Reseeding 2022 NCAA Basketball Elite Eight (Recent Updates)

NCAA basketball: Our NCAA tournament brackets for 2022 are messed up. They’re all there. And what about the uncle who believes Saint Peter’s was in the Elite Eight?

For the ninth year in a row, he has lied. We’ve never seen his bracket in person. Your sister who predicted Miami’s first appearance in the Elite Eight? Sure. And, yes, every Duke supporter expected Coach K to make it to the Elite Eight in his final season. OK. Nothing makes sense at this time in the season with a field with only one high seed (Kansas) among the final eight.

You Will Know Reseeding 2022 NCAA Basketball Elite Eight Recent Updates

That brings us to the Elite Eight’s reseeding. What does that even signify at this point? So, we’re hoping it means we’re going to take a close look at the remaining teams and informing you where we think they stand right now.

However, every squad on this list is a good one that should be congratulated for making it thus far. And every team on this list has done something to make you believe a trip to New Orleans is a possibility.

Here’s where we believe they’re all at.

1. Kansas Jayhawks

No. 1 was the original seed.

No. 1 seed in the Elite Eight

Defeated No. 16 Texas Southern 83-56; defeated No. 9 Creighton 79-72; defeated No. 4 Providence 66-61 in the 2022 tournament.

Remy Martin scored 30 points or more four times for Arizona State in 2020-21. Kansas didn’t require any new players because Ochai Agbaji and David McCormack were returning from the previous season. Nonetheless, Martin’s addition via the transfer portal over the summer bolstered a roster that was already considered a national title contender.

Then, due to a chronic knee ailment, his season came to a halt. Martin never looked like the first-team all-Pac-12 player who had averaged 19.1 PPG in back-to-back seasons before coming to Lawrence, even when he was available for significant stints at the start of the season. As Kansas’ success continued, he struggled to find a place on a team with established players at every position on the court and dependable reserves.

However, this is the Remy Martin we expected to see back in November. This is the Remy Martin who has given Bill Self a good chance to win his second national championship. KU’s opponents have made just 39.8% of their shots inside the arc since the start of the Big 12 tournament. This team is being led by that defence. Martin has also been steady in the NCAA tournament, averaging 19.3 points per game while connecting on 64 percent of his shots inside the arc and 40 percent of his 3-point tries.

We questioned five months ago what Kansas’ ceiling was: “How good can Kansas be if Martin returns to his Pac-12 form?” We now know the solution.

Next up is a matchup with Miami (Sunday, 2:20 p.m. ET, CBS)

2. Houston Cougars

No. 5 was the original seed.

No. 1 seed in the Elite Eight

Defeated No. 12 UAB 82-68; defeated No. 4 Illinois 68-53; defeated No. 1 Arizona 72-60 in the 2022 tournament.

After leading Houston to the Elite Eight for the second year in a row, Kelvin Sampson is still pulling his shirt off and celebrating with his teammates. The run in 2022, on the other hand, is even more spectacular. The Cougars lost their top two scorers, Quentin Grimes and DeJon Jarreau, when they were eliminated from previous year’s Final Four.

Then, in December, Marcus Sasser, who had taken over as Houston’s No. 1 scorer from Grimes, suffered an injury that ended his season. Tramon Mark, who averaged 7.8 points per game previous season, also went down with an injury in December. And with that, Sampson had a squad that appeared to be in danger of missing out on the American Athletic Conference crown.

This gang, on the other hand, has been tenacious. It has won 12 of its past 13 games, 11 by a margin of 12 points or more. According to Barttorvik.com, the Cougars have made 55 percent of their shoots inside the arc since Feb. 17 and grabbed 38 percent of their failed shots. They’ve won all three NCAA tournament games by a cumulative score of 41 points.

The toughness around the rim has been provided by Fabian White Jr. and Josh Carlton. In his last five games, Kyler Edwards, a transfer from Texas Tech, has averaged 17.4 points per game and made 46 percent of his 3-point tries. Houston is more than just a fantastic narrative. Houston is a legitimate contender for the national title.

Next up: Villanova (Saturday, 6:09 p.m. ET, TBS)

3. Blue Devils of Duke

No. 2 was the original seed.

No. 1 seed in the Elite Eight

Defeated No. 15 CSU Fullerton 78-61; defeated No. 7 Michigan State 85-76; defeated No. 3 Texas Tech 78-73 in the 2022 tournament.

Even if those young players will soon become billionaires with NBA contracts, youth can be a challenge at this point in the season. When Duke fell to North Carolina in Mike Krzyzewski’s final game at Cameron Indoor Stadium, it appeared like the pressure was getting to a youthful Duke squad.

