{ "interaction_id": "751565af-f2db-4db0-9a1f-2582f1603b22", "search_results": [ { "page_name": "The Final Four: How the teams still standing booked a trip to Houston", "page_url": "https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/35959895/ranking-2023-men-march-madness-final-four", "page_snippet": "It's part of the reason his team is in the Final Four. Last summer, Nijel Pack decided that he wanted to leave Kansas State. He knew he'd have to be a point guard at the next level, and that spot in Manhattan, Kansas was manned by Markquis Nowell, the 2023 NCAA tournament hero who led the Wildcats ...Jim Larra\u00f1aga isn't against name, image and likeness (NIL) deals for his players. How could he be? It's part of the reason his team is in the Final Four. Last summer, Nijel Pack decided that he wanted to leave Kansas State. He knew he'd have to be a point guard at the next level, and that spot in Manhattan, Kansas was manned by Markquis Nowell, the 2023 NCAA tournament hero who led the Wildcats to the Elite Eight. Three first-time national semifinalists, plus one team whose last trip to this round resulted in a national title. There is certainly a narrative that FAU has had a fortuitous run -- aided by multiple upsets and the elimination of every 1-seed before the Elite Eight -- after turning its first NCAA tournament win in school history into a Final Four appearance. But that's not the full story. A team that has won 35 games thus far has reached this stage because it knows how to win in clutch moments. Now, the Huskies are like the kings of the Final Four, searching for their fifth national title since 1999, after winning their first four games by a 22.5 PPG margin of victory. They're the 10th NCAA tournament team to win their first four tournament games by 15 points or more, per ESPN Stats & Information research.", "page_result": "\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\n\n\n\nRanking the 2023 men's March Madness Final Four - ESPN\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\t
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          Ranking the 2023 men's March Madness Final Four

          • \"\"
            Myron Medcalf, ESPN Staff WriterMar 26, 2023, 07:40 PM ET
            Close
            • Covers college basketball\n
            • Joined ESPN.com in 2011\n
            • Graduate of Minnesota State University, Mankato
            Follow on X

          And then there were four.

          Don't lie and say you predicted this. This Elite Eight made history with the absence of all No. 1 seeds. Alabama, Kansas, Houston and Purdue all looked like potential champs two weeks ago when they all earned top seeds on Selection Sunday. They didn't even get a chance to play for a shot at the Final Four.

          But that chaos has produced a multitude of storylines. Florida Atlantic didn't have an NCAA tournament win prior to its Final Four run. And while they're never mentioned among the blue bloods, the UConn Huskies will pursue their fifth national championship since 1999 -- more than Duke and North Carolina, Kentucky and Kansas. Miami has a chance to win its first national championship after winning the ACC regular-season title. And San Diego State could cut down the nets for the first time in school history.

          But how do these teams stack up against one another? We're here to tell you.

          Here are our rankings of the Final Four teams.

          \"\"

          1. UConn Huskies (4-seed)
          \nPath to the Final Four:           87-63 vs. 13-seed Iona (first round); 70-55 vs. 5-seed Saint Mary's (second round); 88-65 vs. 8-seed Arkansas (Sweet 16); 82-54 vs. 3-seed Gonzaga (Elite Eight)

          UConn entered the NCAA tournament with one of the highest ceilings in the field. Back in November at the Phil Knight Invitational in Portland, Oregon, the Huskies beat Alabama, the NCAA tournament's top overall seed, by 15 points. Sure, it was early in the second round of the Knight tourney. But they proved they could battle a team with NBA talent and skill. They also beat Iowa State, which was coming off a win over then-No. 1 North Carolina, in the same event by 18 points.

          Across the first two months of 2022-23, UConn won 12 of its first 14 games by at least a 14-point margin of victory. It had a more difficult time in the Big East, where it finished behind league champion Marquette, Xavier and Creighton. But you could see the potential. Now, the Huskies are like the kings of the Final Four, searching for their fifth national title since 1999, after winning their first four games by a 22.5 PPG margin of victory. They're the 10th NCAA tournament team to win their first four tournament games by 15 points or more, per ESPN Stats & Information research.

          Against Gonzaga, which boasted the most efficient offense in America, UConn won by 28 points, the biggest win in the Elite Eight since 1992. The Huskies have also made 44% of their 3-pointers in the NCAA tournament. Adama Sanogo (20.0 PPG, 9.75 RPG in the NCAA tournament) has been unstoppable. The dominance could continue for Dan Hurley's team.

          Up next: vs. Miami (Saturday, 8:49 p.m. ET, CBS)

          \"\"

          2. Miami Hurricanes (5-seed)
          \nPath to the Final Four:           63-56 vs. 12-seed Drake (first round); 85-69 vs. 4-seed Indiana (second round); 89-75 vs. 1-seed Houston (Sweet 16); 88-81 vs. 2-seed Texas (Elite Eight)

          Jim Larra\u00f1aga isn't against name, image and likeness (NIL) deals for his players. How could he be? It's part of the reason his team is in the Final Four. Last summer, Nijel Pack decided that he wanted to leave Kansas State. He knew he'd have to be a point guard at the next level, and that spot in Manhattan, Kansas was manned by Markquis Nowell, the 2023 NCAA tournament hero who led the Wildcats to the Elite Eight. So Pack decided to make a change, and he was reportedly given a two-year, $800,000 NIL deal as a result. Isaiah Wong, the 2023 ACC Player of the Year, was reportedly unhappy with his NIL situation and threatened to leave last summer. All of that was resolved and he stayed.

          \"TV makes money, right? The shoe companies make money,\" Larra\u00f1aga said Saturday. \"The universities make money. The athletic directors, they run the program, and they benefit from their relationship with the shoe companies. And the coaches make a hell of a living. Well, what's wrong with that filtering down? It's a natural progression to our players.\"

          Even with the NIL assist -- common throughout collegiate sports for the last two seasons -- players have to find a way to learn how to play together. Chemistry remains an important key for any program. Per Larra\u00f1aga, Wong and Pack formed a bond the first day they arrived at the gym in Coral Gables last summer. Add key role players like Norchad Omier, Jordan Miller and Wooga Poplar, and you have a versatile team that has increased its defensive intensity in the NCAA tournament while continuing to play a hectic, free-flowing offensive style that helped it emerge from a double-digit deficit against Texas in the Elite Eight.

          This season began with reports of NIL deals. It will end with the Hurricanes, the co-regular-season champions of the ACC, capitalizing on their potential as a serious threat to win the national title.

          Up next: vs. UConn (Saturday, 8:49 p.m. ET, CBS)

          \"\"

          3. San Diego State Aztecs (5-seed)
          \nPath to the Final Four:           63-57 vs. 12-seed Charleston (first round); 75-52 vs. 13-seed Furman (second round); 71-64 vs. 1-seed Alabama (Sweet 16); 57-56 vs. 6-seed Creighton (Elite Eight)

          \"Defense wins championships.\" That's the mantra of college basketball, but it's not always true. Villanova (2016, 2018) and Virginia (2019) have been the only teams to finish top-10 in adjusted defensive efficiency on KenPom since 2015 and win a national title. Kansas was 17th last season. Two years ago, Memphis finished first in adjusted defensive efficiency and didn't even make the NCAA tournament. That said, the bulk of the national champions of the last 20 years could play elite defense.

          That quality has fueled San Diego State's run -- Brian Dutcher's squad is ranked first in adjusted defensive efficiency since Feb. 1, per barttorvik.com -- to its first Final Four. Charleston had the Colonial Athletic Association's best offense this season, but registered just 83 points per 100 possessions against SDSU in the first round. Furman had the best offense in the Southern Conference. Then it met SDSU in the second round, and scored just 52 points. Alabama was the top overall seed, and Brandon Miller is a projected top-five pick in the NBA draft. He finished 3-for-19, and SDSU knocked off a 1-seed to reach the Elite Eight.

          Creighton -- ranked 22nd in adjusted offensive efficiency -- had size and shooters at multiple spots. The Bluejays had offensive versatility. But SDSU's run continued. No team in the NCAA tournament has registered more than 90 points per 100 possessions against this squad. The Aztecs lack the offensive juice that's pushed past NCAA champions, although three different players (Matt Bradley, Lamont Butler, Darrion Trammell) have been their leading scorers in the tournament. But this defense is real. Could SDSU become the first modern team to win a title with elite defense alone? We'll find out.

          Up next: vs. FAU (Saturday, 6:09 p.m. ET, CBS)

          \"\"

          4. Florida Atlantic Owls (9-seed)
          \nPath to the Final Four:           66-65 vs. 8-seed Memphis (first round); 78-70 vs. 16-seed Fairleigh Dickinson (second round); 62-55 vs. 4-seed Tennessee (Sweet 16); 79-76 vs. 3-seed Kansas State (Elite Eight)

          Sometimes it's difficult to know what's real in the NCAA tournament. And when a field fails to produce a great team or two, it's because of the parity among the survivors. There is certainly a narrative that FAU has had a fortuitous run -- aided by multiple upsets and the elimination of every 1-seed before the Elite Eight -- after turning its first NCAA tournament win in school history into a Final Four appearance. But that's not the full story. A team that has won 35 games thus far has reached this stage because it knows how to win in clutch moments.

          With 10:01 left against Memphis in the first round, FAU was down seven points before coming back to win. The Owls lost their momentum -- and a seven-point halftime lead -- against Fairleigh Dickinson in the second round, but took it back in a thrilling eight-minute run before ultimately winning by eight. Down six against Tennessee, which boasted the top defense in America, midway through the second half -- FAU won that game by seven points. And the Owls were once again down seven against Kansas State with 12 minutes to go in the Elite Eight. But they battled again -- and won again.

          This is a team that has rehearsed victory all season, and in these critical moments hasn't lost its composure. And that's why Johnell Davis (17.2 PPG in the NCAA tournament) & Co. are here.

          Up next: vs. San Diego State (Saturday, 6:09 p.m. ET, CBS)

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          \n\t\t\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n\n\n \n\n\t\t\n\n\t\n", "page_last_modified": "" }, { "page_name": "Men's Final Four picks and other national predictions for 2023-24 ...", "page_url": "https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/38808287/men-final-four-picks-other-national-predictions-2023-24", "page_snippet": "Can anyone challenge Edey? Who's the mystery team to keep an eye on? ESPN's experts make their absolute final picks before the 2023-24 men's hoops season tips.The Vols might be the biggest athletic department never to reach a Final Four. In men's basketball that is. Rick Barnes has been consistently excellent since arriving in Knoxville, but unable to get past the Sweet 16, despite multiple top 10 teams on KenPom. This could (should?) be the year that changes. Myron Medcalf: It has to be the team in Lexington led by the guy with a national championship ring and a $33 million buyout. The relationship between John Calipari and Kentucky will be one of the biggest stories in college basketball this season. With the return of Antonio Reeves and a top-ranked recruiting class, he has the players to win big. But it has also been nearly a decade since he reached the Final Four. But it has also been nearly a decade since he reached the Final Four. Kentucky will be this year's Netflix drama either way. Miami made a surprising run to the Final Four last season -- and could once again be a mystery squad in 2023-24. Gregory Shamus/Getty Images Miami made a surprising run to the Final Four last season -- and could once again be a mystery squad in 2023-24. Gregory Shamus/Getty Images \u00b7 Gasaway: Can we just pencil in Miami here every season? Last year, the Hurricanes closed the regular season with two games at home in which they lost to Florida State and barely beat Pitt. Then Jim Larra\u00f1aga's group went to the Final Four as a No. 5 seed. Now pollsters have UM at No. 13, but laptops are warning us to stay far away from this team.", "page_result": "\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\n\n\n\nMen's Final Four picks and other national predictions for 2023-24 - ESPN\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\t
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                  Men's Final Four picks and other national predictions for 2023-24

                  Who will win the 2024 NCAA championship, and other final picks and predictions as the 2023-24 season gets underway. AP Photo/David J. Phillip
                  • ESPN
                  Nov 6, 2023, 07:15 AM ET

                  In what could be a season full of mystery, the 2023-24 men's college basketball season tips off Monday.

                  Zach Edey, the reigning Wooden Award winner, returns for Purdue, which hopes to duplicate Virginia's feat and put last year's first-round loss to Fairleigh Dickinson behind it with a national title run. The sport also hasn't had a back-to-back Wooden Award winner since former Virginia star Ralph Sampson Jr. 40 years ago. Could Edey follow Sampson?

