X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

NCAA Tournament Busts - March Madness Predictions

Daniel Benjamin previews his March Madness busts picks - these are teams to avoid in your 2019 brackets. The 2019 men's NCAA tournament is about to get crazy.

It’s March Madness, which means it is the most exciting time of the year for college basketball. The 2019 NCAA Tournament is about ready to take over the sports world as the second round of the Tournament will get underway on Thursday and Friday.

One of the big reasons that the NCAA Tournament is so popular, besides being extremely exciting, is because of gambling and bracket challenges. Also, a lot of fans like to see smaller schools -- or teams from perceived lesser conferences -- defeat the Big Dawgs and it does happen often.

Who will be this year's UMBC or Loyola-Chicago? You can check out the other great content from RotoBaller to see what the experts think on a question like that. In this article, I will look at seven teams that could be upended earlier than expected.

Editor's Note: Be sure to check out the rest of our NCAA Tournament articles and analysis, including a guide on how to fill out your brackets. Read our March Madness picks, sleepers, busts and predictions for the EastWestSouth and Midwest regions.

 

Potential Tournament Busts

No. 5 Marquette Golden Eagles

NBA prospect Markus Howard has taken his game to another level this year and is one of the best shot-makers in the country, but the Eagles have lost five of six and they have an extremely tough matchup against projected top-five draft pick Ja Morant and the 12th-seeded Murray State Racers.

No. 3 Houston Cougars

The Cougars (31-3) are having its best season since reaching the national championship game in 1984. UH is excellent on defense and go eight deep, led by Corey Davis Jr. as well as Armoni Brooks. The Cougars do rely a lot on three-pointers and have a habit of getting into foul trouble.

Georgia State could give Houston all it can handle in the opening round as guards D'Marcus Simonds and Kane Williams can get into the lane at will and the Panthers are an excellent three-point shooting team overall. Even if the Cougars are able to get past the Panthers, Big 12 Tournament champions Iowa State, which is led by NBA prospect Marial Shayok, is expected to be waiting in the wings.

No. 4 Kansas State Wildcats

The Big 12 co-champions made an Elite Eight run last year and returned their top six players from that squad. However, star forward Dean Wade will miss the Tournament as a result of a foot injury. Plus, the Wildcats have a real difficult against UC-Irvine (30-5), who have won 16 straight.

No. 3 Texas Tech Red Raiders

History is not on the side of the third-seeded Red Raiders, who began the season unranked in the polls though they are currently situated ninth in the AP poll. Of the previous 53 teams that had similar profile, just 11 teams reached the Elite Eight with only two having gone onto the Final Four. In the same token, 24 teams either lost in their first or second game.

The Big 12 co-champions, led by potential NBA lottery pick Jarrett Culver, are terrific on the defensive end. However, the offense can be bogged down if Culver is held in check. Tech also does not rebound well.

The Raiders start tournament play with Northern Kentucky, which is solid defensively and likes to push the pace. The Norse can definitely score and they have four players who average double-figures. Forward Drew McDonald, who can score inside and out, is also a very good rebounder. If  TTU is able to get by Northern Kentucky, a terrific Buffalo Bulls squad will likely be waiting for them in the third round.

No. 3 LSU Tigers

The SEC regular season champions are probably the team that has the highest bust potential. The 12th-ranked Tigers are in total turmoil as they are dealing with coach Will Wade's scandal and were upset by Florida in the quarterfinals of the SEC after allowing 51 points in the second half.

The Tigers are a very talented team led by NBA prospects Tremont Waters and Naz Reid. Guard Javonte Smart, who is a key member of the bench mob, is back from suspension and scored 13 points in the loss to Florida. The Tigers also got a physical and athletic frontcourt with Kavell Bigby-Williams, Emmitt Williams, Darius Days along with Reid that likes to pound the offensive glass.

While LSU is great offensive rebounding team, they struggle on the defensive glass as the Tigers’ opponents are hauling in 69.6 percent of all available defensive rebounds, which is the 71st worst percentage in the nation. Their inability to rebound the ball has allowed their opponents to get easy putbacks or other close range shots and are making nearly 50 percent of two-point shots.

Also, the Tigers do not have an easy first round matchup against Yale. The Bulldogs, who are led by NBA prospect Miye Oni, have a high powered offense and likes to push the tempo. Oni is of four players who average double-figures while a total of seven Bulldogs are scoring at least seven points. Defense is an issue for Yale.

