NCAA Tournament Midwest Region evaluation: Houston, Texas, Indiana and extra

Can Houston get to the Final Four in its dwelling metropolis? If so, the Cougars should do it by the Midwest Region — and battle some scorching groups and fascinating challenges alongside the way in which.

Kelvin Sampson’s crew, the No. 2 total seed, might doubtlessly face Auburn in Birmingham within the second spherical. A Sweet 16 matchup towards Indiana and star Trayce Jackson-Davis or a prime 10-caliber Xavier crew might await. And don’t neglect about No. 2 seed Texas, which received the Big 12 event and had 14 Quad 1 wins this season, second-most within the nation. Or Miami, which was the No. 1 seed within the ACC event and went to the Elite Eight final 12 months with many of the similar gamers. Meanwhile, Texas A&M was enjoying in addition to anybody down the stretch, whereas Penn State practically received the Big Ten event. And they’re enjoying within the 7-10 sport.

If Houston will get again to Houston, it should have earned its approach there.

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1. Houston Cougars

Record: 31-3 (17-1 AAC)

How they acquired right here: Kelvin Sampson has constructed an absolute monster at Houston. The Cougars made the Final Four in 2021 and Sweet 16 in 2022 and have been arguably the most effective and most constant crew all season, by no means dipping decrease than fifth within the AP Top 25 or decrease than 2nd within the NET. Houston received the convention common season as soon as once more in the course of the closing season within the AAC earlier than becoming a member of the Big 12, the one losses a come-from-behind win by Alabama in non-conference and shocking one-point highway defeat towards Temple. Memphis did knock them off within the AAC event championship with AAC Player of the Year Marcus Sasser sidelined by a groin pressure. With Houston’s dwelling metropolis set to host the Final Four, the Cougars’ season of dominance has potential for a dream ending.

What you have to know: This is as well-rounded a squad as Sampson has ever had at Houston, prime 10 in KenPom’s adjusted offensive and defensive efficiencies. The always-calloused Cougars are a defensive stalwart but once more, holding opponents to roughly 42 p.c in KenPom’s efficient field-goal fee and 28 p.c from past the arc. But they’re additionally dominant on the offensive glass and transfer the ball nicely, with all 5 starters averaging double figures and a pair of shot-making guards in Sasser and Jamal Shead. Sasser missed the ultimate game-and-a-half of the convention event, however the hope is he will likely be prepared for the NCAA Tournament. They will want him again in some unspecified time in the future in the event that they’re going to make a Final Four run.

Spotlight On: Sasser is the crew’s main scorer, however Jarace Walker is the X-factor that would spur a championship run. The 6-foot-8, AAC Freshman of the Year and future top-10 NBA Draft decide averaged practically 11 factors and seven rebounds a sport whereas capturing 35 p.c from 3-point vary. His dimension and athleticism can change any sport and, all due respect to Fabian White, provides the Cougars the kind of versatile frontcourt presence they haven’t had over the previous two tourney runs.

Record: 26-9 (12-6 Big 12)

How they acquired right here: The Longhorns completed second within the Big 12 regardless of a season of tumult and distractions. Head coach Chris Beard was suspended on Dec. 12 and subsequently fired on Jan. 5 following a felony home assault cost, which was later dropped. Assistant Rodney Terry took over for Beard and admirably steered Texas to a 12-6 convention end and 13-8 report in Quad 1 video games, together with a Big 12 event championship win over Kansas. Led by a quartet of transfers — Marcus Carr, Tyrese Hunter, Timmy Allen and Sir’Jabari Rice — the Longhorns will look to enhance on final 12 months’s second-round event exit.

What you have to know: Texas is a well-rounded squad with top-20 metrics in KenPom’s adjusted offensive and defensive effectivity. It additionally encompasses a deeper rotation than most groups, with 9 gamers who common double-figure minutes and eight averaging no less than 17 a sport. It’s a perimeter-heavy offensive assault, led by Carr and Hunter, however one which sores quite a lot of factors both on the rim or within the midrange off of dribble penetration. The Longhorns might want to reduce down on the fouls and rebound higher in the event that they wish to make a run.

Spotlight On: Carr was a first-team all-conference choice, leads the Longhorns in scoring at 15.9 factors per sport and has the very best utilization fee on a guard-heavy offense. Texas will go as he goes in March, though Rice because the sixth-man will likely be an X-factor as nicely.