                  Kansas big man Hunter Dickinson and Duke star Kyle Filipowski appear to be Edey's top competition in that race.

                  But this landscape lacks a juggernaut. There is no obvious front-runner. And that's usually a good thing. The new Big 12 (hello, Houston) appears to have multiple national title contenders. Of course, UConn hopes to repeat but it might not even be the best team in the Big East. Marquette or Creighton could claim that honor. The Pac-12's final season might not yield any grand headlines but Florida Atlantic's nucleus from the Final Four run will be one of the biggest stories in college basketball.

                  Either way, get your popcorn ready. College basketball is back and ESPN's experts -- Jeff Borzello, John Gasaway, Joe Lunardi and Myron Medcalf -- have a few last-minute picks and predictions.

                  2023-24 NATIONAL PREDICTIONS

                  The most interesting team

                  John Gasaway: In ways both good and potentially worrying, North Carolina is the pick here. In two seasons under Hubert Davis, the Tar Heels have carried a 15-point lead into halftime at the national championship game one year and missed the tournament entirely the next. What's the true \"new normal\" for one of the game's most storied programs?

                  Joe Lunardi: Tennessee belongs in the best-golfer-never-to-win-a-major category. The Vols might be the biggest athletic department never to reach a Final Four. In men's basketball that is. Rick Barnes has been consistently excellent since arriving in Knoxville, but unable to get past the Sweet 16, despite multiple top 10 teams on KenPom. This could (should?) be the year that changes.

                  Jeff Borzello: I'll go with FAU. The Owls are ranked in the preseason top 10 after making a run to the Final Four last season and bringing back all five starters. They're also a team that earned a 9-seed and was seconds away from losing in the first round to Memphis. Do they carry over the momentum? Or do they struggle with a target on their backs in a tougher league (moving from Conference USA to the AAC)?

                  Myron Medcalf: It has to be the team in Lexington led by the guy with a national championship ring and a $33 million buyout. The relationship between John Calipari and Kentucky will be one of the biggest stories in college basketball this season. With the return of Antonio Reeves and a top-ranked recruiting class, he has the players to win big. But it has also been nearly a decade since he reached the Final Four. Kentucky will be this year's Netflix drama either way.

                  The mystery team that will either be a bracket disruptor or a tournament disaster

                  Gasaway: Can we just pencil in Miami here every season? Last year, the Hurricanes closed the regular season with two games at home in which they lost to Florida State and barely beat Pitt. Then Jim Larra\u00f1aga's group went to the Final Four as a No. 5 seed. Now pollsters have UM at No. 13, but laptops are warning us to stay far away from this team. Mysterious!

                  Borzello: I have zero idea what to think about UCLA. On the one hand, the Bruins have Mick Cronin, a couple of potential one-and-done freshmen and they bring back Adem Bona on the interior. But there's hardly any other returning production on the roster, and their best freshmen are coming from overseas, so they will need time to adapt. They could fall anywhere from a second weekend team or barely make the tournament, and I wouldn't be surprised.

                  Medcalf: This honor belongs to the Maryland Terrapins. With the return of Jahmir Young, Julian Reese and Donta Scott and the addition of a strong recruiting class, Big Ten title contention and a second weekend run both seem possible for the Terps. But, this program has started 1-3 or worse in Big Ten play for the past three years and hasn't been to the Sweet 16 since 2016. Kevin Willard could change all of that this season, but I'll have to see it to believe it.

                  Lunardi: Let's make it a mystery conference, perhaps even one you've heard of. The Big Ten has collected a whopping 26 NCAA tournament bids the past three years and produced exactly Z-E-R-O teams in the Final Four. That should be impossible, considering 10 of those 26 were top-four seeds in their region. I call that disruption quite disastrous.

                  The first top 25 team to exit the NCAA tournament

                  Medcalf: I'll pick UConn. Why? Recent champs have had rough outings the year after their title runs (or two years later, in Virginia's case, since we didn't have a 2020 national championship). Duke's 2015-16 squad was the last national champion to reach the second weekend in the next NCAA tournament. How wild is that? The Huskies could get caught in a similar title hangover.

                  Lunardi: Gonzaga hasn't lost a first-round NCAA tournament game in 15 years, since a guy named Stephen Curry knocked the Bulldogs out. Mark Few is 14-0 in tourney openers since then and 20-3 overall during the Zags' incredible run. Bracketology loves the Zags, but even the best dealers bust occasionally.

                  Gasaway: It's not just UNC last year. History suggests making the preseason top 25 is no guarantee of reaching the tournament. Can we really be certain that, for example, Florida Atlantic will hear its name called next March? The Owls may pick up more losses (four or five?) in this year's new-look American than they did in last year's Conference USA (two).

                  Borzello: I don't want to take the easy way out and just pick No. 25 Illinois. So, going out on more of a limb, I'll go with Texas. The Longhorns' success this season will come down to Max Abmas. Arguably the nation's best scorer over the past three seasons, how will his production translate to the Big 12? If he's not putting up huge scoring numbers, I question how dynamic this team will be offensively.

                  A non-Power 5 school we'll all be rooting for

                  Medcalf: It has to be Florida Atlantic, right? It is the anti-transfer portal team. All of those talented players had opportunities to play for other schools after their Final Four run but instead returned to Boca Raton to chase a national championship. I remember the way the world latched onto Butler a year after Gordon Hayward's shot clanked off the rim in the national title game against Duke. I think the Owls could enjoy similar fanfare, even though they're in a league that's in a higher tier.

                  Borzello: Finally, Merrimack is eligible for the NCAA tournament. The Warriors haven't been allowed to go dancing since they were in the midst of their mandatory four-year transition from Division II to Division I, but look at what Joe Gallo has done in those four years: NEC regular-season titles in 2020 and 2023, NEC conference tournament title in 2023. It would be fitting if they get to the NCAA tournament in their first eligible season.

                  Gasaway: Move over, Syracuse. There's a new game in town, literally. Le Moyne is also located in Syracuse, New York, and this marks the first season at the Division I level for Nate Champion's group. Keep an eye on the Dolphins in the NEC all season. Fun fact: John Beilein coached Le Moyne in the 1980s and early 1990s.

                  Lunardi: Saint Mary's remains the best true mid-major in the country, sporting back-to-back No. 5 seeds and consecutive second-round NCAA appearances. The Gaels are back for another run and earned the top spot, over Gonzaga, in the WCC coach's poll. And they have a lifelong chaplain, Brother Bernie LoCoco, who at age 88 is 16 years younger than the ageless Sister Jean!

                  play
                  0:16
                  Max Fiedler makes a sweet dish

                  Max Fiedler makes a sweet dish

                  The player everyone should be paying a lot more attention to

                  Lunardi: Tucker DeVries of Drake doesn't just play like a coach's son, he is the son of Bulldogs head man Darian DeVries. Darian has averaged 24.4 wins over six seasons in Des Moines, including 25 and 27 with Tucker roaming the paint. This year's Bulldogs should be back in the NCAA tournament, this time with a real chance to win.

                  Gasaway: Max Fiedler at Rice. He was No. 1 in the nation in effective field goal percentage last season while also ranking No. 1 on the team for assist rate. At 6-11, Fiedler operates as a \"point center\" primarily from the top of the key.

                  Borzello: Tristan da Silva, Colorado. I cooled on the Buffs as the offseason progressed, although opening with them at No. 13 on the day last season ended obviously was too lofty. But, I still think they're a team that can win a game or two in March. And da Silva is the primary reason. He's a 6-foot-9 player from Germany who shot 39.4% from 3 last season and had 11 games of 20-plus points. He also might be the best returning player in the Pac-12.

                  Medcalf: Fine. I'll start the Drew Pember bandwagon. At 6-11, he had multiple 40-point games last year and he made 38% of his 3-pointers. At UNC Asheville Bulldogs, he won't get a lot of national TV buzz unless his team returns to the NCAA tournament. But he's a unique player in college basketball.

                  play
                  1:53
                  Hunter Dickinson's top plays from last season

                  Check out Hunter Dickinson's top plays of the 2022-23 season as he announced his transfer to Kansas.

                  The player not named Zach Edey who could win the Wooden Award

                  Borzello: Hunter Dickinson already has some level of name cachet, he's already been a productive college player and he's going to be the star of the preseason No. 1 Kansas Jayhawks. I think it will be very difficult to beat out Edey simply because he's such a force and his floor is so incredibly high, but if Dickinson can put up 19 and 9 on the best team in the country, there's certainly an argument.

                  Lunardi: See Hunter Dickinson above, who could easily end up as the best player on the best team in the country.

                  Gasaway: Kyle Filipowski, who, like Edey, will be the featured scorer on one of the best offenses in the country. As a sophomore, he will likely start hitting 3s, and he could put up gaudy single-name numbers to add to the buzz.

                  Medcalf: Dickinson and Filipowski are the answers here. But I'll add another name: Max Abmas. He has averaged 21.9 PPG, 22.8 PPG and 24.5 PPG the past three seasons at Oral Roberts. If Abmas puts up similar numbers with Texas in the Big 12, he'll be more than a cool storyline. He could be a serious contender for National Player of the Year honors.

                  The one storyline you're watching this season

                  Gasaway: Are there any great teams this season? Every year around January, without fail, people say there are none, and then I always act all omniscient and say, oh you just wait, one will emerge. That worked out well with the whole UConn thing in 2023, but this year? Not seeing that clear candidate yet.

                  Medcalf: I think it's Year 3 for Hubert Davis. This team soared from nowhere in his first season. It's easy to forget the Tar Heels had a double-digit lead on Kansas at halftime of the 2022 national title game. And then, we all know what happened last year with the fall from preseason No. 1 to missing the NCAA tournament. This year feels like a significant season, not only for Davis and his future but also for the program.

                  Lunardi: I'm fascinated by Hunter Dickinson and Kansas. Dickinson spent the summer as college basketball's first truly marketable free agent, cashing in a pay day that could exceed anything at the next level (just ask Drew Timme). Will it pay off in wins and championships for the Jayhawks? Only time will tell.

                  Borzello: Bronny James is the obvious one, but I'm also fascinated by John Calipari returning to the Calipari of a decade ago, and want to see if he can win with a rotation made up primarily of freshmen. Can you still win that way in 2023-24? He'll need his bigs to get healthy and he'll need D.J. Wagner to be awesome from day one, but there's enough talent here for Kentucky to be a factor come March. It might be a roller coaster between now and then, though.

                  2023-24 PICKS

                  FINAL FOUR PICKS (* NEXT TO THE NATIONAL CHAMPION)

                  Borzello: Kansas*, Michigan State, Tennessee, Baylor
                  \nGasaway: Kansas*, Purdue, Tennessee, Creighton
                  \nLunardi: Kansas*, Purdue, Duke, Tennessee
                  \nMedcalf: *Houston, Kansas, Purdue, Michigan State

                  WOODEN AWARD (PLAYER OF THE YEAR)

                  Borzello: Zach Edey, Purdue
                  \nGasaway: Zach Edey, Purdue
                  \nLunardi: Hunter Dickinson, Kansas
                  \nMedcalf: Kyle Filipowski, Duke

                  NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR

                  Borzello: Isaiah Collier, USC
                  \nGasaway: Isaiah Collier, USC
                  \nLunardi: D.J. Wagner, Kentucky
                  \nMedcalf: Isaiah Collier, USC

                  COACH OF THE YEAR

                  Borzello: Rick Barnes, Tennessee
                  \nGasaway: Greg McDermott, Creighton
                  \nLunardi: Rick Barnes, Tennessee
                  \nMedcalf: Kelvin Sampson, Houston

                  ALL-AMERICA TEAM

                  Borzello:
                  \nZach Edey, Purdue
                  \nHunter Dickinson, Kansas
                  \nKyle Filipowski, Duke
                  \nTyler Kolek, Marquette
                  \nArmando Bacot, North Carolina

                  Gasaway:
                  \nZach Edey, Purdue
                  \nKyle Filipowski, Duke
                  \nTyler Kolek, Marquette
                  \nWade Taylor IV, Texas A&M
                  \nJustin Moore, Villanova

                  Lunardi:
                  \nHunter Dickinson, Kansas
                  \nZach Edey, Purdue
                  \nKyle Filipowski, Duke
                  \nTyler Kolek, Marquette
                  \nWade Taylor IV, Texas A&M

                  Medcalf:
                  \nHunter Dickinson, Kansas
                  \nZach Edey, Purdue
                  \nKyle Filipowski, Duke
                  \nTyler Kolek, Marquette
                  \nArmando Bacot, North Carolina

