The most exciting time of the year for college basketball fans is finally here: March Madness! The 84th edition of the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament will feature 68 teams competing for the national championship, starting with the First Four games on March 14 and ending with the title game on April 3 at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.
In this blog post, we will take a look at some of the key storylines, matchups and players to watch in this year's tournament. Whether you are filling out your bracket, betting on your favourite team or just enjoying the thrill of watching some high-quality hoops, here are some things you need to know about March Madness 2023.
## The No. 1 Seeds
The four teams that earned the top seeds in each region are Alabama (South), Houston (Midwest), Purdue (East) and Kansas (West). These teams have proven themselves throughout the regular season and conference tournaments as the best of the best, and they will have an easier path to the Final Four than their lower-seeded counterparts.
Alabama is led by sophomore guard Jaden Shackelford, who averages 18.7 points per game and shoots 40.6% from three-point range. The Crimson Tide play an up-tempo style that relies on pressure defence and transition offence. They won their first SEC regular season title since 2002 and their first SEC tournament title since 1991.
Houston is one of the most balanced teams in the country, ranking in the top 10 nationally in both offensive and defensive efficiency. The Cougars are coached by Kelvin Sampson, who has taken them to four straight NCAA tournaments after a long drought. They are led by senior guard Quentin Grimes, who averages 17.9 points per game and was named AAC Player of the Year.
Purdue is a young but talented team that finished second in the Big Ten regular season standings behind Michigan State. The Boilermakers have a balanced scoring attack with five players averaging double figures, led by freshman forward Caleb Furst with 13.8 points per game. They also have a dominant presence inside with sophomore centre Zach Edey, who stands at 7-foot-4 and averages 10.5 points and 5.9 rebounds per game.
Kansas is a perennial powerhouse that has won or shared 15 of the last 17 Big 12 regular season titles. The Jayhawks are coached by Bill Self, who has taken them to three Final Fours and one national championship since he took over in
2003. They are led by senior guard Ochai Agbaji, who averages 16 points per game and shoots 38% from three-point range. They also have a versatile frontcourt with junior forward David McCormack (13 points and six rebounds per game) and sophomore forward Jalen Wilson (12 points and eight rebounds per game).
## The Cinderellas
Every year, there are some lower-seeded teams that pull off surprising upsets and make deep runs in the tournament. These teams are known as Cinderellas, and they often capture the hearts of fans across the nation.
Some potential Cinderellas to watch out for this year include:
- Colgate (No.15 seed in Midwest): The Raiders have won their last nine games by an average margin of more than
20 points. They rank second nationally in scoring offence with an average of
86 points per game. They also shoot well from beyond
the arc at nearly
40% as a team. They will face No.
2 seed Texas
in their first-round matchup.
- Charleston (No.
12 seed in the South): The Cougars won their first CAA tournament title since joining
the conference in
2013. They have a dynamic backcourt duo with senior guard Zep Jasper (15.6 points per game)
and junior guard Brenden Tucker (14.8 points per game).
They also have experience playing against power-conference opponents,
having faced North Carolina,
Oklahoma State,
and West Virginia earlier this season.
They will face No.
5 seed San Diego State
in their first-round matchup.
- Oral Roberts (No.
12 seed in East)