Even if LSU gets by Yale, it is likely Maryland will be waiting in round three. The Terps are very talented and led upfront by NBA prospects Bruno Fernando and Jalen Smith.

No. 1's Gonzaga Bulldogs and Virginia Cavaliers

These two teams have been among the best teams all season. However, it is very likely that only two No. 1 seed will reach the Final Four and these two programs are the least likely to reach their ultimate destination.

Gonzaga has the most efficient offense as well as five NBA prospects including potential lottery pick Rui Hachimura. Brandon Clarke, Josh Perkins, Zach Norville, and Killian Tillie, who has played just 11 games, are the Bulldogs’ other key players.  But the Zags have not played a top-tier team since losing to UNC on December 15 and their only big win came over Duke. Plus, Gonzaga has been to just one Final Four as well as two Elite Eight appearances in its previous 19 NCAA Tournament appearances under head coach Mark Few.

Virginia is a terrific squad and ranks in the top-five nationally in both offense and defense efficiency. The Cavaliers are led by NBA prospects De'Andre Hunter (potential lottery pick), Kyle Guy and Ty Jerome. The Cavs, who have accumulated 172 wins over the last six years, have not reached the Final Four since 1984. They also have only reached the Sweet 16 twice during this stretch and was bounced in the second -- by No. 16 UMBC last season -- and third round each of the past two years.

More March Madness Brackets Advice




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Giannis Antetokounmpo

Potential Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade may not Happen Until "August, September"
Ha-Seong Kim

Removed Early During Season Debut
ARI

Christian Fischer Retires From NHL at 28
NHL

Spencer Martin Moves to Russia
WAS

Anthony Beauvillier Re-Signs With Capitals for Two Years
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Sitting Out With Foot Issue
Isaiah Neyor