                  \n
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                  \n\t\t\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n\n\n \n\n\t\t\n\n\t\n", "page_last_modified": "" }, { "page_name": "Final four - Wikipedia", "page_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Final_four", "page_snippet": "The NCAA also uses "Final Four" for other sports besides basketball, such as men's volleyball and women's volleyball championships. For ice hockey tournaments, the NCAA uses a variation of the term\u2014"Frozen Four". In 2023, the NBA also announced that their inaugural In-Season Tournament would ...The NCAA also uses \"Final Four\" for other sports besides basketball, such as men's volleyball and women's volleyball championships. For ice hockey tournaments, the NCAA uses a variation of the term\u2014\"Frozen Four\". In 2023, the NBA also announced that their inaugural In-Season Tournament would utilize a Final Four to be played at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. In sports, the final four is the last four teams remaining in a playoff tournament. Usually the final four compete in the two games of a single-elimination tournament's semi-final (penultimate) round. Of these teams, the two who win in the semi-final round play another single-elimination game whose winner is the tournament champion. Usually the final four compete in the two games of a single-elimination tournament's semi-final (penultimate) round. Of these teams, the two who win in the semi-final round play another single-elimination game whose winner is the tournament champion. In some tournaments, the two teams that lose in the semi-final round compete for third place in a consolation game. Previously, it was believed that the phrase \"final four\" first appeared in print in a 1975 article for the Official Collegiate Basketball Guide, whose author Ed Chay was a sportswriter for the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Chay stated that the Marquette basketball team \"was one of the final four\" during the previous season's tournament. Chay stated that the Marquette basketball team \"was one of the final four\" during the previous season's tournament. The myth that \"final four\" was first used in 1975 is refuted by the fact that the term \"final four\" was in widespread use in descriptions of the NCAA basketball tournament by the 1960s.", "page_result": "\n\n\n\nFinal four - Wikipedia\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nJump to content\n
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                  Final four

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                  From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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                  This article is about the sports term. For other uses, see Final Four (disambiguation).
                  \n
                  Last four teams remaining in a sports playoff tournament
                  \n
                  An example of a Final 4 event
                  \n

                  In sports, the final four is the last four teams remaining in a playoff tournament. Usually the final four compete in the two games of a single-elimination tournament's semi-final (penultimate) round. Of these teams, the two who win in the semi-final round play another single-elimination game whose winner is the tournament champion. In some tournaments, the two teams that lose in the semi-final round compete for third place in a consolation game.\n

                  \n\n

                  History[edit]

                  \n

                  The term \"final four\" is most often used in the United States and in sports heavily influenced by that country; elsewhere, only the term \"semi-finals\" is in common use. Previously, it was believed that the phrase \"final four\" first appeared in print in a 1975 article for the Official Collegiate Basketball Guide, whose author Ed Chay was a sportswriter for the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Chay stated that the Marquette basketball team \"was one of the final four\" during the previous season's tournament. The myth that \"final four\" was first used in 1975 is refuted by the fact that the term \"final four\" was in widespread use in descriptions of the NCAA basketball tournament by the 1960s.[1] For example, Bill Mayer of the Kansas-based Lawrence Daily Journal World wrote in 1966, \"What a great year it could be if ... KU ... could advance to the NCAA Final Four by winning the regional here.\"[2] The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) later trademarked the term.[3][4]\n

                  \n
                  \"The
                  \n

                  The oldest and most common use of the term is in reference to the final four teams in the annual NCAA basketball tournaments: each Final Four team is the champion from one of four regions of the tournament. These regional champions then travel from the four separate sites of their regional rounds to a common venue for the Final Four. A team must advance through multiple rounds of play\u2014typically winning four consecutive games in a field of 64 (or 68) teams\u2014to qualify for the Final Four. These four teams are matched against each other on the last weekend of the tournament. The Final Four of the men's Division I tournament is traditionally held on a Saturday, while the Final Four of the women's Division I tournament is usually played on a Friday.\n

                  The NCAA also uses \"Final Four\" for other sports besides basketball, such as men's volleyball and women's volleyball championships. For ice hockey tournaments, the NCAA uses a variation of the term\u2014\"Frozen Four\".\n

                  In 2023, the NBA also announced that their inaugural In-Season Tournament would utilize a Final Four to be played at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.[5]\n

                  \n

                  Registered trademark[edit]

                  \n

                  Because the term is now a registered trademark of the NCAA in the U.S., no other organizations in that country can use the phrase to refer to their tournaments. Organizations in other countries may officially do so. Many basketball organizations outside the U.S. use the term for the semifinal and final rounds of their tournaments such as the FIBA Americas League (FIBA Americas League Final 4), the EuroLeague (EuroLeague Final Four), the Champions League (Champions League Final Four), the Israeli Premier League, the Philippine NCAA, and the University Athletic Association of the Philippines. The CEV Champions League in volleyball also uses \"Final Four\" for its final rounds.[citation needed]\n

                  Despite the NCAA's registration of \"Final Four\" as a trademark, the term is still widely used by sportswriters, fans etc. to denote participants in semifinal rounds of professional postseason playoffs, such as those of the League Championship Series in Major League Baseball, the conference championship games in the National Football League, and the conference championship series in both the National Basketball Association and the National Hockey League.\n

                  \n

                  Non-sports use[edit]

                  \n

                  \"Final Four\" was used to refer to the crew of STS-135, the final Space Shuttle mission.[6][7]\n

                  The term has also been used in some television shows to denote the last remaining four contestants, such as the Philippine TV series StarStruck and the reality show Survivor.[citation needed]\n

                  \n

                  See also[edit]

                  \n\n

                  References[edit]

                  \n
                  \n
                    \n
                  1. ^ Terre Haute Tribune Star (June 17, 1962). \"Butler to Play Buckeye Cagers\". Retrieved March 27, 2022.\n
                    2. \n
                  2. ^ Mayer, Bill (December 26, 1966). \"Sport Talk\". Lawrence Daily Journal World. Retrieved March 27, 2022.\n
                    3. \n
                  3. ^ Koerner, Brendan (March 18, 2004). \"Why Is It Called \"March Madness\"?\". Slate.com. Slate. Retrieved March 9, 2016.\n
                    4. \n
                  4. ^ Lubinger, Bill (March 14, 2011). \"Interested in making some profit from the Final Four? That's just March Madness (for your lawyers)\". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved March 9, 2016. Was a mere passing reference by Ed Chay, the late Plain Dealer sportswriter, in a story he wrote on page 5 of the 1975 Official Collegiate Basketball Guide. 'Outspoken Al McGuire of Marquette, whose team was one of the final four in Greensboro, was among several coaches who said it was good for college basketball that UCLA was finally beaten,' Chay wrote. Previously, it was erroneously reported that the first capitalized use of 'Final Four' was in the NCAA's 1978 basketball guide, when (as shown above) Final Four was in capitalized use at least by 1966.\n
                    5. \n
                  5. ^ \"In-Season Tournament 101: Rules, format and how it works\". National Basketball Association. 8 July 2023. Retrieved 9 July 2023.\n
                    6. \n
                  6. ^ Irene Klotz (July 21, 2011). \"NASA's 'Final Four' astronauts close out shuttle era\". Reuters.\n
                    7. \n
                  7. ^ Seth Borenstein (July 22, 2011). \"Crowd to NASA's 'Final Four' astronauts: Welcome Home\". Associated Press via MSNBC. Archived from the original on October 4, 2012.\n
                    8. \n
                  \n

                  External links[edit]

                  \n
                  \n
                  \n
                  \"\"
                  \n
                  Look up final four in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
                  \n
                  \n\n
                  Tournaments
                  Structure
                  Champions & awards
                  Media & culture
                  Records & statistics
                  \n
                  Tournaments
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                  Structure
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                  \n\n\n\n\n
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                  Retrieved from \"https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Final_four&oldid=1164745411\"
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                  \n\n\n\n", "page_last_modified": " Mon, 11 Mar 2024 02:27:23 GMT" }, { "page_name": "2023 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament - Wikipedia", "page_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_NCAA_Division_I_men's_basketball_tournament", "page_snippet": "The 2023 Final Four was also marked by its lack of highly touted high school prospects. For the first time since the NCAA began seeding the tournament in 1979, no former McDonald's All-American participated in the Final Four. Of the rotation players on the Final Four teams (those receiving ...The 2023 Final Four was also marked by its lack of highly touted high school prospects. For the first time since the NCAA began seeding the tournament in 1979, no former McDonald's All-American participated in the Final Four. Of the rotation players on the Final Four teams (those receiving regular playing time), the highest-ranked in the composite recruiting rankings of 247Sports was UConn's Jordan Hawkins, who was #51 in the 2021 class. This is also the third Final Four without any 1-seeds since the tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985, with the first two being in 2006 and 2011, the second time without any 1 or 2 seeds (2011), and the first time in Final Four history without any teams seeded 1\u20133. With FAU (Conference USA) and SDSU (Mountain West Conference), the Final Four had two mid-major teams for the first time since 2011's Butler and VCU. The 2023 Final Four was also marked by its lack of highly touted high school prospects. Eight teams (the four-lowest seeded automatic qualifiers and the four lowest-seeded at-large teams) played in the First Four. The winners of those games advanced to the main tournament bracket. The following are the sites selected to host the each round of the 2023 tournament: ... Madison Square Garden, New York, New York (Hosts: Big East Conference, St. John's University) ... NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas (Hosts: University of Houston, Rice University, Houston Christian University, Texas Southern University) Houston hosted the Final Four for the fourth time, having previously hosted in 1971, 2011 and 2016. The following are the sites selected to host the each round of the 2023 tournament: ... Madison Square Garden, New York, New York (Hosts: Big East Conference, St. John's University) ... NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas (Hosts: University of Houston, Rice University, Houston Christian University, Texas Southern University) Houston hosted the Final Four for the fourth time, having previously hosted in 1971, 2011 and 2016. ... Michigan St. ... Montana St. ... Kennesaw St. ... Arizona St. ... class=notpageimage| Teams that participated in the 2023 tournament by region. Houston hosted the Final Four for the fourth time, having previously hosted in 1971, 2011 and 2016. ... Michigan St. ... Montana St. ... Kennesaw St. ... Arizona St. ... class=notpageimage| Teams that participated in the 2023 tournament by region. South Region (red), East Region (blue), Midwest Region (green), and West Region (purple)", "page_result": "\n\n\n\n2023 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament - Wikipedia\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nJump to content\n
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                  2023 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament

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                  \n
                  2023 NCAA Division I
                  men's basketball tournament
                  Season2022–23
                  Teams68
                  Finals siteNRG Stadium
                  Houston, Texas
                  ChampionsUConn Huskies (5th title, 5th title game,
                  6th Final Four)
                  Runner-upSan Diego State Aztecs (1st title game,
                  1st Final Four)
                  Semifinalists
                  Winning coachDan Hurley (1st title)
                  MOPAdama Sanogo (UConn)
                  \n\n\n\n
                  NCAA Division I men's tournaments
                  «20222024»
                  \n

                  The 2023 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament involved 68 teams playing in a single-elimination tournament that determined the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I men's basketball national champion for the 2022\u201323 season. The 84th annual edition of the tournament began on March 14, 2023, and concluded with the UConn Huskies defeating the San Diego State Aztecs, 76\u201359 in the championship game on April 3 at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.[1]\n

                  ASUN champion Kennesaw State made its NCAA tournament debut, while Southern Conference champion Furman made its first NCAA appearance since 1980. Another school, Texas Southern, won the SWAC tournament to tie the Coppin State Eagles in 2008 and Liberty Flames in 2013 for most losses ever to make the tournament, with 20.[2]\n

                  For only the second time in history, a 16-seed defeated a 1-seed, when Fairleigh Dickinson upset Purdue in the first round 63\u201358 in Columbus.[3] Coincidentally, much like the previous time a top seed lost in Round 1, the regional final was contested between a mid-major (in this case Florida Atlantic) and Kansas State.\n

                  For the third consecutive year, and seventh time since 2012, a 15-seed defeated a 2-seed in the tournament. This time, 15-seed Princeton upset 2-seed Arizona 59\u201355 in Sacramento for the Tigers' first tournament win since 1998. Arizona became the first team to lose to a 15-seed team twice, with the first loss being against the Santa Clara Broncos in 1993.[4] For the third consecutive year as well, a 15-seed reached the Sweet 16 as Princeton subsequently defeated Missouri in the second round, and making it 16 consecutive tournaments since 2007 where a double-digit seed made the regional semifinals.[5] Missouri subsequently became the second team to lose to a 15-seed twice, albeit on different seed lines, as the Tigers were a 7-seed losing to Princeton and a 2-seed when they fell to Norfolk State in 2012.\n

