Men’s March Madness: Predictions, previews for UConn-Duke, Michigan-Tennessee

Half of the Final Four is ready! On Saturday, Illinois and Arizona punched their tickets to Indianapolis. Now it is time to resolve the ultimate two spots.

Tennessee takes top-seeded Michigan to start out, earlier than a battle of two groups with 11 championships between them in UConn and Duke.

ESPN school basketball reporters Jeff Borzello and Myron Medcalf make their predictions for each, plus break down the keys for every group.

2:15 p.m. ET, CBS

Borzello’s prediction: Michigan, 80-68
Medcalf’s prediction: Michigan, 85-69

How Tennessee can advance to the Final Four: To attain the nationwide semifinals for the primary time in program historical past, the Vols should execute an ideal sport plan. The X’s and O’s of this sport will matter, however they cannot beat Michigan except Nate Ament and Ja’Kobi Gillespie mix to have a collective efficiency worthy of creating the “One Shining Moment” spotlight reel.

Felix Okparawho has 10 blocks over the previous three video games, should maintain his personal towards one of the best frontcourt in America, too. He has to keep away from foul bother to be obtainable down the stretch. The Vols can even need to dictate this matchup by making it a battle within the paint — the one place they will win as a result of they’re the No. 1 offensive rebounding group within the nation. Still, it appears possible they’ll want a unprecedented effort to outlive Michigan.

How Michigan can advance to the Final Four: An Alabama group ranked third nationally in offensive adjusted effectivity took 31 photographs within the second half of its loss to Michigan, and 23 of them had been 3-point makes an attempt. The Wolverines not solely defend the paint — opposing groups make simply 48.9% of their photographs within the put up towards them, per Synergy Sports — however additionally they restrict the kind of photographs opponents can take.

Michigan’s offense has been just about unstoppable this season. Its jumbo lineup is an issue solely three groups have solved (Duke, Purdue, Wisconsin). If the Wolverines can restrict second-chance alternatives for a Tennessee group that ranks first nationally in offensive rebounding price and pressure the Vols into photographs outdoors the paint, Michigan might be on its solution to the Final Four. — Medcalf

5:05 p.m. ET, TBS/truTV

Borzello’s prediction: UConn, 71-70
Medcalf’s prediction: Duke, 76-64

How UConn can advance to the Final Four: The Huskies can attain their third nationwide semifinal in 4 seasons by outplaying Duke within the paint. That begins with Tarris Reed Jr.. avoiding foul bother. Cameron Boozer is 53rd within the nation in fouls drawn per 40 minutes — a few fast fouls towards Reed might be the distinction on this sport.

Boozer’s flaw has been turnovers; he had 4 in Duke’s two losses this season (Texas Tech and North Carolina). The Huskies must pressure and capitalize on turnovers. And they do have the guard depth and dimension to harass a less-than-100% Caleb Foster and Isaiah Evans on the perimeter. They need to pressure Duke into powerful photographs then keep away from scoring droughts just like the one which led them to squander a 25-6 lead towards Michigan State. That could be expensive towards the Blue Devils.

How Duke can advance to the Final Four: It’s clear the Blue Devils aren’t 100%. Patrick Ngongba II you’ve gotten performed simply 29 whole minutes in two NCAA event video games since coming back from a proper foot fracture that value him 5 video games. And though Foster scored 11 key factors within the second half of their Sweet 16 win, he did not appear like the standout guard we have seen all through the season. Still, the Blue Devils can advance with the identical punishing strategy within the paint that has labored for them this postseason.

Since the beginning of the ACC event, Duke has made simply 30% of his 3-point makes an attempt. It has additionally made 57% of its photographs contained in the arc and grabbed 45% of its missed photographs, a top-five mark over that stretch. Even although the Blue Devils have been chilly from the perimeter, they proceed to win by following Cameron Boozer’s lead and proudly owning the paint. They should resolve Tarris Reed Jr., although. The Huskies’ 6-foot-11 middle has been a pressure on each ends of the ground currently, posting double-doubles in two of their three NCAA event video games to date. — Medcalf