The time is here, and the field is set. March Madness has arrived and it’s time to fill out your brackets, but before you do that let’s give you a cheat sheet to the NCAA tournament.

East Region teams to watch…

#1 UConn – No surprise here this has been the most dominant team in college basketball since winning it all last season and you can go even further back than just the natty. Boasting the nation’s best offense and a stifling defense, UConn looks to repeat this season as national champions.

#3 Illinois – The Big Ten champs are here to stay. This is one of the most Potent offenses in the nation led by Terrance Shannon Jr. at over 20 PPG. I can see this team making it as far as the elite 8 in this region.

#2 Iowa State – Iowa State gets after it defensively; they can turn you over in a heartbeat and give you fits all game with their perimeter defense. Led by Tamin Lipsey and Keshon Gilbert, Iowa State can make a deep tourney run.

#4 Auburn – This team is elite on both sides of the ball, but defense is their calling card. They stifled most opponents in the SEC this season, the best at holding teams to the lowest FG% in the arc and a top 15 3pt defense, led by Jhoni Brohme this Auburn has final four potential written all over them.

#7 Washington State – This Washington State team is very good and disciplined. Boasting a top 30 defense, a team that beat Arizona twice this season, can stifle teams on that side of the floor. Isaac Jones and Myles Rice lead this team offensively.

East Region players to watch…

Terrance Shannon Jr. – Illinois: 23.0 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 2.1 APG

Jhoni Brohme – Auburn: 16.2 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 2.1 APG

Tristan Newton – Uconn: 15.2 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 6.0 APG

Boo Buie – Northwestern: 19.2 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 5.1 APG

Tucker Devries – Drake: 21.8 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 3.6 APG

West Region teams to watch…

#1 North Carolina – The Tar Heels, next to UConn, have a legitimate shot to make it to the final four. R.J. Davis and Armando Bacot are a long line of players to grace that UNC uniform and represent it well. Both with over 2,000 career points during their UNC run, they look to lead this team to a national championship this season.

#2 Arizona – Led by UNC Transfer Caleb Love and big man Oumar Ballo, Arizona has a well-balanced attack with all five starters averaging 9.8 ppg or more. This team has the ingredients to make a deep tournament run.

#4 Alabama – Coach Nate Oats has another great team in Tuscaloosa this year. Led by Mark Sears averaging 21.1 PPG while shooting 43.1% from three, this Alabama has one of the nation’s best offenses. If they get it going early, watch out.

#11 New Mexico – New Mexico is my top Cinderella team of the tournament. Coming off a conference championship in a tough Mountain West, New Mexico is primed to go on a tournament run. With one of the best offenses in the nation led by Jaelen House, This New Mexico team can keep up with anyone in this bracket.

#7 Dayton – Dayton is one of the best Three-point shooting teams in the nation. Led by DaRon Holmes at 20.4 PPG, Dayton is a team to be reckoned with in the west region.

West Region players to watch…

R.J. Davis – North Carolina: 21.4 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 3.5 APG

Mark Sears – Alabama: 21.1 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 4.1 APG

Caleb Love – Arizona: 18.1 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 3.4 APG

Tyon Grant-Foster – GCU: 19.8 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 1.7 APG

Josh Hubbard – Mississippi State: 17.1 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 1.7 APG

Midwest Region teams to watch…

#1 Purdue – for Purdue to make a long run in the tourney they need to play like they’ve been playing all season, through Zach Edey. This team shoots the three very well and they get to the line at will. They need to remain aggressive, and everything will fall into place. Braden Smith is one the leaders at the guard position, it is essential he plays well in this tournament.

#2 Tennessee – Dalton Knecht is not only one of the premier shooters in college, but his overall game is highly underrated, he is a scoring machine with multiple games over 30 points this season. He and Zakai Zegler lead a potent offense while Jonas Aidoo anchors the defense of this Volunteers squad. Tennessee has a great chance of going to the final four this season.

#3 Creighton – This is one of my favorite teams of the tournament. They are fearless on both sides of the ball and possess great balance and coaching. Trey Alexander, Ryan Kalkbrenner, and Baylor Schierman form a potent trio. Creighton has the ingredients to make a final four and possibly the National Championship this season.

#11 Oregon – This Oregon Ducks team is peaking at the right moment. Winning the Pac 12 championship was just the start. N’Faly Dante and Jermaine Couisnard lead Dana Altman’s ducks into the tournament.

#8 Utah State – Utah State is a very tough, hard-nosed basketball team that plays one of the best half-court games offensively in college basketball. They don’t shoot a lot of 3-pointers but when they do, they are timely. In the paint they boast one of the best low post threats in college basketball with Great Osobor (18.0 PPG & 9.2 RPG). If Utah State can dominate the paint and get to the line like they have been all season I can see them getting to the sweet 16.

