Cigar Bracketology: A look at projected men’s and women’s field

Our own Kyle Standing gives you everything you need to know prior to the start of the 2022 Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournament. PHOTO CREDIT: NCAA

Every year, NCAA Basketball’s March Madness basketball tournament takes the country by storm, with massive upsets and dramatic endings, making for an unpredictable and wildly entertaining event. 

This year though, college basketball has seen historic upsets and even the top six teams in the country all losing on the same night, making the projected field for both the men and women even more unpredictable. We will take a look at some of the favorites in both brackets as well as some teams that could be “bracket-busters” come tournament time.

In the men’s bracket, while the projected field is not top-heavy by any means, there are some squads that come into March as title favorites and contenders. One of those teams is the current No. 1 team in the nation, Gonzaga. Coming off a heartbreaking defeat in last year’s National Championship game and led by Naismith Player of the Year candidates Drew Timme and Chet Holmgren, the Zags are looking to notch their first NCAA title in program history and have set themselves up nicely, finishing the regular season at 24-3 and winning the West Coast Conference. 

On the women’s side, there are some serious contenders, with South Carolina, Stanford and Louisville as the projected favorites. However, a team to look out for when picking your title winner is North Carolina State. Coming off of a very impressive 60-47 win against Miami in the ACC title game, the Wolfpack enter the tournament at 29-3 and at No. 3 in the nation. NC State has a very balanced offensive attack, with six different players averaging seven or more points per game. 

In regards to the dark horse teams that could ruin some fans’ brackets, there are a number of top contenders for the title of “bracket-buster.” On the men’s side, a team that could surprise many is Murray State.

Projected as a nine seed according to ESPN’s Joe Lunardi, the Ohio Valley Conference’s Racers aren’t necessarily a top team in the tournament, but are capable of knocking off some of those top contenders. Set to make their third appearance in the last five years, Murray State had another strong season, finishing undefeated in conference play and entering the tournament at a whopping 30-2. The Racers are led by their “Big 3” of KJ Williams, Tevin Brown and Justice Hill, who all average over 13 points per game. Other than a tight loss to Eastern Tennessee State and against No. 4 Auburn, Murray State has been perfect thus far and has even beaten tournament caliber opponents in Memphis and Chattanooga.

On the women’s side, the team that could beat your championship favorite is the recent champion of the Atlantic 10, UMass. The Minutewomen were defeated twice this year by Rhode Island, but since their last defeat to Rhody on Jan. 26, they have won 11 of their last 12 and are coming off a massive victory against Atlantic 10 regular season champs, Dayton. Reigning Atlantic 10 Player of the Year, Sam Breen, leads the way for the Minutewomen, averaging 17 points and 10 rebounds per game. 

While these are some teams to look out for, they are not going to be everyone’s picks. If you are making a bracket this year and want to make your own picks, there are some key statistics you should consider. Free throw and three-point percentage are always key in evaluating whether a team will be able to execute when they really need points. Points allowed per game is also something you want to be aware of, as a defensive team can hang in a game with anyone come tournament time.

Beyond that, though, you want to look at the strength of schedule. How did certain teams fare when they squared off with tough competition? Did they win the games they were supposed to win? Depth is also a key factor, as gameplans tend to change during the tournament. When that time comes, does your team have multiple guys they can count on? These are all key things to consider when you make your brackets this year. 

Regardless, March Madness is one of the best times of year so just sit back and enjoy the Madness!