It is one of the sporting events of the season across the Atlantic every year, and one of those which helps shape the future of basketball. “March Madness”, the final stages of the NCAA season, will begin, to determine the university champion of the season.
Of the 68 qualified teams, only one will emerge victorious on April 8 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, the usual arena for the Arizona Cardinals in the NFL. Who will succeed Connecticut, winner of its fifth title last season? Overview of what you need to know for the next three weeks.
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Who better than the incumbent champion as the main contender? Connecticut had an admirable season (31 wins – 3 losses), having won the Big East conference tournament.
The Huskies arrive on a roll, with only one defeat in 2024. UConn will count in particular on the pivot Donovan Clingan (2m18, 12.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.3 blocks), and his experience of last season with eight players already crowned in 2023. Be careful, however, with the bracket, which has reserved a rather tough course for them with Florida Atlantic and San Diego State as possible opponents in the 2nd and 3rd rounds, two schools also present at the Final Four last season. Over the last two years, the outgoing champion (Kansas and Baylor) had also inherited the first seed, before falling in the second round.
Purdue (29-4) and Arizona (25-8) are among the main outsiders, and will be keen to forget their mishap last year in the first round. The Purdue Boilermakers had thus been in 2023 the second team in history to have emerged as number one seed in the first round, an “upset” which had unfortunately become usual for Zach Edey and his gang, also beaten in the first round in 2021.
Houston (30-4), perhaps the best defense in the NCAA this season, also has a great card to play. These last four editions have seen the Cougars systematically reach the Sweet Sixteen, and with their physical density, Kelvin Sampson's players have the weapons to go far, once again.
The surprise guests
If “March Madness” electrifies the crowds so much, it is for its “Cinderella Stories”, these improbable journeys of small universities against the flagship programs of the NCAA. Difficult, if not impossible, to play Madame Irma, and to give the slightest guarantee on the teams which could ruin the “brackets”, the prediction tables of the competition. But a few colleges would have a particular lead in employment.
Qualified for the first time since 1977, Duquesne (24-11, #11 East) has gotten some spotlight in recent days thanks to LeBron James. The Lakers star congratulated the Dukes after their Atlantic 10 title, and in particular coach Keith Dambrot, former high school coach of “LBJ” at St. Vincent – St. Mary. Dambrot is also assisted by Dru Joyce, James' teammate before he joined the NBA. No accolade from the King, but same team profile that we didn't expect for McNeese (30-3, #12 Midwest), college from the modest Southland Conference but a real good basketball team, which will face Gonzaga in the first round.
Among the teams in the best shape at the start of the “Big Dance”, James Madison (31-3, #12 South against #5 Wisconsin), undefeated for a month and a half, or even North Carolina State (22-14, #11 South against Texas Tech #6), which has just won the ACC conference title to everyone's surprise by winning in quick succession the three main seeds – Duke, Virginia then North Carolina, sorry – will be something to watch out for.
Finally, a player like Tyon Grant-Foster with the surprising Antelopes of Grand Canyon (29-4, #12 West vs. #5 Saint Mary's), would have the perfect “great story” profile. The spectacular fullback had to be resuscitated several times after collapsing during his first game with his former college DePaul before being cleared to play again 16 months later.
The big absentees
“Selection Sunday”, the day the brackets were revealed on Sunday, gave rise to strong reactions following the exclusion of several universities. THE St. John's of coach Rick Pitino was not selected, nor were several serious candidates from the same Big East conference like Seton Hall – one of only three teams to beat Connecticut this season – or Providence.
Indiana Stateone of the best mid-major teams of the season, and its atypical star Robbie Avila, paid dearly for its failure during the final tournament of the Missouri Valley Conference.
The non-selection of Pitt (22-11, 4e of the ACC team) finished off causing the amazement of the legendary former Syracuse coach, Jim Boeheim. “ This is one of the worst decisions I have ever seen. » he reacted to ACC Network, criticizing the NET rating, a tool used by the NCAA to establish a ranking on several criteria (record, difficulty of the conference, results against the best universities in the country, etc.) which contributes to Selection Sunday . “ We don't send the best teams to March Madness, we send the best teams to the NET, which means that if you have an easy schedule and you win these games by a lot, you will have a good NET. »
“One of the worst [decisions] that I've seen. »
Nothing But Net discusses the committee's decision to leave out Pitt in the NCAA tournament. pic.twitter.com/93yR9jvQQQ
— ACC Network (@accnetwork) March 18, 2024
Players to follow
In an upcoming Draft whose “Mocks” are dominated mainly by players playing outside the United States, the main NCAA prospects have a lot to play to show themselves. The Kentucky duo Rob Dillingham – Reed Shepherd, promised to the lottery teams, will have to prove that he had saved the best of the Wildcats' irregular season for last. Like Shepperd, Dalton Knecht (Tennessee) has continued to climb in the “Mock Draft” thanks to his scoring instinct (five games with 35 points minimum this season). The winger will be closely scrutinized, among one of the credible competitors for the title this year.
Probably best player of the season, as in 2023, Zach Edey can solidify his place in around the middle of the first round… as well as reinforce his image as a university star incapable of taking his Purdue team to the title. The pivot must indeed convince that he will be able to transpose his impact into victories, and in NBA style.
A problem that should not be suffered Cody Williamsbrother of Thunder winger Jalen Williams, who must however bounce back after a mixed last month with Colorado which could endanger his place in the Top 10 of the next Draft.
The French
There will be five tricolors present in the first round of March Madness. Mohamed Diarra should be the most prominent one with North Carolina State.
The power forward remains in a very good ACC tournament with an average of 9.2 points and 12 rebounds, and he is one of the Wolfpack's defensive leaders (2.2 blocks and 1.6 interceptions during the ACC tournament). Former member of the ASVEL training center and the French U18 team, Kymany Houinsou is the first rotation on the back lines of Washington State (24-9, #7 East), favorite against Drake University in the first round.
The other three Frenchies Jazz Gardner (Nevada, 26-7, #10 West), Kalifa Sakho (Utah State, 27-6, #8 Midwest) and Alex Doyle (Stetson, 22-12, #16 East) should a priori benefit from little playing time. For Doyle, the task promises to be titanic, facing defending champion Connecticut in the first round, for the Hatters' very first participation in March Madness.
The dates
- First Four: March 19 and 20
- First round: March 21 and 22
- Second round: March 23 and 24
- Sweet Sixteen (regional semifinals): March 28 and 29
- Elite Eight (regional finals): March 30 and 31
- Semi-finals: April 6
- Final: April 8
How to follow March Madness?
In France, beIN Sports is broadcasting the event, with around twenty matches which will be broadcast on the channel, including especially the Final Four and the final, which will be broadcast live.
And for girls?
As with the boys, “March Madness” will also begin for the girls, with South Carolina (32-0), Iowa (29-4), U.S.C. (26-5) and Texas (30-4) who recovered the first seeds.
Everyone will definitely have their eyes glued to Caitlin Clarkwho is playing her last university tournament before taking the plunge to the professionals, but it is however the South Carolina Gamecocks who are favorites, behind Kamilla Cardoso and MiLaysia Fulwiley, with their perfect record.
