In what should be an excellent showcase, the 2024 NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament (aka March Madness) is here and the field is a wide-open one. Entering Selection Sunday, Houston is ranked by the NET as the top team in the country at 30-4 but was bounced in the Big 12 Conference Tournament by Iowa State. Meanwhile, reigning champions UConn is in a position to make another stellar run at the national championship after notching yet another 30-win season. Moreover, another squad to keep an eye on is Purdue (29-4) and potential national player of the year Zach Edey. Finally, rounding out the top four of the NET contenders and betting favorites are the Wildcats of the University of Arizona (25-8).
In this report, SBS will be going over what to look for from each contender, a predicted winner in this tournament, and even more notes and information regarding college basketball betting.
| Favorites to Win 2024 NCAAB Men's Division I National Championship |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | +450 | +450 | +450 |
| Houston | +600 | +600 | +600 |
| Purdue | +650 | +650 | +650 |
| Arizona | +1400 | +1400 | +1400 |
The 2024 Big East Conference Tournament champions, UConn is an awesome squad piloted by the fiery Dan Hurley. A great team, the Huskies notched a record of 31-3 this year, including a mark of 18-2 in conference play. Moreover, UConn has a plethora of sensational players on their roster, including guard Tristen Newton who paces the squad in both points (15.2 points per game) and assists (6.0 apg). The Huskies ran through the Big East tournament, demolishing Xavier, 87-60, and also dusting off No. 10 Marquette in the championship game, 73-57. This season, UConn has averaged 81.5 ppg (top-30 in the country) along with allowing only 64.4 ppg which of course translates to a fantastic plus/minus and wearing down opponents.
Kelvin Sampson’s team also dominated the hyper-competitive Big 12 this year, accruing an overall mark of 30-4 and an impressive record of 15-3 in conference play. Facing top-flight competition each week, the Cougars are perhaps as battle-tested as any team on this list and feature the most Quad 1 wins in the country with 16 (the next closest is UConn with 12). With a perfect home record this year (17-0), Houston certainly won the games they were supposed to. Of course, they were undone in the Big 12 Conference tournament, losing to Iowa State, but there is still an opportunity to rebound during the Big Dance. The Cougars are led by the fantastic guard duo of L.J. Cryer (15.3 ppg) and Jamal Shead (13.1 and 6.2 apg). A veteran squad, the Cougs will be even more fired up following their loss to Cyclones.
The Boilermakers are in the midst of another fantastic season but are looking to do some damage in this year’s tournament. With a record of 17-3 in Big Ten play, Purdue was one of the best teams in the country throughout this last year. Of course, the Boilermaker game plan starts and ends with center Zach Edey who paces the team in points (24.4 ppg), field goal percentage (61.9%), and rebounds (11.7 rpg). A dynamic force, the seven-foot-four athlete is a great player and presents a matchup nightmare against any team that he faces. Of course, for the Purdue game plan to be successful, they will need the rest of their supporting cast to chip in as well.
In their final season in the Pac-12, the Wildcats have an excellent opportunity to make a run at the NCAA Tournament and bring a title to the decaying conference. Guard Caleb Love is a great playmaker (18.1 ppg) and has some fantastic support in the backcourt thanks to teammate Pelle Larsson. Center Oumar Bello could be the matchup key for the Wildcats though as his size presents matchup problems for ill-prepared teams. Moreover, his 64.9 field goal mark is a valuable weapon for the hopeful Cats. They too are also looking for a rebound performance after falling to Oregon in their conference tournament.
Prediction: This NCAA Tournament might be even more wide-open than in years past, but a steady and veteran squad like Houston is a great pick to make a run.
After you are all squared regarding the latest gaming news and notes coming from the world of college basketball, check out the great array of information over and only at SBS. Of course, for even more information on the topic at hand, our NCAAB betting sites guide is here with all the latest betting markets on the sport and betting updates. In addition to this fantastic page, SBS has a plethora of even more useful and fantastic information regarding the tournament like the March Madness odds rundown. On this page, you can find out the best tips and tricks for betting on March Madness. Finally, for those interested in diversifying their payment options, then make sure to check out the payment methods breakdown which goes a variety of different options from crypto to more traditional banking routes.
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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