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NCAA Basketball: 4 teams that can absolutely win the 2023 NCAA Tournament

By Cooper Watson

HOUSTON, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 22: Tramon Mark #12 of the Houston Cougars and Marcus Sasser #0 react after a basket during the second half against the Tulane Green Wave at Fertitta Center on February 22, 2023 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 22: Tramon Mark #12 of the Houston Cougars and Marcus Sasser #0 react after a basket during the second half against the Tulane Green Wave at Fertitta Center on February 22, 2023 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /
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NCAA Tournament Adama Sanogo #21 and Nahiem Alleyne #4 of the Connecticut Huskies (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
NCAA Tournament Adama Sanogo #21 and Nahiem Alleyne #4 of the Connecticut Huskies (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) /

UConn

UConn started the season 14-0 and peaked at No. 2 in the AP Top 25 on December 26. They proceeded to lose six of their next eight games but never dropped out of the top six on KenPom. Since January 31, UConn is 8-1 with their only loss coming by three points on the road to a Creighton team that was on a seven-game winning streak at the time.

Houston is the only team that ranks in the top 10 for adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency, but UConn is the only other team that ranks in the top 15 for both, ranking No. 10 in the country on offense and No. 12 on defense.

The Huskies also have the star power of a national championship contender, with both Adama Sanogo and Jordan Hawkins earning All-Big East First Team honors. Sanogo is averaging 16.9 points and 7.2 rebounds, while Hawkins is averaging 16.4 points and shooting 37.8% from 3-point range on nearly eight attempts per game.

UConn hasn’t exactly been the standard of consistency this season, but their ceiling is still absurdly high, and they’re rounding back into form at the ideal time.

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