Mitch Albom

Final Four: Virginia, Villanova, Gonzaga, Duke. 

Champion: Villanova. 

Why: The Wildcats are remarkably consistent, they have upperclassmen leadership and six guys who average double figures.  Experience counts in a wide-open year, and remember, they won it two years ago, they just won their conference tournament and hey, they are as good a bet as any. 

Jeff Seidel

Final Four: Virginia, Villanova, Michigan, Duke. 

Champion: Virginia. 

Why: Virginia has held all of its opponents to 68 points or fewer.  Nobody wants to play Michigan right now, and the Wolverines will ride their defense to the Final Four.  Michigan State opens in Detroit, which will make for a great weekend in the Motor City, but Duke awaits.  And Grayson Allen will trip somebody.  Because that’s who he is. 

Shawn Windsor

Final Four: Arizona, Villanova, Michigan, Duke. 

Champion: Arizona. 

Why: Because a Wildcats victory would troll the NCAA.  Because Arizona was listed in the FBI report.  Because Arizona is wildly talented.  Because it is finally healthy and playing to its preseason expectation.  Because big man Deandre Ayton might be the most dominant force in the game right now. 

Nick Baumgardner

Final Four: Virginia, Purdue, North Carolina, Duke. 

Champion: Duke. 

Why: Duke has to go through the toughest region, but it won't have to see either UNC or Virginia until the title game.  The Blue Devils may be the country's most talented team and they'll win an ACC rematch in the final. 

Chris Solari

Final Four: Arizona, Villanova, North Carolina, MSU. 

Champion: Villanova. 

Why: No teams have been as inconsistent as North Carolina and Arizona, but they both are surging.  No teams in the country may have been as consistent as Villanova and MSU this season, though the Spartans stumbled twice to Michigan and once to Ohio State since losing to Duke.  But no team possesses as much experience and talent as Jay Wright’s club, and the Wildcats win their second title in the past three years. 

CLOSE

No.  3 seed Michigan State will face No.  14 seed Bucknell on Friday at Little Caesars Arena.  Here's what you should know about the Patriot League champions.  Video by Ryan Ford, Detroit Free Press
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