3. Xavier Musketeers

Record: 25-9 (15-5 Big East)

How they acquired right here: Xavier received 11 consecutive video games at midseason, this system’s longest profitable streak since starting the 2015-16 season 12-0. The Musketeers, who completed second within the Big East in the course of the common season, went 7-3 total towards league foes Marquette, Creighton, UConn and Providence — all packages that received no less than 20 video games. Xavier misplaced the Big East Tournament title sport to Marquette.

What you have to know: Xavier is a harmful crew due to how nicely it passes the ball and its effectivity on offense. Guards Souley Boum and Colby Jones have mixed for 290 assists, which is a giant motive why the Musketeers lead the nation in assists per sport at 19.2. Xavier has 5 gamers averaging double figures in scoring and ranks among the many nationwide leaders in discipline purpose proportion.

Spotlight on: Boum joined Xavier’s program as a graduate switch after averaging 19.9 factors per sport final season at UTEP. He’s been a serious catalyst for the Musketeers this season, main the crew in scoring (16.5 factors per sport) whereas capturing 42.5 p.c on 3s and incomes first-team All-Big Ten honors.

4. Indiana Hoosiers

Record: 22-11 (12-8 Big Ten)

How they acquired right here: Indiana opened Big Ten play 1-4 earlier than reeling off victories in 9 of the following 10 video games, together with towards No. 1 Purdue. The Hoosiers beat the Boilermakers a second time three weeks later and closed the common season with an time beyond regulation victory towards Michigan to complete tied for second within the Big Ten. Indiana misplaced to Penn State in a Big Ten Tournament semifinal.

What you have to know: Jalen Hood-Schifino, a five-star prep prospect and the highest-rated incoming recruit within the Big Ten final season, greater than lived as much as expectations in his first faculty season. The 6-6 guard from Pittsburgh, Pa., earned Big Ten freshman of the 12 months honors whereas averaging 13.5 factors, 4.1 rebounds and three.7 assists. He is the primary Indiana participant to win the award since Noah Vonleh in 2014.

Spotlight on: Forward Trayce Jackson-Davis initially deliberate on declaring for the NBA Draft after final season however returned when he was unable to take part within the draft mix as a result of he examined optimistic for COVID-19. Jackson-Davis has gone from a very good faculty participant to an incredible one, incomes first-team All-Big Ten honors and main the Hoosiers in scoring (20.8 factors per sport) and rebounds (10.9), in addition to complete assists (123) and blocked pictures (82) whereas capturing 57.9 p.c from the sector.

5. Miami Hurricanes

Record: 25-7 (15-5 ACC)

How they acquired right here: Miami claimed solely its third regular-season convention title in program historical past and first since 2012-13. The Hurricanes had a powerful stretch run late within the season, profitable eight of their closing 9 regular-season video games and all however one of many outcomes have been by single digits. That confirmed Miami’s toughness, a trait that ought to turn into evident within the event.

What you have to know: The Hurricanes don’t have a profile inbuilt proficiency, besides on offense. KenPom ranks Miami because the No. 13 squad for adjusted offensive effectivity however not increased than 86th in some other class and thirty ninth total. Miami led the ACC in scoring (79.6 factors per sport), field-goal proportion (48.5) and 3-point proportion (37.2) however was twelfth in field-goal protection.

Spotlight on: Junior guard Isaiah Wong was named ACC Player of the Year and posted among the nation’s most balanced numbers. He led the Hurricanes in factors (16.2), assists (3.4) and steals (1.4), and averaged 4.3 rebounds per sport. He additionally shot 45.3 p.c from the sector, (37.8 p.c on 3-pointers) and 83.6 p.c from the free-throw line.

Record: 19-13 (9-9 Big 12)

How they acquired right here: The Cyclones reached the Sweet 16 as an 11-seed final 12 months in head coach T.J. Otzelberger’s first season. They adopted that with a fifth-place end within the Big 12 and a 10-11 report in Quad 1 matchups, dropping to Kansas within the convention semifinals. Iowa State did attain as excessive as eleventh within the AP Top 25 ballot following a house win over the Jayhawks in early February, and 9 wins is probably the most the Cyclones have had within the Big 12 since 2019.

