Happy Thursday everyone, and happy first round of the men’s NCAA Tournament! If you’re reading this before noon ET, you still have time to join our Men’s Bracket Games (and until tomorrow at noon ET to join our Women’s Bracket Games). And if you’re still waiting to finalize everything, you’re in luck: We have every last-second piece of advice you need.
Let’s get right to it.
Good morning to everyone…
YES, EVERYONE
It’s the NCAA Tournament. Need I say more? Whether you’ve watched hours and hours of basketball or zero-point-zero seconds, submitting a bracket is super easy, super fun and — well, everyone does it. Pick your favorite mascot, or flip a coin, have your pet pick… or, hey, just use our experts’ insights!
Nine of our best and brightest have filled out their brackets, and here’s the breakdown of their championship picks:
Why are the Cougars so popular? Let our Matt Norlander explain…
- Norlander: “Houston has rated as the best team in college basketball in every mainstream advanced analytic metric for months. … And if Marcus Sasser‘s groin issue can subside, it means the Cougars will have a nasty three-guard attack, a future lottery pick (Jarace Walker) and a coach (Kelvin Sampson) who took this school to the biggest stage just two years ago. They have the pedigree, talent, size, strength and toughness to do this.”
The Cougars also have one of the easiest paths in the Tournament, notes our David Cobb, and if you’re worried about how far you have your top seeds advancing, David’s story will help calm any nerves. Or maybe accentuate them. At the very least, it will help you make your final decision.
Zooming in on the First Round alone, though, we have absolutely terrific action today and tomorrow. David ranked all 32 games between now and the weekend, and I think I can speak for most of us when I say I can’t wait for Oral Roberts vs. Duke.
- Cobb: “Oral Roberts stunned No. 2 seed Ohio State in a first round game two years ago behind the play of star guard Max Abmas and reached the Sweet 16. Now, Abmas is back to try and take down the red-hot Blue Devils, who have won nine straight games with a rotation full of immensely talented freshmen. ORU owns the nation’s longest winning streak at 17 games and is a potential giant slayer once again.”
You can see our experts’ picks for that game — and the other biggest games today — here. Still worried about your bracket? Let me…
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