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Who Are the Key Players to Watch? Will Injuries Impact Duke's Run? Our Experts Share Their Picks for Winners, Sleepers, and Upsets in Both NCAA Tournament Brackets.
The most electrifying player this year is...
PJ Haggerty, a 6-foot-3 redshirt sophomore guard, is already on his third college team—Memphis—after short stints at Tulsa and TCU. This season, Haggerty finished third in Division I scoring, averaging 21.8 points per game. He erupted for 83 points over three games, leading the No. 5-seeded Tigers to the American Athletic Conference title.
Picking a favorite player is like choosing my favorite child—luckily, I only have one! After watching her play in person several times, I have to go with Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo. Her game is magnetic—she’s quick, aggressive, and fearless when it comes to facing anyone on the court. It’s the kind of exciting, intense basketball that I absolutely love to watch.
We’ve already discussed Cooper Flagg in detail elsewhere, so I’ll go with Jase Richardson from Michigan State. The 6-foot-3 freshman point guard boasts an elite shooting touch and is incredibly efficient, with a 59% effective field goal percentage. Richardson perfectly embodies the toughness and grit that Tom Izzo values, and he has the potential to lead the Spartans on a deep tournament run.
Paige Bueckers is exceptional, but she and her UConn teammates are now further strengthened by the return of Azzi Fudd. After missing crucial moments due to injury—like last year’s Final Four matchup where her sharpshooting was desperately needed—Fudd has been one of the standout comeback players of the year. She played a key role in UConn’s shocking upset of South Carolina, ending the Gamecocks’ 71-game home win streak. I’m eager to see how her confidence, quick release, and three-point shooting will elevate the Huskies’ chances this year.
What are you most excited about, both on and off the court?
The final television ratings. Thanks to the phenomenon that is Caitlin Elizabeth Clark, last year the women’s final outdrew the men’s final on TV for the first time, surpassing it by over 4 million viewers. Can the women’s tournament do it again? Three of the last four men’s finals have been blowouts, decided by 15 points or more.
On the court: If they can get past South Florida and Ohio State (which they should!), Tennessee vs. Texas will be one of the marquee matchups in the women’s tournament. When they faced off in January, Texas narrowly pulled out a four-point win, and Tennessee will be eager to make a big March statement this year.
The potential Rick Pitino vs. John Calipari showdown. There’s a lot of history here. The two started as close friends, with Pitino helping Calipari land his first head coaching job at UMass in the early '90s. But as their programs grew and they became rivals, their relationship soured. A second-round matchup between St. John’s and Arkansas could bring a lot of drama.
I’m also curious to see how LSU adjusts after several late-season losses, with or without Flau’jae Johnson. She recently admitted that she’s been playing “the worst basketball” of her career, which has clearly affected the team. With news that she’s out indefinitely, the big question is whether Kim Mulkey’s squad has the IQ and team chemistry to make a Final Four run.