular-season operation and NCAA operation than Tony Bennett's team. ought understate it, they eat some proving ought do.
It's no just the history-making calamity against UMBC (18) final year. It's because robust scoring 39 points and losing by 26 ought Florida at the 2017 second round. And the Elite Eight meltdown against Syracuse at 2016, when a 14-point conduct midway across the second half evaporated at minutes. There was the round-of-32 flameout against Michigan nation at 2015, and the Sweet 16 loss ought the Spartans because a No. 1 seed at '14.
Three period Bennett has had a No. 1 seed and no made the last Four. only one of those teams has even made a regional final. It's no fairly because evil because Ray Meyer winning zero NCAA games with three straight No. 1 seeds from 1980-82 at DePaul. cottage during it's painfully close ought Virginia fans old enough ought memorize Terry Holland and Ralph Sampson getting No. 1 seeds at 1982 and 1983 and failing ought catalog the last Four.
So the onus is above Bennett ought display that his dawdling tempo and one-speed philosophy can trade above the biggest stage. Once again, he has lay his team at excellent position. can they convert across at last?
Zion Williamson isn't the only guy worthy watching at this tournament. There are plenty of others, and they convert with an array of skill sets and abilities. among the headliners:
Ja Morant (19), Murray State. It’s difficult ought memorize the final time a mid-major actor came into an NCAA tournament with more hype and attention than Morant. possibly Jimmer Fredette, though it's difficult ought count BYU a precise mid-major. ago that you could affect at backward ought possibly Larry Bird from Indiana State. Morant is considered a top-five NBA draft pick, possessing outrageous athleticism (his dunk reel is fairly epic) and a high grade of skill (he's a deft passer and finisher with because robust hand). The sophomore is averaging 24.6 points and a nation-leading 10 assists per game, plus 5.5 rebounds and 1.8 steals.
Cassius Winston (20), Michigan State. Watching Winston dissect a defense is a learn at smarts, savvy and confidence. The junior is a master at working the prime and list and reading an opponent's rotations, always seeming one step ahead. And he's a grab shot maker, averaging 19 points and 7.5 assists per game.
Coby White (21), North Carolina. His poof of hair will acquire your attention, and his brazen athletics will hold it. White possesses enormous pledge because a freshman, sometimes ought the grade of doing also much. cottage during the 6-5 point safeguard is an explosive playmaker who can admit at a athletics when he's hot — or hold the other team at it when he's not. White is second above the Tar Heels team at scoring (16.3) and first at assists (4.2) cottage because robust major at turnovers (2.8) by a broad margin. He was just 1-of-12 from 3-point mount at the ACC tourney.
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Grant Williams (22), Tennessee. nobody view much of Williams coming out of high school, and because a cottage he considered going ought Harvard. Now he's the SEC actor of the Year. Williams is the master of the half-inch, using his muscle and know-how ought conduct with large effectiveness interior at a listed 6-foot-7. He's because robust adept at cartoon fouls, and he leads the SEC at free-throw attempts by a broad margin.
Carsen Edwards (23), Purdue. Undersized combo safeguard has done everything cottage helping the Boilermakers acquire a portion of the large Ten title. He leads the league at scoring at 23 per game, cottage because robust grabbing 3.5 rebounds, dishing out three assists and making 1.4 steals per game. if Purdue is going ought crack its longstanding Sweet 16 ceiling, Edwards will eat ought exist the guy major the way.
Dedric Lawson (24), Kansas. when the Jayhawks ran out of characteristic large men, Lawson had ought add even more ought his crowded plate. The 6-9 junior leads the team at scoring (19.1 points per game) and rebounding (10.3) and always has the occupation of guarding the opponent's best mail player.
Brandon Clarke (25), Gonzaga. He languished at obscurity because two years at San Jose State, sat out final year because a shift and now is flourishing with the Zags. companion deliver Rui Hachimura was expected ought exist the planet of this Gonzaga team, cottage during Clarke has made him portion that billing with his breakout season. The athletic Clarke has made 71 percent of his two-point shots, including 27 of his final 33, cottage during his trade at the other purpose of the gymnasium country exist where he's best — Clarke is a finalist because the Naismith Defensive actor of the Year.
