Elite Eight Predictions - Who's in the Final Four?
The Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament will start Saturday and the winners of the Sweet Sixteen are set to face off! Let's take a look at the Elite Eight games and see who will come on top and make it to the Final Four!
South Region: #1 Kansas vs. #2 Villanova
This game is the best Elite Eight game with two extremely talented teams facing off in Louisville. Kansas had a very impressive performance against #5 Maryland with the Jayhawks winning by 16. Kansas is beating their opponent during the NCAA Tournament by 18 points on average and scoring 85.6PPG during the tournament. Kansas has proven to be lethal on the offensive side, which will be a good matchup against Villanova's strong defense led by F Daniel Ochefu. Villanova has not necessarily had a breakout player this tournament, but has many players who are capable of scoring in double digits. All starters on Villanova's roster average 10 points or more per game. Villanova's weapons could pose a problem for Kansas. This matchup was definitely the hardest to decide.
Prediction: #1 Kansas 79, #2 Villanova 74
West Region: #1 Oregon vs. #2 Oklahoma
Both teams in this matchup have had one player who has been outstanding this tournament. For Oregon, that would be Dillion Brooks, the Ducks guard has been on fire these last few weeks. For Oklahoma, that would be Naismith Player of the Year candidate Buddy Hield, who is a dominant guard/forward that can do tons of damage on offense. Expect Brooks and Hield to be the two leading scorers in this game. Elgin Cook and Tyler Dorsey have also had phenomenal tournament games thus far for Oregon, and are expected to put up big numbers against Oklahoma. Oklahoma's strength is their offense that averages 80.4PPG. However, Oregon averages north of 7 steals per game and averages 5.9 blocks per game, 4th in the nation. Oklahoma will have to have one of their best offensive games against Oregon if they want to advance. Can they handle the Oregon D?
Prediction: #1 Oregon 67, #2 Oklahoma 70
East Region: #1 UNC vs. #6 Notre Dame
This game marks the third face-off between the Tar Heels and the Fighting Irish. The season series was split between them, Notre Dame winning the first game 80-76 and UNC winning the second battle by a whopping 31 points, 78-47. Notre Dame has looked impressive thus far, but can't seem to win by a comfortable margin. A 7 point victory over #11 Michigan, 1 point win over #14 Stephen F. Austin, and a 5 point win against #7 Wisconsin is not very convincing. However, Demetrius Jackson, VJ Beachem and Zach Auguste have played extremely well in the tournament, and that momentum should carry over to this game. UNC is arguably the best team in the nation. The Tar Heels are 11th in the nation in points per game and have scored more than 80 points each game in the tournament. Notre Dame has not seen a team like UNC yet in the tournament, so it should be a breeze for the Tar Heels. No Cinderella here.
Prediction: #1 UNC 82, #6 Notre Dame 69
Midwest Region: #1 Virginia vs. #10 Syracuse
Should Syracuse even be in the tournament? Well, here they are in the Elite Eight. The Orange have had a very easy road, though. Syracuse has defeated #7 Dayton, #15 Middle Tennessee State and #11 Gonzaga. They did beat Gonzaga and Dayton who were two teams with a lot of momentum built. Syracuse has multiple deadly shooters in Michael Gbinije, Trevor Cooney and Malachi Richardson. Those three are the reason Syracuse is in this game. As for Virginia, they are a very talented team led by senior guard Malcolm Brogdon. Anthony Gill has done a lot for the Cavaliers being their second highest scorer, behind Brogdon, and the most active player on the boards averaging upwards of 6 rebounds a game. #1 Virginia does have a good chance to blow out #10 Syracuse, but don't be too sure about it. That game could be a 20 point victory for #1 Virginia, or a game that goes into overtime. Very unpredictable matchup. Virginia looks to earn their third Final Four appearance, but Syracuse does have a legit chance to make it to Houston.
Prediction: #1 Virginia 70, #10 Syracuse 64
Final Four:
#1 Kansas vs. #2 Oklahoma
#1 UNC vs. #1 Virginia
I do hate having three one seeds in the Final Four, but the match ups are unbalanced in the one seeds favor. Out of the four, UNC is likely the only team to dominate their Elite Eight opponent in #6 Notre Dame. Very good chance we see a #1 vs. #1 championship game, which is a disappointment. We'll see how the Elite Eight games turn out, with #6 Notre Dame and #10 Syracuse trying to prove my theory wrong.
