Join the 2022 Fantasy Alarm March Madness Bracket Challenge now to win FREE CASH! Make your picks here. 

Looking for more College Basketball content? Check out FREE 2022 March Madness NCAA Tournament previews on Top Mid-Major Teams & and Dark Horses!

 

 

North Carolina Tar Heels

  • Seed & 1st Rd Opponent: No. 8 vs. No. 9 Marquette (East Region)
  • Record: 24-9 overall; 15-5 in ACC
  • Rankings: 31st in NET; 29th in KenPom; 26th in BPI
  • Odds: 120/1 to win title; 18/1 to make Final Four
  • Notable Wins: Duke, Michigan, Virginia Tech (twice)
  • Notable Losses: Kentucky, Duke, Tennessee, Purdue, Virginia Tech
  • Key Players: Armando Bacot (junor center); Caleb Love (sophomore guard); Brady Manek (senior forward); RJ Davis (sophomore guard)
  • Head Coach: Hubert Davis (1st season)
  • Last Tournament Appearance: 2021 – 1st Round loss to Wisconsin as No. 8 Seed

A couple weeks ago, it looked like North Carolina could miss out on the NCAA Tournament without many top-tier wins and an average at-large resume. Well, a win on the road at Duke on a national stage likely punched the Tar Heels' ticket to the Big Dance. Despite the No. 8 seeding, UNC would be a scary matchup for Baylor if it gets past Marquette. The Heels boast a top-30 offense that likes to play fast and get out in transition. Led by Caleb Love at point guard and Armando Bacot at center, North Carolina can get out to big leads in any given game and look a lot better than the seed indicates. Look out, Baylor backers! 

 

Marquette Golden Eagles

  • Seed & 1st Rd Opponent: No. 9 vs. No. 8 North Carolina (East Region)
  • Record: 19-12 overall; 11-8 in Big East
  • Rankings: 42nd in NET; 47th in KenPom; 54th in BPI
  • Odds: 300/1 to win title; 60/1 to make Final Four
  • Notable Wins: Illinois, Villanova (twice), Providence, Seton Hall (twice)
  • Notable Losses: UCLA, Wisconsin, Providence, Connecticut (twice)
  • Key Players: Justin Lewis (sophomore forward); Darryl Morsell (senior guard)
  • Head Coach: Shaka Smart (1st season)
  • Last Tournament Appearance: 2019 – 1st Round loss to Murray State as No. 5 seed

Marquette’s season is the perfect example of an up-and-down, boom-or-bust, and unpredictable team. The Golden Eagles beat Illinois back in November, then lost five of six games during December/January, then won seven straight, and finally wrapped up the regular season with a 4-5 record down the stretch. A one-and-done early exit from the Big East Tournament adds even more intrigue to the situation. 

Still, Marquette boasts the conference’s leading scorer (Justin Lewis), a coach who’s pretty familiar with March Madness (Shaka Smart), and some key victories over top-tier programs. If it gets past North Carolina, then Baylor would be in for a tough matchup – especially since Smart has plenty of experience coaching against the Bears.  

 

Boise State Broncos

  • Seed & 1st Rd Opponent: No. 8 vs. No. 9 Memphis (West Region)
  • Record: 27-7 overall; 15-3 in Mountain West
  • Rankings: 29th in NET; 26th in KenPom; 56th in BPI
  • Odds: 200/1 to win title; 45/1 to make Final Four
  • Notable Wins: San Diego State (three times), Wyoming
  • Notable Losses: Colorado State (twice), Wyoming
  • Key Players: Abu Kigab (senior forward); Marcus Shaver (senior guard); Mladen Armus (senior center); Emmanuel Akot (senior forward)
  • Head Coach: Leon Rice (12th season)
  • Last Tournament Appearance: 2015 – First Four loss to Dayton as No. 11 seed

The Mountain West was the strongest its been in years, and Boise State led the way as both the regular season and conference tournament champs. The Broncos have plenty of veteran experience, starting four seniors, which is a big reason why they boast a top-20 defense in the country. That defensive intensity on every possession will come in handy against an athletic Memphis squad in the first round. If it gets past that test, though, Boise State would challenge Gonzaga in the next game and possibly bust some brackets. The Broncos' advanced rankings say this 8-seed is way too low. 

 

 

Memphis Tigers

  • Seed & 1st Rd Opponent: No. 9 vs. No. 8 Boise State (West Region)
  • Record: 19-9 overall; 13-5 in American Athletic
  • Rankings: 33rd in NET; 28th in KenPom; 24th in BPI
  • Odds: 100/1 to win title; 28/1 to make Final Four
  • Notable Wins: Houston (twice), Alabama, Virginia Tech
  • Notable Losses: Murray State, Iowa State, SMU (twice)
  • Key Players: Jalen Duren (freshman center); Landers Nolley (junior wing); DeAndre Williams (senior forward)
  • Head Coach: Penny Hardaway (4th season)
  • Last Tournament Appearance: 2014 – 2nd Round loss to Virginia Tech as No. 8 seed

Back in mid-January, this Memphis season looked like a disaster-in-the-making. Amid rumors of team dysfunction, a COVID outbreak, and multiple losses to subpar teams, the Tigers struggled to a 9-8 start and people wondered if Penny Hardaway would still be the coach next season. Since then, Memphis has won 12 of its last 14 games and the team is playing arguably as good as anyone in the country over the past month. 

The Tigers feature stud freshman and future NBA lottery pick Jalen Duren, as well as a number of impact transfers. It took a while for all that talent to sort itself out, but it seems they’ve all found their respective roles heading into the NCAA Tournament – and that’s a dangerous proposition for Boise State in the first round or (possibly) Gonzaga next.

