The Final Four of the 2022-23 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament consists of unexpected teams – UConn, Florida Atlantic, San Diego State, and Miami. Although these teams lack the star power of past years, they are intriguing due to their unique qualities. UConn is a non-blue blood team that has the potential to win its fifth national title since 1999. Any of the four teams can win their first national title, showcasing college basketball landscape’s parity.
The ESPN team discusses the unexpected outcomes of this year’s tournament. The results were surprising, but each so-called lower seed earned the right to advance. Two low-seeded teams are still playing, which is rare. The upsets did not feel like upsets. It is a testament to the modern revolution of college basketball, where versatile defense and small-ball lineups have replaced traditional big men.
The Final Four group is compelling due to the parity across the college basketball landscape. Three out of four teams can experience the euphoria of winning a national title for the first time in program history. San Diego State has one of the most stifling defenses in the nation. The Aztecs have the potential to stop Florida Atlantic from another late-game surge.
The ESPN team predicts that San Diego State’s defense will prove too much for Florida Atlantic. The Aztecs will eliminate FAU’s advantages by pressuring the ball on the perimeter, switching on screens, and having Nathan Mensah protecting the rim. The Aztecs rarely allow teams to get out in transition. It will be difficult for teams to get off to a good start against the Aztecs. The team predicts an SDSU win with a score of 62-57.
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