It’s time to fill out your bracket for the 2024 NCAA Tournament. For those of you looking for some help on who to take in each game, or just for some possible upsets, here is a look at who I have coming out of each region. I have also listed my Final Four predictions as well to help you win your bracket contests and pools. Be sure to check out my completed bracket for my picks in every game.
Download or print your own blank bracket to fill out.
This is the region of death. It’s by far the toughest region in the NCAA Tournament. Defending champ UConn must get through Auburn, Illinois, and Iowa State, which like the Huskies all won their conference tournaments. I still think the Huskies are good enough to get through this region as they are the best team in college basketball. My lone upset in this region is UAB over San Diego State.
The West looks like one of the toughest regions to predict. I think Arizona and North Carolina are both vulnerable, but I do have the Tar Heels getting to the Final 4. One sleeper team in this region could be St. Mary’s, but I’d like them a lot more had they not lost Joshua Jefferson to injury. I think New Mexico will be a popular pick to make a deep run, so I’m going against the grain there with Clemson.
I think Houston is the most vulnerable No. 1 seed. The Cougars were nearly doubled up by Iowa State in the Big 12 Championship Game after losing key big man J’Wan Roberts to injury in the 2H. He is expected to play through his knee injury but won’t be anywhere near 100%. The Cougars lost two other key players earlier in the season and lack depth to make a deep run. Marquette has injury questions of its own with PG Tyler Kolek, who sat out the Big East Tournament. That’s why I am picking Kentucky to make it to the Final 4 from this region. They are the most talented team in this region and it’s up to John Calipari to put it all together, which is always scary but worth a shot.
This is the region with the two most disappointing head coaches in the country when it comes to the NCAA Tournament in Matt Painter for Purdue and Rick Barnes for Tennessee. Both have underachieved big time in the Big Dance in their careers. I think this is the year Purdue finally breaks through as they have no weaknesses. I do have Tennessee getting upset by Creighton, but it wouldn’t surprise me if the Vols make the Final 4 as they finally have the offense to compliment their defense. McNeese State is my favorite sleeper pick to make a run in this region as I have them in the Sweet 16.
I rode UConn all the way to the title game last year and I’m going to ride them again this year. They have been even better than last year. They are the clear class of the NCAA Tournament and I expect them to go back-to-back for the first time since Florida in 2006-07. I have Kentucky making the Championship Game and knocking off Purdue, but falling just short in what will be a contrast in styles with UConn. In the end I trust UConn’s defense more than that of the Wildcats, which is their biggest question mark heading into the Big Dance.