NCAA Basketball: 10 teams most likely to win 2022 NCAA Tournament

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - APRIL 05: (L-R) MaCio Teague #31, Jackson Moffatt #13, Jared Butler #12, Matthew Mayer #24 and Mark Paterson #35 of the Baylor Bears dance on the court after defeating the Gonzaga Bulldogs 86-70 in the National Championship game of the 2021 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 05, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

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NCAA Basketball UCLA Bruins (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /

8. UCLA Bruins

UCLA entered the season with some of the highest expectations in the entire nation. While they haven’t fulfilled them for most of the season, no time like the present to flip that over.

The individual talent that led the Bruins to postseason success last year is still around. Johnny Juzang averaged 16 points per game, while Jaime Jaquez, Jules Bernard, and Tyger Campbell all averaged in the double digits. Any one of them can get hot and turn a game in UCLA’s favor.

Whether or not the Bruins can put it altogether remains to be seen. There have been flashes of the potential laden in Mick Cronin’s team throughout the year, but they’ve struggled to prove it against some of the best teams in the nation, like Gonzaga and Arizona; they’re going to have to do so to win a title.

The Bruins should have little issue in their First Round game with Akron. The Zips were able to make a solid run through the MAC, but they weren’t even one of the top three teams in the conference that season. An upset would be a big surprise.

UCLA should also be able to get out of the Second Round. They would either face Saint Mary’s or Indiana/Wyoming, either of who would be on their third game in five days when they go up against the Bruins. From there, anything can happen.

Last year’s run was surprising, but it was supposed to be more expected this year after the team brought virtually everyone back. It’s time to prove the expectations weren’t for nothing.

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