5 Teams that can make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament

Michigan State: Never underestimate a Tim Izzo team come March. Izzo always has his group of guys ready for the biggest stage of the college basketball season. Michigan State had a great chance to win the Big 10 conference title but came up short to Frank Kaminsky and the Wisconsin Badgers, 80-69. The Spartans finished the season strong, going 4-1 and could possibly land in the Sweet 16 or Elite Eight if Denzel Valentine and Branden Dawson are at their best. Travis Trice is another key piece to Michigan State’s run as he leads the team in scoring (14.8 points per game). When the Georgia Bulldogs step onto the floor with the Spartans, they best to bring their A-game, because Michigan State surely will.

More from March Madness

NC State: The Wolfpack made the field of 68 and it was because of wins over Louisville, Duke, and North Carolina, thanks to their three-core players Trevor Lacey, Ralston Turner, and Anthony Barber. All three players finished the regular season averaging in double figures, with Lacey leading the way with 15.8 points per game. Turner and Barber averaged 13.2 and 12.1 points per contest, respectively. If all three of these guys are on the same page, NC State could easily sneak into the Sweet 16, but for that to happen, the Wolfpack would have to beat No. 1-seeded Villanova Wildcats, champions of the Big East Tournament. After beating the Blue Devils, Tar Heels, and Cardinals in the regular season- when NC State’s season was in doubt- anything is possible around this time of year for the Wolfpack.

LSU: LSU, under head coach Johnny Jones, played great against Kentucky, but showed no sense of urgency in losses to Texas A&M, Missouri, and Auburn in the regular season and SEC Tournament. The Tigers can be an intimidating team, but you never know what team is going to hit the floor. Jordan Mickey and Jarell Martin are double-double machines. Keith Hornsby can knock down 3-pointers when his shooting stroke is proficient and freshman Jalyn Patterson is a solid threat in transition. The lack of depth has hurt LSU and its players have, at times, displayed the fatigue factor.

Maybe Jones should play a deeper lineup if he wants his team to survive and advance.

Honorable Mentions

Northern Iowa: The Panthers come into the Big Dance riding a three-game winning streak and those wins led them to the Missouri Valley Conference title. Now, the question is “Can they keep things rolling through the rest of March?” I think so. Forward Seth Tuttle leads the team in scoring (15.3 ppg) and is the main reason why Northern Iowa is in great position to make a possible Elite Eight run. Tuttle can certainly rely on guard Devin Mitchell and forward Nate Buss. Both players are averaging 7.4 points per game.

The Panthers can play at either a fast or slow pace. It doesn’t matter to them. The Wyoming Cowboys just have to be sure that they can keep up with them.

Virginia: Justin Anderson is back for the Virginia Cavaliers, but his shooting stroke is not where it once was before the injury to his shooting hand. In the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament, Anderson was 0-for-6 from the field. Maybe coach Tony Bennett should continue to play Anderson in short spurts, since he’s not himself right now. There’s not enough time for Anderson to get back to being the 3-point specialist he was before the hand injury. Virginia has one of the best defenses in the country, holding opponents to 50.8 points per game, but its first game is against a Belmont team that’s averaging 74.5 points a game.

If Malcolm Brogdon and London Perrantes are not effective early on, the Cavaliers may be in danger of an early exit of the NCAA Tournament. For the sake of Virginia, let’s hope Anderson can be somewhat productive on offense.

Next: Three Bracket Busters in the South Region

More from Busting Brackets

Home/March Madness