Latest 2023 Bracketology Field of 68: Alabama new No. 1 overall seed
South Region (Louisville)
(1) Purdue vs. (16) Iona
(8) Michigan State vs. (9) Pittsburgh
(5) Saint Mary’s vs. (12) Oral Roberts
(4) Marquette vs. (13) Kent State
(6) San Diego State vs. (11) Texas A&M
(3) Texas vs. (14) Yale
(7) Duke vs. (10) Boise State
(2) Tennessee vs. (15) Colgate
The South Region has the Purdue Boilermakers as the No. 1 seed, but after suffering road losses to both Indiana and Northwestern, they have relinquished the No. 1 overall seed. The 23-3 Big Ten leaders have themselves nine quad 1 wins and both of their losses to Rutgers and Indiana by a combined six points also fall within the first quadrant. All five metrics have them ranked in the top six and the 5th best offensive team in the country according to KenPom is also the best team in the country at grabbing offensive rebounds, which makes sense for one of the tallest teams in college basketball, with an average height of nearly 6’7.
Purdue is a team that averages 74 points per game and they will need that offense in this region because the south also houses three other top-25 teams in defensive efficiency. The No. 5 seed Saint Mary’s Gaels are 7th in that category, while No. 10 Boise State sits just two spots behind them at nine and the San Diego State Aztecs are 24th and the No. 3 Texas Longhorns and Michigan State sit just outside the top 25 at 26th and 27th respectively.
As cliché as it might sound, the team I have my eye on in the South Region is the No. 12 seed and a familiar name, Oral Roberts Golden Eagles. The 19-4 Summit League leaders are undefeated in conference at 14-0 and haven’t suffered a loss since January 9 at New Mexico. Their other three losses have come at the hands of Utah State, Houston, and Saint Mary’s. Head coach Paul Mills’ team boasts the nation’s 3rd leading scorer, Max Abmas who averages 22.8 per game. This is also a team that knows how to get it done in March, having knocked off Ohio State and Florida on their way to the Sweet 16 in 2021.