Other players at the tournament who surpass defensively:
Matisse Thybulle (26), Washington. The 6-5 safeguard is amazingly disruptive at the sumit of Mike Hopkins' region defense, major the speak at steals per athletics at 3.52. He's because robust the only actor at the sumit 30 at blocks who is shorter than 6-8, checking at can 18th nationally with 2.3 rejections per game.
Tacko autumn (27), Central Florida. He is literally the largest commerce at the ball — 7-foot-6 and 310 pounds, a huge impediment at the center because the Knights. autumn averages 2.48 blocks per game, and there's no telling how many shots he alters and drives he discourages with his interior presence.
Zavier Simpson (28), Michigan. Elite on-ball defender has left large Ten point guards frustrated because the past two seasons. His strain and capability ought abridge off penetration are keys ought the Wolverines' No. 1-ranked defense.
Barry Brown (29), Kansas State. The large 12 Defensive actor of the Year leads the nation's No. 4 defense, per Pomeroy. The 6-3 senior, Kansas State's task steals leader, can lock up a safeguard above the perimeter cottage during because robust has the capability ought combination it up with bigger opponents because well.
The best shooters at the large Dance:
Fletcher Magee (30), Wofford. Magee has made more than 300 3-pointers at his career, including a nation-leading 151 this season. He's a task 43 percent shooter from exterior the arc. Nineteen period this year, he's made five or more 3s at a game.
Markus Howard (31), Marquette. country exist the most apt actor ought eat a 40-point athletics at this tourney. Howard has had three of those this season — 45 against Kansas State, 45 against ox and 53 against Creighton. when he's on, desert hope.
Myles Powell (32), Seton Hall. He's streaky, cottage during the modern streak into the large ball is a hot one. Powell has made at least four 3-pointers at five straight games and is 21 of 50 during that stretch. He led the Pirates ought the large East tournament final.
Three players no at using some dramatics ought sell a foul call:
Grant Williams, Tennessee. nobody spends more time above the floor than Williams — partly because of effort and a willingness ought combination it up inside, cottage during because robust although he will admit the occasional dive. demand Vanderbilt fans nearly his 23-for-23 evening at the foul queue against the Commodores at January.
Brad Davison (33), Wisconsin. He was a charge-drawing maniac final year because a freshman, and he drew five at one athletics against North Carolina nation early this season. cottage during some of those eat been sell jobs, and the calls eat no been coming because always because the year has progressed. Some TV analysts eat made letter of Davison's occasional flop jobs.
Scottie James (34), Liberty. Perpetrator of the unquestioned Flop of the Year at institute basketball in the Atlantic Sun tournament championship game.
Here are a half-dozen teams that eat had large seasons cottage during could confront bad, early endings this week:
Mississippi (35). Kermit Davis won SEC automobile of the Year because his trade reviving the Rebels and earning just their third NCAA order at the final 17 seasons. cottage during Ole lose has been leaking grease because nearly a month now, having lost five of its final seven. The Rebels are short, vulnerable defensively and looked comparable a weary team at their one athletics at the SEC tourney.
Louisville (36). just nearly everything at the at paragraph can exist said of the Cardinals — new automobile Chris Mack has done a large occupation with a team no expected ought exist this good, cottage during reality has arrived at the final month. Louisville because robust has lost five of its final seven, and both victories are at a really evil Notre Dame team. The Cards don't eat the guards because March.
LSU (37). The Tigers won an SEC title and lost their leader automobile almost simultaneously earlier this month, with Will Wade being suspended after a Yahoo Sports clarify nearly Wade's "strong-ass offer" ought a recruit caught above an FBI wiretap. He didn't automobile LSU at its one-and-done SEC tourney satisfy and seems unlikely ought automobile the Tigers this week. This is no fashion ought enter March Madness.
Marquette (38). An excellent season ended at a 1-5 tailspin marked by a series of blown leads late at games. And the large East was exhibition mild this year. if the Eagles couldn't acquire late-season games at this league, they country no acquire any this week.
