Rewritten: Authored by Mark Bergin and Louis Fernandez of WRAL, with contributions from a senior multiplatform producer.

The highly anticipated March Madness tournament has arrived, along with the daunting task of attempting to create the ideal bracket.

Throughout the existence of the NCAA tournament, there has never been a confirmed flawless bracket. The chances of accurately predicting every game in a bracket are approximately one in 9.2 quintillion.

There are various tactics that can give you the appearance of being knowledgeable, even if you haven’t kept up with the sport all season.

In most cases, top-ranked participants emerge victorious.

Since 1985, when the NCAA Tournament began with 64 teams, No. 1 seeds have won 24 of the 38 championships. Meanwhile, No. 2 seeds have won five times and No. 3 seeds have emerged as champions four times.

Over the last 38 NCAA tournaments, a team seeded in the top three has emerged as the winner 33 times, with a success rate of 86.84%.

In the past 25 NCAA tournaments, the top three seeded teams have emerged victorious 23 times.

Since 1985, only three tournaments have been won by a team seeded No. 5 or lower. The lowest seeded team to win the national title in 1985 was Villanova, seeded No. 8.

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Have confidence in the teams with a prestigious history.

In the past 35 years, a total of 38 competitions have been won by 19 unique teams. Out of the 29 most recent tournaments, 23 of them were claimed by teams such as UConn, Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, North Carolina, or Villanova.

All of the aforementioned teams have qualified for the 2024 NCAA Tournament with the exception of Villanova.

Choose a team sporting blue uniforms to be the victor of the national championship. In the past 17 years, Louisville in 2013 and Baylor in 2021 were the only teams to win without blue as their main uniform color.

Winners from past years on a national level:

• 2023: UConn
• 2022: Kansas
• 2021: Baylor

• 2020: Cancelled as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.

• 2019: Virginia
• 2018: Villanova
• 2017: North Carolina
• 2016 Villanova
• 2015: Duke
• 2014: UConn
• 2013: Louisville
• 2012: Kentucky
• 2011: UConn
• 2010: Duke
• 2009: North Carolina
• 2008: Kansas
• 2007: Florida
• 2006: Florida
• 2005: North Carolina
• 2004: UConn

Pick some upsets

While not impossible, it is typically wise to refrain from choosing a 16-seed to defeat a 1-seed or a 15-seed to defeat a 2-seed.

Only two times in the history of the tournament has a 1-seed been upset by a 16-seed: UMBC defeated Virginia in 2018 and Fairleigh Dickinson defeated Purdue last year.

Only 11 times has a 15-seed caused an upset against a 2-seed.

According to Adam Gretz of the Athletic, there are typically about eight occurrences of lower-seeded teams winning in the tournament per year. It is uncommon for there to be fewer than five upsets, but it is also uncommon for there to be more than 12.

Many fans choose a 12-seed team to beat a 5-seed team because 12-seeds have won against 5-seeds in 17 out of 22 tournaments since 2000.

UConn holds the top spot as the overall No. 1 seed and is considered the frontrunner for winning the national championship.

UConn (31-3) is aiming to defend their national championship title.

The Florida Gators were the consecutive national champions in 2006 and 2007, which was the last time a team won back-to-back NCAA tournaments.

The team that won the UConn championship last year had three starters leave for the NBA: Adama Sanogo, Jordan Hawkins, and Andre Jackson Jr.

The wealthy elite do not start over, they replenish.

Dan Hurley, the head coach of UConn, substituted a professional basketball player with first-year student Stephon Castle, who is considered the highest potential NBA player on the team. Additionally, senior guard Cam Spencer, who transferred from another college, is known for his exceptional performance in college basketball, averaging 14.5 points per game and a 3.27 assist-to-turnover ratio. He also has a field-goal percentage of 48.8%, a free-throw percentage of 91.3%, and a 3-point percentage of 44.4%.

Remember to also keep an eye on point guard Tristen Newton, 6-foot-8 forward Alex Karaban, and center Donovan Clingan. Clingan has the potential to be selected in the lottery during the NBA Draft in June.

According to KenPom, UConn holds the top spot in the nation for adjusted offensive efficiency, averaging 126.6 points per 100 offensive possessions in the tournament. They also rank 11th in adjusted defensive efficiency, with opponents scoring an average of 94.4 points per 100 possessions.

In the Eastern region, UConn might have to defeat Iowa State, the second-ranked team, who dominated Houston in the Big 12 Championship game on Saturday, as well as the third-ranked Illinois and fourth-ranked Auburn.

