Previewing the 2022 Menâs & Womenâs NCAA Final Four Weekend
Here. We. Go. After a March full of madness, the calendar turns to April and the Final Fours are ready to tip. The big weekend of college basketball tips off tonight in Minneapolis before the menâs finale jumps Saturday in New Orleans. Hereâs everything you need to know for both events. Weâll crown champions in Monday and Tuesday editions.
Womenâs Final Four Preview
Itâs three 1-seeds and the Huskiesâ dynasty ready for action in the womenâs Final Four. Louisville and South Carolina go head-to-head in tonightâs first matchup thatâll see Naismith Player of the Year Aliyah Boston (South Carolina) with a size mismatch against the Cardinals. South Carolina (33-2) lost just two games all season by a combined three points. Theyâre 8.5-point favorites. In the nightcap, itâs the defending champs from Stanford against Paige Bueckers and UConn in another unique matchup. Both teams have guards who can shine, but Cameron Brink (Stanford) has the advantage inside. Stanford is a 1.5-point favorite.
Recent History: Overall, three of the last five womenâs champions are in Minneapolis â Stanford (2021), South Carolina (2017) and UConn (2016). Could it be Louisvilleâs turn?
NCAA Womenâs Final Four Schedule
#1 Louisville vs. #1 South Carolina (Fri. 7:00 pm)
#1 Stanford vs. #2 UConn (Fri. 9:30 pm)
Womenâs NCAA Championship (Sun. 8:00 pm)
Menâs Final Four Preview
Blue bloods reign supreme in New Orleans. This yearâs menâs Final Four features four teams who rank top-10 teams in all-time championships. The 17 combined titles between UNC (6), Duke (5), Kansas (3) and Villanova (3) makes this the first Final Four in which every team has won a championship. The Jayhawks and Wildcats kick things off on Saturday with KU as a 4.5-point favorite. Kansas star Ochai Agbaji has disappeared a few times in this yearâs tournament, and heâs likely the x-factor for KU. Saturdayâs second game is the one weâre all eyeing. Duke is a 4-point favorite against Carolina, but the first-ever Tobacco Road rivalry in the NCAA Tournament could be Coach Kâs last game. Carolina is 2-1 against Duke this yearâs, but both teams have been stellar in the postseason. One of sportsâ greatest rivalries just got an upgrade.
Recent History: Overall, three of the last six menâs champions are in New Orleans â Villanova (2016 & 2018), UNC (2017) and Duke (2015). Could it be Kansasâ turn?
NCAA Menâs Final Four Schedule
#1 Kansas vs. #2 Villanova (Sat. 6:09 pm)
#2 Duke vs. #8 North Carolina (Sat. 8:49 pm)
Menâs NCAA Championship (Mon. 9:20 pm)
Soak it up... The last weekend of college basketball is here!
Additional Storylines
B/R: The 2022 Menâs NCAA All-Tournament Team Ahead of the Final Four
SI: The Key Factor for Each Team in the Womenâs Final Four
ESPN: Duke vs. North Carolina: History, Nostalgia & Betting Tips for Historic Matchup
CBS Sports: Final Four Preview: What to Know About Duke, UNC, Kansas & Villanova