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Jack, Sam and Ryland give their predictions and bracket picls.
While the Colorado Buffaloes didn’t stand much of a chance at getting into the NCAA Tournament, it doesn’t mean we can’t have fun with March Madness over here at Ralphie Report dot com.
Let’s start with something easy — which region was the most difficult for you to fill out?
Ryland: Probably the West Region. There are some sneaky good teams in there. Colorado State and our old friend Nique Clifford are white-hot right now, while Bennett Stirtz and Drake could give Mizzou all they can handle.
Sam: The West is brutal. All my favorite seeds are there. I have the Gators as champs and it’s tough since both St. John’s and Texas Tech would be in my Final Four if they were in other regions. I’m also sad to have Maryland lose earlier than I want, as Derik Queen might be my favorite player in the country. Then there’s UConn, CSU and Drake, all of whom could crash the Sweet Sixteen and it wouldn’t surprise.
Jack: West. Every team is FUN AS HELL. Missouri might be the most fun team in the country. Dennis Gates supremacy! They run fast, they shoot the light out and Tamar Bates is Tad Boyle as it gets. AND YOU HAVE ST. JOHNS? If they play each other, that will be 40 minutes of hell.
Do you have any upset picks screaming out to you? Or any upsets that seem too easy or popular?
Ryland: 12-seed Colorado State upsetting five-seed Memphis is something that seems inevitable. Without Tyrese Hunter, that Tigers team looks vulnerable and Nique Clifford could pick them apart. I also like Drake upsetting Mizzou and I’m taking a flyer on UC San Diego to beat Michigan.
Sam: UC San Diego might be the answer to both. The Tritons slow the pace, hit threes and draw fouls, and they generally win the possession game by forcing lots of turnovers. That’s the formula for an upset or two. That is, if they can control the game when they’re at a size and athleticism disadvantage, which Michigan poses with Danny Wolf and Vladislav Goldin.
Jack: Agree with what Sam said. UC San Diego is going to be a fun one. However, I think Louisville has a great shot at upsetting Auburn if they get there. The Cardinals play some fun basketball, and Forever Buff J’Vonne Hadley is balling out for them right now. Louisville has shot makers and they play in your face. If they knock out Auburn, that side of the bracket is wide open.
Which of the 1- or 2-seeds seems most vulnerable?
Ryland: Duke without Cooper Flagg. After getting carted off in a wheelchair after the ACC Tournament due to injury (not a Paul Pierce situation), his status for the Big Dance is unclear. If Flagg can suit up and play for the Blue Devils, they’re undoubtedly a top-three team in the nation. If not, Jon Scheyer and company could be on upset alert for the foreseeable future.
Sam: Is Michigan State even good? Everything I read says they’re elite on defense but have a hard time scoring the basketball. They can’t shoot, don’t really care take of the ball, and most of their tough shots go to Jaden Atkins and his sub-40 field goal percentage. And yet they seem poised for an Elite Eight run with an injured Iowa State and a mid Ole Miss in their bracket.
Jack: Yes, MSU is good, ugh. So sick of Sam. MSU is going to win the whole goddamn thing. They play tough perimeter defense and have old guard. Ugh.
However, my pick is Alabama. High-variance, man. High. Variance. Lot of threes. High pace. Mark Sears is a good backstop, but I’m always worried about them if the threes aren’t falling. Grant Nelson, very good, but also, say they play Saint Mary’s. That pace is so slow it hurts to watch, let alone play against. Can Alabama capitalize on limited possessions enough? I don’t know man.
Which team do you feel irresponsibly confident in?
Ryland: Texas Tech. In only his second year in Lubbock, Grant McCasland has turned that team into a buzzsaw. When it clicks for them, it really clicks. JT Toppin can take over games and players like Darrion Williams and Chance McMillian compliment him perfectly.
Sam: Before Jack wrote anything, I wrote (and deleted, then wrote again) the Auburn Tigers are going to collapse in the second round and Johni Broome will be outplayed by our favorite son J’Vonne Hadley. I feel this in my bones and nothing to back it
Jack: I already said it above. MISSOURI, BABY. Old, tested, fun as hell, and they have that coveted spurtability that everyone wants. They’ve had an up and down season, but Dennis Gates is a star coach, imo, and their type of ball translates. Tamar Bates season.
Which mid-major are you most excited to see play? How far can they go?
Ryland: UC San Diego. That team is FUN. If you haven’t watched the Tritons play this season, that’s your loss. They’ve got two players, Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones and Tyler McGhie, who can score like nobody’s business. If they can successfully turn games into a track race, I could see them making a Sweet Sixteen run. Oh, and they play elite defense too.
Sam: Besides than the Tritons, the New Mexico Lobos play helter skelter basketball and their matchup with Marquette is a must-watch for the sickos. I’m also excited to see Liberty lose in the first round, even if it’s to Oregon.
Jack: Well, Will Wade just announced he’s take the NC State job in public. And to his team. Before the tournament starts. Wild stuff, but if he plays that right, I’m excited to see how hard McNeese plays in their “last ride” together. That time already plays chaotic, and it’s possible this is a nice catalyst.
Who’s your breakout star in this tournament? (You can do a high, middle and lower-seed if you want)
Ryland: My high-seed hero is going to have to be Texas Tech’s JT Toppin. That dude can ball. I’ll go with Illinios’ Kasparas Jakucionus for my mid-seed hero. With my low-seed hero, I’ll pick Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones of UC San Diego.
Sam: Go west young man, and find Walter Clayton and Kadary Richmond battling in the Elite Eight, or else Derik Queen pivoting his way to an upset win, and Nique Clifford making us all proud. (St. Mary’s isn’t in the West, but they are West, and I love Augustus Marciulionas.)
Jack: Derik Queen! He’s the best. Sam and I agree on this. Queen is a star basketball player and he’s not built like a lot of freshman I know. Maryland will ride him to the promised land. I also love Otega Oweh at Kentucky. Give me a guard that gets to the bucket at will. So fun to watch a good driver in college.
Who’s the next cult hero to emerge?
Ryland: Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones has Jack Gohlke written all over him.
Sam: I got Clemson’s Ian Schieffelin, whose pudgy build and curly frat hair make him perfectly cast for cult status.
Jack: BYU’s Richie Saunders, who is easily the most hateable player in basketball if he doesn’t play so goddamn hard. Man, does he play hard. You’re gonna see him diving for loose balls heading into every single commercial break in slow motion.
What are we going to remember this tournament for?
Ryland: Either SEC dominance or SEC fraud watch. With a record-breaking 14 teams making it to the dance, I don’t think there’s any in-between. We are about to learn if all that football money can turn the SEC into a basketball powerhouse, or if Big 12 hoops still reign supreme.
Sam: As Ryland pointed out, football resources might have taken over basketball. All those SEC favorites are loaded with veteran players, many of whom were paid top dollar in the portal. The SEC has depth the Big 12 can’t afford, they play a style the Big Ten can’t keep pace with, and they might be too athletic and too experienced for early upsets.
Jack: Izzo’s retirement after they win the championship.
Last one: Leave your Final Four and National Champs.
Ryland: My final four are Auburn, Texas Tech, Alabama and Houston. I have Auburn beating the Coogs to hoist the natty.
Sam: A bit chalky, I have Florida, Alabama, Houston and then Texas A&M taking Auburn’s spot in the Final Four, then the Gators over Coogs in the national title.
Jack: I’m also chalk as hell. Florida, Michigan State, Duke, Tennessee. Michigan State beats Duke for the national championship after Tom Izzo’s son dunks on Cooper Flagg.
by Sam Metivier
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