After a tumultuous March tournament that saw the elimination of teams like North Carolina, Duke, Kentucky, and other notable heavyweights, the men’s Final Four teams are set.
On Saturday night, Purdue will take on NC State, and the formidable UConn Huskies will face Alabama. The storylines surrounding each of these teams should be interesting for any basketball fan.
Purdue: The Boilermakers have made a historic run this season, reaching the Final Four for the first time since 1980. Led by 7’4’’ center Zach Edey, Purdue has carved its way through March, defeating all but one of its tournament opponents by double-digit margins.
Edey, who has declared for the NBA draft, will look to finish his college career with a national title. If he does so, Purdue will be the first Big 10 team since 2000 to win an NCAA championship in men’s basketball.
NC State: Cue the theme song: Wolfpack forward DJ Burns is the Greatest American Hero. Once critiqued for his unconventional body type, Burns has lived up to his last name, scorching opponents on his way to an ACC Championship and, he hopes, a national title.
Though NC State’s path through March was relatively easy, they knocked off Duke in the Elite 8 to solidify their status as a worthy contender. They may be the underdog in this race, but no one can say that they have no chance.
UConn: Connecticut, basketball is thy name. The Huskies have been dominant throughout the tournament, beating March opponents by an average margin of 27.75 points.
Capable center Donovan Clingan has a field goal percentage that has exceeded 65 percent in three of his four tournament games, and he has proved to be almost unguardable. Plus, Klingan isn’t alone; the Huskies easily sport the strongest roster left, and have embarrassed formidable teams like North Carolina, St. John’s, and Marquette during the regular season. They are heavily favored to win it all, and for good cause.
Alabama: In their first Final Four appearance ever, the Crimson Tide hopes to shock the basketball world.
Known universally for its football prowess, the University of Alabama has seen its hoops team bolstered through the transfer portal: Aaron Estrada, from Hofstra; Mark Sears, from Ohio; Grant Nelson, from North Dakota State; and Latrell Wrightsell Jr., from Cal State Fullerton.
Their first and second rounds were cakewalks, but Bama cemented itself as a serious team in an 89-87 statement win over North Carolina. Still, it’s hard to believe that the Crimson Tide is merely “happy to be here.” A true X-factor, they will likely take advantage of being underestimated as they seek to win it all.
In short, the men’s Final Four should be a thriller for college hoops fans. After the semifinal games wrap up on Saturday, the winners will face each other in the National Championship game on Monday night.
