RADIO
Mike Marteny's 2023 NCAA Second Change Tournament Challenge entry on ESPN. Make your picks for a chance to win a share of $20,000 or Amazon gift cards.
Did Kentucky lay waste to your brackets? How about the Auburn team that was loved by the NET rankings? Maybe the BYU team that the metrics loved? I missed all of the Final Four teams from last season from the second chance bracket. There haven't been as many crazy upsets this year with all of the top eight seeds in the final 16 for the first time since 2005. I feel better about my chances this year.
Here's our shot at redemption. The bozos at CBS pulled the round-by-round game, but ESPN is offering a second chance bracket starting today. All you have to do is be the winner picking the next 16 games for a shot at $50,000. It's completely free and won't cost you anything but pride. I had 10 of the 16 right in my regular brackets, but I'm taking a shot at the extra cash ESPN is dangling out there. Why not? We have nothing to lose!
In this article, I will be providing you with my second chance 2024 NCAA Tournament bracket. Be sure to also check out the rest of our NCAA Tournament articles and analysis including previews, predictions, sleepers, busts, and guides on how to fill out your brackets. Good luck, RotoBallers!
West Region
(1) North Carolina vs. (4) Alabama
Michigan State hung with the Heels for a while, just like Grand Canyon did against Alabama. Don't laugh. Grand Canyon might be better than Michigan State this year. Carolina isn't afraid to get out there and run with the Tide and I really hate this matchup for Bama in the frontcourt. Carolina is like the Florida team that gave Alabama hell with better guard play. Pick: North Carolina
(2) Arizona vs. (6) Clemson
Whenever Arizona survives until the second weekend, they're a dangerous team. It doesn't happen very often. Clemson survived a furious push by Baylor to get here. Its lack of killer instinct could hurt it against Arizona. Clemson will hang around, but we're finally going to get the matchup everyone wants. Pick: Arizona
If North Carolina ends up playing Arizona in the Elite Eight it will most likely come down to either Caleb Love or RJ Davis taking the last shot for their respective team. It will be fascinating to say the least!
— Steve Hiegel (@SteveHiegel) March 18, 2024
Carolina basically told Caleb Love that he should transfer. We all want to see this matchup, and if we do, Love is going to have the game of his life. I had Alabama out of this bracket the first time around. Now that Arizona is still in, I have to go with the wronged to exact revenge.
Regional Champion: Arizona
South Region
(1) Houston vs. (4) Duke
The incredible toughness story of J'Wan Roberts continues. Starts the second half against Texas A&M despite reinjurying right knee. What Roberts has done to keeping playing for Kelvin Sampson's Houston team is incredible. pic.twitter.com/eYe0jieIoD
— Chris Baldwin (@ChrisYBaldwin) March 25, 2024
This has the makings of a marquee matchup, but it won't play out like one. Houston is way too physical for Duke on the perimeter. With J'Wan Roberts back on the interior for Houston, they could dominate this game, and likely will. Pick: Houston
(2) Marquette vs. (11) North Carolina State
The only ACC team that bowed out early was the one that didn't belong in the tournament in the first place (Virginia). The automatic bid and all three others are still in the Sweet 16, but there is a good chance none make the Elite Eight. However, if I were to pick one to do it, it would be the Pack. Their guards have been really good for the last two weeks or so and the interior can give Marquette problems. If Marquette gets sloppy (they did in both of their other games), they're in trouble. Pick: North Carolina State
My original bracket has Houston and I'm sticking to it. North Carolina State is a tougher matchup for the Cougars, but Houston's guards are too good. Marquette also has good guards, but DJ Horne can still get hot enough to beat them. Regardless, this is Houston's region no matter who they face.
Regional Champion: Houston
East Region
(1) Connecticut vs. (5) San Diego State
This is a rematch of last year's title game. A few things have changed. Adama Sanogo isn't with UConn. Keshad Johnson is with Arizona. Jaedon LeDee and Tristen Newton are now stars. The result will be the same, though, and likely about as "close" as last year's game was. Pick: Connecticut
(2) Iowa State vs. (3) Illinois
Wow, Terrence Shannon Jr. looked good in Omaha. Unfortunately for him, you could make a team of the five best defensive players in the Big Ten and still not get a team defense as tenacious as Iowa State. They are that good. They are that team. The Cyclones sometimes struggle to score, but Illinois will here as well. Pick: Iowa State
I have Iowa State in the Final Four and I'm sticking to it. The matchup with UConn is not a great one. That's a game the Cyclones will lose unless they play better than they did in Omaha. I have the Cyclones still, but I don't feel as good about it as I did a week ago. That said, Iowa State played a team in Washington State that was better than any of the teams the other three teams in this region faced.
Regional Champion: Iowa State
Midwest Region
(1) Purdue vs. (5) Gonzaga
The officials weren't as soft on Zach Edey as Big Ten officials were, but the big man dealt with it. Of course, it's easy when you are almost a foot taller than anyone in an opposing uniform. Gonzaga will look small next to him as well, but Gonzaga's guards won't let Purdue run this game from the outside. I do have questions about whether they are good enough to shut down the interior, but they may not need to. They smacked a Kansas team that is still pretty good, and Edey is just a taller version of Hunter Dickinson. Pick: Gonzaga
(2) Tennessee vs. (3) Creighton
The Dana Altman Bowl was everything we could have hoped for. It also showed that Creighton could be in trouble. That said, it was N'Faly Dante that caused problems for the Jays. Jonas Aidoo is not as accomplished offensively as Dante. He can neutralize Ryan Kalkbrenner, but Creighton has so many shooters from the outside that this will be a really tough game for the Vols. Pick: Creighton
My original bracket had Creighton going to their first-ever Final Four, and I'm sticking to it.
Regional Champion: Creighton
Final Four Prediction
(2) Airzona vs. (2) Iowa State
We're about to find out if defense really does win championships. The size of Oumar Ballo will be a problem for the Cyclones, but they have some bodies on the inside in Tre King and Hason Ward that can keep him in check. This defense will frustrate Love into chucking up bad shots. Pick: Iowa State
(1) Houston vs. (3) Creighton
Houston has some bangers inside and great guard play, but the length of Creighton could be a problem for Houston. Even though Creighton is big, they aren't a great defensive team. Houston shot 51.5% in the win over A&M. That's something that past Houston teams couldn't do. Creighton stays close, but the lack of defense will end this run. Pick: Houston
This would leave a championship game that no one wants. Well...almost no one. Me? I'm all for it! The first meeting between these two teams was an epic defensive battle in Ames. Houston beat the Cyclones handily in Houston. Iowa State destroyed them in the Big 12 championship game by 28 points. Houston remembers that...and I still think Kelvin Sampson gets his first title.
Champion: Houston
