Arizona is a popular pick to cut down the nets in Indianapolis. Everyone from a former U.S. President to Major League Baseball is on the side of Tommy Lloyd’s Wildcats to win the national championship.
Confidence—some might say overconfidence—in Arizona’s chances this March come with the territory of being one of the nation’s best teams.
Here’s one sampling: Of 28 college sports writers at The Athletic, 27 have Arizona advancing to the Final Four and 13 have the Wildcats winning the title.
Another: In an ESPN poll of 25 coaches and scouts, 13 have Arizona winning it all.
“There’s no softness to them,” one coach told ESPN. “There’s no quit in them. They just keep their heads down and keep playing. It’s like an old-school bully. When it’s over, they’ve just physically ripped you.”
The informed, the semi-informed and the uninformed all seem to be coalescing around Arizona.
Here are some notable people who have picked Arizona to win the NCAA Tournament.
Former President Barack Obama
Chicago Cubs star Pete Crow-Armstrong
Arizona Senator Mark Kelly
Stephen A. Smith, Scott Van Pelt, Michael Wilbon, Rece Davis, Seth Greenberg, Jay Williams, Hannah Storm and Kevin Negandhi are among ESPN personalities to pick Arizona.
On Yahoo Sports, 22% of users are picking Arizona to win the championship, the second-most behind Duke.
The picks are in. Now let the games begin.
