Road to Minneapolis

By Peyton Schultze

U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, will be the home of the NCAA Men’s College Basketball Final Four.

Through all of the major upsets and thrilling finishes that the 2019 edition of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament has provided, the end is finally near. This upcoming weekend, four elite college basketball teams will travel to Minneapolis to compete in the Men’s Basketball Final Four.

Given, the Final Four is not quite what we expected to look like. Almost all of America figured to see Zion Williamson and the Duke Blue Devils here. In addition, Gonzaga and North Carolina looked like they were also solid bets to land in Minnesota, led by their outstanding head coaches in Mark Few and Roy Williams. Nevertheless, four other outstanding programs have secured their spot in Minnesota for a legit chance at writing history. Auburn, Michigan State, Texas Tech and Virginia will all battle under the bright lights of the tournament on Saturday night, with a chance to take one step closer at a title.

Michigan State

Tom Izzo and the Michigan State Spartans return to the Final Four for the first time since 2015 (via The Herald Sun).

The Spartans pulled off the seemingly impossible in the Elite Eight by prevailing over RJ Barrett, Zion Williamson and the favored Duke Blue Devils. But does that mean they can win two more games in the Final Four to conquer the nation’s title of college basketball champions?

Since looking a little shaky in the first round against Bradley, Michigan State has been phenomenal in all facets of the game thus far in the tournament. The Spartans cruised to relatively easy wins versus Minnesota and LSU before matching up with the Blue Devils in which they hung around until their opportune time to strike. Kenny Goins hit a huge late 3 to put the Spartans up late, before RJ Barrett missed one of two key free throws that would have likely tied the game and sent the battle into overtime. However, Michigan State played one of their best ballgames of the season against Duke and found a way to advance to the Final Four for the eighth time in the Tom Izzo-era.

Although Tom Izzo was criticized early in the tournament for ripping into a player in the middle of the game vs Bradley in the Round of 64, this Michigan State team has a chance to be one of the most special units over the course of his long run at Michigan State. Led by the spectacular Cassius Winston, one of the more experienced and accomplished players in the nation, Michigan State is the likely favorite heading into the Final Four. Izzo is loaded among his starters with key contributors such as Matt McQuaid, Xavier Tillman, and Goins, and the Spartans have a long track record this season of playing well against some of the best teams in the country (see: vs Duke, vs Michigan). It is unknown if the Spartans will be able to secure two more wins against a curious and unpredictable Final Four group, but they seem to certainly be up to the major challenge that lies ahead. With that being said, will Izzo and the rest of Michigan State roll through the opponents in Minnesota en route to their third national championship? Stay tuned.

Texas Tech

The #3 seeded Texas Tech Red Raiders were able to shock the West Region and sneak into the Final Four with huge wins over Michigan and Gonzaga (via Las Vegas Review Journal).

Every year in recent memory, Texas Tech seems to be in the hunt for a long dance in the tournament, but have fallen just a bit short. But this year, the Red Raiders have finally done it, and have reached the Final Four for the first time in school history.

As an Elite Eight team just a year ago, Texas Tech seemed like an upcoming basketball program with head coach Chris Beard at the helm. However, few expected that these Red Raiders would finally be the team to get the program into their first-ever Final Four. With major upset wins over Gonzaga and Michigan, Texas Tech now finds themselves in the thick of the race for a national championship under the bright lights of the Final Four. Can they pull off two more major upsets and win their first basketball title in school history?

For many, Texas Tech is more known as being a “football school” in the Big-12. However, the Red Raiders look to be altering that image into a falsehood, as Texas Tech looks to win their first men’s basketball championship. Led by the fiery Beard, the Red Raiders are one of the best defensive teams throughout the country, with a full-court defensive style of play and a scheme that forces a lot of turnovers. On offense, the Red Raiders often look for their best player in Jarrett Culver, a legit scorer who averaged 18.9 PPG on the season. Although they did not win the Big-12, Texas Tech came into the tournament as a team that had the ability to play with any major program and has shown that several times in the tournament. This should strike fear into the hearts of Michigan State fans everywhere, as the Red Raiders are ready to pillage and plunder their way through the Final Four on their way to that elusive first championship.

Virginia

Virginia was able to fend off an upset in the Elite Eight and is the only #1 seeded team remaining in the tournament (via Heavy).

A year after falling to a #16 seed in the NCAA Tournament, the Virginia Cavaliers are hungry for wins on the road to redemption as the only remaining #1 seed left in the tournament.

Over the past several years in Tony Bennett’s successful tenure as head coach of the University of Virginia, the Cavaliers have consistently fell short of high expectations in the tournament. However, the script has flipped in 2019, as Virginia was able to sneak through the South region and make it back to the Final Four for the first time since 1984. The Cavaliers have played in some of the most intense and down-to-the-wire games in the tournament thus far, especially in wild battles against the Oregon Ducks and recently in the Elite Eight against Caron Edwards and the Purdue Boilermakers. Yet Virginia has finally made it here once again, and is ready to win their first title in school history.

