NCAAB · 1 year ago

March Madness East Region: Dark Horse, Cinderella, & Winner

David Connelly

Host · Writer

East Region Pick: No. 1 UConn (+110)
We will stick with the Huskies as a team that has just continued to answer the call every time there has been any doubt. The only time they have looked inferior all season was at Creighton last month, where the Bluejays went 14-28 from beyond the arc, a spot where almost anybody would fall victim. It's almost slightly surprising to see the Huskies at plus-money, and we'll grab it while it's there.
East Region Intro & Odds
The East has already been deemed the strongest region among the four in this year's NCAA Tournament, and we tend to agree. All of the top four seeds rank within the top ten on KenPom and are conference tournament title champions. It makes for a brutal draw for UConn, who was supposed to be rewarded with the easiest path to the Final Four, and perhaps some dark horse candidates. We discuss the Huskies, our dark horse pick, a Cinderella, and our best bet coming out of Boston in two weeks.

Regional Previews: East | South | Midwest | West

First, let's take a look at the odds to win the East per the FanDuel Sportsbook.

No. 1 UConn (+110)
No. 2 Iowa State (+450)
No. 4 Auburn (+500)
No. 3 Illinois (+800)
No. 6 BYU (+1500)
No. 5 San Diego State (+2100)
No. 8 Florida Atlantic (+3000)
No. 7 Washington State (+3500)
No. 10 Drake (+4500)
No. 9 Northwestern (+6000)
No. 13 Yale (+13000)
No. 12 UAB (+15000)
No. 11 Duquesne (+15000)
No. 14 Morehead State (+25000)
No. 15 South Dakota State (+25000)
No. 16 Stetson (+25000)
East Region Top Seed: No. 1 UConn (+110)
The favorite to cut down the nets at the Final Four is UConn, with the shortest odds to come out of the East. The Huskies have mowed down the Big East all season, putting a bow on their dominance with a regular-season conference title and a conference tournament title. It earned them the top overall seed in the field, but the committee didn't necessarily reward them with the easiest path. The KenPom rankings of the top four seeds in the East region add up to 20, less than half of the aggregate rankings in the other regions, which come in at 41, 42, and 43. It's not an easy path to Phoenix for UConn, but they are rightfully the heavy favorite as the best team in the country entering the tournament.

NCAA ATS Picks: Day 1 Early Games | Day 1 Late Games |
East Region Dark Horse: No. 3 Illinois (+800)
Terrence Shannon Jr. showed how valuable he can be in a single-elimination format during the Big Ten Tournament. The star guard averaged 34 points on 47 percent from the field and 46 percent from three across the Illini's three-game run to the Big Ten Tournament title. He is a total game-wrecker capable of going on an unstoppable run and dragging this team to the Final Four. This roster has loads of experience, and their offense is a well-oiled machine when firing on all cylinders. The question is if head coach Brad Underwood can get this team over the hump. In the past three NCAA Tournaments, he has won just two games and failed to bring them to a second weekend each year.
East Region Cinderella: No. 10 Drake (+4500)
The Bulldogs are becoming a perennial mid-major powerhouse in the NCAA Tournament, all thanks to head coach Darian DeVries and now his son Tucker, who leads this edition of Drake into the dance. Tucker DeVries is one of the best players you have not heard of in this field as a do-it-all leader for this team. He is on a tear entering the tournament, taking home KenPom game MVP in five of their previous seven games. Darnell Brodie gives them some size while Conor Enright and Atin Wright space the floor as sharpshooters. This team is balanced with experience, a clear leader, and strong coaching. There is a realistic chance they can get to the Elite Eight; from there, it's anybody's best guess.
East Region Pick: No. 1 UConn (+110)
We will stick with the Huskies as a team that has just continued to answer the call every time there has been any doubt. The only time they have looked inferior all season was at Creighton last month, where the Bluejays went 14-28 from beyond the arc, a spot where almost anybody would fall victim. It's almost slightly surprising to see the Huskies at plus-money, and we'll grab it while it's there.
East Region Intro & Odds
The East has already been deemed the strongest region among the four in this year's NCAA Tournament, and we tend to agree. All of the top four seeds rank within the top ten on KenPom and are conference tournament title champions. It makes for a brutal draw for UConn, who was supposed to be rewarded with the easiest path to the Final Four, and perhaps some dark horse candidates. We discuss the Huskies, our dark horse pick, a Cinderella, and our best bet coming out of Boston in two weeks.

Regional Previews: East | South | Midwest | West

First, let's take a look at the odds to win the East per the FanDuel Sportsbook.

No. 1 UConn (+110)
No. 2 Iowa State (+450)
No. 4 Auburn (+500)
No. 3 Illinois (+800)
No. 6 BYU (+1500)
No. 5 San Diego State (+2100)
No. 8 Florida Atlantic (+3000)
No. 7 Washington State (+3500)
No. 10 Drake (+4500)
No. 9 Northwestern (+6000)
No. 13 Yale (+13000)
No. 12 UAB (+15000)
No. 11 Duquesne (+15000)
No. 14 Morehead State (+25000)
No. 15 South Dakota State (+25000)
No. 16 Stetson (+25000)

March Madness East Region: Dark Horse, Cinderella, & Winner

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