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NCAA tournament bracket picks: J. Brady McCollough’s prediction for every game

VIDEO | 06:07
March Madness is here. Our reporters break it down

Los Angeles Times reporters break down the NCAA basketball tournament and examine how far UCLA and USC might advance.

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UCLA and USC won’t be making the trip to Houston, but the Final Four won’t be short on intrigue. Can the hometown Cougars cut down the nets for the first time in school history? Can Alabama and the murder investigation hovering over this year’s tournament be removed from the spotlight? Will two Big East squads spoil the No. 1 seeds’ party before that fateful Monday night?

Check out national college writer J. Brady McCollough‘s NCAA tournament picks.

All games can been seen on March Madness Live or on the March Madness Live app. All times are Pacific.

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2

First Four 🏀

Arizona State guard Luther Muhammad drives to the basket against Arizona guard Kylan Boswell.
Arizona State guard Luther Muhammad (1) drives to the basket against Arizona guard Kylan Boswell (4) during the second half of the semifinals of the Pac-12 tournament on March 10 in Las Vegas.
(Chase Stevens / Associated Press)

No. 16 Southeast Missouri State vs. No. 16 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
Tuesday, 3:40 p.m.
TV: TruTV
Line: Texas A&M-CC by 4.
Pick: Southeast Missouri State has a great story, making its first appearance since 2000. But Texas A&M-Corpus Christi was in this exact game last year. That experience will deliver.
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 64, Southeast Missouri State 57

No. 11 Pittsburgh vs. No. 11 Mississippi State
Tuesday, 6:10 p.m.
TV: TruTV
Line: Mississippi State by 2.5.
Pick: The Panthers play great offense, while the Bulldogs play great defense. The metrics like Mississippi State more as a whole.
Mississippi State 67, Pitt 62

No. 16 Fairleigh Dickinson vs. No. 16 Texas Southern
Wednesday, 3:40 p.m.
TV: TruTV
Line: Texas Southern by 2.
Pick: Fairleigh Dickinson only made this tournament because Merrimack isn’t allowed in because it’s transitioning to Division I. Texas Southern is one of the most consistent low-major programs around.
Texas Southern 59, Fairleigh Dickinson 55

No. 11 Nevada vs. No. 11 Arizona State
Wednesday, 6:10 p.m.
TV: TruTV
Line: Arizona State by 2.
Pick: Former UCLA coach Steve Alford is coaching Nevada against Arizona State’s Bobby Hurley in a matchup of former NCAA tournament stars. The Sun Devils seem charmed this season.
Arizona State 70, Nevada 69

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L.A. Times college basketball experts Ben Bolch, Ryan Kartje and J. Brady McCollough project the Pac-12 tournament and national championship winners.

March 1, 2023

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West region — First round 🏀

Arkansas guard Nick Smith Jr. jumps over Texas A&M forward Julius Marble to chase the ball.
Arkansas guard Nick Smith Jr. (3) jumps over Texas A&M forward Julius Marble to chase the ball during the first half of the quarterfinals of the Southeastern Conference tournament on March 10 in Nashville.
(John Amis / Associated Press)

No. 1 Kansas vs. No. 16 Howard
Thursday, 11 a.m.
TV: TBS
Line: Kansas by 21
Pick: The Jayhawks won’t be fazed by the pressure of defending their national championship.
Kansas 88, Howard 61

No. 8 Arkansas vs. No. 9 Illinois
Thursday, 1:30 p.m.
TV: TBS
Line: Arkansas by 2.5.
Pick: This is an intriguing matchup of teams that could give Kansas a nervous Saturday. Arkansas is the pick because of its talent at guard, where Illinois is lacking.
Arkansas 75, Illinois 71

No. 5 Saint Mary’s vs. No. 12 Virginia Commonwealth
Friday, 11 a.m.
TV: TBS
Line: Saint Mary’s by 4.
Pick: VCU will try to speed up the Gaels with its trademark pressure defense, but Saint Mary’s has seen it all and is tournament tested.
Saint Mary’s 63, VCU 56

