Indiana’s not totally helpless: the Hoosiers lead the nation in 3-point percentage. Of course, No. 2 is the Gamecocks, which is just another reminder that the Hoosiers pretty much have to be perfect to win this.
Oregon State came up with a superb season before it leaves those old rivalries behind, and they’ve done it with defense. Four of their past six opponents haven’t broken 60 in regulation, and the exceptions were both Stanford. Notre Dame also knows how to play that way, although it’s not the Irish’s preference.
Since its 2015 World Series title, Kansas City’s had more 100-loss seasons (three) than non-losing seasons (two). That said, there’s always a chance at the playoffs when you play in AL Comedy Central, as the Twins won this division with just 87 victories last year.
The regional semifinal gives us a rare rematch of the national title game — and this one might not be as close as the previous one. Connecticut appears better than it was a season ago, while San Diego State isn’t quite where it was last year.
In consecutive years under Tommy Lloyd, the Wildcats have been dismissed by teams that slow the pace and force them to grind.
And that’s a perfect description of Clemson. The Tigers give up plenty of shots, but they hold teams under 40% with a defense that ranks 13th nationally.
Can the books actually find a number that Alabama can’t reach? They’re certainly going to try, as the totals have now reached an insane 173.5 at DraftKings. There’s signs that might go even higher, so if you want the under, you’ll want to wait until five minutes before the tip.
At 32-3, Madison isn’t going to be the least bit scared of Duke. The Dukes have already been to Michigan State and won, and based on how the teams played in round 1, they likely believe they can outrun this team.
In their first meeting, Houston gave A&M too many opportunities at the free throw line, the one place where they cannot play any defense. If the Cougars have fixed that, A&M’s going to need another incredible shooting night to win.
The Catamounts play slow-paced and deny the 3-pointer, but this Duke team isn’t as 3-point dependent as the ones from a decade ago. This Duke team shoots well from deep, but is far more willing to get inside.