As the NBA’s regular season winds down, it’s fair to say that this year’s rookie class has stepped up and proven worthy of the NBA. In Atlanta, Hawks rookie Zaccharie Risacher is one said rookie, and he’s making a strong case for why he should be honored as this season’s Rookie of the Year. It’s not just his play on the floor that inserts him into consideration, but also the fact that he’s been put in a position where not all rookies get in their first year, and that’s in a starting role. As Hawks teammate Trae Young put it, being ‘thrown into the fire as a starter’ is one reason to think why Risacher is a ROTY candidate. Young recently went to bat for his teammate and didn’t shy away from hyping Risacher up. 

Trae Young Backs Hawks Rookie Teammate for ROTY

Atlanta Hawks Rookie Zaccharie Risacher Making Strong Case for Major Award Consideration

Stephon Castle, Jaylen Wells, Zach Edey, Alex Sarr, and Risacher have all come into their first seasons in either starting roles immediately or creating a significant impact off the bench. These four guys lead the latest Kia Rookie Ladder hierarchy, with Castle in the number one spot. Of course, you can’t talk about how good this year’s rookie class has been without mentioning Jared McCain. Early in the season, McCain was maybe the top rookie in most eyes with the Philadelphia 76ers. It helped that, considering the 76ers injury situation at the time. He was getting a lot of playing time, which meant more minutes to produce and show his skill. Unfortunately, he suffered a season-ending injury in November. Before that, he was gunning for this year’s top rookie. With him sidelined for the season, it opened the door for Castle and others. 

Trae Young Sides with Risacher

In Atlanta, Risacher is doing his own thing to etch his name in the conversation. As the season progressed, he only improved. Now, Young is calling for Risacher to win this year’s rookie race. According to Lauren Williams of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Young wants it clear that he’s not speaking from bias. Simply put, everything Risacher has done, he’s more than deserving because of his play.

“He should be, in my eyes, and I’m not saying it because I’m biased, but I think (he) should be Rookie of the Year,” Young said. “What he’s been doing this year, he’s been thrown into the fire as a starter. You put him up against some of the guys in the running. I think his numbers speak for himself, too. So he’s just not even focused on that. And that’s the best part about it. And we’re kind of, we’re kind of making it easy for him to just focus on the game, focus himself and having fun and having games like tonight, and just letting it loose and letting it fly.”

Can Stephon Castle Be Overtaken?

Risacher has a little higher to climb to win the award this season, even with Young stamping his approval, trying to convince the voters with his own vote of confidence. Castle in San Antonio will likely nab Rookie of the Year due to his stat line being the best out of all first-year players, his role with the Spurs as a rookie, and his impact. Castle is averaging 13.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.5 assists. Risacher numbers, while great for a rookie and his role, are lower. He’s averaging 11.9 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.2 assists.

On the latest Kia list, he’s in second place behind Castle. He could overtake Castle, provided the voters make adjustments. Castle also has an important notch in his belt as the only rookie to score 900+ points this year. Risacher is deserving, but it appears to be Castle’s win when it’s all said and done.

© Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

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When Atlanta made the Dejounte Murray trade with the New Orleans Pelicans, they hoped one of the future draft picks would pay off. Nobody expected Dyson Daniels to turn into one of the best two-way players in the league and be in the running for a DPOY award. Yet, this season, Daniels is one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA. Can he win the Defensive Player of the Year Award? Well, let’s wait and see.

Dyson Daniels Says He Studies Former DPOY Winner

Recently, Daniels was asked whether he studies some former players and winners to improve his play. And he instantly talked about how he studies Marcus Smart’s DPOY season. Smart is the last guard to win the award. Speaking about it, Dyson said,

“Yeah, I mean, I think, looking at the good defensive teams, how they have each other’s back. OKC flying around… I watch Marcus Smart’s defensive player of the year season. See how he was able to be in the passing lanes. I just study the game and watch every team.”

Daniels has found a good player to study. For several years, Smart was considered one of the best two-way guards in the league. He is far from that right now, but he is as good an example as any. If Daniels wants to become the next guard to win the award, Smart is the right player to study.

Can Dyson Daniels Win Defensive Player of the Year?

