This season has been filled to the brim with Cinderella stories, players stepping up, and team places being stolen in the bracket. We look at this season as a roller coaster of action with there not being a clear-cut winner and showing flashes of greatness and this season it was led by Alabama, Purdue, Kansas, and Houston. These teams dominated their way to the top of the pack as they received #1 seeds for the NCAA Tournament as stars like Zach Edey for Purdue, Brandon Miller for Alabama, and Marcus Sasser from Houston have excelled this season and have been big reasons in why their teams are some of the best in the nation. But a lot of teams have appeared to be heavy hitters no matter what Texas, Duke, and Marquette have all had great seasons and these teams could be a favorite to win it all this season. Mid-Majors have been the story all season though with the emergence of Charleston, FAU, and Oral Roberts, as these teams could definitely ruin some brackets and make a cinderella run.

South Region

Looking over to the South Region there is one team that rises above all and that has to be Alabama with the Tide having one of the best players in the country in Brandon Miller, it’s hard to not pick the Tide coming out of this region. A couple of sleeper teams I like to get some upsets on are Charleston over San Diego State, NC State led by a backcourt of Terquavion Smith and Jack Clark has a good chance to take down Creighton, and Utah State with an experienced squad could take down new up and comers Missouri. Who I see coming out of this bracket is Alabama as truly the only team to give them a run for their money would have to be Virginia or Bayl0r but we will see Alabama’s 1st Final 4.

Midwest Region 

Moving on to the Midwest Region, we could see a toss-up of teams moving on to a Final 4 and a couple of my favorites are Auburn and Texas. Houston is considered the favorite as of now but with the injury of their star player Marcus Sasser, I feel the Cougars could see an early exit than most people think. I do like Coach Bruce Pearl and the Aurbun Tigers as this team has been in the position to make a magical run and I feel they have the ability to. But the Texas Longhorns are a team you can’t count out as Marcus Carr has returned and has been a big piece for the Longhorns all season. But ultimately I feel the Longhorns can sneak out of the Midwest bracket but teams like Indiana, Miami, and Xavier are teams who could also make a run to bring home that title.

East Region

Out of the East region, the team that stands out the most out of the gate is Purdue, the boilermakers went out and made their competition look like child’s play to them led by big man Zach Edey, who has emerged as an absolute monster down low for Purdue. Duke has doubled the size with Kyle Filipowski and Derek Lively, who has stepped up big for the Blue Devils as of late. Also, Duke just took home an ACC Championship, so they’re ready to roll and win some games. This region does consist of a lot of cinderella teams like Oral Roberts, FAU, and Michigan State as these teams have had pretty good seasons but could definitely be a bracket-buster for fans. Lastly, My top three teams coming out are Duke, Kansas State, and Marquette as all of these teams have proved time and time again that they can take home big games against top teams and I think out of all of them that Duke can make their way to a Final 4.

West Region

Arguably the hardest region to pick through has to be the West. This region consists of heavy hitters like Kansas, UCLA, Gonzaga, UConn, and Arkansas. As all these teams put together respectful seasons for their programs and were top contenders for each of their conference standings. Even the lesser-known teams are just as powerful with Northwestern finishing as a top Big Ten team, and Saint Mary’s being the best team in the WCC and taking down mighty Gonzaga this year. Suppose you look at the lower-seeded teams like Iona led by coaching legend Rick Pitino and Arizona State with Bobby Hurley. In that case, these teams are definitely the bracket-busters of this region. Looking at who I like to come out of this region would have to be UConn as the Huskies had a great start to their season but cooled off throughout the season, but I feel the Huskies can get it going and make it to the Final 4.

Final Four

Finally seeing all the teams I had picked for my Final 4 which is Duke, UConn, Alabama, and Texas. All of these teams have proved a lot this season to the world of college basketball and I feel these teams are special enough to make the Final 4. As always though there must be one and for who I have taken home the national championship is… Alabama Crimson Tide, I feel the Tide have put it all together winning big games, and having some of the best chemistry on the court as well. This team is perfect to raise the National Championship in April and bring home their very 1st to Tuscaloosa.