Final Four Predictions 2017: Updated Bracket, Picks to Make NCAA Championship

On Sunday, the South Carolina Gamecocks crushed all hopes and dreams for a Duke vs. North Carolina NCAA Championship Game—and Twitter relished in the Blue Devils' defeat:

For those crying over their shattered brackets, it's anyone's guess as to who is coming out of the East Region. Is it possible Baylor, Florida, South Carolina or Wisconsin advance to the title game on April 3?

The three remaining No. 1 seeds looked impressive in their previous outings, whether in blowout fashion or fighting through adversity. As we approach the Sweet 16 matchups on Thursday, who can we pinpoint as strong candidates to play in the championship game?

Arizona Represents West Region

As expected, Arizona clobbered North Dakota in the round of 64. Then, St. Mary's caught most people off guard as a serious threat to knock off the Wildcats in the second round. The Gaels led at halftime but failed to finish the job.

Sean Miller's team faced multiple adverse occurrences in the previous outing. For starters, guard Allonzo Trier continues to struggle with his shot and must rely on getting to the free-throw line. The team's third-best regular-season scorer, Rawle Alkins, missed time with a finger injury. The Gaels' junior center Jock Landale forced Lauri Markkanen to work rigorously on the defensive end. 

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Nonetheless, the Wildcats found a way to win the game. It's not about who applies the adversity; the response tells the head coach a lot about his team and their will to win a basketball game. Miller can sleep at night knowing his prominent players and the roster's supporting cast will continue to fight through a slow start or compensate for an injury.

Typically, the road to a championship isn't smooth sailing all the way to the promised land. Arizona took St. Mary's best shot and returned with a late flurry. The Wildcats failed to reach 70 points for the first time since their 62-57 victory over California in February.

It's time for Trier to step up as the team's leading scorer. Upperclassmen Kadeem Allen and Dusan Ristic have played well dating back to the Pac-12 tournament. Once Trier finds his shot, Arizona should roll through No. 11 Xavier and play with enough firepower to match Gonzaga.

Don't anticipate the Wildcats struggling to eliminate the East Region representative in a Final Four matchup.

UCLA Represents South Region

The South Region winner will deserve much praise as the most battle-tested team to reach the Final Four and potentially the championship game. However, the Bruins haven't stumbled across a real threat through the first two rounds. Kent State didn't fade easy, but they never resembled a team capable of putting fear into UCLA.

On Sunday, the Bruins outscored Cincinnati 49-34 in the second half. The highest-scoring team in the nation hasn't fought through much adversity, but they've already flashed the ability to push their offense to another level.

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Steve Alford's group will experience stiffer competition on Friday in a Sweet 16 matchup against Kentucky's physical, athletic lineup. This particular game will contrast the Wildcats' methodical playing style with UCLA's floor spacing. Forward TJ Leaf and center Thomas Welsh should come close to—or produce—double-doubles on Friday. The Bruins must avoid excessive hacking, which allows the Wildcats to live at the free-throw line.

Similar to Kentucky, North Carolina will attempt to outmuscle a more stylish Bruins team in the paint and slow the game down with trips to the free-throw line. UCLA's deep rotation, which features six players averaging double-digit scoring totals, should be able to minimize scoring droughts. A Final Four contest between Kansas and UCLA could yield close to 180 points.

Guard Lonzo Ball (18 PTS, 7 REB, 9 AST) almost logged a triple-double against Cincinnati. As the competition ramps up, so will his productivity as a dynamic playmaker. Despite a tough road to the championship game, the best collegiate player in the tournament along with a deep roster should put the Bruins on the grand stage on April 3.

Stats provided by Sports Reference, unless otherwise noted.