With the first weekend of March Madness concluded, the field is down from 64 to 16 teams who remain alive in their quest for a national title. The Scout Sports Staff has made their picks for who they think will go all the way to cut down the nets in Indianapolis.
St. John’s
By Ethan Diamond
The Johnnies are hot right now. After winning the Big East tournament, they were given a fifth seed and promptly handled business against one of the strongest defenses in the country, Northern Iowa, in the first round before defeating Kansas in the Round of 32.
Led by forwards Zuby Ejiofor and Bryce Hopkins, the Red Storm have a tough task against the number one overall seed Duke in the Sweet Sixteen. If this team finds a way to get through the Blue Devils, nothing is stopping Rick Pitino’s side from going all the way to capture a national title.
Houston
By Ian Manley
Houston blew a late lead to Florida to finish as runners-up in last year’s tournament, but they’re coming back this year with vengeance. The team is extremely disciplined, rarely turning the ball over and dominating the rebound battle in every game.
On top of that, they have one of the best defenses in the country. They focus on shutting down the opposing teams’ best shooters and blowing up offensive schemes. This has led them to be second in the nation in opposing points per game, holding teams to a measly 62.3 points a night.
Houston’s path is clear. Their strong defense will carry them the whole way through.
Duke
By Jaylen Harris
Look, I know everyone loves to hate on Duke, but if you’re actually watching the games, it’s hard to deny they’re the real deal.
Their defense is an absolute wall. Ranking third in the country, they make every possession feel like a chore for the opponent. Plus, having Cameron Boozer is basically a cheat code. He’s a freshman playing with the poise of a five-year vet, dropping 20 and 10 like it’s a light workout. Getting Patrick Ngongba II back in the rotation just adds that extra layer of “good luck scoring inside.”
They’ve already knocked off heavyweights throughout the season, proving they don’t blink in big moments. Head coach Jon Scheyer has these guys locked in, and honestly, the path through the East looks like theirs to lose. Love ’em or hate ’em, the Blue Devils have “Champs” written all over them.
Arizona
By Jake Aimone
Head coach Tommy Lloyd is primed and ready to finally break out of the Sweet 16 this year. He and the Wildcats have reached this spot three of the last four years, but they have gone no further.
Ever since he arrived in Tucson in the 2021-22 season, the Wildcats have led the country with 18.3 assists per game and have ranked third in the nation with 83.9 points per game.
This year has been no different as the Wildcats are averaging 86.1 points a game, putting their scoring margin at 17.7. This offensive production led the team to its best start to a season at 23-0, and they have only lost two games this season.
A cast of stars has come together to form one of the most dominant forces in college basketball, including senior leaders Jaden Bradley, Anthony Dell’Orso, and Tobe Awaka. Don’t forget about the young freshman talent in Brayden Burries, Ivan Kharchenkov, and Koa Peat.
Coach Lloyd has put together an incredible group of players, and under his tutelage, this is the year the Wildcats go all the way.
Illinois
By Cristina Solano
The Fighting Illini have a real shot to win March Madness this year. They combine strong recent momentum with proven talent and a favorable position in this tournament.
Entering as the No. 3 seed with one of the better title odds in the field, the Illini have already shown that they can compete with top teams and were even given better championship odds than some No. 2 seeds. They’ve been playing some of their best basketball late in the season, winning four of their last five games to advance to the Sweet 16, often being a key indicator of a team peaking at the right time, and they’re backed by a high-powered offense that averages 84 points per game with one of the top offensive ratings in the country.
Leading the way is Keaton Wagler, who averages 17.8 points and 4.9 assists per game, alongside key contributors like Andrej Stojakovic and Kylan Boswell, who both average double figures and provide scoring depth and playmaking. With a balanced roster, elite scoring ability, and strong guard play, Illinois has all the pieces needed to make a championship run and cut down the nets.
Michigan
By Mark Wagner
The Wolverines have looked as strong as ever in the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament, defeating both opponents by 20+ points with one of the strongest starting lineups in all of college basketball.
Four of Michigan’s players have been averaging 10 or more points a game, including their so-called big three of Yaxel Lendeborg, Morez Johnson Jr. and Aday Mara. Rounding out the lineup are guards Elliot Cadeau and Nimari Burnett, always coming in clutch when the team most needs it.
As a team, the Wolverines rank in the top five in the NCAA in multiple categories, including field goal percentage (51.1 percent), average point differential (+17.8), and blocks per game (6.0). To have a head coach like Dusty May, three All-Big Ten players and some great statistics on your side in one of the toughest conferences in the country means something.
If Michigan can win big games like it has all year, it could be the first time since 1989 that the National Championship trophy comes home to Ann Arbor.
