This year’s most intriguing player is PJ Haggerty, a 6′ 3″ redshirt sophomore guard who has already joined Memphis, his third college school, following short spells at TCU and Tulsa. With an average of 21.8 points per game this season, Haggerty was third in Division I in scoring. He helped the No. 5-seeded Tigers win the American Athletic Conference by scoring 83 points in three games. DC
Asking me to choose my favourite child is like asking me to choose just one, which is simple. I have to choose Hannah Hidalgo of Notre Dame because I have seen her perform live a few times. She has a captivating game. It’s lively, fun, and the type of basketball I love to watch. She’s quick on her feet, aggressive, and doesn’t hesitate to get in people’s faces.
I’ll choose Michigan State’s Jase Richardson because we’ve already covered Cooper Flagg in great length elsewhere. With a 59% effective field goal percentage, the 6′ 3″ rookie point guard is extremely efficient and possesses an exceptional shooting touch. Richardson has the ability to lead the Spartans on a lengthy run and exemplifies the grit and tenacity that Tom Izzo appreciates. NL
Paige Bueckers is great, but Azzi Fudd is a great addition to her and her UConn teammates. Fudd has been one of the year’s comeback players after missing crucial games due to injury, such as the Final Four game last year, where her wide shooting range was most required. She played a crucial role in UConn’s victory over South Carolina, ending the Gamecocks’ 71-game winning streak at home. I’m interested to see how the Huskies will be affected by her self-assurance, rapid release, and three-point shooting. TR
What are you most looking forward to, on or off the court?
the final ratings for television. Last year, the women’s final drew more than 4 million people, surpassing the men’s final on television for the first time thanks to the phenomenon known as Caitlin Elizabeth Clark. Is it possible for the women to win two straight? In three of the previous four men’s finals, the outcome was decided by a margin of 15 points or more, making them blowouts. DC
Assuming they defeat South Florida and Ohio State, which they can, Tennessee vs. Texas will be one of the women’s tournament’s marquee matches. Texas just prevailed by four points in their most recent meeting in January, and Tennessee will be eager to have a significant March effect this year. SK
The possibility John Calipari vs. Rick Pitino. This place has a rich history. Pitino helped Calipari get his first head coaching position at UMass in the early 1990s, and the two became close friends. But as their projects expanded and they started to compete, their friendship deteriorated. There could be a lot of drama in St. John’s vs. Arkansas in the second round. NL
With or without Flau’jae Johnson, I’m interested to watch how LSU bounces back from a string of late-season defeats. She recently acknowledged that the squad has suffered as a result of her playing “the worst basketball” of her career. The question now is whether Kim Mulkey’s team has the intelligence and chemistry to advance to the Final Four, given the news that she will be out indefinitely. TR
Dark horse team to watch …
Three teams have won back-to-back NCAA men’s titles in the last 50 years: Duke (1991-92), Florida (2006-07) and Connecticut (2023-24). The 1993 Duke team were dumped by California in the second round, and the 2008 Gators did not even make the NCAA Tournament. UConn (23-10) are a mere No 8 seed this year, but watch Dan Hurley drag the Huskies farther than either of the previous two-time champs. UCLA, by the way, were the last team to win at least three titles in a row, rolling to seven straight from 1967 to 1973. DC
On the women’s side, Ole Miss. They were already so much fun to watch in their season opener in Paris last year, but the team have grown steadily since then and it wouldn’t be a total surprise if they make a deep run. Assuming they beat No 4 Baylor in the first round, the Landsharks will likely face top overall seed UCLA … who they could probably beat. Maybe. SK
You know your program is elite when a 25-8 season feels like a down year. That’s where Gonzaga’s men’s team are but Mark Few still has a group who rank ninth in the country in adjusted offense. There aren’t many coaches who know how to win in the tournament like Few and his team is coming off a WCC championship run where they avenged their two regular-season losses to Saint Mary’s. NL
The Tennessee Lady Vols weren’t on my radar as serious contenders until recently. Their wins over UConn and Iowa proved they’re a team to watch. Before those upsets, they weren’t part of the big-team conversation, and those victories felt more like surprising wins than expected outcomes. The No 5 seed in the Texas Longhorns’ quarter of the bracket, they’re easy to overlook, especially without a clear star player. TR
The most vulnerable top seed is …
The women’s four top seeds appear to be stronger than the men’s four top seeds. Of the four men’s top seeds, Auburn (28-5), the No 1 seed overall, lost three of their last four games after winning 27 of their first 29 – although the Southeastern Conference, with an astonishing 14 tournament teams, is quite easily the best league in the nation. DC
In the women’s tournament it’s Southern California, but that’s just because head coach Lindsay Gottlieb seems pretty concerned about playing in the same regional as UConn (which is fair). If she’s scared, I’m scared, too! Among the men’s teams, it’s Florida because Duke have something special going, Houston’s size and ball pressure are insurmountable and Auburn are the top overall seed on merit. SK
Duke have an embarrassment of riches on their roster, but even so, having the best men’s player in the country dealing with injury is a tough blow. Will the likely No 1 overall pick in this year’s NBA draft risk playing through injury? Time will tell. NL
