We are approaching the end of the 2016 NCAA tournament and what a wild one it has been. We have had stunning upsets and absolutely incredible performances from individual players.
But now we come to the Final Four. The four best teams in the country duking it out for the right to be crowned champion. If you thought it was hot in Houston, Texas before, it’s going to get even hotter with the matchups that we have for you.
The only surprise team of the four would have to be #10 Syracuse. Coming off their best win of the tournament against #1 Virginia, the Orange continue to appear to be the Cinderella team going into their matchup against the last number one seed remaining in North Carolina.
The other Final Four game is between two number two seeds in Villanova (I can hear our Odyssey boss Angelina cheering right now) and Oklahoma. Oklahoma senior Buddy Hield has been absolutely unstoppable so far, averaging 29.2 points per game and 6.5 rebounds over their four wins.
So who is going to go to the national championship game?
#10 Syracuse vs #1 North Carolina
Analysis
Going into the tournament, no one picked Syracuse to reach the Sweet 16, let alone the Final Four. But the Orange have surprised everyone so far with a big win over Virginia in the Elite Eight and are sitting in perfect position to play the Cinderella role for this tournament.
The Orange have been led by a total team effort so far with two of their victories coming by a total of nine points. Senior Michael Gbinije is the leading scorer for the Orange averaging 16 points per game in the tournament while junior Tyler Roberson has been a big presence inside, putting up 11.8 rebounds per game.
The Orange will be looking to continue this improbable ride against North Carolina.
North Carolina, on the other hand, was supposed to be in this position from the start of the tournament. They have been a dominant team all year long: going 32-6 in the regular season and then going on to win the ACC championship against Virginia.
The Tar Heels are led by senior Brice Johnson, who is averaging 21 points and 9.8 rebounds through four games. Johnson was the leading scorer for the Tar Heels in the regular season as well and has led the Tar Heels to their first Final Four appearance since 2009, when they last won the national championship.
Prediction
While this game will certainly be a nail-biter for sure, I have to take North Carolina in this game. The combination of their ball movement that could rival the San Antonio Spurs and Brice Johnson will just be too much for the resilient Syracuse Orange.
North Carolina: 84-78
#2 Villanova vs #2 Oklahoma
Analysis
The Villanova Wildcats have had a season to remember by going 33-5 during the regular season and a regular season Big East title but now will have to take on the hottest player in the tournament and a tough team to go along with it in Oklahoma.
The last two seasons, Villanova has cruised through the Big East only to lose in the first two rounds of the tournament. This year, they lost to Seton Hall in the Big East tournament final but have gone all the way to their first Final Four since 2009.
Villanova’s best two wins have come against Miami (FL) and Kansas, winning by a total of 28 points.
The Wildcats are led by senior guard Ryan Arcidiacono who is averaging 16 points per game and is coming off a 13-point game against Kansas. He also scored 21 against Miami.
Junior forward Kris Jenkins has also been a key contributor for the Wildcats, shooting 45% from the three-point line despite a dreadful 1-for-7 performance against Kansas. Point guard Ryan Arch and center Daniel Ochefu have also been key parts in this Final Four run by leading a tough-as-nails defense that has held every single opponent under 70 points.
Oklahoma, on the other side, is driven by the astounding play of senior Buddy Hield. Hield has averaged 29.2 points for the tournament, making him the leading scorer for the tournament and a shoo-in for MOP if Oklahoma makes it to the title game and wins.
It’s not only Hield who has been helping this team win games. The Sooners’ defense has held their opponents under 70 points in all but one game so far in the tournament with their most impressive win coming against another #1 seed in Oregon. The Wildcats will certainly have their work cutout for them in terms of scoring a lot of points.
The only meeting between the two was at the beginning of the season in the Pearl Harbor Classic in Hawaii. The game ended in a 78-55 drubbing for Oklahoma. Hield scored 18 points for the Sooners in that game.
Prediction
I think that this game will probably be the closest game in the tournament so far. Arcidiacono and the Wildcats will fight to the very end and Hield will do everything he can to put his team on his back and carry them to the promise-land. At the end of the day, I think that Villanova will prevail and meet North Carolina in the final game to decide the national champion.
Villanova 89-84.