Out of the remaining teams, Virginia arguably has the best defensive resume and has displayed their defensive skills throughout the tournament. However, it has been their offense, led by Kyle Guy and De’Andre Hunter, that has bailed them out as of late, with huge buckets down the stretch to send Virginia into the next round. Both Guy and Hunter struggled early on the tournament, but have come alive in the most two recent games with some offensive firepower. In addition, Virginia was one of the best 3-point shooting teams in the country during the regular season, and is flat out lethal from distance if they can get hot. Virginia looks dangerous after many people doubted them leading up to the tournament; will they be able to silence the doubters once again and cap off their best season in school history with a championship banner?

Auburn

The Auburn Tigers stunned the SEC-rival Kentucky Wildcats in the Elite Eight on their way to their first Final Four in school history (via Christian Petersen/Getty Images/New York Times).

Auburn is riding high amid a huge winning streak dating back to late-February and ready to help secure their first men’s basketball championship in school history in Minneapolis.

For the Tigers, who were overshadowed in the SEC by other front-runners such as Kentucky, LSU and Tennessee, it’s been a long ride that has seen them conquer some of the biggest basketball schools in the nation over the course of their stunning 12-game winning streak. From running over Kansas and North Carolina to pulling out a tight nail-biter vs Kentucky, Auburn has faced several tests over the past month and passed each and every one of them. Now, they get ready to face the only #1 seed remaining in the tournament this upcoming weekend in the Virginia Cavaliers. Can they continue their maddening winning streak or will they finally fall at the hands of a college basketball power like Virginia?

While it is hard to favor the Tigers headlining into the weekend, they have all the makings of a team that can actually win this year’s NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. With a solid head coach that expects the best of his players in Bruce Pearl, Auburn has been able to shock their opponents with timely and efficient shooting from beyond the arc and a fast-paced game that has them constantly in transition. However, the Tigers head into Minnesota a little banged up, especially with the loss of arguably their best player to a devastating knee injury in Chuma Okeke. No matter, Auburn is finally in their first-ever Final Four and ready to make some noise on the sport’s biggest and brightest stage.

Predictions

Michigan State was able to secure a nearly-impossible win over the tournament-favorite Duke Blue Devils, which makes the Spartans a dangerous threat to win it all in Minnesota (via ESPN).

Final Four: Auburn vs Virginia (3:09 PM PT, CBS)

While Virginia has had some very close calls late in games and seems to seek redemption after their embarrassing tournament entry a season ago, Auburn comes into this game as college basketball’s hottest team. Virginia is one of the nation’s best defensive teams, yet struggled to contain Carson Edwards and the Purdue Boilermakers for much of their Elite Eight matchup, which could be a bit of a cause for concern for Tony Bennett and the Virginia Cavaliers’ coaching staff.

While Virginia will make this game close and down to the wire, it’s hard to bet against Bruce Pearl and the scorching-hot Auburn Tigers right now. The Tigers have been able to out-shoot almost every team throughout the tournament thus far, as well as being one of the more successful teams in transition with their blazing fast pace. Virginia finds a way to make this a tight contest throughout, but Auburn will find a way to get just a few more buckets and send themselves to Monday night’s National Championship Game.

Prediction: Auburn (72) - Virginia (69)

Final Four: Texas Tech vs Michigan State (5:49 PM PT, CBS)

Texas Tech and Michigan State head into Minnesota fresh off shocking upsets of #1 seeds in the Elite Eight. While many expected to see Duke and Gonzaga in this slot, we instead will witness a matchup of steady programs that have consistently competed for conference and national titles in recent years. Texas Tech was able to shock Final Four favorites such as Michigan and Gonzaga, but Michigan State was able to pull of the stunner of the tournament when the knocked Zion Williamson and Duke out of competition.

Both teams are certainly worthy of being here, but Michigan State owns two key advantages over the rest of the three teams left: Tom Izzo and Cassius Winston. Izzo is one of the nation’s best coaches and has prior championship experience that will help settle the nerves of any Spartans before their bout with the Red Raiders. Winston is the best player remaining in the tournament, and has a certain composure about him that enables him to lead Michigan State each and every night. In the end, these two factors, will be just a bit too much for Texas Tech, despite a hard fought defensive effort that will keep the game low-scoring throughout the matchup.

Prediction: Michigan State (68) - Texas Tech (61)

National Championship Game: Auburn vs Michigan State (TBD, CBS)

It would have been an absolute shock to see anyone choose this matchup at the beginning of the season, yet here we are. The National Championship Game looks like a matchup that more closely resembles both school’s football programs, but we get our chance to see if Auburn can pull off their first title win ever, or if Michigan State will walk home with their third.

If there is any teams left that may provide some big matchup problems for Michigan State, it is the Auburn Tigers. The Tigers elite shooting ability has caused chaos for all of their tournaments opponents in March, and could easily cancel out the Spartans’ offensive prowess. However, Michigan State can also cause some major concerns for Auburn that their other opponents have been unable to do thus far. Now that Auburn is beat up with the loss of Chuma Okeke and faces a versatile and moderately experienced Michigan State team, Tom Izzo and the Spartans will likely look to slow the game down and avoid a track meet with Bruce Pearl and Auburn. While Auburn could shoot lights out once again on their way to their first men’s basketball national championship, we’ll take the Michigan State Spartans to capture their first title since 2000 in what will surely cause a major eruption throughout East Lansing.

Prediction: Michigan State (70) - Auburn (66)