Ranking the teams in the Elite Eight: From Michigan State to Purdue

Now that we’re in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament, it’s time to update the rankings and see which team will be the favorite to win it all.

The Elite Eight is set and there is plenty of top-seeds remaining. Three No. 1 seeds are still alive with only North Carolina bowing out in the Sweet 16, a pair of No. 2 seeds are alive in Kentucky and Michigan State. A pair of No. 3 seeds in Purdue and Texas Tech are trying to keep their season going, and Auburn, a No. 5 seed, is the lowest seed remaining with a chance to cut the nets down.

But, let’s throw out the seeds out the window now that we’re in the Elite Eight. Let’s re-rank the teams from best to worst based on how well they’ve looked in the NCAA Tournament to this point.

Duke entered as the No. 1 overall seed, but will Zion Williamson and the Blue Devils get the top seed now after winning by two and one point in their last two games?

1. Michigan State

OK, so most of you outside of Lansing are wondering why Michigan State is ranked number one here, but in reality, it shouldn’t really be a shock. The Spartans have taken the frustration of being screwed out of a number one seed and have mowed down opponents on their way to the Elite Eight. Tom Izzo’s crew have stifled offenses, and have gotten balanced scoring from top to bottom. LSU was, by far, their toughest opponent in the Tournament, and they whipped them like they stole something. Duke is a different beast altogether, but Izzo has this team focused on nothing but bringing a National Championship to Lansing.

2. Auburn

We’ve been underestimating the Tigers all season, and maybe we stop that practice now. No one picked Auburn to win the SEC Tournament, and they did just that. No one picked Auburn to make it to the Elite Eight, and here they are. Bruce Pearl’s team has been scrappy and tenacious on defense and gotten balanced scoring on offense. With their surprisingly easy blowout of the Tar Heels, one has to like Auburn’s chances, but trouble awaits. They’ll face a Kentucky team that is definitely hungry to knock the Tigers out, and they’ll probably have to do it without their leader, Chuma Okeke.

3. Gonzaga

The Bulldogs have had a relatively easy run to the Elite Eight, and that actually was expected. The Bulldogs breezed through the first two rounds and pulled out an unexpected Spade in the Sweet 16, using their defense to send Florida State back home to Tallahassee. Now, their high-powered offense will be tested by Texas Tech, a team who’s ball-hawking, swarming defense will present a great challenge for the Bulldogs.

4. Duke

Ah, here’s Zion and crew, sitting at number four. Now, diehard Duke fans will not take to kindly that their beloved and talented Blue Devils are ranked here, but it’s for a reason. Duke is actually lucky to be in the Elite Eight. They survived a missed last-second tip in by UCF and was in inches of being forced into overtime against conference rival Virginia Tech. They knew that luck is on their side, but it could run out against Tom Izzo and Michigan State, who have pulverized the opposition on their way to this huge matchup. However, this team is talented, and Zion has a player who can carry Duke his shoulders right to Minneapolis.

5. Texas Tech

It was tempting to rank the Red Raiders above Duke, but I think, offensively, Duke has the talent to get past Michigan State. Texas Tech, on the other hand, will have to rely on their swarming defense to try to slow down Gonzaga, who is, by far, the most offensively potent team in the Tournament. Their defense has gotten the Red Raiders this far, but Gonzaga will be their biggest test, by far.

6. Kentucky

OK, let’s be honest: Without PJ Washington putting on his best imitation of Willis Reed, Kentucky may not have been in the Elite Eight. Houston was a strong test, and they nearly knocked them out, but Washington had some timely baskets, and they got by the Cougars by the skin of their teeth. Their reward for just squeaking past Houston is a rematch with Auburn, the team that’s played them tough all year and is on a high after their blowout of UNC. Washington is going to be needed more than ever, and if he can’t deliver, the Wildcats are going to be in trouble.

7. Virginia

I didn’t have much faith in Virginia in this Tournament. I had them as the first one seed to lose. Oh, how wrong was I? Their run to the Elite Eight has not been easy, but their defense has stayed world class, and they’ve gotten timely baskets on offense. Just like Texas Tech, Virginia’s stingy defense will get tested by Purdue, who, led by Carson Edwards, can light up the scoreboard. I underestimated Virginia before, so I won’t make a bold prediction here, but, this team has a good chance of being upset by the Boilermakers.

8. Purdue

For some, seeing Purdue in the Elite Eight is a surprise, but if you followed this team all year, you would know that it wasn’t as much as a shock to see the Boilermakers here as one would think. Carson Edwards is one of the best players in the country, and he’s had a dominating run in the Tournament. He, along with Ryan Cline, kept Purdue from collapsing against Tennessee in the Sweet 16, but they can’t afford another late-game meltdown against Virginia, whose defense has been a stranglehold of offenses like Purdue’s.