March 23, 2021

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March 23, 2021

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PAGE 2 March 23, 2021

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IN-PERSON GRADUATION Virginia Tech announces multiple inperson commencement ceremonies pg. 3

Coaches must guide athletes as COVID-19 disrupts structured practices It is a coach’s job to mentor athletes during practice and also guide them in their future athletic endeavors.

One of the things I enjoyed most about high school was participating in organized sports. I ran cross country and track yearround throughout all four years, and my experience competing changed my life. I made so many new friends, most of whom are still my closest friends to this day, and I learned how to challenge myself. It taught me valuable lessons like how to work as a team, how to communicate with others and how to push myself to be the best teammate and person possible. Although I owe much to organized sports, they did not prepare me for adapting to life after running.

Once the pandemic forced schools to switch to online learning, my final season of high school track was cut short. I knew I wouldn’t be a competitive runner forever, but I didn’t expect to lose my team so soon. As weeks trickled into months of no practice, my hopes of finishing the season dwindled.

I lost motivation and missed the structure organized sports provided. Although my coaches could never have planned for this to happen, I was angry that they had not given us any direction as to how to be active without practices. As the pandemic continues, it is evident that coaches have not given their athletes the necessary resources to continue an active lifestyle after school sports come to an end. A greater emphasis must be made on helping athletes find substitutes for what would otherwise be time spent at practice.

Ciara Summersgill, the Virginia Tech Running Club Women’s Distance captain, reflected on her experience with organized sports and her time with the club.

“Being a part of Club Running has shaped my college experience,” Summersgill said.

“I’m a senior, and the best memories I have

from college are from club events. Organized sports kept me in shape by allowing me to do something I love, while making lifelong friendships along the way.”

However, the indefinite pause in practices caused by the COVID-19 pandemic did not come without its challenges.

“Trying to stay motivated to run was difficult,” Summersgill said. “Being able to run with teammates makes running 100% easier and overall more enjoyable.”

Playing an organized sport is hard, but practicing without the instruction of a coach is exponentially harder. On my high school team, we were required to run on our own once a week, typically the day after competition. My teammates and I dreaded the infamous run-on-your-own days because it was so hard to not only run by yourself, but also to maintain motivation. After these days turned into run-on-your-own months, I found it hard to hold myself accountable without a schedule and the excitement of seeing my teammates at practice.

Not only is it easy to lose motivation, but abruptly stopping something so consistent as organized sports can change an athlete’s body and mentality.

“After taking some time off, your body and mind don’t get the usual endorphins from the ‘runner’s high,’ and it can become very apparent in day to day life, especially during quarantine,” Summersgill said.

The body and mind feed off of exercise.

It lowers stress, keeps the body healthy and can be an escape from reality when it is needed the most. Once you stop exercising, however, it can be hard to find a replacement.

Some athletes, especially runners, may often experience changes in their bodies as well.

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Because organized sports can be physically demanding, some athletes may experience weight gain and muscle loss once these sports stop. A delayed puberty can also occur in some female athletes after they stop partaking in organized sports. As my body began to change after running, I was struck by the fact that no one had prepared me for weight gain and loss of muscle. It is imperative that organized sports prepare athletes for all the physical changes that may follow.

Summersgill was one of many who missed the structure provided by organized sports.

“College gives us the most sporadic and busy schedules we will ever have in our lives,” Summersgill said. “Having a practice to go to every day gave me (something) constant to look forward to. It gave me a safe place I felt welcomed at, an adequate amount of socialization and kept my mind happy and healthy.”

The role organized sports play in the lives of athletes is much bigger than most people expect. Many athletes train every day for hours on end, so when they can no longer train, they are left feeling lost, desperately

seeking new ways to fill that void. While coaches focus primarily on preparing their athletes for their next meet, it is important that there is a greater emphasis on preparing athletes for life after organized sports. For this to happen, more resources must be available to help athletes develop their own schedules so that they can continue to train while they are not actively competing.

Not knowing what to do after participating in organized sports can be incredibly frustrating. I tried many different activities, from biking to yoga to HITT exercises, but I couldn’t help missing the feeling of competing with my team. If an athlete is feeling lost, Summersgill has advice for where to start.

“Keep up with playing the sport you love,” Summersgill said. “Get together with friends and family who also enjoy the sport.

