NCAA Tournament 2021 East Region Preview

The Michigan Wolverines are one of 2 Big Ten groups to attract a one seed in this year’s tournament (Illinois is the various other). Juwan Howard’s team completed the season tops in the Big Ten, but suffered 2 losses in the conference event.

They fell in the semifinals to Ohio State, but perhaps more significantly, they shed elderly forward Isaiah Livers to a stress and anxiety fracture in his foot. Livers was 2nd on the group in scoring and balanced over 31 minutes per game.

While the Wolverines certainly have the ability to replace the manufacturing, the concern is how much they will certainly miss out on Livers’ constant hand and leadership in the stress cooker of the event. With Alabama, Florida State, and Texas potentially waiting in the later rounds, it will be an examination for this Michigan group that at times this season had actually appeared to position itself strongly in the contenders tier with Gonzaga and Baylor.

No. 1 Michigan

The loss of Livers allows, yet there is a lot of experience on this lineup. Grad-transfer senior guard Mike Smith is a steadying hand at the factor dishing over 5 aids per game. He’s signed up with by fellow seniors Eli Brooks and Chaundee Brown. In the front court, student Franz Wagner (12.8 ppg 6.2 rpg) as well as freshman facility Hunter Dickinson (14.2 ppg 7.6 rpg 1.4 bpg) are handfuls for opponents. Michigan is strong from the three factor line (38.7%) and protects the line well enabling opponents to hit simply 33.5% of threes.

No. 2 Alabama The Crimson Tide completed the double winning both the normal period and seminar event titles in the SEC. Nate Oats’ group includes a balanced strike with four gamers balancing 11 or even more points per video game and defensively, they’re the nation’s 2nd most effective device per Ken Pomeroy. They are especially effective safeguarding the three point line (28.8% challenger 3PT) as well as collapse the offensive glass well (12.4 ORPG). They do have a hard time a bit on the defensive glass which could be a trouble against later challengers.

No. 3 Texas

The Longhorns ended up 3rd in the Big 12 in the routine period before winning the conference event. Shaka Smart’s group has a triad of experienced guards in elderly Matt Coleman and also juniors Andrew Jones and Courtney Ramey and a skilled freshman that can be a top draft possibility in forward Greg Brown. They price as a top 25 violation in performance and also leading 40 defensively. However, they can fall for the three ball sometimes as well as do not shoot it excessively well (35.7%) which could harm them in the event.

No. 4 Florida State

Leonard Hamilton’s group finished 2nd in the ACC and also made it to the meeting title video game prior to falling to Georgia Tech. They’re a specifically solid 3 point shooting group (39%) and are strong on the offending glass (11.6 per game). They’re 10th in offending efficiency and also Top 50 on the protective end because group. They also are among the very best edge shielding teams averaging 5.1 blocks per video game.

No. 5 Colorado

The Buffaloes completed third in the Pac-12 in the normal season as well as made it to the tournament title game before falling to Oregon State 72-70. They seem a bit under seeded rating 17th in Ken Pomeroy’s positions (17th in offensive performance as well as 29th defensively). Senior guard McKinley Wright IV leads the group in scoring (15.5 ppg) and is joined by forwards Jeriah Horne (11.4 ppg) and Evan Battey in dual figures (10.2 ppg). The Buffs are the second-rate complimentary toss shooting team in the country (82.2%) as well as look after the round (11.1 turn overs per video game).

No. 6 BYU

The Cougars finished second in the West Coast Conference and also runner-up to Gonzaga in the title game. They’re reliable on both ends of the flooring (Top 30 in both per Ken Pomeroy) and are strong 3 point shooters (37.8%). The triad of Alex Barcello, Brandon Averette and Matt Haarms are the clear leaders. They do battle at times with turning the round over, balancing over 13 per video game in the bottom half of Division I.

No. 7 UConn

The Huskies appear to be under seeded judging by Pomeroy’s ratings. They check in as a Top 25 offensive and protective efficiency team and also don’t turn the ball over much (11.7 per video game). Student guard James Bouknight blazes a trail balancing 19 factors per video game with juniors R.J. Cole (12.3 ppg) as well as Tyrese Martin (10.7) also averaging dual numbers. Cole is suspicious now, recuperating from a trauma. Additionally a worry is their shooting where they rate in the lower fifty percent of DI, appealing 33.6% of their 3s.