Southern California women. They rely too heavily on JuJu Watkins and struggle with team basketball – it’s as simple as getting the ball to Watkins, even her teammate Kiki Iriafen has said as much. And it reminds me a lot of last year’s Iowa where their strategy was simply getting Caitlin Clark the ball. TR
One bold prediction …
The energetic and entertaining Bill Raftery will once again stand alone among television commentators of either tournament, especially if he is egged on by play-by-play man Ian Eagle. Raftery, 81, is the enthusiastic ex-coach from New Jersey known for hollering “Onions!” when a player coolly hits a crucial big shot. Onions, in this case, represent testicles. DC
NC State win the entire women’s tournament. There is something so special about the combination of Saniya Rivers, Aziaha James and Zamareya Jones and the way they absolutely hammer their opponents when the team is synchronized. I’d also love to see someone new in the championship game. SK
The University of California San Diego men are in their first season of postseason eligibility. If you appreciate ball movement and connected defense, you’ll enjoy watching this Triton team. They lead the country in turnover margin, and their first-round opponent, Michigan, are prone to turnovers. The size difference is concerning but the Tritons have been elite at doubling the post all year. Let’s see if this is the upset we are all looking for. NL
Last year, $2.7bn was legally wagered on the tournament, and I believe this year will surpass that significantly. With the unpredictability of the season – including major losses from even some of the best teams – more people may be inclined to place bets. With gambling culture gripping the US, total wagers could soar to as much as $7bn. TR
Men’s final four
Michigan State, St John’s, Duke, Houston. DC
Michigan State, Tennessee, Duke, Houston. SK
Auburn, Texas Tech, Alabama, Houston. NL
Auburn, Florida, Duke, Alabama. TR
Women’s final four
UCLA, Southern California, South Carolina, Texas. DC
NC State, UConn, South Carolina, Notre Dame. SK
UCLA, Southern California, South Carolina, TCU. NL
UCLA, UConn, South Carolina, Notre Dame. TR
The men’s champion will be …
Seven of the last nine NCAA champions have as the top seeds in their regions, which does not appear to be good news for non-No 1 seeds. But St John’s, a No 2 seed, have so much going for them – the crafty and rejuvenated Rick Pitino, 19 victories in 20 games, the adoration of a city that loves basketball – that it seems silly to pick against the Red Storm. DC
Duke. There’s a lot of chatter about the difficulty of building a championship team with freshmen, but one needs to look only at the not-so-distant past to see that it can be done. Carmelo Anthony, Gerry McNamara and Billy Edelin powered Syracuse to a natty in 2003, a feat replicated by Kentucky’s 2012 squad featuring Anthony Davis. And Duke’s own history backs up the possibility: in 2015 the men’s program pulled off the same feat. That’s as long as Flagg is playing. If not, then it’s anyone’s game. SK
Alabama are battled-tested playing in the rugged SEC. The Crimson Tide play at an uncomfortable pace for their opponents and they have veteran guard play. Mark Sears can be streaky but the kid has proven to be a gamer. Bama rank fourth in adjusted offense and 32nd in adjusted defense in the country. If they can tighten up on the defensive end I like them to cut down the nets in San Antonio. NL
Duke have the star power of Flagg – if he’s healthy – but more importantly, they have a strong system and the depth to back it up. Meanwhile, I question the strength of their competition: No 1 overall seed Auburn have a lack of experience in winning a national championship and may struggle to perform under the tournament’s intense pressure, and Houston are missing key quality wins and depth due to injuries to some of their crucial players. TR
The women’s champion will be …
South Carolina will win their third national title in four years – and fourth in eight – because coach Dawn Staley still patrols the sidelines. Although they are a No 1 seed, the Gamecocks have lost three games this year, or three more than in each of the last two years entering the tournament. But the Gamecocks are deep, tough and experienced, and Staley is the best, not to mention the most intense and audacious, coach in the women’s game. DC
UConn. Despite other teams trying to paint themselves as the underdog, Connecticut truly fit the bill in a few key ways. Though the Huskies have reached at least the Final Four every year since, their last championship win came in the 2015-16 season. This year, however, everything seems to be aligning in their favor. Bueckers is headed to the WNBA, Fudd may join her, whil Aubrey Griffin could hear her name called in the second round. The team is healthier than they’ve been in years and has fought its way out of a midseason slump that once seemed endless. SK
Southern California. Rarely does a freshman carry their team to a national championship (Carmelo Anthony being one notable exception). JuJu Watkins was close last year, and that experience seems to have fueled her, as she’s taken her game to another level. The Trojans enter the tournament with a 28-3 record, still feeling like they have something to prove. Watkins makes her case for the best player in the country as she leads USC to the school’s first national title since 1984. NL
UConn. The storyline of Bueckers returning for her fifth year with a national championship in mind has been drilled into her teammates, coaches and the press for a while now – it would be foolish for them not to take it seriously. The Huskies’ three in-season losses were either close or were due to issues that have been addressed and ironed out. They play true team basketball, and while most teams are tightening their rotations at this stage, UConn are actually adding depth with previously injured players like Griffin, Fudd, Ice Brady and Caroline Ducharme now healthy and ready to contribute. If they can remain healthy and mentally strong, UConn should regain their status as the strongest women’s college program in the land. TR
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