No. 4 Connecticut vs. No. 13 Iona
Friday, 1:30 p.m.
TV: TBS
Line: UConn by 9.
Pick: Rick Pitino against a Hurley brother in March? That’s delicious. Iona is certainly capable beyond the Pitino pedigree, but Dan Hurley’s Huskies just have too much quality depth.
Connecticut 68, Iona 62

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No. 6 Texas Christian vs. No. 11 Arizona State
Friday, 7:05 p.m.
TV: TruTV
Line: N/A
Pick: TCU nearly knocked off Arizona in the second round last season and returns all the key pieces from that team. The Horned Frogs won’t back down from Arizona State.
TCU 78, Arizona State 65

No. 3 Gonzaga vs. No. 14 Grand Canyon
Friday, 4:35 p.m.
TV: TruTV
Line: Gonzaga by 15.5.
Pick: The Bulldogs may not have a No. 1 seed this year, but they still have the No. 1 offense in the country according to Ken Pomeroy’s efficiency ratings.
Gonzaga 89, Grand Canyon 68

No. 7 Northwestern vs. No. 10 Boise State
Thursday, 4:35 p.m.
TV: TruTV
Line: Northwestern by 1.5.
Pick: The Wildcats and Broncos are similar teams, defined by their defensive guile. This one will be a grind to the wire.
Boise State 62, Northwestern 60

No. 2 UCLA vs. No. 15 UNC-Asheville
Thursday, 7:05 p.m.
TV: TruTV
Line: UCLA by 18.
Pick: KenPom’s efficiency metrics view UNC-Asheville as the luckiest team in the country this year. The luck will run out against the experienced Bruins.
UCLA 76, UNC-Asheville 61

4

Second round

Kansas forward Jalen Wilson celebrates after hitting a three-point basket during the first half against Iowa State.
Kansas forward Jalen Wilson celebrates after hitting a three-point basket during the first half against Iowa State in the semifinal round of the Big 12 Conference tournament on March 10 in Kansas City, Mo.
(Reed Hoffmann / Associated Press)

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No. 1 Kansas vs. No. 8 Arkansas
Saturday
Pick: We can only hope this one is as good as when these schools met in the Liberty Bowl, a 55-53 Arkansas win. Expect a similar track meet here, but a different winner.
Kansas 77, Arkansas 73

No. 4 Connecticut vs. No. 5 Saint Mary’s
Sunday
Pick: In a battle of two KenPom darlings — both teams have offense and defense in the nation’s top 40 — Connecticut will simply have too much firepower.
Connecticut 65, Saint Mary’s 60

No. 3 Gonzaga vs. No. 6 TCU
Sunday
Pick: The Zags have had such a massive target on their backs in recent years, which has made it tough on them in March. They can play with a freer mind this year, and Drew Timme will lead them to the Sweet 16.
Gonzaga 70, TCU 62

No. 2 UCLA vs. No. 10 Boise State
Saturday
Pick: With one more game under their belts to figure out how to play without Jaylen Clark, the Bruins will hit their stride in this one. Amari Bailey will give UCLA a big boost.
UCLA 66, Boise State 53

5

Sweet 16

UCLA guard Amari Bailey drives to the basket between Arizona center Oumar Ballo and forward Azuolas Tubelis.
UCLA guard Amari Bailey (5) drives to the basket between Arizona center Oumar Ballo (11) and forward Azuolas Tubelis (10) during the second half of the Pac-12 tournament final on Saturday in Las Vegas.
(Chase Stevens / Associated Press)

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No. 1 Kansas vs. No. 4 Connecticut
Thursday, March 23, Las Vegas
Pick: The Jayhawks had expected all season to be playing the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight in Kansas City. Vegas won’t be nearly as kind, thanks to a Connecticut team that has just as many weapons as the defending champs.
Connecticut 64, Kansas 62

No. 2 UCLA vs. No. 3 Gonzaga
Thursday, March 23, Las Vegas
Pick: The Bruins absolutely need a healthy Adem Bona to have a chance of slowing down Drew Timme inside. UCLA will get its revenge for its 2021 Final Four heartbreak at the hands of the Zags.
UCLA 63, Gonzaga 60

