Shaun Connolly

At the time this publication hits the newsstands, we will be 4 days from the The NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four in the Alamodome in San Antonio, TX. At the time of writing this two of the four play-in games will occur tonight. It would sort of silly to just print the whole bracket that I filled out and then on April 1st you can just read all of the dumb decisions I made. Plus my editor has said that I need to write at least 500 words. What I will do for you is Show you who I think the Final Four will be, and tell you why they will be there. I’ll even add in who will be there if the team I predicted doesn’t make it. If all 8 of those teams didn’t make it to the Final Four I will quit this column. A lot at stake folks. Here we go!

East Region

It’s Duke University, obviously. Did possibly one of the greatest freshman year players in college basketball history sprain his ankle in the ACC Tournament, sure. Is that player still named Cooper Flagg and will have had plenty of rest and a world class sports trainer helping him get back to health? Yes. Is the team still almost unstoppable despite Flagg’s absence in the lineup? Yeah, kinda. This team is Strong with a capital S. Tyrese Proctor seemed to have found his stroke in the tournament, Sion James is an elite defender and a veteran presence and freshman Khaman Maluach is a 7’2” tour de force when it comes to blocking shots. Three players you would love to have on your squad as you trudge to the championship, then you have Cooper Flagg? It would be silly not to predict them to be here, or even winning it all. Backup pick is Alabama.

South Region

Auburn University has the College Basketball Player of the Year. I know I just talked about how Cooper Flagg is unbelievable and will be the #1 Pick in the NBA Draft. But, Johni Broome is the best player in college basketball. He averaged nearly 19 points a game, over 10 rebounds a game and almost 4 assists a game. He went from an overlooked high school recruit, then starring on Morehead State’s team in the Ohio Valley Conference and entering the transfer pool to carry a SEC Conference juggernaut in Auburn University. You tack on that Bruce Pearl, the perfect kind of psycho I love seeing coaching college basketball, who has a near infinite amount of NCAA Tournament experience and you’ve got a winning formula. The team picks up Broome if he struggles, but also knows that he’s the man on the floor and they’ve got to give him the rock when it matters most. Auburn may have the toughest road to the Finals and that may make them exhausted come San Antonio time, but they are not to be underestimated in the least. Backup pick is Texas A&M.

Midwest Region

Houston University takes this Region. They have the most wins in the last 5 years than any other team by more than 30. They have done this the past five years as well. They will dominate this region and then when it comes time to show up on the bigger stage they will choke. I hope I am wrong, as I have a special affinity for coach Kelvin Sampson and the program he has built in Houston. Four of his five starters average double digits in points and three of those four shoot over 42% from beyond the three point line. They play tenacious team defense as well and half of this roster was here last year, so they will be looking for revenge. Backup pick is Tennessee.

West Region

St. John’s Red Storm, led by college basketball ghoul Rick Pitino, will knock off Florida. Does Florida have two centers who are 7’9” and 7’2”? Yes, they do. Has Florida looked invincible down the stretch, including mopping up a SEC Conference Tournament that has so many tough teams? Yes they also did that. But St. John’s has a coach who has made multiple deals with the devil himself to get where he is and nowadays it seems like evil is winning. The kids playing for Pitino are tough, smooth and ultimately possibly the best starting 5 NIL contracts can buy through the transfer portal. There was a speech in the Vice documentary about this team by Pitino that made me want to run through a wall for him, and I dislike the man very much. This could be their year. Plus the story of being sort of a joke program to possible champions is an exciting one to root for. Backup pick is Florida. 

Let’s see if Jenny makes me quit because I got all 8 of these wrong! 

Editor’s Note: Shaun Connolly will absolutely be fired if