NCAA Basketball: 2019 2K Empire Classic preview and predictions

Which team could be a sleeper? Who has the most to gain?

Duke should be the clear-cut favorite of this four-team event, they are undefeated and ranked No.1, but they aren’t without question marks. While we have seen an improved defensive effort from them thus far this season, giving up just the 59.5 points per game, I mentioned earlier over their first four, but offensively, who will step up as a go-to-guy in crunch time? Will Jones show enough consistency in an improved shot to be the guy? Or will Carey or Stanley take the reigns as a freshman? Duke should win this tournament but they seem to be sorting out some offensive roles.

If there is a team that could sneak their way to a title, I would choose the Texas Longhorns. They enter the tournament unblemished with a win over Purdue and guards Coleman and perhaps the feel-good story of the season so far, Jones who returns after fighting leukemia have been fantastic for Smart so far this season. Lidell had a breakout game against the Boilermakers with 14 points, eight rebounds, and four assists and he has continued that trend entering the tournament, having netted nine points and six rebounds in his next game, the win over California Baptist.

Mark Fox’s Golden Bears are likely to be flirting with last in the Pac-12 again after finishing there last season and not much improvement is expected and sitting at 4-0 anything other than two losses should be considered a positive step for Fox’s crew, which makes Cal in my opinion, the team with the most to gain in this tournament.