Alabama, Auburn, Duke, Florida, Houston, Iowa State, St Johns, Tennessee. Here is the link - not sure everyone can see
www.espn.com
Here is the write up about ISU:
Medcalf: Since his first season at Iowa State (2021-22), T.J. Otzelberger has coached a squad that has routinely played elite defense. But this season's group has been fueled by a collection of standouts who have positioned the Cyclones to battle the best teams in the country at the offensive end. Tamin Lipsey, an all-Big 12 first-team selection in 2023-24, returned this season. Plus last season's leading scorer, Keshon Gilbert (14.1 PPG, 4.5 APG, 3.7 RPG, 1.7 SPG), has played like an All-American over certain stretches. And Curtis Jones (17.2 PPG, 37% from beyond the arc) -- arguably the most improved player in the country -- helped the Cyclones sail through the season as Milan Momcilovic (10.7 PPG, 41% from beyond the arc) recovered from injury.
That's the difference for this season's squad: the assembly of playmakers. With this crew, the Cyclones entered the week with four top-50 KenPom wins. They nearly kicked off the season with a thrilling victory over Auburn at the Maui Invitational before suffering a two-point loss. The Cyclones have the balance, talent and leadership to win a national title.
The concern? Their overall health. Jones (illness) and Gilbert (muscle strain) sat out a key matchup at Houston in late February after a hand injury cost Momcilovic multiple games. But if the Cyclones are healthy on Selection Sunday, they will be a viable contender to make the school's first trip to the Final Four since 1944. There is also Iowa State's favorable conference schedule (the Cyclones played Houston once), which might have inflated its run through the Big 12.
Regardless, Ozelberger's squad can compete with any team -- when it's healthy.
The 356 men's basketball teams that won't win the title -- and the 8 that could
Our experts identified eight teams with the best chances to win it all through a process of elimination.
Here is the write up about ISU:
Medcalf: Since his first season at Iowa State (2021-22), T.J. Otzelberger has coached a squad that has routinely played elite defense. But this season's group has been fueled by a collection of standouts who have positioned the Cyclones to battle the best teams in the country at the offensive end. Tamin Lipsey, an all-Big 12 first-team selection in 2023-24, returned this season. Plus last season's leading scorer, Keshon Gilbert (14.1 PPG, 4.5 APG, 3.7 RPG, 1.7 SPG), has played like an All-American over certain stretches. And Curtis Jones (17.2 PPG, 37% from beyond the arc) -- arguably the most improved player in the country -- helped the Cyclones sail through the season as Milan Momcilovic (10.7 PPG, 41% from beyond the arc) recovered from injury.
That's the difference for this season's squad: the assembly of playmakers. With this crew, the Cyclones entered the week with four top-50 KenPom wins. They nearly kicked off the season with a thrilling victory over Auburn at the Maui Invitational before suffering a two-point loss. The Cyclones have the balance, talent and leadership to win a national title.
The concern? Their overall health. Jones (illness) and Gilbert (muscle strain) sat out a key matchup at Houston in late February after a hand injury cost Momcilovic multiple games. But if the Cyclones are healthy on Selection Sunday, they will be a viable contender to make the school's first trip to the Final Four since 1944. There is also Iowa State's favorable conference schedule (the Cyclones played Houston once), which might have inflated its run through the Big 12.
Regardless, Ozelberger's squad can compete with any team -- when it's healthy.
