Tag: villanova

2022 Final Four Preview and Predictions

The 2022 NCAA Tournament has produced perhaps the most decorated, blue bloodiest Final Four of all time. Let’s break it down and predict how things will go down this weekend in New Orleans.

Cover photo taken from Sports Illustrated.

We started with 68 teams in the world’s most famous bracket, each with their own hopes and dreams of cutting down the nets in New Orleans. 64 games later, only four teams remain with those dreams still alive. Duke, North Carolina, Villanova, and Kansas have reached the Bayou to compose arguably the single most anticipated Final Four in the long, decorated history of the NCAA Tournament.

It’s rare to see a Final Four with each team having such a rich, deep history. We are in rarified air with three bonafide blue bloods in Duke, UNC, and Kansas, and Villanova has been one of the premier programs of this century, winning 2 of the previous 4 tournaments. It was a wild ride for each of these squads to get to the end of the road. Let’s see how these teams have reached the Final Four.

How Duke Got Here

This being Mike Krzyzewski’s final NCAA Tournament has kept all the eyes on the Blue Devils from the moment they arrived at the First Round. After making light work of CSU Fullerton, they once again ran into the Michigan State Spartans. Sparty gave them a run, but that’s when Duke established a theme that would continue throughout the rest of this run: impeccable late-game execution. Their best players simply went to work in the clutch to help the Devils emerge victorious. This was on display in the Sweet 16 against Texas Tech, where Duke shot 71% in the second half and didn’t miss a shot in the final 7 minutes to escape with a victory in one of the more hard fought, back-and-forth games of this tournament. The Regional Final against Arkansas was simply domination, as the stars shined bright once again to help get Duke to their first Final Four since 2015, where they won it all, and Coach K’s 13th overall (most all time). Those stars include forward Paolo Banchero, guards A.J. Griffin and Jeremy Roach, and center Mark Williams, all of which have had incredible individual moments and are proving themselves as potential first round picks in the NBA. When this team is playing their best ball, you can only pray you can stop them. It truly feels like Coach K is destined to go out on top, and only he is only two wins away from doing just that.

How North Carolina Got Here

The Tar Heels may be an 8 seed, but they sure don’t feel like one. Part of that could be that they are UNC, one of the most decorated and historic programs in the sport. But, it could also be that they are playing like anything but an 8 seed in this tournament. After a subpar regular season and a blowout loss to Virginia Tech in the ACC Tournament, not many people gave the Heels a shot to do much in March. However, the formula was clear. The star-studded lineup had to play up to their potential, something that hadn’t been done much in the regular season. But, if they were able to play their best ball, they’d be damn near impossible to stop. That is just what happened in this tournament. After absolutely thrashing Marquette in the First Round, UNC knocked off the 1 seed in the East, the defending champion Baylor Bears, in an OT thriller to reach the Regionals. In the Sweet 16, they outlasted UCLA in a scintillating game that saw star guard Caleb Love take over in the second half. The last opponent standing between them and New Orleans was the Cinderella of all Cinderellas, the Saint Peter’s Peacocks, who they easily disposed of to reach their first Final Four since 2017, where the Heels cut down the nets. Love was a massive part of this run, but he’s not the only guy in Carolina blue making an impact. Fellow guard R.J. Davis has been an incredible complement in the backcourt, forward Brady Manek has been one of the premier scorers in this tournament, and forward Armando Bacot has been a machine, averaging 16.5 points and 15.8 rebounds per game in the tournament. The potential of this roster is finally being realized, and they are at their hottest at the perfect time. That has gotten them to New Orleans, and could potentially put them at the top of a ladder on Monday night.

How Villanova Got Here

Villanova has been the most successful college basketball program of the past 6 years. Without question. The Wildcats are 20-3 in the past six NCAA Tournaments, and this is their third trip to the Final Four in the past five tournaments (and their fourth in the last 13). They have won two of the last four national championships (2016 and 2018), and are more than capable of notching another. After a couple of “down” years, they are back to their standard, and it has been incredible to watch. Nova made light work of each of their first three opponents: Delaware, Ohio State, and Michigan. The Regional Final against Houston was the definition of a war, with both teams playing incredible defense and struggling mightily with shooting. In the end, Villanova made more shots, and that punched their ticket to New Orleans. Unfortunately, it came at a cost. Star forward Justin Moore tore his achilles in that game, and will obviously be out in the Final Four. It’s a massive loss, but that doesn’t mean this team is completely doomed. They are still one of the best teams in the country, led by guard Collin Gillespie, who has been one of the best players in the country all year long, and has continued that level of play in this tournament. Forward Jermaine Samuels has also been huge in this run, and he’ll need to step it up big time if Villanova is to advance to the title game. I think this team has what it takes, but they have a very steep mountain to climb with their opponent, who just so happens to be quite a familiar one.

