March Madness: 3 Sweet 16 outcomes that favor Bulls in 2022 NBA Draft

The March Madness Sweet sixteen tips off Thursday night, and Chicago Bulls scouts and fans alike should be watching.

The first week of March Madness did not disappoint in the slightest (aside from the millions of busted brackets). Controversial calls, Cinderellas with 70s beards, and chaotic play gave fans everything they been waiting for … after just two rounds.

With that, the NBA Draft is less than three months away, and the lottery is being formed as we speak in the NCAA Tournament. Each team has guys who are playing to win it all and boost their draft stock.

The Chicago Bulls currently have the 27th pick in the NBA Draft (if the season were to end today), but the first-round pick owed to them from the Portland Trail Blazers will likely have to wait another year since it’s going to be protected in 2022.

Anyway, the Bulls need to look for a perimeter defender or an interior threat to back up — or even replace — Nikola Vucevic.

So what do the Bulls need to happen in the Sweet Sixteen for things to fall in their favor? We’ve pinpointed a few needed outcome for Chicago fans.

3. UCLA vs North Carolina Goes Down as a Classic

Two potential Bulls prospect targets are facing off in the Sweet 16’s UCLA-UNC matchup. North Carolina’s Rechon “Leaky” Black and UCLA’s Jules Bernard are players that can instantly boost the Bulls’ perimeter defense.

Leaky is the Swiss army knife that every team needs. As a defensive stopper, his length and lateral quickness bothers guards on the perimeter, while his quick hands leave bigs useless in mismatches. Additionally, Black shoots 36% from three, 48% from the field, and 83% from the free-throw line. With NBA development and veteran guidance, those numbers will only get better.

Bernard is a better 3-point shooter who possesses the same intangibles. He runs the UCLA offense whenever their point guard is out the game and has anchored a top-15 defense two years in a row. He would be the perfect complement to the Bulls’ stars and the current role players.

While Bernard is closer to being ready than Black, both should be priorities for the Bulls. With each NCAA athlete getting an extra year of eligibility due to COVID-19, both are academic seniors who can decide to play an extra year. That decision could hurt the Bulls.

If both were to have great games, though, their stock would be considered high. A classic game, similar to that of the UCLA-Gonzaga’s matchup in last year’s Final Four would seal Black and Bernard entering the draft. The Bulls grabbing one, preferably Bernard, would give them the defensive strength they desperately need without compromising their offense.