Busting Brackets
Fansided

NCAA Basketball: 5 key questions for “best bets” of 2021-22 season

By Tristan Freeman

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 20: Ochai Agbaji #30 of the Kansas Jayhawks, Marcus Garrett #0 of the Kansas Jayhawks and David McCormack #33 of the Kansas Jayhawks during the second half against the Eastern Washington Eagles in the first round game of the 2021 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Indiana Farmers Coliseum on March 20, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 20: Ochai Agbaji #30 of the Kansas Jayhawks, Marcus Garrett #0 of the Kansas Jayhawks and David McCormack #33 of the Kansas Jayhawks during the second half against the Eastern Washington Eagles in the first round game of the 2021 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Indiana Farmers Coliseum on March 20, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 5
Next
NCAA Basketball Mike Krzyzewski Jon Scheyer Duke Blue Devils (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)
NCAA Basketball Mike Krzyzewski Jon Scheyer Duke Blue Devils (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /

4. Rank these teams at “+400” in terms of most likely to get to the Final Four: Duke, Kansas, Memphis, and Villanova.

Farmer

Kansas would be the team I see most likely going to the Final Four out of the group due to their offensive firepower. I’d rank Duke second because I think Mark Williams is going to have a monster season and I’m starting to buy the Paolo Banchero hype. Villanova is slightly below Duke, but I wouldn’t be shocked to see Jay Wright once again in the Final Four.

After Villanova, I’d leave a very large gap and then put Memphis for the same reasons that I think they’re the worst value pick to win the title.

Waddell

1. Kansas – 50/50 shot, good value
2. Duke – 40/60 shot, still good value
3. Memphis – ehhhh I don’t see it but if you like sloppy basketball from guys making a train stop to the NBA, go ahead and sprinkle
4. Villanova – you’re burning money call the gambling hotline

Mumm

As detailed previously, there’s a lot to like about this year’s Jayhawks program. Remy Martin at the helm is a large reason for said confidence, but the return of almost the entire roster around him gives this team a lot of talent to work with. A deeper frontcourt and backcourt is ready to ensure the team has a smoother and more solid season on both ends. A regrouping of several Big 12 powers, like Baylor, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State, leaves plenty of opportunities for Kansas to get everything dialed in for a Final Four run.

Likewise, Duke has a lot going for it heading into Coach K’s final season of his career. The arrival of Paolo Banchero gives the Blue Devils an immediate national star and one that will create mismatch after mismatch this year. The additions of AJ Griffin, Trevor Keels, and Theo John also drastically improve the defensive potential of this group. A rebound is inevitable and this year’s team has the chance to go very far in March.

Villanova is ecstatic to have Collin Gillespie back for another year. The team crumbled late in the season without his leadership on the court, but a nearly healthy roster with equal depth are heavy favorites in the Big East again. Their chances of making the Final Four are very high despite the departure of Jeremiah Robinson-Earl in the paint. Nnana Njoku will be a monster for them inside on the glass and while this year’s version may shoot the 3 even more frequently their impact on both ends will keep them in nearly every ball game.

Coach Hardaway landed monster 5-star freshman Emoni Bates and Jalen Duren to drastically elevate the potential of this year’s roster. Vegas has quickly jumped on board by placing heavy odds of success in March Madness and during the season. While their path in the AAC will get the Tigers finally into the Field of 68 in the Penny era, the youth of Bates and Duren brings some concerns in a single-elimination format.

The talent is undeniably there, along with Deandre Williams, Earl Timberlake, and Landers Nolley, but for those teams that can successfully game plan for a duo like Bates-Duren, the Tigers can be in trouble more so than the other three teams.

Home/NCAA Basketball News