March Madness: Four Bold Predictions for Men’s NCAA Tournament Elite Eight
Sports Illustrated • • general
Key Points:
- Arizona is predicted to win against Purdue by controlling the game's pace, leveraging their athleticism and defense to pull away late and reach their first Final Four since 2001.
- Iowa, led by first-year coach Ben McCollum and a roster largely composed of former Drake players, is expected to upset Illinois and continue their Cinderella run to the Final Four for the first time since 1980.
- Duke is favored to narrowly defeat UConn in a key Elite Eight matchup, with Duke's backcourt, including Caleb Foster and Cayden Boozer, expected to outplay UConn's guards and secure a second straight Final Four appearance.
- Michigan is projected to overpower Tennessee in the Elite Eight, relying on frontcourt strength and bench depth to advance to the Final Four and prevent Tennessee from reaching the Final Four for the second time under coach Rick Barnes.
