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Mike Marteny's 2024 NCAA Tournament bold predictions for March Madness. Can this year's tournament match the chaos of last year? Mike takes a look at the possible scenarios.
The field of 68 is finally out and we are on the brink of the four greatest days in any sport in any country on any continent. The NCAA Tournament is an entirely different animal, and the first four days of this behemoth are the most fun days you'll have watching sports, even if it's by yourself!
There are always a few surprises in the tournament. Sometimes we have a tournament like last season where the first two days had more surprises than things we expected. This year will likely fall somewhere in between, but that's okay. We'll still be surprised by some things. I'm here to help figure out what. None of these may happen, but these are the things that I wanted to pick in my bracket and couldn't bring myself to do it.
In this article, I will be providing you with my bold predictions for the 2024 NCAA Tournament. Be sure to also check out the rest of our NCAA Tournament articles and analysis including previews, predictions, sleepers, busts, and guides on how to fill out your brackets. Good luck, RotoBallers!
West Region Bold Predictions
North Carolina and Arizona won't make it out of the first weekend
The Heels won't be tested against Wagner, but either Michigan State or Mississippi State are dangerous matchups for this team. If Josh Hubbard plays like he did in February, the Bulldogs will be the opponent and they have the size to handle the Carolina front. Defense on RJ Davis will be difficult, but if the Wolfpack can take him out of the game, the Bulldogs can, too.
As for Arizona, this would be their second straight exit before the first weekend as a two-seed. Princeton beat them in the first round last year and went all the way to the Sweet 16. I don't think the Beach snipe them, but with their guard play, it's possible. I'm looking at the second-round matchup with Dayton or Nevada.
New Mexico makes it to the second weekend
Jaelen House is playing his best basketball of the season. If Jamal Mashburn Jr. can get back to last year's form and JT Toppin can play like he did in January, this is one of the more dangerous 11 seeds in recent history. The Lobos can handle Clemson. Their guards are good enough to stay with Baylor. It would be a battle of freshmen between Yves Missi and Toppin. If Toppin can win the battle, the Lobos could dance for another week.
South Region Bold Predictions
Florida makes the Elite Eight
The Colorado game will be tough, but it's a better matchup than Boise. Next is a Marquette team that Florida can push around up front, even without Micah Handlogten. Past that is either Texas Tech or a Kentucky team that they beat in Rupp. The Gators are peaking at the right time for a deep tournament run.
Nebraska gets their first-ever NCAA Tournament win...and follows it with another
Keisei Tominaga is about to single-handedly take the nation by storm…
Nebraska has been must watch tv since he joined their lineup. He’s one of the most electric players in the entire country. Japanese Steph Curry.
If you’re not familiar, get familiarpic.twitter.com/Cnr8CBAZAi
— Josh Reynolds (@JoshReynolds24) March 18, 2024
Nebraska beating A&M is about a toss-up. Bold is saying they'll knock out Houston. I've seen Keisei Tominaga get hot enough to carry the team before. The biggest stars shine brightest on the biggest stage...and it doesn't get any bigger than this. Tominaga is the most fun you can have at a basketball game that you aren't playing in. Everyone should be as happy as he is on a basketball court.
East Region Bold Predictions
Two teams from last year's Final Four meet in the Sweet 16, but not who you may think
FAU and UConn in the second round is the likely matchup, but I'll say the Owls knock out the champs early and are rewarded with San Diego State in the Sweet 16.
Iowa State goes to their first Final Four since 1944
Eighty years is a Cubs-like drought. Fitting, considering the Cubs' Triple-A affiliate has resided in Iowa for decades. This is the year that the Cyclones break their curse. T.J. Otzelberger has built a defensive monster in Ames that can get any team out of their comfort zone. A team that beats Houston by 30 is very dangerous.
Midwest Region Tournament Busts
Purdue loses in the first round again
We're still new to No. 16 seeds beating a No. 1 seed, but Purdue isn't much different from last year. Jonathan Aku has the size to grapple with Zach Edey. If this game is called close, it will be Edey in foul trouble, not Aku. Grambling got good guard play against Montana State and should against Purdue as well. The Tigers aren't as small as Fairleigh Dickinson, but they can be if they have to.
A high seed makes the Final Four
This is the bracket with the most dangerous higher seeds. Utah State is a really good team that will knock out Purdue if Grambling doesn't. McNeese and Samford could both win their first-round games. Oregon matches up well with South Carolina and Creighton. Even No. 14 seed Akron is dangerous. Texas is enough of a bully to make a Sweet 16 run. I wanted to say that Creighton makes it to their first Final Four, but this region is going to be chaos. If Creighton doesn't make it, the Final Four team from this bracket will be a seven seed or higher.
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