                  Additionally, Virginia was knocked out in the first round as a top-four seed for the third time in five years, and second straight time as a 4-seed when they were upset by 13-seed Furman.[6]\n

                  The defending national champions Kansas Jayhawks were eliminated in the second round, against the Arkansas Razorbacks. It was the sixth straight tournament where the defending champion failed to make the Sweet Sixteen.[7]\n

                  With Alabama and Houston's eliminations in the Sweet Sixteen, this marks the first ever NCAA Tournament where all top seeds in the regions were knocked out prior to the Elite Eight.[8] This year had the fewest combined 1- and 2-seeds left in the Elite Eight in tournament history, with only 2-seed Texas remaining.[9]\n

                  Three teams made their first Final Four appearance in this tournament for the first time since 1970. The Florida Atlantic Owls defeated 3-seed Kansas State to become just the second 9-seed to advance to the Final Four since the tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985, joining Wichita State in 2013.[10] FAU also became the first team since George Mason in 2006 to make the Final Four in the same season that it earned its first NCAA tournament win.[11] The 5-seed San Diego State Aztecs defeated 6-seed Creighton Bluejays and the 5-seed Miami Hurricanes defeated 2-seed Texas Longhorns to advance to their first Final Four in program history. This is also the third Final Four without any 1-seeds since the tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985, with the first two being in 2006 and 2011, the second time without any 1 or 2 seeds (2011), and the first time in Final Four history without any teams seeded 1\u20133. With FAU (Conference USA) and SDSU (Mountain West Conference), the Final Four had two mid-major teams for the first time since 2011's Butler and VCU. \n

                  The 2023 Final Four was also marked by its lack of highly touted high school prospects. For the first time since the NCAA began seeding the tournament in 1979, no former McDonald's All-American participated in the Final Four. Of the rotation players on the Final Four teams (those receiving regular playing time), the highest-ranked in the composite recruiting rankings of 247Sports was UConn's Jordan Hawkins, who was #51 in the 2021 class. Only eight rotation players in the Final Four were even ranked in the top 100; by contrast, 12 players were unranked in high school. Two teams, Florida Atlantic and San Diego State, had no top-100 players, with FAU's nine-man rotation featuring six unranked players and only one in the top 200.[12]\n

                  \n\n

                  Procedures[edit]

                  \n
                  Further information: NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament \u00a7 Tournament format
                  \n

                  A total of 68 teams participated in the tournament with 32 automatic bids being filled by each program that won its conference tournament. The remaining 36 bids were issued \"at-large\", with selections extended by the NCAA Selection Committee on Selection Sunday, March 12.[13] The Selection Committee also seeded the entire field from 1 to 68.\n

                  Eight teams (the four-lowest seeded automatic qualifiers and the four lowest-seeded at-large teams) played in the First Four. The winners of those games advanced to the main tournament bracket.\n

                  \n

                  Schedule and venues[edit]

                  \n

                  The following are the sites selected to host the each round of the 2023 tournament:[14]\n

                  \n
                  \"2023
                  \"Dayton\"
                  Dayton
                  \"Orlando\"
                  Orlando
                  \"Birmingham\"
                  Birmingham
                  \"Des
                  Des Moines
                  \"Sacramento\"
                  Sacramento
                  \"Albany\"
                  Albany
                  \"Greensboro\"
                  Greensboro
                  \"Columbus\"
                  Columbus
                  \"Denver\"
                  Denver
                  class=notpageimage|
                  2023 First Four (orange) and first and second rounds (green)
                  \n
                  \"2023
                  \"New
                  New York
                  \"Las
                  Las Vegas
                  \"Louisville\"
                  Louisville
                  \"Kansas
                  Kansas City
                  \"Houston\"
                  Houston
                  class=notpageimage|
                  2023 Regionals (blue) and Final Four (red)
                  \n

                  First Four\n

                  \n\n

                  First and second rounds (subregionals)\n

                  \n\n

                  Regional semi-finals and finals (Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight)\n

                  \n\n

                  National semi-finals and championship (Final Four)\n

                  \n\n

                  Houston hosted the Final Four for the fourth time, having previously hosted in 1971, 2011 and 2016.[15]\n

                  \n

                  Qualification and selection of teams[edit]

                  \n
                  Further information: 2023 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament qualifying teams
                  \n
                  class=notpageimage|
                  Teams that participated in the 2023 tournament by region. South Region (red), East Region (blue), Midwest Region (green), and West Region (purple)
                  \n

                  Automatic qualifiers[edit]

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                  Automatic qualifiers[16]\n
                  Conference\nTeam\nAppearance\nLast bid\n
                  America East\nVermont\n9th\n2022\n
                  American\nMemphis\n28th\n2022\n
                  Atlantic 10\nVCU\n18th\n2021\n
                  ACC\nDuke\n45th\n2022\n
                  ASUN\nKennesaw State\n1st\nNever\n
                  Big 12\nTexas\n37th\n2022\n
                  Big East\nMarquette\n35th\n2022\n
                  Big Sky\nMontana State\n5th\n2022\n
                  Big South\nUNC Asheville\n5th\n2016\n
                  Big Ten\nPurdue\n34th\n2022\n
                  Big West\nUC Santa Barbara\n7th\n2021\n
                  CAA\nCharleston\n6th\n2018\n
                  C-USA\nFlorida Atlantic\n2nd\n2002\n
                  Horizon\nNorthern Kentucky\n3rd\n2019\n
                  Ivy League\nPrinceton\n26th\n2017\n
                  MAAC\nIona\n16th\n2021\n
                  MAC\nKent State\n7th\n2017\n
                  MEAC\nHoward\n3rd\n1992\n
                  Missouri Valley\nDrake\n6th\n2021\n
                  Mountain West\nSan Diego State\n15th\n2022\n
                  NEC\nFairleigh Dickinson[A]\n7th\n2019\n
                  Ohio Valley\nSoutheast Missouri State\n2nd\n2000\n
                  Pac-12\nArizona\n37th\n2022\n
                  Patriot\nColgate\n6th\n2022\n
                  SEC\nAlabama\n24th\n2022\n
                  Southern\nFurman\n7th\n1980\n
                  Southland\nTexas A&M\u2013Corpus Christi\n3rd\n2022\n
                  SWAC\nTexas Southern\n11th\n2022\n
                  Summit League\nOral Roberts\n7th\n2021\n
                  Sun Belt\nLouisiana\n9th\n2014\n
                  WCC\nGonzaga\n25th\n2022\n
                  WAC\nGrand Canyon\n2nd\n2021\n
                  \n

                  Seeds[edit]

                  \n

                  The tournament seeds and regions were determined through the NCAA basketball tournament selection process and were published by the selection committee after the brackets were released.\n

                  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
                  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
                  South Regional \u2013 KFC Yum! Center, Louisville, KY\n
                  Seed\nSchool\nConference\nRecord\nOverall Seed\nBerth type\nLast bid\n
                  1\nAlabama\nSEC\n29\u20135\n1\nAutomatic\n2022\n
                  2\nArizona\nPac\u201312\n28\u20136\n7\nAutomatic\n2022\n
                  3\nBaylor\nBig 12\n22\u201310\n9\nAt large\n2022\n
                  4\nVirginia\nACC\n25\u20137\n16\nAt large\n2021\n
                  5\nSan Diego State\nMountain West\n27\u20136\n17\nAutomatic\n2022\n
                  6\nCreighton\nBig East\n21\u201312\n22\nAt large\n2022\n
                  7\nMissouri\nSEC\n24\u20139\n27\nAt large\n2021\n
                  8\nMaryland\nBig Ten\n21\u201312\n31\nAt large\n2021\n
                  9\nWest Virginia\nBig 12\n19\u201314\n34\nAt large\n2021\n
                  10\nUtah State\nMountain West\n26\u20138\n40\nAt large\n2021\n
                  11\nNorth Carolina State\nACC\n23\u201310\n41\nAt large\n2018\n
                  12\nCharleston\nColonial\n31\u20133\n47\nAutomatic\n2018\n
                  13\nFurman\nSouthern\n27\u20137\n53\nAutomatic\n1980\n
                  14\nUC Santa Barbara\nBig West\n27\u20137\n56\nAutomatic\n2021\n
                  15\nPrinceton\nIvy\n21\u20138\n61\nAutomatic\n2017\n
                  16*\nTexas A&M\u2013Corpus Christi\nSouthland\n23\u201310\n65\nAutomatic\n2022\n
                  Southeast Missouri State\nOhio Valley\n19\u201316\n67\nAutomatic\n2000\n
                  \n
                  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
                  East Regional \u2013 Madison Square Garden, New York, NY\n
                  Seed\nSchool\nConference\nRecord\nOverall Seed\nBerth type\nLast bid\n
                  1\nPurdue\nBig Ten\n29\u20135\n4\nAutomatic\n2022\n
                  2\nMarquette\nBig East\n28\u20136\n8\nAutomatic\n2022\n
                  3\nKansas State\nBig 12\n23\u20139\n11\nAt large\n2019\n
                  4\nTennessee\nSEC\n23\u201310\n14\nAt large\n2022\n
                  5\nDuke\nACC\n26\u20138\n18\nAutomatic\n2022\n
                  6\nKentucky\nSEC\n21\u201311\n23\nAt large\n2022\n
                  7\nMichigan State\nBig Ten\n19\u201312\n26\nAt large\n2022\n
                  8\nMemphis\nAmerican\n26\u20138\n29\nAutomatic\n2022\n
                  9\nFlorida Atlantic\nC-USA\n31\u20133\n33\nAutomatic\n2002\n
                  10\nUSC\nPac\u201312\n22\u201310\n39\nAt large\n2022\n
                  11\nProvidence\nBig East\n21\u201311\n42\nAt large\n2022\n
                  12\nOral Roberts\nSummit\n30\u20134\n48\nAutomatic\n2021\n
                  13\nLouisiana\nSun Belt\n26\u20137\n54\nAutomatic\n2014\n
                  14\nMontana State\nBig Sky\n25\u20139\n58\nAutomatic\n2022\n
                  15\nVermont\nAmerica East\n23\u201310\n59\nAutomatic\n2022\n
                  16*\nTexas Southern\nSWAC\n14\u201320\n66\nAutomatic\n2022\n
                  Fairleigh Dickinson\nNortheast\n19\u201315\n68\nAutomatic\n2019\n
                  \n
                  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
                  Midwest Regional \u2013 T-Mobile Center, Kansas City, MO\n
                  Seed\nSchool\nConference\nRecord\nOverall Seed\nBerth type\nLast bid\n
                  1\nHouston\nAmerican\n31\u20133\n2\nAt large\n2022\n
                  2\nTexas\nBig 12\n26\u20138\n6\nAutomatic\n2022\n
                  3\nXavier\nBig East\n25\u20139\n12\nAt large\n2018\n
                  4\nIndiana\nBig Ten\n22\u201311\n15\nAt large\n2022\n
                  5\nMiami (FL)\nACC\n25\u20137\n20\nAt large\n2022\n
                  6\nIowa State\nBig 12\n19\u201313\n21\nAt large\n2022\n
                  7\nTexas A&M\nSEC\n25\u20139\n25\nAt large\n2018\n
                  8\nIowa\nBig Ten\n19\u201313\n32\nAt large\n2022\n
                  9\nAuburn\nSEC\n20\u201312\n35\nAt large\n2022\n
                  10\nPenn State\nBig Ten\n22\u201313\n38\nAt large\n2011\n
                  11*\nMississippi State\nSEC\n21\u201312\n43\nAt large\n2019\n
                  Pittsburgh\nACC\n22\u201311\n44\nAt large\n2016\n
                  12\nDrake\nMissouri Valley\n27\u20137\n49\nAutomatic\n2021\n
                  13\nKent State\nMAC\n28\u20136\n51\nAutomatic\n2017\n
                  14\nKennesaw State\nASUN\n26\u20138\n55\nAutomatic\nNever\n
                  15\nColgate\nPatriot\n26\u20138\n60\nAutomatic\n2022\n
                  16\nNorthern Kentucky\nHorizon\n22\u201312\n63\nAutomatic\n2019\n
                  \n
                  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
                  West Regional \u2013 T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, NV\n
                  Seed\nSchool\nConference\nRecord\nOverall Seed\nBerth type\nLast bid\n
                  1\nKansas\nBig 12\n27\u20137\n3\nAt large\n2022\n
                  2\nUCLA\nPac\u201312\n29\u20135\n5\nAt large\n2022\n
                  3\nGonzaga\nWest Coast\n28\u20135\n10\nAutomatic\n2022\n
                  4\nUConn\nBig East\n25\u20138\n13\nAt large\n2022\n
                  5\nSaint Mary's\nWest Coast\n26\u20137\n19\nAt large\n2022\n
                  6\nTCU\nBig 12\n21\u201312\n24\nAt large\n2022\n
                  7\nNorthwestern\nBig Ten\n21\u201311\n28\nAt large\n2017\n
                  8\nArkansas\nSEC\n20\u201313\n30\nAt large\n2022\n
                  9\nIllinois\nBig Ten\n20\u201312\n36\nAt large\n2022\n
                  10\nBoise State\nMountain West\n24\u20139\n37\nAt large\n2022\n
                  11*\nArizona State\nPac\u201312\n22\u201312\n45\nAt large\n2019\n
                  Nevada\nMountain West\n22\u201310\n46\nAt large\n2019\n
                  12\nVCU\nAtlantic 10\n27\u20137\n50\nAutomatic\n2021\n
                  13\nIona\nMAAC\n27\u20137\n52\nAutomatic\n2021\n
                  14\nGrand Canyon\nWAC\n24\u201311\n57\nAutomatic\n2021\n
                  15\nUNC Asheville\nBig South\n27\u20137\n62\nAutomatic\n2016\n
                  16\nHoward\nMEAC\n22\u201312\n64\nAutomatic\n1992\n
                  \n
                  \n