The latest odds give Daniels a decent chance to win the award. After the injury to Victor Wembanyama, the DPOY race seems wide open. According to the latest betting odds by Fox Sports, Daniels is tied for the third-best odds to win DPOY. Fun fact: Draymond Green is second on that list. Bettors give the highest chance to Evan Mobley, who has a -300 chance to win the award. Former winner, Jaren Jackson JR is tied with Daniels for DPOY odds, with Lu Dort rounding up the top five.

If Dyson wins the award, he will be just the eighth guard to win it. Centers and forwards usually dominate this award. Marcus Smart won it in the 2021-22 season. Before that, the last guard to win the award was Gary Payton in 1996. Here is a fun fact: While nowadays most people associate the DPOY with centers, a guard won it five times in the first six years. Sydney Moncrief won the first two DPOY awards, followed by Mark Eaton a center then three guards: Alvin Robertson, Michael Cooper, and Michael Jordan.

Daniels Is the Best Hustle Defender

While Daniels doesn’t lead the league in stats like rebounds per game or blocks per game, he is the best hustle player. He leads the league in deflections per game and total deflections. Daniels’ 382 deflections and counting is an all-time NBA record. The Hawks guard is second in loose balls recovered per game and total loose balls recovered. Josh Hart leads that category with a total of 69 loose balls recovered. Daniels has 64, meaning he has helped his team get 64 more possessions with his hustle.

Speaking of traditional stats, Daniels averages three steals per game, good for 10th best single-season average per game in league history. If he ups his season averages just a little bit, he can catch Alvin Robertson for 9th best, who averaged 3.04 steals per game.

Photo credit: © Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

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The Los Angeles Lakers acquired what was said around the NBA world to be the steal of the draft. The Lakers selected Dalton Knecht with the 17th overall pick and he became a spotlight throughout the season. He gained more spotlight during the trade deadline after an unexpected trade involving his name. That trade would’ve sent him and Cam Reddish to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for Mark Williams. A few days later, the trade was rescinded after Williams failed his physical exam.

Such a shock out of nowhere, that it can leave a rookie quite stunned and in a vast mix of emotions. Since then, he’s expressed his joy and love for the game and just wants to continue to play basketball. He has shown it as his game continues to grow while getting more comfortable despite the small bump in the road for his NBA career.

Lakers’ Dalton Knecht Feeling More Comfortable

Currently, the Lakers wing is averaging 9.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 0.9 assists on 46.4% shooting from the field and 36.4% shooting from beyond the arc. Knecht ranks within the top 10 for points per game by a rookie. This past Friday, in a loss to the Denver Nuggets, Knecht would put on a show in 37 minutes, he poured in 32 points, knocking down five three. The Tennessee product also tied an NBA rookie record with nine threes for a total of 37 points back in November against the Utah Jazz. Of course, the increased minutes were the result of several Lakers starters out due to injuries, with Rui Hachimura recovering from a left knee injury and LeBron James out with a groin injury.

Knecht’s recent increase in minutes is phenomenal for his game, it is boosting his confidence and comfortability for when he’s back to his primary role. There had been some concerns about Knecht since his return with the purple and gold, whether he would be checked out mentally or emotionally. Despite all the noise, Knecht has silenced it. His game continues to excel and has the utmost support of his teammates and coaching staff. With just over a month since the trade, it’s safe to say Knecht is on the right track moving forward.

Productivity Off the Bench

With the new teammate in Luka Dončić, Knecht has been loving his new teammate’s elite passing capabilities. It’s been giving him a lot more space to operate as a scorer while finding even more open looks from three. The combination of Dončić and James has been excellent for the production that Knecht produces. Off the bench, Knecht had 13 points, three rebounds, three assists, and one block across 20 minutes during Monday’s 125-109 win over San Antonio. As of recent, he has scored in double digits in seven of his last nine appearances. Over that stretch, Knecht is averaging 14.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game.

Knecht has proven to be one of the best rookies; he is a well-rounded and polished scorer. Whether it’s his marksmanship from beyond the arc, pull-up midrange game, or even finishing at the rim, Knecht has established himself as an essential source of offense coming off the bench. Especially with a second unit that is more strong defensively, his production is going to be a crucial part of this team moving forward. Both Knecht and Gabe Vincent will be key factors for the Lakers’ offense off the bench as the playoffs near.