How Kansas Got Here

The lone 1 seed in New Orleans is no stranger to Final Fours. The Jayhawks are here for the 16th time in their 50th tournament appearance. Going this far in 32% of tournaments you play in is absolutely staggering. This is Kansas’ first trip to the Final Four since 2018, where they lost to the same team they play tonight. But, this is a seemingly better team than that one, and this squad has a great chance to bring a title home to Lawrence for the first time in 14 years. It started with your run-of-the-mill destruction of a 16 seed against Texas Southern in the First Round. The Jayhawks were challenged a bit by Creighton in the Second Round, but toughed it out in the end. They then held off Providence in the Sweet 16, and used a volcanic eruption of a second half to get past Miami in the Regional Final to get to NOLA. Kansas has played like a true 1 seed, and have erased any and all doubt that may have lingered. Thanks to a star-studded lineup with guys like guards Ochai Agbaji, Remy Martin, Christian Braun and a frontcourt with David McCormack and Jalen Wilson, the Jayhawks look like one of the most unstoppable teams in basketball. They are primed to win another title, and I think they have what it takes to do just that.

Saturday night features two matchups that feel larger than life. It’s going to be quite the spectacle. It’s going to be amazing basketball. Let’s pick the 2022 Final Four.

Kansas over Villanova

Saturday, 6:09 PM EST, TBS

The last time both Kansas and Villanova made the Final Four was 2018, where they played each other. The Wildcats dominated that game, winning 95-79, and would go on to win the title two nights later. Now, they’re both here again. But things feel a bit different this time. As I said before, this is a better Kansas team than 2018, and it feels like the best one in a very long time. They have the talent and the experience from top to bottom, and they have executed their winning formula to perfection throughout this tournament. While Villanova is still as strong as ever, the injury to Justin Moore makes it nearly impossible to pick them in this game. If he was playing, then I very well could have picked the Wildcats in this game. He is one of the key cogs in their machine, and without him, I don’t know if they can beat a team as great as the Jayhawks are. Collin Gillespie and Jermaine Samuels will have to step up in a big way, and while I think they are both capable of putting up huge numbers, it will just be too much to overcome. This will be a close game for a while, but the depth and pure excellence of Kansas on both sides of the floor will put them over the top. Look for Ochai Agbaji to have a huge game en route to the Jayhawks’ first title game appearance since 2008.

Duke over North Carolina

Saturday, 8:49 PM EST, TBS

Duke and North Carolina make up arguably the greatest rivalry on Earth. The two schools have met 256 times over the last 102 years, creating history by giving us countless memories and fielding some of the greatest players of all time. On Saturday night in New Orleans, they will meet for the first time ever in the NCAA Tournament. At the Final Four. In Mike Krzyzewski’s final season. Not to mention that this is a rubber match after Duke dominated the first matchup in Chapel Hill on February 5th, then Carolina spoiled Coach K’s final game at Cameron Indoor stadium on March 5th. I know you guys have heard the storylines a billion times, but they’re so seismic that they must be repeated. To have a matchup like this in a spot like this just seems cosmic. It is divine intervention. It’s honestly overshadowing the fact that this is a phenomenal basketball game on paper. Both of the first two games were sizable wins for each team, so it only makes sense that this rubber match is a close game. Both of these teams have been playing their best basketball in this tournament, but one of them has to go home. And matchups like Mark Williams vs. Armando Bacot or Jeremy Roach vs. Caleb Love make this must-see TV, even if you disregard the two teams playing. I’d be better off leaving this pick to a coin flip, but I’m picking Duke for two reasons. The first of which has some merit, whereas the second really doesn’t. My first reason for picking the Devils is the fact that I think they are the more talented team (just barely), and that can put them over the top when the going gets tough, as it has all tournament long. I do love Carolina’s roster, and they are arguably even hotter than Duke is right now, but I think they can get a bit erratic in the clutch (see: the Baylor game), and it’s just a bit hard to put my faith in them for that reason. The second reason is just that it feels written in the stars that Coach K is going to end his career with winning his sixth national championship. Sometimes, you’ve got to throw your hands in the air and surrender to destiny, and I’ve done that with this Duke team. I’d be elated if I am proven wrong. Regardless, this is arguably the biggest game in the history of the Final Four, and I cannot wait to watch history unfold on Saturday night in New Orleans.

