With the sector for the 2023 males’s NCAA match now official, we’re breaking down every workforce within the bracket within the lead-up to the match. Here’s what you’ll want to know in regards to the East area.
[Free bracket contests for both tourneys | Printable Bracket: Men’s | Women’s]
29-5, Big Ten champions
Purdue began the season unranked after dropping lottery choose Jaden Ivey from a 2022 workforce that earned a No. 3 seed and superior to the Sweet 16. Now right here it’s again and higher because of the unplanned emergence of Zach Edey.
The 7-4 middle who joined Purdue as a three-star challenge in 2020 has emerged as an unstoppable drive and a National Player of the Year favourite as a junior. Edey’s averaged 22.3 factors, 12.8 rebounds and a pair of.1 blocks as a junior whereas main Purdue to a No. 1 seed. He’s surrounded by All-Big Ten honorable mentions Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer on a workforce that ranks seventh nationally in KenPom’s adjusted offensive effectivity and twenty sixth in protection. The Boilermakers have the longest odds of any of the No. 1 seeds, however Edey offers them a matchup nightmare and an opportunity to win any recreation.
No. 2 Marquette (+2500)
28-6, Big East champions
Like Purdue, Marquette wasn’t anticipated to be right here in the beginning of the season. The Golden Eagles entered the season and not using a single vote within the preseason AP ballot. They enter the NCAA match as one of many hottest groups within the nation, having gained 9 straight video games and 14 out of their final 15.
Second-year coach Shaka Smart has fast-forwarded the turnaround at Marquette in his second season after taking on for Steve Wojciechowski in 2021. Now the problem is undertaking what eluded him at Texas — NCAA match success. Marquette begins play ranked eighth within the nation in adjusted offensive effectivity whereas that includes Big East Player of the Year Tyler Kolek, who’s stuffed up the field rating with 13.3 factors, 7.7 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 1.8 steals per recreation whereas taking pictures 39.4% from 3-point distance.
No. 3 Kansas State (+5000)
23-9, at massive
Here’s one other workforce that wasn’t presupposed to be right here. Like Purdue and Marquette, Kansas State entered the season outdoors the highest 25. Propelled by Florida switch Keyontae Johnson, Kansas State posted a third-place end within the nation’s hardest convention. Johnson is among the tales of the yr having recovered from a reported coronary heart situation that just about value him his life in 2020 and in the end ended his Florida profession.
He transferred to KSU to emerge as an All-Big 12 participant and re-emerge as an NBA prospect. All after his basketball profession was presupposed to be over. The Wildcats are ranked nineteenth within the nation in adjusted defensive effectivity and can show a tricky out.
No. 4 Tennessee (+3000)
23-10, at massive
Here’s a workforce that is seeded roughly in keeping with its preseason expectations. The Vols began the season ranked No. 11 and earned a No. 4 seed after a fifth-place end in a tricky SEC. Unfortunately for the Vols, they might have been seeded increased and enter match play on a downswing.
Tennessee misplaced start line guard and elite defender Zakai Ziegler to an ACL tear on March 1. Without one other true level guard on the roster, the Vols are hobbled and misplaced two of their final three video games. They rank second within the nation in adjusted defensive effectivity for the season. How that holds up with out Ziegler within the lineup will likely be Tennessee’s greatest problem.
No. 5 Duke (+2500)
26-8, at massive
What a turnaround. Armed with a freshman class loaded with NBA prospects, Duke began the season ranked No. 7 within the nation. A 17-8 begin had them properly out of the highest 25 in Jon Scheyer’s first yr as head coach. But since a Feb. 11 loss to Virginia, Duke hasn’t dropped a recreation. It ripped six straight wins to shut the common season then three extra to safe the ACC match championship. Now there’s discuss that Duke’s really under-seeded on the 5 line.
The Blue Devils function an elite rim protector in freshman Dereck Lively and a flexible All-ACC freshman in ahead Kyle Filipowski. They’ll be one of many most-watched groups within the East and the NCAA match.
No. 6 Kentucky (+4000)
21-11, at massive
Kentucky likewise saved its season from potential catastrophe. The Wildcats had been on the verge of enjoying themselves out of the match midseason after beginning the season ranked No. 4. A ten-6 begin had the Wildcats out of the polls. But high quality wins over Tennessee, Auburn, Mississippi State and Arkansas cleared the trail for an NCAA bid. Though two loses of their final three recreation to Vanderbilt renewed questions on John Calipari’s workforce.
2022 National Player of the Year Oscar Tshiebwe returns from a workforce that suffered a historic upset to St. Peter’s final yr as a No. 2 seed. Will he and the Wildcats discover redemption with the strain tamped down — if ever so barely?
No. 7 Michigan State (+10000)
19-12, at massive
In what’s been a tough winter in East Lansing, Tom Izzo has his Spartans again within the NCAA match for a twenty fifth straight season. Michigan State completed fourth within the Big Ten within the common season and misplaced within the match quarterfinals to an Ohio State workforce that completed thirteenth in convention play. This isn’t classic Michigan State.
