NCAA Tournament

Listen closely enough and you can still hear millions of men's basketball fans Scotch-taping their NCAA brackets together after Duke fell to Michigan State.

The Virginia faithful can breathe a small sigh of relief as the program avoided another early exit, but there's more work to do in Minneapolis.

The men's Final Four features just one program that's won a national title: Michigan State. Texas Tech and Auburn punched a ticket to the national semifinal for the first time in their respective school histories. 

According to Bovada, Virginia (+150, or bet $100 to win $150) is the favorite to win the 2019 national championship game. The Cavaliers could have a storybook turnaround on their hands with two more victories. First, they must go through an Auburn squad that hasn't lost since February 23 to Kentucky in their worst defeat of the season. 

Before going into the matchups, make sure to note the tipoff times and live-stream links to keep tabs on the action.

                  

2019 Men's Final Four Viewing and Live-Stream Info

No. 5 Auburn vs. No. 1 Virginia: 6:09 p.m. ET, CBS, March Madness Live 

No. 3 Texas Tech vs. No. 2 Michigan State: 8:49 p.m. ET, CBS, March Madness Live

            

Auburn vs. Virginia: Clash of Play Styles

Auburn coach Bruce Pearl's animated coaching style will deliver one clear message: push the tempo. The Tigers have bludgeoned their opponents with instant offense, three-point flurries and active hands on the defensive end.

They can also defer to a cool, calm and collected finisher in Jared Harper, who knocked down all 11 of his free throws in the team's 77-71 Elite Eight victory over Kentucky.

Between the junior guard's shrewd decisions with the ball and Bryce Brown's three-point shooting, Auburn's playmakers can pierce Virginia's stingy defense.

The Cavaliers don't have to win games in which the winner reaches 65 points. This group put up 80 against Purdue in an overtime matchup to keep pace with Carsen Edwards, who logged 42 points. Kyle Guy and Ty Jerome recorded 25 and 24 points, respectively.

Virginia can't compete with one of the most efficient three-point shooting programs in the nation, but it's a squad that can certainly punch back in a tight contest down the stretch. 

Guy and Jerome have been Virginia's sharpshooting duo in the tournament. When the offense hits rough patches, they're able to stop droughts with simple catch-and-shoot sequences off ball screens.

Forward Chuma Okeke tore his ACL in the Sweet 16 game against North Carolina. His absence is a huge loss in any scenario, and UVA poses a tough challenge on the glass.

Five Cavaliers averaged 4.1 rebounds per game this season, which doesn't seem like much individually, but collectively, they don't give up many second-chance scoring opportunities. Auburn will likely have to do more with fewer chances to score.

The Tigers have to establish an offensive rhythm early and sustain their uptempo play to keep Virginia outside its comfort zone. If not, a slugfest with Guy and Jerome taking turns from three-point land would send the Cavaliers to their first national championship game.

                  

Texas Tech vs. Michigan State: Stars and Supporting Casts 

We're going to see two collegiate stars attempt to drive their programs to the big game. On one side, Texas Tech's Jarrett Culver looks NBA-ready with the ability to score all over the floor. He's averaging 18.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.8 assists per contest.

Don't ignore Culver's distribution numbers. He had help in the Elite Eight matchup against Gonzaga. Davide Moretti and Matt Mooney shot a combined 10-of-21 from the field for 29 points. Michigan State may decide to crowd or double-team the Red Raiders' top playmaker, but the supporting cast can knock down open shots. 

Cassius Winston's scoring average matches Culver's, but he's a high-level facilitator with 27 assists in his last three contests.

The junior guard has options on the offensive end; Xavier Tillman, Kenny Goins and Aaron Henry have made significant contributions in recent outings.

The Spartans' supporting cast must continue to show up with the team's second-leading scorer Joshua Langford (foot) out for the year and Nick Ward hampered because of a hand injury. He has come off the bench throughout the Big Ten and NCAA tournaments, logging no more than 20 minutes in those seven contests. 

In tournament play, Tillman has emerged as the second-best player on Michigan State's roster, averaging 15.3 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.8 blocks. If he's active and effective on both ends of the court, the Spartans may be able to match the Red Raiders' defensive intensity in a low-scoring tilt. 

Typically, close contests favor the team with the better point guard because he controls the game in crucial moments. Texas Tech could be at a disadvantage if Winston dominates possessions in the final few minutes of this matchup.

