Parity, thy name is college basketball.
No one is safe in this year’s 2023 NCAA College Basketball Men’s Tournament. Not the 1-seeds. Not the 2-seeds. And especially, not the tens of millions of bracket predictions that have gone bust across the country.
Meanwhile, the 2023 NCAA College Basketball Women’s Tournament is just as volatile.
The slim margin for error and this seemingly level playing field, however, are all component parts of what makes college basketball’s tournament so tremendous and thrilling to watch – it’s the height of competition and the wide-array of factors that ultimately decide which teams will remain standing are on full display.
In four quick days of amazing basketball and high drama, the field of 64 was trimmed to just 16 teams. After this weekend, we’ll be down to only four teams left standing.
Championship Productions’ Basketball Coaching Director, Thom McDonald, reached out to his amazing network of basketball coaching connections in both college and high school, as well as his other list of basketball experts and college basketball industry-insiders to help us shine the spotlight on each of the remaining 16 teams and try to get a handle on what makes each of them tick from a coaching and strategy standpoint.
As we study these 16 teams, we’ll showcase their head coaches, each team’s style of play and analyze some of the critical statistics that have led to each of these teams getting to the Sweet 16.
NOTE: As a reader service — and with full-disclosure — the highlighted, linked coaching-names that appear in the story below are URL live-links that connect to related Championship Productions’ instant video & DVD products currently available for purchase on this website.
(For a great deal on these popular instructional basketball coaching products, check out the ‘Buy 2 Videos, Get a 3rd Video For a Penny’ special sale offer that appears at the end of this article.)
As the men’s Sweet 16 tips off, whittling the field down to the Final Four over the next four-days, we’re thrilled to have compiled this objective and exclusive look at each surviving team and share it with you.
Enjoy!
Alabama Crimson Tide (No. 1 Seed in the South Region).
Quick Stat Facts:
- Alabama has five NCAA D1 transfers.
- The Crimson Tide has taken over 1,000 3-point shots in 36 games.
- Alabama has made over 1,000 field goals compared to 859 by their opponents.
- They are stellar in tight game’s determined by six points or less, with a record of 6-1.
- Interesting Stat To Watch: Opponents have more steals 259 against Alabama (219). Also, the Crimson Tide average 14 turnovers per game.
- High-Powered Offense: Alabama scores 82.3 ppg and possesses a 14.1 point differential.
- The Crimson Tide average 10 MADE 3-point shots a game.
- Brandon Miller leads the team in points, rebounds, most FTA and most FTM.
- Four players on Alabama have at least 74 assists, and they have two players with 113 and 123 assists, respectively.
Alabama Crimson Tide, Head Men’s Coach: Nate Oats
See Championship Productions’ Coaching Videos By Nate Oats.
What the experts are saying about the Alabama Crimson Tide:
Alabama is a team that is going to run, and they are more than happy with getting into a shooting contest with an opponent, but they can still pound the ball inside the paint and score as well.
Their overall point distribution is something that sticks out, as the Crimson Tide score 37% of their points from behind the 3-point shooting arc (30th out of 363), 43% of their points from 2-point territory (355th out of 363) and 20.2% of their points come from the free throw line (67th out of 363).
They love to shoot threes and will do so quite often, but they can do that because of their two-point efficiency. While their 3-point efficiency does not rank as high (172 out of 363 D1 teams) the thing that makes their approach successful is their 91% rim and 3-shot percentage, which is No. 2 in the country. This means that if they are having an off-day shooting the three, they are still completely comfortable getting to the rim. They convert at 54.1% from 2-pt range, good for 34th in the country.
Freshman, Brandon Miller is often the best player on the court and he’ll get his points, no matter what.
Another important player is sophomore, Charles Bediako, who is shooting 68% from the field and is a factor on the defensive end. While the Crimson Tides’ losses have come few and far between this season, in such games, Bediako is averaging only 4.6 ppg on a total of 2.6 shots per game. Due to his high shooting percentage when he is getting the ball, Alabama is scoring, and that changes the defense for the opponents.
On the defensive end, the Crimson Tide want teams to hold onto the ball and they run their opponents off the three-point line. Alabama is holding teams to 28.1% from 3-point range (3rd out of 363) and 40.9% from 2-point territory (1st out of 363 teams).
The Crimson Tide are an elite offense in terms of efficiency while possessing one of the best players in the country. They love the three-point shot but do not live and die by it, as many might think.
On the defensive end, they are going to force you into bad shots and are holding teams to an average of 59.8 ppg in post-season play.
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Alabama, the overall No. 1 seed out of the SEC, has been very good throughout the first two rounds. Not dominant, but very good, nonetheless. Coach Oates does a great job of recruiting to his fast-paced offensive attack – an offense that utilizes the 3-point shot as well as any Power-5 school in the country.
The Crimson Tide is long and athletic – which they use to great advantage on the defensive end of the floor.
They also, have a player who some consider to be the best player in country, in Brandon Miller.
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Arkansas Razorbacks (No. 8 Seed in the West Region).
Quick Stat Facts:
- Foul-Drawing Machine: Razorbacks player, Ricky Council IV, has attempted 209 free throws this season.
- Arkansas, as a team, has played better on a neutral floor this season (a 7-2 record) than in away games, where they are 2-8.
- SEC Is Tough: Razorbacks are one of few teams in the entire tournament that had a non-winning record in conference, with an 8-10 in SEC play.
- Arkansas shoots 31% from 3-point range as a team.
- Struggled in Tight Games: In 12 games determined by 6 points or less this season, the Razorbacks were 4-8.
- Can Be High-Octane: Arkansas has had 11 games in the 2022-2023 season where they have scored 80+ points.
Arkansas Razorbacks, Head Men’s Coach: Eric Musselman
See Championship Productions’ Videos By Eric Musselman.
