NCAA Tournament Midwest Region analysis: Houston, Texas, Indiana and more

Can Houston get to the Closing 4 in its house metropolis? In that case, the Cougars must do it by way of the Midwest Area — and battle some sizzling groups and attention-grabbing challenges alongside the way in which.

Kelvin Sampson’s staff, the No. 2 total seed, may doubtlessly face Auburn in Birmingham within the second spherical. A Candy 16 matchup towards Indiana and star Trayce Jackson-Davis or a high 10-caliber Xavier staff may await. And don’t overlook about No. 2 seed Texas, which gained the Massive 12 event and had 14 Quad 1 wins this season, second-most within the nation. Or Miami, which was the No. 1 seed within the ACC event and went to the Elite Eight final yr with a lot of the similar gamers. In the meantime, Texas A&M was enjoying in addition to anybody down the stretch, whereas Penn State practically gained the Massive Ten event. And so they’re enjoying within the 7-10 recreation.

If Houston will get again to Houston, it is going to have earned its approach there.

• Learn extra: East Area | South Area | West Area

1. Houston Cougars

Report: 31-3 (17-1 AAC)

How they acquired right here: Kelvin Sampson has constructed an absolute monster at Houston. The Cougars made the Closing 4 in 2021 and Candy 16 in 2022 and have been arguably the very best and most constant staff all season, by no means dipping decrease than fifth within the AP High 25 or decrease than 2nd within the NET. Houston gained the convention common season as soon as once more through the ultimate season within the AAC earlier than becoming a member of the Massive 12, the one losses a come-from-behind win by Alabama in non-conference and stunning one-point street defeat towards Temple. Memphis did knock them off within the AAC event championship with AAC Participant of the Yr Marcus Sasser sidelined by a groin pressure. With Houston’s house metropolis set to host the Closing 4, the Cougars’ season of dominance has potential for a dream ending.

What it’s good to know: That is as well-rounded a squad as Sampson has ever had at Houston, high 10 in KenPom’s adjusted offensive and defensive efficiencies. The always-calloused Cougars are a defensive stalwart but once more, holding opponents to roughly 42 p.c in KenPom’s efficient field-goal charge and 28 p.c from past the arc. However they’re additionally dominant on the offensive glass and transfer the ball properly, with all 5 starters averaging double figures and a pair of shot-making guards in Sasser and Jamal Shead. Sasser missed the ultimate game-and-a-half of the convention event, however the hope is he can be prepared for the NCAA Match. They are going to want him again sooner or later in the event that they’re going to make a Closing 4 run.

Highlight On: Sasser is the staff’s main scorer, however Jarace Walker is the X-factor that might spur a championship run. The 6-foot-8, AAC Freshman of the Yr and future top-10 NBA Draft decide averaged practically 11 factors and seven rebounds a recreation whereas capturing 35 p.c from 3-point vary. His dimension and athleticism can change any recreation and, all due respect to Fabian White, offers the Cougars the kind of versatile frontcourt presence they haven’t had over the previous two tourney runs.

Report: 26-9 (12-6 Massive 12)

How they acquired right here: The Longhorns completed second within the Massive 12 regardless of a season of tumult and distractions. Head coach Chris Beard was suspended on Dec. 12 and subsequently fired on Jan. 5 following a felony home assault cost, which was later dropped. Assistant Rodney Terry took over for Beard and admirably steered Texas to a 12-6 convention end and 13-8 document in Quad 1 video games, together with a Massive 12 event championship win over Kansas. Led by a quartet of transfers — Marcus Carr, Tyrese Hunter, Timmy Allen and Sir’Jabari Rice — the Longhorns will look to enhance on final yr’s second-round event exit.

What it’s good to know: Texas is a well-rounded squad with top-20 metrics in KenPom’s adjusted offensive and defensive effectivity. It additionally incorporates a deeper rotation than most groups, with 9 gamers who common double-figure minutes and eight averaging a minimum of 17 a recreation. It’s a perimeter-heavy offensive assault, led by Carr and Hunter, however one which sores quite a lot of factors both on the rim or within the midrange off of dribble penetration. The Longhorns might want to minimize down on the fouls and rebound higher in the event that they need to make a run.

Highlight On: Carr was a first-team all-conference choice, leads the Longhorns in scoring at 15.9 factors per recreation and has the very best utilization charge on a guard-heavy offense. Texas will go as he goes in March, though Rice because the sixth-man can be an X-factor as properly.