Iowa State consistently maintains defensive pressure. According to KenPom, Iowa State ranks second in the nation for turnover percentage.

According to KenPom, Auburn ranks as the fourth-best team in the nation.

In the next stage of the competition, UConn may face off against Florida Atlantic, who holds the eighth seed. Seven out of eight key players from last year’s 2023 Final Four team will be returning for the Owls.

Which teams other than UConn have a chance to win the 2024 NCAA Tournament?

Houston

Houston is viewed as the top runner-up for claiming the national championship. Over the last four years, the Houston coach, Kelvin Sampson, has guided his team to the Sweet 16 two times, the Elite Eight, and the Final Four.

There is a high amount of players who excel at scoring in Houston, including L.J. Cryer, who transferred from Baylor and averages 15.3 points per game, Jamal Shead, who was named the Big 12 Player of the Year and averages 13.1 points and 6.2 assists per game, Emmanuel Sharp with 12.2 points per game, and J’Wan Roberts with 9.4 points and 6.8 rebounds per game.

North Carolina

Carolina North possesses a duo of essential elements. RJ Davis, the 2024 ACC Player of the Year, and double-double sensation Armando Bacot, both competed in the 2022 national championship match. Although they held a double-digit advantage over Kansas at halftime of that game, Carolina North ultimately fell short.

The current North Carolina team has bounced back from not qualifying for the NCAA Tournament last year.

Davis was awarded the title of ACC Player of the Year for his impressive score of 21.4 points per game and 40.6% accuracy from beyond the arc.

Davis has been named one of the top 10 semifinalists for the Naismith Player of the Year award. He is considered to be one of the most talented guards in the country, while Bacot, a powerful player, is known for consistently achieving double-doubles.

If both Harrison Ingram and Cormac Ryan are successfully making their long-range shots, it creates more opportunities for Davis and Bacot.

Purdue

One year ago, Purdue was defeated by 16-seed Farleigh Dickson in the initial round.

Purdue has significantly enhanced their 3-point shooting ability, increasing their percentage from 32.2% to 40.8%. They now rank as the second-highest performing team in 3-point percentage across the nation.

Zach Edey, the current recipient of the Wooden Award, has a towering height of 7 feet 4 inches and weighs 300 pounds. He has an impressive average of 24.4 points and 11.7 rebounds per game.

Braden Smith, a guard for the Boilermakers, is currently ranked fourth in the country for assists, averaging 7.3 per game.

Which non-# 1 seed team has the highest likelihood of becoming the national champions?

Arizona

The men’s college basketball team, the Wildcats, have consistently performed well and had a record of 25-8 this year. Although their early exit from the Pac-12 Tournament is disappointing, they have the ability to make a quick recovery.

Caleb Love, a former UNC standout, leads the team with an average of 18.1 points per game. His experience prepares him for success during the playoffs.

The Wildcats from Arizona are known for their fast-paced style of play. When they are able to utilize it, it can be challenging for opponents to keep up.

Iowa State

The Cyclones have only lost three times since the start of February; two of those three losses came against tournament teams. Iowa State is also fresh off of an absolute thrashing of 1-seed Houston in the Big 12 Championship game, holding them to 41 points.

Iowa State’s defense is extremely intimidating, holding the top spot in the nation for adjusted defensive efficiency on KenPom.

The offense is not exceptional, but it falls just outside the top-50 in terms of adjusted offensive efficiency. Kehson Gilbert is the team’s top scorer with an average of 12.8 points per game. Four out of five starters have taken 100 or more three-pointers this season. While their region is challenging, the Cyclones could be a formidable opponent if they make it past the Sweet Sixteen.

Auburn

Auburn is currently considered a trending team with the start of the NCAA Tournament approaching. They have a winning streak of six games, which includes their victory in the SEC Championship. Head coach Bruce Pearl has extensive experience in competing beyond the March stage.

The fact that the team is ranked fourth may come as a surprise, as KenPom lists them as the fourth-best team overall going into the tournament, with a top ten ranking in both offensive and defensive efficiency.

Johni Broome is the top scorer for his team, averaging 16.2 points per game. The Tigers have a quick playing style and a strong reserve team, with no player playing more than 30 minutes per game and nine players averaging at least 15 minutes.

One of the main challenges for the Tigers is a potential matchup with UConn, the defending champion, in the Sweet 16.

Source: wralsportsfan.com