 

TCU Horned Frogs

  • Seed & 1st Rd Opponent: No. 9 vs. No. 8 Seton Hall (South Region)
  • Record: 20-12 overall; 8-10 in Big 12
  • Rankings: 44th in NET; 38th in KenPom; 45th in BPI
  • Odds: 250/1 to win title; 65/1 to make Final Four
  • Notable Wins: Kansas, Texas Tech, Texas, LSU
  • Notable Losses: Baylor (twice), Kansas (twice), Texas Tech, Texas (twice)
  • Key Players: Mike Miles (sophomore guard); Damion Baugh (junior guard); Emanuel Miller (junior forward)
  • Head Coach: Jamie Dixon (6th season)
  • Last Tournament Appearance: 2018 – 1st Round loss to Syracuse as No. 6 seed

As Kansas found out a couple weeks ago, or Texas in the Big 12 Tournament, the Horned Frogs are not a team to be taken lightly. Head coach Jamie Dixon has plenty of March Madness experience with Pittsburgh and now he's got a dangerous TCU team that's proven capable of beating some of the top Big 12 teams. Dixon's squad has a top-25 defense and will be a pesky matchup for Seton Hall in the first round. Though Arizona is a tougher challenge, TCU has the defensive ability to keep it close enough. 

 

Creighton Bluejays

  • Seed & 1st Rd Opponent: No. 9 vs. No. 8 San Diego State (Midwest Region)
  • Record: 22-11 overall; 12-7 in Big East
  • Rankings: 55th in NET; 53rd in KenPom; 68th in BPI
  • Odds: 350/1 to win title; 50/1 to make Final Four
  • Notable Wins: Villanova, Connecticut (twice), Providence, Marquette (three times), BYU
  • Notable Losses: Villanova, Seton Hall (twice), Colorado State, Iowa State
  • Key Players: Ryan Hawkins (senior forward); Ryan Kalkbrenner (sophomore center); Arthur Kaluma (freshman forward); Alex O’Connell (senior guard)
  • Head Coach: Greg McDermott (12th season)
  • Last Tournament Appearance: 2021 – Sweet 16 loss to Gonzaga as No. 5 seed

Even after replacing five starters from last year’s Sweet 16 team, Creighton head coach Greg McDermott has his squad back in the NCAA Tournament. The Bluejays boast a top-20 defense nationally and have a 9-3 record since early February. They nearly made a run to the Big East Tournament title, but lost by six to Villanova in the championship game. 

It's impressive that Creighton was still able to reel off wins despite playing without starting point guard Ryan Nembhard. The freshman is out for the season and is a big loss for a team that lacks playmakers on offense now. Still, the strong defense matches up well with San Diego State to try to grind out a win in the first round – and then possibly cause Kansas some issues. 
 

 

 

San Diego State Aztecs

  • Seed & 1st Rd Opponent: No. 8 vs. No. 9 Creighton (Midwest Region)
  • Record: 23-8 overall; 13-4 in Mountain West
  • Rankings: 25th in NET; 22nd in KenPom; 28th in BPI
  • Odds: 200/1 to win title; 40/1 to make Final Four
  • Notable Wins: Saint Mary's, Colorado State (twice)
  • Notable Losses: USC, Michigan, Boise State (three times), Colorado State
  • Key Players: Matt Bradley (senior wing); Trey Pulliam (senior guard); Nathan Mensah (senior center)
  • Head Coach: Brian Dutcher (5th season)
  • Last Tournament Appearance: 2021 – 1st Round loss to Syracuse as No. 6 seed

San Diego State is one of those teams that boasts very strong computer numbers and advanced rankings, but the No. 8 seed reflects the poor resume compared to other squads. The Aztecs do claim an impressive win over Saint Mary's, but they also lost by double-digits to both USC and Michigan. Even still, San Diego State has the second-best defensive efficiency in the country (per KenPom) and prides itself on a strong defense under head coach Brian Dutcher. Cal transfer Matt Bradley is the team's alpha, and he won't back down from a potential second-round matchup with Kansas. The elite defense, though, presents a tough challenge for anyone. 

 

Seton Hall Pirates

  • Seed & 1st Rd Opponent: No. 8 vs. No. 9 TCU (South Region)
  • Record: 21-10 overall; 11-8 in Big East
  • Rankings: 37th in NET; 35th in KenPom; 36th in BPI
  • Odds: 300/1 to win title; 60/1 to make Final Four
  • Notable Wins: Texas, Connecticut, Creighton, Michigan
  • Notable Losses: Villanova (twice), Connecticut (twice), Providence, Ohio State, Marquette (twice)
  • Key Players: Jared Rhoden (senior wing); Myles Cale (senior guard); Kadary Richmond (sophomore guard)
  • Head Coach: Kevin Willard (12th season)
  • Last Tournament Appearance: 2019 – 1st Round loss to Wofford as No. 10 seed

Seton Hall ended the regular season on a five-game winning streak and an 8-2 record over the final 10 games. Though it lost early in the Big East Tournament, the Pirates have plenty of veteran talent with four seniors starting and another coming off the bench. Even though leading scorer Bryce Aiken has been out since mid-January with a concussion, Seton Hall has stayed competitive in the tough Big East and should not be taken lightly by Arizona in the possible second-round matchup (if it beats TCU). The Pirates have a top-30 defense and have the senior experience to reel off a couple wins. 

 

Join the 2022 Fantasy Alarm March Madness Bracket Challenge now to win FREE CASH! Make your picks here. 

Looking for more College Basketball content? Check out FREE 2022 March Madness NCAA Tournament previews on Top Mid-Major Teams & and Dark Horses!