Nolan Matthews
March Madness has lived up to its name this year, full of upsets and great games. My bracket got busted in the very first game of March Madness, as I predicted Mississippi State beating Michigan State. I just sat back and enjoyed the madness, here are my predictions
#4 Alabama vs #1 UConn
If Alabama wants to win this game they’re going to want to keep the points coming, as their defense has been lackluster this season. They are going to need a lot of production from their lead horses in point guard Mark Sears and forward Grant Nelson. UConn, led by point guard Tristan Newton, has won all of their tournament games by double digits. I believe UConn will rely heavily on 7’2 center Donovon Clingan who posted 22 points and 10 rebounds in the elite 8 blowout against Illinois. I think UConn will keep their run going to make them back-to-back national champions.
Prediction- UConn
#11 N.C. State vs. #1 Purdue
Purdue vs N.C. State will be the better of the two Final Four games. It will be mostly Zach Edey vs D.J. Burns Jr. in a clash between the big men. Purdue dominates everyone due to their extreme height advantage over almost every team and relying heavily on three-point shooting. N.C. State runs their offense mostly through forward D.J. Burns Jr and guard D.J. Horne. Horne will have to have a great game for N.C. State to pull this game out. I believe Purdue will dominate this game and make it to their first championship game since 1969.
Prediction- Purdue
#1 UConn vs #1 Purdue
UConn vs Purdue may be the best national championship game we have seen since Villanova vs North Carolina in 2016. Both teams will try to establish a close scoring game through their 7-foot-plus dominate centers. I believe the way to win this game is through veteran leadership and I believe UConn holds that advantage. Will UConn be the first back-to-back championship team since Florida in 2006-2007 or will Purdue finally win their first national championship? I believe UConn will win this close matchup.
Prediction- UConn
Dylan Rider
What a March it has been. Jack Gohlke’s ten three-pointers led the way for the Oakland Golden Grizzlies to upset Kentucky. D.J. Burns Jr. has taken the tournament by storm. Lest we forget about March mainstays like Gonzaga, Baylor, Kansas and San Diego State being kicked to the curb. With the Elite Eight out of the way, four remain. Who takes home the whole thing?
#4 Alabama vs. #1 UConn
Alabama made the Final Four? Aren’t they a football school? My, my how times have changed. The Tide have run an impressive gauntlet in their past two match-ups, as they’ve defeated both #1 UNC and #6 Clemson. Unfortunately for them, they have a Final Four contest against a team that hasn’t slowed down a bit since their last national title. The University of Connecticut Huskies are just on another level. Say what you will about their weak opening matches, but a 30-0 run against a three-seeded Illinois team tells me enough about the Huskies. Give me UConn.
Winner: UConn
#11 N.C. State vs. #1 Purdue
As a fan of a BIG10 rival, I’ve been praying for Purdue’s downfall since the beginning of the tournament. Well, they’ve made it to the Final Four now. Zach Edey is a freak of nature for the Boilermakers. Have they really turned the corner on past tournament failures? Only the North Carolina State Wolfpack stand in their way. Speaking of which, D.J. Burns Jr. shows that big dudes can ball out. An 11-seeded N.C. State team making their first Final Four since 1983 is wild. However, much to my chagrin, all good things must come to an end. Purdue takes this one en route to the national championship.
Winner: Purdue
#1 Purdue vs. #1 UConn
What a clash this game would be. Two teams playing their best basketball of the season against each other. Purdue’s strength comes from a vengeful Zach Edey who wants a title. Is this enough against UConn? I don’t think so. Round after round, I’ve heard how the Huskies haven’t played anyone or how it’ll be a close game with a higher seed. I think UConn is an unstoppable force. They’re scary good with little to no weaknesses. They’ll catch fire in a minute while extinguishing you. Sorry Edey and Purdue, Hurley’s Huskies are going back-to-back.
Champion: UConn
Jeffery Walker
March Madness has been fun to watch this year with some exciting upsets and another Cinderella team emerged this year in N.C. State as they are the seventh double-digit seed to make it to the Final Four. Two number-one seeds remain with powerful big men and good guard play that has been hard to beat all year in Purdue and UConn. Then there is Alabama with offensive firepower that can defeat any team if they get hot. But who will win the NCAA Championship? Here are my picks.