Midwest Region players to watch…

Zach Edey – Purdue: 24.4 PPG, 11.7 RPG, 2.1 APG

Dalton Knecht – Tennessee: 21.1 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 1.8 APG

Baylor Schierman – Creighton: 18.4 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 4.0 APG

Max Abmas – Texas: 17.1 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 4.3 APG

Great Osobar – Utah State: 18.0 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 2.9 APG

South Region teams to watch…

#1 Houston – Houston is one of the best rebounding and defensive teams in the nation. They’re tough, gritty, and play with an edge. Led by one of the nations top point guards in Jamal Shead, This Houston team is looking to make their way to Glendale, Arizona when its all said and done.

#2 Marquette – In a region filled with great guard play, Tyler Kolek should be at the top of that list. Averaging 15.0 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 7.6 APG, Kolek is one of the premier point guards in the nation that will be playing at the next level. He leads a very aggressive Marquette team that can attack in various ways.

#11 NC State – Just like Oregon in the Midwest Region, NC State is hitting their stride at the right time. There is something about a hot team that I just love come tournament time. Led by Arizona State Transfer D.J. Horne, along with DJ Burns and Casey Morsell, these senior leaders look to lead the Wolfpack to their first tournament win since 2015.

#3 Kentucky – Another favorite of mine, I love this Kentucky team. They are young but uber talented with five-star talent across the board led by Reed Shephard and Rob Dillingham. This Kentucky team can run circles around anyone in the tournament. Although defense is not their calling card, this Kentucky team will make you get in a track meet with them. Senior leader Antonio Reaves is the glue that keeps everything together as their leading scorer at 20.0 PPG.

#5 Wisconsin – This Wisconsin team is veteran ladened and has the experience to get to the sweet 16. St. Johns Transfer A.J. Storr has been their go to guy when they need a bucket and can carry the load offensively when needed. If they can defend during key stretches in the tournament I like their chances.

South Region players to watch…

Rob Dillingham – Kentucky: 15.4 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 3.9 APG

Tyler Kolek – Marquette: 15.0 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 7.6 APG

Cody Williams – Colorado: 12.0 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 1.6 APG

Kesei Tomanaga – Nebraska: 14.9 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 1.4 APG

AJ Storr – Wisconsin: 16.9 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 0.9 APG

Cinderella Teams Of the Tournament…

#11 Duquesne – The champions of the Atlantic 10 come into the tournament winning 8 straight games. They have a disruptive defense and offensively are led by Dae Dae Grant, who averages 16.7 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 2.5 APG.

#12 Grand Canyon University – GCU has made the tournament the last 3 out of 4 seasons and ranks in the top 65 nationally in both offensive and defensive efficiency. Led by one of the west region players to watch Tyson Grant-Foster, GCU could bust the brackets this season.

#11 New Mexico – I believe the Mountain West will be represented well this season. This is one of my teams to watch. They will be a Cinderella story even though they play like they are a powerhouse. New Mexico will certainly make headlines this tournament.

#12 James Madison – With 31 wins this season, James Madison is a team to be reckoned with. They have multiple 13 game win streaks this season, they love to push the pace and get out in transition, defensively their perimeter defense is top notch holding opponents to 29% shooting from behind the arc.

#12 McNeese State – The McNeese Cowboys are one of the best teams in the nation at scoring off turnovers. They get after it defensively and are tenacious on the perimeter. Offensively, 4 out of their 5 starters shoot over 40% from three. Led by Shahada Wells, 17.8 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 4.8 APG, don’t be surprised if these Cowboys have a sweet 16 run.

Diaper Dandies of the tournament…

Stephon Castle – UConn: 10.8 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 2.9 APG

Reed Shephard, Rob Dillingham, Aaron Bradshaw, Justin Edwards, and D.J Wagner – Kentucky

Josh Hubbard – Mississippi State: 17.1 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 1.7 APG

Johnny Furphy – Kansas: 9.0 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 1.0 APG

Yves Missi – Baylor: 11.0 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 0.4 APG

Ja’Kobe Walter – Baylor: 14.2 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 1.5 APG

Jared McCain – Duke: 13.4 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 1.8 APG

Elmarko Jackson – Kansas: 4.2 PPG, 1.4 RPG, 1.7 APG

Kwame Evans – Oregon: 7.5 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 1.1 APG

Cody Williams – Colorado: 12.0 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 1.6 APG

Elliot Cadeau – North Carolina: 7.6 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 4.2 APG