With 4 of the 10 highest ever KenPom rated teams (~30 years of data) participating in this years Final Four, and an overall lack of 'Cinderella's' (none) .. one has to wonder if this is due to NIL and Transfer Portal making the rich even richer
I personally can't remember a March Madness with so few competitive games as this year. Many 20-30+ blowouts in the first two rounds, and then many 10+ point comfortable victories in the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight rounds
Evidence to the contrary is that Colorado State and SDSU did look the part as 12 seeds to make runs but fell just short. Arkansas as a 10 seed was on the doorstep of an Elite Eight before blowing a big lead. Additionally, 'rich get richer' schools like Kansas and UNC had down seasons in the NIL / Portal era. Texas, the richest Athletics dept in the land, did not have a great season ...
Maybe this year is just a one off and we can expect more Madness next year?
