One of the most exciting annual showcases in North America, the 2022 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament is set to tip off later this month. In the 2021 edition of the tournament, the Baylor Bears won their first-ever NCAA men’s basketball title while the Gonzaga Bulldogs came up short in their second-ever Final Four and their second title game. Rounding up the Final Four from last year were the UCLA Bruins and the Houston Cougars.
In this article, SBS will break down the top four teams positioned to win the NCAA Tournament this year and who ultimately will take home the crown.
| Odds to Win NCAAB Men's National Championship |  |
|---|---|
| Gonzaga Bulldogs | +400 |
| Arizona Wildcats | +670 |
| Kentucky Wildcats | +720 |
| Duke Blue Devils | +1200 |
The reigning kings of the West Coast Conference, and they have been for some time, the Zags are seeking their first-ever national title in 2022. Led by long-time head coach Mark Few in his 23rd season at the helm, Gonzaga compiled a 26-3 record over the regular season, including a 13-1 mark in conference play. The Zags were their normal dominant selves in conference play, but they did have some slip-ups earlier in the year against quality competition. They lost to Duke (84-81) at the Continental Tire Challenge in November and then to Alabama (91-82) at the Battle in Seattle in December. However, Gonzaga is a bonafide No. 1 seed and they have earned that spot.
The Pac-12 regular-season champions, Arizona is on a torrid hot streak under first-year head coach Tommy Lloyd. A fierce squad, the Cats have compiled a regular-season record of 28-3, including an impressive mark of 18-2 in Pac-12 conference play. The Wildcats had a particularly stacked roster this year with multiple players taking home postseason honors. From Pac-12 Player of the Year (Bennedict Mathurin) to Defensive Player of the Year (Christian Koloko), Arizona is riding a huge wave of momentum into the tournament.
One of the blue-bloods on this list, Kentucky is aiming for its ninth NCAA title in 2022. The most successful NCAA Division I basketball program in terms of all-time wins, the Wildcats are back near the mountaintop of college basketball. Headed up by coach John Calipari, in his 13th year, Kentucky stormed through the regular season to the tune of a 25-6 record. While the Wildcats had a record of 14-4 in the SEC, they did get upended by both Duke and Auburn during the regular season.
In coach Mike Krzyzewski’s final season leading Duke, the Blue Devils are having another amazing year. Duke has wrapped up another formidable regular season (27-5) in Coach K’s 42nd season at the helm. While the Blue Devils came up short against North Carolina in their home regular-season finale, they still have a ton of offensive firepower to hang with any team in the country. Perhaps more than any other team in the country, Duke is playing for a lot more than just a title as they try to send off their legendary head coach.
Prediction: The NCAA Tournament is always difficult to pin down given the wide-open nature of the tournament. However, look for a dormant power to win the title in 2022 with Arizona taking home the hardware.
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About the Author
As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football and basketball across the country. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones. CURRENTLY Business Development and freelance sports writing RESIDES IN Reno, NV EDUCATION University of Nevada BS and MBA EXPERTISE -Sports writing proficiency in: NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and some motor sports -Topical news -Promotional and marketing ideas/updates -Business development Summary Chris Boline serves in a business development sales capacity as his day job. He has previously held sales/marketing positions with The Applied Companies (TAC), KTVN 2 News and the NBA G League’s Reno Bighorns, affiliate of the Sacramento Kings. He is a Reno native and is a member of various community boards including the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET and the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA). Chris graduated from the University of Nevada in 2015 with a bachelors in management and economics and also earned his MBA from Nevada in 2023. More about Chris: Past president of the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA) 2022-23 Two-time honoree for University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year (Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, 2017 & COBAA, 2021) 2021 NCET award for Professional Services Organization of the Year with TAC Northern Nevada Human Resources Association 2020 Best Places to Work-Northern Nevada, Second Place with TAC 2016-17 Reno Bighorns MVP from the Sacramento Kings The Nevada Sagebrush editor-in-chief 2013-15 Associated Collegiate Press 2015 Four-year Non-daily Newspaper Pacemaker honoree University of Nevada, Reno College of Business Dean's List honoree (5x) from 2011-2015 Nevada Press Association award for Best Sports Column – Community in 2015 Education
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