March Madness Upset Watch
March is here and that means one thing: the return of March Madness.
The wait is finally over and it’s time for posturizing dunks, buzzer beaters, upsets and Cinderella stories.
With the return of one of the most exciting times of the year comes heartbreak for many fanbases. Here are the teams that are on upset watch in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
6. LSU vs. 11. Iowa State
For fans of offense, this may not be the game to tune into. Both teams allow around 63 points per game while both teams have subpar offenses. What makes this game so close is that LSU is playing without its head coach, Will Wade, who was fired after allegations brought forth against the program for misconduct.
In addition, Iowa State is 9-8 against Quad 1 teams, while LSU is 6-9. Yes, Iowa State has struggled recently but if it can return to its form when it started 12-0, LSU is in trouble.
6. Texas vs. 11. Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech has one of the most explosive offenses and it’s especially dangerous from three-point range. If this game turns into a shootout, Texas won’t be able to compete with the Hokies offense, which is ranked 18th in Kenpom rankings.
Virginia Tech is also one of the hottest teams in the country, having only lost two games since the end of January. Texas is in the exact opposite position, losing its last three games.
4. Providence vs. 13. South Dakota St.
Providence has a strong record, having only lost five games this season, but it hasn't shown a lot of promise, as it hasn't had a real good win in 2022.
Having not been too tested this season, it is very likely that its defense will fold to South Dakota State’s second-ranked scoring offense. Not only do they score, but the Jackrabbits also are strong on the boards.
If South Dakota State’s offense is firing on all cylinders, it’ll be very hard for Providence to stay in the game, considering it won’t have many second chances and could possibly be giving them up on the other end.
4. Illinois vs 13. Chattanooga
Illinois runs through Kofi Cockburn. He seems almost impossible to stop, as he averages 20-plus points per game and 10-plus rebounds per game, but Chattanooga plays well on both ends of the floor.
The Mocs can score from anywhere, they rebound well and can play tight defense because of their size. If they can attack Cockburn and get him into foul trouble, Illinois will be in a bad spot. Illinois is a completely different team when Cockburn isn’t on the floor.
3. Wisconsin vs. 14. Colgate
Colgate has one of the most explosive offenses of the lower-seeded teams. It moves the ball so well that it can create open shots from anywhere on the floor. With its elite passing, Colgate rarely turns the ball over, so it’ll be hard for Wisconsin to get fast-break points.
Wisconsin’s ability to slow down the pace of the game and its ability to shoot efficiently will keep them in this game. Another factor to consider is that Wisconsin’s lead scorer, Johnny Davis, may be playing on a bum ankle. It’ll be almost two weeks since he injured it but if Davis isn’t fully healthy, Colgate may have a chance of completing what may be the biggest upset of the tournament.
Jayson O’Connell is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email jbo5216@psu.edu.