6

Elite Eight

Connecticut's Tristen Newton shoots past Marquette's Ben Gold.
Connecticut’s Tristen Newton (2) shoots past Marquette’s Ben Gold (21) in the second half of the semifinals of the Big East Conference tournament on March 10 in New York.
(John Minchillo / Associated Press)

No. 2 UCLA vs. No. 4 Connecticut
Saturday, March 25, Las Vegas
Pick: The Bruins will feel the loss of Jaylen Clark the most against Connecticut’s backcourt trio of Tristen Newton, Jordan Hawkins and Andre Jackson Jr. It’s too much on the shoulders of Tyger Campbell this time.
Connecticut 71, UCLA 67

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7

Midwest region — First round 🏀

Kent State guard Sincere Carry drives against Toledo forward Setric Millner Jr.
Kent State guard Sincere Carry (3) drives against Toledo forward Setric Millner Jr. during the first half of the Mid-American Conference tournament championship on March 11 in Cleveland.
(Ron Schwane / Associated Press)

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No. 1 Houston vs. No. 16 Northern Kentucky
Thursday, 6:20 p.m.
TV: TNT
Line: Houston by 19.5
Pick: The Cougars have a chance to play for a national championship in their city, and their defense is too good to squander it this early.
Houston 74, Northern Kentucky 55

No. 8 Iowa vs. No. 9 Auburn
Thursday, 3:50 p.m.
TV: TNT
Line: Auburn by 1.
Pick: Both of these teams have been uneven down the stretch, so it’s anybody’s guess which one shows up. Auburn will have the best guard on the floor in Wendell Green Jr., plus the game’s in Birmingham.
Auburn 74, Iowa 69

No. 5 Miami vs. No. 12 Drake
Friday, 4:25 p.m.
TV: TBS
Line: Miami by 2.5
Pick: The Hurricanes will be tested if they don’t have big man Norchad Omier because of an ankle injury. The uncertainty makes Drake the pick in a classic 12-over-5 upset.
Drake 66, Miami 63

No. 4 Indiana vs. No. 13 Kent State
Friday, 6:55 p.m.
TV: TBS
Line: Indiana by 4.
Pick: In one of the last games of the first round, the Golden Flashes will pull one of the biggest upsets of the weekend. But it shouldn’t be. The Hoosiers are a flawed four seed.
Kent State 69, Indiana 66

No. 6 Iowa State vs. No. 11 Mississippi State
Friday, 12:10 p.m.
TV: TruTV
Line: N/A
Pick: Two of the top defensive squads in the country will make this one borderline unwatchable at times. The Cyclones have an extra level of toughness.
Iowa State 58, Mississippi State 52

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No. 3 Xavier vs. No. 14 Kennesaw State
Friday, 9:40 a.m.
TV: TruTV
Line: Xavier by 11.5.
Pick: Kennesaw State went 1-28 during the 2019-20 season and now has a shot to be a Cinderella. The Owls’ magical run will end, though, against a fast-paced Xavier team.
Xavier 80, Kennesaw State 64

No. 7 Texas A&M vs. No. 10 Penn State
Thursday, 6:55 p.m.
TV: TBS
Line: Texas A&M by 3.5.
Pick: The Nittany Lions shoot lots of threes and make just enough of them most nights. They also have the best player on the floor in do-everything guard Jalen Pickett.
Penn State 64, Texas A&M 63

No. 2 Texas vs. No. 15 Colgate
Thursday, 4:25 p.m.
TV: TBS
Line: Texas by 13.5.
Pick: The Longhorns proved with two recent wins over Kansas that they are a real Final Four threat under interim head coach Rodney Terry.
Texas 75, Colgate 58

8

Second round

Drake guard Tucker DeVries reacts after scoring a three-point basket against Bradley.
Drake guard Tucker DeVries (12) reacts after scoring a three-point basket against Bradley during the second half of the championship game in the Missouri Valley Conference tournament on March 5 in St. Louis.
(Joe Puetz / Associated Press)