Impresses at Minicamp
Houston Rockets

Jock Landale Waived by Rockets
Bo Bichette

Back in Blue Jays Lineup
Jonas Valančiūnas

Jonas Valanciunas Considering Returning to Europe
Miles Sanders

Works With Starters During Mandatory Minicamp
Jabari Walker

Signs Two-Way Deal With Sixers
Chimere Dike

Titans Could Move Chimere Dike Inside
Keandre Lambert-Smith

KeAndre Lambert-Smith not Guaranteed Roster Spot
Anthony Bradford

Working Hard to Win Back Starting Job
Byron Young

Still Improving?
Cody Simon

Jonathan Gannon has Been Impressed With Cody Simon
SirVocea Dennis

has Impressive Offseason
Trevor Penning

Could Still Have a Role in New Orleans
Jonathan Kuminga

Warriors Decline Recent Offer for Jonathan Kuminga
Orlando Magic

Moritz Wagner, Magic Agree to One-Year Deal
Clarke Schmidt

Placed on Injured List
José Soriano

Jose Soriano Throws Gem Against Braves
Robbie Ray

Earns Ninth Win in Complete Game
T.J. Watt

Likely to Reset the Edge-Rush Market
George Springer

Blasts Two Homers, Drives in Four
James Wood

Goes Yard in Five-Hit Night
Bradley Beal

Suns Discussing Potential Buyout
Los Angeles Lakers

Jaxson Hayes Staying with the Lakers
NBA

Damian Lillard "Open" to Signing With a Team This Offseason
Max Muncy

Out at Least Six Weeks
Clarke Schmidt

Leaves Start with Forearm Tightness
Colson Montgomery

Promoted to the Major Leagues
Pittsburgh Steelers

Omar Khan, Steelers Agree to Three-Year Contract
Max Muncy

Goes on Injured List With Knee Bruise
Max Muncy

Out of Thursday's Lineup
James Wood

Joining Home Run Derby
SJ

Sharks Claim Nick Leddy Off Waivers
Max Scherzer

Cleared to Start on Saturday
SJ

Sharks Sign Dmitry Orlov to Two-Year, $13 Million Contract
CAR

Nikolaj Ehlers Joins Hurricanes on Six-Year Contract
Kodai Senga

Could be "in Play" to Return Before All-Star Break
Ha-Seong Kim

Rays Reinstate Ha-Seong Kim From Injured List
Christian Moore

Placed on Injured List With Thumb Sprain
Luis L. Ortiz

the Subject of Gambling Investigation
Jordan Lawlar

to Miss Multiple Weeks With Hamstring Injury
Yordan Alvarez

Receives Encouraging News on his Hand
Chau Smith-Wade

Having Stellar Offseason
Ace Bailey

Inks Rookie Contract With Jazz
Divine Deablo

Could be the Quarterback of the Defense
Isaiah Rodgers

a Likely Starter for the Vikings
Jacob Monk

Sees Plenty of Work With Starters
Avonte Maddox

has Impressed Dan Campbell
Boston Celtics

Josh Minott Inks Deal With Celtics
Chicago Bears

Ruben Hyppolite Shows Notable Improvement
Sandro Mamukelashvili

Heading to Toronto
Daron Payne

Commanders Coaches Impressed With Daron Payne
Danny Gray

Makes Impression During Offseason Workouts
Jared McCain

Not on 76ers Summer League Roster
Dane Belton

Should Have a Role in 2025
Kaiir Elam

Flashes During Offseason Workouts
Dylan Harper

Unavailable for California Classic
COL

Brent Burns Inks One-Year Deal with Avalanche
STL

Blues Land Pius Suter on Two-Year Deal
Morgan Frost

Agrees to Two-Year Extension with Flames
WPG

Gustav Nyquist Moves to Winnipeg
Cody Glass

Devils Re-Sign Cody Glass to Two-Year Deal
PIT

Anthony Mantha Joins Penguins
Cleveland Cavaliers

Larry Nance Jr. Headed Back to Cavaliers
Eric Gordon

Remaining with 76ers
Los Angeles Lakers

Deandre Ayton Joining Lakers
Emil Heineman

Signs Two-Year Deal with Islanders
Simon Holmstrom

Re-Signs with Islanders for Two Years
UTA

Nate Schmidt Signs Three-Year Deal with Mammoth
UTA

Brandon Tanev Moves to Utah on Three-Year Contract
NJ

Evgenii Dadonov Joins Devils on One-Year Deal
BUF

Sabres Snap Up Alex Lyon on Two-Year Contract
Dallas Mavericks

Dante Exum Returning to Dallas
Ryan McLeod

Inks Four-Year Extension with Sabres
NAS

Predators Bring in Nick Perbix on Two-Year Deal
Jaren Jackson Jr.

Has Surgery to Repair a Turf Toe Injury
LA

Cody Ceci Moves to Los Angeles
Charlotte Hornets

Spencer Dinwiddie Lands With Charlotte
Bud Cauley

in Great Form Ahead of John Deere Classic
Christiaan Bezuidenhout

a Player to Avoid at John Deere Classic
Jake Knapp

Riding Momentum Ahead of John Deere Classic
PGA

Sungjae Im Looking for Consistency at John Deere Classic
Ryan Gerard

a Solid Option at John Deere Classic
Rickie Fowler

Looking to Rebound at John Deere Classic
Cameron Champ

a Volatile Option at John Deere Classic
Jackson Suber

Staying Below 70 is Key to Success for Jackson Suber
Kevin Roy

Playing Better Heading into John Deere Classic
Justin Lower

Hoping for Something Positive in Illinois
Ben Kohles

a Long Shot at John Deere Classic
Stephan Jaeger

Attempts to Stop Roller-Coaster Ride
Beau Hossler

Needs a Challenge in Illinois
Harry Higgs

Has Potential at John Deere Classic
Nick Dunlap

Keeps Plugging Through Tough 2025 Season
Milwaukee Bucks

Taurean Prince Staying in Milwaukee
Kevin Yu

a Near Must-Play at TPC Deere Run
PGA

J.T. Poston Returns to John Deere Classic Looking for Another High Finish
Thriston Lawrence

a Decent Fit For John Deere Classic
Tom Kim

Not Finding Much to be Happy About Ahead of John Deere Classic
Si Woo Kim

is a Prohibitive Fade at John Deere Classic
Ben Griffin

is the Appropriate Favorite at TPC Deere Run
Daniel Suarez

and Trackhouse Racing Parting Ways After 2025 Season
Ilia Topuria

Becomes The New Lightweight Champion
Charles Oliveira

Knocked Out At UFC 317
Kai Kara-France

Alexandre Pantoja Submits Kai Kara-France
Kai Kara-France

Submitted At UFC 317
Joshua Van

Extends His Win Streak
Brandon Royval

Drops Decision
Renato Moicano

Loses Back-To-Back Fights
Beneil Dariush

Gets Back In The Win Column
Felipe Lima

Suffers His First UFC Loss
Payton Talbott

Bounces Back
Alex Bowman

Competitive Run Ends With Third-Place Finish at Atlanta
Erik Jones

Secures A Top-Five Finish After Adversity In Atlanta
Tyler Reddick

Collects A New Career-Best Finish At Atlanta
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF