Five Teams to Look Out For at March Madness 2022

March Madness is about to begin – the best time to watch college hoops. But which teams could go all the way in 2022 and emulate last year’s winners Baylor? Read on to find out

March Madness brings out the best in college basketball

It is that most wonderful time of year again. No, not Christmas and the holidays, March Madness is about to begin. The best of the best of college hoops come together to battle it out to leave one remaining champion.

Fans across the country will be eagerly filling in their brackets and preparing their best March Madness bets. Baylor took the championship last year in what was an incredible tournament. But which teams should you be keeping a close eye on this year? Who can go all the way and win the NCAA Tournament? Read on to find out.

Baylor Bears

Baylor became the second consecutive first-time winner in 2021 as it rounded off a tournament of shocks and surprises to beat Gonzaga 86-70 in the National Championship game. Only seven teams have come back and won a second title straight away – so can Baylor become the eighth?

The Bears are one of the best teams in the country and could be good to be one of the four number one seeds. But repeating last year’s incredible triumph will be tough as they battle against other programs looking to take down the king. Baylor will be there towards the end of March Madness – but maybe not on the final day.

Gonzaga Bulldogs

You’ve got to feel for Gonzaga. It is twice in five years now that the Bulldogs have come up just short and lost to the eventual winner in the National Championship game. Gonzaga was outstanding last season, winning its first 31 games – it just couldn’t beat Baylor when it mattered.

The Bulldogs have been installed as the favorites to win in 2022 and could well go into the tournament as the number one overall seed for the second year running. Freshman Chet Holmgren has added another aspect to the Bulldogs’ dominance this year and could be the difference in the Final Four in New Orleans.

Duke Blue Devils

It was a huge shock last year when Duke missed out on the NCAA Tournament altogether – the first time the Blue Devils had not made an appearance since 1995. Repeating that just wasn’t an option this year after Coach K announced that this season would be his last.

But can Duke make sure that Mike Krzyzewski bows out at the very top of the college game? It was all looking good earlier this season as the Blue Devils blew away the opposition. But then came that double-digit loss to UNC. It was not the final home game that Coach K would have wanted – so now his players need to go all out to win the championship.

Who will make the game-winning shots this year?

Arizona Wildcats

Oregon State was the surprise team from the Pac-12 last year, winning the tournament and reaching the Elite Eight. But it is Arizona that most people will be the main hope from this conference in 2022. After missing out because of the self-imposed postseason ban, the Wildcats are hungry for glory.

Not many outside of the program really believed that Arizona would be one of the favorites this year but new coach Tommy Lloyd is in charge of a team that has excelled on both sides of the ball. He spent 20 years at March Madness perennial Gonzaga before taking on the Arizona role, so he should have a good idea about how to deal with the NCAA Tournament.

Kentucky Wildcats

Kentucky is regarded as one of the regulars of the NCAA Tournament but it has been a while since these Wildcats went and won it. That was back in 2012 when UK beat Kansas to take the title. John Calipari was the same coach in charge for that victory and Kentucky celebrated in New Orleans where this year’s Final Four will be held.

Kentucky is number three seed in the SEC Tournament and will be hoping for a good display there to see them into the excitement that is National Tournament.