Sport

The Ultimate Guide to the 2024 College Basketball Crown: Meet All 16 Contenders!

2025-03-17

Author: Jessica Wong

The much-anticipated 16-team bracket for the inaugural College Basketball Crown has officially been revealed! This exciting postseason tournament is set to take place from March 31 to April 6 in the vibrant city of Las Vegas, with all games being broadcasted on FOX and FS1. Teams from seven prestigious conferences, including the Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, West Coast Conference (WCC), Mountain West, Atlantic 10 (A-10), and American Athletic Conference (AAC), will compete for the championship.

Here’s a look at the teams participating in this electrifying single-elimination tournament:
1. Washington State Cougars

- Conference: West Coast Conference - Record: 19-14 (8-10) - Overview: With a balanced offensive strategy, the Cougars boast five players averaging double figures. Junior guard Nate Calmese leads the charge, contributing 15.2 points per game, while forward LeJuan Watts dominates the boards with 6.7 rebounds per game. Despite a tough schedule with a 1-7 record against Quad 1 opponents, they shined with a notable victory over Boise State.

2. Georgetown Hoyas

- Conference: Big East - Record: 17-15 (8-12) - Overview: After losing freshman star Thomas Sorber due to injury, senior Micah Peavy and junior Jayden Epps have stepped up, with Peavy scoring 17.2 points per game. The Hoyas earned early-season wins against NCAA Tournament teams Creighton and Xavier, making them a formidable foe despite their challenges.

3. Boise State Broncos

- Conference: Mountain West - Record: 24-10 (14-6) - Overview: Considered a bubble team, the Broncos excelled with senior forward Tyson Degenhart leading the team with an impressive 17.9 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. Their strong wins over notable programs like Clemson and San Diego State highlight their potential.

4. George Washington Revolutionaries

- Conference: A-10 - Record: 21-12 (9-9) - Overview: The Revolutionaries ended their season strong, winning three straight games before exiting the A-10 Tournament. Led by junior Rafael Castro, who boasts nearly a double-double average, they have proven they can compete with the best.

5. Oregon State Beavers

- Conference: West Coast Conference - Record: 20-12 (10-8) - Overview: In their WCC debut, the Beavers feature a mix of veteran talent in Michael Rataj and Demarco Minor. Rataj leads in multiple categories, and their victories over Gonzaga showcase their ability to perform under pressure.

6. Villanova Wildcats

- Conference: Big East - Record: 19-14 (11-9) - Overview: The Wildcats thrive on their high-scoring dynamic, led by the nation's top scorer, Eric Dixon (23 points per game). They had a stellar run this season, knocking off teams like UConn and Xavier.

7. USC Trojans

- Conference: Big Ten - Record: 16-17 (7-13) - Overview: Despite a tough season, the Trojans achieved significant upsets over top-15 teams. Their guard trio is essential to their scoring and playmaking, making them a team to watch.

8. Arizona State Sun Devils

- Conference: Big 12 - Record: 13-19 (4-16) - Overview: Alston Mason has emerged as a scoring leader, actively contributing to the Sun Devils' offensive efforts following injuries to key players.

9. Cincinnati Bearcats

- Conference: Big 12 - Record: 18-15 (7-13) - Overview: With Jizzle James as a standout player, the Bearcats are looking to capitalize on their strong start, which included key wins over rivals.

10. DePaul Blue Demons

- Conference: Big East - Record: 14-19 (4-16) - Overview: Under coach Chris Holtmann, the Blue Demons have faced ups and downs, but CJ Gunn's performances on both ends of the court have kept them competitive.

11. Butler Bulldogs

- Conference: Big East - Record: 14-19 (6-14) - Overview: Butler's balanced scoring from Telfort, Brooks, and McCaffery gives them a chance to make an upset in the tournament.

12. Nebraska Cornhuskers

- Conference: Big Ten - Record: 17-14 (7-13) - Overview: Featuring Brice Williams, who scored a stunning 43 points in a double-OT loss, Nebraska is definitely a contender with multiple quality victories.

13. UCF Knights

- Conference: Big 12 - Record: 17-16 (7-13) - Overview: Keyshawn Hall's impressive dual-threat capability helps the Knights stand out in the highly competitive tournament.

14. Colorado Buffaloes

- Conference: Big 12 - Record: 14-20 (3-17) - Overview: After a shocking victory over reigning champions UConn, the Buffaloes are looking to build off that extraordinary performance.

15. Utah Utes

- Conference: Big 12 - Record: 16-16 (8-12) - Overview: Showcasing their strength with wins against fellow tournament participants, Gabe Madsen is a key asset with his scoring prowess.

16. Tulane Green Wave

- Conference: AAC - Record: 19-14 (12-6) - Overview: Coach Ron Hunter's squad finished strong, with Rowan Brumbaugh leading the way in scoring and playmaking.

Full Schedule for the First Round of the College Basketball Crown:
March 31, 2024:

- Utah vs. Butler at 3 p.m. ET - George Washington vs. Boise State at 5:30 p.m. ET - Nebraska vs. Arizona State at 8:30 p.m. ET - Georgetown vs. Washington State at 11 p.m. ET

April 1, 2024:

- DePaul vs. Cincinnati at 3 p.m. ET - Oregon State vs. UCF at 5:30 p.m. ET - Colorado vs. Villanova at 8:30 p.m. ET - Tulane vs. USC at 11 p.m. ET

April 2, 2024 - Second Round:

- Winners of Utah/Butler vs. George Washington/Boise State at 7 p.m. ET - Winners of Nebraska/Arizona State vs. Georgetown/Washington State at 9:30 p.m. ET

April 3, 2024 - Second Round:

- Winners of DePaul/Cincinnati vs. Oregon State/UCF at 7 p.m. ET - Winners of Colorado/Villanova vs. Tulane/USC at 9:30 p.m. ET

April 5, 2024 - Semifinals:

- 1:30 p.m. ET and 4 p.m. ET at T-Mobile Arena

April 6, 2024 - Final:

- The champions from each bracket will face off at 5:30 p.m. ET at T-Mobile Arena.

Make sure to catch every moment of the College Basketball Crown as these 16 teams battle for supremacy in a series of thrilling matchups! Stay tuned for what promises to be an unforgettable week of college basketball action!