Favorite and dark horse
Favorite: TCU
The Horned Frogs are a borderline top 25 team with a roster full of players with NCAA Tournament experience and success. They clearly enter the field as the best and most accomplished team overall, and they’ve done nothing but prove themselves this year.
TCU is the only team in the field that ranks in the top 35 nationally in both offensive and defensive efficiency but, as is the case with any Jamie Dixon team, they hang their hat on their defense. The Horned Frogs rank in the top 15 nationally in three-point defense and effective field goal percentage defense, keeping every opponent to 70 points or less.
Dark horse: Colorado
Colorado is flying a bit under the radar nationally and, while they haven’t played a really tough schedule, their gaudy 8-1 record isn’t a fluke. They’re balanced offensively with six players averaging over nine points per game but have a guy in Wright who is capable of taking over and carrying them when they need him to.
Most importantly, the Buffaloes don’t beat themselves. They don’t allow second shots (third in defensive rebounding percentage) and turn the ball over on less than a fifth of their percentage – a solid number compared to the rest of the country.
Colorado has a favorable path to the title game and, if they get there, might just win and earn some more respect nationally.