With the Sweet 16 in the books, the Elite 8 matchups are set and ready to go this weekend. Here is what you will need to know for Saturday’s Matchups in the East and West Regional.

East Regional Final:

#1 UConn vs #3 Illinois:

There should be fireworks in this one. UConn is the most dominant Basketball team that I have since in quite some time. They are tenacious on defense, relentless on offense, and they play for one another. Watching the Huskies play is like a symphony orchestra with all instruments in sync. In their National Championship rematch with San Diego State, they dominated in every aspect and made it look easy. Making Jaedon LeDee a volume scorer is no easy task and they made it simple, offensively they were able to get whatever they wanted whether that was in the half court or in transition as Cam Spencer, Stephon Castle, and Tristan Newton were dominant on the perimeter. This UConn team will have maybe the toughest task they’ve had to face all season in Terrance Shannon Jr., He is a lethal three level scorer, right now he is motivated and playing basketball with highest IQ of anyone left in the tournament. I believe Terrance Shannon Jr. is the best Upperclassmen prospect since Brandon Roy. His performance vs Iowa State in the Sweet 16 was sensational, leading his team with 29 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 key steals. Coleman Hawkins has been great for the Illini as well, he is not only playing great defense with his length, but he is shooting 46.7% from beyond the Arc in the tournament. In order for The Illini to have a chance in this they will have to do similar things as their previous matchup and that’s controlling the glass and winning the assist and turnover battle. UConn is as sound as they come in those categories. With that being said, there is always something to be said about a team that has been there and done that. That is what the Huskies are, looking to repeat as National Champions they have been on a mission since day 1 and I don’t think that mission stops here.

Prediction: UConn over Illinois

West Regional Final:

#4 Alabama vs #6 Clemson:

I have doubted how tough both of these teams are in this tournament, they have not only proved me wrong, but probably everyone else in the nation. Both teams have been playing excellent in the paint and on the perimeter, both teams have been shooting it well, and both teams have come out and brought the fight to every opponent they have faced in this tournament. For Clemson, they continue to grind out games as a team by limiting their opponents to under 40% shooting from the field and under 25% from beyond the Arc, they have been tenacious on the defensive side of the ball as well as winning the battle in the paint. Chase Hunter continues his stellar tournament averaging 19.7 PPG and 5.7 APG. He will have a tough task guarding one of best guards in the nation, Mark Sears today. Sears is averaging 24.7 PPG and 4.3 APG in the tournament so far while shooting 41.7% from three. The big story was the coming out party for Senior Grant Nelson, his performance vs North Carolina was sensational 24 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 blocks, he was also 2-2 from beyond the arc. His performance vs Armando Bacot, one of the nation’s premier players, will be remembered forever in Alabama Basketball history. For this Matchup I believe the perimeter defense that Clemson has been playing is probably the best in tournament and will give Alabama some problems when they need to take the tough shots.

Prediction: Clemson over Alabama