                  *See First Four
                  \nSource:[17]\n


                  \n

                  \n

                  Bracket[edit]

                  \n

                  Source:[18]
                  \nAll times are listed in Eastern Daylight Time (UTC\u22124)
                  \n* denotes overtime period\n

                  \n

                  First Four \u2013 Dayton, OH[edit]

                  \n
                  See also: UD Arena
                  \n

                  The First Four games involve eight teams: the four lowest-seeded automatic qualifiers and the four lowest-seeded at-large teams.\n

                  \n
                  March 14 \u2013 South Regional\n
                     
                  16\nTexas A&M\u2013Corpus Christi\n75\n
                  16\nSE Missouri State\n71\n
                  \n
                  March 14 \u2013 Midwest Regional\n
                     
                  11\nMississippi State\n59\n
                  11\nPittsburgh\n60\n
                  \n
                  March 15 \u2013 East Regional\n
                     
                  16\nTexas Southern\n61\n
                  16\nFairleigh Dickinson\n84\n
                  \n
                  March 15 \u2013 West Regional\n
                     
                  11\nArizona State\n98\n
                  11\nNevada\n73\n
                  \n
                  \n

                  South regional \u2013 KFC Yum! Center, Louisville, KY[edit]

                  \n
                  See also: Louisville, Kentucky
                  \n
                  First round
                  Round of 64
                  March 16\u201317\n                  		Second round
                  Round of 32
                  March 18\u201319\n                  		Regional semifinals
                  Sweet 16
                  March 24\n                  		Regional Final
                  Elite 8
                  March 26\n
                              
                  1\nAlabama\n96\n
                  16\nTexas A&M\u2013Corpus Christi\n75\n
                  1\nAlabama\n73\n
                  Birmingham \u2013 Thu/Sat\n
                  8\nMaryland\n51\n
                  8\nMaryland\n67\n
                  9\nWest Virginia\n65\n
                  1\nAlabama\n64\n
                  \n
                  5\nSan Diego State\n71\n
                  5\nSan Diego State\n63\n
                  12\nCharleston\n57\n
                  5\nSan Diego State\n75\n
                  Orlando \u2013 Thu/Sat\n
                  13\nFurman\n52\n
                  4\nVirginia\n67\n
                  13\nFurman\n68\n
                  5\nSan Diego State\n57\n
                  \n
                  6\nCreighton\n56\n
                  6\nCreighton\n72\n
                  11\nNorth Carolina State\n63\n
                  6\nCreighton\n85\n
                  Denver \u2013 Fri/Sun\n
                  3\nBaylor\n76\n
                  3\nBaylor\n74\n
                  14\nUC Santa Barbara\n56\n
                  6\nCreighton\n86\n
                  \n
                  15\nPrinceton\n75\n
                  7\nMissouri\n76\n
                  10\nUtah State\n65\n
                  7\nMissouri\n63\n
                  Sacramento \u2013 Thu/Sat\n
                  15\nPrinceton\n78\n
                  2\nArizona\n55\n
                  15\nPrinceton\n59\n
                  \n

                  South regional final[edit]

                  \n
                  \n\n\n
                  \n
                  \n\n\n
                  March 26
                  2:20 pm EDT
                  \n
                  \n\n\n
                  \n
                  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
                  No. 6 Creighton Bluejays 56, No. 5 San Diego State Aztecs 57\n
                  Scoring by half: 33\u201328, 23\u201329
                  Pts: Ryan Kalkbrenner, 17
                  Rebs: Baylor Scheierman, 9
                  Asts: Baylor Scheierman, 4                  		Pts: Lamont Butler, 18
                  Rebs: Nathan Mensah, 6
                  Asts: tied, 2
                  \n\n\n
                  KFC Yum! Center \u2013 Louisville, Kentucky
                  Attendance: 20,051
                  Referees: Joe Lindsay, Michael Irving, Lee Cassell
                  \n
                  \n

                  South regional all-tournament team[edit]

                  \n\n

                  East regional \u2013 Madison Square Garden, New York, NY[edit]

                  \n
                  See also: New York City
                  \n
                  First round
                  Round of 64
                  March 16\u201317\n                  		Second round
                  Round of 32
                  March 18\u201319\n                  		Regional semifinals
                  Sweet 16
                  March 23\n                  		Regional Final
                  Elite 8
                  March 25\n
                              
                  1\nPurdue\n58\n
                  16\nFairleigh Dickinson\n63\n
                  16\nFairleigh Dickinson\n70\n
                  Columbus \u2013 Fri/Sun\n
                  9\nFlorida Atlantic\n78\n
                  8\nMemphis\n65\n
                  9\nFlorida Atlantic\n66\n
                  9\nFlorida Atlantic\n62\n
                  \n
                  4\nTennessee\n55\n
                  5\nDuke\n74\n
                  12\nOral Roberts\n51\n
                  5\nDuke\n52\n
                  Orlando \u2013 Thu/Sat\n
                  4\nTennessee\n65\n
                  4\nTennessee\n58\n
                  13\nLouisiana\n55\n
                  9\nFlorida Atlantic\n79\n
                  \n
                  3\nKansas State\n76\n
                  6\nKentucky\n61\n
                  11\nProvidence\n53\n
                  6\nKentucky\n69\n
                  Greensboro \u2013 Fri/Sun\n
                  3\nKansas State\n75\n
                  3\nKansas State\n77\n
                  14\nMontana State\n65\n
                  3\nKansas State\n98*\n
                  \n
                  7\nMichigan State\n93\n
                  7\nMichigan State\n72\n
                  10\nUSC\n62\n
                  7\nMichigan State\n69\n
                  Columbus \u2013 Fri/Sun\n
                  2\nMarquette\n60\n
                  2\nMarquette\n78\n
                  15\nVermont\n61\n
                  \n

                  East regional final[edit]

                  \n
                  \n\n\n
                  \n
                  \n\n\n
                  March 25
                  6:09 pm EDT
                  \n
                  \n\n\n
                  \n
                  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
                  No. 9 Florida Atlantic Owls 79, No. 3 Kansas State Wildcats 76\n
                  Scoring by half: 42\u201338, 37\u201338
                  Pts: Alijah Martin, 17
                  Rebs: Vladislav Goldin, 13
                  Asts: Johnell Davis, 6                  		Pts: Markquis Nowell, 30
                  Rebs: Nae\u2019Qwan Tomlin, 6
                  Asts: Markquis Nowell, 12
                  \n\n\n
                  Madison Square Garden \u2013 New York, New York
                  Attendance: 19,680
                  Referees: Doug Sirmons, Doug Shows, Earl Walton
                  \n
                  \n

                  East regional all-tournament team[edit]

                  \n\n

                  Midwest regional \u2013 T-Mobile Center, Kansas City, MO[edit]

                  \n
                  See also: Kansas City, Missouri
                  \n
                  First round
                  Round of 64
                  March 16\u201317\n                  		Second round
                  Round of 32
                  March 18\u201319\n                  		Regional semifinals
                  Sweet 16
                  March 24\n                  		Regional Final
                  Elite 8
                  March 26\n
                              
                  1\nHouston\n63\n
                  16\nNorthern Kentucky\n52\n
                  1\nHouston\n81\n
                  Birmingham \u2013 Thu/Sat\n
                  9\nAuburn\n64\n
                  8\nIowa\n75\n
                  9\nAuburn\n83\n
                  1\nHouston\n75\n
                  \n
                  5\nMiami (FL)\n89\n
                  5\nMiami (FL)\n63\n
                  12\nDrake\n56\n
                  5\nMiami (FL)\n85\n
                  Albany \u2013 Fri/Sun\n
                  4\nIndiana\n69\n
                  4\nIndiana\n71\n
                  13\nKent State\n60\n
                  5\nMiami (FL)\n88\n
                  \n
                  2\nTexas\n81\n
                  6\nIowa State\n41\n
                  11\nPittsburgh\n59\n
                  11\nPittsburgh\n73\n
                  Greensboro \u2013 Fri/Sun\n
                  3\nXavier\n84\n
                  3\nXavier\n72\n
                  14\nKennesaw State\n67\n
                  3\nXavier\n71\n
                  \n
                  2\nTexas\n83\n
                  7\nTexas A&M\n59\n
                  10\nPenn State\n76\n
                  10\nPenn State\n66\n
                  Des Moines \u2013 Thu/Sat\n
                  2\nTexas\n71\n
                  2\nTexas\n81\n
                  15\nColgate\n61\n
                  \n

                  Midwest regional final[edit]

                  \n
                  \n\n\n
                  \n
                  \n\n\n
                  March 26
                  4:05 pm CDT
                  \n
                  \n\n\n
                  \n
                  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
                  No. 5 Miami Hurricanes 88, No. 2 Texas Longhorns 81\n
                  Scoring by half: 37\u201345, 51\u201336
                  Pts: Jordan Miller, 27
                  Rebs: Norchad Omier, 9
                  Asts: Wooga Poplar, 4                  		Pts: Marcus Carr, 17
                  Rebs: Brock Cunningham, 8
                  Asts: Marcus Carr, 6
                  \n\n\n
                  T-Mobile Center \u2013 Kansas City, Missouri
                  Attendance: 17,530
                  Referees: Ron Groover, Pat Adams, Brent Hampton
                  \n
                  \n

                  Midwest regional all-tournament team[edit]

                  \n\n

                  West regional \u2013 T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, NV[edit]

                  \n
                  See also: Las Vegas Strip
                  \n
                  First round
                  Round of 64
                  March 16\u201317\n                  		Second round
                  Round of 32
                  March 18\u201319\n                  		Regional semifinals
                  Sweet 16
                  March 23\n                  		Regional Final
                  Elite 8
                  March 25\n
                              
                  1\nKansas\n96\n
                  16\nHoward\n68\n
                  1\nKansas\n71\n
                  Des Moines \u2013 Thu/Sat\n
                  8\nArkansas\n72\n
                  8\nArkansas\n73\n
                  9\nIllinois\n63\n
                  8\nArkansas\n65\n
                  \n
                  4\nUConn \n88\n
                  5\nSaint Mary's\n63\n
                  12\nVCU\n51\n
                  5\nSaint Mary's\n55\n
                  Albany \u2013 Fri/Sun\n
                  4\nUConn\n70\n
                  4\nUConn\n87\n
                  13\nIona\n63\n
                  4\nUConn\n82\n
                  \n
                  3\nGonzaga\n54\n
                  6\nTCU\n72\n
                  11\nArizona State\n70\n
                  6\nTCU\n81\n
                  Denver \u2013 Fri/Sun\n
                  3\nGonzaga\n84\n
                  3\nGonzaga\n82\n
                  14\nGrand Canyon\n70\n
                  3\nGonzaga\n79\n
                  \n
                  2\nUCLA\n76\n
                  7\nNorthwestern\n75\n
                  10\nBoise State\n67\n
                  7\nNorthwestern\n63\n
                  Sacramento \u2013 Thu/Sat\n
                  2\nUCLA\n68\n
                  2\nUCLA\n86\n
                  15\nUNC Asheville\n53\n
                  \n