No. 8 LSU

The Tigers completed third in the SEC as well as fell just short against Alabama in the conference tournament national championship. Will Wade’s group is among one of the most reliable offenses in the country (5th in Ken Pom) balancing 82.1 points per video game and also shooting 74.6% from the free throw line. Freshman Cameron Thomas leads the group in scoring (22.6 ppg) however 3 various other gamers are additionally balancing dual digits. The question is defensively where they enabled challengers over 75 factors per video game. They protect the three point line well (30% permitted) which could come in handy.

No. 9 St. Bonaventure

The Bonnies were Atlantic 10 normal as well as event champs many thanks to a well balanced offensive assault and a solid protection. The protection hinges on junior ahead Osun Osunniyi who standards 2.9 blocks per game and also routinely modifies chance ats the rim. The perimeter gamers all protect well also with three gamers (Kyle Lofton, Jaren Holmes and Dominick Welch) averaging over a steal per video game. They are also experienced at protecting the arc (30.6%) producing an enjoyable first round fight versus LSU.

No. 10 Maryland

The Terps completed 8th in the Big Ten in the normal period and also bailed out in the tournament quarterfinals to front runner Michigan. Mark Turgeon’s team has actually been okay from deep 35.3% but below par from the charity line (70.2%) which could harm them in the event. They care for the round (11.2 turnovers per video game) and also the guard combination of Aaron Wiggins as well as Eric Ayala is a strong one. Both they and also UConn play at a slower pace which indicates that game could boil down to free toss shooting late in a tight affair.

No. 11 Michigan State/UCLA

March is the month of Izzo and the Spartans remaining in as an 11-seed is a bit frightening for those who are used to seeing them higher the brace. They’re strong in the recoiling division however battle from deep (32%). The Bruins lost their leading player, senior guard Chris Smith just eight video games right into the period. They had the ability to gather as well as make the event completing fourth in the Pac-12 and featuring an assault that saw four players in dual numbers. They’re far better from 3 than the Spartans (36.7%) yet do not fire a bunch (18.7 attempts). Recoiling might be the distinction as the Bruins average just 35 per video game on the season.

No. 12 Georgetown

The Hoyas stunned the Big East, finishing eighth in the routine period before running through the meeting tournament to win the automated proposal. Patrick Ewing’s team fires the three (36.6%) and free tosses (75.4%) well while also being leading on the glass averaging over 40 rebounds per video game, 28.5 defensively. They do have turnover issues (15.4 per game) which can cost them the possibility at the preliminary distressed versus Colorado.

No. 13 UNC-Greensboro

The Spartans are back in the event for the very first time considering that 2018 after winning the Southern conference. Senior guard Isaiah Miller is the leader balancing 19.3 points, 6.9 rebounds and 4 assists per game. They’re a solid round dealing with team and also Miller can certainly cause challengers problems. They shoot just 30% from 3 as well as 68.3% from the charity stripe which, like the Wildcats below, might pose problems for trying to draw off a trouble.

No. 14 Abilene Christian

The Wildcats won the Southland seminar to make their second competition appearance in the last three periods. Senior facility Kolton Kohl (7 ′ 240) leads the way in scoring 12.3 ppg and also with junior ahead Joe Pleasant (10.8 ppg) as well as sophomore guard Coryon Mason (10.7 ppg) right behind. The Wildcats remain in the Top 30 in protective effectiveness and fire relatively well from 3 (35.3%). The big inquiry is cost-free throw capturing where they connect on simply 67.3% of their attempts. That can be a large roadway block for attempting to draw the distress.

No. 15 Iona

The Gaels are most likely the biggest unidentified in the field outside of those programs taking care of COVID issues. They had the longest stops in the nation as a result of COVID this year as well as played just 17 total video games. Despite not playing a game in between February 20 and the meeting tournament on March 9, Iona won 4 straight to book an area in the event. Head train Rick Pitino brings lots of competition experience as well as the Gaels are solid defensively. They battle on the defensive glass as well as do foul rather a bit.

No. 16 Mount St. Mary’s/ Texas Southern

Mount St. Mary’s won the Northeast Conference competition after ending up 3rd in the regular season. They flaunt the duo of guard Damian Chong-Qui as well as onward Nana Opoku who combine for 25 factors as well as 11 rebounds per game. The Mountaineers are solid defensively (62.7 ppg permitted) yet they struggle from the charity red stripe (67.8%). Texas Southern won the SWAC after finishing 3rd in the routine period and also are led by a trio of juniors in guard Michael Weathers and forwards Joirdon Karl Nicholas and John Walker. The Tigers play at a fast lane as well as can set up factors in a hurry.

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