3. Xavier Musketeers

Report: 25-9 (15-5 Massive East)

How they acquired right here: Xavier gained 11 consecutive video games at midseason, this system’s longest successful streak since starting the 2015-16 season 12-0. The Musketeers, who completed second within the Massive East through the common season, went 7-3 total towards league foes Marquette, Creighton, UConn and Windfall — all applications that gained a minimum of 20 video games. Xavier misplaced the Massive East Match title recreation to Marquette.

What it’s good to know: Xavier is a harmful staff due to how properly it passes the ball and its effectivity on offense. Guards Souley Boum and Colby Jones have mixed for 290 assists, which is a giant purpose why the Musketeers lead the nation in assists per recreation at 19.2. Xavier has 5 gamers averaging double figures in scoring and ranks among the many nationwide leaders in discipline aim share.

GO DEEPER

Sean Miller noticed the long run. Now he has Xavier part of it

Highlight on: Boum joined Xavier’s program as a graduate switch after averaging 19.9 factors per recreation final season at UTEP. He’s been a serious catalyst for the Musketeers this season, main the staff in scoring (16.5 factors per recreation) whereas capturing 42.5 p.c on 3s and incomes first-team All-Massive Ten honors.

4. Indiana Hoosiers

Report: 22-11 (12-8 Massive Ten)

How they acquired right here: Indiana opened Massive Ten play 1-4 earlier than reeling off victories in 9 of the subsequent 10 video games, together with towards No. 1 Purdue. The Hoosiers beat the Boilermakers a second time three weeks later and closed the common season with an extra time victory towards Michigan to complete tied for second within the Massive Ten. Indiana misplaced to Penn State in a Massive Ten Match semifinal.

GO DEEPER

The coach, the star and the pursuit of pleasure in Bloomington, Indiana

What it’s good to know: Jalen Hood-Schifino, a five-star prep prospect and the highest-rated incoming recruit within the Massive Ten final season, greater than lived as much as expectations in his first school season. The 6-6 guard from Pittsburgh, Pa., earned Massive Ten freshman of the yr honors whereas averaging 13.5 factors, 4.1 rebounds and three.7 assists. He’s the primary Indiana participant to win the award since Noah Vonleh in 2014.

Indiana’s Trayce Jackson-Davis. (Trevor Ruszkowski / USA At this time)

Highlight on: Ahead Trayce Jackson-Davis initially deliberate on declaring for the NBA Draft after final season however returned when he was unable to take part within the draft mix as a result of he examined constructive for COVID-19. Jackson-Davis has gone from an excellent school participant to a terrific one, incomes first-team All-Massive Ten honors and main the Hoosiers in scoring (20.8 factors per recreation) and rebounds (10.9), in addition to whole assists (123) and blocked pictures (82) whereas capturing 57.9 p.c from the sector.

5. Miami Hurricanes

Report: 25-7 (15-5 ACC)

How they acquired right here: Miami claimed solely its third regular-season convention title in program historical past and first since 2012-13. The Hurricanes had a powerful stretch run late within the season, successful eight of their ultimate 9 regular-season video games and all however one of many outcomes have been by single digits. That confirmed Miami’s toughness, a trait that ought to turn out to be evident within the event.

What it’s good to know: The Hurricanes don’t have a profile inbuilt proficiency, besides on offense. KenPom ranks Miami because the No. 13 squad for adjusted offensive effectivity however not larger than 86th in some other class and thirty ninth total. Miami led the ACC in scoring (79.6 factors per recreation), field-goal share (48.5) and 3-point share (37.2) however was twelfth in field-goal protection.

Highlight on: Junior guard Isaiah Wong was named ACC Participant of the Yr and posted a number of the nation’s most balanced numbers. He led the Hurricanes in factors (16.2), assists (3.4) and steals (1.4), and averaged 4.3 rebounds per recreation. He additionally shot 45.3 p.c from the sector, (37.8 p.c on 3-pointers) and 83.6 p.c from the free-throw line.

Report: 19-13 (9-9 Massive 12)

How they acquired right here: The Cyclones reached the Candy 16 as an 11-seed final yr in head coach T.J. Otzelberger’s first season. They adopted that with a fifth-place end within the Massive 12 and a 10-11 document in Quad 1 matchups, shedding to Kansas within the convention semifinals. Iowa State did attain as excessive as eleventh within the AP High 25 ballot following a house win over the Jayhawks in early February, and 9 wins is probably the most the Cyclones have had within the Massive 12 since 2019.

