Two short weeks ago, the NCAA Tournament tipped off. 68 teams had tackled the gauntlet of the regular season and conference championships, hopeful eyes now focused on being the last team standing come April 2.
Four teams have slugged, hustled, and shot their way to San Antonio. On Monday night, one team will hoist the trophy and cut down the net, crowned champions of the 2017-18 men's college basketball season.
Unlike over on the women's side, which had four number one seeds in the Final Four and very little drama (until Friday night's victory by Notre Dame over UConn), the men's Final Four has an odd collection of teams.
The Kansas Jayhawks and Villanova Wildcats lived up to their end of the bargain, each holding court as number one seeds. The Michigan Wolverines are riding a hot streak -- one that started shortly before the Big Ten conference tournament -- and reached the semifinals as a number three seed.
That leaves Sister Jean and her Loyola Chicago Ramblers.
Seeded number 11, Loyola Chicago wasn't given much of a chance to win their first game, let alone advance this far. But they have survived by the skin of their teeth and found an instant celebrity in the team chaplain, Sister Jean.
Who will prevail this weekend in San Antonio? Let's find out.
Loyola Chicago Ramblers vs Michigan Wolverines
The Ramblers are back in the Final Four for the first time since 1963, a year in which the program hoisted the championship. That year helped mark a turning point of integration in college basketball, as of their four starters, only one was white.
Fifty-five years later, Loyola Chicago looks to get back to the podium.
They are a well-balanced team, led by a trio of guards, starting with senior Donte Ingram. Ingram is averaging 8.3 points and 5 rebounds per game during the tournament. Ingram was also the hero in the tournament's opening round, hitting the three-pointer to seal the victory over Miami (Fl).
Not to be outdone, guards Clayton Custer and Marques Townes have also hit game-winners, against Tennessee and Nevada, respectively. Custer is averaging 11.5 points and 4 assists per game, while knocking down 8-14 from three-point range. Townes is chipping in 11.5 points per game as well.
Ben Richardson had 23 points against Kansas State and Aundre Jackson is scoring 12.7 ppg off the bench.
Loyola Chicago won their first three games by a combined four points before taking down Kansas State by 16. They average 68.5 points per game in the tourney.
The Ramblers are shooting 52.5 percent from the field in the tournament and have connected on 41.7 percent (30-72) of their three-point attempts. They commit 14 turnovers per game and hold a plus 13 rebounding advantage through four games.
Defense is a big reason all four teams have made it this far and Loyola is no different. Opponents are scoring 63.5 points per game and shooting 42.5 percent from the field. The Ramblers are even stingier on the perimeter as their four opponents combined to shoot 29.9 percent (26-87) from behind the arc.
The Michigan Wolverines have been just as stingy. Their defense has allowed only 59 points per game over the last four games. Opponents are only shooting 37.7 percent from the field and 26.1 percent (17-65) from three-point range. Michigan is also forcing 12.7 turnovers per game.
On the offensive side, Michigan scored 70 per game in the tournament, a number slightly inflated thanks to a 99-point night against Texas A&M. That game saw the Wolverines knock down 14 threes, nearly half of the 31 they've made in the tournament. As a team, they are shooting 45.9 percent and have a four-game rebounding margin of minus 7.
Charles Matthews is averaging 16.5 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. Close behind is Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman, who is averaging 14 ppg in the tourney. Moritz Wagner adds 12.5 ppg while Duncan Robinson contributes 8.7 off the bench.
Prediction: Likely a lower-scoring affair (unless Michigan gets hot), I don't think the magic is ready to end yet: Loyola Chicago 64 Michigan 62
Kansas Jayhawks vs Villanova Wildcats
This matchup holds all the promises of being an entertaining, fast-paced game led by two teams who have depth, offensive efficiency, and experienced leaders.
Kansas may have had the tougher road of the two teams, if not simply because they allowed other teams to hang around in the earlier rounds while emerging the victor in an epic overtime battle versus Duke.
The return to form of a healthy Udoka Azubuike. Azubuike -- after only playing three minutes in the team's opening round win over Penn -- has averaged 11 points and 8.6 rebounds in the three games since. He provides a big body on both ends of the floor, something that will be needed against Villanova.
But it has been the scoring of Malik Newman that has propelled the Jayhawks. Newman scored 10 points in the first game, then followed that up with games of 28, 17, and 32. Newman has picked up the scoring slack for Graham. Graham has been his consistent self (16 ppg/5 rpg/6.2 apg) and, after scoring 29 against Penn, has had trouble getting buckets to consistently fall.
The Jayhawks have won each of their last three games by four points. They are scoring 81 points per game in the tournament while allowing 74. Kansas is shooting 45.9 percent, including 40.6 percent (39-96) from three-point range. Turnovers have been a wash (averaging 12.5 while forcing 12.2) as has rebounding, an even advantage until the Jayhawks went plus 15 against Duke
Like the teams on the other side of the bracket, Kansas has also been stingy with perimeter defense. Opponents are shooting 42.7 percent but are only 34-102 on three-point attempts.
Perimeter defense will be tested as the Villanova Wildcats are shooting 41.3 percent (48-116) from beyond the arc. This number plummeted for the Wildcats against Texas Tech, shooting only 4-24.
Scoring wise, the Wildcats are outpacing opponents 82.3 to 64. The margins are a little deceiving, as West Virginia slipped late as they had the best performance offensively against the Wildcats. Villanova is holding opponents to 36.7 percent shooting and 27.3 percent (24-88) on threes.
The Wildcats hold a plus 20 rebounding advantage, thanks to a plus 18 showing against Texas Tech.
AP Player of the Year Jalen Brunson has been the star, but the Wildcats are a deep team. Brunson is scoring 17.5 and dishing 4 assists per game in the tournament. Fellow starters Mikal Bridges (16 ppg) and freshman Omari Spellman (11.5 ppg/7.3 rpg) are both filling up the box score and defensive stalwart and sharpshooter Donte DiVincenzo (11 ppg, nine 3's) plays heavy minutes off the bench.
Prediction: Villanova will likely face their stiffest test of the tourney. It will take a complete game from all of the Kansas stars to pick up the win. Likely, it will be Villanova's free throw shooting (83.7% in the tourney) that decides this game. Villanova 84 Kansas 79
photo credit: flickr.com
Twitter: @jasonrh_78
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