What the Experts are saying about the Arkansas Razorbacks:
Arkansas, under head coach Eric Musselman, has earned a proven track record for developing and growing their already tremendously talented teams throughout the year.
Playing with grit and heart are HUGE in March. Both attributes are very evident in the Arkansas style of play on both ends of the floor.
Let’s face it, everyone who is still playing at this time of year possesses talented teams, but it’s the connected teams – those teams that play with spirit and joy – like the Arkansas Razorbacks, who always prove to be the most-successful teams come tournament time.
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Coach Musselman’s team is going to play harder than their opponent and that keeps them in every game. Offensively, they aren’t going to shoot the three ball very well and they sometimes struggle to score. What makes them special, however, is their ability to play physical basketball and get to the free-throw line. They are 23rd in the country when it comes to getting to the line but, unfortunately, they are only converting 69.6% of those FT attempts.
What makes the Razorbacks difficult to defend is that they have five players who can score points, make plays and step up at any point.
Defense is what makes Arkansas dangerous. The Razorbacks do a great job of protecting the paint, but they also run teams off the three-point line, too. When it comes to Arkansas’ defensive point-distribution, their opponents are only scoring 22.9% of their points from behind the three-point line (360th out of 363).
The one thing that can get the Razorbacks in some trouble, is that they foul a lot. While offensively they are shooting a lot of free throws, they also are giving up a lot of free throws defensively.
If Arkansas can continue to get to the line, continue to score inside and get a timely three-pointer or two, they can keep this run going. On the defensive side, they are going to stay in games and tire opponents out as the game goes on.
The Razorbacks grind-it-out style has worked so far and can continue to work so long as they stay locked-in defensively and convert a timely shot or two.
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The Razorbacks come into the round of 16 fresh off wins over Illinois and the defending NCAA Champion, Kansas. Arkansas boasts five players who score in double figures for the season.
Arkansas shares the ball offensively and play a fast-paced style. The Razorbacks will go to their bench early and often.
Coach Musselman’s team has great size, length and athleticism. What they don’t have is experience. They are one of the youngest teams left in the tourney. Will this lack of experience hurt them versus UConn? Or will the stage not be too big for their young players? Those are the big questions.
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Connecticut Huskies (No. 4 Seed in the West Region).
Quick Stat Facts:
- Shut-Down D! UConn Only allows 64.7 ppg (a +13.8 point differential)
- Red Flag? Opponents have attempted more free throws (729) this year than the Huskies (644).
- In the 2022-2023 season, UConn has had five games determined by six points or less and the Huskies were 1-4 in those games.
- Hot Start! UConn started this season 14-0 before finally losing at Xavier.
- 15-2 home record.
- 12-6 away record.
- The Huskies possess an experienced roster – which can make a big difference during tournament time.
Connecticut Huskies, Head Men’s Coach: Dan Hurley
What the experts are saying about the Connecticut Huskies:
Connecticut possesses an elite offensive unit with a lot of size. The Huskies will make you pay if you allow them second-chance points, as they are ranked 2nd in the country gathering almost 40% of all possible chances.
Mix in their second-chance opportunities with the statistic that shows they rank 2nd in the country in ‘shot quality score’ and the Huskies are destined to score some points.
A lot of their offense runs through their big player, Adama Sanogo, who averages 17 ppg and nearly 8 rpg. Sanogo is a huge presence that helps create some space for the Huskies guards.
On the defensive end, UConn can clog up the inside with Sanogo who stands at 6-foot, 9-inches and freshman Donovan Clingan, who is 7-foot, 2-inches. This means that the Huskies are a team with a lot of height and can cause some real problems on both the offensive glass and on the defensive end, inside the paint.
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The Huskies may be playing as well as anyone left in the tournament. After big wins over Iona, and St. Mary’s, Connecticut comes into the round of 16 as a surprise candidate for the Final Four.
The Huskies have a great mix of youth and experience. Coach Danny Hurley has his players playing fast, smart and with toughness.
They have gotten two dominant performances out of big player, Adama Sanogo. UConn pushes the pace offensively, but can also grind it out in the half court, as well, by playing inside-out through Sanogo.
UConn’s pressure defensively, tries to turn the other team over so they can get out and run in transition. Based on their first two games, the Huskies possess the look of a Final Four team.
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Creighton Bluejays (No. 6 Seed in the South Region).
Quick Stat Facts:
- No. 11, Ryan Kalkbrenner is the Bluejays leading scorer and shoots over 70% from 2-point territory.
- Battle Tested. Creighton is a team who has played 13 Top-20 teams and has a 6-7 record in those games.
- Goal Attained! Creighton has made more free throws (458) than the opponents have attempted (444).
- Five Bluejays players average at least 11.8 ppg.
- Creighton shoots 36% from 3-point range
- Shot Erasers: Creighton, as a team, has blocked 146 shots this season.
- Four Bluejays players have at least 59 assists this season, with two of those players having more than 105 assists.
Creighton Bluejays, Head Men’s Coach: Greg McDermott
See Championship Productions’ Coaching Videos By Greg McDermott.
What the experts are saying about the Creighton Bluejays:
Creighton is playing like the team that everyone expected them to be all year. Their ideal style of play is not a very physical one, however. The thing that makes Creighton special is their versatility and possessing the ability to key on multiple guys who can score.
Scheierman, Nembhard, and Kalkbrenner are all capable scorers with the ability to make you pay if you have the slightest lapse defensively. In the first round of the NCAA tournament, the Bluejays shot 3 for 20 from three-point range (and they are a team that averages 36% on the year) and they were able to get 31 points out of Kalkbrenner who shot 10 of 13 from 2-point range and 8-9 from the free-throw line.
