Overrated

Scherer: Purdue and success in March Madness seem to be diametrically opposed. In the last three years, the Boilermakers have become the laughingstock of postseason basketball after losing to 13th, 15th, and 16th-seeded teams. They were only the second team to ever lose to a 16th seed. Despite running a top-10 offense, Purdue’s defensive vulnerability has occasionally been exposed. 

Deimel: One team that has been consistently overrated this year has been the University of Arizona Wildcats, who are currently ranked fifth in the AP Top 25 poll. Although the Wildcats are in first place in the PAC-12 standings, they have competed in a conference that features only one other top 25 team, and is only 3-3 against ranked teams this season. 

Underrated

Scherer: McNeese State, a mid-major program from Louisiana, is a dark horse. The Cowboys went from a 11-23 record last year to having the best season in program history, with a top-4 defense and top-50 offense. Maintaining the highest scoring margin, the third-highest turnover margin, and a top-10 three point percentage in DI basketball, the Cowboys have the makings for a Cinderella story as long as they can win the Southland Conference. 

Deimel: On the opposite side, this year’s most underrated team has been the Creighton University Bluejays. Head Coach Doug McDermott’s squad currently sits at 10th in the AP poll with a 22-8 record, recently knocking off conference rivals Marquette and UConn, who are also top 10 teams. Creighton finds themselves just behind the UConn Huskies, who they just beat, in scoring, point differential, and allows only 69.5 points per game in arguably the most competitive conference in NCAA basketball. 

Who Wins?

Scherer: Let’s acknowledge the threat of a UConn repeat. After blazing through the tournament last year with an average margin of victory of 20 points, UConn looks to reclaim its title. After losing stars Jordan Hawkins and Adama Sanogo to the NBA, the Huskies brought in a top-six recruiting class to play under the leadership of Tristen Newton and Cam Spencer. UConn has the talent, experience, and gritty defense to do what it takes to win another title. 

Deimel:

Going into their final game of the regular season, the Tar Heels are 23-6 and are ranked seventh in the nation. Senior forward Armando Bacot has led the Atlantic Coast Conference in rebounds, while senior point guard R.J Davis leads the conference in scoring, and is ninth overall with 21.5 points per game. Davis is also favored to be runner-up for the prestigious “Wooden Award”, given to the most valuable player in college basketball each year.