2017 Men's NCAA Tournament favorites

Duke was almost everyone's favorite to win the national championship coming into the year with a strong roster returning and an incredible recruiting class led by Harry Giles and Jayson Tatum. Injuries (both on the court and to coach Mike Krzyzewski) and distractions have made this a somewhat disappointing season, but the team is getting hot at the right time after winning the ACC Tournament.

North Carolina hopes to finish the job this year after battling Villanova in the NCAA Tournament final last year. Top scorer Justin Jackson now leads the team after scoring more than 18 points per game during the year. The Tar Heels are the No. 1 seed in the South Region.

The Jayhawks fell to TCU early in the Big 12 Tournament, but keep in mind they played without young star Josh Jackson. He is back for the tournament, alongside Wooden Award candidate Frank Mason III. The Jayhawks won the Big 12 regular-season title and went 28-4 for the season. They enter the tournament as the No. 1 seed in the Midwest Region.

It shouldn't be shocking to anyone that the Wildcats are led by three freshmen, Malik Monk, De'Aaron Fox and Edrice Adebayo. The upside on this squad is immense, as usual, and John Calipari has certainly had his fair share of success in the tournament.

The defending national champs return many key players from last year's championship team like Josh Hart, Kris Jenkins and Jalen Brunson. They shot the lights out during the NCAA Tournament last year and have the ability to do that again as one of the best shooting teams in the country this year. They have a tough East Region that includes Duke and Baylor.

Head coach Sean Miller is still trying to make his first Final Four and is often the answer to the question, "Who is the best coach in college basketball without a Final Four appearance?" This year's squad is battle-tested after facing UCLA and Oregon in the Pac-12 and got a boost late in the year with the return of Allonzo Trier from suspension. Freshman Lauri Markkanen could be the most versatile big man in the country.

The Zags didn't lose their first game of the year until late when they faced BYU just before the WCC Tournament. They rebounded to cruise through their conference tournament and finished the season at 32-1. Despite their mid-major conference, the Bulldogs have as much talent as just about any team in the field. Head coach Mark Few is looking to lead his team to its first Final Four in school history.

The flashy Bruins return to the tournament this year after failing to make it last season. Make no mistake, this is a team led by freshmen Lonzo Ball and T.J. Leaf. The Bruins are also one of the top shooting teams in the nation, leading the country in offensive efficiency. UCLA sits as the No. 3 seed in the South Region.

Louisville returns to the tournament after its one-year ban and has a strong mix of younger players and veterans. As usual, Rick Pitino's squad is one of the best defensive teams in the country, with plenty of size to spare.

The Ducks were often the forgotten team in a three-horse race in the Pac-12 this season, but they're very capable of making a run. Led by star player Dillon Brooks, the Ducks have a balanced squad with several three-point shooting options, but they'll have to overcome the lose forward Chris Boucher, who tore ACL last week.

Florida stood neck-and-neck with Kentucky this year in the SEC, with several effective three-point shooters and one of the country's top defenses. The Gators don't get the benefit of the doubt like they did in years past when Billy Donovan was head coach, as current coach Mike White appears in his first NCAA Tournament in the lead role.

Purdue led the Big Ten in a relatively weak season for the conference, but that shouldn't overshadow the team's accomplishments. Sophomore Caleb Swanigan is one of the top players in the country, averaging nearly 19 points per game and 13 rebounds, and should continue to be a difficult matchup in the tournament. Purdue starts as a No. 4 seed vs. Vermont.

The Seminoles finished tied for second place in the ACC regular season, arguably the toughest conference in America. Star Dwayne Bacon leads the team as the No. 3 seed in the West Region.

SMU no longer has Larry Brown leading the charge, but it does have many of his recruits and Duke transfer Semi Ojeleye. The Mustangs were one of the top three-point shooting teams in the country throughout the season, so watch out if they get hot.

Head coach Bob Huggins has a reputation for aggressive teams, and this year's Mountaineers fit that label. They've been one of the top defensive teams in the nation this year led by elite defensive guard Jevon Carter. They could give teams fits throughout the tournament and face Bucknell in the first round.

This isn't Tony Bennett's best team, but it's not far off. After making a run to the Elite Eight last season, Virginia has remained one of the country's top defensive teams with a very experienced group led by London Perrantes, plus freshman sharpshooter Kyle Guy.

Baylor has a great team, but head coach Scott Drew's track record in the tournament is mixed. The Bears are also in a very difficult East Region with Villanova and Duke.

Butler has made its share of tournament runs in recent seasons, and it'll likely have to beat North Carolina in the South Region to do so again. The Bulldogs are led by top scorer Kelan Martin.

The Cyclones, led by star Monte Morris, sit as the No. 5 seed in the Midwest Region. They have Big 12 conference foe Kansas in the same region.

The Wolverines aren't getting much respect despite presenting one of the country's top offenses and winning the Big Ten Tournament. They face another offensive juggernaut in Oklahoma State in the first round of the tournament.