2021 NCAA Tournament South Region roundtable, key questions
4. Which first-round game are you most looking forward to?
Zacher
No first-round matchup screams “chaos” to me quite like Arkansas and Colgate, and I am so, so excited for it. These are two teams that rank in the top ten in the country in points per game, with Arkansas scoring a 7th-best 82.4 and Colgate trailing just Gonzaga for the top spot, coming in at 86.3.
Both teams are among the fastest in the nation, too, ranking in the top 25 and earning over 72 possessions per game. The Razorbacks are above average in nearly every offensive and defensive statistic, and the Raiders rank third in the country in 3P%, 18th in 2P%, and are the best team in the country in defending the perimeter, holding teams to 26.1% from outside. This game is going to be absolutely bonkers, and when people say that the first team to 100 wins, that is no exaggeration.
Geller
UNC-Wisconsin is undoubtedly the best first-round matchup in this region and maybe the whole tournament. Experienced guards for Wisconsin against the young backcourt of the Tar Heels. Both teams figured to be seeded higher when the season started, but we get the joy to watch them battle it out right off the rip. Texas Tech and Utah State would be the other. Fun players to watch, such as Mac McClung and Neemias Queta.
Tineo
North Carolina and Wisconsin could easily be two teams that would’ve won their 8-9 matchup if they weren’t playing each other. North Carolina is loaded with talent but has been inconsistent for the majority of the year.
However, the Tar Heels are hitting their stride at the right time, and have played well of late. Armani Bacot and Caleb Love headline Roy Williams squad.
For Wisconsin, they are a team relied on by experience and three-point shooting. However, Wisconsin has not been able to beat a team, near the top of the conference. The best win in conference play was to Michigan State and came to the end of the season limping, losing four of their last five.
Wisconsin has the better defense and should be prepared for the Tar Heels in that aspect.
Thedinga
Colgate, the king of the NET rankings, and Arkansas! Two absolutely elite offenses coming together in a ‘first to 100’ type of game. Colgate is a relative unknown, only playing five conference teams all year. Watching them, though, they won’t back down to the challenge of seeing a Power 5 opponent.
For Arkansas, SEC freshman of the year Moses Moody leads the way with 17.4 points per game. Arkansas gets the skill advantage, but Colgate’s Princeton-style offense can be tough to adapt to on quick notice. Musselman’s team should pull it out, but don’t be surprised if the Patriot League’s pride and joy makes a game of it.
Zinkula
Definitely UNC-Wisconsin. The Tar Heels have been playing better lately, and the team’s unique style — play two of Armando Bacot (6-10), Garrison Brooks (6-10), Day’Ron Sharpe (6-11), and Walker Kessler (7-1) at almost all times — makes them an intriguing watch (No. 1 nationally in offensive rebounding).
Roy Williams will also be looking to continue his amazing tournament run. Since 2000, Williams is 19/19 in the Round of 64, earning victories as a 1-seed (nine times), 2-seed (three times), 3-seed (once), 4-seed (twice), 6-seed (twice), and an 8-seed (twice).
The senior-laden Wisconsin squad — which entered the season No. 7 in the AP Poll — has largely underperformed, going 10-10 in conference play. There’s some reason, however, to think the Badgers are much better than their record appears and simply fell victim to an ultra-competitive Big 10 schedule. The team’s last four losses to Iowa (62-57), Iowa again (77-73), Purdue (73-69), and Illinois (74-69) all came by close margins, and some predictive metrics are high on Wisconsin (10th at KenPom).
Not only is each team interesting in a vacuum, but the game itself should be very competitive (Tar Heels a 1-2 point favorite).