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Michigan basketball vs Arizona
Tony Garcia: It’s not Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier, but it will be a heavyweight battle. The Wolverines and Wildcats both bulldozed through their regionals. The Wildcats are one of the few teams that have the size, depth and skill that can match the Wolverines at every spot. But Michigan players and coaches say they’re back to their Las Vegas level –assistant Justin Joyner said it started in the second half of the second-round Saint Louis matchup. Michigan has felt all year if it plays its “A” game, it can beat anyone in the country. Arizona will certainly put that to the test. But this Michigan team, led by Yaxel Lendeborg (who had his best month of the season), is on a mission. The pick: U-M 86, Arizona 83.
Carlos Monarrez: Another tournament game, another 90-point, double-digit win for Michigan, which is playing better in each round. Yaxel Lendeborg is taking over games at just the right time. U-M coach Dusty May and Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd should make a gentlemen’s bet before the game: Whoever wins gets the UNC job. The pick: U-M 90, Arizona 78.
Shawn Windsor: The Wolverines finally get to play someone that looks a lot like them. The Wildcats are also big, athletic, balanced, defend and have future pros. But U-am has a little more size and a touch more shooting and will make one more shot. The pick: U-M 71, Arizona 70.
Illinois vs UConn
Tony Garcia: For a while it seemed like neither team would be here. Illinois’ losses piled up in February, then a highly talented roster led by a freshman All-American found its form. And Connecticut? It just overcame a 19-point deficit and stunned Duke in the most improbable way imaginable. Dan Hurley has never lost after the Sweet 16, and this is his third Final Four in four years, but Illinois has the juice right now to match it. The pick: Illinois 81, UConn 77.
Carlos Monarrez: How can you pick against Danny Hurley’s Huskies after Braylon Mullins’ miracle last-second buzzer-beater than sent top overall seed Duke home? You can’t. Illinois is playing great defense, though, so count on a low-scoring slugfest. The pick: UConn 66, Illinois 64.
Shawn Windsor: The Huskies apparently don’t lose once they get past the second round under coach Dan Hurley. They also don’t lose to Duke. The Illini are playing not their preseason standard, and finally playing defense. Connecticut has a bit more physicality and experience and pulls away late. The pick: UConn 68, Illinois 63.
March Madness championship game predictions
Tony Garcia: All year long, the Big Ten has profiled as the nation’s best conference, and now it gets its first title since Michigan State in 2000. The Wolverins punked the Illini in their meeting in Champaign. But this game will start out tight early before, in the end, Michigan’s depth and skill becoming too much. Yaxel Lendevorg wins Final Four MVP and moves into the top 12 of next year’s draft. The pick: U-M 87, Illinois 79.
Carlos Monarrez: The Huskies used up their tournament magic against Duke, but they won’t have an answer for the Wolverines’ size and scoring prowess, especially if Lendeborg turns it on one last time before he heads to the NBA lottery. The pick: U-M 92, UConn 78.
Shawn Windsor: The Huskies don’t lose after the second round, right? Well that streak ends as the deepest team in college basketball wins the natty, and Dusty May stays in Ann Arbor to run it back. The pick: U-M 79, UConn 73.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan basketball Final Four picks vs Arizona: Who’s winning it all?
Reporting by Tony Garcia, Carlos Monarrez and Shawn Windsor, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