                  West regional final[edit]

                  \n
                  \n\n\n
                  \n
                  \n\n\n
                  March 25
                  5:49 pm PDT
                  \n
                  \n\n\n
                  \n
                  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
                  No. 4 UConn Huskies 82, No. 3 Gonzaga Bulldogs 54\n
                  Scoring by half: 39\u201332, 43\u201322
                  Pts: Jordan Hawkins, 20
                  Rebs: Adama Sanogo, 10
                  Asts: Andre Jackson Jr., 10                  		Pts: Drew Timme, 12
                  Rebs: Drew Timme, 10
                  Asts: Nolan Hickman, 5
                  \n\n\n
                  T-Mobile Arena \u2013 Las Vegas, Nevada
                  Attendance: 18,119
                  Referees: Keith Kimble, John Gaffney, Mike Reed
                  \n
                  \n

                  West regional all-tournament team[edit]

                  \n\n

                  Final Four \u2013 Houston, Texas[edit]

                  \n
                  See also: NRG Stadium
                  \n
                  National Semifinals
                  Final Four
                  Saturday, April 1\n                  		National Championship Game
                  Monday, April 3\n
                        
                  S5\nSan Diego State\n72\n
                  E9\nFlorida Atlantic\n71\n
                  S5\nSan Diego State\n59\n
                  \n
                  W4\nUConn\n76\n
                  M5\nMiami (FL)\n59\n
                  W4\nUConn\n72\n
                  \n

                  National semifinals[edit]

                  \n
                  \n\n\n
                  \n
                  \n\n\n
                  April 1
                  5:09 p.m. CDT
                  \n
                  \n\n\n
                  \n
                  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
                  E9 Florida Atlantic Owls 71, S5 San Diego State Aztecs 72\n
                  Scoring by half: 40\u201333, 31\u201339
                  Pts: Alijah Martin, 26
                  Rebs: tied, 7
                  Asts: Giancarlo Rosado, 3                  		Pts: Matt Bradley, 21
                  Rebs: tied, 6
                  Asts: Lamont Butler, 3
                  \n\n\n
                  NRG Stadium \u2013 Houston, TX
                  Attendance: 73,860
                  Referees: John Higgins, Kipp Kissinger, Bert Smith
                  \n
                  \n
                  \n\n\n
                  CBS
                  \n
                  \n\n\n
                  April 1
                  7:49 p.m. CDT
                  \n
                  \n\n\n
                  \n
                  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
                  W4 UConn Huskies 72, M5 Miami Hurricanes 59\n
                  Scoring by half: 37\u201324, 35\u201335
                  Pts: Adama Sanogo, 21
                  Rebs: Adama Sanogo, 10
                  Asts: Tristen Newton, 8                  		Pts: Isaiah Wong, 15
                  Rebs: Jordan Miller, 10
                  Asts: Jordan Miller, 3
                  \n\n\n
                  NRG Stadium \u2013 Houston, TX
                  Attendance: 73,860
                  Referees: Roger Ayers, Doug Sirmons, Jeffrey Anderson
                  \n
                  \n

                  National championship[edit]

                  \n
                  Main article: 2023 NCAA Division I men's basketball championship game
                  \n
                  \n\n\n
                  \n
                  \n\n\n
                  April 3, 2023
                  8:20 p.m. CDT
                  \n
                  \n\n\n
                  \n
                  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
                  No. 5 San Diego State Aztecs 59, No. 4 UConn Huskies 76\n
                  Scoring by half: 24\u201336, 35\u201340
                  Pts: K. Johnson \u2013 14
                  Rebs: N. Mensah \u2013 6
                  Asts: L. Butler \u2013 2                  		Pts: T. Newton \u2013 19
                  Rebs: A. Sanogo, T. Newton \u2013 10
                  Asts: A. Jackson Jr. \u2013 6
                  \n\n\n
                  NRG Stadium \u2013 Houston, Texas
                  Attendance: 72,423
                  Referees: Ron Groover, Keith Kimble, Terry Oglesby
                  \n
                  \n

                  Final Four all-tournament team[edit]

                  \n\n

                  Notes and game summaries[edit]

                  \n

                  Upsets[edit]

                  \n

                  Per the NCAA, \"Upsets are defined as when the winner of the game was seeded five or more places lower than the team it defeated.\" The 2023 tournament saw a total of 9 upsets, with four in the first round, three in the second round, one in the Sweet Sixteen, and one in the Elite Eight.[19]\n

                  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
                  RoundWestMidwestSouthEast\n
                  First
                  round\n                  		None\nNo. 11 Pittsburgh defeated No. 6 Iowa State, 59\u201341\n
                  \n                  		No. 16 Fairleigh Dickinson defeated No. 1 Purdue, 63\u201358\n
                  Second round\nNo. 8 Arkansas defeated No. 1 Kansas, 72\u201371\nNone\nNo. 15 Princeton defeated No. 7 Missouri, 78\u201363\nNo. 7 Michigan State defeated No. 2 Marquette, 69\u201360\n
                  Sweet 16\nNone\nNone\nNone\nNo. 9 Florida Atlantic defeated No. 4 Tennessee, 62\u201355\n
                  Elite 8\nNone\nNone\nNone\nNo. 9 Florida Atlantic defeated No. 3 Kansas State, 79\u201376\n
                  \n

                  Record by conference[edit]

                  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
                  Conference\nBids\nRecord\nWin %\nFF\nR64\nR32\nS16\nE8\nF4\nCG\nNC\n
                  Big East\n512\u20134.750\u20135432111\n
                  Mountain West\n45\u20134.5561311111\u2013\n
                  C-USA\n14\u20131.800\u201311111\u2013\u2013\n
                  Atlantic Coast\n57\u20135.583153111\u2013\u2013\n
                  Big 12\n79\u20137.563\u20137522\u2013\u2013\u2013\n
                  West Coast\n24\u20132.667\u20132211\u2013\u2013\u2013\n
                  Southeastern\n89\u20138.5291763\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\n
                  Ivy League\n12\u20131.667\u2013111\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\n
                  American\n22\u20132.500\u2013211\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\n
                  Big Ten\n86\u20138.429\u2013851\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\n
                  Pac-12\n43\u20134.4291411\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\n
                  Northeast\n12\u20131.667111\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\n
                  Southern\n11\u20131.667\u201311\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\n
                  Southland\n11\u20131.66711\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\n
                  America East\n10\u20131.000\u20131\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\n
                  ASUN\n10\u20131.000\u20131\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\n
                  Atlantic 10\n10\u20131.000\u20131\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\n
                  Big Sky\n10\u20131.000\u20131\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\n
                  Big South\n10\u20131.000\u20131\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\n
                  Big West\n10\u20131.000\u20131\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\n
                  CAA\n10\u20131.000\u20131\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\n
                  Horizon\n10\u20131.000\u20131\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\n
                  MAAC\n10\u20131.000\u20131\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\n
                  MAC\n10\u20131.000\u20131\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\n
                  MEAC\n10\u20131.000\u20131\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\n
                  Missouri Valley\n10\u20131.000\u20131\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\n
                  Patriot\n10\u20131.000\u20131\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\n
                  Summit\n10\u20131.000\u20131\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\n
                  Sun Belt\n10\u20131.000\u20131\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\n
                  WAC\n10\u20131.000\u20131\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\n
                  Ohio Valley\n10\u20131.0001\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\n
                  SWAC\n10\u20131.0001\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\n
                  \n
                  \n
                  \n
                  • The FF, R64, R32, S16, E8, F4, CG, and NC columns indicate how many teams from each conference were in the first four, round of 64 (first round), round of 32 (second round), Sweet 16, Elite Eight, Final Four, championship game, and national champion, respectively.
                  \n

                  Media coverage[edit]

                  \n

                  Television[edit]

                  \n
                  Main article: NCAA March Madness (TV program)
                  \n

                  CBS Sports and Warner Bros. Discovery Sports had US television rights to the tournament.[20][21] As part of a cycle that began in 2016, CBS televised the 2023 Final Four and the national championship game.\n

                  The 2023 tournament was Jim Nantz's final season as the lead play-by-play announcer, with Ian Eagle succeeding him starting in 2024 onwards.[22]\n

                  \n

                  Television channels[edit]

                  \n
                  • Selection Show \u2013 CBS
                    • \n
                  • First Four \u2013 TruTV
                    • \n
                  • First and Second Rounds \u2013 CBS, TBS, TNT and TruTV
                    • \n
                  • Regional semifinals and finals \u2013 CBS and TBS
                    • \n
                  • National semifinals (Final Four) and championship \u2013 CBS
                  \n

                  Studio hosts[edit]

                  \n
                  • Greg Gumbel (New York City and Houston) \u2013 First round, second round, Regionals, Final Four, and National Championship Game
                    • \n
                  • Ernie Johnson (Atlanta and Houston) \u2013 First round, second round, Regionals, and Final Four
                    • \n
                  • Adam Lefkoe (Atlanta) \u2013 First Four and first round
                    • \n
                  • Adam Zucker (New York City) \u2013 First round and second round (game breaks)
                  \n

                  Studio analysts[edit]

                  \n
                  • Charles Barkley (New York City and Houston) \u2013 First round, second round, Regionals, Final Four, and National Championship Game
                    • \n
                  • Seth Davis (Atlanta and Houston) \u2013 First Four, first round, second round, Regional Semifinals, and Final Four
                    • \n
                  • Clark Kellogg (New York City and Houston) \u2013 First round, second round, Regionals, Final Four, and National Championship Game
                    • \n
                  • Candace Parker (Atlanta and Houston) \u2013 First Four, first round, second round, Regional Semifinals, and Final Four
                    • \n
                  • Kenny Smith (New York City and Houston) \u2013 First round, second round, Regionals, Final Four, and National Championship Game
                    • \n
                  • Gene Steratore (New York City and Houston) (Rules Analyst) \u2013 First Four, first round, second round, Regionals, Final Four and National Championship Game
                    • \n
                  • Wally Szczerbiak (New York City) \u2013 Second round
                    • \n
                  • Jay Wright (Atlanta, New York City and Houston) \u2013 First Four, first round, second round, Regionals, Final Four, and National Championship Game
                  \n

                  Commentary teams[edit]

                  \n\n

                  Most watched tournament games[edit]

                  \n

                  (#) Tournament seedings and region in parentheses.\n

                  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
                  RankRoundDate and Time (ET)MatchupNetworkViewers (millions)TV rating[23][24][25][26][27]\n
                  1National ChampionshipApril 3, 2023, 9:20 p.m.(5 S) San Diego State59\u201376(4 W) UConnCBS14.697.75\n
                  2Final FourApril 1, 2023, 9:16 p.m.(5 MW) Miami59\u201372(4 W) UConn12.856.38\n
                  3Final FourApril 1, 2023, 6:09 p.m.(9 E) Florida Atlantic71\u201372(5 S) San Diego State11.906.02\n
                  4Elite EightMarch 26, 2023, 5:10 p.m.(5 MW) Miami88\u201381(2 MW) Texas11.306.08\n
                  5Second RoundMarch 19, 2023, 5:15 p.m.(7 E) Michigan State69\u201360(2 E) Marquette10.915.86\n
                  6Second RoundMarch 18, 2023, 5:15 p.m.(8 W) Arkansas72\u201371(1 W) Kansas9.504.93\n
                  7Second RoundMarch 19, 2023, 2:15 p.m.(6 E) Kentucky69\u201375(3 W) Kansas State9.405.07\n
                  8Second RoundMarch 18, 2023, 2:40 p.m.(5 E) Duke52\u201365(4 E) Tennessee8.924.81\n
                  9Elite EightMarch 26, 2023, 2:20 p.m.(6 S) Creighton56\u201357(5 S) San Diego State8.344.67\n
                  10Elite EightMarch 25, 2023, 8:59 p.m.(4 W) UConn82\u201354(3 W) GonzagaTBS7.994.13\n
                  \n

                  Radio[edit]

                  \n

                  Westwood One will have exclusive coverage of the entire tournament.\n

                  \n
                  \n\n\n\n\n\n
                  \n

                  First Four[edit]