No. 1 Houston vs. No. 9 Auburn
Saturday
Pick: Houston could have a home-court advantage in the Final Four, but the Cougars will have to win in a road environment to make the Sweet 16 with this one in Birmingham. They’ll rise to that challenge — barely.
Houston 67, Auburn 63

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No. 12 Drake vs. No. 13 Kent State
Sunday
Pick: This is fun. At least one Cinderella will make the second weekend. Drake sharp-shooter Tucker DeVries will send the Bulldogs to the Sweet 16.
Drake 70, Kent State 66

No. 3 Xavier vs. No. 6 Iowa State
Sunday
Pick: Classic tempo battle here. Xavier wants to be the hare, Iowa State wants to be the tortoise. The Musketeers have just a little bit too much scoring depth to be held down.
Xavier 64, Iowa State 61

No. 2 Texas vs. No. 10 Penn State
Saturday
Pick: This sounds more like a Cotton Bowl than a battle for a Sweet 16 spot, but these hoopers are legit. Marcus Carr against Jalen Pickett will be a blast. The Horns’ defense will be able to get the stops they need throughout.
Texas 71, Penn State 60

9

Sweet 16

Texas forward Dylan Disu drives against TCU forward Xavier Cork.
Texas forward Dylan Disu (1) drives against TCU forward Xavier Cork (12) during the first half of the semifinal round of the Big 12 Conference tournament on March 10 in Kansas City, Mo.
(Reed Hoffmann / Associated Press)

No. 1 Houston vs. No. 12 Drake
Friday, March 24, Kansas City
Pick: By this time, Marcus Sasser’s groin will be all healed up, and he’ll help the Cougars run right past the Missouri Valley champs.
Houston 74, Drake 58

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No. 2 Texas vs. No. 3 Xavier
Friday, March 24, Kansas City
Pick: The Longhorns are playing with an edge that only comes with trying to get your interim head coach the full-time job. They play much better defense than Xavier and will make their first Elite Eight in 15 years.
Texas 72, Xavier 67

10

Elite Eight

Houston coach Kelvin Sampson yells at guard Terrance Arceneaux as forward J'Wan Roberts looks on.
Houston coach Kelvin Sampson, center, yells at guard Terrance Arceneaux (23) as forward J’Wan Roberts (13) looks on during the first half against Memphis in the finals of the American Athletic Conference tournament Sunday in Fort Worth.
(LM Otero / Associated Press)

No. 1 Houston vs. No. 2 Texas
Sunday, March 26, Kansas City
Pick: The winner gets a home-court advantage in the Final Four. Houston’s program has been knocking on the door and feels like it’s been building toward this moment. That it comes against Bevo makes it even richer.
Houston 59, Texas 54

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11

South region — First round 🏀

Baylor forward Jalen Bridges celebrates with forward Josh Ojianwuna after making a shot at the buzzer.
Baylor forward Jalen Bridges (11) celebrates with forward Josh Ojianwuna (15) after making a shot at the buzzer ending the first half against Iowa State in the second round of the Big 12 Conference tournament on March 9 in Kansas City, Mo.
(Charlie Riedel / Associated Press)

No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 16 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
Thursday, 11:45 a.m.
TV: CBS
Line: N/A
Pick: Alabama has been blowing out overmatched teams all year. The Crimson Tide will show no mercy.
Alabama 104, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 59

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No. 8 Maryland vs. No. 9 West Virginia
Thursday, 9:15 a.m.
TV: CBS
Line: West Virginia by 2.
Pick: The Big 12 got so much respect as a league that seven-win West Virginia got into the tournament. The Mountaineers will prove that the committee’s read was right.
West Virginia 66, Maryland 61

No. 5 San Diego State vs. No. 12 Charleston
Thursday, 12:10 p.m.
TV: TruTV
Line: San Diego State by 5.
Pick: The Aztecs’ reward for having a great year and winning the Mountain West? A trip across the country to Orlando to play a potential Cinderella with a 31-3 record. San Diego State’s defense will help it survive.
San Diego State 62, Charleston 58

