NCAA basketball, 2022 NCAA Tournament. Why are these teams the best?
The college basketball season hasn’t even started, but it is already clear who the top two teams are. Gonzaga is bringing in an elite recruiting class after going undefeated in the regular season. With one of the best head coaches in college basketball and a loaded roster, they should be the favorites right now.
Michigan was another top team in 2021. They failed to reach the Final Four, but they had a solid regular season with Juwan Howard as head coach. In Howard’s second year with the Wolverines, he vaulted the standard for Michigan basketball.
You can take a glance and see why these teams are so good, but there are plenty of great teams in college basketball. Why specifically do these two teams have the best NCAA Tournament odds?
Gonzaga has +600 odds to win the national championship next year. Michigan isn’t far behind with +800. No one else has better than 10-1 odds, so what sets these two programs apart? Here’s a breakdown of why each team is heavily favored to win the 2022 NCAA Tournament.
Gonzaga was the overwhelming favorite for all of last year, but they failed to win the title. So why are they overwhelming favorites again? Well, most of what made them so good was the structure of the team. They weren’t carried by any one player. They develop talent over time, and that helps them reload the roster as opposed to rebuilding it.
Despite losing Jalen Suggs, Gonzaga’s roster may be even more talented next year. They bring in the best recruiting class in program history. They bring in Chet Holmgren, the highest-rated recruit in the 2021 class. Hunter Sallis is another five-star talent that will help replace Suggs.
The Bulldogs have four of the 53 best recruits plus two transfers. They bring back some key players from last year’s team, and they were just a win away from an undefeated season in 2021. That’s why they are the favorites. Despite never winning the title and only two Final Four appearances in over two decades with Gonzaga, people trust Mark Few to get the job done. He has the talent, and he’s a great coach. We’ll see if this is their year.
Juwan Howard proved himself as a head coach last year. He won the regular season title and was one win away from taking the Wolverines back to the Final Four. He’s the perfect coach for the Wolverines, and they should remain competitive as long as he is employed.
Michigan’s recruiting class was rated higher than Gonzaga’s and was the top class in 2021. They bring in four of the top 44 players and an entire rotation’s worth of talent. Pairing this with their returning players will set them apart.
Michigan learned how to compete in 2021. In 2022, they may learn how to win it all. We saw what Howard could do with his development and playcalling, and he now proved his ability to recruit.
Howard is in a tough conference, but he can bring Michigan back to the forefront of college basketball. He took a step in the right direction, and this class will keep them near the top of all rankings this year. By the time the NCAA Tournament rolls around, don’t be surprised if the Wolverines are a top seed.
Gonzaga and Michigan have the best NCAA Tournament odds, but should you take them over the field? This is where things get tricky. If I had to pick any team to win it all, I would pick the Bulldogs. Beyond them, I would pick the Wolverines. Still, I would take the field for a few reasons.
Both teams are relying on freshmen to carry them to victory. That’s a dangerous proposition. Also, NCAA Tournaments are known for being wild. There is so much parity in the sport, and you have strength in numbers when you’re trying to pick a champion.
It’ll be an insane season, and these two teams will be at the top of the rankings. Still, this isn’t an Alabama and Clemson situation. The NCAA Tournament could be won by a number of teams.