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March Madness A-Z guide to the 2019 NCAA Tournament

By Cody Williams

CHARLOTTE, NC - MARCH 16: Duke Blue Devils forward Zion Williamson (1) and Duke Blue Devils guard Tre Jones (3) at the end of the of the ACC Tournament championship game with the Duke Blue Devils versus the Florida State Seminoles on March 16, 2019, at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, NC. (Photo by Jaylynn Nash/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - MARCH 16: Duke Blue Devils forward Zion Williamson (1) and Duke Blue Devils guard Tre Jones (3) at the end of the of the ACC Tournament championship game with the Duke Blue Devils versus the Florida State Seminoles on March 16, 2019, at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, NC. (Photo by Jaylynn Nash/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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OXFORD, OHIO – MARCH 01: CJ Massinburg #5 and Jeremy Harris #2 of the Buffalo Bulls reacts after a play in the game against the Miami (Oh) Redhawks at Millett Hall on March 01, 2019 in Oxford, Ohio. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
OXFORD, OHIO – MARCH 01: CJ Massinburg #5 and Jeremy Harris #2 of the Buffalo Bulls reacts after a play in the game against the Miami (Oh) Redhawks at Millett Hall on March 01, 2019 in Oxford, Ohio. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /

A – Auburn Tigers

The Auburn Tigers are a fascinating group coming off of winning the SEC Tournament and earning a No. 5 seed in the Midwest Region. This 3-point loving team under Bruce Pearl can beat any team in college basketball when they’re hitting shots, which could happen in the NCAA Tournament. Having said that, the Tigers are highly beatable when they start missing, meaning they’re a high-variance team with a chance to go deep in the tourney, but just as good of a chance to get upset by New Mexico State.

B – Belmont Bruins

One of the buzzy bubble teams leading into Selection Sunday was the Belmont Bruins, who were let in as a Last Four In team out of the Ohio Valley Conference following a loss in the conference tournament final to Murray State. Dylan Windler (21.4 points, 10.7 rebounds per game) and the Bruins now take on Temple in a First Four matchup on Tuesday, and Belmont has a massive amount to prove. A win by the Bruins could help the case of mid-major at large bids moving forward.

C – C.J. Massinburg

With a win over Syracuse in non-conference play to their credit in a dominant showing in the MAC — both in the regular season and the tournament — the Buffalo Bulls are now the No. 6 seed in the West Region and have tremendous potential. They will now hope to prove that they are for real, which starts with guard C.J. Massinburg, who averaged a team-leading 18.3 points per game on the year, along with 6.6 rebounds, three assists and 1.2 steals per game. They are incredibly exciting, but a lack of stiff competition makes you wonder if they’re in danger of an upset.

D – Drew McDonald

Drew McDonald led the Northern Kentucky Norse throughout the regular season and even more so in the Horizon League Tournament, including a buzzer-beater to win in the semifinals. The senior forward who averaged 19.1 points and 9.5 rebounds per game faces a tough matchup with his 14-seeded Norse team as they take on Texas Tech. If they’re going to come through with a huge upset, McDonald’s efforts will be leading the charge.

E – E.J. Crawford

The Iona Gaels face an uphill battle in the 2019 NCAA Tournament, taking on the No. 1 seed in the Midwest Region, the North Carolina Tar Heels. If they’re going to pull off a massive upset, though. E.J. Crawford will have to be at the forefront. The junior guard averaged 17.9 points and 5.1 rebounds per game this season while shooting 39.1 percent from 3-point range and 50.9 percent from the field. If he can do that and Iona’s defense can slow down the Heels, another 16-seed could be looking at a win.

F – Fletcher Magee

While the Wofford Terriers didn’t notch any wins against big-time non-conference competiton, they did dominate the Southern Conference with an 18-0 regular season record and tournament win. The biggest reason is star guard Fletcher Magee, the NCAA Division I leader for 3-pointers made this season, hitting on 42.8 percent of his attempts as well. Magee is a deadeye shooter that, if he gets hot, can take Wofford on a run as the No. 7 seed in the Midwest Region.

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