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The NCAA Tournament isn't just about cheering on your favorite team, learning about future NBA players or avoiding any real work during the afternoon games.
It's also about chirping to friends, family and co-workers about your infallible bracket picks.
Now you can add college basketball beat writers to that list. Ben Steele covers Marquette men's basketball and, with the Golden Eagles not playing in March Madness this season, his only focus is not embarrassing himself with his predictions.
Expert predictions: Marquette beat writer makes NCAA Tournament picks
More: Marquette basketball is back, and reporter Ben Steele will bring you the inside stories
Sign up for USA TODAY's Bracket Challenge, presented by AutoZone, and test your knowledge against our experts. You will have a chance to win up to $40,000 in prizes and a shot at a $1 million perfect bracket.
USA TODAY Bracket Challenge: Think you can beat our expert? Join USA TODAY’s Bracket Challenge today!
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Michigan State, Houston, Arizona and Tennessee.
If there is a common thread among those teams, it's that they all boast strong defenses. All four are in the top 15 of KenPom.com's defensive-efficiency rankings. Offense can come and go under the bright lights of the NCAA Tournament, but a stout defense always gives you a chance.
Houston.
This is a narrative choice more than anything, with Kelvin Sampson being such a good coach for so long but never winning the final game. The Cougars came frustratingly close last season against Florida. This time, the Cougars have a dynamic bucket-getter in freshman guard Kingston Flemings to complement Sampson's always-stingy defense. That makes the difference in Sampson getting his first title.
The biggest upset predicted in this bracket? That's probably ninth-seeded Iowa taking down defending-champion and No. 1-seed Florida in the second round of the West Region.
The Hawkeyes' Ben McCollum is an elite game-planning coach, and he's got a stud point guard in Bennett Stirz. That provides an advantage against an underwhelming Gators backcourt.
Michigan, the top seed in the Midwest Region, has size to overpower any team. But Tennessee has never backed down from a physical challenge under head coach Rick Barnes, and the Volunteers will win in a rock fight in the Elite Eight.
Duke, the No. 1 seed in the South Region, has injuries to key players, so the Blue Devils will be a trendy pick to get upset early. In this bracket? St. John's has big man Zuby Ejiofor to guard Duke's star Cameron Boozer, and the Red Storm get a big win in the Sweet 16.
We know, we know ... everybody has to pick a 12 over 5. How about Akron over Texas Tech in the Midwest? The Zips have won 10 straight games and their effective field-goal percentage ranks in the top 10 in the country, per KenPom. Being able to score efficiently is a good way to earn an upset.
Akron then keeps the offense going in another shocking win over run-and-gun Alabama in the second round.
Nothing too crazy, just 11th-seeded VCU taking down banged-up No. 6 North Carolina in the first round.
Maybe picking Tennessee to beat Virginia, Iowa State and Michigan to reach the Final Four is also a bit loony.
But that's March Madness.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: March Madness predictions: Can you beat our expert’s bracket?
Continue reading...
It's also about chirping to friends, family and co-workers about your infallible bracket picks.
Now you can add college basketball beat writers to that list. Ben Steele covers Marquette men's basketball and, with the Golden Eagles not playing in March Madness this season, his only focus is not embarrassing himself with his predictions.
Expert predictions: Marquette beat writer makes NCAA Tournament picks
More: Marquette basketball is back, and reporter Ben Steele will bring you the inside stories
Sign up for USA TODAY's Bracket Challenge, presented by AutoZone, and test your knowledge against our experts. You will have a chance to win up to $40,000 in prizes and a shot at a $1 million perfect bracket.
USA TODAY Bracket Challenge: Think you can beat our expert? Join USA TODAY’s Bracket Challenge today!
USA TODAY Survivor Pool: Ready to win March Madness? Join USA TODAY’s Survivor Pool today!
What are your Final Four picks?
Michigan State, Houston, Arizona and Tennessee.
If there is a common thread among those teams, it's that they all boast strong defenses. All four are in the top 15 of KenPom.com's defensive-efficiency rankings. Offense can come and go under the bright lights of the NCAA Tournament, but a stout defense always gives you a chance.
Who is your pick to win NCAA Tournament?
Houston.
This is a narrative choice more than anything, with Kelvin Sampson being such a good coach for so long but never winning the final game. The Cougars came frustratingly close last season against Florida. This time, the Cougars have a dynamic bucket-getter in freshman guard Kingston Flemings to complement Sampson's always-stingy defense. That makes the difference in Sampson getting his first title.
So what’s going to happen to the other No. 1 seeds?
The biggest upset predicted in this bracket? That's probably ninth-seeded Iowa taking down defending-champion and No. 1-seed Florida in the second round of the West Region.
The Hawkeyes' Ben McCollum is an elite game-planning coach, and he's got a stud point guard in Bennett Stirz. That provides an advantage against an underwhelming Gators backcourt.
Michigan, the top seed in the Midwest Region, has size to overpower any team. But Tennessee has never backed down from a physical challenge under head coach Rick Barnes, and the Volunteers will win in a rock fight in the Elite Eight.
Duke, the No. 1 seed in the South Region, has injuries to key players, so the Blue Devils will be a trendy pick to get upset early. In this bracket? St. John's has big man Zuby Ejiofor to guard Duke's star Cameron Boozer, and the Red Storm get a big win in the Sweet 16.
What is your 12th seed over 5th seed upset?
We know, we know ... everybody has to pick a 12 over 5. How about Akron over Texas Tech in the Midwest? The Zips have won 10 straight games and their effective field-goal percentage ranks in the top 10 in the country, per KenPom. Being able to score efficiently is a good way to earn an upset.
Akron then keeps the offense going in another shocking win over run-and-gun Alabama in the second round.
Any other upsets in this bracket?
Nothing too crazy, just 11th-seeded VCU taking down banged-up No. 6 North Carolina in the first round.
Maybe picking Tennessee to beat Virginia, Iowa State and Michigan to reach the Final Four is also a bit loony.
But that's March Madness.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: March Madness predictions: Can you beat our expert’s bracket?
Continue reading...
