I’ve done this every year since I’ve been at Barstool and we roll on in 2025.
I’ll be looking at each region to get everyone ready for the NCAA Tournament.
Not the First Four, the real field of 64.
Previous Blogs
Storylines
1.
Houston has been waiting for this year -This is the best Houston team we’ve seen.
J’Wan Roberts is injured and we need to wait and see what happens for him.
The first round game shouldn’t matter obviously, but long term here.
This isn’t the same Houston team we’re used to seeing.
They are still the best defense in the country.
But they can shoot.
It’s not just bailing out and hoping to win in the 50s.
They can score when they have to and that’s the difference.
It’s also been a run of bad luck for Sampson.
They are made for the run.
Lamont Butler’s injury -It’s my blog, this is the biggest storyline for me.
It’s no secret Kentucky is not good defensively.
However, Lamont Butler changes all of that.
He’s he head of the snake who can get after other guards.
He’s also the only lead guard who isn’t out for the season right now for Kentucky.
Reminder, Tennessee has never made a Final Four.
Just wanted to throw that out there.
They’ve had top seeds, they’ve had collapses, devastating losses, you name it.
Gonzaga’s run at history -Gonzaga is sitting on 9 straight Sweet 16s.
It’s worth noting that Gonzaga is a top-10 KenPom team.
It’s by far the worst draw as a 1 seed in the Round of 32.
I’ve seen a lot of people say the winner of that game feels like the Final Four team.
What Purdue shows up -Purdue finally did what everyone was waiting for.
They made the title game a year ago.
Now without Zach Edey and an up-and-down year, they find themselves back as a 4 seed.
The running joke for some time was the brutal losses Purdue had, especially to mid-majors.
We’re trying to avoid the obvious ones or All-Americans like Braden Smith or Tre Johnson here.
Milos Uzan (Houston) -I love everything about Uzan’s game.
If they win the title, it’s because of Uzan.
Illinois has that with Will Riley (who has started recently).
He’s a big guard who when on fire opens up Illinois' offense.
They’ve been known as the team who can’t shoot but doesn’t stop shooting.
All it takes is one decent game and everything changes.
Otega Oweh (Kentucky) -Oweh has turned into Kentucky’s best player.
He’s the go-to scorer and the one player on the roster who looks to attack downhill first.
There’s no Jaxson Robinson, there’s no Kerr Kriisa and a banged up Lamon Butler.
Oweh i going to be asked to do more as a secondary ball handler.
He’s won games for Kentucky.
Eric Daily (UCLA) -UCLA is somehow just sitting there as a 7 seed.
Dailey is a unique guy.
They need to get him going.
Igor Milicic (Tennessee) -We know Ziegler and Lanier but Milicic is the dude who scares me.
They need someone else to show up if they want to win 4 in a row.
He’s the guy.
It has to be him or Gainey but Milicic is the bigger mismatch.
They are basically a better Tennessee.
Gonzaga is the only longshot I can see here or willing to take at all.
They have the top-10 KenPom ranking so they are good.
It just feels like Houston’s year.
Matchup you want to see:Kentucky vs Tennessee in the Sweet 16.
Give me the rivalry.
Give me the blood.
Give me the third win.