No. 4 Virginia vs. No. 13 Furman
Thursday, 9:40 a.m.
TV: TruTV
Line: Virginia by 5.5.
Pick: The Cavaliers, even after winning the 2019 national title, will never escape their distinction as the only No. 1 seed to lose to a 16 seed. They’ll be a popular upset pick this week, but Tony Bennett’s team will find a way.
Virginia 66, Furman 59

No. 6 Creighton vs. No. 11 N.C. State
Friday, 1 p.m.
TV: TNT
Line: Creighton by 5.5.
Pick: The Bluejays have a deep, experienced roster that plays well together. N.C. State is too dependent on one-on-one basketball to prevail.
Creighton 73, N.C. State 60

No. 3 Baylor vs. No. 14 UC Santa Barbara
Friday, 10:30 a.m.
TV: TNT
Line: Baylor by 10.5.
Pick: There’s a window for the Gauchos to pull an upset if Baylor’s guards are cold from the field. But after losing in the second round last year, the Bears will be dialed in.
Baylor 72, UC Santa Barbara 63

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No. 7 Missouri vs. No. 10 Utah State
Thursday, 10:40 a.m.
TV: TNT
Line: Utah State by 1.5.
Pick: The Aggies and Tigers rank in KenPom’s top 15 for offensive efficiency, so this should be a fun one to watch. Utah State is less of an eye sore on defense.
Utah State 76, Missouri 75

No. 2 Arizona vs. No. 15 Princeton
Thursday, 1:10 p.m.
TV: TNT
Line: Arizona by 14.5.
Pick: Princeton will try to muddy this one up and may succeed early, but Arizona is too explosive to stay grounded for long.
Arizona 88, Princeton 65

12

Second round

San Diego State guard Micah Parrish and guard Darrion Trammell celebrate after the team's victory over Utah State.
San Diego State guard Micah Parrish, left, and guard Darrion Trammell celebrate after the team’s victory over Utah State in the Mountain West tournament championship on March 11 in Las Vegas.
(Steve Marcus / Associated Press)

No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 9 West Virginia
Saturday
Pick: The Mountaineers will try to punch Alabama in the mouth. They’re the type of team that could scare the No. 1 overall seed, but with this game in Birmingham, the Crimson Tide will roll to the Sweet 16.
Alabama 77, West Virginia 66

No. 4 Virginia vs. No. 5 San Diego State
Saturday
Pick: Brian Dutcher has kept Steve Fisher’s San Diego State program playing at a high level. Finally, the Aztecs will break through in the tournament, making their first Sweet 16 since 2014.
San Diego State 58, Virginia 56

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No. 3 Baylor vs. No. 6 Creighton
Sunday
Pick: This should be one of the best games of the second round, pitting Baylor guards Adam Flagler and Keyonte George against Creighton’s Ryan Nembhard and Trey Alexander. The Bluejays have the better bigs.
Creighton 72, Baylor 69

No. 2 Arizona vs. No. 10 Utah State
Saturday
Pick: The Wildcats will be too much to handle on the inside with the dynamic duo of Azuolas Tubelis and Oumar Ballo.
Arizona 73, Utah State 56

13

Sweet 16

Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner celebrates after scoring in the second half against Villanova.
Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) celebrates after scoring in the second half against Villanova during the quarterfinals of the Big East Conference tournament on March 9 in New York.
(John Minchillo / Associated Press)

No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 5 San Diego State
Friday, March 24, Louisville
Pick: This one is going to be ugly. There just isn’t much San Diego State can do better than Alabama for 40 minutes.
Alabama 83, San Diego State 57

No. 2 Arizona vs. No. 6 Creighton
Friday, March 24, Louisville
Pick: The Wildcats have lived with the sting of losing in the Sweet 16 as a No. 1 seed for a year. Despite their motivation, Creighton will keep Arizona out of the Elite Eight yet again.
Creighton 68, Arizona 67

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14

Elite Eight

Alabama guard Adam Cottrell celebrates in the finals of the Southeastern Conference tournament.
Alabama guard Adam Cottrell (30) celebrates in the finals of the Southeastern Conference tournament against Texas A&M on Sunday in Nashville.
(John Amis / Associated Press)

