By: Nick Sadowy

Nick Sadowy is from Toledo OH, and is a Bowling Green State University student majoring in Sport Management with a minor in Journalism. Nick has a passion for sports including Football, basketball, and UFC, but he is also interested in baseball and golf.

March 10, 2024

OVERVIEW

March Madness is once again just around the corner. The tournament is where any of the 64 teams involved can achieve greatness and immortality in college basketball. The most exciting sports tournament in the world is almost here and this is the preview of a few basketball teams in the tournament.

PURDUE

Purdue has been one of the country’s most dominant teams all season long. They have been led by 7’4 star center Zach Edey. Purdue has shown they can shoot the three-ball with any team, while also factoring in Edey’s dominance in the paint. The Boilermakers are looking to finally have that successful run toward the national championship.

TENNESSEE

The Vols have been led by star senior Dalton Knecht all season. Knecht has been a national player of the year contender, but that is not all Tennessee offers. They also have forward Jonas Aidoo, who is averaging 12.1 pts and 7.6 rebounds with an impressive 1.9 blocks per game. With the duo of Knecht on offense and Aidoo on defense, the Vols have a real chance at making a run for the National championship.

KANSAS

Kansas has had a somewhat disappointing season for their usual high standards as a basketball program. That however does not change the fact that come tournament time, this team is a dangerous one. They are led by the trio of Hunter Dickinson, K.J. Adams Jr., and Kevin McCullar Jr. When these three are all on the same page both offensively and defensively, it is really hard to stop this team. Come tournament time Kansas is a team to watch.

NORTH CAROLINA

The Tar Heels have been led by star point guard RJ Davis all season long. UNC has many other weapons on the offensive end including Armando Bacot, Harrison Ingram, and Cormac Ryan. North Carolina hit a rough patch toward the middle of the season but they pulled things together toward the end of the regular season with a win against rival Duke which secured the regular season ACC championship for North Carolina. If Davis, Bacot, Ingram, and Ryan are all locked in on offense, this Tar Heel team will be very difficult to beat.

Other Contenders

Many teams still have an opportunity to get a good seeding in the NCAA tournament and it will be interesting to see how things shake out. Two heavy favorites not mentioned above include defending champs UCONN and the Houston Cougars. Some other teams to keep an eye out for are Marquette, Kentucky, Creighton, Duke, Iowa State, Baylor, and Arizona

At the end of the day, March Madness is exactly what it is advertised as, and that is complete basketball madness. Any of the teams listed above could be eliminated in the first round of the tournament by an underdog no one would expect to win. This tournament is always spectacular year after year, and this year is shaping up to be no different.