Things then flipped on Sunday when the Bluejays found the range and shot 11 of 24 from the 3-point and combined that with an outstanding 22 of 22 from the free-throw line.
When things are going right for the Bluejays, they can either slow things down and play solid defense, or they shoot the basketball with anyone and make it an extremely fast-paced game.
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Coming out of the BIG EAST, the Bluejays are an experienced, well-coached team that can cause trouble for any team in the tournament. This team gave Kansas all they wanted last year in the 2022 tournament and they have the same core group of that team back this year.
Head coach Greg McDermott is one of the best offensive minds in the game and he has his team playing very well at the right time.
After two wins over two quality opponents in N.C. State and Baylor, Creighton has proven that they belong in the round of 16 and they are a legitimate threat in this region.
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FAU Owls (No. 9 Seed in the East Region).
Quick Stat Facts:
- Home Cooking: Owls are undefeated (17-0) at home.
- Road Cooking Just As Tasty: FAU is 15-3 on the road, away from home.
- Owls own a +13.5point differential and +5.9-rebound differential against opponents in the 2022-2023 season.
- Defense For Days: FAU’s defense is holding opposing teams to 65 ppg.
- Owls started this season 21-1 before losing at UAB
- FAU player Nick Boyd is shooting 41% from 3-point range, making 60 of 146 three pointers.
- Hot, Hot, Hot! The Owls are currently riding an 8-game winning streak.
- Bench Mob: 9 FAU players have at least 550 minutes experience.
FAU Owls, Head Men’s Coach: Dusty May
See Championship Productions’ Coaching Video By Dusty May.
What The Experts Are Saying About The FAU Owls:
Some of the main words that best describe head coach Dusty May’s group are ‘resiliency,’ ‘toughness’ and ‘connectivity.’ Coach May’s team has showed multiple examples of toughness and resiliency this season – showing up each night to handle business – which has paid off with a 28-3 regular season record.
In his fifth season at FAU, Coach May has done an amazing job of building and developing both his players and his coaching staff. What makes this group special is the attention to detail they display and the ‘PROVE IT’ attitude their players play with – meaning, that they play as if they have something to prove each and every time they step on the floor.
When our team played them back in December, their group seemed extremely dialed-in to their gameplan and what it was Coach May wanted them to do. They executed their offense, got stops on defense when they needed to and communicated flawlessly with one another on both ends of the floor.
Coach May has three high-major transfer players in his starting five and those players all play with the aforementioned PROVE IT attitude.
They play a 4-guard front at times, which is difficult to defend because of how dynamic their primary scorers (Gaffney, Martin, Greenlee and Boyd) are with the ball in their hands.
This season, the Owls were among the nation’s top teams in several statistical categories. Some of the more impressive team stats were:
—Finishing with the TOP ranking in the country for bench-points per game (37.6).
—Finishing No. 9 in 3-pointers per game (10.1).
—Finishing No. 16 in defensive rebounds per game (27.9).
–FAU’s success this year for sure has something to do with their ability to rebound the basketball. The Owls are currently 25-0 when they out-rebound their opponents.
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There’s always something special about a team that just flat-out wins.
FAU is not a very experienced team; they only have one senior out of the 13 guys on their team. They are also not a big team, as they rank just 285th in effective height.
What the Owls DO have going for them, is that they possess a very confident team who just loves to win. They also have good sophomores in Johnell Davis (a 40% 3-point shooter) and Alijah Martin (13 ppg and 5.3 rpg). Both players have had games with over 29 points within their last three games.
FAU knows how they are going to approach the game and how they want to beat you. They love to shoot the three and they do it rather well, shooting at 37% behind the 3-point arc.
They also take good care of the basketball, ranking in the Top 65 in turnover percentage (teams 30 thru 68 are all within 1-percentage point of one another).
If they continue to get big contributions from Davis and Martin, the Owls can compete with anyone in the tournament.
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FAU plays a fast, up-and-down style, on the offensive side of the ball. They also play pressure defense and try to speed their opponents up to create turnovers that lead back into their fast-paced offense.
The Owls have a long and athletic group that perfectly fits the way they play. After a close win over Memphis, and beating tournament darling FDU, they will need to take a step up in every facet of their game when they their meet Tennessee in the round of 16.
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Gonzaga Bulldogs (No. 3 Seed in the West Region).
Quick Stats Facts:
- Pressure? What Pressure? Of the 7 games determined by 5 points or less, the Zags have a 5-2 record in those contests.
- Gonzaga has a 15-1 home record.
- Road Warriors: The Zags also have a 15-4 record on the road.
- Goal Attained: Gonzaga has more made free throws (611) than their opponents have attempted (547).
- Experience Matters: The Bulldogs are an experienced team – with their top six players being at least 3rd year guys.
- Timme Time! Drew Timme (No. 2), is a dominant collegiate big, scoring 738 points and 111 assists this season.
- Steeled By Steals: As a team, the Zags have 264 steals compared to their opponent’s 182.
- Gonzaga’s Anton Watson leads the steal parade for the Bulldogs with 66 steals this season.
- Ball Distribution: Four players on Gonzaga have at least 85 assists in 2022-2023.
- Gonzaga, as a team, is shooting almost 60% from 2-point territory.
- Bulldogs player Julian Strawther is a 42% three-point sharpshooter on the season.
Gonzaga Bulldogs, Head Men’s Coach: Mark Few
See Championship Productions’ Coaching Videos By Mark Few.
What the experts are saying about the Gonzaga Bulldogs:
This year’s Gonzaga team includes the highest-rated offense in the country, but at the same time, the Bulldogs also have their lowest-rated defense since 2007.
When your offense is averaging 123.5 points per 100 possessions good things are bound to happen. The Bulldogs rank 8th in the country in offensive shot-quality, good for third best of out the remaining 16 teams.