Photo credit: © Brad Penner-Imagn Images

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Are you looking for a lucrative new customer bonus to earn potential rewards? If so, the FanDuel promotion is certainly a sportsbook bonus for you. New customers who create their accounts with the FanDuel Sportsbook and adhere to all requirements can redeem the new bettor offer of Bet $5 and Get $200 in Bonus Bets if they Win! What better way to kick-start your time at the site than this? Keep reading to learn more about the offer and how to claim.      

FanDuel March Madness Bonus Offer

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Before their game against Clemson on Thursday, McNeese coach Will Wade addressed the speculation of the NC State opening. After only hours, reports came out that NC State would hire Will Wade to lead the Wolfpack in the 2025-26 season. While Wade has been all over the place over his career, this seems like a logical step for Wade and the Wolfpack. NC State desperately needs a coach to bring elite stability, and Wade is searching for another crack at a power-conference job. Overall, this seems like a Pat Kelsey-like hire for NC State, which should be a good sign for Wolfpack fans and the ACC.

NC State to Hire McNeese’s Will Wade: What’s The Grade?

Wade’s Successful Career

The biggest question with Wade revolves around his NCAA violations that led to his suspension. In an era where NIL didn’t exist, Wade made some monetary donations to players. While this was illegal at the time, it certainly doesn’t affect his reputation as much now because players can be paid. NC State will hire Wade because of the dramatic success that he has seen on the court. Any program that hired him would need to examine the same allegations and determine whether one could look past them. McNeese first made that decision, and NC State has decided similarly.

Wade began his career at Chattanooga, where he stayed for two years and won 40 games. He then moved to VCU, where he won 51 games in two seasons and led the Rams to the NCAA Tournament both seasons. After his successful stay, he moved to LSU, where he led the Tigers to the NCAA Tournament three times in five seasons (he likely would have led them to the tournament in 2020 as well). Following his suspension and removal from LSU, he moved to McNeese. He has led McNeese to 57 wins in just two seasons, earning NCAA Tournament berths in both seasons. He has a 253-106 record in 11 seasons as a coach.

NC State Gets an Elite Talent

McNeese is certainly not Duke, yet he has turned them into a team that’s capable of beating most teams in the country. They gave stiff tests to Alabama and Mississippi State earlier this season and even finished 58th in the NET rankings. The numbers aren’t flashy, ranking in the 60s in both offensive and defensive efficiency. In Wade’s last season at LSU, he led the Tigers to the sixth-best defensive efficiency in college basketball. The season prior, LSU finished with the fifth-best offensive efficiency and ranked fourth in 2020. The moral of the story is that he will bring an elite offense to Raleigh and has proven to bring elite defense to the table as well with the right group around him.

NC State Hires Will Wade: The Grade

Will Wade was a popular name. He will probably be watched closely while at NC State. Big programs may look to steal him from the Wolfpack. He has the coaching ability to lead a strong program. Wade brings wins with him wherever he goes. It should be no different in Raleigh. With the hire of Wade, NC State is venturing into the territory of elite coaching. This is not only an elite hire, he may just change this program around following Kevin Keatts’ firing. He may not be the next Pat Kelsey, but Wade can turn this program around quickly. It will be easier in such a dysfunctional ACC.

Grade: A

Photo credit:

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Austin Reaves has been playing amazingly lately, with many calling him the best third option in the league. Since LeBron James went down with an injury, Reaves has been able to pick up the slack. The Lakers have gone 2-3 without LeBron in the past five games, but you cannot put much of it on Austin. However, there is one person who doesn’t believe the Reaves hype.

Former Sixth Man of the Year Lou Williams Thinks Austin Reaves Hype Should Stop

The NBA has been a Big Three league for a while. Of course, the new CBA aims to change that, but some teams like the Lakers can afford to have three big-name players on their roster. With the way he has been playing lately, Reaves has earned praise as the best third option in the league. But not many people agree with that.

Former NBA Sixth Man of the Year Lou Williams believes that is not a thing. Williams is the NBA’s career leader in points off the bench and has played most career games off the bench. Speaking on FanDuel TV, he said,

“This is not a diss to Austin Reaves, he’s not even the best 3rd option in Los Angeles. Would you take him or would you take Norman Powell? He’s a great option for the team that he plays for.”