The best thing you can do for yourself is to keep that constant in your life. Do what makes you happy.”

OLIVIA NELSON • freshman • biochemistry

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March 23, 2021 PAGE 3

NCAA AND COVID-19 March Madness faces an uphill battle unlike ever before pg. 5

Virginia Tech announces multiple in-person commencement ceremonies Virtual graduation on May 14 will be accompanied by several in-person ceremonies divided up by academic departments.

ADIAH GHOLSTON news editor

Virginia Tech’s cloud of uncertainty surrounding the possibilities of in-person commencement celebrations has been lifted as Gov. Northam releases a draft plan for safe in-person commencements on Wednesday.

According to the draft plan, graduation events held outdoors are to be capped at 5,000 people or 30% of venue capacity, whichever number is less. Indoor graduations may hold up to 500 people, or 30% of the venue capacity, whichever number is less.

With more than 8,000 students graduating this year, Virginia Tech is currently planning to hold multiple ceremonies in Lane Stadium toward the end of the semester. This is in addition to the virtual ceremony, which will be held online May 14.

Virginia Tech’s previous decision to solely hold online commencements was made because Northam did not permit in-person commencement celebrations at that point.

Attendees would abide to guidelines requiring the wearing of masks and practicing of social distancing measures.

Attendees will not be permitted to gather in large numbers outside of the stadium.

Federal funding assists in safely reopening schools and colleges

Tailgating and social congregation will not take place. These are a few of the measures that attendees and graduation venues will be required to follow.

More in-depth commencement details will be provided sometime in April.

Commencement plans will be shaped by state guidelines and the feedback received from the class of 2021.

Virginia Tech’s commencement delivery team has already started the planning process as they “optimistically anticipated” an announcement allowing in-person celebrations.

The delivery team has sought feedback

from the class of 2021 through a survey.

The survey asked students to rank the most important parts of an in-person graduation, and if students would attend an in-person celebration before final exams.

The university is also considering how they can potentially recognize the class of 2020 and will seek input from the class.

The class of 2021 will continue to be updated on the status of their graduation through emails, Virginia Tech social media channels and at vt.edu/commencement. @CollegiateTimes

The American Rescue Plan and Hardest Hit Education Fund aim to assist in reopening schools safely.

JANE PARK news staff writer

On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package, also known as the American Rescue Plan. Within the package, $170 billion was allocated for K-12 schools and higher education institutions.

More specifically, $130 billion will be used for schools to safely reopen and about $40 billion will go toward the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund, which provides universities that have endowments of less than $1 million with critical resources to implement public health protocols, create distance learning plans and arrange emergency grants for students in need. The amount a university receives depends on the number of students using federal Pell Grants.

The remaining $5 billion is for the Hardest

Hit Education Fund, which governors will use to support schools that were severely impacted by the novel coronavirus.

As of now, Virginia Tech does not have specific details on how the money will be used. However, it is likely that it will be used in a similar manner from when the university received federal funding under the CARES Act last April.

The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund requires that at least 50% of the federal funds given to universities must go toward emergency need-based grants for students.

The relief package also includes $1,400 stimulus checks for all working adults, as well as adult dependents, who were previously ineligible during the first round of stimulus checks last March.

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March 23, 2021 PAGE 5

FLORIDA BEATS TECH Tech’s March Madness run is ended by Florida pg. 6

MARCH MADNESS FACES AN UPHILL BATTLE UNLIKE EVER BEFORE The pandemic has presented several challenges that athletes, coaches and fans will have to adjust to for this year’s tournament.

RORY AILOR & JULIANNE JOYCE lifestyles contributors

As the end of an unusual basketball season moves forward with its annual bracket tournament, it’s time to take a look at why this year will be more challenging than ever before.

March 2020 was a rough time for basketball fans, as March Madness was canceled due to concerns over COVID-19. Despite feeling disappointed and upset, fans understood the dangers the virus posed for players, coaches and the audience. Bringing 68 teams into a single tournament at the beginning of a pandemic was just not possible.

In light of a year that has seen so many sports leagues adapt to COVID-19, college basketball fans are relying on the biggest draw of the season to help bring back a sense of normalcy to their beloved sport.

