The Final Four is set, and for the first time since 2008, the remaining four teams are all No. 1 seeds. It was a tough assignment, but today, we power rank the remaining four teams in the NCAA Tournament:
The Final Four is set in this season’s NCAA Tournament, and for the first time since 2008 and for just the second time ever, the remaining four teams are all No. 1 seeds. This year’s Final Four is in San Antonio, Texas, and coincidentally, the 2008 Final Four also took place in San Antonio.
There is a lot of fire power in this year’s Final Four, and you could make an argument for any of these four teams to be cutting down the nets next Monday.
Until then, here is our power ranking for the final remaining four teams in March Madness.
1. Duke Blue Devils
Defeated No. 16 Mount St. Mary’s 93-49, No. 9 Baylor 89-66, No. 4 Arizona 100-93, No. 2 Alabama 85-65
Duke has been the best overall team in this year’s tournament, and it isn’t even close. The only team that gave the Blue Devils a run for their money was Arizona, and Duke put up a whopping 100 points in that game. Blowouts of No. 2 Alabama and a good No. 9 Baylor have me convinced this is Duke’s year yet again.
2. Auburn Tigers
Defeated No. 16 Alabama State 83-63, No. 9 Creighton 82-70, No. 5 Michigan 78-65, No. 2 Michigan State 70-64
The Tigers needed to come back to beat Michigan, and then, despite the close score at the end, beat the brakes off the Big Ten regular season champs and send Tom Izzo and Sparty packing. Auburn is an absolute wagon right now, led by National Player of the Year candidate Johni Broome, and is the biggest threat to Duke to win it all.
3. Florida Gators
Defeated No. 16 Norfolk St. 95-69, No. 8 UConn 77-75, No. 4 Maryland 87-71, No. 3 Texas Tech 84-79
Florida has had a couple scares in this year’s tournament. The defending national champs in the UConn Huskies gave the Gators all they could handle. Then, Texas Tech was up six points with just two minutes left before Florida star guard Walter Clayton turned into the basketball equivalent of Beast Mode and carried the team on his back to victory. A Final Four matchup of Florida vs. Auburn is everything basketball fans could’ve asked for.
4. Houston Cougars
Defeated No. 16 SIU Edwardsville 78-40, No. 8 Gonzaga 81-76, No. 4 Purdue 62-60, No. 2 Tennessee 69-50
Houston is typically one of the more slept on higher seeds any given tournament, but especially this year with all the star power on the other No. 1 seeds. But the Cougars are a dangerous team when they are firing on all cylinders, as shown in the win over Tennessee when they shot 36 percent from beyond the arc and led by as many as 22 at one point. I don’t believe Houston will beat Duke, but it should be a fun game nonetheless.