What you have to know: Iowa State likes to gradual issues down, grinding out possessions on offense and enjoying suffocating protection. The protection has a top-5 turnover fee and forces groups to beat them from past the arc, regardless of holding opponents to underneath 34-percent from distance. They misplaced standout guard Tyrese Hunter to Texas through the switch portal final offseason, however senior Gabe Kalscheur was second-team all-conference, St. Bonaventure switch Jaren Holmes leads them in scoring, and Tamin Lipsey earned Big 12 all-freshman honors.

Spotlight On: Kalscheur is the heartbeat. He’s second in scoring at 12.9 factors a sport, shoots 36.4 p.c on 3-pointers and made the Big 12 all-defensive crew. The former Minnesota switch has come up huge in some huge video games, together with scoring 20-plus in wins over Baylor (twice), Texas Tech and Villanova.

7. Texas A&M Aggies

Record: 25-9 (15-3 SEC)

How they acquired right here: By overdelivering on modest expectations, a 12 months after a run to the SEC Tournament title sport figured to sneak Buzz Williams’ crew into the sector of 68 however didn’t. The approach the Aggies have been enjoying, they’ve look primed to make up for that misplaced alternative. Well, till taking an 82-63 humbling from Alabama in Sunday’s SEC title sport. But Alabama is on a nationwide championship stage proper now. The Aggies got here in having received 19 of twenty-two video games, together with at dwelling final week towards the Crimson Tide.

What you have to know: The Aggies received’t impress you with their particular person expertise. NBA scouts don’t flock to look at them shoot round earlier than video games like some groups. There aren’t any sure-fire execs on the roster. The loss to Alabama helped reiterate that. But this is a wonderful, deep, well-coached crew that will get after folks defensively in typical Williams trend, strikes the ball extraordinarily nicely and has choices inside and out of doors. And no matter the place Wade Taylor IV and Tyrece Radford find yourself getting paid to play basketball, they’re great faculty guards. They account for greater than 40 p.c of the Aggies’ scoring and greater than 50 p.c of their assists. Radford is the one Aggie averaging greater than half-hour a sport. Williams has the our bodies to go along with full line modifications. He has dimension and rebounding. Mostly, he has cohesion.

Spotlight on: Julius Marble II got here to Michigan State from Texas A&M partially to be nearer to household, after tragically dropping his father to an accident in the summertime of 2020. The 6-9, 245-pound Dallas native has impacted the offense extra considerably than his 9.2 per-game scoring common suggests. Marble is a submit scorer by commerce and the Aggies wish to hit opponents with touches for him early in video games. Opponents with out a highly effective huge to defend him usually need to double him, and Marble is nice at creating issues for them from there.

Record: 19-13 (11-9 Big Ten)

How they acquired right here: Iowa has one of many nation’s most inexplicable information. Against Nebraska, Wisconsin and Ohio State — the Big Ten’s No. 11-13 seeds — the Hawkeyes have been 1-6 counting their early-exit event loss to the Buckeyes. But towards everybody else within the Big Ten, Iowa was 10-4 with two-game sweeps towards Indiana and Rutgers.

What you have to know: The Hawkeyes have led the Big Ten in scoring the final 5 seasons and rank third in adjusted offensive tempo by KenPom. They additionally have been final in Big Ten scoring protection and field-goal proportion.

Spotlight on: All-Big Ten junior ahead Kris Murray (6-8) is the one Division I participant to common 20-plus factors and 8-plus rebounds with greater than 60 3-pointers this 12 months. The twin brother of Sacramento Kings ahead Keegan Murray, Kris Murray has scored 25 factors or extra 9 occasions this 12 months.

9. Auburn Tigers

Record: 20-12 (10-8 SEC)

How they acquired right here: The Tigers could be in a special place in the event that they hadn’t scored probably the most precious win on their resume’ within the regular-season finale, dominating down the stretch to beat Tennessee 79-70 at dwelling. That adopted up an excruciating loss at Alabama that would have/ought to have been the resume topper – Bruce Pearl’s offended postgame ranting spoke to each the chance misplaced and his evaluation of the officiating. That adopted up an 86-54 embarrassment at Kentucky. Of course, that was lower than two weeks after an 89-56 dwelling romp over Missouri. This crew can prepare dinner however doesn’t accomplish that constantly. It enters the tourney off a disappointing 76-73 loss to Arkansas within the SEC Tournament.