If the Spartans make a transfer, they’re going to achieve this behind All-Big Ten guard Tyson Walker, a senior sharpshooter who reveals up huge within the huge moments — together with Michigan State’s first dwelling recreation following a deadly on-campus mass taking pictures in February.
No. 8 Memphis (+8000)
26-8, AAC champions
For as soon as below Penny Hardaway, Memphis would not enter NCAA match play leaning closely on highly-rated freshmen. Memphis contains a beginning lineup that boasts a grand complete of zero freshmen this season. In reality, the Tigers’ 9 main scorers are all seniors. First-team All-AAC gamers Kendric Davis (22.1 factors, 5.6 assists per recreation) and DeAndre Williams (17.8 factors, 8 rebounds per recreation, 42.6% 3-point taking pictures) cleared the path for a Memphis workforce that ranks twenty sixth in adjusted offensive effectivity and thirty fifth in protection.
This is a workforce that simply beat No. 1 seed Houston within the AAC title recreation. It can do harm in March.
No. 9 Florida Atlantic (+20000)
31-3, CUSA champions
Florida Atlantic is a powerful 3-point taking pictures workforce (37.2%) with 4 gamers who shoot 36.9% or higher from distance. This is a harmful asset come March. All-CUSA guards Johnell Davis and Alijah Martin cleared the path on a workforce that ranks thirty second in adjusted offensive effectivity and thirty sixth on protection. FAU’s first-round matchup towards Memphis is among the first spherical’s most attractive.
No. 10 USC (+20000)
22-10, at massive
The Trojans completed third within the Pac-12 and have a pair of All-Pac 12 guards in Boogie Ellis (18 factors, 3.7 rebounds, 3 assists per recreation) and Drew Peterson (14 factors, 6.2 rebounds, 4.4 assists per recreation). They rank within the high 50 in each offensive and defensive effectivity. This is not an elite USC workforce, however it’s balanced and has robust guard play, which may result in success in match play.
No. 11 Providence (+12500)
21-11, at massive
The Friars are as chilly because it will get coming into NCAA match play, having misplaced three straight and 4 out of their final 5. Their solely win since Feb. 18 got here towards a Georgetown workforce that simply fired program icon Patrick Ewing. This isn’t what you need to see in March.
Providence ranks sixteenth within the nation in offensive effectivity however 108th on protection. It will want a giant recreation from All-Big East ahead and Kentucky switch Bryce Hopkins (16.1 factors, 8.5 rebounds per recreation) to have any likelihood towards the Wildcats.
No. 12 Oral Roberts (+25000)
30-4, Summit League champions
Oral Roberts enters the NCAA match on a 17-game win streak and recent off a Summit League championship. Its reward? A date with a red-hot Duke workforce with a chip on its shoulder.
Two-time Summit League Player of the Year Max Abmas (22.2 factors, 4.4 rebounds, 4 assists per recreation; 37.7% 3-point taking pictures) is a bucket who’s been right here earlier than. He led then-No. 15 seed Oral Roberts to a run to the Sweet 16 in 2021 with wins over No. 2 seed Ohio State and No. 7 seed Florida. Now ORU is a No. 12 seed, however the path forward could also be more durable.
No. 13 Louisiana (+50000)
26-7, Sun Belt champions
Louisiana’s gained 5 straight coming into match play, however solely had one recreation this season towards a ranked workforce. They misplaced to Texas, 100-72 in December. All-Sun Belt ahead Jordan Brown is a drive within the submit who averaged 19.4 factors and eight.7 rebounds this season. The Ragin Cajuns can flip it and ranked 57th in adjusted offensive effectivity this yr. But they rank 146th in protection and face a tricky job towards a top quality Tennessee workforce — even one lacking its start line guard.
No. 14 Montana State (+100000)
25-9, Big Sky champions
The Bobcats gained 13 out of 14 en path to the Big Sky championship. They function three gamers who rating in double figures together with All-Big Sky ahead Raequan Battle (17.4 factors per recreation). Conference Defensive Player of the Year Darius Brown anchors a protection that ranks 73rd in defensive effectivity. But the Bobcats are going to should battle for factors towards Kansas State with the nation’s One hundred and seventieth-ranked offense.
No. 15 Vermont (+100000)
23-10, America East champions
After an 8-10 begin, Vermont ripped off 14 straight wins to safe the America East crown. Their reward is a matchup with an equally sizzling Marquette workforce that simply gained the Big East. The Catamounts will want a giant recreation from main scorer Dylan Penn simply to maintain issues fascinating.
No. 16 Texas Southern (+100000)
14-20, SWAC champions
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No. 16 Fairleigh Dickinson (+100000)
19-15, NEC champions
Texas Southern gained the SWAC convention match regardless of ending six video games below .500 this season. Fairleigh Dickinson is not significantly better with 15 losses. Don’t anticipate both to maintain issues fascinating towards Purdue.