The NBA and NFL have both conducted their playoffs according to COVID-19 regulations, often choosing to get creative in order to keep players safe and fans happy. Back in August, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver spearheaded a heroic effort to create a Disney World “bubble.” The bubble consisted of 22 teams and players were not permitted to leave the Orlando campus, which allowed the playoffs to continue in an unprecedented fashion.

The NFL chose to have a normal season; they did not confine their players to a “bubble” or take similarly dramatic action, and many players tested positive for COVID-19 as a result. Star players had to miss out on some of the biggest games of the season. Sometimes even coaches had to sit out of games, like Kevin Stefanski, who was absent for a crucial playoff game. Luckily the team still won, otherwise, the playoffs would have been tainted with numerous “what ifs.”

The NBA and NFL managed to complete their seasons but faced harsh challenges along the way, including mental health hardships, which many NBA players addressed after the season ended. Los Angeles Clippers star Paul George opened up to fans about how he underestimated how much the season would affect his mental and physical health.

The NCAA announced its plan for the tournament this March, which parallels the NBA “bubble” in many ways. The NCAA has confined all 64 teams to the city of Indianapolis, Indiana. The teams are separated into multiple hotels, and the games are taking place in various arenas throughout the area. If conducted properly, the NCAA should be able to provide a relatively safe environment for its players and coaches, but it will be impossible for the tournament to compare to the security that the NBA’s “bubble” provided its players.

In addition, the NCAA has ensured limited fan attendance during each round, as well as plans to have mass COVID-19 testing taking place throughout the tournament for everyone involved.

Health aside, the logistics of scheduling pose an even bigger threat to the success of the tournament as a whole. In the ACC tournament, both UVA and Duke were knocked out for positive COVID-19 tests. What would happen to a team with prospects of a national championship win if one of their players were to test positive? The uphill battle the NCAA faces stretches across many aspects of a sporting event, and in order to fulfill the experience of March Madness, something will have to be sacrificed.

The players’ mental health is one of these sacrifices. Playing basketball in front of significantly smaller crowds while being restricted

from seeing family or friends for several weeks seems daunting. On top of everything, there is still the risk of contracting COVID-19, which is a scary possibility for these players to contend with as they fight to win some of the most important games of their lives.

If a star player tests positive for COVID-19, their team could remain in the tournament, as long as they have five healthy players. One individual can largely affect how their team ranks, especially this late in the season, so if that individual becomes sick, the team could flail and underperform. However, it could be much more complicated than that. VCU, for example, had to drop out of the tournament for multiple positive tests. It’s still unclear whether they even had five healthy players, but regardless, the decision was made for them and Oregon proceeded onto the second round with a win.

Fans and players alike might feel haunted by the different ways the tournament could have panned out, not to mention that if this were to happen in one of the final rounds, it would cause a major uproar in the sports world.

Furthermore, players will be forced to sacrifice their own physical health. Patriots quarterback Cam Newton tested positive for COVID-19 early in the season; when he returned, his performance was notably worse, which led people to speculate about the effects of COVID-19 on athletes. While there is limited data available regarding these long-term effects, it is clear that every athlete is affected differently. That said, it is important that every potential opportunity for exposure is eliminated.

Despite all of this, postponement or cancellation of the tournament does not necessarily have to be an option. Other sports leagues have been able to safely conduct tournaments and games while keeping their players safe.

The Professional Golfers’ Association Tour

recently held its marquee tournament, the Players Championship, while allowing fans back at about 20% capacity while wearing masks and socially distancing. Golf happens to be outside and in a safer environment, but it shows that the right safety precautions can go a long way in a return to normalcy.

In March 2020, the world was only beginning to grasp how to monitor and contain the virus.

While the United States has done an objectively poor job in its management, the future is looking bright, as President Biden has stated that 100 million vaccinations will be administered to Americans by the end of March.

Despite the mental toll on players and the health risks for everyone involved, we are lucky to be at a stage in the pandemic where major sports events can proceed in the safest way possible, empowering players to have a oncein-a-lifetime opportunity and continuing a national sports tradition.

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Sports

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FINAL FOUR PICKS Our sports experts’ opinions on the dance pg. 7

TECH’S MARCH MADNESS RUN IS ENDED BY FLORIDA The Hokies go out in overtime to end their NCAA tournament run.

