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Gonzaga, Michigan, Illinois, Baylor earn #1 seeds in the 2021 March Madness tournament

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Brace yourselves, it’s that time of the year again for NCAA Men’s Basketball, March Madness! Yesterday, the annual Selection Sunday covered by CBS and ESPN revealed the 68 teams invited to compete in a single-game elimination tournament; for a chance to win a national championship. Here is a recap of the top seeds for this year’s tournament:

Gonzaga (West Region): The Gonzaga Bulldogs are unsurprisingly the #1 overall seed in this year’s tournament. According to ESPN, the Bulldogs (26-0) are only the fifth team since 1975-76 to enter the NCAA tournament undefeated.

This juggernaut of a team features four players who average double-figure scoring, led by Corey Krispert (19.2 PPG) and Drew Timme (18.7 PPG & 7.1 Rebounds). The entire team averages 92.1 points per game, a high mark for a collegiate squad. Gonzaga opens up as +200 favorites to win the tournament.

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Photo courtesy Kirthmon F. Dozier, Detroit Free Press

Michigan (East Region): The Michigan Wolverines have been a feel-good story this season with a 20-4 record and well-coached by the Michigan Fab-Five legend Juwan Howard. Despite losing in the Big-Ten semifinals to Ohio State, who would go on to lose to Illinois, the Wolverines were still able to capture a #1 seed in the tournament.

The team averages 76.3 points per game, led by the 7’1 Center Hunter Dickinson (14.2 PPG). One major roadblock is Michigan’s second-leading scorer Isaiah Livers (13.1 PPG) is out indefinitely with a stress fracture in his foot.

Illinois (Midwest Region): The Illinois Fighting Illini (23-6) were winners of the Big Ten conference for the first time since 2005, and its third title overall. According to ESPN, the Fighting Illini have six wins over AP top-10 teams this season, tied for the most in a season in Big Ten history.

This year’s squad, coached by Brad Underwood, averages 81.4 PPG and is led by Ayo Dosunmu (20.7 PPG) and Kofi Cockburn (17.6 PPG and 9.6 RPG). 

Baylor (South Region): The Baylor Bears had a year of firsts in 2021. The men’s team won the first Big 12 championship in program history, and are the first team in program history to be awarded a #1 seed in the NCAA tournament. This team, led by Jared Butler (17.1 PPG) and Macio Teague (16.2 PPG) will indeed be a tough out for any opponent. 

Click here for the entire March Madness tournament bracket.

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