Three Auburn Tigers guards—Bryce Brown, Jared Harper and J'Von McCormick—are dealing with cold-like symptoms ahead of Saturday's Final Four game against the Virginia Cavaliers.

Brown and Harper told Brandon Marcello of Auburn Undercover on Friday they received shots and are taking medicine to further combat the illness.

McCormick said his symptoms aren't as severe, and none of the players believe their availability for tomorrow's contest is in question.

It would be a massive setback for the Tigers if either Brown or Harper miss the Final Four.

They are the team's two leading scorers, averaging 16 and 15.4 points per game, respectively, and they've taken on an even larger offensive burden since Chuma Okeke suffered a torn ACL earlier in the NCAA tournament.

"I hate that it happened around this time," Brown told Marcello. "He's battling something, I'm battling something, I had to get a shot yesterday. I've been taking medicine trying to get better, he's taking medicine trying to get better. ... I honestly think we'll be fine. I don't see anything holding us back. I don't think a cold will hold us back."

McCormick has been a limited contributor throughout his junior season (4.1 PPG), but he's reached double figures in scoring twice in four March Madness games.

Virginia was already listed as a 5.5-point favorite for the Final Four clash before Friday's news, per Vegas Insider.

So far, it doesn't sound like the Tigers will be forced to play shorthanded, but a more concrete update on the guards' status should come Saturday.

  

The Final Four teams have arrived in Minneapolis, and on Saturday the national semifinals will take place with two spots in the national championship game on the line.

The field has been trimmed from 68 teams to four. Either Virginia, Michigan State, Texas Tech or Auburn will be cutting down the nets and ending its season on Monday with a national title.

But first, Saturday's two matchups should provide some exciting action at U.S. Bank Stadium looking to extend its season.

         

Bracket

     

Final Four Schedule, Odds (All Times ET)

Saturday

No. 5 Auburn vs. No. 1 Virginia (-5.5), 6:09 p.m., CBS

No. 3 Texas Tech vs. No. 2 Michigan State (-2.5), 8:49 p.m., CBS

      

Monday

National championship game, 9 p.m., CBS

       

Odds to Win National Championship

Virginia +150 (Bet $100 to win $150)

Michigan State +180

Texas Tech +400

Auburn +600

      

Predictions

Auburn over Virginia

These teams play different styles of basketball. However, there aren't many teams that play quite like Virginia.

The Cavaliers play at a slow pace and rely on their strong defense, which leads the country in points allowed per game (55.4). That's what they've done throughout the NCAA tournament, as they didn't allow more than 56 points in any of their first three wins and limited Purdue to 75 in an overtime victory in the Elite Eight.

"We've got to be able to try to make them go faster in the half-court, and when you make that offense go faster, you extend, you break down, and you have whatever you want," Auburn coach Bruce Pearl told the media Thursday. "So I don't think we're going to be able to change the tempo of this game. We're most likely, if we're going to win, beat Virginia at their own pace."

However, Auburn could utilize its prolific three-point shooting to help counter Virginia's tempo and style. The Tigers have several strong shooters from behind the arc, including senior guard Bryce Brown, who is 15-of-32 (46.9 percent) on three-pointers in the NCAA tournament.

It's going to be a challenge for Auburn, but so were its last three matchups when it took down the three winningest programs in men's college basketball history—Kansas, North Carolina and Kentucky. The Tigers have a lot of momentum, and they'll use that to score another upset win and knock off the second No. 1 seed they've faced in March Madness.

          

Michigan State over Texas Tech

Michigan State was playing well when it won three games in the Big Ten tournament to capture the championship. But now, the Spartans may be playing even better.

After beating No. 15 seed Bradley, No. 10 seed Minnesota and No. 3 seed LSU in its first three NCAA tournament games, Michigan State notched its most impressive win of the season when it beat No. 1 overall seed Duke in the Elite Eight.

A big part of the Spartans' success has been the play of junior point guard Cassius Winston, the Big Ten Player of the Year and an AP All-American.

"I think a lot of it is Cassius, that he just was able to play with a lot of different people around him, and he truly made each one better, and that's what elite players do," Michigan State coach Tom Izzo told the media Thursday. "They make other players better."