No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 6 Creighton
Sunday, March 26, Louisville
Pick: The Bluejays will have the nation rooting them on against the Crimson Tide, who will be feeling the pressure more than at any point in the tournament. But Alabama’s swarming athleticism will help numb the nerves and punch its ticket to the school’s first Final Four.
Alabama 72, Creighton 67

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15

East region — First round 🏀

USC guard Boogie Ellis drives against Arizona State forward Jamiya Neal.
USC guard Boogie Ellis, right, drives against Arizona State forward Jamiya Neal during the first half of the quarterfinals of the Pac-12 tournament on March 9 in Las Vegas.
(David Becker / Associated Press)

No. 1 Purdue vs. No. 16 Texas Southern
Friday, 3:50 p.m.
TV: TNT
Line: N/A
Pick: The Boilermakers won’t be the second 16-over-1 victim because there’s just no way to stop 7-foot-4 monster Zach Edey on the inside.
Purdue 83, Texas Southern 60

No. 8 Memphis vs. No. 9 Florida Atlantic
Friday, 6:20 p.m.
TV: TNT
Line: Memphis by 2.
Pick: The Owls have had a great season, but Memphis appears to be peaking at the right time behind the play of transfer guard Kendric Davis.
Memphis 78, Florida Atlantic 71

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No. 5 Duke vs. No. 12 Oral Roberts
Thursday, 4:10 p.m.
TV: CBS
Line: Duke by 6.5.
Pick: We all remember the magic of Oral Roberts in 2021, so it’s enticing to think that Duke could be the next victim. But the Blue Devils seem to have it rolling now.
Duke 77, Oral Roberts 72

No. 4 Tennessee vs. No. 13 Louisiana
Thursday, 6:40 p.m.
TV: CBS
Line: Tennessee by 10.5.
Pick: Louisiana may have the best player on the floor in Jordan Brown, who averages 19 points and nine rebounds per game. The Volunteers will narrowly avoid another Rick Barnes special.
Tennessee 66, Louisiana 64

No. 6 Kentucky vs. No. 11 Providence
Friday, 4:10 p.m.
TV: CBS
Line: Kentucky by 4.
Pick: The Wildcats have had to chew on their first-round loss to Saint Peter’s for a whole year. They haven’t been good lately, but Providence has been worse down the stretch.
Kentucky 72, Providence 61

No. 3 Kansas State vs. No. 14 Montana State
Friday, 6:40 p.m.
TV: CBS
Line: Kansas State by 8.5.
Pick: Jerome Tang has done a remarkable job in his first season at Kansas State. But the fun ends quickly against a Montana State team that has just as much NCAA tournament experience from last season.
Montana State 63, Kansas State 61

No. 7 Michigan State vs. No. 10 USC
Friday, 9:15 a.m.
TV: CBS
Line: Michigan State by 2.
Pick: The Trojans should feel good about their chances in this one. But Michigan State is playing for their whole campus community after the tragic February shooting.
Michigan State 65, USC 62

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No. 2 Marquette vs. No. 15 Vermont
Friday, 11:45 a.m.
TV: CBS
Line: Marquette by 11.
Pick: The Catamounts could keep this one tight, but eventually Marquette’s unselfish brilliance will put the game away.
Marquette 74, Vermont 59

16

Second round

Kentucky guard Antonio Reeves celebrates with CJ Fredrick after making a three-point basket against Vanderbilt.
Kentucky guard Antonio Reeves celebrates with CJ Fredrick (1) after making a three-point basket against Vanderbilt during the first half of the quarterfinals of the Southeastern Conference tournament on March 10 in Nashville.
(John Amis / Associated Press)

No. 1 Purdue vs. No. 8 Memphis
Sunday
Pick: We can’t forget that Memphis’ big win over Houston came without the Cougars’ best player, Marcus Sasser. Purdue will have enough answers to survive the scary Tigers.
Purdue 68, Memphis 63

