Tournament primed to top itself again

The NCAA Tournament somehow seems to be getting better every year, almost as if each bracket is extending from the previous one.

Last year was one of the maddest of Marches, starting with MarylandBaltimore County becoming the first No. 16 seed to beat a 1 — poor Virginia — to Loyola-Chicago taking Sister Jean all the way to the Final Four.

Surely it can’t get any better, right? Don’t bet against it.

To get you ready for what’s sure to be another memorable March — well, after the first two First Four games — we’ve got a rundown of some things to look for:

Top teams

DUKE >> No. 1 Overall seed is knocking down its 3s, everyone else could be playing for second. VIRGINIA >> Still plays great d, has a guy named guy who’s a star and redemption on its mind after last year’s early flameout. NORTH CAROLINA >> Ol’ roy has the type of team that could win another national title. GONZAGA >> The zags may have more talent than the national title-game team of two years ago. They also have killian tillie back. MICHIGAN STATE >> Sparty won the difficult big ten tournament and march is izzo time.

Star players

ZION WILLIAMSON, DUKE >> More powerful than a locomotive, able to leap taller defenders with a single bound. MARKUS HOWARD, MARQUETTE >> Like points? He’s got a lot of ‘em. Had 53 in one game this season, 40 in one half of another. RUI HACHIMURA, GONZAGA >> Watched the 2017 national title game from the bench. Could be cutting down the nets this year. JA MORANT, MURRAY STATE >> Ya, Ja is going to dunk on someone no matter how long the racers are in the bracket. Book it. GRANT WILLIAMS, TENNESSEE: >> Was the sec player of the year in 2018, expanded his game this season. JARRETT CULVER, TEXAS TECH >> A projected top10 nba pick, he carries the offense for the defenseminded red raiders.

CHUCK BURTON — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Duke’s Zion Williamson goes up to dunk against Florida State during the first half of the championship game of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament in Charlotte, N.C., on March 16.