I will go through each top 25 team and say if they are a contender or pretender

1. Kansas- Contender: They are definitely are contenders as they have depth, talent, a blend of youth and experience, and ability to close games. Mix that with a great coaching staff and you have a team with the capability of going to the final four.
2. Michigan state- Contender: This team is also very capable of making a run. In East Lansing, there is a saying, December, January, February, Izzo. He has always been great in march, but he has at his display his best shooting team ever with bryn Forbes and Denzel Valentine, and still has great big in Deyanta Davis and Matt Costello, Mr. Hustle.
3. Villanova – Contender…I guess? I really can’t get a hold of this team. They play great and have players like Kris Jenkins and Josh Hart. But when they have played big time competition, ( Virginia, Providence, Oklahoma, Xavier) they have lost. They also have bad history in the tourney with early exits. But this is a very good team and have to give them the benefit of the doubt that they could make a run.
4. Virginia- Contender: This team is clicking at the right time….Brogdon playing like a stud and Perrentes shooting lights out, them playing great defense as well, gives them a great shot at making a run.
5. Xavier: Pretender- I like this team I really do, They have depth like no other team in the country. Sumner, Davis, Macura, Farr, Reynolds, Bluett etc. But I don’t have the feeling that they have “the guy” to get them a bucket when they need one. Happened against Seton Hall and I believe it will happen in the tourney. Sweet 16 team in my opinion
6. Oklahoma: Pretender: This team does have the potential to be a final four. They have the best player in basketball in Buddy Hield, and they have great seniors in Jordan Woodard, Cousins, And Spangler. But their inconsistent shooting and the fact that they rely on the three ( 40% of points) makes me believe they could get upset.
7. North Carolina: Contender- They along side Michigan state and Kansas have the best and most talented teams in the country. They have brice johnson and marcus paige and that’s all they need to make a run. But they also have Jackson, Meeks, Britt, and Berry.
8. Oregon: Pretender- This team is a very good team. But these kind of teams without a player you can point to as ” a problem” will cause them trouble in the tourney. I simply don’t trust this team.
9. West Virginia: Pretender- This team relies on the forcing turnovers and against a team like Kentucky, who has three point guards, will be able to pick apart this team because West Virginia relies on their defense to generate offense….To rich for my blood.
10. Indiana: CONTENDER- This team is a final four team hands down. They have everything…shooters, a big man, better defense, and leadership. They have Yogi Ferrel who can facilitate the ball and shoot it and they have a number of shooters around him. Then they have Thomas Bryant  who can be a rim protector. Watch out for this team in march.

Rest of top 25….

11.Miami- Pretender

12. Utah- Contender

13.Purdue- Contender

14. Lousiville- Ineligible

15. Arizona- Pretender

16.Kentucky- Contender

17.Texas a&m: pretender

18. Maryland – Pretender

19. Duke- Contender

20. Iowa- Pretender

21. Iowa state – Contender

22. Baylor- Pretender

23. Texas – Pretender

24. California – Contender

25. SMU – Ineligible