Gonzaga doesn’t take a whole lot of three-pointers, but they are very efficient at 38% as a team. They also have three players shooting over 40% with Rasir Bolton (40%), Julian Strawther (42.2%) and Malachi Smith, who leads the country at 51%.
Ultimately, this team goes as Drew Timme goes, as he is credited with 30% of all offensive possessions (34th in the country).
Offensively, the Bulldogs are elite, but defensively they are vulnerable. They are allowing an offensive rebound on almost 26% of all possible opportunities.
The other thing that isn’t in their favor, is that they don’t force turnovers defensively.
This team is elite offensively and they need to be able to score if they want to continue to advance in the tournament.
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It is no surprise to see Gonzaga back in the Sweet 16. Head coach Mark Few has done a remarkable job of continuing, year after year, to have one of the best teams in the country.
While some may debate the toughness of their schedule, the bottom line is they beat the teams they have to play. No matter if it’s in the conference or out.
The Zags prove every year that they belong with any of the Power-5 conference teams. After wins over Grand Canyon, and a very good TCU team, Gonzaga, once again, has positioned themselves for a Final Four run.
Led by senior Drew Timme this looks like the typical Gonzaga team. Very good offensively and one that plays tough man-to-man defense. The Zags will be tough to beat for anyone left in the tournament.
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Houston Cougars (No. 1 Seed in the Midwest Region).
Quick Stat Facts:
- The Cougars average 8 steals a game and have a whopping 290 total steals in 35 games.
- Houston outscores opponents with a scoring margin of +18.3.
- Tight games? No worries. The Cougars have had 7 games decided by 6 points or less and finished 6-1 in those close contests.
- Houston’s opponents have made more free throws (672) than the Cougars have made (616).
- Four Houston players have at least 60 assists, including two players who have more than 100 assists.
- Defense Matters: Houston averages 4.9 blocks per game and the Cougars have forced 500 turnovers in 35 games.
- Experience Matters: Four Houston starters have been on campus for at least 3 years.
- Five Houston starters averaging 10-points or more per game.
Houston Cougars, Head Men’s Coach: Kelvin Sampson
See Championship Productions’ Coaching Videos By Kelvin Sampson.
What the experts are saying about the Houston Cougars:
A Top-5 team all season, the Cougars are going to love a slower-paced game and they are going to defend like crazy.
Houston ranks 334 in offensive tempo, by far the lowest of the remaining teams. Kelvin Sampson’s squad is going to use up the whole shot clock during an offensive possession.
What makes Houston so special, though, is that they are going to use up all that time on an offensive possession and still remain extremely efficient at scoring – as the Cougars rank 9th in offensive efficiency.
They also have an extremely low turnover rate as a team and they are getting offensive rebounds nearly 38% of the time.
Their situation is a little different as they depend on the health of key player, and main scorer, Marcus Sasser and his availability to play. Sasser Is shooting 39% from 3-point range on 242 attempts, which is 102 attempts more than the next Houston player.
Not only are the Cougars a Top-10 offensive team, but they are a Top-5 defensive team. They love to force turnovers – ranking 18th in steal percentage and No. 1 in the country in block percentage.
Like other teams who love to play such a physical style, the downside is that they also foul a lot.
If Houston remains exceptionally efficient on offense and continues to play tough defense without fouling, this is a very good team and one who can win a national championship.
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This may finally be Kelvin Sampson’s year. The Cougars are tough, long, athletic and play as hard, and defend as well, as any team in the country.
Houston doesn’t seem to be as concerned about how well they play offensively, as long as they make the other team play poorly. A game against the Cougars is a fight down in the muck every time.
With the guard combo of Sasser and Shead, Houston possesses as sound a backcourt as anyone left in the tournament. They will be a difficult out because of how tough they are and how committed they are on the defensive end.
Miami will be hard-pressed to simulate Houston’s style-of-play in preparation for this game. Houston is the tougher team and the better defensive team. Miami will have to have a tremendous shooting night to come out with a victory against the Cougars.
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Kansas State Wildcats (No. 3 Seed in the East Region).
Quick Stat Facts:
- Portal Power: Kansas State’s FIVE top scorers are transfers from either Junior College or other 4-year schools.
- Cool In The Clutch: The Wildcats have had 11 games decided by 6 points or less this season and they are 9-2 in those contests.
- Dropping Dimes: Kansas State player Markquis Nowell has 266 assists in 34 games.
- Wildcats maintain a 6.6 point differential against opposing teams in 2022-2023 season.
- Kansas State is a whopping 16-1 at home – with their only home defeat being a three-point loss to Texas, 69-66.
- Pressure Defense: The Wildcats have forced 509 turnovers this season.
- The Kansas State duo of players, Keyontae Johnson and Markquis Nowell, both average 17.5 and 17.1 ppg, respectively.
Kansas State Wildcats, Head Men’s Coach: Jerome Tang
What the experts are saying about the Kansas State Wildcats:
Markquis Nowell and Keyonte Johnson are a special duo. The Wildcats love to run their pick-and-roll offense through Markquis Nowell and allow him to make plays.
When Nowell is on the court, he accounts for an outstanding 41.5% of assists for his team (2nd in the nation). Not only can he create plays for his teammates, but he is also an elite scorer that possesses the ability to shoot from anywhere on the floor.
What makes Kansas State’s offense so special is that when you try and take away Nowell, they have a Keyonte Johnson, who is shooing 55% from 2-point territory and almost 41% from behind the 3-point arc.
The Wildcats rank 325th in bench-minutes percentage. However, production does not drop off when their bench does come in, as they have a few capable scorers in Ishmael Massoud (40% from the 3-pt line) and David N’Guessan (71% from 2-pt range).
K-state ranks 17th in defensive efficiency and is holding their opponents to under 30% shooting from three.