What it’s good to know: Iowa State likes to sluggish issues down, grinding out possessions on offense and enjoying suffocating protection. The protection has a top-5 turnover charge and forces groups to beat them from past the arc, regardless of holding opponents to underneath 34-percent from distance. They misplaced standout guard Tyrese Hunter to Texas by way of the switch portal final offseason, however senior Gabe Kalscheur was second-team all-conference, St. Bonaventure switch Jaren Holmes leads them in scoring, and Tamin Lipsey earned Massive 12 all-freshman honors.

Highlight On: Kalscheur is the heartbeat. He’s second in scoring at 12.9 factors a recreation, shoots 36.4 p.c on 3-pointers and made the Massive 12 all-defensive staff. The previous Minnesota switch has come up huge in some huge video games, together with scoring 20-plus in wins over Baylor (twice), Texas Tech and Villanova.

7. Texas A&M Aggies

Report: 25-9 (15-3 SEC)

How they acquired right here: By overdelivering on modest expectations, a yr after a run to the SEC Match title recreation figured to sneak Buzz Williams’ staff into the sector of 68 however didn’t. The way in which the Aggies have been enjoying, they’ve look primed to make up for that misplaced alternative. Nicely, till taking an 82-63 humbling from Alabama in Sunday’s SEC title recreation. However Alabama is on a nationwide championship stage proper now. The Aggies got here in having gained 19 of twenty-two video games, together with at house final week towards the Crimson Tide.

What it’s good to know: The Aggies gained’t impress you with their particular person expertise. NBA scouts don’t flock to look at them shoot round earlier than video games like some groups. There are not any sure-fire professionals on the roster. The loss to Alabama helped reiterate that. However this is a wonderful, deep, well-coached staff that will get after folks defensively in typical Williams vogue, strikes the ball extraordinarily properly and has choices inside and out of doors. And no matter the place Wade Taylor IV and Tyrece Radford find yourself getting paid to play basketball, they’re great school guards. They account for greater than 40 p.c of the Aggies’ scoring and greater than 50 p.c of their assists. Radford is the one Aggie averaging greater than half-hour a recreation. Williams has the our bodies to go along with full line adjustments. He has dimension and rebounding. Principally, he has cohesion.

Highlight on: Julius Marble II got here to Michigan State from Texas A&M partially to be nearer to household, after tragically shedding his father to an accident in the summertime of 2020. The 6-9, 245-pound Dallas native has impacted the offense extra considerably than his 9.2 per-game scoring common suggests. Marble is a publish scorer by commerce and the Aggies prefer to hit opponents with touches for him early in video games. Opponents and not using a highly effective huge to defend him usually should double him, and Marble is nice at creating issues for them from there.

Report: 19-13 (11-9 Massive Ten)

How they acquired right here: Iowa has one of many nation’s most inexplicable information. Towards Nebraska, Wisconsin and Ohio State — the Massive Ten’s No. 11-13 seeds — the Hawkeyes have been 1-6 counting their early-exit event loss to the Buckeyes. However towards everybody else within the Massive Ten, Iowa was 10-4 with two-game sweeps towards Indiana and Rutgers.

What it’s good to know: The Hawkeyes have led the Massive Ten in scoring the final 5 seasons and rank third in adjusted offensive tempo by KenPom. Additionally they have been final in Massive Ten scoring protection and field-goal share.

Iowa’s Kris Murray. (Ron Johnson / USA At this time)

Highlight on: All-Massive Ten junior ahead Kris Murray (6-8) is the one Division I participant to common 20-plus factors and 8-plus rebounds with greater than 60 3-pointers this yr. The dual brother of Sacramento Kings ahead Keegan Murray, Kris Murray has scored 25 factors or extra 9 occasions this yr.

9. Auburn Tigers

Report: 20-12 (10-8 SEC)

How they acquired right here: The Tigers may be in a distinct place in the event that they hadn’t scored probably the most worthwhile win on their resume’ within the regular-season finale, dominating down the stretch to beat Tennessee 79-70 at house. That adopted up an excruciating loss at Alabama that might have/ought to have been the resume topper – Bruce Pearl’s indignant postgame ranting spoke to each the chance misplaced and his evaluation of the officiating. That adopted up an 86-54 embarrassment at Kentucky. After all, that was lower than two weeks after an 89-56 house romp over Missouri. This staff can prepare dinner however doesn’t accomplish that constantly. It enters the tourney off a disappointing 76-73 loss to Arkansas within the SEC Match.

