You're getting this email because you have purchased a product from Ed Feng, founder of The Power Rank. This is an excerpt from the 2024 Bracket Advice.

Connecticut

Connecticut is the most complete team in college basketball.

Dan Hurley’s team dominated in winning the 2023 NCAA tournament. They might have seemed poised for a let down with the loss of three starters, and they started the season 6th in the preseason AP poll.

I liked the prospects for Connecticut this season as rising sophomores Donovan Clingan and Alex Karaban formed the foundation of another elite team. However, two other players have also stepped up.

Point guard Triston Newton transferred in from East Carolina and started for the championship team in 2023. However, he might have been considered the weak link on that team.

This season, Newton has emerged as the leader. Without any flash, he scores, distributes and rebounds the ball at a high level. His only weakness is his 31.8% three point percentage, although regression suggests this rate should improve moving forward.

Connecticut has also gotten an offensive spark from Cam Spencer, a 6’4” guard who has gone from Loyola Maryland to Rutgers to UConn over the past three seasons. While not an impressive athlete, Spencer has made 55.6% from two and 44.4% from three (although the latter is due for regression).

On offense, Connecticut ranks 1st, and they do everything well. At their best, they share the ball, as they have the 10th best assist per field goal made.

I guess you can pick holes in their 10th ranked defense. Connecticut does not force turnovers and tends to foul. However, it is rare for a team to excel at all four factors, even though Connecticut does on offense.

No team is untouchable, and Creighton torched Connecticut by taking over half their shots from three (an outlier against UConn) and making half of them. However, UConn will have the highest odds to win the 2024 NCAA tournament.

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