Winston will continue his dynamic play as the Spartans will run their offense through him and take down Texas Tech to advance to the national championship game.

Any engaged college athletes hoping to fill out a wedding registry may need to consult with the NCAA first. 

Virginia guard Kyle Guy told reporters Thursday his fiancee wasn't allowed to share the couple's wedding registry because it would constitute a violation of NCAA rules:

Virginia's Kyle Guy and his fiancee can't start their wedding registry because NCAA. pic.twitter.com/kuFB3O8A0f

— USA TODAY Sports (@usatodaysports) April 4, 2019

NCAA president Mark Emmert told reporters there are no guidelines preventing Guy from having a wedding registry: "Nobody in the NCAA said anything of the sort. We don’t know what the source of that information was…It’s certainly not...a violation of NCAA rules."

Per NCAA rules, student-athletes are prohibited from receiving anything that constitutes an extra benefit, including "cash, gift certificates or other items with value," from athletics representatives, boosters or fans.

As much as the NCAA continues to insist it can't pay student-athletes—even as it hits record revenue totals—the organization at least seems to be willing to let them get married without interference. 

Hopefully Guy receives word there is no NCAA violation if his fiancee posts their registry so they can continue forward with their wedding plans. 

A little more than two weeks ago, there were 68 teams in the NCAA men's basketball tournament field. Now, it's down to four, and one will soon be the last school standing.

This year's Final Four will unfold from U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, beginning with Saturday night's national semifinal matchups. The winners advance to Monday night's national championship game.

Here's a look at the updated bracket, the Final Four schedule and each of the remaining teams.

       

Bracket

Final Four Schedule (All Times ET)

Saturday

No. 5 Auburn vs. No. 1 Virginia, 6:09 p.m., CBS

No. 3 Texas Tech vs. No. 2 Michigan State, 8:49 p.m., CBS

Monday

National championship game, 9 p.m., CBS

      

Final Four Teams Breakdown

Virginia

After becoming the first No. 1 seed to lose to a No. 16 seed last year, Virginia has been much more successful during March Madness this season. The Cavaliers are the only No. 1 seed in this year's Final Four.

Virginia lost in the ACC tournament semifinals to Florida State, but the Cavs quickly bounced back. They have taken down No. 16 seed Gardner-Webb, No. 9 seed Oklahoma, No. 12 seed Oregon and No. 3 seed Purdue in the NCAA tournament.

This is Virginia's first Final Four appearance since 1984, and it has never won a national championship.

The Cavaliers have allowed the fewest points in the nation (55.4 per game), and they play a slow style while making their offensive possessions count.

"Predominantly, it's your personnel. It's your versatility, how the guys have improved individually," Virginia coach Tony Bennett said, according to the Associated Press. "Just how they've gotten better to a man and the emergence of players, being able to play a little differently."

       

Auburn

The lowest-seeded team remaining in the NCAA tournament, Auburn is the most unexpected member of this year's Final Four.

The Tigers had an average regular season, finishing fourth in the SEC, but they started playing better later in the year, going on to win the conference tournament championship. Since then, they beat No. 12 seed New Mexico State, No. 4 seed Kansas, No. 1 seed North Carolina and No. 2 seed Kentucky.

It hasn't been an easy road for Auburn to reach this point. But now it has momentum, it wouldn't be shocking to see it beat any of the other Final Four teams.

This is the Tigers' first appearance in the Final Four in program history. According to head coach Bruce Pearl, one of the keys to their success has been their deep rotation.

"I've always played nine, 10 guys double-digit minutes. I think it makes for a healthy locker room," Pearl said, per the Associated Press.  "And when your guys begin to trust and rely on each other, it makes you, I think, a little bit more of a dangerous team."

       

Michigan State

Michigan State isn't the most successful college basketball program of all time, but it does have a better history than the other three Final Four schools.

The Spartans are the only former national champion among the group, as they won national titles in 1979 and 2000, the latter coming under current head coach Tom Izzo. This marks their first appearance in the Final Four since 2015.

Michigan State is coming off its biggest win of the season, as it defeated No. 1 overall seed Duke in the Elite Eight. Since winning the Big Ten tournament championship, the Spartans have also beaten No. 15 seed Bradley, No. 10 seed Minnesota and No. 3 seed LSU in the NCAA tourney.

