1. The NC State Wolfpack
The NC State Wolfpack has always played little brother to other in-state programs like Duke and North Carolina. The narrative shifted in NC State’s favor during the ACC tournament. Entering as a 10th seed, the Wolfpack won five games in five days to win the tournament, including an in-state sweep of Duke and UNC. As an 11th seed in the NCAA tournament, NC State defeated sixth-seed Texas Tech by 13 points. The Wolfpack defeated pseudo-Cinderella Oakland in the second round through dominance in the paint. NC State is looking more and more like the most dangerous team in the tournament.
2. The Purdue Boilermakers
If there was ever a basketball program more tired of hearing of its upset in the 2023 tournament, it’s the Purdue Boilermakers. Purdue is seeking to prove to the college basketball world that its 2024 edition is of a different caliber than the one that was upset by 16th-seeded Fairleigh Dickinson. Purdue entered a potential trap game against a dangerous Utah State team. It was in this game that the Boilermakers truly made their statement. Purdue crushed the Aggies 106-67, erasing any doubt that the Boilermakers were a legit basketball team. The program has redefined itself as a championship contender.
3. The Kentucky Wildcats
“Hot seat” has never entered the ears of Kentucky head coach John Calipari. Calipari has led the Wildcats to the Final Four four times, winning in 2012. The Wildcats are 1-4 in tournaments since 2021. Kentucky was upset by St. Peters in 2022. This season, they were upset by 14th-seeded Oakland. The loss to the Grizzlies might have been the straw to break Calipari’s back. The Wildcats were sloppy and unable to stop Oakland’s 3-point attack. Kentucky basketball sits at a crossroads: One road presents a program that further sinks into mediocrity and the other presents giving him the ax.
4. The Gonzaga Bulldogs
After a 2021 loss in the final to Baylor and 2022’s upset loss to Arkansas in the Sweet 16, the Bulldogs are used to tournament heartbreak. Entering as a fifth seed, the Zags are playing without the pressure of previous years. Instead, the Bulldogs have played spoiler for other teams with title aspirations. After a first-round victory over McNeese, the Zags set their sights on the always-tough Kansas Jayhawks. The anticipated match proved the opposite of high-octane; Gonzaga dominated the Jayhawks for 40 minutes, shooting 60%, beating the two years-removed champs 89-68 and earning a Sweet 16 spot.
5. The UConn Huskies
The Huskies left no room for doubt in their opening weekend matchups versus Stetson and Northwestern. UCONN entered the tournament as the top-ranked team in the country, securing the No. 1 seed in the east division. The Huskies dominated in their first-round game against the Stetson Hatters with a final score of 91-52. They shot 52% from the field and tripled the Hatters in three-pointers made. In their round of 32 matchups versus Northwestern, the Huskies won a 75-58 grinder despite a poor shooting day from three. After two games, UCONN has reinforced their ability to repeat as national champions.