Later on, he also talked about how the third option is not even a real thing. He said,

“That is not even a real thing. The third option is not a thing. He is a great third option for the team that he plays for. Let’s stop the best third option thing. It’s not a real thing. I don’t want his fans upset about something that is not even real.”

Austin Reaves vs. Norman Powell as Best Third Option

Now that Williams suggested a Reaves vs. Norman Powell debate, let’s take a look at who has had a better year. One thing to mention, Powell was considered an All-Star snub this year. He was playing at an All-Star level. Yet, that was without Kawhi Leonard, who is the first option on the team. You can say Powell had his best games as the first or second option alongside James Harden. It is the same now that Reaves is flourishing without LeBron.

Yet, for argument’s sake, let’s take a look at their seasons. For the season, Powell averages 23.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.3 steals on 49% shooting from the floor and 42.3% from three-point range. Reaves, on the other hand, averages 19.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1.2 steals on 44.6% shooting from the floor and 36.6% from behind the arc.

But in his last five games, Reaves has had games of 30, 28, 37, 28, and 17 points. In one game, he posted a stat line of 37 points, 13 assists, and rebounds. He has also taken on a leadership role for the Lakers. Looking at their highest-scoring games, Austin scored 45 points in a win against the Pacers on February 8th. Powell’s season-high is 41 points in an overtime win against the Jazz on February 13th.

Photo credit: © Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

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When Jalen Brunson suffered a brutal ankle sprain from landing on the foot of Austin Reaves in overtime in Los Angeles, many were worried that it would wreck New York’s season. Brunson’s not only the clear best Knick and the offensive engine, he’s also the heart and soul of the entire basketball city. If he can’t return healthy by the postseason, NY has little hope of a deep run. However, it looks like Brunson will return before the playoffs. To make things more optimistic for Knicks fans, the team is 3-2 in his absence and has found some encouraging dynamics they can capitalize on even when he’s back. One of those is the stellar play of Miles McBride in his newfound starting spot. Let’s dive into why McBride should remain a full-time starter.

Miles McBride Should Start Even When Jalen Brunson Returns

As expected, Miles “Deuce” McBride slid into the starting lineup when Brunson was injured. He’s done it before, starting 16 games in 2023-24, including Games 5 and 6 of the Eastern Semifinals against Indiana. McBride was terrific in his increased role, averaging 18 points and 3.9 assists on 41.9% from three and 61.9% true shooting. It was truly incredible to see him turn from a situational defensive player into a legitimately good offensive-skill player. He’s now arguably the Knicks’ best spacer because of his off-ball marksmanship.

Because of this, Tom Thibodeau was extremely confident inserting McBride back into the starting group in Brunson’s stead. Fans who had been clamoring for an increased role even with Brunson healthy were grateful, and the WVU product has not disappointed.

McBride Has Produced As a Starter

In the five outings since becoming a starter, McBride has averaged 34 minutes per game. I think people may be surprised how close that is to his optimal minutes usage for this Knicks team, even when the captain returns. McBride began with an extremely rough game as a primary initiator against the tough perimeter defense of the Clippers, where he went 2-13 from the field and had just seven points. In the last four games, however, McBride has kicked it into gear. The 24-year-old is averaging 15.3 points and 4.8 assists on 54.5% from deep.

McBride is clearly capable of producing at a legitimate starter volume for the Knicks. He’s an extremely confident spot-up shooter who can also create his own shot and score from all three levels. He’s even flashed his playmaking chops in this stretch as he’s had more on-ball opportunities. Thibodeau should feel extremely comfortable relying on McBride for 30-plus minutes in the playoffs with a healthy rotation.

New York’s Defense and Offense May Be Better With McBride

As beloved as Josh Hart is in New York City, and rightly so, he’s currently hurting the team. In his last 30 games, Hart is shooting just 27 percent from deep. To make matters worse, he appears to have lost all his confidence in his jumper and refuses to take shots at times. This has allowed defenses to sag off of him and use an extra defender to either protect the rim or double-team Brunson. It gets even more damaging when Mitchell Robinson or Precious Achiuwa are also on the floor as non-shooters. Achiuwa shouldn’t be a part of the playoff rotation, but Robinson will get big minutes for his defense and rebounding. Teams like Boston, Cleveland, and Oklahoma City will find it far too easy to defend the Knicks if they have multiple players to help off of.