Perhaps the limelight was too much for them. Duke’s postseason hopes were dampened by the defeat. It served as a reminder, though, that most young teams have struggled to live up to the hype. The only programmes to win national championships in the one-and-done era (after 2005) had either Anthony Davis (Kentucky in 2012) or three first-round NBA draught picks (Duke in 2015).

On Thursday, though, we all saw the potential of a team full of youthful talents. Duke was locked in a tense battle with Texas Tech, which boasted the best defence in the country. There were 11 ties and 13 lead changes in this game. The side who made the most progress in the final ten minutes would win.

Duke was the name of the team. Late in the game, Paolo Banchero (24 points) scored a pair of clutch 3-pointers. Mark Williams (16 points, eight rebounds, three blocks) continued to play over the top of a Red Raiders team that was short in size. Down the stretch, Jeremy Roach ploughed into the paint for clutch plays.

AJ Griffin had been brave, going 3-for-7 from three shots. It served as a reminder that, sure, this Duke squad is inexperienced. The Blue Devils, on the other hand, will have the superior talent in this tournament when it comes down to the final plays. That’s why they’re still fighting and playing for a chance to participate in Saturday’s Final Four. That’s why Coach K has a chance to win his sixth and final national title.

Next up is a matchup with Arkansas (Saturday, 8:49 p.m. ET, TBS)

4. Villanova Wildcats

No. 2 was the original seed.

No. 1 seed in the Elite Eight

Defeated No. 15 Delaware 80-60; defeated No. 7 Ohio State 71-61; defeated No. 11 Michigan 63-55 in the 2022 tournament.

Collin Gillespie limped off the court against Creighton on March 3, after suffering a season-ending knee injury. It was one of the most painful images of 2020-21. The stillness in the building was noticeable, despite the fact that he had not yet been diagnosed with a torn MCL. Villanova fans were well aware of the situation.

Gillespie would eventually decide to rehab and return for a fifth season, taking advantage of the NCAA’s COVID rules, which allowed every player to play one more year in college. According to Barttorvik.com, the point guard has only committed turnovers on 13.5 percent of his possessions and has made 42 percent of his 3-point attempts in the Wildcats’ three tournament victories.

Steady point guards (see Ryan Arcidiacono and Jalen Brunson) were key components of Villanova’s national championship teams in 2015-16 and 2017-18. But there’s another thing the three teams have in common: their late-season dominance. In their final 12 games, the 2015-16 Wildcats went 11-1, with only three of those victories decided by single digits.

Only one of the team’s final 14 games was decided by single digits, as the 2017-18 squad won 13 of them. Is it this year? Villanova has won 13 of their previous 14 games. The Wildcats have played more close games than prior championship teams, but they are moving in the same direction.

Next up is a matchup with Houston (Saturday, 6:09 p.m. ET, TBS)

5. Arkansas Razorbacks

No. 4 was the original seed.

No. 2 in the Elite Eight.

Defeated No. 13 Vermont 75-71; defeated No. 12 New Mexico State 53-48; defeated No. 1 Gonzaga 74-68 in the 2022 tournament.

Eric Musselman was hired head coach of the Golden State Warriors twenty years ago. He was in his late 30s and had just landed the job of his dreams. He was sacked two years later after missing the playoffs for the second year in a row. After leading his Arkansas team to a win over Gonzaga, the No. 1 overall seed, Musselman discussed the arc of his plot on Thursday.

He told ESPN that winning in the Bay Area was even more special. But Arkansas isn’t the only team that has ruined fans’ chances of seeing Gonzaga and Duke compete in a heavyweight fight on Saturday. It’s a programme that keeps finding a way to win in close games. Its NCAA tournament games have all been decided by a margin of five points on average.

Although the postgame narrative has focused on Gonzaga’s failures, it has also downplayed the Razorbacks’ accomplishments: This will be their second appearance in the Elite Eight in a row, and their first since 1995.

Jaylin Williams, a 6-foot-10 NBA prospect, held his own against a team that included predicted top-three NBA lottery pick Chet Holmgren and likely All-American Drew Timme. Gonzaga’s guards couldn’t keep up with JD Notae’s speed. Too athletic were Au’Diese Toney, Trey Wade, and Stanley Umude. Nothing is impossible for the Razorbacks, who have only committed turnovers on 11.7 percent of their possessions since the NCAA tournament began.

Next up is a matchup against Duke (Saturday, 8:49 p.m. ET, TBS)

6. Tar Heels of North Carolina

No. 8 was the original seed.

No. 2 in the Elite Eight.

Defeated No. 9 Marquette 95-63; defeated No. 1 Baylor 93-86 (OT); defeated No. 4 UCLA 73-66 in the 2022 tournament.