What you have to know: Auburn can play some protection and has been in some grinders – resembling a 43-42 win over Northwestern in Cancun and a 46-43 loss at Tennessee. The Tigers have top-30 defensive effectivity numbers, however the offensive inconsistency seems rather a lot like final season when issues went sideways, with out a top-three NBA Draft decide (Jabari Smith) round to save lots of the day. Wendell Green Jr. is an excellent participant and incredible competitor, however 29.5 p.c capturing from 3 hasn’t stopped him from taking 139 of them, by far probably the most on the crew. Okay.D. Johnson has a lowered position this season off the bench however nonetheless will get his deep pictures up (33 for 101, 32.7 p.c). When Auburn will get it inside to Johni Broome and will get extra pictures for Jaylin Williams and Allen Flanigan, it has a greater probability.

Spotlight on: Broome, the OVC Defensive Player of the Year final season at Morehead State, has been a vital addition. The 6-10, 235-pound sophomore leads the crew in scoring (14.0), rebounding (8.4) and blocks (2.3). He’s particularly efficient dealing with up and driving, giving issues this season to conventional bigs specifically. Broome is best attacking than settling for triples (27.6 p.c on 29 makes an attempt). That’s a recurring theme for a crew that shoots 31.4 p.c from deep total.

10. Penn State Nittany Lions

Record: 22-13 (10-10 Big Ten)

How they acquired right here: Per week in the past, Penn State seemed like a about to have its bubble popped. With a NET rating at 56 and a No. 10 seed within the Big Ten event, the Nittany Lions wanted a surge to make the NCAA event. Well, it got here up with one for the ages. Penn State knocked off Illinois, Northwestern and Indiana within the first three rounds earlier than dropping to No. 1 seed Purdue on Sunday. It was solely Penn State’s second Big Ten championship sport look.

What you have to know: Penn State is harmful from 3-point vary. The Nittany Lions have been solely eight 3-pointers shy of tying the the Big Ten report on Sunday towards Purdue. They’re not only a perimeter crew, both and have developed into one of many Big Ten’s most constant scoring packages, rating second in field-goal proportion (46.5), 3-point capturing (38.7 p.c) and assist-to-turnover ratio. The Nittany Lions are also sixteenth in KenPom’s adjusted offensive tempo.
Spotlight on: Senior Jalen Pickett was probably the most prolific back-court scorer within the Big Ten this season, averaging 18.1 factors per sport after transferring from Siena. Pickett led the Big Ten in assists (6.8) and was ranked among the many league’s prime eight in scoring, rebounding, field-goal proportion and assist-to-turnover ratio. He’s the one participant nationally averaging no less than 18 factors, seven rebounds and 6 assists per sport.

Spotlight on: Senior Jalen Pickett was probably the most prolific back-court scorer within the Big Ten this season, averaging 18.1 factors per sport after transferring from Siena. Pickett led the Big Ten in assists (6.8) and was ranked among the many league’s prime eight in scoring, rebounding, field-goal proportion and assist-to-turnover ratio. He’s the one participant nationally averaging no less than 18 factors, seven rebounds and 6 assists per sport.

Record: 21-12 (8-10 SEC)

How they acquired right here: Other coaches acquired extra consideration for his or her work within the SEC this season – Dennis Gates, Nate Oats, co-coaches of the 12 months Jerry Stackhouse and Buzz Williams – however Chris Jans deserves a hand for taking this crew to the dance in his debut season. The Bulldogs acquired essential work achieved with nonleague wins over Marquette and TCU. The latter of these got here in time beyond regulation within the SEC/Big 12 Challenge and halted a five-game SEC dropping streak. League wins over Texas A&M, Arkansas and Missouri after that made the distinction.

What you have to know: Two underwhelming SEC Tournament performances, 69-68 over Florida in time beyond regulation and a 72-49 thumping delivered by Alabama, depart the Bulldogs with little momentum. But that is an elite defensive crew, sixth nationally in effectivity, and that’s the important thing to any success shifting ahead. Mississippi State has the type of size that may trouble quite a lot of groups. Not a crew like, say, Alabama, however quite a lot of groups. That size is extra of an element with deflections than on the rim. That protection feeding transition is required as a result of this the worst 3-point capturing crew in Division I. Dead final at 26.6 p.c. The solely Bulldog with any success is senior guard Dashawn Davis (36 of 105, 34.3 p.c).

