With the start of the NCAA Tournament being less than 24 hours out, it’s time to start pinching yourself. This isn’t a dream – we’ve finally made it once again.
Wild weather in many parts of the United States has made this winter one to remember (or, forget), adding to the difficulty mentally that typically exists for many people beginning sometime around the end of football season. But sometimes, the hardships we endure upfront help make what comes next all that much sweeter. Perhaps that’s what we are in for with this year’s Big Dance.
This year’s Tournament feels particularly wide open, and the quality of play is the best that the game has seen in years. For what it’s worth, NIL and the transfer portal have generally speaking worked to the benefit of college basketball. As fans, we reap the benefits of this in March and early April.
With schedules being as busy as they are and my time now split between Around The Corn and Cornversations, it’s nice to have a bit of a “ramp up” when it comes to previewing the Tournament in its entirety. The Tuesday/Wednesday start before the “all day” affair on Thursday and Friday is really the only thing keeping the traditional structure of these previews intact.
For now, at least. Let’s enjoy the ride while it’s still moving and preview the First Four matchups.
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First Four Games to Watch
#11 Texas vs. #11 North Carolina State (Tuesday, approx. 9:15 PM ET – truTV)
Rematches in the Tournament occasionally happen, but rarely as first round games thanks to a Selection Committee aversion from doing so unless absolutely necessary. In the case of the Longhorns and Wolfpack, it was necessary, setting up an opportunity for these two teams to meet again on a neutral court (the first game was part of the Maui Invitational). If this one is anything like the first, then we’re in for a treat filled with lots of offensive fireworks.
Both teams shot the ball very well in the first matchup, and while the Wolfpack have been the slightly better shooting team all season, they are also the team that will need to continue shooting well to survive this game. Will Wade’s squad has been uncompetitive in a number of its losses this season, whereas Texas has been within striking distance in most of its losses. Given each team’s offensive potency, chances seem good that this will be another high scoring affair with several shifts in momentum. Beating a team twice is very difficult, and adding the neutral court aspect to the equation bolsters that statement.
#11 Miami (OH) vs. #11 SMU (Wednesday, approx. 9:15 PM ET – truTV)
Losing their first game in the MAC Tournament last week certainly made things interesting for the RedHawks heading into Selection Sunday, but when their name was called as one of the 68 teams that made the Big Dance it was the right decision by the Committee. Now Miami will get a chance to prove it can hang while enjoying playing in front of what should be a relatively friendly crowd in Dayton.
The Mustangs are just 9-11 since the beginning of the year and have lost five of their last six, but literally limped into the NCAA Tournament. Guard BJ Edwards, who was injured at the beginning of the aforementioned six game streak, is expected to be available to play in this game. If healthy, Edwards gives SMU an added boost to what is a dangerous backcourt at full strength. The RedHawks are one of the country’s best shooting teams from both inside and behind the arc, though the Mustangs aren’t far behind. This game will feature excellent guard play on both sides and is almost guaranteed to keep the debate going when it comes to Miami’s inclusion in the Tournament.
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Team That Could Make a Run
Miami (OH)
It already feels like a fairytale season for the RedHawks, so why not give them a chance to try on the glass slipper? Believe it or not, Miami is actually the second luckiest team in the country according to KenPom, but if you’re surprised by that it’s quite alright. Few could blame you for thinking that the RedHawks had that title easily wrapped up, having won nine of its 10 games this season that were decided by six points or less.
The guard play from the RedHawks is what is really intriguing about this team despite its poor strength of schedule. Miami has incredible depth for a mid-major, with seven players averaging double digits in scoring (five of them guards). Shooting percentage is more a function of your own squad than the opponent you play, and in that area Miami is one of the best. Ultimately, the RedHawks have lived on the edge when they do not shoot well from behind the arc. But when they do, they’re a truly dangerous group that can win not only in Dayton, but later on in the Tournament as well. It’s really quite simple for the RedHawks – by shooting well, you’ll prove you belong. The results will follow accordingly.
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Remember The Name
Dailyn Swain, Texas
In the first matchup against North Carolina State, Swain took a backseat in the points department to Jordan Pope but was productive in a variety of other ways that helped the Longhorns eek out a victory. That night was illustrative of what Swain means to this Texas team. Yes, he leads the team in PPG (17.8), but also leads it in rebounds per game, assists per game, steals per game, minutes per game and is second in field goal percentage. Even when he’s not leading the charge in scoring, he finds other ways to contribute heavily.
The 6’8” junior is long and athletic for a guard and uses that to his advantage when getting to the basket off the dribble. He is adept at that and often forces other defenders to play help on him, which opens up opportunities for his teammates in high percentages areas. He is the type of player that opposing coaches fear in late game situations because he’s so good at finishing at the rim but is also heady enough to dish it off if the opportunity presents itself.
Boopie Miller, SMU
Miller is a floor general in the traditional sense, leading the Mustangs with 6.4 assists per game (No. 15 nationally) and exhibiting a good sense for how the game flows. His speed makes him a dangerous piece in the transition game, with his passes in such situations often ending up as the first piece of a highlight dunk sequence.
Averaging over 35 minutes per game and 19.2 PPG, Miller is more than just a distributor. He has had to step up offensively for the Mustangs with the absence of BJ Edwards, though the potential return of Edwards will be beneficial for the team. Miller has shown some tendency to force things and his assists per game have dropped slightly with Edwards out of the lineup. With the possibility of a return, SMU’s backcourt being at full strength may help bring out the best in Miller when the Mustangs need it most.
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Around The Corn’s Picks
#16 Howard over #16 UMBC
#11 Texas over #11 North Carolina State
#16 Lehigh over #16 Prairie View A&M
#11 SMU over #11 Miami (OH)