Although Michigan State is a regular NCAA tournament contender, it hasn't won a national title in 19 years. Izzo is focused on trying to change that.

"I'll disclose this one thing: I'm going to try to win this time," Izzo said, according to the Associated Press. "I don't know if I've done a good job of that."

      

Texas Tech

Since losing its first game of the Big 12 tournament—a quarterfinal loss to West Virginia, a non-NCAA tournament team—Texas Tech has gotten back on track.

The Red Raiders have defeated No. 14 seed Northern Kentucky, No. 6 seed Buffalo, No. 2 seed Michigan and No. 1 seed Gonzaga in March Madness. Perhaps most impressive was their 63-44 win over—which made the Final Four last year—in the Sweet 16.

Before last season, Texas Tech had never made it past the Sweet 16. Now, it's making its first appearance in the Final Four.

Red Raiders head coach Chris Beard cited his team's resilience as one of its keys to success this year.

"I think there's a poise to our team," Beard said, per the Associated Press. "Every team we've played to this point gave us a real punch in the face, but we got ourselves back up."   

Only one men's basketball team can end the season by cutting down the nets and hoisting the national championship trophy. Four schools still have players hoping it will be them doing just that.

The Final Four begins Saturday night, with the national championship game on Monday night. All three games will take place at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

Three of the four schools in the Final Four—Virginia, Texas Tech and Auburn—have never previously won a national title.

                   

Bracket

            

Final Four Schedule (All Times ET)

Saturday

No. 5 Auburn vs. No. 1 Virginia, 6:09 p.m., CBS

No. 3 Texas Tech vs. No. 2 Michigan State, 8:49 p.m., CBS

              

Monday

National Championship Game, 9 p.m., CBS

                    

Predictions

The Final Four teams have all played well over the past several weeks, so Saturday's games should be close. 

The first semifinal features the lone No. 1 seed to make it to the Final Four, Virginia, and the lowest-seeded team to reach it, Auburn. The Tigers aren't a Cinderella team, as they come from the SEC and are a No. 5 seed, but it still comes as a surprise to many to see them playing this late into March Madness.

This has been the best season in Auburn men's basketball's history. The Tigers beat No. 1 North Carolina and No. 2 Kentucky in the past two rounds, and to advance to the national championship game, they will have to add another impressive victory over Virginia.

Not only did Auburn knock out North Carolina and Kentucky, but it also beat Kansas earlier in the tournament, meaning the Tigers eliminated the three winningest programs in men's college basketball history.

"At Auburn in athletics, we're not Cinderellas in anything," Auburn coach Bruce Pearl told reporters Sunday. "We're really, really good in all those other sports. We win championships. Been a long time since men's basketball has been good. That what makes it so special for us."

Michigan State, the only former national champion in the Final Four, will join Auburn in the national championship game.

The Spartans won national titles in 1979 and 2000, with the latter coming with current head coach Tom Izzo at the helm.

Michigan State and its semifinal opponent, Texas Tech, each knocked off a No. 1 seed in the Elite Eight. The Spartans took down Duke, the No. 1 overall seed, while the Red Raiders beat Gonzaga.

On Wednesday, Michigan State held its final practice before departing for Minneapolis.

"Today was smooth," Spartans junior point guard Cassius Winston said, according to the Phil Friend of the Lansing State Journal. " We're ready to go."

Count on them to be going to their first national championship game since 2009.

We've officially found the world's biggest Texas Tech fan. 

A bettor who placed a $1,500 futures bet on Texas Tech to win the national championship at 200-1 odds is now two wins away from cashing in a $300,000 prize, per Ben Fawkes of ESPN. The SuperBook at the Westgate Las Vegas has confirmed the validity of the ticket.

"Auburn is our only liability, and a small one at that," SuperBook vice president of risk Jeff Sherman said.

The bettor has placed the ticket on PropSwap for $65,000. ProSwap is a secondary market where bettors can sell off futures tickets in exchange for a hedge price that is below their potential winnings.

Texas Tech is currently a 2.5-point underdog in its Final Four matchup with Michigan State, per Vegas Insider. SuperBook said the Red Raiders would be a two-point favorite over Auburn and a three-point underdog to Virginia.

Texas Tech reached its first Final Four in program history with a win over Gonzaga. The Raiders' defense has been swarming throughout the tournament and is the most efficient in college basketball by over two points, per Ken Pomeroy.

