![]() ![]() (11) NC State: NC State has its limitations, a defense ranking 85th at KenPom being one of them, but the Wolfpack are loaded with offensive playmaking. It would also be a meeting of great coaching minds as Alabama's Nate Oats and Arizona's Tommy Lloyd are rapidly ascending within college basketball's coaching hierarchy. Arizona hasn't faced a team with Alabama's length and athleticism this season, but the Crimson Tide haven't played anyone with Arizona's combination of size and offensive efficiency. Both are also among the nation's best 3-point shooting teams, which would make an Elite Eight matchup between them a high-scoring, warp-speed affair. (2) Arizona: These teams are both in the top-10 nationally in points per game and pace. Either team in this game is capable of erasing a double-digit deficit in a short time, which gives this matchup excellent potential to produce something memorable. But the Tigers aren't great defensively, which will allow Utah State to keep pace so long as it can avoid an avalanche of turnovers against Mizzou's pressure. The Aggies only played one power-conference opponent this season, and there's a chance Missouri could overwhelm them with athleticism and physicality. (10) Utah State: Both teams rank among the top-15 nationally in offensive efficiency, per KenPom, and both are eager to hoist 3-pointers with each averaging more than nine makes per game from beyond the arc. 7 seed Missouri is also well-equipped to keep pace with Arizona's offense in a potential second-round matchup. Both withstood the grind of tough conference slates to make the Big Dance and won't be intimidated by Alabama's elite talent. Additionally, the Crimson Tide are tracking to face a tough matchup in the second round against either No. 6 seed Creighton lurk quietly in the shadows after both spent most of the regular season's final month ranked in the AP Top 25. The roster of contenders in the region also goes well beyond the top four teams as No. Both programs are led by rising coaching stars in Nate Oats at Alabama and Tommy Lloyd at Arizona, but neither has gone further than the Sweet 16 at this point in their careers. By contrast, Alabama lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament last season, while Arizona was bounced in the Sweet 16 as a No. ![]() Similarly, the Bears are just 2-4 over their last six games but have Adam Flagler, LJ Cryer, Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua and Flo Thamba in their rotation after all four played on the program's 2021 title team. 13 seed Furman four years after playing 33 minutes for UVa in its national-title victory over Texas Tech. Virginia is just 4-3 over its last seven games entering the Big Dance but should be ready for the stage as fifth-year senior point guard Kihei Clark leads the Cavaliers into action against No. 4 seed Virginia can each claim: the Bears and Cavaliers are led by coaches with recent national titles at their schools, and both still have players in their starting lineups from those title runs. 2 seed Arizona stand out in the South Region of the 2023 NCAA Tournament bracket as teams playing at peak levels following conference tournament titles, but the Crimson Tide and Wildcats lack something that No.
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