NCAA Men's Tournament - Early Final Four Predictions
Jason Fitz, Danny Green and Krysten Peek take an early look at the upcoming Final Four matchups - including UConn versus Alabama and Purdue versus NC State - and the biggest storylines to keep an eye on.
Video Transcript
JASON FITZ: The Final Four matchups are set, plenty to be excited about as we get ready for basketball in Phoenix. Krysten Peek, Danny Green, Jason Fitz for Yahoo Sports. Let's take a look at them, guys. KP, let's start with you. As we look specifically first at the Connecticut-Alabama match-up, Connecticut out here just yelling that everybody hates them. They're the villains. What are you looking for in this one?
- OK, well, I'll tell you where they're evenly matched up. And that's at the guard play with Marcus Sears, Tristen Newton for UConn, Stephon Castle. They have a little bit of magic with Grant Nelson and what he's done for this team to get them to the Final Four. But where they're going to have trouble is in the inside game with Donovan Clingan. He is playing the best basketball he's played all season.
He's 100% healthy. NBA scouts are thrilled about it. He's creeping into the Top 10. There's even talk of him being a Top 5 if he can help them win a National Championship. So I think UConn is going to have a little too much for them. But Alabama is going to get up and get out and do what they do all season and run the floor. And that's going to all be behind Marc Spears.
DANNY GREEN: Yeah, I'm really looking forward to that Grant Nelson, Donovan Clingan match-up. But I think UConn has shown everybody, they're the best team in the country the past two years. And they're just blowing everybody out. I don't see this being a great game. I do think they have an advantage with the guard play.
JASON FITZ: Yeah, I mean, KP, we're all going to be watching for this Edey versus Burns match-up. And look, it feels like, every single round, I feel like I've sat here and said, this is the round somebody's going to figure out how to slow down Edey. And then all he does is remind us that this is a different version of Edey. So what are you looking for there?
KRYSTEN PEEK: He has been, I mean, he only rested for I think 35 seconds in the game to get to the Final Four. And he's in much better shape. His footwork is incredible. And for someone that is a little skeptical on who he's going to be as a pro, he has proven time and time again, he is the best big in college basketball.
And when you take a wild card like DJ Burns, of course they're going to do the scouting, of course they're going to look to see how they stop him defensively. But DJ is going to give him a run for his money. I mean, this is a 6' 9'' guy, 275 pounds. I mean, they're going to bang down low. I didn't know that this is the match-up I needed to see in my life. And I cannot wait.
DANNY GREEN: I said, I'm looking forward to this Zach Edey-DJ Burns match-up as well. But I do have Purdue winning. I just don't see the guard play being enough to match NC State's guard play with DJ Horne and company. So I think it's going to be a really good game. I think the Cinderella story continues, as much as I hate to see it. I want Purdue to win. But I don't think that Zach Edey can outlast DJ Burns and DJ Horne. But I'm looking forward to both those matchups. And I think it'll be a lot of fun in Phoenix to see it up close.
JASON FITZ: All right, so it sounds like, way too early. We're just speaking off of motion. The three of us together, by the way, will be in Phoenix watching all this go down. But really early guesstimate here, KP, it sounds like we all have Connecticut. So do you have Purdue or do you have NC State?
KRYSTEN PEEK: Purdue, selfishly. I need to see that Donovan Clingan versus Zach Edey final game. Like, that is the match-up I need to see to complete the season.
JASON FITZ: Wait, are we all going-- Danny, you're going the same way, right?
DANNY GREEN: I am. I have UConn obviously winning it all. I think they're the best team in the country. But I would love to see that match-up with KP. But I don't think they have enough to be NC State. I think the Cinderella story somehow gets DJ Burns to the National Championship game. But I do want to see the match-up with Zach Edey and Donovan Clingan.
JASON FITZ: Well, we'll see how it plays out. I know one thing. We'll be there in Phoenix. And it'll be electric to watch all of this as we get some of the best personalities and, clearly, one of the best teams we've ever seen in the tournament all coming together for this magical Final Four.