So, I think it’ll be Duke vs. Kansas for the National Championship on Monday night. In terms of picking that game, I’d probably roll with destiny and Duke, but we’ll cross that bridge when we get there. I can’t wait to watch this historic Final Four, and I hope you all enjoy it as much as I know I will.

All stats taken from ESPN.

2022 NCAA Tournament Bracket Breakdown: South Region

The South Region of the 2022 NCAA Tournament features all sorts of big names and an abundance of star power. Let’s break it down and preview how the South will play out.

Cover photo taken from The Athletic.

Welcome to the Madness. The NCAA Tournament is finally back in its full glory in 2022, and if you’re not more excited than ever, you’re just lying. Last year was certainly fun, but the tournament was a shell of its usual self, with virtually no fans and a bubble in Indianapolis from start till finish. Now, March Madness is back to full strength with a plethora of different locations, and fans filling the stands all across the country. This promises to be a glorious few weeks in college basketball. To preview the tournament, I’ll be breaking down the 2022 bracket region by region. This is the preview of the South: a region with an abundance of star power and my personal pick to cut down the nets in New Orleans.

Meet the 1 Seed: Arizona Wildcats

This year’s Arizona team is an incredible story. After the turmoil of the last few years with Sean Miller’s departure and an FBI investigation, former long-time Gonzaga assistant Tommy Lloyd took this program over and restored them to their usual glory in just one year. The Wildcats won the most games in college basketball with 31 and dominated the PAC-12 all season long, including a championship in the conference tournament en route to their first 1 seed since 2014. This is a deep, remarkably talented team led by guard Bennedict Mathurin, who is one of my favorite players to watch. Mathurin averages 17/6/3/1 on 46% shooting, and has quickly become one of college basketball’s premier guards and a potential NBA lottery pick. But it’s not just him that makes this team so special. Other key contributors include center Christian Koloko, the National Most Improved Player of the Year, forward Azuolas Tubelis, and guard Kerr Kriisa. Kriisa injured his ankle in the PAC-12 Tournament and could be limited during this tournament, which is something to watch. But, Zona seemed to be just fine without him in those games, and I think that can easily continue in the dance. This is a dominant team on both ends of the floor, playing picturesque offense and shutting down even the best of offenses. They are destined for a deep run and have a fantastic chance of reaching their first Final Four since 2001. It’s safe to say that Arizona basketball is back.

Meet the Sleeper: #7 Ohio State Buckeyes

Honorable Mentions: #5 Houston Cougars, #9 TCU Horned Frogs

In my eyes, there are only two possible outcomes for the Buckeyes in this tournament. They will either lose in the first round, or make a run to at least the second weekend. That has been their nature all season long. Ohio State has huge wins over teams like Duke, Seton Hall, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan State. But, they have also lost to vastly inferior competition, most recently teams like Maryland, Nebraska, and Penn State in the Big Ten Tournament. There’s no doubt that this team is as dangerous as any when they play their best basketball, but a combination of injuries and general inconsistency makes it so that we rarely see the Bucks at their best. With much of both still lingering, it’s going to be feast or famine in this tournament for Ohio State. If they feast, then this team is capable of getting all the way to at least the second weekend, and maybe even the Final Four. It just remains to be seen if they can live up to that potential.

Upset Waiting to Happen: #12 UAB over #5 Houston

Honorable Mentions: #11 Michigan over #6 Colorado State, #13 Chattanooga over #4 Illinois, #10 Loyola Chicago over #7 Ohio State

On paper, Houston is one of the best teams in the country. They have some of the best stats and metrics of any team in college basketball. The Cougars rank 2nd in BPI, 3rd in NET, and 4th in KenPom. This is seemingly just as good of a team as last year’s Final Four squad. But, there is a reason they are a 5 seed. The AAC was remarkably weak this season, and Houston feasted on vastly inferior competition all year long. They also struggled against fellow tournament teams, losing to Wisconsin, Alabama, and Memphis twice. There’s no doubt that Houston is an elite team at their best, but they are much more vulnerable than they might seem. Enter the Blazers of UAB. This is a ridiculously fun team that ran the table in the C-USA Tournament to reach the big dance, and I think they have what it takes to pull off the quintessential 12-5 upset. Led by Jordan “Jelly” Walker, a 20 PPG scorer, the Blazers play top-tier offense, and aren’t so bad on the other side of the ball either. If they can successfully speed things up on the floor, getting Houston off their game, and hit perimeter shots, then I really like UAB’s chance of kicking off a potential Cinderella run. It will be a tall task against one of the nation’s best defenses, but I’ve seen crazier things in March.

