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Saint Mary’s Gaels

  • Seed & 1st Rd Opponent: No. 5 vs. No. 12 Wyoming/Indiana winner (East Region)
  • Record: 25-7 overall; 12-3 in West Coast Conf.
  • Rankings: 19th in NET; 16th in KenPom; 22nd in BPI
  • Odds: 120/1 to win title; 18/1 to make Final Four
  • Notable Wins: Gonzaga, Notre Dame, San Francisco (twice)
  • Notable Losses: Gonzaga (twice), Wisconsin, San Diego State, Colorado State
  • Key Players: Tommy Kuhse (senior guard); Logan Johnson (senior guard); Matthias Tass (senior center); Alex Ducas (junior wing)
  • Head Coach: Randy Bennett (21st season)
  • Last Tournament Appearance: 2019 – 1st Round loss to Villanova as No. 11 seed

Despite not winning the West Coast Conference title, Saint Mary’s earned a No. 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament field as a legit at-large team this season. Like Gonzaga from the WCC, the Gaels are more than just a “mid-major” program and completely capable of beating anyone in the country. They boast an elite-level defense, ranking ninth nationally in defensive efficiency this season, and routinely hold teams to 60 points or fewer. In fact, Saint Mary’s gave up just 57 points to Gonzaga in its regular-season finale victory over the rival. The suffocating defense will present a tough matchup for the winner of Indiana and Wyoming. Plus, senior guard Tommy Kuhse has gotten hot offensively in the past month and he's a threat to take over games. 

 

Murray State Racers

  • Seed & 1st Rd Opponent: No. 7 vs. No. 10 San Francisco (East Region)
  • Record: 30-2 overall; 18-0 in Ohio Valley
  • Rankings: 21st in NET; 27th in KenPom; 30th in BPI
  • Odds: 250/1 to win title; 40/1 to make Final Four
  • Notable Wins: Memphis, Belmont (twice)
  • Notable Losses: Auburn
  • Key Players: Tevin Brown (senior wing); KJ Williams (senior center); Justice Hill (sophomore guard)
  • Head Coach: Matt McMahon (7th season)
  • Last Tournament Appearance: 2019 – 2nd Round loss to Florida State as No. 12 seed

By now, you’ve surely heard about Murray State. After going undefeated in the Ohio Valley in the regular season, the Racers rolled through the conference tournament and now haven’t lost since December. You may remember this team from a few years ago when Ja Morant led them to a first-round upset over Marquette. In fact, seniors Tevin Brown and KJ Williams were on that 2019 squad are now Murray State’s best players in 2022. 

The Racers would’ve been good enough this year to make the bracket as an at-large team, but they got the job done by earning the OVC auto bid. Their first-round matchup vs. San Francisco is a bit tricky, but Murray St could actually be a challenge for Kentucky in the next round as arguably the best No. 7 seed in the bracket. 

 

Loyola Chicago Ramblers

  • Seed & 1st Rd Opponent: No. 10 vs. No. 7 Ohio State (South Region)
  • Record: 25-7 overall; 13-5 in Missouri Valley
  • Rankings: 23rd in NET; 24th in KenPom; 25th in BPI
  • Odds: 150/1 to win title; 30/1 to make Final Four
  • Notable Wins: San Francisco, Vanderbilt
  • Notable Losses: Auburn, Michigan State
  • Key Players: Lucas Williamson (senior guard); Braden Norris (junior guard); Aher Uguak (senior forward)
  • Head Coach: Drew Valentine (1st season)
  • Last Tournament Appearance: 2021 – Sweet 16 loss to Oregon State as No. 8 seed

Loyola Chicago and Sister Jean have now become March Madness staples and, thankfully, we get them back in the bracket this year. The Ramblers made noise last season with a couple wins in the NCAA Tournament and could very well do the same this time around. Despite having a new head coach and losing their best player from 2021, this squad still presents a tough first-round matchup. 