South Region: #1 Kansas vs. #2 Villanova
This game is the best Elite Eight game with two extremely talented teams facing off in Louisville. Kansas had a very impressive performance against #5 Maryland with the Jayhawks winning by 16. Kansas is beating their opponent during the NCAA Tournament by 18 points on average and scoring 85.6PPG during the tournament. Kansas has proven to be lethal on the offensive side, which will be a good matchup against Villanova's strong defense led by F Daniel Ochefu. Villanova has not necessarily had a breakout player this tournament, but has many players who are capable of scoring in double digits. All starters on Villanova's roster average 10 points or more per game. Villanova's weapons could pose a problem for Kansas. This matchup was definitely the hardest to decide.
Prediction: #1 Kansas 79, #2 Villanova 74
West Region: #1 Oregon vs. #2 Oklahoma
Both teams in this matchup have had one player who has been outstanding this tournament. For Oregon, that would be Dillion Brooks, the Ducks guard has been on fire these last few weeks. For Oklahoma, that would be Naismith Player of the Year candidate Buddy Hield, who is a dominant guard/forward that can do tons of damage on offense. Expect Brooks and Hield to be the two leading scorers in this game. Elgin Cook and Tyler Dorsey have also had phenomenal tournament games thus far for Oregon, and are expected to put up big numbers against Oklahoma. Oklahoma's strength is their offense that averages 80.4PPG. However, Oregon averages north of 7 steals per game and averages 5.9 blocks per game, 4th in the nation. Oklahoma will have to have one of their best offensive games against Oregon if they want to advance. Can they handle the Oregon D?
Prediction: #1 Oregon 67, #2 Oklahoma 70
East Region: #1 UNC vs. #6 Notre Dame
This game marks the third face-off between the Tar Heels and the Fighting Irish. The season series was split between them, Notre Dame winning the first game 80-76 and UNC winning the second battle by a whopping 31 points, 78-47. Notre Dame has looked impressive thus far, but can't seem to win by a comfortable margin. A 7 point victory over #11 Michigan, 1 point win over #14 Stephen F. Austin, and a 5 point win against #7 Wisconsin is not very convincing. However, Demetrius Jackson, VJ Beachem and Zach Auguste have played extremely well in the tournament, and that momentum should carry over to this game. UNC is arguably the best team in the nation. The Tar Heels are 11th in the nation in points per game and have scored more than 80 points each game in the tournament. Notre Dame has not seen a team like UNC yet in the tournament, so it should be a breeze for the Tar Heels. No Cinderella here.
Prediction: #1 UNC 82, #6 Notre Dame 69
Midwest Region: #1 Virginia vs. #10 Syracuse
Should Syracuse even be in the tournament? Well, here they are in the Elite Eight. The Orange have had a very easy road, though. Syracuse has defeated #7 Dayton, #15 Middle Tennessee State and #11 Gonzaga. They did beat Gonzaga and Dayton who were two teams with a lot of momentum built. Syracuse has multiple deadly shooters in Michael Gbinije, Trevor Cooney and Malachi Richardson. Those three are the reason Syracuse is in this game. As for Virginia, they are a very talented team led by senior guard Malcolm Brogdon. Anthony Gill has done a lot for the Cavaliers being their second highest scorer, behind Brogdon, and the most active player on the boards averaging upwards of 6 rebounds a game. #1 Virginia does have a good chance to blow out #10 Syracuse, but don't be too sure about it. That game could be a 20 point victory for #1 Virginia, or a game that goes into overtime. Very unpredictable matchup. Virginia looks to earn their third Final Four appearance, but Syracuse does have a legit chance to make it to Houston.
Prediction: #1 Virginia 70, #10 Syracuse 64
Final Four:
#1 Kansas vs. #2 Oklahoma
#1 UNC vs. #1 Virginia
I do hate having three one seeds in the Final Four, but the match ups are unbalanced in the one seeds favor. Out of the four, UNC is likely the only team to dominate their Elite Eight opponent in #6 Notre Dame. Very good chance we see a #1 vs. #1 championship game, which is a disappointment. We'll see how the Elite Eight games turn out, with #6 Notre Dame and #10 Syracuse trying to prove my theory wrong.