North Carolina Central Eagles: 19-15, 9-7 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
Head coach: Levelle Moton (9th season)
Players to watch: Raasean Davis (15.0 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 66.7 FG%); Pablo Rivas (11.8 PPG, 6.9 RPG); Jordan Perkins (8.4 PPG, 5.4 APG)
Season recap: North Carolina Central had a roller-coaster season before getting hot at the right time and returning to the NCAA tournament for a second consecutive year. The Eagles finished sixth in the MEAC before making an improbable run to the tournament championship, knocking off top-seeded Hampton in the championship game.
North Carolina Central grades out as one of the worst teams in the country according to statistician Ken Pomeroy, but none of that matters now as the NCAA tournament approaches. The Eagles are carried offensively by the post duo of Raasean Davis and Pablo Rivas, both of whom are able to score extremely efficiently in the paint.
Defense has been a problem for North Carolina Central, as they often struggle to consistently stop offenses who can knock down outside shots. This could prove trouble for the Eagles as they are likely to be matched up against a high seed who could possesses multiple weapons from long range.
How they make a run: Davis and Rivas continue their stellar play and get some support from their backcourt and the defense tightens the screws allowing the team to pull a monumental first-round upset.
How they falter: The post duo looks overmatched against major conference opposition and the defensive struggles worsen as North Carolina Central falls in a blowout loss in their first game.
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