March Madness betting preview: Deadly duo make the Jayhawks the team to beat

MARCH Madness is almost upon us. Each year, the 68-team elimination tournament to crown the champions of U.S. college basketball – which kicks off in less than a week and concludes on April 6 in Atlanta – is one of most anticipated events in the American sports calendar.

Although this year’s college basketball crop is not considered to be a particularly outstanding vintage, March Madness is guaranteed to be as gripping, exciting and chaotic as ever, anointing a future NBA star or two along the way.

Here are six teams likely to be in the reckoning for this year’s crown.  

Kansas

The 28-3 Big 12 champions Kansas are the overwhelming favourites to claim the NCAA title at March Madness this year. The Jayhawks’ big-and-little combination of 6’ 2” point guard Devon Dotson and 7’ 0” Nigerian centre Udoka Azubuike, both 20 years old, are regarded as the strongest duo any college team is able to field right now, with the latter named the Big 12 Conference’s Player of the Year for the 2019-20 season.

And with dominant big man Azubuike – who experienced coach Bill Self regards as the best defensive centre he’s ever worked with – showing no ill effects from a recent ankle injury, Kansas enter the tournament at full, frightening strength.

Championship odds: 6/1  

Gonzaga

Defensively strong and stocked with reliable shooters, Gonzaga are well-coached and difficult to beat. The strong foundation built by coach Mark Few, now in his 21st season at the helm, makes the Bulldogs a safe bet for a deep tournament run.

The 2017 runners-up boast an impressive 30-2 record for the season so far and are headed up by the dynamic pairing of 21-year-old Corey Kispert, recently named a finalist for the 2020 Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year award, and 22-year-old French centre Killian Tillie, a projected first-round selection in this summer’s NBA draft.

Championship odds: 8/1  

Kentucky

The Wildcats have overcome a subpar start to the season by hitting stride since the turn of the year, finishing the regular season with a 25-6 record. Forcing his way into the starting line-up in December after starring from the bench, Immanuel Quickley has been key to Kentucky’s reversal of fortunes, scoring double figures in every game since 28 December, a run in which he has shot 46.5 per cent from three-point range.

An interesting tactical set-up, with three guards buzzing around two big men, Kentucky are set to be one of the most entertaining teams to watch at when the tournament begins.

Championship odds: 15/1  

#KareemAward Finalists from @Hoophall!

Vernon Carey Jr Filip Petrusev Luka Garza Udoka Azubuike Nathan Knight

Who is the top C in the country? pic.twitter.com/bnyftSajlc

— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 6, 2020

 

Baylor

Nineteen-year-old shooting guard Jared Butler, who leads the team in scoring with an average of 16 points per game, is one of the standout sophomores in college basketball this year and was named in the First Team All Big-12 select. He will be one to watch when March Madness begins.

Despite playing second fiddle to Kansas in the Big 12 Conference this year, Baylor have put together a fine campaign of their own, with a 15-3 conference record and a 26-4 mark overall. Three losses in their last five league games, however, will concern coach Scott Drew.

Championship odds: 11/1  

Dayton

The Flyers are set to be one of the more solid, if unspectacular, teams in the March Madness bracket, making up for the lack of one standout star player with a cast of dependable performers. And while there is little about their playing style that will strike opposition scouts as especially dangerous, they have no obvious weakness.

An early season loss to favourites Kansas is a black mark against their championship ambitions, but they have bounced back since, currently sitting in a thoroughly impressive 29-2 record for the campaign, remaining unbeaten (18-0) in Atlantic Conference play.

Championship odds: 23/2  

Duke

The Blue Devils may no longer be able to count on the star power and other-worldly talents of Zion Williamson, now starring for the New Orleans Pelicans after being selected as the top pick in last year’s NBA draft, but, in 20-year-old point guard Tre Jones, they have the Atlantic Coast Conference’s Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year.

Arguably the best perimeter defender in college basketball, Jones is also a reliable scoring threat (16.2 points per game) and creator (6.4 assists per game). At 25-6, Duke have been inconsistent this year, at times appearing to underestimate weaker opposition. But at their best and with Jones firing, they’re capable of running anyone close.

Championship odds: 20/1