by Breiner Henao Palacio
This year’s March Madness will not have that Cinderella story as all four number-one seeds have made it: Duke, Huston, Auburn, and Florida. Duke is the favourite among the four, according to the sportsbooks, with -110 odds. Duke will play against Huston in the final four, while the other matchup is Auburn against Florida.
Duke
Duke is a star-studded team and a very tall starting line up with the average height being six foot eight. By comparison, the average height in the NBA is six foot seven. Duke has two projected top 10 picks with their 7’2 centre, Khaman Maluachan, an 18-year-old freshman who is the anchor on defence averaging a block a game and shooting seventy percent on his shots. The other projected top 10 pick is Copper Flagg who is projected to be the first pick he has been amazing with Duke being the youngest player to play for them at 17 he has been averaging 19 points, 7 rebounds 4 assists. In the Sweet Sixteen, he took over by scoring 30 and having 7 assists the player has been compared to Kevin Garnet who can shoot and be a playmaker with his floor being Andrei Kirklienko.
Houston
Houston has been a very well-coached team up to this point as they take on Duke in the Final Four. Being one of the best defensive teams allowing the least amount of points out of the four . Having the second-best three-point percentage in the whole March madness. They are led by their senior L.J. Cryer who has been averaging 15 points per game. In the last game against Tennessee Cryer had 17 points 7 rebounds 4 assists while shooting perfectly from the free throw line.
Florida
Florida has proven to be a team that could win after beating Uconn who were the back-to-back champions. Florida is a very experienced team having three
senior players in the starting lineup of Florida which are nicknamed “The Big Three Seniors” The seniors are star point guard Walter Clayton, shooting guard Will Richard, and small forward Alijah Martin. Walter Clayton had an amazing game against Texas Tech in the elite eight having 30 points 20 of those coming in the second half and scoring the three that gave them the lead late in the second to win the game.
Auburn
The last team of the four is Auburn who has been relying on their defence and coaching skills. Being the only school of the four to have five players scoring double digits, the one who has had the most impactful for Auburn is Johni Broome. Broome has been averaging a double-double scoring 18 points and 11 rebounds per game. Last game he played against Michigan State having 25 points and 14 rebounds but he got injured getting his 14th rebound is cleared to play on Saturday against Florida but will not practice with the team until Thursday’s practice so he does not injure his ankle again.
March Madness might not have that Cinderella feeling but there will be some amazing games between these four as they were the best in the regular season and the best in the playoffs in their respective conference we are in for a great matchup.
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