Survive and Advance: The Style That Should Win This March
When it comes to March Madness and filling out your bracket, sometimes the best option for your winner is not the number one team. The top four seeds are all strong this year, showing success with impressive records. The thing to note is the style of play that each of these teams has and what should be successful when it comes to the tournament. When it comes to this, some teams that may not be ranked high are the ones you need to look out for.
The tournament is designed to have the best teams together when it comes to the Final Four. The best teams are not always the highest scoring or best defense overall, but instead are made up of four key components that help teams go far. First, the team should have a top 15 defense that helps with half the scoreboard. If a team scores fewer than you, then they lose. It is that simple. When it comes to the tournament, some of the best offenses are on display, and teams need to rely on their defense to minimize the damage. The fewer points the other team scores, the fewer points you need to score to beat them. If your defense can hold your opponent to fewer points and your team has a poor shooting night, you can still sneak out with a win.
The second main thing this team needs is multiple shot creators. A team with only one star has not shown the greatest success when it comes to the tournament. If teams can lock down one player and force others to step up, that is where consistency comes into play, and often others are not used to the spotlight and crack under pressure. In past years, teams that have multiple standouts sharing the spotlight have shown more success, as it is harder to shut down the offense. If a star player has an off night or picks up fouls early, causing them to sit, their whole game plan goes down the drain.
The third thing this year’s team needs is to experience guard play. They are the quarterbacks of the game. They break the press and start the play exactly how the coaches want it. When it comes to the tournament, tight games put stress on these guards, and if they are not experienced enough, a turnover could cost you the game. With experienced guards, coaches do not have to worry about turnover trouble or pressure when it comes to making the right play at the right time. An assist or backdoor pass can again be the play to kickstart a run.
The last thing a team needs is reliable rebounding. If a team is consistent with this throughout the tournament, it lowers the other team's possession. Teams that give up multiple offensive rebounds to opponents allow more possessions and therefore more shots. Teams that can control the paint and win the rebounding game are more likely to close out on top. The top four seeds all show unique styles when it comes to these four points. Some are more defensive teams, while others are more offensively driven.
For instance, Duke sits closer to the one-man show model. Their superstar freshman Cameron Boozer is the favorite for player of the year and leads the Blue Devils' offense when it comes to scoring. He can take over late possessions, which are crucial in tight games when it comes to the tournament. The problem with this is that he gets into early foul trouble or cannot make the shot in the big game due to his inexperience. The other slight concern for Duke is the age of the team. Younger teams tend to struggle when it comes to the tournament and composure as time goes on. For instance, last season, when Duke blew the lead, letting Houston score nine straight in the final 30 seconds.
Taking a more defensive approach can be seen in Houston this year. The team has an elite half-court defense with very physical rebounding. The Cougars will rely on their defense to slow down the tempo of the game, as March tends to see the faster side between teams. The tournament also displays the tightest games of the year that get ugly and physical fast. Teams like Houston are used to this style of play and will thrive if they find themselves in a scrappy battle.
For some teams, they find themselves more balanced, such as UConn. The Huskies have not had a true go-to scorer this season, which helps when it comes to offensive balance, but also is concerning when they need a clutch shot. They rely on multiple double-digit scorers and help from the bench to outlast their opponents. The good news for the Huskies comes with the depth needed for this tournament. Winning and advancing through six games in three weeks requires consistency and depth. Some teams with a singular star get burnt out and are unable to continue their success when it comes to tougher opponents further on. The Huskies do find themselves in foul trouble a lot, which could be their main downfall when it comes to the tournament, making other balanced teams the ones to look out for.
A top-ranked team that fits this is the Arizona Wildcats. Securing the Big 12 regular-season title earlier this week shows their ability to take down top programs. Their tempo is flexible, being able to compete with fast-paced teams while also holding their own against slower and more defensively driven teams. They have balance across all positions from beyond the arc and in the paint. This allows them to balance out the point of distribution and have contributions from anywhere on the court. This makes them an extremely dangerous team when it comes to March.
Anything can happen in March, but there is a reason they say history repeats itself, as some teams are better equipped for the format of the tournament. It is not always the fastest or highest scoring team that goes to cut down the nets. It is more about balance and consistency as teams look to thrive under pressure and in tight games. There is no specific way to select the winner every year, but statistics and history can give you a slight advantage.
