Spring time brings March Madness

Alex Burbidge, Reporter

It’s now March, and for fans of college basketball, that can only mean one thing: March Madness is on the horizon.

The NCAA tournament will consist of 68 teams as always and will run from March 13 until April 2. As of March 5, the first seeds will likely be Virginia in the South regional bracket, Villanova in the East, Kansas in the West, and Xavier in the Midwest.

All four of these teams should have no problem making it to the Elite Eight, barring an upset by a lower seeded team. However, the lower matchups, such as Arkansas vs. Miami, will be much more of a toss-up as they are more evenly matched than a No. 1 seeded team vs. a No. 16 seeded team.

Kansas has a real chance to win the tournament. Despite losses against unranked Washington, Arizona State and Oklahoma, Devonte Graham and Svi Mykailiuk, seniors, have the potential to overcome those defeats and lead the Jayhawks to the national championships. A stellar offense is also on Kansas’ side, but defensive struggles have plagued the team this year and could lead to their demise.

Another great team that could take the crown is the defending champion North Carolina Tar Heels. The current No. 2 seed in the West regional bracket as of March 5, North Carolina has one of the NCAA’s best offenses, scoring 85 or more points in 17 of their 30 games. A heartbreaking loss vs. Miami on Feb. 27 may have ruined their senior night, but the Tar Heels can more than make up for it by giving their fans a run for back-to-back championships.

It will certainly be an exciting month for the entire basketball community, and by the beginning of April, one school’s team will be crowned national champions.