The Pure Hoops Quick Hitters

Villanova is the defending NCAA champ and has won it all in two of the past three years. Coach Jay Wright won’t be repeating this year, but senior Phil Booth has both championship experience and a multi-talented skill set. He leads a crew that includes Eric Paschall and Collin Gillespie. They’ll need to draw on all of their championship experience if they expect a deep run.

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Northeastern is smoking hot approaching the tournament behind Vasa Pusica a 6’5” senior from Serbia leads who the Huskies. Jordan Roland is a threat from downtown and they have gotten great play from Bolden Brace.

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Kentucky is loaded with future NBA talent. PJ Washington, Tyler Herro, Keldon Johnson, Ashton Hagens, EJ Montgomery, and 6-11 Nick Richards all seemed destined for “The Association.” Coach John Calipari is still working out which rotations will work best, but it’s a good problem to have. Leadership is provided by senior forward Reid Travis. The ‘Cats are a legitimate threat to make the Final Four.

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Buffalo is an experienced team with a win over Syracuse and the potential for a long run in the tournament. Last season they beat fourth seeded Arizona in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. They are led by CJ Massinburg, Nick Perkins, and Jeremy Harris. They’re among the leaders in offensive efficiency and they play at a blazing pace.

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Saint Mary’s is heating up at the right time and if they get the lead in a game, they rarely give it up. They shocked Gonzaga in the WCC Tournament, avenging a 48 point loss earlier in the season. Jordan Ford is an exciting ball handler and scorer.

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Wofford represents the Southern Conference and they feature sharpshooter Fletcher Magee, who has over 500 three pointers in his career and is on the verge of breaking the all time NCAA record for threes. They play at a slow pace but are among the leaders in points and scoring margin.

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Auburn has one of the best backcourts in the tournament. Jared Harper runs the show and averages 15 points and 6 assists. Bryce Brown also averages 15 and has deep shooting range. Both are solid free throw shooters. 6-8 forward Chuma Okeke is a future NBA talent and an outstanding defender. His dunks are also spectacular. Expect a deep run from the Tigers.

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Cincinnati is a solid defensive team that controls tempo and likes a slower pace. Last season as a number 2 seed they flamed out in the second round, but this year’s team has been very efficient on offense as well. They have two senior point guards but their front court performers can be inconsistent at times.

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Central Florida is coached by former Duke star Johnny Dawkins and they feature 7-6 center Tacko Fall, who is a defensive force in the paint and the leading field goal shooter in the country. He has an 8 foot wide wing span and is the tallest players in college basketball or the NBA.

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Maryland has a couple of future NBA bigs in Bruno Fernando and Jalen Smith. Anthony Cowan runs the show and loves taking big shots. The Terps play tough defense but need to watch their turnovers or they’ll have a quick exit from the tournament.

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