NCAA Basketball: Predicting all 32 autobids for 2022 NCAA Tournament
By Bryan Mauro
ACC
Winner: Duke Blue Devils
The ACC had one of the worst years they have had in quite a long time this year and they don’t have too many prospects for the NCAA tournament. It would be surprising if the conference got more than three teams in the Dance. Duke is the only team who is a lock to make it right now and doesn’t need the tournament to cement their spot in the dance.
Even still there is too much at stake for Duke, that they cannot afford to not play well in New York. This is the last season for Coach K and the players would want nothing more than to send him out a winner. The Blue Devils also have the best trio of big men in the league and arguably some of the best in the country.
All three of them do different things which makes them very hard to prepare for. Mark Williams protects the paint and rebounds and plays great defense. Paolo Banchero is in the running for Freshman of the year. He can do everything and is likely a lottery pick. Theo John brings the experience and the defense to a second unit that needs it. Duke needs to win this tournament to avoid dropping a seed line.
Sleeper: Virginia Cavaliers
In November, after a tough start by the Cavaliers, I said it wasn’t time to write off the Cavaliers because they still have another run in them. They made me look foolish up until about two weeks ago. Once the calendar switched to February, Virginia turned it on. They already have a win over Duke, and they beat Providence earlier this season.
Did anyone really doubt the ability of head coach Tony Bennett to get his team playing at a high level? They still defend and the offense is coming around at the right time. Virginia is going to use this week to improve their resume and perhaps find themselves in the tournament. Those Duke and Providence wins are very good wins, and if they play well enough the question marks on their resume may just take care of itself.