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NCAA Tournament 2019: Buy or sell Iowa State, Villanova, Buffalo and Maryland?

By Nick Hemming

LINCOLN, NE - FEBRUARY 6: The Maryland Terrapins bench celebrates a score against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Pinnacle Bank Arena on February 6, 2019 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)
LINCOLN, NE - FEBRUARY 6: The Maryland Terrapins bench celebrates a score against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Pinnacle Bank Arena on February 6, 2019 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images) /
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VILLANOVA, PA – DECEMBER 05: Head coach Jay Wright of the Villanova Wildcats and the bench react in front of Nate Pierre-Louis #15 of the Temple Owls after a turnover by the Temple Owls in the first half at Finneran Pavilion on December 5, 2018 in Villanova, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
VILLANOVA, PA – DECEMBER 05: Head coach Jay Wright of the Villanova Wildcats and the bench react in front of Nate Pierre-Louis #15 of the Temple Owls after a turnover by the Temple Owls in the first half at Finneran Pavilion on December 5, 2018 in Villanova, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

Villanova Wildcats | 25-9 (13-5 in Big East)

First Round Opponent: #11 St. Mary’s (Thursday, 3/21 @ 7:20 PM)

Sure, this year’s batch of Villanova Wildcats doesn’t have the same prestige of last year’s powerful unit. There’s no Jalen Brunson or Donte DiVincenzo to turn March Madness into their own personal highlight reels for NBA scouts. You want to know what ‘Nova does have? Jay Wright.

Jay Wright has built Villanova into a yearly powerhouse that hangs its hat on its ability to really come alive in March, and this year, as his team enters the tournament the #6 seed in the South region, he looks to do it again. The man has led the Wildcats to two national titles in the past three years, the same success rate of Nick Saban’s Alabama Crimson Tide on the gridiron. Let’s just say that he’s at the height of his game.

Wright’s Cats are always well-coached and disciplined this time of year, and the 2K19 roster is no different, coming into tourney time riding high after outlasting Seton Hall in the Big East Championship. Look for seniors Phil Booth and Eric Paschall’s invaluable tournament experience to lead the way, but don’t sleep on sophomore guard Collin Gillespie, who is averaging 11.1 PPG. While St. Mary’s has shown the ability to perform at a high level (i.e. knocking off Gonzaga in their conference tournament), you won’t see me betting against Jay Wright in March!

Verdict: BUY, BUY, BUY

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