What it’s good to know: Auburn can play some protection and has been in some grinders – akin to a 43-42 win over Northwestern in Cancun and a 46-43 loss at Tennessee. The Tigers have top-30 defensive effectivity numbers, however the offensive inconsistency seems so much like final season when issues went sideways, and not using a top-three NBA Draft decide (Jabari Smith) round to save lots of the day. Wendell Inexperienced Jr. is an excellent participant and unbelievable competitor, however 29.5 p.c capturing from 3 hasn’t stopped him from taking 139 of them, by far probably the most on the staff. Okay.D. Johnson has a lowered function this season off the bench however nonetheless will get his deep pictures up (33 for 101, 32.7 p.c). When Auburn will get it inside to Johni Broome and will get extra pictures for Jaylin Williams and Allen Flanigan, it has a greater probability.

Highlight on: Broome, the OVC Defensive Participant of the Yr final season at Morehead State, has been an important addition. The 6-10, 235-pound sophomore leads the staff in scoring (14.0), rebounding (8.4) and blocks (2.3). He’s particularly efficient going through up and driving, giving issues this season to conventional bigs specifically. Broome is healthier attacking than settling for triples (27.6 p.c on 29 makes an attempt). That’s a recurring theme for a staff that shoots 31.4 p.c from deep total.

10. Penn State Nittany Lions

Report: 22-13 (10-10 Massive Ten)

How they acquired right here: Every week in the past, Penn State regarded like a about to have its bubble popped. With a NET rating at 56 and a No. 10 seed within the Massive Ten event, the Nittany Lions wanted a surge to make the NCAA event. Nicely, it got here up with one for the ages. Penn State knocked off Illinois, Northwestern and Indiana within the first three rounds earlier than shedding to No. 1 seed Purdue on Sunday. It was solely Penn State’s second Massive Ten championship recreation look.

What it’s good to know: Penn State is harmful from 3-point vary. The Nittany Lions have been solely eight 3-pointers shy of tying the the Massive Ten document on Sunday towards Purdue. They’re not only a perimeter staff, both and have developed into one of many Massive Ten’s most constant scoring applications, rating second in field-goal share (46.5), 3-point capturing (38.7 p.c) and assist-to-turnover ratio. The Nittany Lions are also sixteenth in KenPom’s adjusted offensive tempo.
Highlight on: Senior Jalen Pickett was probably the most prolific back-court scorer within the Massive Ten this season, averaging 18.1 factors per recreation after transferring from Siena. Pickett led the Massive Ten in assists (6.8) and was ranked among the many league’s high eight in scoring, rebounding, field-goal share and assist-to-turnover ratio. He’s the one participant nationally averaging a minimum of 18 factors, seven rebounds and 6 assists per recreation.

Penn State’s Jalen Pickett. (David Banks / USA At this time)

Highlight on: Senior Jalen Pickett was probably the most prolific back-court scorer within the Massive Ten this season, averaging 18.1 factors per recreation after transferring from Siena. Pickett led the Massive Ten in assists (6.8) and was ranked among the many league’s high eight in scoring, rebounding, field-goal share and assist-to-turnover ratio. He’s the one participant nationally averaging a minimum of 18 factors, seven rebounds and 6 assists per recreation.

Report: 21-12 (8-10 SEC)

How they acquired right here: Different coaches acquired extra consideration for his or her work within the SEC this season – Dennis Gates, Nate Oats, co-coaches of the yr Jerry Stackhouse and Buzz Williams – however Chris Jans deserves a hand for taking this staff to the dance in his debut season. The Bulldogs acquired essential work completed with nonleague wins over Marquette and TCU. The latter of these got here in extra time within the SEC/Massive 12 Problem and halted a five-game SEC shedding streak. League wins over Texas A&M, Arkansas and Missouri after that made the distinction.

What it’s good to know: Two underwhelming SEC Match performances, 69-68 over Florida in extra time and a 72-49 thumping delivered by Alabama, depart the Bulldogs with little momentum. However that is an elite defensive staff, sixth nationally in effectivity, and that’s the important thing to any success transferring ahead. Mississippi State has the sort of size that may trouble quite a lot of groups. Not a staff like, say, Alabama, however quite a lot of groups. That size is extra of an element with deflections than on the rim. That protection feeding transition is required as a result of this the worst 3-point capturing staff in Division I. Useless final at 26.6 p.c. The one Bulldog with any success is senior guard Dashawn Davis (36 of 105, 34.3 p.c).