                  \n\n

                  First and second rounds[edit]

                  \n\n                  		\n

                  Regionals[edit]

                  \n
                  • Gary Cohen and Jon Crispin \u2013 East Regional at New York City, New York
                    • \n
                  • Ryan Radtke and P. J. Carlesimo \u2013 West Regional at Las Vegas, Nevada
                    • \n
                  • Tom McCarthy and Jordan Cornette \u2013 South Regional at Louisville, Kentucky
                    • \n
                  • Kevin Kugler and Robbie Hummel \u2013 Midwest Regional at Kansas City, Missouri
                  \n

                  Final Four and national championship[edit]

                  \n\n

                  \n

                  \n
                  \n

                  Internet[edit]

                  \n
                  Video
                  \n

                  Live video of games is available for streaming through the following means:[28]\n

                  \n
                  • NCAA March Madness Live (website and app, CBS games not available on digital media players; access to games requires TV Everywhere authentication through provider)
                    • \n
                  • Paramount+ (only CBS games)
                    • \n
                  • Watch TBS website and app (only TBS games, required TV Everywhere authentication)
                    • \n
                  • Watch TNT website and app (only TNT games, required TV Everywhere authentication)
                    • \n
                  • Watch truTV website and app (only truTV games, required TV Everywhere authentication)
                    • \n
                  • Websites and apps of cable, satellite, and OTT providers of CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV (access required subscription)
                  \n

                  For the app this year, a new multiview which showed all games airing simultaneously was available.[29]\n

                  In addition, the March Madness app offered Fast Break, whiparound coverage of games similar to NFL RedZone.\n

                  \n\n
                  Audio
                  \n

                  Live audio of games is available for streaming through the following means:\n

                  \n
                  • NCAA March Madness Live (website and app)
                    • \n
                  • Westwood One Sports website
                    • \n
                  • TuneIn (website and app, required TuneIn Premium subscription)
                    • \n
                  • Varsity Network app
                    • \n
                  • Websites and apps of Westwood One Sports affiliates
                  \n

                  New in 2023, the March Madness app supported Apple CarPlay and Android Auto through a native app.[31]\n

                  \n

                  See also[edit]

                  \n\n

                  Notes[edit]

                  \n
                  \n
                    \n
                  1. ^ Despite losing the NEC championship game to regular-season champion Merrimack, Fairleigh Dickinson received the NEC's automatic bid because Merrimack was ineligible for the NCAA tournament due to being in the final year of its transition from Division II.\n
                    2. \n
                  \n

                  References[edit]

                  \n
                  \n
                    \n
                  1. ^ Duarte, Joseph (July 16, 2018). \"Houston To Host Final Four in 2023\". Chron.com. Archived from the original on July 17, 2018. Retrieved July 16, 2018.\n
                    2. \n
                  2. ^ Chase, Chris (March 19, 2013). \"Is Liberty (15-20) the worst team in NCAA tournament history?\". USA Today. Archived from the original on March 14, 2023. Retrieved March 14, 2023.\n
                    3. \n
                  3. ^ Camargo, Alberto (March 17, 2023). \"No. 16 FDU shocks No. 1 Purdue in first round of March Madness\". NCAA. Archived from the original on March 18, 2023. Retrieved March 18, 2023.\n
                    4. \n
                  4. ^ Bonagura, Kyle (March 16, 2023). \"No. 15 Princeton shocks No. 2 Arizona in NCAA tournament\". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on March 17, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2023.\n
                    5. \n
                  5. ^ Bonagura, Kyle (March 18, 2023). \"Princeton takes out Missouri, latest 15-seed to make Sweet 16\". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on March 21, 2023. Retrieved March 19, 2023.\n
                    6. \n
                  6. ^ Goodall, Fred (March 16, 2023). \"No. 13 seed Furman hands UVA its latest early March exit\". Associated Press News. Archived from the original on March 16, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2023.\n
                    7. \n
                  7. ^ Bromberg, Nick (March 18, 2023). \"March Madness Saturday recap: Kansas is the 6th straight men's defending champ to exit early\". Yahoo Sports. Archived from the original on March 21, 2023. Retrieved March 19, 2023.\n
                    8. \n
                  8. ^ Bromberg, Nick (March 24, 2023). \"March Madness: No. 5 Miami takes out No. 1 Houston to make NCAA tournament history\". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved March 25, 2023.\n
                    9. \n
                  9. ^ Marshall, John (March 25, 2023). \"Crazy Eight: No top seeds among last 8 in March Madness\". The Associated Press. Retrieved March 25, 2023.\n
                    10. \n
                  10. ^ Russo, Ralph D. (March 25, 2023). \"FAU holds off Nowell and K-State to reach 1st Final Four\". The Associated Press. Retrieved March 26, 2023.\n
                    11. \n
                  11. ^ Lev, Jacob (March 25, 2023). \"Florida Atlantic stuns Kansas State to advance to school's first Final Four\". CNN. Retrieved March 27, 2023.\n
                    12. \n
                  12. ^ Cobb, David (March 28, 2023). \"2023 Final Four: Breaking down UConn, Miami, San Diego State, FAU by recruiting rankings\". CBSSports.com. Retrieved March 29, 2023.\n
                    13. \n
                  13. ^ \"2023 March Madness: Men's NCAA tournament schedule, dates, times\". NCAA. March 15, 2023. Archived from the original on February 16, 2023. Retrieved February 16, 2023.\n
                    14. \n
                  14. ^ \"Future Division I Men's Basketball Championship Sites\". NCAA. April 21, 2017. Archived from the original on January 10, 2019. Retrieved March 21, 2022.\n
                    15. \n
                  15. ^ \"Final Four in Houston\". Houston Local Organizing Committee. Retrieved March 21, 2023.\n
                    16. \n
                  16. ^ \"Tracking all 32 NCAA men's basketball conference tournaments, auto bids for 2023\". ncaa.com. NCAA. March 5, 2023. Retrieved March 5, 2023.\n
                    17. \n
                  17. ^ Boone, Kyle (March 12, 2023). \"March Madness 2023: Committee reveals official NCAA Tournament bracket seed list from 1-68\". CBS Sports. Retrieved April 4, 2023.\n
                    18. \n
                  18. ^ \"2023 N.C.A.A. Men's Tournament Bracket\". The New York Times. April 4, 2023. Retrieved April 4, 2023.\n
                    19. \n
                  19. ^ \"We're tracking every upset in the NCAA men's tournament\". NCAA.com. March 26, 2023. Retrieved May 16, 2023.\n
                    20. \n
                  20. ^ Bonesteel, Matt (April 12, 2016). \"CBS and Turner Sports lock down NCAA tournament through 2032\". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 12, 2016.\n
                    21. \n
                  21. ^ \"CBS Sports and Warner Bros. Discovery Sports announce 2023 NCAA Division I men's basketball championship commentator teams\". NCAA. March 7, 2023. Archived from the original on March 7, 2023. Retrieved March 7, 2023.\n
                    22. \n
                  22. ^ Marchand, Andrew (October 24, 2022). \"Jim Nantz to call his final NCAA Tournament with Ian Eagle as successor\". New York Post. Archived from the original on October 25, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2022.\n
                    23. \n
                  23. ^ Paulsen (March 21, 2023). \"Wins by MSU, FDU, top opening rounds of NCAA Tournament\". Sports Media Watch. Retrieved March 27, 2023.\n
                    24. \n
                  24. ^ Paulsen (March 27, 2023). \"TBS, CBS, viewership in opposite directions again Friday\". Sports Media Watch. Retrieved March 28, 2023.\n
                    25. \n
                  25. ^ Paulsen (March 28, 2023). \"Viewership down across-the-board for men's Elite Eight\". Sports Media Watch. Retrieved March 28, 2023.\n
                    26. \n
                  26. ^ Paulsen (April 4, 2023). \"Men's Final Four declines, but SDSU-FAU scores bump\". Sports Media Watch. Retrieved April 4, 2023.\n
                    27. \n
                  27. ^ Paulsen. \"NCAA men's title game hits record-low, still tops hoops charts\". Sports Media Watch. Retrieved April 5, 2023.\n
                    28. \n
                  28. ^ Maiman, Beth (March 8, 2017). \"March Madness TV schedule: How to watch and live stream every game in the NCAA men's basketball tournament\". NCAA. Archived from the original on March 9, 2017. Retrieved March 9, 2017.\n
                    29. \n
                  29. ^ Costa, Brandon (March 16, 2023). \"March Madness Live Returns with Four-Game Multiview on Desktop; Greater Focus on Discoverability Across Devices\". Sports Video Group. Archived from the original on March 17, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2023.\n
                    30. \n
                  30. ^ \"Roundup: Sweetgreen, Y Memories, March Madness \u2026\". 06880. March 15, 2023. Archived from the original on March 17, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2023.\n
                    31. \n
                  31. ^ Miller, Chance (March 10, 2023). \"NCAA March Madness app will support Live Activities, CarPlay, and more this year\". 9to5Mac. Archived from the original on March 17, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2023.\n
                    32. \n
                  \n
                  Tournaments
                  Structure
                  Champions & awards
                  Media & culture
                  Records & statistics
                  \n
                  Conference
                  Postseason
                  \n\n
                  \n
                  2022\u201323 NCAA Division I championships
                  \n
                  • \u2020 Not an officially sanctioned NCAA championship
                  \n
                  \n\n\n\n\n
                  \n
                  Retrieved from \"https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2023_NCAA_Division_I_men%27s_basketball_tournament&oldid=1212859272\"
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                  \n\t \n \n
                  \n\t\n
                  \n\n\n\n", "page_last_modified": " Mon, 11 Mar 2024 02:28:22 GMT" }, { "page_name": "Final Four 2023: A team-by-team guide to the four contenders left ...", "page_url": "https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-basketball/final-four-2023-a-team-by-team-guide-to-the-four-contenders-left-standing", "page_snippet": "UConn, Miami, San Diego State and Florida Atlantic will battle it out for a national title in Houston. Here's what you need to know about each team.The Huskies are absolutely the favorite entering Houston, having dominated their way to the program\u2019s sixth Final Four by winning their four games by a combined 90 points. In Dan Hurley\u2019s fifth season, UConn went from being unranked in the preseason to starting 14-0 and reaching the No. 29, 2023 8:04 p.m. ET ... After a season filled with parity, surprising turnarounds and historic upsets, it\u2019s only fitting that this weekend\u2019s Final Four in Houston features three programs making their first appearance. It marks the first time in 53 years \u2014 yes, since 1970 \u2014 that 75% of the Final Four teams are making their debut in the national semifinals. Updated Mar. 29, 2023 8:04 p.m. ET ... After a season filled with parity, surprising turnarounds and historic upsets, it\u2019s only fitting that this weekend\u2019s Final Four in Houston features three programs making their first appearance. Similarly to San Diego State, the Owls are in the Final Four because of their depth. It\u2019s not necessarily some crazy amount of experience. In fact, the only rotation player set to depart after this year is senior Michael Forrest. Yes, this team will be a true test of the transfer climate in college basketball.", "page_result": "\n\n \n Final Four 2023: A team-by-team guide to the four contenders left standing | FOX Sports\n \n \n
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                  \n College Basketball\n
                  \"Final
                  \n College Basketball\n

                  \n Final Four 2023: A team-by-team guide to the four contenders left standing\n

                  Updated \n Mar. 29, 2023 8:04 p.m. ET\n
                  share
                  \"sharefacebook\"sharex\"sharereddit\"sharelink
                  \"John
                  \n John Fanta\n
                  \n College Basketball Broadcaster and Reporter\n

                  After a season filled with parity, surprising turnarounds and historic upsets, it\u2019s only fitting that this weekend\u2019s Final Four in Houston features three programs making their first appearance.

                  It marks the first time in 53 years \u2014 yes, since 1970 \u2014 that 75% of the Final Four teams are making their debut in the national semifinals. According to NCAA Research, the total of the seeds \u2014 4 + 5 + 5 + 9 = 23 \u2014 is the second-highest total in the history of the tournament to only 2011 \u2026 a season that saw Connecticut defeat Butler for its third national championship.