Best Potential Games: #1 Arizona vs. #4 Illinois, #1 Arizona vs. #2 Villanova

Honorable Mentions: #1 Arizona vs. #9 TCU, #2 Villanova vs. #3 Tennessee

Illinois hasn’t lived up to their potential this year, a trend that seems to have started in last season’s NCAA Tournament. However, they still have one of college basketball’s most talented lineups, especially up front with their star center, Kofi Cockburn. Going up against an equally-talented Arizona roster in the Sweet 16 would be appointment television, especially with the battle of the big men in Cockburn vs. Zona’s Christian Koloko. This would be a phenomenal game between two historic basketball programs: just what March is all about. I’d have to roll with the Wildcats simply due to the utter inconsistency that the Illini have displayed all season long vs. Arizona’s year-long dominance.

Here’s a question for you. When the Wildcats face off against the Wildcats, who emerges victorious. Probably the Wildcats, right? All jokes aside, Arizona-Villanova would be a spectacular game for anyone who loves basketball. The guard play on display would be something special, with Arizona’s Bennedict Mathurin facing off against Villanova’s Collin Gillespie. Other players like Kerr Kriisa of Arizona and Justin Moore of Villanova just add to the pageantry of this one. Again, I’d have to rock with Arizona to win this one. I truly believe they are the best team in the field.

My Pick for New Orleans: #1 Arizona

Honorable Mentions: #2 Villanova Wildcats, #3 Tennessee Volunteers

Arizona is not just my pick to win this region and make the Final Four. They are my pick to win the NCAA Tournament. They are the best basketball team I have seen this season. Gonzaga is close, but we see how that plays out every season. Bennedict Mathurin is ready to play his way into a household name, and Tommy Lloyd is ready to lead one of the most improbable title runs in history. I’ve got the Wildcats beating Tennessee in the Regional Final to get to New Orleans, where two more wins await them.

Full Round of 64 Picks:

#1 Arizona over #16 Wright State: Zona’s title run has to start somewhere.

#9 TCU over #8 Seton Hall: On their best day, the Pirates can beat some of the nation’s top teams. The problem? They don’t have many great days. TCU was a pest in the Big 12 all year long, and their size and athleticism will win them this game.

#12 UAB over #5 Houston: All of the metrics in the college basketball world absolutely adore the Cougars. Makes sense that a team full of seniors that just went to the Final Four gets so much love. For some reason, I just don’t see it. UAB is a super fun team led by guard Jordan “Jelly” Walker, that willed their way into the dance in last week’s C-USA tournament. Why not them?

#4 Illinois over #13 Chattanooga: The Mocs seem to be a trendy upset pick in this game, but I just don’t see it. Just imagine Kofi Cockburn going up against those guys, and your mind might change.

#6 Colorado State over #11 Michigan: The Rams have a budding star in David Roddy, one of college basketball’s best players. Stars usually tend to shine brightest in March. Moreover, the Wolverines should not have made the tournament. The fact that they got a bye is insulting. Luckily for us, their stay in the dance will be short and sweet. Let’s just hope Juwan Howard keeps his hands to himself.

#3 Tennessee over #14 Longwood: The SEC champion Vols are as hot as anyone in America right now, and are criminally under-seeded as a 3. Look for them to continue playing with a chip on their shoulder en route to a deep run.

#10 Loyola Chicago over #7 Ohio State: The Buckeyes are just so unlucky. Injuries have derailed them all year long, and they come into this tournament limping after a loss to Penn State in the Big Ten tournament. They have the star power to compete against anyone in this tournament, but with the way they stand, this pick just seems too plausible. The Ramblers love making noise in March, and I think that trend will continue on Friday afternoon.

#2 Villanova over #15 Delaware: This is Villanova’s best shot at a title since their last in 2018. This team is as deep and experienced as any, and that tends to work wonders in March. This will be the start of a potentially special run for the Wildcats.

All stats taken from ESPN.