Which Top-3 Seeds Are Ripe For An Upset In March Madness?

The beauty of March Madness is that unpredictability is part of the event. The NCAA Tournament might crown a predictable champion at the very end, but a lot of top teams get bumped off along the way, providing unexpected euphoria and heartbreak, all part of a one-of-a-kind emotional cocktail which isn’t replicated by other sports. If you were to identify top-3 seeds in the various regions which might get ambushed in the early rounds of the NCAA Tournament, here are four primary selections:

Auburn

The Tigers are very likely to beat Jacksonville State in the first round, but if you saw Auburn play Texas A&M in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals, you know the Tigers are vulnerable right now. Again, Auburn should win this game, but the Tigers missed 21 of their first 27 shots against Texas A&M. Their guards take too many 3-pointers. The Tigers don’t get the ball enough to Jabari Smith, their best player and a future NBA lottery pick. If Auburn does not clean up some of its foremost problems on offense, the Tigers could be in for a long day against Jacksonville State, which is rested and has a lot to prove after a bumpy ride late in the season. Through an unusual turn of events, Jacksonville State made the NCAA Tournament despite not winning its conference tournament. JSU advanced because the winner of the Atlantic Sun Tournament, Bellarmine, was ineligible for the NCAA Tournament. The conference allowed Bellarmine to play in the tournament for some weird reason. At any rate, JSU took an unconventional path to get here.

Wisconsin

The Badgers have lost two straight games entering the NCAA Tournament. They lost at home to Nebraska when they blew a late nine-point lead. Wisconsin scored only two points in the last 5:45 of that Nebraska loss. Then the Badgers lost to Michigan State in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament. Wisconsin was outworked on the glass and did not play the level of defense which is going to win in March. 14^th– seeded Colgate could certainly upend the Badgers. Colgate plays great offense and has a lot of quality shooters who will force Wisconsin to defend every spot on the floor. It’s a matchup which could certainly become a headache for the Badgers if they aren’t at the top of their game.

Purdue

The Boilermakers haven’t made the Final Four in 42 years. They failed to win the Big Ten regular season and tournament championships this season. They aren’t deep. They don’t play great defense. Yale could pick them off in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Purdue should win with its size and power, but if Yale gets hot from 3-point land, Purdue’s defense will be extended and Yale can then attack the basket with regularity.

Duke

The Blue Devils should beat Cal State Fullerton, but if you saw how bad their defense was in the ACC Tournament against Miami and especially Virginia Tech, you know they are vulnerable if Fullerton hits a high percentage of 3-pointers. It’s not likely, but it’s certainly possible and has to be considered.