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Bracketology 2023 projected field: Arizona, Tennessee rise to top of field

By Jason Burgess

Mar 17, 2022; San Diego, CA, USA; A general view of the March Madness logo at center court before the first round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament at Viejas Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 17, 2022; San Diego, CA, USA; A general view of the March Madness logo at center court before the first round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament at Viejas Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Iowa State University Cyclones guard Gabe Kalscheur Bracketology Photo by Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames TribuneBaylor And Iowa State Men S Basketball
Iowa State University Cyclones guard Gabe Kalscheur Bracketology Photo by Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames TribuneBaylor And Iowa State Men S Basketball /

Midwest Region (Kansas City)

(1) Alabama vs. (16) Youngstown State
(8) Florida Atlantic vs. (9) USC
(5) Miami vs. (12) Kent State
(4) TCU vs. (13) Iona
(6) San Diego State vs. (11) Wisconsin/Wake Forest
(3) Iowa State vs. (14) Southern Mississippi
(7)Michigan State vs. (10) Missouri
(2) UCLA vs. (15) Furman

Alabama climbs to the No. 2 overall seed in this edition of the bracket. Despite their surprising loss to Oklahoma on Saturday the Crimson Tide still find themselves on the top-seed line. All three losses on their season fall into quad 1 and they have 11 of their 18 wins in the first two quadrants, which means they their schedule is strong. They are in the top five in every metric and have a strength of schedule of 6th, with their non-conference portion being 8th. For a team that averages over 82 points per game, their defense is their calling card. As of Sunday, the Crimson Tide are 6th or better in defensive efficiency, effective field goal percentage against, two and three-point defense.

If you like defense, the Midwest Region is the one to keep your eyeballs on. In addition to Alabama, five other teams rank in the top 30 in defensive efficiency. Led by No. 2 seed UCLA, Iowa State is also in the top 10. TCU, Kent State, and San Diego State are all in the next 19 spots. Outside of the top 30, USC, Wisconsin, Michigan State, and Florida Atlantic are all in the top 50, giving this region 10 of the nation’s best teams, good luck trying to get to the basket on your way to Kansas City.

We all know how important guard play is heading into and finding success in March, and one team I am watching in that regard is Miami. The Hurricanes have one of the better trios in the country with Isaiah Wong, Nigel Pack, and Jordan Miller. The threesome has averaged 43 points and 8.5 assists and less than five turnovers per game. What makes these Hurricanes a potential category five is the ability of any of these three to go off at any time.

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