They'll be going up against a Michigan State program playing in its eighth Final Four under Tom Izzo, though the Spartans won only one national championship in their previous seven trips.

Four men's basketball teams are headed to Minneapolis this weekend with the intention of bringing home the Division I national championship. Auburn, Michigan State, Texas Tech and Virginia can all make the case they are a team of destiny as they arrive in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.

Only one will be able to make that claim after Monday night, and while luck could be a huge factor in any game, the NCAA champions will almost certainly seal their title as a result of skill, athleticism and hard work.

          

Final Four Schedule (all times ET)

No. 5 Auburn vs. No. 1 Virginia (6 p.m., CBS) 

No. 3 Texas Tech vs. No. 2 Michigan State (8:30 p.m., CBS)

Live Stream: March Madness Live

The Virginia Cavaliers are the only No. 1 seed to survive in the NCAA bracket. They earned their way into the Final Four with an 80-75 overtime victory over Purdue in the Elite Eight and have won 13 of their last 14 games.

The Cavs were able to take advantage of a last-second shot by Mamadi Diakite that forced overtime by dominating the action in the extra period and outscoring the Boilermakers 10-5.

Virginia has been the No. 1 scoring defense in the nation this season, allowing 55.4 points per game, and great defense has long been this team's calling card. However, it is a much better offensive team than it has been in the past.

Kyle Guy is leading UVA in scoring with 15.2 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. Fellow backcourt player De'Andre Hunter is averaging 14.9 points and connecting on 51.8 percent of his shots from the field, while Ty Jerome is contributing 13.3 points per night.

Auburn pulled off a stunning 97-80 victory over North Carolina in the Sweet 16, and head coach Bruce Pearl's team earned a 77-71 overtime victory over Kentucky in the Elite Eight.

In many ways, Auburn's win over the Wildcats was the most impressive of the tournament because the Tigers accomplished the feat without star forward Chuma Okeke. He tore his ACL in the win over UNC, but his teammates rallied around him.

The Tigers still have some excellent weapons without Okeke, most notably Bryce Brown, who is scoring 16.0 points per game and connecting on 41.0 percent of his three-point attempts. Jared Harper is averaging 15.4 points and 5.8 assists per night.

Texas Tech will not consent to any assessment of Virginia as the best defensive team in the nation. The Red Raiders are allowing 59.0 points per night, which ranks third in the nation.

The Red Raiders attack the shooter with relentlessness and don't give their opponents time to set up excellent scoring opportunities. That defense was on display in the 75-69 victory over Gonzaga in the Elite Eight, and it was even better in the 63-44 triumph over Michigan in the Sweet 16 game.

Jarrett Culver is one of the top players in the nation, and he is likely to be selected early in the first round of the NBA draft. The 20-year-old is averaging a team-high 18.9 points and 6.4 rebounds per night. He is also averaging 1.5 steals per night, and his quick hands have allowed him to trigger Texas Tech's attack.

Davide Moretti and Matt Mooney are both double-figure scorers for the Red Raiders. The former is scoring 11.6 points per night and connecting on 50.2 percent of his shots, while the latter is scoring 11.2 points per night and handing out 3.4 assists per game.

The Tech defense will have to be at its best when it lines up against the Michigan State Spartans.

Michigan State emerged from the Elite Eight with a 68-67 victory over the high-powered Duke Blue Devils. The Spartans did not shut down superstar Zion Williamson, but they did keep him from making big plays when the game was on the line. They also kept R.J. Barrett in check.

Sparty tied for first in the Big Ten regular season, won the conference tournament and have now won four straight games in the NCAA tournament. After struggling in their first-round game against Bradley, the Spartans have played sensational basketball in wins over Minnesota, LSU and Duke.

Cassius Winston had 20 points and 10 assists in the win over the Blue Devils, and he leads the team in scoring (18.9 PPG) while connecting on 40.4 percent of his three-point shots.

Nick Ward (13.2), Xavier Tillman (10.1), Matt McQuaid (9.8) and Kenny Goins (8.1) are doing an excellent job in support of Winston. Goins hit the go-ahead three-pointer against Duke that propelled MSU to the Final Four.

After four brilliant Elite Eight games, college basketball fans can't wait for the show to begin at the Final Four.