Senior Lucas Williamson is the lone remaining player from Loyola Chicago’s 2018 Final Four run, and that proven big-game experience can’t be ignored in this year’s Tournament. Also, how can you not love Sister Jean bringing her magic into the building?! No. 7 seed Ohio State is a vulnerable team and Loyola Chicago has the chops to pull the upset as arguably the better team overall. 

 

 

 

San Francisco Dons

  • Seed & 1st Rd Opponent: No. 10 vs. No. 7 Murray State (East Region)
  • Record: 24-9 overall; 10-6 in West Coast Conf.
  • Rankings: 22nd in NET; 21st in KenPom; 31st in BPI
  • Odds: 250/1 to win title; 35/1 to make Final Four
  • Notable Wins: Davidson, UAB
  • Notable Losses: Gonzaga (three times), Saint Mary's (twice), Loyola Chicago
  • Key Players: Jamaree Bouyea (senior guard); Khalil Shabazz (senior guard); Yauhen Massalski (senior center)
  • Head Coach: Todd Golden (3rd season)
  • Last Tournament Appearance: 1998 – 1st Round loss to Utah as No. 14 seed

Despite losing in the West Coast Conference tournament, San Francisco was good enough this season to earn an at-large bid. Led by the senior backcourt of Jamaree Bouyea and Khalil Shabazz, the Dons will put up a legit fight against Murray State in the first round and may even pull the upset. They boast early-season wins over other Tournament teams like Davidson and UAB, though going 0-5 against Gonzaga and Saint Mary's this year is a knock. Don't count out the Dons, though, as Bouyea and Shabazz are good enough to pull a win or two in the bracket. 

 

Davidson Wildcats

  • Seed & 1st Rd Opponent: No. 10 vs. No. 7 Michigan State (East Region)
  • Record: 27-6 overall; 15-3 in Atlantic 10
  • Rankings: 41st in NET; 41st in KenPom; 50th in BPI
  • Odds: 250/1 to win title; 50/1 to make Final Four
  • Notable Wins: Alabama, Saint Louis (twice), Richmond
  • Notable Losses: San Francisco, New Mexico State, Richmond, Dayton
  • Key Players: Luka Brajkovic (senior center); Foster Loyer (senior guard); Hyunjung Lee (junior wing)
  • Head Coach: Bob McKillop (30th season)
  • Last Tournament Appearance: 2018 – 1st Round loss to Kentucky as No. 12 seed

Despite losing the Atlantic 10 title game, Davidson was good enough to get into the NCAA Tournament as an at-large team. The Wildcats boast the 11th-best offense in the country, per KenPom) and get it done with some lights-out three-point shooting. That's a dangerous proposition for Michigan State in the first round here, and an upset is certainly possible. Longtime head coach Bob McKillop has been at Davidson since 1992 and has his best team since maybe Steph Curry was there in 2008.

 

Colorado State Rams

  • Seed & 1st Rd Opponent: No. 6 vs. No. 11 Michigan (South Region)
  • Record: 25-5 overall; 14-4 in Mountain West
  • Rankings: 28th in NET; 31st in KenPom; 81st in BPI
  • Odds: 350/1 to win title; 60/1 to make Final Four
  • Notable Wins: Saint Mary’s, Boise State (twice), Creighton, Wyoming
  • Notable Losses: San Diego State, Wyoming
  • Key Players: David Roddy (junior forward); Isaiah Stevens (junior point guard)
  • Head Coach: Niko Medved (4th season)
  • Last Tournament Appearance: 2013 – 2nd Round loss to Louisville as No. 8 seed

Colorado State is finally back in the Big Dance for the first time since 2013, and the Rams could make some noise. Anchored by versatile big man David Roddy, they rank 19th nationally in offensive efficiency this season and boast the best offensive attack from the Mountain West. Impressive non-conference wins over Saint Mary’s, Creighton and Mississippi State showed that CSU should be taken seriously this year. It’s worth noting that of the Rams’ five losses, four of them were against two teams (San Diego State, UNLV) and the other was on the road in overtime (to Wyoming). They won every other game on the schedule and will put up a fight in the first round vs. Michigan and beyond. 

 

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