March Madness Final Four Prediction

By: Garret Kryzanowski

March Madness started two weeks ago and it did not disappoint.

Calling what has happened so far madness would be an understatement, this year's tournament has been utter chaos. For those who followed my bracket you know that my champion lost on the first day and I only had one correct team in the Elite Eight. It has not been a good year to predict March Madness.

This tournament has had a lot of firsts in March Madness history. However, the most chaotic part of the tournament wasn't a first but a second. Number one seed Purdue became only the second number one seed to lose in the first round of the NCAA tournament, proving how fraudulent there team was.

The insanity of this tournament didn't stop there as the other one seeds didn't make it past the Sweet 16 for the first time since they began seeding in 1979. It is also the first time in tournament history that the Final Four doesn't include a one, two or three seed. Even though I wanted to rip my hair out watching some of these games, March Madness is one of the best times of the year and it is almost time for the Final Four so let's break it down.

San Diego State Aztecs vs Florida Atlantic Owls

This is one of the most improbable Final Four matchups I have seen in a very long time. The fifth seeded Aztecs advanced to their first ever Final Four on a questionable foul call against the Creighton Bluejays in the Elite Eight after handling top ranked Alabama in the Sweet 16. While the ninth seeded Owls arguably should have been eliminated in the first round on a missed time out call by the refs, but they weren't. Since the first round the Owls have been on a tear beating Fairleigh Dickinson, Tennessee and Kansas State to lead them to there first ever Final Four.

So who will win? I believe it will be the Florida Atlantic Owls. Now I say this because everyone on their team can shoot and so far haven't had a bad game and I don't see that changing. On top of there shooting they also have a 7'1" player in Vladislav Goldin. Goldin is going to make the Aztecs lives miserable on the glass and he will take away the second chance scoring that the Aztecs rely on. The Owls will win 71-63 and book there spot in the National Championship game.

University of Connecticut Huskies vs Miami Hurricanes

In a much more probable yet still surprising matchup we have the fourth and highest remaining seeded Huskies taking on the fifth seeded Hurricanes. The Huskies have dominated in every single game in the tournament so far winning each game by at least 15 points to make there sixth Final Four. While the Hurricanes completed an improbable comeback against Texas in the Elite Eight to make there first ever Final Four.

For those of you who read my blogs you know I had the Huskies as my dark horse pick for the tournament and they are who I am sticking with. They have been too dominant all tournament even locking down one of the greatest college players of all time in Drew Timme in the Elite Eight. The Hurricanes have had a great run but the dominance of Adama Sanogo this tournament has made the Huskies the clear choice. Huskies will take this game 81-70 and be playing for there fifth national title.

University of Connecticut Huskies vs Florida Atlantic Owls

The 2023 National Championship game is what everyone thought it would be, right? I'm not sure anyone genuinely thought it would feature the UConn Huskies and the Florida Atlantic Owls. It is a matchup no one saw coming but it will nonetheless be a great game. Adama Sanogo battling Vladislav Goldin down low will be the chess match of the tournament. The outside shooting of the Owls and the shutdown defence of the Huskies going head to head, who will win? Once again I am taking my dark horse pick, the UConn Huskies.

The Huskies have dominated all tournament and while I don't think they will be winning by double digits I do believe they will control this game from start to finish. Sanogo has outworked everybody in this tournament and I truly think Goldin's size will be an issue as he won't be able to keep up with the athleticism of Sanogo. This game will be close but like I said from the start it will be the UConn Huskies winning 79-72.

March Madness is always unpredictable and this year I was more off the mark then ever. Now I do think my dark horse pick is going to win it all so that has to count for something. Next year my picks will be more on point, I hope. March Madness was amazing this year as it is every year. I hope everyone enjoyed it as much as I did.