DEVIN SHEPARD sports editor

The Virginia Tech Hokies’ season is over after losing to Florida, 75 — 70, in an overtime thriller on Friday. Despite a career day for sophomore guard Nahiem Alleyne, foul trouble and a lack of size proved to be the nails in the coffin for Virginia Tech’s season.

It was the tale of two halves for the Hokies in this game. After neither team scored in the first two minutes of the game, Alleyne and fellow sophomore guard Hunter Cattoor started heating up from three, combining for 16 in the first half and making five threes, giving Virginia Tech an early lead. The Gators surged back, trimming the deficit to one at one point and putting Wabissa Bede in foul trouble.

However, the Hokies would go on a 7 — 2 run to end the half, going into the break up 33 — 27.

The Hokies shot a scorching 5 — 12 from three in the first half.

The second seemed like it would be more of the same early, with the teams going back and forth through most of the half. Eventually, Florida would take the lead with 5:14 left, led by dominant play from junior Colin Castleton, and a scoring drought from Virginia Tech. A Tre Mann stepback three would eventually put

GONZAGA

WEST

the Gators up six points with three minutes to go, but the Hokies weren’t done yet.

Alleyne would hit four free throws to put Virginia Tech within two points with two minutes to go. The Hokies would then foul Florida guard Noah Locke with 1:23 left and he would make both attempts. The Hokies brought the ball down, and Tyrece Radford had a dunk attempt blocked by Castleton. Down four, it seemed like all hope was lost for Virginia Tech.

The Gators would get the ball and big man Anthony Duruji would make one of two free throw attempts. The Hokies brought the ball down, and Alleyne would make a lefty floater with 49 seconds to go.

Taking the ball out of bounds, Florida took a five-second violation and turned the ball over due to a stifling Virginia Tech press. Alleyne took a pull-up midrange jumper and made it.

The Hokies were within down one, 62 — 61, 29 seconds to go. Virginia Tech would foul Gator guard Scottie Lewis and he would make both free throws. The Hokies brought the ball down the floor and Alleyne took a three with 11 seconds left, missing. It looked like it was over. On the ensuing possession, Virginia Tech fouled Duruji again. First shot, a miss. Second shot, a miss. Seven seconds left. Keve Aluma with the rebound. Pass to Alleyne. Three

CT SPORTS STAFF’S FINAL FOUR CONSENSUS GONZAGA

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EAST

seconds. Alleyne pulls up … BANG! Blacksburg erupted as the sophomore out of Georgia hit the three to send the Hokies to overtime.

Unfortunately, the story wasn’t over.

In overtime, Virginia Tech power forward Justyn Mutts and star center Keve Aluma would foul out. The Gators took the lead again, but with 48 seconds left, Hunter Cattoor would steal the ball and take it down the court for a fastbreak dunk to pull the Hokies within one. Unfortunately, on the ensuing possession, Florida guard Tre Mann would hit a stepback three to ice the game, sending the Hokies home.

Nahiem Alleyne would finish with 28 points on the day, a career-high, and guard Tyrece Radford would finish with 18.

Florida center Colin Castleton dominated down low for the Gators, finishing with 19 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks. He was aided by a good day from guard Tre Mann, who finished with 14.

Virginia Tech center and second-team All-ACC member Keve Aluma had a rough day, finishing with just seven points, fouling out and being dominated by Castleton most of the game.

GONZAGA

That along with poor shooting in the second half and overtime proved too much for the Hokies to overcome. After making 5 — 12 threes in the first half, the Hokies were only able to convert two the rest of the game.

Even though the loss is a disappointing end to the season for Virginia Tech fans, there is reason for hope for next season. The arrival of Wofford guard Storm Murphy and Alleyne’s emergence give the Hokies a real chance at ACC contention next year. With some development from the younger guys on the roster, Virginia Tech has an outside shot at a title run next season.

@CTSportsTalk

SOUTH

BAYLOR

BAYLOR

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March 23, 2021 PAGE 7

CT SPORTS STAFF’S FINAL FOUR PICKS Our sports experts’ opinions on the dance.

