Busting Brackets
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NCAA Tournament: Ranking all 68 teams in the Big Dance

By Lukas Harkins

DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA - JANUARY 19: The Cameron Crazies taunt Ty Jerome #11 of the Virginia Cavaliers during the second half of their game against the Duke Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium on January 19, 2019 in Durham, North Carolina. Duke won 72-70. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA - JANUARY 19: The Cameron Crazies taunt Ty Jerome #11 of the Virginia Cavaliers during the second half of their game against the Duke Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium on January 19, 2019 in Durham, North Carolina. Duke won 72-70. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – MARCH 17: The Michigan State Spartans pose. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – MARCH 17: The Michigan State Spartans pose. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

Second-tier title contenders

8. Michigan Wolverines (28-6, 15-5 B10) – No. 2 seed

An elite defensive team, Michigan has the ability to lock down anyone in the country. They communicate extremely well on that end of the floor, can defend both the paint and the perimeter, and are altogether fundamentally sound. On the whole, head coach John Beilein is one of the best in the country when it comes to winning in March so betting against him would be a mistake. A healthy Charles Matthews makes this team all the more dangerous while Jordan Poole is the kind of offensive threat that could catch fire and carry this defense-oriented squad to the promised land.

7. Kentucky Wildcats (27-6, 15-3 SEC) – No. 2 seed

Head coach John Calipari seemingly always has his team in a position to succeed come March and this year is no different. While many may have quickly written the Wildcats off early in the year when they fell to Duke by 34, the team did not give up. UK has pushed throughout the season and they are now playing their best basketball of the year. Tyler Herro has emerged as a legit “bucket-getter” and the team has seen significant growth out of other players as well. This is a more experienced and battle-tested Kentucky team that many might be accustomed to and they can be very dangerous.

6. Tennessee Volunteers (29-5, 15-3 SEC) – No. 2 seed

One of the most experienced teams in the country, Tennessee is right back where they were a year ago: overlooked and sitting on the No. 2 seed line. Thanks to the superstar tandem of Grant Williams and Admiral Schofield, this team has a two-headed monster that very few teams can match up against and Rick Barnes is always one of the more underrated head coaches in the country. The Volunteers might not seem like one of the “usual” favorites to win it all but they have one of the highest odds and deservedly so.

5. Michigan State Spartans (28-6, 16-4 B10) – No. 2 seed

Never count out head coach Tom Izzo in March. Even though the Spartans have not exactly dominated in the NCAA Tournament in recent years, this is definitely not a team to overlook. Cassius Winston is arguably the best point guard in the entire nation and there is plenty of talent around him a well. Michigan State has dealt with its fair share of injuries throughout this season but they are battle-tested and ready to go. They have won 10 of their last 11 games heading into the Big Dance and have the leadership and star power to win it all.

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