NCAA Bracket 2017: Schedule, Updated Predictions Before Thursday 1st-Round Games

For those who skipped four captivating play-in games, the NCAA Tournament officially begins on Thursday. Mount St. Mary’s, Kansas State, UC Davis and Southern California earned their spots in the 64-team bracket.

It’s hard to believe one team will win six or seven games in less than three weeks to claim the NCAA title in Glendale, Arizona.

Villanova, the defending champions, have a fair shot at returning to the championship game and retaining its status as the best team in the country. Nonetheless, FiveThirtyEight, an analytics website, calculated a 15 percent chance for the Wildcats.

Barack Obama, the 44th president of the United States, released his bracket. To the chagrin of those who love the underdog story, the former president chose a dreamy Duke vs. North Carolina championship game with the Tar Heels winning it all:

Will the Wildcats repeat? Based on seeding, which team will record the biggest upset? For the late bracket challengers, you’re in luck with some last-minute insight below.

Bucknell Will Be Lowest Winning Seed

If you want to look like a college basketball guru among your friends, choose No. 13 Bucknell over No. 4 West Virginia for a first-round upset special. The Patriot League champions should match up well against the Mountaineers and squeak through the first round with a narrow victory.

Looking at Obama’s bracket above, he also predicts an upset in this matchup. ESPN College Basketball Analyst Seth Greenberg pinpoints the Bison as a team to respect due to notable regular-season wins and experience:

Expect a slow-paced contest with the final score in the low-to-mid 60s for both programs. The Mountaineers have a physical team that exhibits maximum effort on the defensive end.

However, three players averaging more than 25 minutes per game shoot 39-41 percent from beyond the arc. Bucknell will have to harp on floor spacing and finding the open man on the perimeter. It’s not smart to play into West Virginia’s methodical style. The Bison can’t allow junior guard Jevon Carter to take over the game.

Center Nana Foulland and forward Zach Thomas should come close to or record double-doubles as the Mountaineers defend the three-point shot. The ability to compete on the boards against a top-50 rebounding team will be crucial for the Bison. Nonetheless, they have the bodies on the inside and shooters on the perimeter to send shockwaves through March Madness discussion circles.

Will Duke and North Carolina Reach Championship Game?

The state of North Carolina may be well represented in the NCAA title game, but the Tar Heels have a tough road to travel through the South Region. They’re in the same bracket quadrant as UCLA and Kentucky. Don’t forget a pesky Arkansas team will likely advance to the second round and wear down Roy Williams’ group with physical play.

North Carolina’s sharpshooters, Justin Jackson and Joel Berry II, shoot 37 and 41 percent from three-point land. Once the Tar Heels reach the Sweet 16, they must increase their efficiency. Better rebounding teams like Minnesota and Kentucky should be able to limit North Carolina’s second-chance opportunities. 

Duke sees a much easier pathway to Glendale. USC may put up the toughest fight in the Sweet 16 round before Mike Krzyzewski's players see stiff competition. The Blue Devils have also clicked during their ACC tournament run. Freshman forward Jayson Tatum’s inside offensive game balances a combined 11 three-point attempts per contest for guards Grayson Allen and Luke Kennard.

In an Elite 8 matchup, Villanova will have the best player on the court in guard Josh Hart, but the Blue Devils have peaked at the right time. Prominent players have taken over games and jelled as a cohesive unit. The same applies to Arizona in the Final Four round. Sophomore guard Allonzo Trier may explode as the best player on the court, but his teammates will need to contribute in a probable high-scoring contest.

Duke will reach the championship game, but another program in the South Region has the tools to steal a spot in the title game over the Tar Heels.

UCLA Wins NCAA Title

Picking the Bruins to win the NCAA title extends beyond freshman star Lonzo Ball. He’s only one of six players on that roster who averages double figures in points. His 7.7 assists per game allow Bryce Alford and Isaac Hamilton to find their shots on the perimeter. The dynamic point guard can also deliver smooth entry passes to TJ Leaf in the paint. 

UCLA has a top-three NBA draft prospect on a roster that’s averaging the most points per game (90.4) in the country. Nonetheless, North Carolina and Kentucky still hold favorable odds to win a tough South Region, per Nate Silver of FiveThirtyEight:

As long as Arizona isn’t in UCLA’s pathway, the Bruins shouldn’t have an issue claiming the title. Though, it’s a tough task to play against the Wildcats and Tar Heels in consecutive games. Of course, the coaching edge goes to John Calipari and Roy Williams. Yet, Steve Alford’s group has an edge in overall talent to go with the flashiness.

In a high-scoring championship game, the Bruins and Blue Devils will put together a classic on April 3. Ball’s dynamic ability as a scorer and facilitator will propel UCLA to victory.

Stats provided by Sports Reference, unless otherwise noted.