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Mike Marteny's 2024 NCAA Tournament sleepers for March Madness. His under-the-radar sleeper picks can help you build winning college basketball brackets.
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 upsets in the NCAA Tournament. Just look at all the chaos that we had last year. We had 15-seed Princeton in the Sweet 16 and play-in Fairleigh Dickinson beat the top overall seed in Purdue. I wasn't brave enough to see either one of those coming. I hit on a couple of them last year with Connecticut and Creighton. I missed some others. So it goes!
In this article, I will be providing you with my sleepers 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!
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West Region Tournament Sleepers
(4) Alabama
Alabama's lack of an inside force has cost them at times this year. It could again if New Mexico doesn't oust Clemson. If the Tide make it out of the first weekend, this might be a Final Four team. Mark Sears is an electric playmaker who can carry this team far.
(9) Michigan State
The Spartans are a different team in March. This wouldn't be the first time that we've seen them make a spirited run from the 8/9 game. Any team that beats Baylor by 24 points on a neutral court is dangerous. The size of the Tar Heels could be an issue, but remember that the Heels lost to far inferior teams in Syracuse and Georgia Tech this year.
South Region Tournament Sleepers
(3) Kentucky
Is Kentucky really a sleeper? Maybe not, but I don't think that most people realize how well they have been playing since the loss to LSU. Kentucky has scored at least 85 points in all six games since and topped 110 twice. Running into the Aggie buzzsaw in Nashville isn't a bad loss to me. As luck would have it, both A&M and Florida are in this bracket with the Wildcats.
(7) Florida
If the Gators can make it past Boise State or Colorado, they have an open path to the regional finals. Marquette is the weakest two seed and they already beat Kentucky twice this year -- once in Rupp Arena. The loss of Micah Handlogten is going to hurt them, but Thomas Haugh and Alex Condon both played well down the stretch. I feel like the Gators are equipped to handle that loss this year.
East Region Tournament Sleepers
(5) San Diego State
The Aztecs made the Final Four as a five seed last year. The bad news is that the other two teams from last year's Final Four that qualified for this tournament are all at the top of their region. You know that the Aztecs would love another crack at UConn. Can they beat them? I have my doubts, but you can bet that it would be a good game!
(6) BYU
The metrics love BYU more than the committee did. They beat Kansas in Lawrence this year and gave Iowa State hell both times they played them. If BYU draws them a third time in Boston, I wouldn't be surprised if they did it again. This is a really good draw for the Cougars.
Midwest Region Tournament Sleepers
(5) Gonzaga
The Bulldogs have been rolling since falling out of the rankings in January and they got a dream draw. They get a hobbled Kansas (maybe), then Purdue (doubtful). Okay...maybe Samford and Utah State. Both are beatable for the Bulldogs.
(8) Utah State
Remember that Montana State team that gave an Elite Eight Kansas State team hell in the first round last year? Their coach and two best players (Great Osobor and Darius Brown II) are now in Logan. If Purdue makes it out of the first round this year (likely against Montana State...how ironic), they may not make it past the Aggies. It could be smooth sailing to the Elite Eight for Utah State if someone knocks off Gonzaga.
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