Spotlight on: And if a transition alternative doesn’t current itself, nicely, throw the ball in to Tolu. That’s Tolu Smith, a 6-11, 245-pound senior and Western Kentucky switch who made All-SEC first crew this season as a result of he’s basically his crew’s complete offense. Smith is a artful scorer across the basket averaging 15.8 factors and eight.5 rebounds. He additionally averages 1.7 assists per sport, a quantity that might be increased if there was extra capturing round him. Smith does battle on the line (58.5 p.c), however he nonetheless produces there as a result of he’s among the many nation’s leaders with 246 makes an attempt.

Record: 21-11 (14-6 ACC)

How they acquired right here: Pittsburgh’s 96-69 ACC event exit to Duke made for a nervous couple of days earlier than the choice present. Pitt had an uneven season with non-conference losses to Michigan, West Virginia, VCU and Vanderbilt and defeats in three of its closing 4 video games. But the Panthers have been solely a 3-pointer off the rim towards Miami from tying for the ACC title and choosing up the No. 1 event seed.

What you have to know: The Panthers have scored 75 or extra factors in seven of the ultimate 9 video games and rank twenty fifth within the NCAA in KenPom’s adjusted offensive effectivity rankings. Perhaps what’s extra fascinating than any crew statistic is that Pittsburgh was picked 14th within the ACC preseason ballot and completed one sport out of first place. That led to teach Jeff Capel overwhelmingly incomes ACC Coach of the Year honors.

Spotlight on: Guard Jamarius Burton averaged 15.7 factors, 4.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists per sport to earn first-team All-ACC honors. Burton is just the second first-team All-ACC choice for Pitt since becoming a member of the league in 2013.

Record: 27-7 (15-5 Missouri Valley Conference)

How they acquired right here: The Bulldogs have rolled by the MVC, profitable 13 of their final 14 video games with a 12-point loss to Bradley as the one blemish. Drake then stormed by Arch Madness, profitable all three video games by double digits, together with a 77-51 blasting of regular-season champ Bradley within the finals.

What you have to know: Darian DeVries has led the Bulldogs to twenty or extra wins in every of his 5 seasons, precisely half of the 20-win seasons in Drake historical past. Drake doesn’t wow anybody statistically, but it surely completed within the prime three in practically each Valley class. Perhaps its trademark is its effectivity with a plus-1.65 turnover margin and solely 10.47 turnovers per sport.

Spotlight on: Forward Tucker DeVries grew to become solely the fourth sophomore to win the Valley’s Larry Bird Trophy as league MVP and backed it up by taking event MVP honors, too. DeVries (19 ppg) is the son of head coach Darian DeVries and nephew of former NFL defensive lineman Jared DeVries.

Record: 28-6 (15-3 MAC)

How they acquired right here: Kent State and Toledo was the title-game showdown everybody needed to see. What they acquired was an eyeful of the No. 2 seed Golden Flashes racing previous the No. 1 seed Rockets to the tune of 93-78. That’s a top-40 crew in defensive effectivity in Kent State, outscoring a Toledo crew that has been round top-five in offensive effectivity this season. That made it two wins in as many tries towards Toledo this season and left little question who must be representing the MAC.

What you have to know: Take this crew severely. Just ask Houston, which acquired into the type of rock battle Houston likes to get into and needed to take all of it the way in which to the tip at dwelling to edge Kent State 49-44. Ask Gonzaga, which needed to grind out a 73-66 dwelling win over the Golden Flashes. Remember Kent State’s Elite Eight crew from 2002? This one might win multiple sport on this event as nicely. Kent State is among the many nation’s leaders in steals, led by guard Malique Jacobs and his 2.7 per sport, and that feeds the Flashes’ transition and 76.6 factors per sport. Length, depth and deflections are a part of the formulation.

Spotlight on: His identify is Sincere Carry. He might have a real maintain on anybody who watches him play on this event. The 6-1 senior and former Duquesne guard was MAC participant of the 12 months final season. He didn’t win it this time round however his 26 factors within the title sport to earn a bid was a a lot better reward. Carry averages 17.6 factors, 4.9 assists and 1.7 steals a sport. He goes by opponents. He outmuscles opponents. And he does all of it with aptitude and emotion.

