By Greg Frank
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It’s no secret - it pays to have players and coaches that have been through the gauntlet that is the NCAA Tournament. Because of this, we've decided to take a look at each program’s overall "experience." Our parameters for defining experience includes having upperclassmen as 'rotational players,' making at least one of the previous two NCAA Tournaments, and head coach’s track record of tournament berths. For this article, we’ve defined a rotational player as someone who sees at least 10 minutes per game.
#1 Gonzaga Bulldogs
Number of juniors and seniors in rotation: Four
Recent Tournament History: Made the second weekend in each of the last two tournaments.
Coach Background: Every college basketball fan knows how great of a job Mark Few has done the last two decades in making the Gonzaga Bulldogs the premier mid-major basketball program in the country. He got to the title game in 2017, and this now looks like his best chance to bring a championship to Spokane.
What it means moving forward: This Bulldogs squad is the #1 overall seed for a reason. They’ve got a seasoned veteran in Corey Kispert leading the way, an uber-talented freshman in Jalen Suggs and the right mix of experienced role players with a coach that’s been running the show for over 20 years. It seems like Gonzaga has all the ingredients needed to cut down the nets in Indianapolis, Indiana, come April 5th.
Futures Odds (via DraftKings Sportsbook): To make the final four (+1500); To win the title (+4000)
Sweet 16 Odds: Gonzaga (-13.5, -1115 ML) vs. Creighton; O/U 158.5
How To Watch: Sunday, 2:10 p.m. EST on CBS (@ Hinkle Fieldhouse)
#5 Creighton Bluejays
Number of juniors and seniors in rotation: Six
Recent Tournament History: Did not qualify in 2019. Lost in first round in 2018.
Coach Background: Greg McDermott is in his 10th season at the helm for the Creighton Bluejays, but he’s just 5-8 overall in 13 tournament games and this is his first time through to the second weekend.
What it means moving forward: The Bluejays' entire starting lineup is comprised of upperclassmen. That should help them in their regional semifinal against the top-seeded Gonzaga Bulldogs - and for the rest of the tournament as well, if they manage to pull the big upset. Creighton is currently +13.5 for Sunday.
Futures Odds (via DraftKings Sportsbook): To make the final four (+1500); To win the title (+4000)
Sweet 16 Odds: Creighton (+13.5, +700 ML) vs. Gonzaga; O/U 158.5
How To Watch: Sunday, 2:10 p.m. EST on CBS (@ Hinkle Fieldhouse)
#6 USC Trojans
Number of juniors and seniors in rotation: Five
Recent Tournament History: This is the first trip to the Big Dance for the Trojans since 2017.
Coach Background: Head coach Andy Enfield burst onto the national scene in 2013 while taking Florida Gulf Coast University to the Sweet 16 as a #15 seed. He accepted the USC job after that historic run and now, in his eighth season with the Trojans, has made his first Sweet 16 appearance with the program.
What it means moving forward: There’s more experience on the roster than I’d expect with the Trojans, especially given the fact that the younger Mobley brothers get a lot of the attention. On one hand, there may be a happy-to-be-here element for USC, given it is Enfield’s first time in the Sweet 16 with the program and none of the kids on the roster had even made the tournament before this year. However, it’s hard not to think the Trojans are hungry for more after their beatdown of Kansas in the Round of 32.
Futures Odds (via DraftKings Sportsbook): To make the final four (+300); To win the title (+2500)
Sweet 16 Odds: USC (-2, -136 ML) vs. Oregon; O/U 138.5
How To Watch: Sunday, 9:45 p.m. EST on TBS (@ Bankers Life Fieldhouse)
#7 Oregon Ducks
Number of juniors and seniors in rotation: Six
Recent Tournament History: Lost in regional semifinal in 2019. Did not qualify in 2018.
Coach Background: When we start talking about the best coaches in the country, we should start talking about Dana Altman more. He’s been to the NCAA Tournament plenty and is above .500 lifetime in the Big Dance at 17-14 in his time at Kansas State, Creighton and Oregon. He got to his first Final Four in 2017, and I’ll be curious if his name picks up traction in the coming weeks in connection to the Indiana job.
What it means moving forward: This is the most misleading “experienced” team in the field. Out of the six upperclassmen that see regular minutes for the Ducks, only Will Richardson joined the program out of high school. The other five players all transferred to Oregon either last season or this season. In a year when continuity was going to be paramount, Oregon lacked it and still won the Pac 12 regular season title. This is already one of Dana Altman’s best seasons at the school, and it will officially be his best if the Ducks advance to the Final Four. Oregon is a short +2 dog in its rematch with Pac-12 rival USC on Sunday.
Futures Odds (via DraftKings Sportsbook): To make the final four (+600); To win the title (+3300)
Sweet 16 Odds: Oregon (+2, +115 ML) vs. USC; O/U 138.5
How To Watch: Sunday, 9:45 p.m. EST on TBS (@ Bankers Life Fieldhouse)