Three Intriguing 2023 Men’s March Madness Title Contenders
While many teams enter the March Madness tournament with high hopes, only a select few have what it takes to make a deep run and contend for the title. This article will evaluate what makes a good men’s March Madness title-contending team, emphasizing tournament experience, guard play, kenpom.com team rating, and coaching.
What Makes A Title Contender
Prior Tournament Experience
Firstly, a title-contending team has tournament experience, particularly in the form of upper-classmen who have been in the tournament before. This experience can give a team a significant advantage over opponents who need to become more familiar with the high-pressure environment of March Madness. Older players who have been through the tournament are better equipped to handle distractions and pressure. They are also more likely to know what it takes to win games in the tournament. This experience can be valuable in late-game situations, where the pressure is at its highest.
Reliable Guard Play
The guard position is arguably the most important in college basketball. Rosters with reliable guard play often do well in March Madness because guards are responsible for handling the ball, creating scoring opportunities, and making critical decisions in late-game situations. Teams with guards who can shoot, pass, and play tough defense are often the most successful in the tournament. In addition, experienced guards who have been through the tournament before can provide valuable leadership and poise under pressure.
Elite Kenpom Rating
Kenpom.com is a popular college basketball statistics website that uses a complex algorithm to rank teams based on their performance on both offense and defense. A strong rating indicates a team’s overall strength and can be a good predictor of success in the tournament. Teams highly ranked on kenpom.com often have a good combination of scoring ability and defensive prowess, which is vital in a tournament setting where every possession counts.
Adaptable Coaching
A good title-contending team has a coach who can make adjustments on the fly. March Madness is a tournament where teams are constantly facing new opponents and have to adjust their game plans accordingly. A coach who can adapt to different styles of play and make adjustments during games is a coach who can lead their team to success in the tournament.
Teams That Fit The Criteria
Houston
Houston’s success depends on the health of star guard Marcus Sasser, who recently strained his groin. A senior, Sasser is the epitome of a veteran guard that can take a team far in the tournament. If he’s healthy, Houston checks off all the boxes previously mentioned. They’re also ranked first overall in the kenpom.com rating.
Alabama
Alabama comes in as the top overall seed for a good reason. They’re a physical, defensive-minded group led by freshman wing Brandon Miller, who will likely be a top-five pick in the upcoming NBA Draft should he declare. In addition, senior guard Jahvon Quinerly has been coming on as of late and might be the catalyst this Alabama team needs to make a deep run.
UCLA
UCLA will be without Jaylen Clark, who is out for the season with an Achilles injury. However, they still have the talent and experience to make a run. UCLA is the only second seed to make this list because of the tournament experience on their roster. Guards Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Tyger Campbell have already proven in prior years that they can get the job done in March. Their rating may be slightly skewed now with Clark out of the rotation, but UCLA also comes in as the second overall rating on kenpom.com, which is significant.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, various factors can contribute to a team’s success as a men’s March Madness title-contending team. While there is no guaranteed formula for success in March Madness, teams with these traits are often the most dangerous and have the best chance to go far in the tournament.
It is worth noting that there are always exceptions to the rule, and every year there are surprises in March Madness. Some teams may possess only some of these traits but can still make deep runs in the tournament. However, in general, teams with tournament experience, reliable guard play, a strong kempom.com team rating, and an adaptable coach are the ones to watch out for in the tournament.
The excitement and unpredictability of March Madness make it one of the most thrilling sporting events in the world, but these three teams all have a solid chance to cut down the nets at the end.