NCAA Final Four Preview

Finally here we are at Championship Week for the NCAA Tournament. Our Final Four teams for this season's March Madness run are UConn, Alabama, Purdue, and NC State. This year the tournament featured a lot of highs and lows for teams, but these four programs prevailed through the chaos this annual event brings. Looking ahead of Saturday's matchups we look at a brief team preview of the four teams going into this weekend.

The Reigning Champs, UConn Huskies

For UConn they breezed on through to the Final Four for the second consecutive year in a row. Coach Dan Hurley has a team that is poised to repeat as National Champions. Out of the four teams in this pool they are the favorites to come out on top. The Huskies have exceptional guard play on their roster including their leading scorer Tristen Newton, Cam Spencer, and Freshmen Stephon Castle. With versatility at the guard position they are able to balance off of one another which creates opportunities for efficient scoring. Featured on this team is big man Donovan Clingan who has been solid inside the paint throughout the tournament. Expect for the Huskies to heighten their intensity come there matchup in the Semifinals against the Alabama Crimson Tide.

The Bruiser from the SEC, Alabama Crimson Tide

If anyone had to guess Alabama would be in the Final Four most likely has won the lottery. Coach Nate Oats has shifted the culture in Tuscaloosa through creating a team full of will powered energizers. On any given possession Alabama has the opportunity to score the basketball in the cup through various players. Point guard Mark Sears is a commander on this team and knows how to keep the pace uptempo when the ball is in his hands. Aaron Estrada is another guard that is known for getting to his spots effectively and can knock down the midrange shot when he gets his rhythm going. Look for transfer forward Grant Nelson to continue to find ways at impacting the game, the man can literally spark on any given moment and can find himself having a strong showing against the Huskies. The Crimson Tide have shown their ability in stretches of being able to defend the ball really well, if they can outboard UConn they can find themselves sneaking into the National Championship game.

Overtime Overdue, no it's Purdue

This number 1 seed from the Midwest region has been playing with redemption on their mind all season long. There is a lot of hype built around this team from the Big Ten especially with the successful play of their center Zach Edey. A lot of critics do not see how NC State will be able to matchup with his verticality being at 7'4. Edey on the season has averaged 25 points a game including 12.2 rebounds making him a double-double machine on any given contest. Double teams on the All American Center can create opportunity for kick outs that can lead to wide open shots for the Boilermakers expect for a lot of threes to go up if this team seeks to knock out NC State.

The Most Unexpected of them all, the Wolfpack

Talk about a Cinderella run in the tournament, the NC State Wolfpack were a 11 seed in the South Region. After shocking the ACC in the conference tournament this team has not looked back since. They made history with being one of the few teams being the lowest seed ever to make the Final Four. Don't let the seedings fool you though, this team is led by DJ Horne and DJ Burns Jr. Both players are dogs on the court play really physical and gritty when it comes to competing on the floor. DJ Burns Jr. is a tough matchup weighing 275 pounds at 6'9, requiring his opponent to drained physical from guarding him on the floor. Horne at the guard position helms the ability to make plays and finds way at getting to the rim which has supported this team to go on this well deserved run. Purdue has a big man that towers over everyone on the court but they may have an answer in Burns Jr. that could slow everything down for the All American giant. Expect for NC State to go into this game amped and ready to shock the world once more.

May the best team come out on top

This is what the Final Four is all about, the fact that any given team can thrive on any given night. These four teams have shown their ability to why they are in the position they are in now. This Saturday will include two great games and only two will come out alive for the hope of competing for a National Championship.

On this Saturday down in Phoenix, AZ all the marbles are on the table at the Final Four!

The number 4 seeded Alabama Crimson Tide take on the number 1 seeded UConn Huskies.

The number 11 seeded NC State Wolfpack take on the number 1 seeded Purdue Boilermakers.