March Madness is nearly upon us! Though conference tournaments lay between now and Selection Sunday, the field looks like it will be mostly set. This means it is time to take a look ahead to who could win it all.
Everyone has their own picks for the NCAA Tournament, but these are the names that should be among the dark horse picks when brackets are released. Check out these four sleepers heading into the NCAA Tournament.
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Auburn Tigers
With so many March Madness betting odds out there to peruse, it can be hard to land on just a handful of dark horses. Each college basketball team has its strengths and weaknesses. Some are suited for tournament play better than others. No matter what, teams have to be able to score and the Tigers just happen to be one of the most explosive teams in the nation.
They have the kind of offense that can get hot at any moment and compete with anyone. They could land as low as a No.4 seed in the tournament depending on how things go. That said, they have beaten some very good teams like South Carolina and Alabama by double-digits, showing how potentially dominant they can be when they get hot.
Iowa State Cyclones
The Cyclones are one of the most battle-tested teams in the nation. They also happen to be one of the best defensive teams in the country, even more impressive considering they reside in what may very well be the toughest conference in the country. With wins over Texas Tech, TCU, Kansas, TCU, and Houston, the Cyclones can go toe-to-toe with anyone.
They have balance as five players average nearly 10 points per game, showing that they are far from a defense-only outfit. They might not have the national recognition that some of the other teams have, which could suit them. There is nothing like a team flying under the radar to put a chip on the collective shoulder and make an already dangerous team even tougher to play.
Alabama Crimson Tide
The Tide have gotten hot of late and there aren’t many teams in the nation playing as well as they have been. They are one of the best teams in a loaded SEC, though they have an abysmal record against teams that are ranked by the AP. Like the Tigers, however, they can score with just about anyone.
The Tide have a proclivity for scoring 80 or more points, showing that they can make shots in bunches. They are among the national leaders in points per game and have shown they can get open looks thanks to one of the most creative offenses out there. If the offense stays hot, there are few teams that can run with the Tide.
Clemson Tigers
It is entirely possible that any of the aforementioned three teams will make a run to the Final Four. The Tigers might be a bit on the long-shot range but they will definitely be an attractive play for NCAA Tournament brackets and picks.
The Tigers have wins over North Carolina, South Carolina, and Alabama, showing that they are more than competitive in a very tough ACC. If it weren’t for late-game collapses against Virginia, NC State, Duke, and Georgia Tech (four losses by a collective six points), Clemson could have a lot of momentum going for it right now. The Tigers could go as high as a No.6 seed, which would put them out of reach of the big boys (at least initially), allowing them to gain early momentum in the NCAA Tournament.