Elite 8 2018: Full Schedule and Final Four Bracket Predictions
Regional champions will cement their spots in the NCAA men's college Final Four bracket. First, the remaining programs must go through fierce competition in the Elite Eight round, which includes a No. 11 seed, two top-seeded programs and a red-hot squad that hasn't lost since February 6.
Regardless of the outcome between No. 9 Kansas State and No. 11 Loyola-Chicago, a lower seed goes to San Antonio, Texas. Ironically, the Wildcats have been favored to win in all three rounds, including their opening matchup against No. 8 Creighton. Will head coach Bruce Weber's group continue to take care of business?
No. 1 Villanova stumbled early against No. 5 West Virginia, but they've won every tournament game by a double-digit margin. Is it time for another top seed to fall? Head coach Jay Wright looks to advance to his second Final Four in two years.
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A powerhouse matchup between No. 1 Kansas and No. 2 Duke will wrap up the Elite Eight. Which decorated program adds another long tournament run to its rich history?
Take a look at the Elite Eight schedule below with predictions on the outcome of each contest.
Elite Eight Schedule
No. 9 Kansas State vs. No. 11 Loyola-Chicago, Saturday, March 24 at 6:09 p.m. ET on TBS
No. 3 Michigan vs. No. 9 Florida State, Saturday, March 24 at 8:49 p.m. ET on TBS
No. 1 Villanova vs. No. 3 Texas Tech, Sunday, March 25 at 2:20 p.m. ET on CBS
No. 1 Kansas vs. No. 2 Duke, Sunday, March 25 at 5:05 p.m. ET on CBS
Elite Eight Predictions
No. 9 Kansas State vs. No. 11 Loyola-Chicago
In the first-ever 9-11 Elite Eight matchup, Loyola-Chicago—the lowest seed left in the tournament—goes against Kansas State, who has taken on a villain role during March Madness. The Wildcats knocked off No. 16 Maryland-Baltimore County and No. 5 Kentucky in the previous two rounds.
Nonetheless, the Wildcats have a backstory as well. They navigated through the first two rounds without their regular-season leading scorer Dean Wade, who suffered a foot injury during the Big 12 tournament. He returned to action against No. 5 Kentucky but only played eight minutes.
In Wade's absence, junior guard Barry Brown has led the Wildcats' charge. Xavier Sneed produced a 22-point gem in the previous outing against Kentucky before fouling out. Most importantly, Kansas State's defense has smothered its competition, holding all three of their opponents under 60 points.
The Ramblers have survived with big shots late in games, winning by a total margin of four points in their three tournament victories. Sprinkle in a little Sister Jean magic and you have a wonderful underdog story. Loyola's shooting efficiency should keep the game close. The Ramblers hit 50 percent or more of their field-goal attempts in the previous two outings.
In a tight contest in which both teams score below 60 points, the Ramblers' clutch shooting gives them the edge over the Wildcats.
Prediction: Loyola-Chicago 58, Kansas State 55
No. 3 Michigan vs. No. 9 Florida State
No. 3 Michigan comes into this contest on a 12-game win streak. Head coach John Beilein's group isn't just surviving in competition. The Wolverines throttled Texas A&M, who did the same to North Carolina in the round of 32.
Michigan's starting lineup, along with Duncan Robinson off the bench, has powered this squad through the first three rounds. As a team, the Big Ten champions caught fire against the Aggies in their Sweet 16 matchup, hitting 14 of 24 from downtown, which made the difference in that contest.
No. 9 Florida State beat two tournament heavyweights in No. 1 Xavier and No. 4 Gonzaga. Head coach Leonard Hamilton uses a deep rotation to keep the opposition on their heels. In their previous outing against the Bulldogs, 10 players logged at least 10 minutes. The Wolverines must prepare for contributors up and down the Seminoles roster.
Nonetheless, Michigan's ability to score anywhere on the court, and its tough defense, should suffice in pushing the program to the Final Four.
Prediction: Michigan 84, Florida State 79
No. 1 Villanova vs. No. 3 Texas Tech
After less competitive matchups against Radford and Alabama, Villanova needed a challenge, and that's what West Virginia brought to the court with its trap defense Friday.
The Wildcats fell behind 60-54 in the second half, but Jalen Brunson and Omari Spellman led an emphatic response, which propelled the Big East champions back into the lead. The latter contributed on both ends of the court with blocks, rebounding and sharpshooting, going 4-of-7 from three-point land.
The Mountaineers may have provided a small blueprint for Texas Tech in Saturday's matchup, but Villanova's plethora of shooters can threaten an aggressive defense.
Senior guard Keenan Evans has led the Red Raiders to the Elite Eight with his scoring ability. Zhaire Smith pitched in double-digit point totals in each contest as a reliable secondary playmaker, but the Wildcats have too much firepower for Texas Tech's defense.
Prediction: Villanova 81, Texas Tech 73
No. 1 Kansas vs. No. 2 Duke
Two of the biggest names in men's college basketball square off in the Midwest Regional final. Duke matched defensive zone schemes with Syracuse and prevailed with highlight alley-oops in the process. As expected, both head coaches went with tight rotations, and the Blue Devils' superior talent took the victory.
Freshman standout Marvin Bagley III will test Kansas center Udoka Azubuike's explosiveness in the paint. The Jayhawks big has played 50 minutes in the Big Dance after missing the Big 12 tournament with an MCL sprain. The 7-footer still wears a brace on his knee. We'll see how he matches on the boards against Duke's best player.
After registering 23 three-pointers in the first two rounds, Duke went cold from beyond the arc, only hitting five of 26 attempts against the Orange. If the Blue Devils feel pressed to established long-distance rhythm Sunday, Kansas can take advantage.
The Jayhawks haven't relied heavily on triples during the tournament. They've slowly increased their production in that category but hit 10 in the previous outing against Clemson.
In a shootout-style contest, expect Kansas guards Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk and Malik Newman to find their strokes. Most importantly, senior guard Devonte' Graham should raise his scoring efficiency after shooting 33 percent or less from the field in the last two games.
Prediction: Kansas 78, Duke 75
Click here for B/R's Printable Bracket.
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