March Madness Final Four Preview: Too Many Cinderellas

March Madness Final Four Preview: Too Many Cinderellas

By College Basketball Analyst Gabriel Rauch

The most unpredictable and chaotic tournament in recent memory has resulted in a 4, two 5s and a 9 seed in the Final Four. In a situation we’ve never seen before, it may be discombobulating and anxiety inducing to try and predict results; each remaining team has a first. Since there is no precedent for many of these teams, the best strategy is to lean into the chaos. If there is one tournament more than any to go with your gut, it is this one. 

SDSU (5) -2.5 vs FAU (9)

SDSU features a starting lineup of all upperclassmen, mostly seniors. They’re grown men who play defense and rebound and do all the little things your dad loves that these goshdarn kids don’t want to do nowadays because they’re too busy trying to act like Steph Curry! The Aztecs have a lot to prove with a few players remaining from the 2020 COVID year and have all together, the most experience remaining in the tournament.

It is debatable whether to call FAU a true Cinderella, when they have been a legit good team the whole season. They have only lost three games all year and their guards have been on fire all tournament. The Owls are a fun team, the team everyone loves to watch who very simply make more shots in clutch moments then their opponents. Davis continues to step up and whenever he needs help another guard has a good game to compliment him. 

While FAU are a dangerous team, SDSU’s experience has gotten them this far and have beaten offensive juggernauts in this tournament by making them slow down and play their game. 

Pick: SDSU -2.5

UConn (4) -5.5 vs Miami (5) 

Dan Hurley’s Huskies are easily the favorite to win it all, and with this crop they feel like a one seed. They’ve covered every spread by a wide margin even when the majority of gamblers are betting on them. They have shown true dominance. So are there any reasons they won’t win?

Their names are Isaiah Wong, Jordan Miller and Nijel Pak. The three guards have taken turns dominating each game against very tough competition. The few times UConn have lost this year, the guards on the opposing team have cooked them on defense and Miami’s guards are playing better than any of them. Miami are also battle tested having beat the 1 and 2 seed in their region. The one concern for Miami will be how they deal with Sanogo, who has been phenomenal for the Huskies. However, that should not matter as UConn will be on their heels the whole game, which is a first for them this tournament. 

Pick: Miami +5.5