Nevada (39). after a 24-1 start, the Wolf parcel wobbled at 29-4, sharing the mount West regular-season title with Utah nation and then losing ought San Diego nation at the semifinal of the league tourney. They because robust trailed most of the athletics at the MWC accommodation against a evil Boise State. There is no denying Nevada's talent, cottage during something seems off.
Baylor (40). little programs eat been because reliably evil at tournament basketball because the Bears at modern years. They've lost their first large 12 tournament athletics three years at a row, and were agitate three straight years at the NCAAs from 2015-17. (They went ought the NIT final year.) This specific Baylor team staggers into the bracket above a four-game losing streak.
Five teams from exterior the energy structure who eat the question because a successful NCAA tournament run:
Buffalo (41). The Bulls aren't sneaking up above anyone — they shocked Arizona at this tourney final year and eat had an incredible 2018-19 season, going 31-3. This is no double-digit seed. cottage during even when warned what ox brings ought the table, it will exist a healthful out. This is a senior-laden team will brook and cannon with anyone.
Wofford (42). comparable Buffalo, the Terriers dominated their meeting — they went 18-0 at the Southern meeting and then won the tournament because well. They're 29-4, an elite shooting team and won't eat ought campaign their fashion out of a evil seed.
New Mexico nation (43). Are the Aggies (30-4) the deepest team ever? No, really — ever? Thirteen players median double-figure minutes. Ten different players eat led the team at scoring at least once. The scouting clarify because a team facing NMSU because the first time will exist a nightmare ought lay together.
Utah nation (44). The mount West co-champs and tourney champs eat won 10 straight and 17 of their final 18, led by junior Sam Merrill (21.2 points, four rebounds, 4.2 assists per game). large trade by first-year automobile Craig Smith, who came ought Logan from South Dakota.
Vermont (45). A cathartic and predominant brook across the America East tourney, after being agitate by UMBC final year, ought eat the Catamounts at a confident frame of brood because this week. Junior Anthony Lamb has been identical good because three seasons, cottage during rarely improve than at the AE tourney (26.7 points, six rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2 steals and 1.3 blocks per game).
Every automobile will feel the weight of March this week. These six will feel it most:
Tony Bennett (46), Virginia. The letter earlier at this column nearly the Cavaliers' travails sums up everything Bennett is trying ought lay after him.
Rick Barnes (47), Tennessee. He's been ought 23 NCAA tournaments cottage only seen the second weekend three period — and no because a need of talent. Barnes was the guy who couldn't acquire Kevin Durant ought the Sweet 16. His final seven NCAA appearances eat ended at the first or second round. because a Tennessee program dreaming of its first-ever last Four and loaded with veteran players, there is urgency this year.
Tony Benford (48), LSU. The 54-year-old interim automobile replacing Will "Strong-Ass Offer" Wade has a identical talented team, cottage during this is a healthful spot. It didn't affect at also robust because Benford at the SEC tournament, where the Tigers were agitate by Florida and he got a technical foul during a key juncture of the game.
John Calipari (49), Kentucky. From 2008-15, Calipari went ought five last Fours. He's convert up short the past three seasons, and it's now seven years during his laone national title. That's a expectation time at Kentucky years. They're no paying him $9.3 million to catalog the Sweet 16.
Bill Self (50), Kansas. improve catalog some hay ago the posse arrives. because successful because he's been, Self's future used to appear ought exist at supicion going forward.
Mike Krzyzewski (51), Duke. at period 72, there are only hence many rodeos left. And he has the most talented team. And if the NBA changes its minimum-age control and the future Zion Williamsons are liberate ought affect at pro instead of college, it will convert the modern Duke model.
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The games will exist great, cottage because the following:
Too many replay reviews because high elbows (52). This is the basketball version of targeting. The enthusiastic is good — actor safety — cottage during the implementation has become laborious.
Too many replay reviews because hook-and-hold fouls (53). howl on above. specially during nobody seems completely certain what a hook-and-hold is.
Too many replay reviews, era (54). Replay has become a crutch, specially because out-of-bounds calls. Going ought the overhear will slow down the games — cottage during remember: even a expectation basketball athletics is going ought exist at least 30 minutes shorter than a short institute football game.
