Atlanta Hawks: 2019 NCAA Tournament Viewing Guide for Hawks Fans

Virginia

As we all know, the Virginia Cavaliers were the #1 overall seed last year and unceremoniously lost to the 16 seed UMBC Retrievers. While nothing can shake off that ignominy, perhaps a run to the Final Four would help ease the pain of that hurtful loss. However, the Wahoos returned De’Andre Hunter to the fold, who is easily the team’s best player and one of the best defenders in the country. With a seasoned core of player and Hunter, the Cavs might be able to make a run this year behind the strong shooting and playmaking of Kyle Guy and Ty Jerome.

Tennessee

The Tennessee Volunteers could’ve easily been a 1 seed if they had defeated Auburn in the SEC conference final. Instead, they laid an egg and sit on the 2-line. However, this is a deep, talented team led by two future draft picks in Grant Williams and Admiral Schofield (two SDS favorites). While Williams might be the better prospect, Schofield seems to be the clubhouse leader and both player can carry their team to a big win if the need arises.

Iowa State

Last but not least, the Iowa State Cyclones defeated Kansas in the Big 12 conference championship on the back of three NBA prospects: Talen Horton-Tucker, Lindell Wigginton and Marial Shayok. Shayok was a transfer from Virginia, as he yearned for a larger role on offense. He got it at Iowa State, and his impactful play in the conference tournament means this team, which is Top 10 in adjusted offensive efficiency according to KenPom, will get a chance to shine in the NCAA Tournament – and might have a deep run if the bracket breaks right.

So there you have it, Hawks fans. There will be an absolute cavalcade of storylines, games and teams to watch in the 2019 NCAA Tournament, so set your DVRs and get your streaming services in order. Let the madness commence!