They love to play a physical style, which has, at times, led them to foul a lot. They rank 291st in opponent free throw rate.
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The Wildcats, having been picked last in the Big XII pre-season poll, have made that prediction look foolish all season. After a very strong start, KSU went through a brief lull toward the end of the season, but first year head coach Jerome Tang has righted the ship at the perfect time.
The Wildcats opened the tournament with a workman-like win over Montana State, then, in one of the best games of the tournament so far, beat Kentucky to advance to the Sweet Sixteen.
KSU used the transfer portal to great advantage to rebuild their roster in one season. The win over Kentucky proved that this team has the toughness, and leadership, to advance to the Elite Eight.
The game against Michigan State should be a slugfest from start to finish. Both teams play tough, in-your-face defense and both teams are well coached. Both teams also have great leadership, as well as the shot-makers necessary when the shots have to be made late in games.
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Miami Hurricanes (No. 5 Seed in the Midwest Region).
Quick Stat Facts:
- Home Cooking: The Hurricanes were 16-1 at home this season and their only loss was by 1 point.
- Miami is a small team – with starters who average 6’7”, 6’7”, 6’5”, 6’4” and 6’ 0″, respectively.
- Wong (#2) was the Player of the Year in the ACC.
- The Hurricanes have a +7.5-point differential on their opponents.
- Larranaga Knows Defense! Miami averages 7.3 steals per game.
- The Hurricanes have four players who have each taken a minimum of 972 shots.
- Balanced Offense: Miami has four player’s who average at least 13.4 points.
- Miami shoots 37% from 3-point range and makes 77% of their free throws.
- Goal Attained: Miami has more FTM (475) than their opponents have attempted (464).
- Roster Building: Miami has 4 of 5 starters who are third-year sophomores or older. In addition, the Hurricanes have three transfer players on their roster.
- Miami has an overall record of 27-7 and 15-5 in conference.
- Road Warriors: The Hurricanes have a 7-4 away record in the 2022-2023 season.
Miami Hurricanes, Head Men’s Coach: Jim Larranaga
See Championship Productions’ Coaching Videos By Jim Larranaga.
What the experts are saying about the Miami Hurricanes:
The 27th most-experienced team in the country are the Miami Hurricanes. The thing that makes these Hurricanes dangerous is not only that they rank No. 11 in offensive efficiency, but that two of their best defensively played games have come in this year’s NCAA tournament.
Miami has held two very capable offenses, in Drake and Indiana, in check. During the Drake game, in which they held the Bulldogs to just 56 total points, they held the Missouri Valley player of the Year, Tucker Devries, to just 3 points on 1-11 shooting from 3-point territory.
The Hurricanes are also a very good offensive team, averaging almost 80 points a game. They rank in the Top 40 in all three shooting categories (2-pt shots, 3-pt shots and foul shooting).
Norchad Omier is a key player for them when he is on the court and healthy, as he Is averaging a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds per game.
Miami’s offense is more than capable of keeping this tournament run going, and if they continue to shut the game down on the defensive end of the floor, Coach Larranaga’s team looks to be in good shape.
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The Hurricanes, after a hard-fought win over a tough Drake team, and a surprisingly easy (at least in some people’s eyes), win over Indiana, advanced to the round of 16 and are playing excellent basketball.
Miami is long, athletic and possess two big-time shot-makers in, Wong and Pack, who make the Hurricanes very difficult to defend.
Coach Jim Larranaga has been here, and beyond, before. One thing you can be sure of, is that he will have his team ready to go at tipoff.
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Michigan State Spartans (No. 7 Seed in the East Region).
Quick Stat Facts:
- Cool Under Pressure: The Spartans have had 11 games decided by 6 points or less in the 2022-2023 season and have a 7-4 record in those close contests.
- Dude Dishes: Spartan player AJ Hoggard has 195 assists in 33 games.
- Michigan State’s defense only allows 67 ppg.
- Road Tested: The Spartans are 12-2 at home and 9-10 on the road – note that they have played significantly more games away than at home.
- Spartan player Joey Hauser is shooting 46% from behind the 3-point line (73 of 158).
Michigan State Spartans, Head Men’s Coach: Tom Izzo
See Championship Productions’ Coaching Videos By Tom Izzo.
What the experts are saying about the Michigan State Spartans:
One thing that you can always trust about Michigan State, is that Tom Izzo is going to have the Spartans ready when tournament time starts.
Another thing that seems to occur like clock-work in March, is that a Michigan State guard is going to step up and that is exactly what they are getting from Tyson Walker. In their two NCAA tournament games, Walker has combined for 35 points and zero turnovers.
The Spartans are an extremely good team from 3-point range, shooting 39% on the season (6th out of 363), but they struggle at under 49% from 2-point territory (268th).
Michigan State lost Malik Hall for the season, which forced the Spartans to go into a three-guard lineup, but the good coming from the bad is that those guys all shoot better than 32% with two of those three players shooting over 40%.
The other good news for Tom Izzo’s squad is that those guys are all very good defenders, as are the rest of the Spartans.
Michigan State has held 5 out of 6 Top offenses it has played this season, to under 70 points with the one game being an outlier in Iowa City where both teams scored over 105 points. (The Spartans had held the Hawkeyes to 61 points a month earlier.)
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With wins over USC, and the No. 2 seed Marquette, the Spartans prove once again they are not to be counted out when the calendar flips over to March.
Legendary Coach Tom Izzo’s teams have always been known for their toughness, their defense and for how hard they play. This team is no exception.
The common theme with the majority of the teams left in the tournament is experience. Michigan State has that, as well.
This is not Coach Izzo’s most-talented team, but he always seems to find a way to get the most out of the talent he does possess – just as he has done once again with this group on the 2023 tourney.
