NCAA Basketball: Breakdown of all 32 autobids for 2022 NCAA Tournament
By Bryan Mauro
UAB Blazers – Conference USA
Record: 27-7 and 14-4 in Conference
Location: Birmingham, Alabama
Colors: Gold and Green
Last Appearance: 2014-2015
The Blazers are a team that is going to be a team that many casual basketball fans fall in love with. They play fast and they take and make threes. They have a few lock-down defenders on the defensive end, they block a ton of shots and are one of the best rebounding teams in the country. Another thing that is going to make fans fall in love with UAB is they have a flashy point guard who won the Conference USA Player of the Year.
Jordan Walker is a 5’11” point guard who is one of the elite scorers in the tournament. He shoots over 40% from deep and has scored over 40 multiple times this season. When he gets going UAB can get separation fast. They are extremely dangerous because they play a style that is hard to prepare for.
Arizona Wildcats – Pac-12
Record: 31-3 and 18-2 in Conference
Location: Tucson, Arizona
Colors: Navy Blue and Cardinal
Last Appearance: 2017-2018
It is hard to believe that Arizona has not made the tournament since 2017-2018 but the Wildcats are back this year. There are many out there who think that Arizona is the best team in the country and is one of the overwhelming favorites to win the National Championship. Arizona is one of the best offensive teams in the country. They also have a legitimate lottery pick in Bennedict Mathurin.
Arizona shoots a high percentage from the floor, makes most of their threes, and has a loaded roster with a lot of different players who can beat you. Arizona is good and it would be a huge surprise if the Wildcats exit before the elite eight.