21. St John’s
The Red Storm have only lost once since January 3, but it was an absolute demolition at the hands of UConn, and it’s difficult for me to unsee that ugly loss. Zuby Ejiofor has been outstanding, but how much this team can get out of Dillon Mitchell and Bryce Hopkins, as well as new starting point guard Dylan Darling, will determine how far they will go in March.
22. Saint Mary’s
So the Gaels ended the season on the highest of notes by beating Santa Clara and Gonzaga in the final week of the regular season. A big reason why is that they finally unleashed guard Mikey Lewis, who combined for 52 points in those massive victories.
23. Louisville
It was no Mikel Brown Jr, no problem for the Cardinals against Miami to close out the regular season. They got 24 points from Ryan Conwell and a few huge shots from Aly Klahifa off the bench. This team’s ability to get hot at any time gives them a ceiling that can compete with anyone.
24. Ohio State
The Buckeyes may have finally gotten off the bubble for this NCAA Tournament thanks to beating Indiana to close out the regular season on a 3-game win streak. It’s fitting for Bruce Thornton, who’s been a quality player for four straight seasons, to finally reach the NCAA Tournament and get to showcase his talent on a national scale.
25. Georgia
Don’t look now – but the Bulldogs bounced back from a midseason skid and have beaten Kentucky, Alabama, and Texas in the last three weeks to seal an NCAA Tournament berth. Given how he has played in the last week, I now finally feel confident that Kanon Catchings can actually beat his aunt (Tamika) in a one-on-one game.
