2019 NCAA Tournament: Gonzaga, Virginia, and Duke under most pressure to win
By Connor Hope
As we enter the 2019 NCAA Tournament, several teams are under immense pressure to succeed. Who are they and why must they win?
Every March, there are a handful of teams under unusually heavy pressure to succeed in the NCAA Tournament. Some teams, pegged as “overrated,” are trying to shake the doubt that surrounds them, while other just want to prove that they belong. Either way, an early loss will not only end the season, but will also fuel the critics and validate their arguments.
When teams finally succeed under the pressure, it is something fans will always remember. The Villanova Wildcats finally proved everyone wrong when they marched on the win the NCAA Tournament; Syracuse always seems to be in a position where they outplay expectations; and the Gonzaga Bulldogs have made four straight Sweet 16s despite playing in a slightly weaker conference than traditional basketball powerhouses.
This season, ten teams find themselves in situations that make the 2019 NCAA Tournament a proving ground for their success. This group is made up of National Championship contenders, First Four teams, and a few squads who took multiple late season losses. For one reason or another, many fans are fully expecting these teams to do extremely well, while others are expecting them to fall flat on their faces. In order to put these criticisms to rest, they must step up on the biggest stage and succeed.
Let’s take a look at the ten teams under the most pressure to succeed in the 2019 NCAA Tournament.