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Princeton Tigers (No. 15 Seed in the South Region).
Quick Stat Facts:
- Tigers maintain a +7.6 scoring differential over opponents this season.
- Do-It-All Player: Princeton Player, Tosan Evbuomwan (No. 20), a 6-foot, 8-inch forward, leads the Tigers in scoring (14.8 ppg) and assists (4.8 apg) and is 2nd in rebounds (6.3 rpg), while shooting 51.9% from the field and leading the team in FTs attempts and FTs made.
- Princeton has a home record of 13-3 and an away record of 10-5.
- Tigers player Keeshawn Kellman (No. 32) shoots 61% from 2-point territory.
- Starting Five Balance: Princeton starts one freshman player, one junior player and three seniors.
- Crashing The Boards: Princeton has maintained an advantage on the glass in 2022-2023, with a 7-rebound difference per game over their opponents.
Princeton Tigers, Head Men’s Coach: Mitch Henderson
What the experts are saying about the Princeton Tigers:
Princeton’s key during this run, is that they do not turn the ball over, and simultaneously, the Tigers also have had the ball a lot more than its opponents.
On offense, the Tigers rank 254 in average possession-length but on the defensive end, they rank 36th. Princeton wants to hold onto the ball, and conversely, they want their opponents to take rushed shots.
During the Missouri game, aside from Missouri being held to 27% shooting from three, the thing that benefitted Princeton the most was that once they got up on the Tigers, they managed to control the tempo of the game and limit the amount of scoring opportunities that Mizzou had.
Another thing that the Princeton offense values is good shot selection; they rank No. 4 when it comes to the percentage of shots that are either three-pointers or shots right at the rim.
The bottom line is that the No. 15-seed Tigers are a disciplined team that works to get good shots on the offensive end and forces you to take bad shots on the defensive end.
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The No. 15-seed Tigers have represented the Ivy League well. With wins over the 2-seed Arizona, and the 7-seed Missouri, Princeton has proven they belong in the round of 16.
Yes, Princeton is very well-coached by an alum, and former point guard for Pete Carril, Mitch Henderson has his team hitting on all cylinders.
Princeton executes well on both ends of the floor, and yes, the Tigers also possess intelligent players. But this Princeton team is different than teams of the past. This Princeton team has some athleticism to go along with the usual Princeton type of player.
Princeton versus Creighton should be a great match-up between two intelligent, tough and well-coached teams. Both teams run excellent offense and play tough, hard-nosed defense.
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San Diego State Aztecs (No. 5 Seed in the South Region).
Quick Stat Facts:
- Great Year! San Diego State has had a sensational 2022-2023 season, finishing with an overall record of 29-6, earning first-place in the Mountain West Conference (15-3) regular season and then also won the MWC conference tournament.
- Home Cooking: The Aztecs were 15-1 at home.
- Road Warriors: San Diego State had a jaw-dropping 14-5 away record on the road.
- Closers: In 14 games determined by 6 points or less this season, the Aztecs finished with a record of 11-3.
- San Diego State’s Matt Bradley is the only player to average double figures in scoring per game (13 ppg) but the Aztecs have nine players averaging between 4 to 9 points per game.
- Aztecs have maintained an +8.8 scoring differential against opponents this season.
- Defense, Defense, Defense! San Diego State plays great team defense, only giving up 63 ppg this season.
San Diego State Aztecs, Men’s Head Coach: Brian Dutcher
See Championship Productions’ Video By Brian Dutcher.
What the experts are saying about the San Diego State Aztecs:
An absolute defensive nightmare, the Aztecs are ranked 5th in defensive efficiency, and it is easy to see why. This team likes to grind you down.
At 343rd in the country in defensive possession length, teams are holding on to the ball as long as they can and coming up empty. The Aztecs are forcing a turnover on nearly 20% of all defensive possessions and teams do not shoot the ball well against them.
They rank 4th in defensive 3-point percentage at 28%.
On the offensive side, the Aztecs are well-balanced. While they do not love to get into higher-scoring games (avg 72 pp), when they do face a high-scoring opponent, as they did in the game against Furman, they manage to get balanced scoring.
In their round of 32 game, San Diego State had four players in double-digits scoring.
Matt Bradley is their main scoring threat and he is a player who has come on since conference play began – shooting 43% from 2-point range and 43% from behind the 3-point arc in Mountain West Conference play.
San Diego State is a great defensive team who loves to wear you down and is also a very capable team on offense that possesses multiple scoring options.
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The Mountain West Champion weren’t well-known across the country before the tournament, but after a tough win over a good Charleston team, and a runaway win over Furman, the Aztecs have finally garnered some attention and respect.
This Aztecs’ group hangs their hat on defense and half-court execution on offense. They have size and athleticism, which allows them to get up and challenge teams on the defensive end. They are also an experienced squad, led by guard Matt Bradley.
They say styles make fights and this will be one of those types of games in the next round. The offense of Alabama versus the defense of San Diego State, makes this game a great one to watch. Don’t be shocked if the toughness of San Diego State carries them to an upset win over Alabama.
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Tennessee Volunteers (No. 4 Seed in the East Region).
Quick Stat Facts:
- Tennessee took care of business against most teams this year, maintaining a +13.4 scoring differential against opponents in 2022-2023.
- Volunteers have played nine different starters throughout the year except for Santiago Vescovi (#25) and Olivier Nkamhoua (#13) who are the Vol’s two top scorers.
- Crashing The Boards! Tennessee has out-rebounded teams by almost 7 rebounds per game
- Passing The Rock! The Vols have compiled 589 assists in 35 games this season.
- Spreading The Scoring Load! Six Tennessee players average at least 8 ppg in 2022-2023.
- In close games, the Vols had 8 games that were determined by 5 points or less and they finished 4-4 in those contests.