At the start of the 2021-22 season, this North Carolina roster had a lot of moving parts. Hubert Davis, who spent nearly nine years as an assistant under Roy Williams at Chapel Hill, is still getting adjusted to his new role as head coach. Newcomers like Oklahoma transfer Brady Manek were attempting to blend in with the returning guys. For this team to hit its stride, everything had to fall into place.

“One of the things I enjoy about our team is that we can modify, pivot, and change in order to be better out there on the floor,” Davis said earlier this season. “However, I’m hoping that there will be a game where we don’t have to and we can play terrific the entire game.”

The Tar Heels had been the greatest team in America since March 5 — 21st in adjusted offensive efficiency, ninth in adjusted defensive efficiency — the night they beat Duke in Coach K’s final home game, according to Barttorvik.com — until they beat UCLA 73-66 in the Sweet 16. Davis had yearned for a sense of continuity, which the show had provided.

However, this is a bunch of players that have formed a camaraderie and are comfortable in their responsibilities. Caleb Love scored 27 of his 30 points against the Bruins in the second half. It was a foregone conclusion that North Carolina would continue to favour him as the season progressed. Love’s teammates, on the other hand, made room for him to shine.

Hard screens by Armando Bacot. The Tar Heels are bouncing back to get second chances. The distance between the lines. The objective was clear: put the hot-handed teammate to work. That’s an indication of a team that came together at the appropriate time.

Next up is a matchup with Saint Peter’s (Sunday, 5:05 p.m. ET, CBS)

7. Peacocks of Saint Peter

No. 15 was the original seed.

No. 2 in the Elite Eight.

Defeated No. 2 Kentucky 85-79 (OT); defeated No. 7 Murray State 70-60; defeated No. 3 Purdue 67-64 in the 2022 tournament.

If you read old press clippings about Shaheen Holloway from his time at Seton Hall, you’ll notice that he was much relied upon by his teammates. All eyes were on Holloway’s health as his team prepared to face Oklahoma State in the Sweet 16 in 2000, after he suffered an ankle injury in the round of 32.

At the time, a team trainer told the Washington Post, “We’ve tried everything we can.” “From two crutches to one yesterday to none today, he’s come a long way. It’ll be up to him and the doctor to decide.”

After beating 3-seed Purdue 67-64 on Friday, Holloway’s Saint Peter’s team became the first 15-seed in NCAA tournament history to reach the Elite Eight.

This Peacocks club has embraced the toughness and tenacity that made Holloway such an important member of previous Seton Hall teams. It’s one thing to make a slew of 3-pointers and beat a top team because you’re having a good day.

That, however, was not the case versus Purdue. That has not been the case throughout the competition. In the waning minutes of a competitive first-round game, the Peacocks outplayed Kentucky. They were able to outlast a Murray State club that hadn’t lost in over a month. Then they beat a Purdue team headed by predicted lottery pick Jaden Ivey and two of the league’s best big men, Zach Edey and Trevion Williams, on Friday.

They have a lot of players on their squad who aren’t ranked out of high school. However, they were aggressive and won at the free throw line (19-for-21) and through defensive pressure that wouldn’t let the Boilermakers have it easy in the final minutes. KC Ndefo had been called for a foul. It didn’t make a difference. Matthew Lee (11 assists, two turnovers through three NCAA tournament games) refused to allow the Boilermakers abandon their identity down the stretch. Saint Peter’s has now made history.

Next up is a matchup with North Carolina (Sunday, 5:05 p.m. ET, CBS)

8. Miami Hurricanes

No. 10 was the original seed.

No. 2 in the Elite Eight.

Defeated No. 7 USC 68-66; defeated No. 2 Auburn 79-61; defeated No. 11 Iowa State 70-56 in the 2022 tournament.

During the regular season, Miami had several chances to secure a higher seed on Selection Sunday. The Hurricanes had been involved in a few close games, including two one-point losses to Florida State.

A three-point loss against Virginia and a one-point loss to Virginia Tech were the results. All of these games were opportunities for the Hurricanes, who beat Duke and North Carolina, to add to a résumé that doesn’t tell the whole storey about their season. And in the NCAA tournament, that could be the difference. On paper, a team can appear to be better or worse than it is.

Miami has the talent to compete with the finest teams in the country. This group has been led by Kameron McGusty (27 points on Friday). Charlie Moore, a sixth-year star, is a dependable veteran presence. Sam Waardenburg, a 6-foot-10 centre for Miami, has made 42% of his 3-point shots this season.

And Miami has now beaten a decent Pac-12 club (USC), the SEC champion (Auburn), and an Iowa State squad that had pulled off one of the nation’s most remarkable comebacks after winning just two games the previous season. Miami’s Jim Larraaga has put it all together to lead the Hurricanes to their first participation in the Elite Eight in school history.

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