Carmen Mandato/Getty ImagesNo. 1 Connecticut (-11.5) vs. No. 4 Alabama (O/U: 161.5)
In the Final Four, the UConn Huskies are looking to do something no NCAA men’s basketball team has done for 17 years: win back-to-back titles.
The Alabama Crimson Tide, meanwhile, are looking to do something their program has never done before: reach their first-ever NCAA Finals.
In the Sweet 16, in a rematch of last year’s championship game, UConn beat San Diego State to become the first defending champion since 2007 to return to the Elite Eight—and then continued on to the Final Four when they trounced Illinois 77-52 on Saturday.
Now the Crimson Tide are the latest obstacle in the Huskies’ path. Vegas is high on UConn, but Alabama’s offense has been one of the most powerful in college basketball this season. Ultimately, KenPom has the Huskies winning out, with an 88 percent chance to make the Finals.
No. 1 Purdue (-9) vs. No. 11 North Carolina State
North Carolina State bested Duke 76-64 on Sunday to secure its spot in the Final Four. But waiting for the Wolfpack will be a Purdue Boilermakers team that has something to prove after getting bounced from the 2023 NCAA Tournament in the first round.
Star Zach Edey has been putting the Boilermakers on his back, dropping 40 on Tennessee on Sunday to help Purdue advance to the Final Four. But now he’s on a collision course with the Wolfpack defense, which has showcased a smothering defense so far this postseason, taking away Duke’s outside shooting entirely in the Elite Eight. NC State is 21-5 when it has held teams to less than 76 points.
And yet, Purdue’s offense is going to be hard for any team to best. Edey has four double-doubles in four tournament games, averaging 30 points and 16 rebounds per game. Purdue’s redemption quest may be the deciding factor.
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Source : Bleacher Report