Jeffery Walker
March madness has been extreme this year. My bracket was busted in the first round. Another disappointing year for the Big Ten in the tournament was a letdown. The Final Four is approaching with some great matchups, so here are my picks.
Semi-Final #1: #2 Villanova vs. #1 Kansas
Villanova versus Kansas is an exciting matchup. Villanova plays great defense and shoots very well from three and does not miss free throws and is led by guard Collin Gillespie. Kansas plays good defense and has a good all-around offensive attack led by guard Ochai Agbaji. This is going to be a gritty defensive game and coaching is going to be the deciding factor in this game. Villanova did lose guard Justin Moore to injury, which is going to hurt them, but Jay Wright will find a way to get this team back to the national championship.
Prediction- Villanova
Semi-Final #2: #8 North Carolina vs. #2 Duke
Duke versus North Carolina is going to be a tremendous game. This Duke team is playing very well right now and they are led by freshman phenom Paolo Banchero who is playing well. On the other side, North Carolina is anchored by their junior big man Armando Bacot who is also playing well. This will be a fun game and I predict a back-and-forth game, but Duke will win the battle and continue coach K’s last season to the national championship and avenge their loss from North Carolina beating them in coach K’s final home game at Duke.
Prediction- Duke
Final: #2 Duke vs. #2 Villanova
The championship game will be a good game, but Duke will be too much to handle for Villanova. Duke will dominate the paint in this game and will throw multiple defenders at Collin Gillespie. With Duke playing to send coach K out with a national championship in the final game of his career before he heads to retirement.
Prediction- Duke
Brandon Wirth
According to March Madness’ statistics, only 0.09% of all brackets filled out correctly picked all four teams still playing next weekend. This is surprising considering all four teams represent a large portion of the considered “blue bloods” of college basketball. All in all, we are geared up for what will likely be an epic Final Four. Here’s my picks:
Semi-Final #1: #2 Villanova vs. #1 Kansas
With the crucial loss of Justin Moore, Villanova is going to have to rely heavily on the star point guard Collin Gillespie and forward Jermaine Samuels. Jay Wright’s team brings experience and ability to control the tempo, but that will have to stall the high firepower of Midwest Player of the year Ochai Agbaji and star transfer Remy Martin. Overall, if Kansas can keep offensive spacing and flip the switch after dull starts, I believe Bill Self will oust Wright from a third title game since 2016.
Prediction- Kansas
Semi-Final #2: #8 North Carolina vs. #2 Duke
After 94-81 loss at Cameron to end the regular season, Coach K certainly wants his revenge against the Tar Heels. Duke’s talent of Paolo Banchero and Mike Williams, along with their ability to close games, brings a huge boost to a more than motivated season. Facing a tough, North Carolina squad will be challenging on the boards. As much as I would love to see Coach ride into the sunset on a title, I will be the one guy to give North Carolina the edge thanks to a powerful inside presence and an abundance of scorers.
Prediction- North Carolina
Final: #8 North Carolina vs. #1 Kansas
A natty with nothing to lose. After both these teams were mostly written off during the midpoint, what a statement it would be to see them in the final. In a hypothetical matchup, we could see potentially 15 players in double figures on the box score. North Carolina’s size can be offset by Kansas’ outside shooting. To me, the battle will come on the defensive side of the ball, and I like the quick twitch and momentum changing plays the Jayhawks have shown. Much like my brackets this tournament, I may know too much and be completely wrong trusting my gut; so despite loving the chances that Duke or North Carolina can win it all, I’m going against my gut to say Kansas will be the king of the dance in 2022.
Prediction- Kansas
Dylan Rider
This March Madness has been one to remember. This year has had its fair share of upsets with teams like Arizona, Gonzaga, Baylor, and Kentucky getting the boot. Speaking of which, Kentucky’s loss to St. Peters set off a Cinderella story run for the Peacocks to the Elite Eight. Only one question remains now: Who’s heading to the championship?
Semi-Final #1: #2 Villanova vs. #1 Kansas
This was a hard one to pick. Truthfully, I can see this one going both ways. Villanova has been steamrolling through the competition. They’re an incredible team and deserve to be in the Final Four. However, I think Kansas’ trouncing of Miami is very telling for where the team is at. It’ll be a tough one, but Kansas will get the W by the skin of their teeth.
Prediction- Kansas
Semi-Final #2: #8 North Carolina vs. #2 Duke
This was a much easier pick to make. I’m not very impressed with North Carolina this year. Sure, they upset Baylor. Sure, they beat UCLA. But both UCLA and Baylor weren’t the teams they were last year. To add insult to injury, they have to face Duke. A team that’s on a clear mission for Coach K. Good luck, North Carolina. But, this is Duke and Coach K’s moment.
Prediction- Duke
Championship: #2 Duke vs. #1 Kansas
It’s way too perfect. Coach K has a shot to win his sixth and final national championship. Against who? Kansas? The team he beat in his first national championship? It would be a dream come true and a storybook ending for Coach K and his band of Blue Devils.
Prediction- Duke