                  Interestingly, that Final Four was also in Houston! Furthermore, the last three times the Huskies have won it all (2004, 2011, 2014), the Final Four has been held in Texas. Noticing some trends here?\u00a0

                  Here\u2019s a guide of what to watch for this weekend, with a role for each team, stars to watch and some additional nuggets.\u00a0

                  ADVERTISEMENT

                  FINAL FOUR
                  Location: Houston, NRG Stadium (Home of the Houston Texans)

                  Saturday\u2019s Schedule
                  No. 5 San Diego State (South) vs. No. 9 Florida Atlantic (East): 6:09 p.m. ET (CBS)\u00a0
                  No. 4 UConn (West) vs. No. 5 Miami (Midwest): 8:49 p.m. ET (CBS)

                  Monday's Schedule
                  National Championship Game: 9 p.m. ET (CBS)

                  TEAM-BY-TEAM BREAKDOWNS

                  The Front-Runner: Connecticut (29-8)

                  The Huskies are absolutely the favorite entering Houston, having dominated their way to the program\u2019s sixth Final Four by winning their four games by a combined 90 points. In Dan Hurley\u2019s fifth season, UConn went from being unranked in the preseason to starting 14-0 and reaching the No. 2 ranking in the country. After dropping six of eight games in January in the Big East, talk that the Huskies were back on the national map had cooled off. But Hurley and his staff made adjustments to their offense and dug in with the man-to-man defense to produce a 13-2 record since Jan. 31.\u00a0

                  (Speaking of the conference, it\u2019s had a big March leading all leagues in NCAA Tournament winning percentage.)

                  What\u2019s been the key to this tournament run? The second half performances. In the final 20 minutes of their four NCAA Tournament games, the Huskies have outscored their opponents by a combined 174-107. UConn is getting elite production from Adama Sanogo on the interior. The junior has averaged 20.0 PPG and 9.5 RPG in the tournament and has been a real handful. On the perimeter, among a slew of options, Jordan Hawkins has become the star that many around Storrs thought he could be. The top-20 NBA Draft prospect has combined to score 69 points in four NCAA Tournament games, 44 of which have come in the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight. With those two mainstays, UConn has found the scoring. But the question for this team entering the season was point guard play. They\u2019ve answered that with steady play from East Carolina transfer Tristen Newton, but the added dimension to help alleviate the pressure off him has been provided by junior leader Andre Jackson Jr.

                  Jackson, a dynamic 6-foot-7 wing who has been known for his defense, rebounding and leadership, is the glue of this Huskies team. Over the last two games, he\u2019s combined for 17 assists. With the likes of freshmen Alex Karaban and Donovan Clingan, transfers Nahiem Alleyne and Joey Calcaterra, and a deep bench, Jackson\u2019s ability to make others around him better has been a game-changer for this team. Over the last two games, UConn has totaled 43 assists. The ball is hopping and Jackson is a huge reason for it.

                  The Huskies are No. 1 in Ken Pomeroy\u2019s rankings, boasting the nation\u2019s No. 3 offense and the No. 11 defense. They are playing the most complete ball of any of these four teams, and have really controlled everybody standing in their way. There\u2019s no reason why Connecticut can\u2019t win its fifth national championship since 1999 this week. Nobody else in college basketball has more than three (North Carolina) in that span.\u00a0

                  The NIL Game-Changers and Offensive Juggernaut: Miami (29-7)

                  Miami was all over the headlines last spring following the program\u2019s first-ever run to the Elite Eight, but the story wasn\u2019t about the success on the court. It was about money. When it was reported that Nijel Pack had agreed to transfer from Kansas State to the Hurricanes, Miami booster and LifeWallet CEO John Ruiz placed out the following tweet:

                  It sent shockwaves through college basketball \u2014 name, image and likeness was going to totally alter the sport. But while the Hurricanes were bringing in a star in Pack, one of the stars from their historic Elite Eight season, Isaiah Wong, was asking for more money. Wong was taken care of, but even then, the talk surrounding Miami was whether 73-year-old Jim Larra\u00f1aga would be able to throw NIL in the back seat and worry about winning basketball games.

                  What has ensued in Coral Gables has been nothing short of incredible, with Miami making a second straight Elite Eight appearance, then coming back from 13 down to 2-seed Texas to book the Canes\u2019 first trip to the Final Four.

                  What makes this team dangerous? The nation\u2019s fifth-most efficient offense, with multiple bucket-getters capable of dropping 25-30 points on any given night. Don\u2019t believe me? In their last three NCAA Tournament games \u2014 Indiana (Wong, 27), Houston (Pack, 26) and Texas (Jordan Miller, 27) \u2014 the Hurricanes have had a different player score at least 26 points.

                  Larra\u00f1aga lets his team play a loose style that sits at 90th in adjusted tempo, with scoring options allowing for Miami to ride any hot hand on a given night. And we\u2019re not talking about a team that just wins off the 3-point shot. In fact, the Hurricanes rallied past Texas on Sunday and scored 88 points while going just 2-for-8 from beyond the arc. But Miller shot 7-for-7 and sophomore Wooga Poplar went 6-for-7 from the floor, getting where they needed to in the lane to find their scoring rhythm.

                  Miami\u2019s invaluable weapon on the interior, who must be ready to counter Sanogo on Saturday night, is Arkansas State transfer Norchad Omier, who\u2019s averaged 13-and-10 on the season while shooting 58% and grabbing a combined 53 rebounds in NCAA Tournament games.

                  So much for NIL killing culture in the locker room \u2026

                  As for this Canes team in general, for those stating that they are a major surprise or a program out of nowhere, Miami has gone 14-2 against out-of-conference opponents, won the ACC regular-season championship and boasts a 29-7 record. Miami belongs, and Larra\u00f1aga\u2019s team can score on anybody in America.\u00a0

                  The key: Can the Canes allow that electrifying offense to dictate the games and for that high-level scoring to become the team\u2019s best defense, forcing UConn to rush its shot attempts? Miami is dangerous, and it\u2019s nothing short of incredible what Larra\u00f1aga has done in elevating the Hurricanes while many other older coaches hang it up on the sidelines.\u00a0

                  The Grown Men: San Diego State (31-6)

                  Relentless. Nasty. Physical. That\u2019s San Diego State Aztecs basketball. If you\u2019re looking for aesthetically pleasing or pretty, check out UConn and Miami. But guess what? This is beautiful basketball in Brian Dutcher\u2019s eyes and it should be. SDSU does not care about your feelings. This team has defended at such a high level, opponents have actually dreaded attempting to run offense against the Aztecs.

                  A year removed from a first-round collapse in the NCAA Tournament, San Diego State made splashes in the offseason to flip that script. They returned four of their five starters, then Dutcher went and landed Seattle transfer Darrion Trammell to help an inconsistent offense, plus Jaedon LeDee from TCU.

                  Everything Dutcher and his staff have hoped for has come to fruition, and this program, which has been one of college basketball\u2019s most consistent over the last six seasons \u2014 holding a record of 107-22 in that stretch \u2014 is now getting its deserved moment under the sun.\u00a0

                  The formula starts and ends with defense, which is the best left in the field and sits at No. 4 in the country according to KenPom. Just how great is San Diego State on that end of the floor? According to FOX Sports research, the Aztecs have held their first four opponents in the NCAA Tournament 23.2 points lower than their average scoring output. The stops start with aggressive ball pressure that makes it extremely difficult to find open shots. In the NCAA Tournament, the Aztecs have allowed only 16 made 3s on 17% shooting. What\u2019s even wilder than that? SDSU held Alabama and Creighton to just five made 3s in the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight on 11% shooting \u2014 11%!\u00a0

                  On the offensive end of the floor, they have become more versatile after everything funneled through Matt Bradley last season. Now, the Aztecs go a legit nine-deep.

                  While Bradley shot 3-for-17 over the last two games, Trammell delivered 21 points in the win over Alabama, then made the game-winning free throw against Creighton, part of a 12-point output. Against Creighton, junior Lamont Butler scored 18 on 8-for-11 from the floor.

                  This tournament has also seen the 6-foot-9 LeDee come in off the bench and give teams issues with his length, as he did in the 12-point game against Alabama. It\u2019s also seen Micah Parrish, a 6-foot-6 junior guard, score 16 points in 21 minutes to book a Sweet 16 ticket with his highest scoring output since Dec. 12.\u00a0

                  It\u2019s not like the Aztecs have had crazy scoring performances, but that\u2019s not how they have won games. They are an old-school, rugged, hard-nosed group that has held three of four NCAA Tournaments to 57 points or fewer. They do that with a senior from Ghana, Nathan Mensah, who protects the rim along with Aguek Arop. Over the last six games, Mensah has combined for 16 rejections, including a combined eight blocks in the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight rounds.

                  Here\u2019s the deal: the Aztecs are grown men. They are never going to get blown out because of the style that they play, and they can wear teams down with how hard it is to score on them over the course of a game. That\u2019s why SDSU can absolutely win a national championship. Don\u2019t let the lack of sexy with this team stray you away from how hard it is to beat them.

                  The Crunch Time Kids: Florida Atlantic (35-3)

                  Before you place Cinderella\u2019s slipper on them, bear this in mind: The Owls have played 38 games and won 35 of them. They may be an underdog by name, having entered this NCAA Tournament with just one other appearance in the event (2002) and no wins, but the way FAU has played throughout the Big Dance has shown just how great a team they really are.

                  What makes Dusty May\u2019s group so good? The Owls have been the masters of closing time, going 11-1 this season in games decided by five points or fewer.

                  All four victories in the NCAA Tournament have come by single figures, and this run could have ended just as soon as it was getting started. With Memphis up by four inside five minutes left, then clinging to a 65-64 lead with five seconds on the clock, Nick Boyd\u2019s runner in the lane pushed the Owls to the dramatic victory. Fairleigh Dickinson came next, and then Tennessee and Kansas State came calling. One might think playing a team as physical as the Vols and then following it up with Markquis Nowell and the Wildcats would have worn down FAU. Think again.

                  \"This team is not afraid of failure. This team is not afraid of losing. They are not afraid of anything, and it\u2019s like a totally different gear comes out of them when they fall behind.\"

                  Those are the words of May, a former manager for Bob Knight at Indiana in the late 1990s, who is in his fifth year at FAU.

                  May is right when discussing his group. When FAU was down by seven with less than 12 minutes left against Kansas State on Saturday night at MSG, they didn\u2019t freeze. Being down by six to Tennessee with less than 12 minutes left on Thursday night? The Owls just kept playing. Similarly to San Diego State, the Owls are in the Final Four because of their depth. It\u2019s not necessarily some crazy amount of experience. In fact, the only rotation player set to depart after this year is senior Michael Forrest. Yes, this team will be a true test of the transfer climate in college basketball.

                  For now, what makes this group special is the offensive balance. Leading scorer Johnell Davis is a tough 6-foot-4, 203-pound bulldog guard who was massively underrecruited out of high school. Alijah Martin, who joins Davis at over 13 points per game, was offered a scholarship by pure chance because one opened up late for May and his staff to give the Mississippi native a chance.

                  May did some work in the portal, too, landing 7-foot-1 center Vlad Goldin (Texas Tech) along with guards Bryan Greenlee (Minnesota) and Jalen Gaffney (UConn). He\u2019s offered a spot where guys who did not get much of a shot at all at their previous power conference destinations have now found a home.

                  In total, nine players average at least 15 minutes per game and at least three players have scored in double-figures in each NCAA Tournament game \u2014 four did so against Memphis and Kansas State. There is true offensive versatility with this team, and it\u2019s because of the depth of options on the perimeter. Four players have knocked down 54-or-more-triples this season, while six have connected on at least 40. As great as Davis and Martin have been, it speaks volumes about FAU that Brandon Weatherspoon, who is eighth on the stat sheet in the scoring column, hit the dagger triple against Kansas State.

                  This group is unselfish but tough, as heard by Martin on Saturday night after the Owls won the East Regional championship inside Madison Square Garden \u2014 all the more reason why this run has been so special!

                  Beyond their balance, FAU joins UConn as the only two teams left that rank inside the top 30 of KenPom on both offense (24th) and defense (30th). The Owls are truly well-rounded and have the unflappable nature that it takes to win this time of year. They are a great story, showing that if you have the right mix of players, you can do more than just win a game in the NCAA Tournament in today\u2019s climate. You can get to the biggest stage.

                  Predictions:

                  FAU over San Diego State\u00a0
                  UConn over Miami\u00a0

                  Championship game:\u00a0

                  UConn over FAU

                  John Fanta is a national college basketball broadcaster and writer for FOX Sports. He covers the sport in a variety of capacities, from calling games on FS1 to serving as lead host on the BIG EAST Digital Network to providing commentary on The Field of 68 Media Network. Follow him on Twitter @John_Fanta.

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