- Tennessee player, Santiago Vescovi, is also the team’s best 3-point shooter, shooting 37.1% from behind the arc.
Tennessee Volunteers, Head Men’s Coach: Rick Barnes
What the experts are saying about the Tennessee Volunteers:
When it comes to defensive efficiency, there is no one rated higher than coach Rick Barnes’ Volunteers.
Tennessee loves to force opponents to turn the ball over, forcing a turnover on over 22% of possessions (21st out of 363). Teams also do not shoot the ball well against them. The Vols opponents are shooting just 26% from behind the 3-point arc, which is the lowest percentage of any team in the country.
From inside the arc, opponents are shooting 44.8%, the 11th-lowest percentage in the country.
The Volunteers are just ruthless on defense, and they are going to continue to cause a lot of problems for teams in their way.
On the offensive side of the ball, when shots aren’t falling for them, they are exceptional at getting their misses, as Rick Barnes’ squad is the 7th-best offensive rebounding team in the country.
Since the injury to Zakai Ziegler, the one thing that has caused Tennessee problems is turning the ball over. In their loss to Missouri in the SEC tournament and their narrow win over Louisiana, the Volunteers’ recorded 14 and 18 turnovers, respectively.
However, in their comfortable win over a red-hot Duke team, Tennessee only recorded 8 turnovers and won by 13.
If they can stay on that path, limiting turnovers and continuing to be a lockdown defensive team, Tennessee’s tourney run will continue.
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The Volunteers, historically under Coach Rick Barnes, are known as one of the toughest, and best defensive teams, year-in and year-out. This year’s team is no different. They are playing their best basketball of the season, even without do-it-all point guard Zakai Ziegler.
Tennessee, after a close win over a tough Louisiana team, the Volunteers put on a defensive clinic in their win over Duke in the round of 32.
Overcoming an injury to your point guard, and then going on to play this well at this time of the year, says a lot about their head coach and the collective player leadership on this team.
In the next round, FAU steps up in class to face Tennessee and finds out how tough and how good the Volunteers are. Last year, a lot of people picked Tennessee to win it all. Even with the injury to Ziegler, this Volunteers’ squad may be even better than last year’s team.
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Texas Longhorns (No. 2 Seed in the Midwest Region).
Quick Stat Facts:
- Home Domination: Texas maintained a gaudy 17-1 home record in 2022-2023.
- Tough On The Road: The Longhorns also had a winning record on the road, finishing 11-7 in away games.
- Sir’ Jabari Rice (#10) is the Longhorns best FT shooter at 88% from the foul line.
- Texas player Dylan Disu (#1) is team’s best shooter from the field, with an average of 61% FG per game.
- Longhorns were often dominant in 2022-2023 maintaining a +10.6 scoring differential over opponents.
- Spread-Out Scoring! Texas has five different players average at least 9 ppg.
- Great Under Pressure! Of the 12 games this season that were decided by 6 points or less, the Longhorns finished 11-1 in those contests.
- Hot Start! Texas set the tone by getting off to a terrific start this season, going undefeated in November and were 12-1 overall before a loss to Kansas State.
- Longhorn players, Marcus Carr (#5) and Timmy Allen (#0) lead the team in assists with 145 and 117, respectively.
- Marcus Carr also leads the Longhorns in scoring and steals.
- Soft On The Boards? Rebounding may be the one weak area for Texas – as the Longhorns have been out-rebounded by opponents in 2022-2023. (No Longhorn player averages more than 5.6 rebounds per game.)
- Ferocious Defense: The Longhorns’ defense has forced 571 turnovers this season.
Texas Longhorns, Head Men’s Coach: Rodney Terry
See Championship Productions’ Video By Rodney Terry.
What the experts are saying about the Texas Longhorns:
When it comes to Division I basketball experience, no one left in the tournament has more than the Texas Longhorns.
Only five teams in the country have teams more experience than Texas. This experience has benefitted the Longhorns, as they had to overcome some adversity early in the 2022-2023 season.
Having fought through adversity, however, is what makes Texas such a mentally tough squad and one of the best basketball teams in the country.
Texas is one of three teams (Houston and UConn are the others) in the country to rank in the Top 15 of both offensive efficiency (No. 15) and defensive efficiency (No. 10).
Texas is one of the very few teams who possess a squad where any player on the court can go off for 20 or more points. In their first-round game against Colgate, the Longhorns saw a 36% 3-point shooter, Sir’Jabari Rice hit 7 of his 10 three-point attempts and finish with 23 points.
In the Longhorns second-round win over Penn State, Dylan Disu went 14 of 19 from the field, good for 28 points.
On top of that, Marcus Carr and Timmy Allen have also proven to be elite scorers and that is what makes this team so dangerous.
Defensively, Texas ranks in the Top 10, while also ranking in the Top 20 in turnover percentage.
When teams do get shots off against Texas, they are usually low-quality shots, as the Longhorns rank No. 4 in the country in defensive shot quality.
Texas is a special team with a lot of experience and a squad who has five players on the court who can lock you down defensively, while managing to get their types of shots off and score the basketball.
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The Longhorns arrive to the Sweet 16 fresh off of a win over a tough Colgate team, who has proven to be a tough out in this year’s tournament, as well as in the recent past, following that victory up with a second round win over a hot Penn State team.
Texas, despite the loss of head coach Chris Beard, has not missed a beat under interim head coach Rodney Terry. Texas has great length, size and skill throughout the roster.
They have four players averaging double figures in points for the season, which like Xavier, means that they share the ball. The Longhorns in-your-face, pressure, man-to-man defense is also an issue for opponents.
Texas has played really well down the home stretch of the season and into the tournament.
