Ranking the Best Teams in March Madness 2023 featuring Alabama and Houston
The bracket is out, and everyone loves to find the Cinderellas who pull off upsets in the first weekend. Who will be this year’s George Mason, Oral Roberts or Florida Gulf Coast? Maybe this year’s Oral Roberts is Oral Roberts.
However, when the nets are cut down for the regional sites and the Final Four teams descend on Houston to crown the champion, a storied blue blood or higher seed often raises the national championship trophy.
So, let’s focus on some of those true contenders and take a look at the five best teams entering the NCAA Tournament.
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#1, Alabama Crimson Tide (29-5)
No longer just a football school, coach Nate Oats has led this Crimson Tide team to the top of the college basketball world for much of the season. The team goes into the tournament as the No. 1 overall seed and sits third in KenPom ratings.
Alabama made splashes in nonconference play at the start of the season with major wins against Michigan State, North Carolina and fellow No. 1 seed Houston. The Crimson Tide were undefeated at home, with three of their five losses coming on the road and two in neutral site games. Four of those five losses came against tournament teams.
This group is led by forward Brandon Miller. The freshman led the SEC in scoring with 19.6 points per game, good for 31st in the nation. Miller is a dynamic player who can finish at the rim and possesses a lethal jumpshot. He was a solid 40.1% from 3-point range.
Alabama has only made it past the Sweet 16 once, in 2004. This is arguably the best team in school history and has goals for the national championship or bust. Its path to the Elite Eight sets up nicely with an easy first-round game, a second-round matchup where they will be heavily favored and a potential Sweet 16 matchup against Virginia, who is the lowest-ranked No. 4 seed by KenPom.
#2, Houston Cougars (31-3)
Coach Kelvin Sampson has this Houston program back to lofty heights last seen in Houston during the time of Phi Slamma Jama. The Cougars made the Final Four in 2021 and the Elite Eight in 2022. The 2023 version of Sampson’s squad may be even better.
The Cougars dominated the American Athletic Conference and picked up big nonconference wins against Oregon, Virginia and Saint Mary’s. They also beat fellow tournament team Memphis twice this season before losing to the Tigers in the AAC tournament championship game.
Houston is one of the deepest teams in the nation and plays with a tenacious energy, especially on the glass. They are seventh in the nation in rebounding margin and crash harder than most teams in the tournament.
That energy translates on the defensive end as well as Sampson has installed a smothering style of defense. The Cougars' press and connectivity in the half-court defense make them one of the toughest units in the country. Houston held teams to 56.5 ppg, second best in Division I.
Senior guard Marcus Sasser is the team's heart and soul and brings a ton of experience to one of the best backcourts in the field. Sasser and the Cougars have plenty of tournament experience to stay poised in the madness of March.
#3, Kansas Jayhawks (27-7)
The defending national champions are back with another deep squad poised for a long run in the tournament. Kansas is the worst No. 1 seed according to KenPom, as they are ranked ninth.
However, the Jayhawks proved they have not missed too much despite losing Ochai Agbaji and many contributing members from last year’s title team.
The Jayhawks picked up huge wins against Duke, N.C. State and Indiana before winning the Big 12. This team is proven after battling through the rugged Big 12 conference, that was by far the best in the country this year.
Kansas will need big performances from their leaders junior Jalen Wilson and freshman Gradey Dick. The two have combined for 34.2 ppg and will be the key if Kansas repeats as national champions. Florida is the last school to repeat as national champions in 2006-07.
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#4, Purdue Boilermakers (29-5)
Purdue was one of the nation's most consistent teams this season. The veteran-laden team was the best in a deep Big Ten on their way to a conference championship.
The Boilermakers are led by junior and player of the year candidate Zach Edey. The sixth-leading scorer in the nation with 22.3 ppg is the dominant force inside. The 7-foot-4 big man is a problem on the glass as well as he averages 12.8 rpg, third best in the country.
If Edey can stay out of foul trouble, few teams in the tournament have the personnel to matchup with the center. As long as Edey is on the floor, Purdue should be favored against every team they face until the Final Four.
Purdue has some demons to overcome in its history. The program has not made a Final Four since 1980 and has only made one Elite Eight appearance since 2001.
They are also in a tough East region with multiple blue bloods in dangerous lower-seeded positions including Duke, Kentucky and Michigan State.
#5, UCLA Bruins (29-5)
The Pac-12 regular-season champions come into the NCAA Tournament as one of the field's most experienced teams. Coach Mick Cronin has led his team to at least the Sweet 16 in the past two tournaments.
The Bruins will be without Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year Jaylen Clark, who tore his Achilles tendond in the final game of the regular season. Clark was also the team's third-leading scorer.
Experienced guard play is often the most important thing come March, and UCLA has it. Cronin will rely heavily on seniors Tyger Campbell and Jamie Jaquez. Both guards led the team in scoring and were pivotal parts of the UCLA team that made the Final Four in 2021.