Record: 26-8 (15-3 Atlantic Sun)

How they acquired right here: The multi-year journey to the primary NCAA bid in program historical past is outstanding, from 1-28 in coach Amir Abdur-Rahim’s debut season of 2019-20, to 5 wins, to 13 wins, to this. The veteran-laded Owls gave hints of a takeover season within the Atlantic Sun with aggressive video games at Florida and at Indiana, then ripped by the league and earned the No. 1 seed – and homecourt benefit within the convention tourney – by beating the league’s present flagship program, Liberty, in a Feb. 16 dwelling sport. It was Liberty once more within the title sport, the primary sellout crowd in program historical past (3,805), and senior guard Terrell Burden sinking a free throw with 0.7 of a second left for a 67-66 win.

What you have to know: This crew is constructed round Burden on the level; huge, rangy capturing guards in Chris Youngblood and Brandon Stroud; and space-eating huge man Demond Robinson, a Murray State switch. That’s 48.7 factors per sport (Youngblood tops at 14.7) for a crew that averages 75.3 and performs at a quick tempo. Youngblood will get to his spots extraordinarily nicely and shoots 41.1 p.c from 3-point vary (79 for 192). He’s additionally a terrific foul shooter (82.5 p.c) for a crew that struggles total at 66.2 p.c. Stroud is the 6-6 stopper, the Atlantic Sun Defensive Player of the Year, for a crew that performs aggressive man protection and forces 14.5 turnovers per sport.

Spotlight on: Burden? More like Blur-den. You received’t discover many faster gamers than the (formally) 5-10 senior who had zero gives earlier than Abdur-Rahim plucked him from close by Smyrna. He has grown with this system, culminating in his 19-point output within the title sport to assert event MVP, and he’s precisely the type of story that makes the NCAA Tournament what it’s. He averages 13.5 factors and 4.2 assists per sport and defends ferociously. The solely a part of Burden’s sport that isn’t classic senior level guard is the 67.5 p.c exhibiting on the line. That didn’t cease him from making historical past at that line.

Record: 26-8 (17-1 Patriot)

How they acquired right here: Colgate was the category of the Patriot League this 12 months, working away with the regular-season and event titles and profitable 20 of its final 21 matchups. The Raiders, led by head coach Matt Langel, have made 4 NCAA Tournaments in 5 seasons, led this season by fifth-year senior Tucker Richardson, who leads the crew in factors, assists and steals.

What you have to know: The Raiders have probably the most environment friendly offenses within the nation, main the FBS in efficient field-goal proportion, in keeping with KenPom. Colgate doesn’t hoist a ton of 3-pointers, however they do convert 40.9 p.c of them, tops within the nation, and are top-10 in 2-point proportion. They don’t flip it over a lot both.

Spotlight on: Richardson is a part of a veteran group, certainly one of 4 senior starters, and earned Patriot League Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year honors. The five-year starter stuffed the stat sheet for the Raiders, averaging 13.9 factors, 5.2 rebounds, 5.8 assists and a couple of.1 steals.

Record: 22-12 (14-6 Horizon)

How they acquired right here: Northern Kentucky was the fourth seed within the Horizon League Tournament however was in a second-place tie and just one sport off the regular-season lead. The Norse had an incredible final month of the season, profitable seven of their closing eight video games and avenging their solely loss with a 63-61 win towards Cleveland State within the Horizon finals.

What you have to know: The Norse are a defense-first squad, rating twenty ninth total in permitting 63.6 factors per sport. Their adjusted tempo in keeping with KenPom is without doubt one of the nation’s lowest (358th) at 62.2 possessions per sport. They additionally rank 273rd in factors per sport (68.2).

Spotlight on: Sophomore guard Marques Warrick (6-2) was a second-team All-Horizon choice for the second straight season. He ranked fourth within the Horizon at 19.1 factors per sport and was instrumental in main the Norse to the Horizon title with 18 factors, six rebounds, three steals and a block.

The Athletic’s Scott Dochterman, Joe Rexrode, Jesse Temple and Justin Williams contributed to this story.

(Illustration: John Bradford: The Athletic; Photo: Bob Levey / Getty Images)