The Heavy Hitters: Gonzaga, Arizona, Kansas, and Villanova

This part is featured in SLAM’s 2022 MBB March Insanity Preview. Right here, we check out among the groups which were dominant all through the season. This part is featured in our Ladies’s March Insanity Preview. Faucet in right here.

The Canine Home – Gonzaga Bulldogs (26-3)

Merely put, this Gonzaga group is completely different. They’re led by an unlikely duo — a mustache-donning junior from Texas and a seven-foot unicorn freshman from Minnesota. That duo is Drew Timme and Chet Holmgren, who’re each John R. Picket Award candidates.

Timme, the 2022 WCC Participant of the 12 months, averages 17.5 factors and 6.3 rebounds per recreation. He’s made it clear that he desires to win all of it,

“I got here again [to Gonzaga] to win a championship and get higher,” he mentioned. “That’s all I’m targeted on.” 

Holmgren averages 14.2 factors, 9.6 rebounds, and three.6 blocks per recreation, good for fourth within the NCAA. He initiatives to be a top-three choice within the upcoming NBA Draft attributable to his distinctive ability set for his bodily stature at such a younger age.

Nevertheless, it’s not totally the Timme and Holmgren present. In spite of everything, you don’t lead the nation in factors per recreation (87.8) with simply two elite gamers. This Bulldogs group has a number of threats. Sophomore Julian Strawther is an impressive participant, averaging 12.3 factors and 5.5 rebounds per recreation whereas taking pictures the lengthy ball at a 39.6 % clip. Strawther’s backcourt companion Senior Andrew Nembhard averages 11.7 factors, 5.7 assists, and 1.6 steals per recreation. Then there’s the sharpshooter Rasir Bolton who’s taking pictures a ridiculous 46.7 % from deep.

This Bulldogs group is well-rounded and harmful. They are going to tackle No. 16 Georgia St within the first spherical.

Prime of the Pac – Arizona Wildcats (31-3)

It’s not typically {that a} first-year head coach leads a group to be so dominant in school play. Arizona’s Tommy Lloyd has achieved simply that in his first season as a Division I coach. After all, Coach Lloyd didn’t placed on a jersey himself, however he was capable of direct some top-tier expertise in the best route. Two gamers come to thoughts relating to Lloyd’s teaching skill.

Pac-12 Participant of the 12 months and a possible excessive lottery choose within the upcoming NBA Draft Bennedict Mathurin and Pac-12 Defensive and Most Improved Participant of the 12 months Christian Koloko.

Mathurin — a product of the NBA Academy Latin America in Mexico Metropolis — averages 17.1 factors and 5.6 rebounds per recreation, whereas Koloko averages 12.1 factors, 7.1 rebounds, and a pair of.7 blocks per recreation. These two are the first anchors on this well-rounded Wildcats group with few weaknesses. Different large contributors are Azuolas Tubelis (14.5 factors, 6.4, and 1.1 steals) and Kerr Kriisa (10.1 factors and 4.9 assists).

Within the opening spherical, this dynamic Arizona group will face the winner between Bryant and Wright State.

Flying Above the Competitors – Kansas Jayhawks (28-6)

The hard-nosed Kansas Jayhawks group is able to make a run at a title. The lead man for the Jayhawks is Huge 12 Participant of the 12 months Ochai Agbaji, who’s at present projected to be a lottery choose within the upcoming NBA Draft. Agbaji averages 19.7 factors and 5.1 rebounds per recreation whereas taking pictures 40.5 % from three-point vary.

Apart from Agbaji, Kansas additionally has homegrown Christian Braun (14.6 factors, 6.3 rebounds), Jalen Wilson (10.9 factors and seven.0 rebounds), and David McCormack (10.1 factors and seven.0 rebounds). This group is loaded with a roster of skilled gamers, with nine-time Huge 12 Champion Coach Invoice Self on the helm, trying to win their first NCAA crown since 2008.

Within the first spherical, this examined Kansas group will face the winner between Texas Southern and Texas A&M Corpus Christi.

Leaving the Den – Baylor Bears (26-6)

Presently of 12 months, inexperienced is related to St. Patricks Day. Nevertheless, the Baylor Bears will want no ‘Luck of the Irish’ to compete deep into this 12 months’s NCAA event. The defending Nationwide Champions will look to repeat their success, with their loaded offensive unit on the forefront.

Baylor has a powerful seven gamers that common eight or extra factors per recreation, showcasing their well-rounded offensive prowess. Whereas Baylor places up 76.5 factors per recreation as a unit, they’re led by a number of standout gamers. Huge 12 First-Workforce choice James Akinjo averages 13.4 factors, 5.6 assists, and a pair of.1 steals per recreation, whereas his backcourt companion Adam Flager averages 13.4 factors, 3.0 assists, and 1.1 steals per recreation. LJ Cryer is averaging 13.5 factors per recreation largely attributable to his elite 46.8 % clip from deep.

The defending champions will face No. 16 Norfolk St within the first spherical.

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