NCAA Tournament 2019: Buy or sell Duke, Gonzaga, Virginia and UNC?

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CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – MARCH 15: Kyle Guy #5 of the Virginia Cavaliers reacts after a play against the Florida State Seminoles during their game in the semifinals of the 2019 Men’s ACC Basketball Tournament at Spectrum Center on March 15, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

Virginia Cavaliers – BUY

The last time we saw Virginia as a number one seed they were being run out of the gym by UMBC. They became the first one seed ever to lose to a sixteen seed. Unfortunately for the Cavaliers people can’t get that out of their mind and they will be a trendy pick to be upset early in this tournament. This is a different team though. They still have the same great defense but they are scoring at a better clip then they were last year. Combine the two of those things together and this is a very dangerous team.

Virginia will be a focused team, because they do not want to have a repeat of last year. Kyle Guy leads the way for the Cavaliers and is one of three Cavs who is shooting over 40% from the outside. As a team Virginia shoots over 40% from outside. They can beat anybody in the country when they get hot. With their defense, though, they don’t have to get hot to win games. They can grind out wins, but have shown the ability to win games this year by scoring a lot of points.

Most people are going to sell of Virginia’s chances to make a Final Four run, but like Duke they have a relatively easy path. Especially to the Elite Eight. Ole Miss could give them a decent game in the second round, but they are so up and down that it shouldn’t be a problem. The Cavaliers would probably run into Kansas State or Wisconsin in the Sweet 16. Two teams that have struggled to score this year. Ethan Happ would be a matchup problem for Virginia but the rest of the team has really struggled and Virginia would be able to clamp down. Either way Virginia is a bad matchup for those two teams and they should be able to get through.

In the Elite Eight Tennessee would be the opponent if seeds hold and would be a tough game. But again Virginia’s defense should be the difference. They have the ability to shut down the interior of the Volunteer offense and should be the favorite. Again until Virginia can prove they can win the tournament there will be doubters, but they should not be taken lightly and you should buy on the Cavaliers.

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