The 2024 Men’s NCAA Tournament has been an amazing run so far and now we are down to four. How will this story end. Here is what to expect from today’s games.
#1 Purdue vs #11 NC State:
This year’s David vs Goliath story. The Purdue Boilermakers have been one of the best, if not the best team in college basketball all season. They have the presumably Player of the year in Zach Edey and a plethora of three-point shooters around him like Fletcher Loyer, Braden Smith, and Lance Jones. This Purdue team loves to play fast as they are one of the top teams in the game in pace. Having the best big man in the nation gives this team the supreme advantage in almost every matchup they’ve had so far this tournament. Coming off 40 points and 16 rebounds in the elite 8 vs Tennessee, Zach Edey is primed to punch Purdue’s ticket to the national Championship this weekend. NC State who has played this year’s Cinderella team, has fought against all odds since the ACC Tournament. A bubble team initially, it was an ACC tournament title run that gotten them to this moment. Outside of UConn and Purdue, NC State has been a dominating force, with their own big man who has been key to this success. DJ Burns Jr. is coming off 29 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists vs ACC rival Duke in the Elite 8 and looks to continue that same success if NC State is going to have a chance. The Wolfpack love to slow the pace down and play in the halfcourt giving them an advantage with big DJ Burns skill and passing ability out of the post. This gives DJ Horne, Casey Morsell, and Michael O’Connell room to operate. NC State isn’t going to wow you offensively on the perimeter, but they make the right play in the half court and play a very efficient style off DJ Burns. Defensively is where I have been impressed with the Wolfpack. They have seemed to suffocate their opponents this past month with their on-ball pressure. Against Duke they held one of the better shooting teams in the tournament to 32.2% from the field and 25% from beyond the arc while also forcing 9 turnovers. As good as DJ Burns has been he’s going up against a very tall task in trying to defend and keep up with 7’4 Zach Edey. Availability is the best ability and I think in this game Burns will be facing some foul issues in this one, taking NC State biggest weapon off the floor.
Prediction: Purdue over NC State
#1 UConn vs #4 Alabama:
The UConn Huskies have been the most dominant team not only in this tournament, but all season. They have the highest point differential of all the teams remaining by a large margin at +111, that is astonishing considering some of the teams they beat. Donovan Clingan has shown why he should be considered the best big man in the nation. He has been a force protecting the paint averaging 3.5 Blocks in the tournament, including an 8-block performance in the 2nd round vs Northwestern. He’s not just a force defensively, but on the offensive side as well averaging 15.8 PPG and 10 RPG in the tournament. This UConn team feeds off that energy and they are the best in the nation at getting out in transition and scoring on the break. Tristan Newton has been a tremendous playmaker at the guard position with not only his scoring but his vision as well, at 6.8 APG in the tournament he has been the main culprit at initiating fast breaks and distributing the ball to his running mates whether its Cam Spencer, Stephon Castle, and Alex Karaban These guards have been excellent on both ends of the floor and are one game away from being back in the title game. For Alabama they have done just enough to be here, it seems like this Crimson Tide team has elevated their play against every opponent they have faced in this tournament. Mark Sears has been their leader and best player all season, the moment is never too big for this young man out of Muscle Shoals, Alabama. In the tournament he has improved his scoring average from 21.5 per game to 24.3 per game and continues to shoot over 40% from beyond the arc. As a team Alabama continues to shoot over 40% from beyond the arc and has out rebounded 3 out of 4 teams they’ve faced in the tournament. Grant Nelson is a player to watch out for in this one, he has the shot blocking and length to defend Donovan Clingan, but also, he’s shown that he can be versatile offensively as well just keep in mind his performance vs North Carolina where he had 24 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 blocks. In this game Alabama is going to have to grind it out on the glass and make their perimeter shots like they have been to win, but I believe in the end this UConn team is just too strong at all positions on the floor, they are relentless defensively and are the more athletic team in transition.
Prediction: UConn over Alabama
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