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NCAA Tournament Roundtable: Can NBA Guys Predict March Madness?

By Michael Saenz

Mar 10, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Joel Berry II (2) controls the ball against Duke Blue Devils guard Frank Jackson (15) during the first half of an ACC Conference Tournament game at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 10, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Joel Berry II (2) controls the ball against Duke Blue Devils guard Frank Jackson (15) during the first half of an ACC Conference Tournament game at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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This year’s NCAA Tournament Cinderella team will be…

Saenz: Iona. I just like how the bracket falls into their favor. A hurting Oregon team first, then a shot at Creighton.

Huberman:  I have Florida Gulf Coast beating Florida State in the first round and Xavier in second en route to a Sweet 16 appearance. However, their luck will run out when they meet Arizona in the semifinals of the West region.

McFee: The Rams – not VCU – Rhode Island. Picked as a sleeper team in the preseason, Rhode Island has (kind of) lived up to its lofty expectations (as evidenced by their 24-9 record) despite losing their star senior forward Hassan Martin for an extended period of time while the team was struggling earlier this season. Rhode Island has a strong starting backcourt, and has a relatively easy path for the first two rounds at least.

Let’s just say for argument’s sake that Rhode Island upsets Creighton (a solid program, and a team I have a soft spot for – shout out to Doug McDermott). While you may think I’m crazy, Oregon (who I assume they would face next and will have little to no issues dispatching Iona) just lost their own star forward to a torn ACL, and have become shockingly thin up front. The aforementioned Hassan Martin is back, and recently put up 21 points to go with 17 boards, 2 blocks, and 2 steals against Davidson in an OT thriller. While no college team can rely on one player, I’m betting on Martin’s strong play to sharpen the Rams’ horns in this year’s tournament action.

Pontin: Rhode Island will be 2017’s cinderella team. If they are able to beat an inconsistent Creighton team, they will face Oregon, whose leading shot blocker is out for the entire tournament. URI won their conference tournament as well, and the hottest teams typically bode well in March.

Webb: Middle Tennessee: Lead by veterans who know how to win in the Tourney (Knocked off No. 2 seed Michigan State last year). Could make a Sweet 16 run this year.

Macri: Villanova is the top overall team for a reason, but they haven’t exactly had a tough schedule, playing in what’s left of the Big East. Enter Virginia Tech, who played in the gauntlet known as the ACC, notching wins over Duke, Virginia, Miami, and Wake Forest in the process. If the Hokies can get past Wisconsin (who didn’t exactly looked thrilled upon finding out they were an eight seed), they have what it takes to pull off the upset and could find themselves playing the Blue Devils for the right to go to Phoenix.

Dator: Being a Proud Filipino, I will surely pick the team where the Future of Philippine Basketball (Kobe Paras) is playing right now: The sixth seed Creighton Bluejays. They were one of the few teams who remained undefeated for quite some time this season. They also have future first rounder Justin Patton leading the way. Furthermore, they competed well in the Big East and finished with a respectable 10-8 record.

Gonzalez: SMU. They are a 6th seed, but that is also the amount of scholarship kids they have, 6. They good enough to make a sweet 16 run and possibly further.

Piers: UNC Wilmington – A team loaded with depth, had strong year from start to finish and has history of challenging the nation’s top programs.

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