The NCAA Tournament bracket is now set, 68 teams set to do battle for the national championship trophy in the best month in sports. However, with this year being as chaotic as it was, four teams separated themselves from the pack, battling through injuries and loaded schedules en route to the number one seeds in this year’s tournament.
Now, before you finish filling out your bracket, meet the one seeds who are favored to win it all.
South Region: Auburn Tigers
If you’re looking for a senior-laden, offensively explosive team to put your faith in this march, head down to the Plains and take a look at the Auburn Tigers. Led by head coach Bruce Pearl, the Tigers have the number one offense in the country based on offensive efficiency and offensive rating. Star center Johni Broome leads the way for this team, finishing fifth in the entire country in offensive rating and averaging almost 19 points and 11 rebounds for the Tigers. Despite all of the senior experience on the Tigers, Auburn’s spark might come in the form of freshman PG Tahaad Pettiford. The New Jersey native might only put up 11 points and around three assists per game, but his quickness and ability to get hot from deep really opens everything else up for the Tigers.
On top of that, Auburn is battle tested, going 16-5 in Quad 1 victories according to Barttorvik. While their defense and rebounding might give them issues deep into the tournament, the Tigers have everything in stock to reach the Final Four for the first time since 2019.
East Region: Duke Blue Devils
The Blue Devils ran straight through the ACC this season, going 19-1 in the conference en route to a dominant ACC championship victory. The number one team in Adjusted Efficiency Margin according to KenPom, the Blue Devils have answers everywhere. The Blue Devils are the only team in the top ten of the Adjusted Efficiency Margin who are in the top five in both offensive and defensive rating, putting up crazy numbers on both sides of the ball.
Their biggest strength could also be their biggest question come tournament time, however. Injuries to star forward Cooper Flagg and Maliq Brown could be a detriment. Flagg is a huge injury, finishing the season fourth in Offensive Rating. His jump shot has also come along since the season started, making him a true threat everywhere on the floor. Even if Flagg isn’t 100%, ACC Tournament MVP Kon Kneuppel is more than willing to be the big shot taker and big shot maker for the Blue Devils. On top of that, big man Khaman Maluach is a force on the boards and when Flagg and Brown get back to 100%, the Blue Devils could be considered the favorite to win the title.
Central Region: Houston Cougars
Death, taxes, and the Houston Cougars entering the NCAA Tournament as a favorite to win the title. At this point, we know what Kelvin Sampson teams will do well, and it starts on the defensive side of the ball. The Cougars are suffocating on defense, finishing the season second in defensive rating and second in points per game. Teams simply don’t shoot well against Houston, and their defense sets the tone for the rest of the game. Offensively, they’re 11th in offensive rating, but Barttorvik has them at ninth in Adjusted Offensive Efficiency, despite only shooting about 20 threes per game.
Guard LJ Cryer is the offensive engine and is the best shooter on the team, shooting 42.2% on 237 attempts. Oklahoma transfer Milos Uzan can also provide an offensive spark, just as he did in the Big 12 title game. The health of big man J’Wan Roberts could be something to watch–Houston’s one of the best offensive rebounding teams in the country and also limit offensive rebounds on the other side of the ball, and Roberts plays a big role in that.
If defense wins championships, Houston could be in for a celebration.
West Region: Florida Gators
From wire to wire, one of the best teams in the country has been the Florida Gators. After an overwhelming run to an SEC championship, the Gators enter the NCAA tournament as the final one seed. According to KenPom, the Gators are actually second in Net Rating, in front of both Auburn and Houston. They enter the tournament with the country’s number one offense and number 10 defense, and boast so many impressive wins in a loaded SEC.
Breakout sophomore big man Alex Condon is one of many fun stories from this Florida roster. Hailing from Australia, Condon is averaging 11 points and eight rebounds and is as efficient of an offensive player as he is a defender. Guard Walter Clayton Jr is as steady as they come at the point, and FAU transfer Alijah Martin provides hard nosed defense and is shooting 35% from deep. The Gators are going to be a trendy pick to win it all, and with their latest stretch of play, they should be.