No. 4 Tennessee vs. No. 5 Duke
Saturday
Pick: The Volunteers’ defense will muck up Duke’s flow and frustrate the Blue Devils’ freshman ensemble. But Tennessee will miss injured guard Zakai Zeigler.
Duke 60, Tennessee 56

No. 6 Kentucky vs. No. 14 Montana State
Sunday
Pick: The Bobcats’ Cinderella story ends here with a Kentucky team that needed a little bracket luck to bend its way.
Kentucky 78, Montana State 66

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No. 2 Marquette vs. No. 7 Michigan State
Sunday
Pick: The Golden Eagles are one of the hottest teams in the country and can get scoring from anywhere in the lineup. Michigan State isn’t spectacular in any facet of the game.
Marquette 78, Michigan State 69

17

Sweet 16

Duke guard Tyrese Proctor brings the ball up court against Virginia.
Duke guard Tyrese Proctor (5) brings the ball up court against Virginia during the second half of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament championship in Greensboro, N.C. on March 11.
(Chuck Burton / Associated Press)

No. 1 Purdue vs. No. 5 Duke
Thursday, March 23, New York City
Pick: Purdue has Zach Edey, but Duke has the veteran guard in Jeremy Roach, who won’t be overwhelmed by the big stage of Madison Square Garden. Purdue’s freshman guards will look like freshmen in crunch time.
Duke 72, Purdue 68

No. 2 Marquette vs. No. 6 Kentucky
Thursday, March 23, New York City
Pick: The Golden Eagles just swept through the Garden on the way to the Big East tournament crown. They’ll take care of Kentucky, which doesn’t have its defensive chops this year.
Marquette 75, Kentucky 68

18

Elite Eight

Marquette's Kam Jones celebrates after scoring with Stevie Mitchell.
Marquette’s Kam Jones (1) celebrates after scoring with Stevie Mitchell (4) in the second half of the Big East men’s tournament championship on March 11 in New York.
(John Minchillo / Associated Press)

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No. 2 Marquette vs. No. 5 Duke
Saturday, March 25, New York City
Pick: The Garden will be covered in blue. Is this Shaka Smart’s crowning achievement, 12 years after he took VCU to the Final Four, or is it Jon Scheyer’s coming-out party in his first year taking over for Coach K? Something about Marquette just feels special this year.
Marquette 74, Duke 71

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March 14, 2023

19

Final Four 🏀

Houston forward Jarace Walker celebrates with teammate and guard Tramon Mark after a slam dunk.
Houston forward Jarace Walker (25) celebrates with teammate and guard Tramon Mark (12) after a slam dunk against Cincinnati during the second half of the semifinals of the American Athletic Conference tournament on March 11 in Fort Worth, Texas.
(Ron Jenkins / Associated Press)

No. 1 Houston vs. No. 4 Connecticut
Saturday, April 1, Houston
Pick: The Cougars have been on an upward trajectory since Kelvin Sampson took over, and nothing — not even a hot Connecticut team that has all the pieces — will keep them from hosting Monday night’s final.
Houston 65, Connecticut 60

No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 2 Marquette
Saturday, April 1, Houston
Pick: The feel-good story for Marquette ends here, elevating a story making anybody outside of Alabama Nation feel confusion and conflict. The Crimson Tide athletes will overwhelm the Golden Eagles on the sport’s biggest stage.
Alabama 78, Marquette 68

20

National championship 🏀

Alabama players pose with the trophy after defeating Texas A&M in the Southeastern Conference tournament final.
Alabama players pose with the trophy after defeating Texas A&M in the Southeastern Conference tournament final on March 12 in Nashville. Alabama won 82-63.
(John Amis / Associated Press)

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No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 1 Houston
Monday, April 3, Houston
Pick: Back in December when Alabama was just a good basketball team nobody knew much about, the Crimson Tide overcame a 15-point deficit to beat No. 1 Houston in its home arena. In the rematch, the hometown Cougars will have the whole country behind them. Yet, so far, Alabama has thrived in the role of villain, and the Crimson Tide will be happy to go down as one of the most loathsome champions in college basketball history.
Alabama 69, Houston 63

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