A Look at the Final Four Teams

And then there were four. The tournament started out quite tame, but last weekend the drama really intensified. We saw both Duke and UNC’s seasons end in dramatic fashion while teams like Texas Tech and Auburn rose up to earn their spot in the Final Four. Let’s take a look at the last four teams standing.

Virginia Cavaliers

Virginia is the final number one seed team remaining in the bracket. After an embarrassing first round exit last season, the Cavaliers are back with a vengeance. Once again, this team is incredibly tough to score on, holding opponents to 55.4 points per game.

In their Elite Eight game against Purdue, the team did allow Carsen Edwards to drop 42 points on them. They did hold all other players to less than double digit scoring.

This team will try to force Auburn into taking difficult shots and try to slow their pace down. Instead of quick possessions, the Hoos will play suffocating defense and try to force Auburn into turnovers. On the other end of the floor, Virginia will force Auburn to match their defense with their long offensive possessions.

Texas Tech Red Raiders

Texas Tech is playing in the Final Four for the first time in the school’s history. The Red Raiders proved it was not a fluke, dominating Michigan and then upsetting Gonzaga.

Texas Tech plays defense extremely well. They held Michigan to just 16 points in the first half. The key to their defense is to clog the middle and not let anyone get in for an easy basket. Michigan State is a much better shooting team compared to their rival.

Jarrett Culver has been one of the best players of the tournament and he will need to play like the NBA talent he is predicted to be.

Michigan State Spartans

Beating Zion Williamson and the Duke Blue Devils has to be quite the boost of confidence for the Spartans. That certainly does not mean they can take it easy against Texas Tech. This will be an equally tough matchup.

Cassius Winston, who is averaging 18.9 points per game, is this team’s leader. Winston will be a tough cover for Matt Mooney and the Red Raiders defense. He has scored in double digits in almost every game this season, shy just two. Against Duke he scored 20 points with 10 assists and had just ONE turnover.

Winston will need to continue his level of play. Michigan State defense will need to force Texas Tech into taking 3s and hope that their shooters, Davide Moretti and Matt Mooney, are cold.

Auburn Tigers

We can pretty much all hear Charles Barkley celebrating with his Tigers advancing to the Final Four. The Tigers took down powerhouses Kansas, North Carolina, and Kentucky to advance to the Final Four for the first time in the school’s history. Based off of that, Virginia should be nervous about playing this team.

Auburn, unfortunately, suffered a huge loss in their game against UNC when Chuma Okeke went down with a torn ACL. Okeke was there on the sideline as his tea defeated Kentucky.

Teammate Bryce Brown described having Okeke on the sideline. “This game was specifically for him. We went out there and battled for him.”

Auburn is going to have to try and force Virginia to match their shots and turn the ball over. The Cavaliers do not often turn the ball over, but in their loss against they had 14 turnovers.