Texas versus Xavier should be a great match-up to watch. Xavier is the better offensive team. But Texas is the better team on the defensive end. It should be an exciting game and makes for a must-view basketball event. Texas is playing with a ton of confidence right now, though, and it will be tough for Xavier to get past the Longhorns.
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UCLA Bruins (No. 2 Seed in the West Region).
Quick Stat Facts:
- Home Dominant: UCLA finished the 2022-2023 season undefeated at home with a 17-0 record.
- Road Warriors: The Bruins were also tough on the road, putting up a record of 14-5 in away games.
- UCLA won their games by a +13.9 scoring differential over their opponents.
- The Bruins feature two dominant players: Jaime Jaquez Jr (#24), who averages 17.5 ppg, 8.1 rpg and totaled 84 assist on the season, while Tyger Campbell (#10) averages 13.6 ppg, led the team in assists with 4.7 apg, was an 86% foul shooter and shot almost 40% from the field.
- Limited Long-Distance: The Bruins averaged only six made 3-pointers per game this season.
- They Get HOT! UCLA did not lose in the months of December (7-0) and February (8-0) this season.
UCLA Bruins, Head Men’s Coach: Mick Cronin
See Championship Productions Video By Mick Cronin.
What the experts are saying about the UCLA Bruins:
The Bruins garnered more than enough recognition in the PAC-12 when Jaime Jaquez Jr won the Player of the Year award, Jaylen Clark won Defensive Player of the year, Adem Bona won Freshman of the Year, and finally, Mick Cronin was awarded Coach of the Year.
It’s all for good reason, as the Bruins rank 21st in offensive efficiency and No. 2 in defensive efficiency.
Coach Cronin has always been known for his defensive teams and this year is no different, as the Bruin rank 2nd in the country in defensive shot quality.
UCLA earns their living by turning teams over and forcing them into low-quality shots.
Jaylin Clark leads the charge defensively, and is averaging nearly 3 steals per game.
The Bruins have only lost 5 games this entire season and they are a very confident team at this point in the tournament. Do not overlook this squad.
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UCLA joins the Sweet 16 after convincing wins over UNC Asheville and a tough Northwestern team. Head coach Mick Cronin has the Bruins back to playing at a championship-level once again.
It’s hard to believe that people actually questioned his hiring initially, saying that Cronin’s style of play, which is disciplined and tough, especially on the defensive end, was a philosophy that would not work with west coast players. But Coach Cronin has more than proven his detractors wrong.
The Bruins play a tough style of ball defensively, but can also get up the court in a hurry on offense in transition. UCLA is an experienced team led by seniors, Jaime Jaquez Jr and point guard Tyger Campbell. The Bruins have the ability, and the toughness, to make a run all the way to the Final Four.
Gonzaga has proven, year after year, that they are a Final Four contender. Gonzaga versus UCLA should be a great game and is a must-watch. Two west coast teams who can play any type of style, in any region of the country, battling for a spot in the Elite Eight.
Both are tough, well-coached teams who are excellent on the offensive and defensive ends of the floor. These teams do not play often, so there will be some west coast bragging rights on the line in this one.
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Xavier Musketeers (No. 3 Seed in the Midwest Region).
Quick Stat Facts:
- Bombastic Ball-Movement! Xavier had three different players with over 100 assists this season.
- The Musketeers maintained a +7.4 point differential on their opponents in 2022-2023.
- Tough In Tight Games: In 16 games that were determined by 6 points or less, Xavier finished with a record of 10-6 in those contests.
- Xavier finished with a 15-2 home record AND a winning record on the road, finishing 12-7 in away games.
- BIG In BIG EAST! Xavier managed an excellent 15-5 record in a highly competitive BIG EAST Conference.
- Experience Matters! The Musketeers have one of the most-experienced teams in all of college basketball, with a starting five consisting of 2 grad students, 2 seniors and 1 junior.
- Power of the Portal! Xavier had four D1 transfers come into the program this year.
Xavier Musketeers, Head Men’s Coach: Sean Miller
See Championship Productions’ Videos By Sean Miller.
What the experts are saying about the Xavier Musketeers:
An elite shooting team, the Xavier Musketeers thrive on offense.
As a team who shoots 39% from three-point range (2nd out of 363) and 54% inside the arc (36th out of 363), there’s no question that the Musketeers (33rd in the nation in overall tempo) love to play fast and score a lot of points.
The loss of Zach Freemantle has not appeared to slow the Xavier offense down too much, either. Sean Miller’s team has scored 72 and 84 in their first two NCAA tournament games.
The athletic big man, Jack Nunge, helps on the defensive end, securing rebounds and is a player who can also move to the perimeter and defend.
Xavier is an extremely faced-paced offensive team that can score with anyone in the country and if they can find themselves some stops on the defensive end, they are as dangerous a matchup as anyone left in the tournament.
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The Musketeers find themselves in the Sweet 16 after making a big comeback to beat a tough Kennesaw State team and followed it up with a surprisingly easy win over Pitt.
Xavier is a well-balanced team with great size and length. With starters ranging from 6-foot, 3-inches to 7-foot tall, the Musketeers are one of, if not, the biggest team in the country.
In their win over Pitt they placed six players in double figures, which means they share the basketball. This unselfish style of play makes them very difficult to guard.
Head coach Sean Miller has Xavier playing its best basketball when it matters the most.
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Thom McDonald and Championship Productions would like to THANK everyone who contributed to help make this piece possible. To assemble the data seen in this article, we contacted coaches from all levels of basketball for their expert knowledge, some of whom either faced these teams during the regular season or even in this year’s tourney. While others we reached out to are trusted basketball-industry experts, those folks who love to analyze the game and research the things that make these 16 teams successful on the court — using statistics, analytics, video replay and the human eye. Without these valued, contributing partners and friends in basketball, this level of analysis could not have been done!
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