Men’s Final Four staff predictions: Why Arizona is (still) our favorite to win
The New York Times • • sports
Key Points:
- The upcoming Arizona-Michigan NCAA semifinal is widely regarded as a de facto national championship game, with both teams having spent time as No. 1 this season and showing dominance in the tournament.
- Among The Athletic’s 24 staff members surveyed, 19 predicted Arizona or Michigan to win the title, with Arizona receiving 12 votes as the favorite.
- Staff reasons for favoring Arizona include their depth, versatility, and strong backcourt, while Michigan is praised for its motivated, elite players and perimeter options.
- UConn and Illinois also received some support, particularly for coaching and resilience, but the consensus leans heavily toward Arizona and Michigan as the teams most likely to win the championship.
- Most Outstanding Player predictions favor Michigan’s Yaxel Lendeborg despite Arizona’s depth, noting it’s rare for the MOP to come from a non-championship team since 1983.
