The Madness is officially here! Whether that Madness is college kids seeking their One Shining Moment to live on in eternal hardwood glory or the final month of the NBA's 2015-2016 campaign, there is only one team to help you accomplish squad goals!

The #WeaveToAchieve Crew, Will Strickland and Duane Watson of TSN 1050's #1On1 with Will & Duane, and special guest Tariq Sbiet, National Scout for North Pole Hoops player recruiting service, are here to soothe your Broken Bracket Blues and make sure you don't get beat off the dribble in this week's edition of #3MW!

The Raptors have held their last three opponents to under 95 points. Have they got their defence back on track?

Watson: It's looking that way, but the Milwaukee Bucks and Indiana Pacers average 99.4 & 101.8 points per game, respectively. The Boston Celtics average 105.4 points, but were without one of their best players in Jae Crowder, who is good for 14 points a game. Not taking anything away from the three wins, but my verdict is still out until I see them face a more potent team.

Sbiet: At this point in the season, it's about stamina‎ and focus for the home stretch. The Raps have shown at times that they can be a very good defensive team, but they have also shown weaknesses. The Raptors have one key component missing in DeMarre Carroll and until he is back in the mix, they ‎won't reach their potential on D.

Strickland: It's a good sign, but incomplete. Drawing on team and individual defensive character, identity, integrity and consistency will be paramount for Coach Casey's bunch, which had been a bottom 10 team in defensive efficiency over its last 10-15 prior to victories over conference foes Milwaukee, Indiana and Boston.

What is your initial impression of the first round of March Madness?

Watson: Satisfaction. You never want to see teams that have established themselves throughout the season as "ranked schools" go down, but the upsets are the beauty of the tournament. The dominant programs are few and far between now. The excitement of watching a small school come out of nowhere and advance is part of the reason we get so excited about March Madness.

Sbiet:  As usual, expect the unexpected. ‎Middle Tennessee taking down Michigan State‎? There goes my bracket! I had MSU reaching the Final Four. So much for that.

Strickland: The. Best. EVER! The one-and-done to the NBA player phenomenon at high visibility programs has created even greater opportunities for talented, junior and senior-laden teams, of which the great majority of fans may have never heard. They can now flourish in the Madness without being labelled a Cinderella, seedings be damned! With no real dominant team establishing itself throughout the regular season, it would stand to reason that the parity in men's unpaid professional basketball would create the most exciting and unpredictable March Madness in history. And as prohibitive favourite powerhouse Michigan State fell to Middle Tennessee State, let the first round serve notice to fans, casual and fully engaged alike, that the idea of intercollegiate competition can still hold all of the magic of the imagination amid the mythology that the NCAA's corporate interests don't supersede the joy of the game for kids.

Which player has stood out most so far during March Madness?

Watson: I like what I have seen out of Domantas Sabonis from Gonzaga. He dropped 21 points, 16 rebounds and four assists in their first round upset over Seton Hall. But aside from the numbers, he plays with passion and fire. Sabonis has a little something from his daddy.

Sbiet: I really enjoyed watching Syracuse. They have a stud freshman in Malachi Richardson who I think has NBA in his future. As a 6'6 shooting guard with a bag of tricks offensively and toughness, I will be keeping tabs on him throughout the tournament.  Richardson finished with 17 in Syracuse win over Dayton.

Strickland: With apologies to Yale's Makai Mason, Stephen F. Austin's Thomas Walkup and Arkansas-Little Rock's Josh Hagins, any man named "Giddy" who can shoot, defend and play with the passion and joy of Middle Tennessee State's 6'2", 220 lb. Nathanial Potts will most certainly be must-see TV for any fan rooting for the underdog!

Will changes to the NBA free agent moratorium help Toronto to re-sign DeMar DeRozan or any other high visibility name in the offseason?

Watson: I don't particularly think so. I am sure DeMar knows where he wants to be next year and Masai knows what he will need to do to make it happen. However, I guess the tighter timeline helps with locking up more wishy-washy players.

Sbiet: No, I don't think changes to the free agent moratorium will make a major difference. In the case of DeRozan, he has built an emotional connection with the city and franchise. This puts Toronto in a good position to re-sign him, but doesn't guarantee anything. As for other big name free agents, it will ultimately come down to their appeal with the Raptors and what is tabled outside of dollars as the contract offers will be heavy from all teams with regards to the stars or emerging stars.

Strickland: Won't make a difference. Masai Ujiri should lock the two-time All-Star DeRozan in early, rewarding him handsomely for his years of service to the Raptors and the promise of an even brighter future while continuing to bolster the roster in his own indomitably deft way.

With both the Warriors and Spurs going 9-1 in their last 10 games and currently undefeated at home, is there any doubt they will square up in the Western Conference Finals?

Watson: Foregone conclusion. The better question (albeit tougher) is who would win? Both of these teams have taken care of business at home and on the road. It's a shame they couldn't meet in the NBA Finals, as they both deserve to be there after their remarkable seasons.

Sbiet: I would be shocked if it wasn't Golden State and San Antonio in the Western Conference Finals. Both have the pedigree and have proven throughout this season they are the top dogs in the West in their own signature way: Golden State in the bright lights and San Antonio under the radar.

Strickland: The die is cast. The course is set. The rest is rhetorical... or but a mere formality. The Thunder and the Clippers vehemently disagree. Stay tuned...

Tariq Sbiet (@Tariq_NPH) can be found extolling the virtues of Orlando Magic backup PF Andrew Nicholson as a perennial NBA All-Star while Duane Watson (@DuaneWatson) and Will Strickland (@wallstrizzle1) keep carrying the torch to shine light on the news, views and truths you choose on the NBA. NCAA and Canadian basketball every Saturday, 3pm et on #1On1 with Will & Duane, only on TSN 1050 and TSN.ca.