Who do you like in the NCAA tournament?

[Taylor Picker]

I'm on the same page as Clark Kellogg & Seth Davis, both of whom have Gonzaga & Illinois in the championship game, with the Bulldogs winning.
There are only 3 teams ranked in the top ten in both offensive and defensive efficiency at kenpom, and two of them are Gonzaga & Illinois. The other is Michigan, and their making a deep run probably depends on getting Isaiah Livers back.
The downside on Gonzaga, as always, is that their strength of schedule has been low given their conference. The only time they've been tested lately was in the first half against BYU. I still think they're a great team... and maybe they become the first undefeated team since 1976. They do have the easiest bracket, I think. Iowa could give them trouble.
There are plenty of other very good teams, of course.
Anyone have other thoughts?

[questionseverything]

1. Illinois all the way

Our big man in the middle is a beast and our point has mad handles

[Taylor Picker]

2. I do hope it's Illinois vs Gonzaga in the championship.

That’d be a helluva game.
I’m a Big Ten alum, & I’ve watched Illinois plenty, including thrashing my school... which is not in the field... twice.
Scott Drew to IU! Not gonna happen, but we can dream.

[cloudbase]

3. Sleeper pick: University of Houston n/t

[Taylor Picker]

4. Mad respect here for Kelvin Sampson.

[rsdsharp]

5. Iowa didn't give the Zags trouble in December.

They neutralized Garza, and forced Iowa to shoot from outside. If they are hot with the threes in that situation, they can win. If not, they lose badly. The same thing happened against Illinois. Twice.

[Taylor Picker]

8. You're right.

In fact, Iowa was ranked #3 when they played and Gonzaga had just come off a COVID pause that didn't seem to affect their quality of play.
My terrible Hoosiers beat Iowa twice.
I was just looking to see who in that quadrant could give Gonzaga a game. There's not really anyone. I think they cruise to the Final Four.

[rsdsharp]

9. As an Iowa fan, I think the hallmark of a Fran McCaffrey

team is getting a decent lead at halftime (10+ points) and then piss it all away within the first five minutes of the second half. Go stone cold, and don’t play defense. It drives me crazy!

[Sewa]

6. Zags are my team

I’m wearing my Bulldog hat today.

[RainCaster]

10. I'm with you - Zags all the way!

Too much of my family went to Gonzaga, I would be disowned if I chose anyone else.

[TheFarseer]

7. Illinois will be very tough

They have to be the favorite. I think Gonzaga is very good but I think they have flaws. I’m curious how well Alabama will do. They can really score. Baylor looked unbeatable for a while. Maybe they can return to form and win it all. It’s nice there are a bunch of teams that look like they can win it.

[rurallib]

11. Teams have been really inconsistent this year thanks to Covid

Illinois seems to be putting a solid team together at the right time.
I am in the "Gonzaga has a weak schedule" group.

Baylor, Michigan and Ohio State have shown flashes of brilliance.

All around right now I am going with Illinois, but I think the virus may mess with things.

[nightwing1240]

12. Baylor knocks off the Zags in semifinals

Great Zag team but Baylor is loaded and (pardon the pun) loaded for Bear

[Taylor Picker]

13. I wish we had gotten to see them play in the regular season.

Cancelled due to COVID... they tried to reschedule, but it got cancelled again.
Another potentially great game we were deprived of was Baylor vs Alabama.

I'm ready for the games to tip!