Highlight on: And if a transition alternative doesn’t current itself, properly, throw the ball in to Tolu. That’s Tolu Smith, a 6-11, 245-pound senior and Western Kentucky switch who made All-SEC first staff this season as a result of he’s basically his staff’s total offense. Smith is a artful scorer across the basket averaging 15.8 factors and eight.5 rebounds. He additionally averages 1.7 assists per recreation, a quantity that might be larger if there was extra capturing round him. Smith does battle on the line (58.5 p.c), however he nonetheless produces there as a result of he’s among the many nation’s leaders with 246 makes an attempt.

Report: 21-11 (14-6 ACC)

How they acquired right here: Pittsburgh’s 96-69 ACC event exit to Duke made for a nervous couple of days earlier than the choice present. Pitt had an uneven season with non-conference losses to Michigan, West Virginia, VCU and Vanderbilt and defeats in three of its ultimate 4 video games. However the Panthers have been solely a 3-pointer off the rim towards Miami from tying for the ACC title and choosing up the No. 1 event seed.

What it’s good to know: The Panthers have scored 75 or extra factors in seven of the ultimate 9 video games and rank twenty fifth within the NCAA in KenPom’s adjusted offensive effectivity scores. Maybe what’s extra attention-grabbing than any staff statistic is that Pittsburgh was picked 14th within the ACC preseason ballot and completed one recreation out of first place. That led to educate Jeff Capel overwhelmingly incomes ACC Coach of the Yr honors.

Highlight on: Guard Jamarius Burton averaged 15.7 factors, 4.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists per recreation to earn first-team All-ACC honors. Burton is just the second first-team All-ACC choice for Pitt since becoming a member of the league in 2013.

GO DEEPER

The coach, the star and the pursuit of pleasure in Bloomington, Indiana

Report: 27-7 (15-5 Missouri Valley Convention)

How they acquired right here: The Bulldogs have rolled by way of the MVC, successful 13 of their final 14 video games with a 12-point loss to Bradley as the one blemish. Drake then stormed by way of Arch Insanity, successful all three video games by double digits, together with a 77-51 blasting of regular-season champ Bradley within the finals.

What it’s good to know: Darian DeVries has led the Bulldogs to twenty or extra wins in every of his 5 seasons, precisely half of the 20-win seasons in Drake historical past. Drake doesn’t wow anybody statistically, nevertheless it completed within the high three in practically each Valley class. Maybe its trademark is its effectivity with a plus-1.65 turnover margin and solely 10.47 turnovers per recreation.

Highlight on: Ahead Tucker DeVries grew to become solely the fourth sophomore to win the Valley’s Larry Chicken Trophy as league MVP and backed it up by taking event MVP honors, too. DeVries (19 ppg) is the son of head coach Darian DeVries and nephew of former NFL defensive lineman Jared DeVries.

Report: 28-6 (15-3 MAC)

How they acquired right here: Kent State and Toledo was the title-game showdown everybody wished to see. What they acquired was an eyeful of the No. 2 seed Golden Flashes racing previous the No. 1 seed Rockets to the tune of 93-78. That’s a top-40 staff in defensive effectivity in Kent State, outscoring a Toledo staff that has been round top-five in offensive effectivity this season. That made it two wins in as many tries towards Toledo this season and left little question who needs to be representing the MAC.

What it’s good to know: Take this staff critically. Simply ask Houston, which acquired into the sort of rock struggle Houston likes to get into and needed to take all of it the way in which to the top at house to edge Kent State 49-44. Ask Gonzaga, which needed to grind out a 73-66 house win over the Golden Flashes. Keep in mind Kent State’s Elite Eight staff from 2002? This one may win a couple of recreation on this event as properly. Kent State is among the many nation’s leaders in steals, led by guard Malique Jacobs and his 2.7 per recreation, and that feeds the Flashes’ transition and 76.6 factors per recreation. Size, depth and deflections are a part of the method.

Highlight on: His identify is Honest Carry. He might have a real maintain on anybody who watches him play on this event. The 6-1 senior and former Duquesne guard was MAC participant of the yr final season. He didn’t win it this time round however his 26 factors within the title recreation to earn a bid was a significantly better reward. Carry averages 17.6 factors, 4.9 assists and 1.7 steals a recreation. He goes by opponents. He outmuscles opponents. And he does all of it with aptitude and emotion.

