Busting Brackets
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2017 NCAA Tournament: Ranking the entire field of 68

By Lukas Harkins

Mar 9, 2017; New York, NY, USA; Villanova Wildcats forward Kris Jenkins (2) and guard Jalen Brunson (1) celebrate after Villanova Wildcats guard Donte DiVincenzo (10) scored against St. John's Red Storm during second half of Big East Conference Tournament Quarterfinals at Madison Square Garden. Villanova Wildcats defeated St. John's Red Storm 108-67.Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 9, 2017; New York, NY, USA; Villanova Wildcats forward Kris Jenkins (2) and guard Jalen Brunson (1) celebrate after Villanova Wildcats guard Donte DiVincenzo (10) scored against St. John's Red Storm during second half of Big East Conference Tournament Quarterfinals at Madison Square Garden. Villanova Wildcats defeated St. John's Red Storm 108-67.Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 12, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Rhode Island Rams guard Jared Terrell (32) reacts after the final buzzer against the Virginia Commonwealth Rams during the second half of the Atlantic 10 Conference Championship game at the PPG Paints Arena. Rhode Island won 70-63. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 12, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Rhode Island Rams guard Jared Terrell (32) reacts after the final buzzer against the Virginia Commonwealth Rams during the second half of the Atlantic 10 Conference Championship game at the PPG Paints Arena. Rhode Island won 70-63. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

Teams ranked 48 to 45

48. Vermont Catamounts

Record: 29-5 (16-0 America East)

Seed: 13 in the Midwest

Vermont is currently on the longest winning streak in the country, which automatically makes them a dangerous squad. Regardless of their strength of schedule, winning is winning. The Catamounts have consistently done that this year. They match up with Purdue in the first round, which will put them at a size disadvantage.

Still, Vermont has a +12.0 points per game differential on the year and are very well-rounded. And after playing Butler, Providence, and South Carolina on the road, Vermont has played a decent number of very good teams. However, they are 0-4 against the top-100, so an upset over Purdue would be a surprise.

47. USC Trojans

Record: 24-9 (10-8 Pac-12)

Seed: 11 in the East

Playing in the First Four is never easy, but we have seen VCU make a deep run out of it. The Trojans have beaten both SMU and UCLA this season, which are awesome wins, and only have one loss to a team outside of the top-100.

Bennie Boatwright and Chimezie Metu average over 14 points per game and will be the key to the Trojans potentially making a run. USC is a strong team on the offensive end, but need more of a defensive presence to move on.

46. Nevada Wolf Pack

Record: 28-6 (14-4 Mountain West)

Seed: 12 in the Midwest

Even though Nevada lost their only game against the top-50, they ended up 10-5 against the top-100 with an RPI of 29. For those of you considering the Wolf Pack to be a 12-over-5 upset over Iowa State, just know that Marcus Marshall and Cameron Oliver are the real deal.

Nevada is across the board a really good team, but they have a tough draw in Iowa State, who just won the Big 12 Tournament. Nevada and Iowa State might be one of the best match-ups of the weekend, so watch out.

45. Rhode Island Rams

Record: 24-9 (13-5 Atlantic 10)

Seed: 11 in the Midwest

Based on where they were seeded, it is fair to say that if Rhode Island didn’t win the Atlantic 10 Tournament, they might have been left out of the field entirely. But no matter what, they did win, so that is not relevant.

Both Rhode Island and Creighton are in good shape to make a decent run as they are playing very well. E.C. Matthews and Hassan Martin are very talented players for Rhody who can get hot and carry a team to the second weekend.

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