#1 UConn vs #4 Alabama
UConn has looked unstoppable for most of the college basketball season and is coming off a game where they went on a 30-to-0 run versus Illinois, this team is the real deal with a good big man in Donovan Clingan and great guard play. But Alabama has already knocked off a number-one seed in UNC. This squad can put up points in a hurry and have several guys that can score led by Mark Sears, and they just reached the final four for the first time in program history. Do we see UConn get a chance to defend their national title from last year or will Alabama head to the championship game? I am going to pick Alabama to beat the big bad Huskies.
Prediction- Alabama
#1 Purdue vs #11 NC State
This will be a game where everyone’s eyes will be set on the big man matchup as Purdue’s Zack Edey who has completely dominated in each game of the tournament scoring 20-plus points with a double-double meets the big man from NC State in DJ Burns Jr. ultimately it will not come down to that battle but instead their support in the guard play of both teams and Purdue will be too much to handle with great defense and their 7’4 big man Edey.
Prediction- Purdue
#1 Purdue vs #4 Alabama
This championship game could come down to who has the last run to put the game away. Alabama has a tough task in defending Edey, but they have a lot of depth in that frontcourt to throw bodies at Edey. The Crimson Tide have better guard play than the Boilermakers and that’s what this game will come down to can Purdue defend Sears and the three-point line if not Edey will not be able to save them this time. Give me Alabama to knock off three number-one seeds in a single tournament and win their first-ever NCAA tournament championship.
Prediction- Alabama
Caden Hofmaan
#4 Alabama vs. #1 UConn
In my opinion, Uconn has been the best team all year, they have looked absolutely unreal and have won their first four games by a combined 131 points. No team has reached 60 points on them yet and even with Mark Sears and the high-powered Alabama offense won’t be enough. UConn is too deep and too complete of a team, I got the Huskies.
#11 NC State vs. #1 Purdue
This year’s Cinderella story in N.C. State and D.J. Burns Jr. have had an incredible run so far, beating some great teams, but they run into 7’4 Zach Edey and Purdue. Purdue has had their struggles in the past with choking in the tournament, but that seems to be past them now as they look hungry and are playing great basketball. The height of Edey and Purdue’s guard play is going to be too much. I have Purdue winning.
#1 Purdue vs. #1 UConn
What a great championship game this would be, two great, complete teams with amazing bigs and good guard play. I believe this game will be very close and it will ultimately come down to coaching in the end and that is where I think Uconn has the advantage. Dan Hurley is the best coach in college basketball and his UConn team is hungry for another championship. The Huskies will win and be the first team since Florida in 2007 to win back-to-back championships.
Connor Grypma
Fans have expressed their disappointment with this year’s tournament because of the top seeds dominating the bracket, but we are set for two amazing matchups in the Final Four this weekend. Here are my predictions.
#4 Alabama vs. #1 UConn
I do admire the run the Crimson Tide have put together to get to this point, but it’s a shame they had to run into the best team in college basketball. After witnessing the Huskies go on a 30-0 run against the #1 ranked Illinois offense, I simply can’t go against them in this game. All of their tournament wins have been by 15 points or more and they will steamroll into their second straight championship appearance in this one.
Prediction: UConn
#11 NC State vs. #1 Purdue
This has the potential to be the best game of the tournament. A classic center duel with Purdue’s Zach Edey and NC State’s D.J. Burns Jr. squaring off alongside explosive guards like D.J. Horne and Braden Smith. Both of these teams’ offenses have been rolling and it’s going to come down to who can buckle down on the defensive end. Unfortunately, I think this is where NC State’s Cinderella run ends behind another monster game from Zach Edey.
Prediction: Purdue
#1 Purdue vs. #1 UConn
This may be the first championship game in a while where both teams are the #1 seed. Despite being the overall favorite and the “boring” pick, I believe UConn will bring home its second straight title this year. Their balanced scoring attack along with a top-five defense is unstoppable even with a seven-footer on the other side.
Prediction: UConn