Report: 26-8 (15-3 Atlantic Solar)

How they acquired right here: The multi-year journey to the primary NCAA bid in program historical past is outstanding, from 1-28 in coach Amir Abdur-Rahim’s debut season of 2019-20, to 5 wins, to 13 wins, to this. The veteran-laded Owls gave hints of a takeover season within the Atlantic Solar with aggressive video games at Florida and at Indiana, then ripped by way of the league and earned the No. 1 seed – and homecourt benefit within the convention tourney – by beating the league’s present flagship program, Liberty, in a Feb. 16 house recreation. It was Liberty once more within the title recreation, the primary sellout crowd in program historical past (3,805), and senior guard Terrell Burden sinking a free throw with 0.7 of a second left for a 67-66 win.

Kennesaw State is enjoying in its first NCAA Match (Darron Cummings / AP)

What it’s good to know: This staff is constructed round Burden on the level; huge, rangy capturing guards in Chris Youngblood and Brandon Stroud; and space-eating huge man Demond Robinson, a Murray State switch. That’s 48.7 factors per recreation (Youngblood tops at 14.7) for a staff that averages 75.3 and performs at a quick tempo. Youngblood will get to his spots extraordinarily properly and shoots 41.1 p.c from 3-point vary (79 for 192). He’s additionally a terrific foul shooter (82.5 p.c) for a staff that struggles total at 66.2 p.c. Stroud is the 6-6 stopper, the Atlantic Solar Defensive Participant of the Yr, for a staff that performs aggressive man protection and forces 14.5 turnovers per recreation.

Highlight on: Burden? Extra like Blur-den. You gained’t discover many faster gamers than the (formally) 5-10 senior who had zero affords earlier than Abdur-Rahim plucked him from close by Smyrna. He has grown with this system, culminating in his 19-point output within the title recreation to assert event MVP, and he’s precisely the sort of story that makes the NCAA Match what it’s. He averages 13.5 factors and 4.2 assists per recreation and defends ferociously. The one a part of Burden’s recreation that isn’t classic senior level guard is the 67.5 p.c displaying on the line. That didn’t cease him from making historical past at that line.

GO DEEPER

‘Oh my God. What did we do?’ On Kennesaw State’s miraculous NCAA Match journey

Report: 26-8 (17-1 Patriot)

How they acquired right here: Colgate was the category of the Patriot League this yr, operating away with the regular-season and event titles and successful 20 of its final 21 matchups. The Raiders, led by head coach Matt Langel, have made 4 NCAA Tournaments in 5 seasons, led this season by fifth-year senior Tucker Richardson, who leads the staff in factors, assists and steals.

What it’s good to know: The Raiders have some of the environment friendly offenses within the nation, main the FBS in efficient field-goal share, based on KenPom. Colgate doesn’t hoist a ton of 3-pointers, however they do convert 40.9 p.c of them, tops within the nation, and are top-10 in 2-point share. They don’t flip it over a lot both.

Highlight on: Richardson is a part of a veteran group, one in all 4 senior starters, and earned Patriot League Participant of the Yr and Defensive Participant of the Yr honors. The five-year starter stuffed the stat sheet for the Raiders, averaging 13.9 factors, 5.2 rebounds, 5.8 assists and a pair of.1 steals.

Report: 22-12 (14-6 Horizon)

How they acquired right here: Northern Kentucky was the fourth seed within the Horizon League Match however was in a second-place tie and just one recreation off the regular-season lead. The Norse had an incredible final month of the season, successful seven of their ultimate eight video games and avenging their solely loss with a 63-61 win towards Cleveland State within the Horizon finals.

What it’s good to know: The Norse are a defense-first squad, rating twenty ninth total in permitting 63.6 factors per recreation. Their adjusted tempo based on KenPom is without doubt one of the nation’s lowest (358th) at 62.2 possessions per recreation. Additionally they rank 273rd in factors per recreation (68.2).

Highlight on: Sophomore guard Marques Warrick (6-2) was a second-team All-Horizon choice for the second straight season. He ranked fourth within the Horizon at 19.1 factors per recreation and was instrumental in main the Norse to the Horizon title with 18 factors, six rebounds, three steals and a block.

The Athletic’s Scott Dochterman, Joe Rexrode, Jesse Temple and Justin Williams contributed to this story.

(Illustration: John Bradford: The Athletic; Picture: Bob Levey / Getty Photos)