The defending national champion may just be the team to beat again in 2023. The Jayhawks are loaded on the offensive end, and they are stout defensively. KU will most certainly be one of the four No. 1 seeds, and likely the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament.
But remember, it was just a few years ago when Virginia was the top overall seed and they were stunned by No. 16 UMBC. Nobody expects a 16 seed to upset Kansas, but they will get challenged on the road to the a second straight championship.
One of those teams that could pose a problem is Alabama. Remember the Crimson Tide went into Houston this season and handed the Cougars one of their two losses this season. Nate Oats has an impressive squad. They have more than enough talent to make a deep run, but the program has dealt with some serious off-the-court matters, which could ultimately derail this team in March.
The aforementioned, Houston Cougars will be on the teams that the betting world will throw some coin at. Kelvin Sampson’s team is relentless on defensive and few teams hit the offensive glass harder than the Cougars. At times they can struggle to get buckets, but they should make a run at a championship.
Purdue has spent a lot of time ranked No. 1 in the country and with Zach Edey you cannot overlook the Boilermakers. The regular season Big Ten champions are one of the most complete teams in college basketball. Matt Painter has done another outstanding job at the helm.
One of the most intriguing teams is UCLA. The Bruins would be one of the prohibitive favorites, had they not lost Jaylen Clark for the remainder of the season with injury. Clark is one of the top defensive players in America so it’s a big loss for a team that grinds you out in the halfcourt on both ends of the floor.
When it comes to defense, look no further than Virginia. Tony Bennett’s team hangs its hat on the defensive end of the floor. They are efficient on offense, but not a prolific scoring team so it’s all about making the opponent work hard for points. Their guards are so good at both ends of the court.
When it comes to guard play, Texas takes a backseat to nobody. Marcus Carr is one of the best guards in the country and he gives the Longhorns a chance to make a nice run, which could end close to home in Houston, which is the site of the men’s NCAA basketball championship.
There are a handful of teams that fans will wager heavily on to win it all. Whether you like one of the favorites, or teams like Gonzaga or Marquette to cut down the nets, MrCasinova is the place you want to place your bets or play a few casino games.
It figures to be an entertaining tournament, with a few surprises in the early rounds, but expect one the blue bloods to be the last team standing.