NCAA Tournament 2023: 5 teams with most pressure to make a Final 4 run

5. UConn Huskies

A case can be made that no program has more pressure in the first round that UConn, who is taking on Rich Pitino and No. 13 seed, Iona. It’s been seven years since the program has won an NCAA Tournament game and they suffered an upset as a 5 seed a year ago, falling to New Mexico State after Teddy Allen dropped 37 points on them.

This time around, the Huskies have one of the best teams in the NCAA Tournament. A losing stretch in the middle of Big East play hurt them but at one point, they were the No. 2 ranked team in the AP poll. And they’ve been playing like it as well, led by big man Adama Sanogo and future NBA Draft pick, Jordan Hawkins.

The analytics have this team as one of the best in the country, regardless of seeding. And while the West Region is known as the Group of Death, the teams in this group are vulnerable. Assuming that they get past Iona, the Huskies will get either Saint Mary’s or VCU, a pair of mid-majors. The 1 seed, Kansas, has dealt with a health scare with head coach Bill Self, while 2-seed UCLA is without star wing Jaylen Clark for the NCAA Tournament.

There’s a viable path for UConn to make a deep run and it’s the most talented roster they’ve had since they won the national title in 2014. They may not have to make a Final Four run to meet the expectations of the fan base but they have the potential to do so.