Breaking Down the NCAA Tournament No. 5 Seeds: Strengths, Weaknesses & Key Players
The NCAA Tournament selection committee had a tough call when ranking the No. 5 seeds this year. Teams like Michigan, which won the Big Ten Tournament yet still landed as a 5-seed, Clemson, Memphis, and Oregon all have the potential to make deep runs. However, they’ll have to navigate the infamous 5-12 first-round matchups, which are notorious for upsets. Here’s an early look at each No. 5 seed, their strengths, weaknesses, and the key players to watch.
Clemson (27-6)
Strengths: Offensive firepower, efficient shooting
Weaknesses: Free throw struggles, limited depth
Top Player to Watch: Chase Hunter, Sr. G
NCAA Tournament Outlook: Elite Eight potential
- Clemson has quietly been one of the strongest teams in the latter half of the season. Their size and scoring ability make them a tough opponent, but free-throw inconsistencies could be costly.
- First Round Opponent: Texas
- Final Top 68 Rank: 17 | KenPom Rank: 18 | Region: Midwest
Memphis (29-5)
Strengths: Drawing fouls, three-point shooting
Weaknesses: Turnovers, foul trouble
Top Player to Watch: PJ Haggerty, Soph. G
NCAA Tournament Outlook: Sweet 16 potential
- Memphis is an explosive, high-scoring team that thrives on pace but struggles with turnovers. If they can control possession, they’re dangerous.
- First Round Opponent: Drake
- Final Top 68 Rank: 29 | KenPom Rank: 52 | Region: West
Michigan (24-10)
Strengths: Massive size, rebounding dominance
Weaknesses: Lack of defensive pressure, turnovers
Top Player to Watch: Vladislav Golden, Sr. F
NCAA Tournament Outlook: Elite Eight potential
- With two seven-footers, Michigan has the size to overpower teams. However, their offense can be inconsistent, and defensive lapses could be a problem.
- First Round Opponent: UC San Diego
- Final Top 68 Rank: 15 | KenPom Rank: 26 | Region: South
Oregon (24-9)
Strengths: Free throw efficiency, perimeter defense
Weaknesses: Inconsistent offensive rebounding, streaky play
Top Player to Watch: Nathan Battle, Sr. C
NCAA Tournament Outlook: Final Four sleeper
- Oregon has the tools to make a deep run, boasting size, strong coaching, and versatility. If they find consistency, they could be a surprise Final Four contender.
- First Round Opponent: Liberty
- Final Top 68 Rank: 13 | KenPom Rank: 31 | Region: East
Each of these No. 5 seeds brings something unique to the table. While they face challenging paths ahead, don’t be surprised if one of them makes a deep run in March Madness. Stay tuned as the tournament unfolds!
