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NCAA Basketball: 10 most compelling 1st round 2023 NCAA Tournament matchups

By Terrence Jordan

GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 11: Kyle Filipowski #30 reacts after a basket by Jeremy Roach #3 of the Duke Blue Devils against the Virginia Cavaliers in the second half of the ACC Basketball Tournament Championship game at Greensboro Coliseum on March 11, 2023 in Greensboro, North Carolina. Duke won 59-49. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 11: Kyle Filipowski #30 reacts after a basket by Jeremy Roach #3 of the Duke Blue Devils against the Virginia Cavaliers in the second half of the ACC Basketball Tournament Championship game at Greensboro Coliseum on March 11, 2023 in Greensboro, North Carolina. Duke won 59-49. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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NCAA Tournament Rick Pitino of the Iona Gaels (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images)
NCAA Tournament Rick Pitino of the Iona Gaels (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images) /

UConn (4) vs. Iona (13)

There’s one big reason this game made our list, and his name is Rick Pitino. The once-disgraced coach has worked his way back up from the ground level to take the Gaels back to the NCAA Tournament for the second time in three years, and rumor has it that the St. John’s job is waiting for him once Iona’s tournament ends.

Though it would make a poetic story for Pitino to get Iona only their second NCAA Tournament win in school history (and their first was vacated due to NCAA violations), UConn is not here to be the South Bend to Iona’s Hickory High. The Huskies are big, deep, and aggressive, and they have grand designs of their own.

The West region is obscenely stacked, with Kansas, UCLA, Gonzaga, and TCU all harboring legit Final Four aspirations. Even so, UConn may have the goods to break through. Behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award finalist Adama Senogo and Donovan Clingan, the Huskies lead the country in offensive rebounding, and they own one of the most impressive victories of the season with a 15-point smacking of Alabama in the Phil Knight Invitational.

UConn does everything you could want from a true title contender. In addition to their rebounding prowess, they defend the three extremely well, allowing only 30%. They block a ton of shots and assist on over 60% of their baskets, thanks to over 10 a game from the backcourt trio of Jordan Hawkins, Tristen Newton, and Andre Jackson, Jr. If they have an Achilles heel, it’s that they foul too much and sometimes struggle with turnovers, but it will take an outstanding team to take full advantage.

So how can Iona hope to compete? Look at the metrics and it isn’t completely ridiculous. The Gaels block even more shots than UConn, and they hold opponents to a paltry 29.2% from three. They’re also 14th in the country in turnover margin. The one troubling statistic, and it’s a big one, is Iona’s inability to keep opposing teams off the offensive glass. Dan Hurley’s Huskies are the wrong team to face if you can’t box out.

UConn has the ability and profile to make a serious run at the title. Being situated in the group of death complicates matters, though. Iona isn’t a team you can look past, or Rick Pitino will end your run before it really begins. This game could be sneaky fun.

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