Furthermore, McBride is a better defender than Hart. While Hart is a solid on-ball defender and playmaker, McBride is one of the league’s best perimeter guys. As mentioned earlier, he cut his teeth as a pro by being a ferocious on-ball defender who guarded 94 feet. Well, he’s still that level of nuisance for opposing ball-handlers. When McBride, Mikal Bridges, and OG Anunoby are on the floor, it’s nearly impossible for opponents to get dribble penetration. When Brunson returns, it will be difficult to get him in switches because McBride is a better screen navigator than Hart.

Pretty remarkably, the Deuce for Brunson starting 5 has now played more than any Knicks lineup this year other than The Starting Five.

This new starting lineup has played 271 possessions and has a +10 differential (118 ORtg; 108 DRtg).

— Rit Holtzman (@BenRitholtzNBA) March 18, 2025

There’s a reason why McBride’s on/off rating is +7.2, while Hart’s is -0.9. He improves their spacing, shot creation, perimeter defense, and screen navigation, all of which are essential in the modern NBA. Now, this isn’t a diss at Hart. He’s still incredibly important to the team and is the center of their culture. Hart will regain confidence in his shot eventually, which will boost his value to the Knicks back to positive. However, until further notice, McBride is just the most useful player. Thibodeau should treat him as such.

Photo credit: © Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images

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Blink and you’ll miss it, the Houston Rockets are currently second-place in the Western Conference again. Based on the whack-a-mole situation in the West right now, there’s a good chance it’ll be someone else by the end of the week. The Rockets are the fourth team to hold the spot since the All-Star break and there’s been plenty of swapping places among the other teams as well. It’s been a funny old season for these Rockets and a recent game summed it up nicely.

The 2 Seed Race and Rockets’ Season in a Nutshell

The Rockets’ 2 Seed Competition

All four recent holders of the Western Conference second seed will play on Wednesday night. The Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets will even play each other. The only team that can overtake the Rockets immediately though is the Nuggets. The Lakers and Memphis Grizzlies are each a full game back and are down to the Rockets in their head-to-head records. While the Grizzlies’ battle with the Rockets is done for the season, the Lakers still have two more to play against Houston. They can’t overtake the Rockets just yet then, but that could easily change in the coming days.

Considering how much could quickly change, the point is that the Western Conference standings are a scrum from second down to fifth. Even the current sixth and seventh teams aren’t too far behind, with only the top six spots awarding guaranteed playoff spots. The Rockets experienced a difficult stretch leading up to and coming out of the All-Star break. Clearly, they aren’t content to settle for staying top six though.

A Game That Summed Up Houston’s Season

Representative of the topsy-turvy season the Rockets have had in 2024-25 was the unusual Monday night game against the Philadelphia 76ers. The 76ers are up there (or more accurately down there) with the Dallas Mavericks as far as rosters overwhelmed with injuries. Even so, they made the Rockets work for an overtime victory. Not just any overtime victory either. The Rockets recovered from a 25-point deficit. The game was the largest comeback in Rockets franchise history.

It was yet another example of the Rockets pulling out clutch wins this season, but only getting into clutch situations by playing down to the opposition in the first place. Still, despite how they may wind up in them, the Rockets being able to prevail in clutch moments is a significant improvement from years gone by.

There was another positive attribute of the Rockets’ 2024-25 season that was on display against the Sixers. The Rockets’ have found success this season by leaning on a varied assortment of offensive contributors. Against the Sixers, Jabari Smith Jr. scored 30 off the bench and played the whole of overtime. The Rockets’ offense generally revolves around Alperen Sengun and Jalen Green. Routinely though, less emphasised players will chip in with big offensive nights. However, this is the NBA where just about any player can give you 30 on a given night. The Rockets’ offense happens to be dysfunctional enough that the team regularly has to rely on the phenomenon.

How the Rockets Got to the 2 Seed

Of course, it’s the Rockets’ defense that has justifiably earned the most attention this season. That didn’t look stellar giving up 137 to the Thomas Jefferson University Hospital Sixers.  For one thing, Quentin Grimes continued to make his case as this year’s late 2022-23 Mikal Bridges. He had a career night in the eventual loss, cleanly netting contested nuke after nuke. But Rockets head coach Ime Udoka stuck to his philosophy. Even as late as overtime, Houston refused to double. The result was Dillon Brooks joining Tari Eason and fouling out of the game. But a win is a win, albeit over a hospital team.

