NCAA Basketball: Breakdown of all 32 autobids for 2022 NCAA Tournament
By Bryan Mauro
Gonzaga Bulldogs – WCC
Record: 26-3 and 13-1 in Conference
Colors: Navy Blue and White
Location: Spokane, Washington
Last Appearance: 2020-2021
Stop me if you have heard this before, Gonzaga wins the West Coast Conference automatic bid. Gonzaga enters the tournament as one of the overwhelming favorites to win the National Championship. They are the overall No. 1 seed and when playing up to their ability they won’t be challenged much until the final 8.
If you wish to be a Bulldog hater, get in line, because the line is long. When all you do is win and out recruit everyone it’s not hard to have a ton of haters. The Bulldogs lead the country in scoring offense again, they shoot 61% from inside the arc, shooting 53% from the floor, 39% from deep, and have one of the most unique players in the history of NCAA Basketball. Chet Holmgren is a 7’0” phenom. He is shooting 74% from the floor, 41% from deep, 75% from the free throw line. He is also averaging 4 blocks per game.
Colgate Raiders – Patriot League
Record: 23-11 and 16-2 in Conference
Colors: Maroon and Grey
Location: Hamilton, New York
Last Appearance: 2020-2021
Colgate has represented the Patriot League in the last three NCAA tournaments that have been played. The Raiders take and make a ton of three-pointers. They come in behind only South Dakota State in three-point percentage at 40% as a team.
Colgate is also extremely efficient from the floor as they shoot 47% as a team overall and with the experience, they have played in the NCAA tournament they are the most dangerous low seed in the tournament. They have given teams a bit of a game for a while in the tournament before finally losing.
Oliver Lynch-Daniels leads the NCAA in three-point shooting percentage at 54% from deep and Nelly Cummings has been at Colgate for the last four seasons and would love to finish his career with a win in the NCAA tournament.