The Men’s and Women’s NCAA final four tips off this Friday. Here are the matchups and what to look for when watching the games, starting with the Women’s final four.
South Carolina vs Texas
The battle of SEC one-seeds will tip off at 7 p.m. on Friday. South Carolina is infamous throughout women’s college basketball, with their legendary head coach, Dawn Staley, vying for her fourth National Championship as a Gamecock. South Carolina is the deepest team in the tournament, with three players averaging double digits and 10 players averaging double-digit minutes. The Longhorns, on the other hand, are led by star forward Madison Booker, who averages 16.5 points per game and is shooting 41% from beyond the arc. Both teams are incredibly evenly matched with the two teams sharing an even head-to-head during the regular season; however, Dawn Staley’s crew came out on top in the SEC Championship. Overall, I believe that the Gamecocks’ depth and experience will carry them to a close victory over the Longhorns.
UCLA vs UCONN
The UCLA Bruins are led by arguably the best forward in the country, Lauren Betts, who is averaging 20.0 points per game and 9.6 rebounds. UCLA is a very good rebounding team, but they do struggle a bit from beyond the arc. The key, as it has been for the entire season, will be to get the ball into Betts’s hands and let her go to work in the paint. The Huskies, on the other hand, are one of the best three-point shooting teams in the country; led by Paige Bueckers, UCONN shoots nearly 38% from three. I think if Bueckers and forward Sarah Strong can continue their magnificent play, UConn will move on to face the Gamecocks in the finals.
Now for the Men’s Final Four.
Florida vs Auburn
The men’s Final Four sees their own SEC matchup with Auburn and Florida set to tip off on Saturday. Auburn is led by their amazing forward, Johni Broom, who is averaging a magnificent 18/10/3 per game. Auburn also showcases exciting freshman Tahaad Pettiford; his three-point shooting ability and raw athleticism make him a wildcard, as his skills can create momentum for the Tigers at any point. The Tigers are one of the best scoring offenses in the nation, but so are their opponents, the Florida Gators. The Gators average 85 points per game and are led by a superstar guard trio of Walter Clayton Jr., Alijah Martin, and Will Richard. The Gators do struggle with free throw shooting, which can prove costly at the end of games. Overall, I like Auburn to win this game. I think star defensive guard Denver Jones will cause some trouble for Walter Clayton and Florida’s poor free throw shooting will prove costly.
Houston vs Duke
The Blue Devils are led by unanimous number one overall pick Cooper Flagg, who is averaging nearly 19 points per game. The Blue Devils are one of the highest scoring teams in the nation, averaging nearly 83 points per game, however, the Cougars, led by LJ Cryer, are the definition of suffocating defense, allowing just 58 points per game. I think this game is going to come down to experience and physicality and frankly, I give Houston the edge in those categories. I believe the Cougars will beat Duke and advance to the Championship against Auburn.