Houston has two more games to play against both the Lakers and the Nuggets this season. If the Rockets want to stay in contention for the two-seed, they’ll have to play a more focused brand of basketball. Their track record this season suggests they can. The Rockets are 24-7 versus teams at .500 or better this season. They’re also 26-16 in the Western Conference and 21-9 in games decided by less than 10 points.

The Last Word

It’s been a nutty season for the Rockets. Originally expected to vie for a play-in spot, they made an early case for themself as a top team in the West. Then, as many predicted, they started to struggle and slide back down the standings… only to suddenly find themselves back as the two-seed again. Young star Amen Thompson may be returning sooner than expected and the team has won seven in a row. Where they’ll finally end up is anyone’s guess, but the 2024-25 Houston Rockets have proven they’re a tough nut to crack.

Photo credit: © Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

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The beauty of March Madness lies in that second word: madness. Upsets shock the world. Who expected UMBC to knock off Virginia? Who had St. Peter’s in the Elite Eight? Did anybody expect VCU to make a run from the First Four to the Final Four? Some people fill out their brackets and put those drastic upsets in there, but they are certainly the minority. How about the potential of teams like Clemson? They already beat Duke in a thriller but lost to Georgia Tech shortly before that game. So, which Clemson team will show up against the dangerous Cinderella McNeese? Will Clemson’s NCAA Tournament stay be short? Or will they live up to their potential and make a run to the Final Four?

Clemson’s Flop or Final Four Potential in the NCAA Tournament

Why Clemson Might Flop

McNeese is a good team. Last year, they were one of the teams that many people picked as a Cinderella candidate. Their NET ranking of 58 is impressive for their conference. They win games and have played some outstanding teams in tough games. Alabama only beat them by eight at home. Mississippi State escaped them by three at a neutral site. McNeese is a tough out for anybody. They will bring everything the Tigers can handle and make Clemson play a close game. Now, Clemson has been able to win a lot of games, several of them close, but it’s always a heavier burden in March.

Clemson also has the 35th-best three-point percentage in college basketball. Their three-point ability may decide their NCAA Tournament hopes. They don’t rely heavily on the three, but if they go cold, they could lose a tough game. McNeese is 89th in three-point defense, a respectable number. Clemson will need to hit their open threes. If they can’t hit those shots, the paint becomes extremely crowded in March. Clemson could find themselves back on campus before they want to.

Why Clemson Might Make a Final Four Run

Remember that Clemson beat down New Mexico last season after many people had the Lobos beating the Tigers. They’ve already beaten Kentucky and Duke this season. Those are the two best opponents they’ve faced, and they brought their very best in both of those contests. Clemson can turn up the offensive and defensive pressure against some of the best teams in college basketball. Duke has only lost one game since November, and it came to the Tigers. Clemson will face good opponents throughout the NCAA Tournament, but they must not look ahead. If they focus on each team and bring their A-game, they will be a tough out.

Let’s name some of the teams that have a top-25 rating in both offensive and defensive efficiency according to Kenpom: Duke, Florida, Auburn, Houston, and Tennessee. Those are five of the top six seeds in the NCAA Tournament. However, six teams qualify here. Who’s the last team? Clemson. Yes, Clemson is the team grouped with what most people consider to be serious championship contenders. They have elite ability on both sides of the court, giving them a chance against anybody, including the one-seed in their group, Houston. Clemson should be considered a serious threat to make the Final Four.

Predicting Clemson’s NCAA Tournament

Clemson has a Final Four run in them. They made the Elite Eight last season. They will have to make up for an injury to Dillon Hunter, but that will be more motivation. Clemson will beat McNeese in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. High Point has a good chance to upset Purdue, but I have Purdue advancing and losing to Clemson. Gonzaga is a dangerous team, but give me Houston to come through that section and play Clemson, where the Tigers shock the world. Matchups will play a huge role in the Elite Eight. Clemson matches up well against Tennessee. They beat Kentucky, but revenge games are always harder. Illinois is also a threat to lose early or go far. Clemson can win this game to go to the Final Four, but anything less than a Sweet Sixteen appearance would be disappointing for the Tigers.

Photo credit: © Peter Casey-Imagn Images

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