COLLEGIATE TIMES sports staff

Devin Shepard’s Final Four: Michigan, Baylor, Gonzaga, Illinois East: Michigan Wolverines Michigan is one of the best two-way attacks in the country led by Hunter Dickinson and Franz Wagner. The loss of Isaiah Livers hurts, but the Wolverines combine a well-rounded roster with one of the easier paths to the Final Four. One of the better three-point shooting teams in the country, Michigan has four sharpshooters who can light it up at any point in a game. They likely can’t beat Gonzaga, but Michigan should make it to the Final Four.

South: Baylor Bears Baylo r’s a t t a ck begins and ends with superstar duo Davion Mitchell and Jared Butler.

They lead the best three-point shooting team in the country.

The Bears are also one of the best teams in the country at forcing turnovers.

This combination makes Baylor a threat to beat anyone in the tournament. They also dominate the offensive boards.

One of the most consistent teams in the country, the Bears finished 13 –1 in the extremely tough Big 12 Conference.

MaCio Teague isn’t too bad either.

West: Gonzaga Bulldogs

My title favorite, Gonzaga is by far the most talented team in the country. In a year where blue bloods like Duke and Kentucky struggled, the Bulldogs are reminiscent of the stacked teams of the past. Any one of the trio of Corey Kispert, Drew Timme and Jalen Suggs has a claim as the best player in the tournament. Maybe more impressive, however, is that fourth option Joel Ayayi would arguably be the best player on 58 other teams in the tournament. Gonzaga’s offense is almost unstoppable, as evidenced by their 98-point outing against UVA. Midwest: Illinois Fighting Illini If we are talking about superstar duos, there might not be a better one in the country than Ayo Dosunmu and Kofi Cockburn.

They are best described as lightning and thunder, with Dosunmu being an electric playmaker and scorer and Cockburn as one of the most dominating presences down low in the nation. Like Gonzaga, Illinois runs one of the best offenses in the country, averaging 81.4 points per game. They are battletested, consistently winning this season in the Big Ten. Also, their ability to dominate the boards and get to the free-throw line should allow them to utterly dominate some of the smaller teams in the tournament.

Claire Castagno’s Final Four: Alabama, Arkansas, Gonzaga, Illinois East: Alabama Crimson Tide When I think of Alabama in the tournament, I think of coach Nate Oats. Oats was responsible for Buffalo’s 2018 upset of Arizona and Deandre Ayton in the tournament. In two years with Alabama, Oats has transformed the Crimson Tide in an elite team in a conference with a strong upper half. Alabama possesses the SEC Player of the Year in Herbert Jones, who shoots 43.9% from the floor, and three other players averaging double-digits in points per game, including Villanova transfer Jahvon Quinerly. I think that the East region is the easiest path to the final four, and Alabama will take advantage of that.

South: Arkansas Razorbacks Like Oats, Arkansas coach Eric Musselman got called up to coach in the SEC after his coaching efforts with

Nevada in March Madness 2018. That year, Musselman and his team proved they could finish out close games in a high-stake environment. Arkansas’ strongest weapon is SEC Freshman of the Year Moses Moody, who averages 17.4 points and 5.9 rebounds a game. It doesn’t stop there, though.

Musselman has also developed the SEC Sixth Man of the Year JD Notae. To reach the final four, Arkansas might need victories over No. 1 Baylor, No. 2 Ohio State and No. 4 Purdue.

West: Gonzaga Bulldogs Gonzaga is the clear favorite to win March Madness this year, and I believe it is for good reason. Corey Kispert, Jalen Suggs and Drew Timme are a tough trio to overpower. Sitting atop the KenPom rankings, the Bulldogs have a real chance of sealing up the first undefeated season since Indiana went 32 – 0 in 1976. Despite competing in a mid-major conference, Gonzaga already has victories against Kansas, Virginia, Iowa and West Virginia. If any team were to beat Gonzaga in the tournament, it would be a major upset.

Midwest: Illinois Fighting Illini Illinois only has three players averaging double-digits in points per game, but it has multiple players that can step up on any given day like André Curbelo, Adam Miller and Trent Frazier. Illinois’ regular season finish is what convinces me they have what it takes to win-out. Its last six wins are over tournament teams and it ties Oklahoma State with the most Quad 1 wins this season with 12. I think stars Kofi Cockburn and Ayo Dosunmu have gained the experience it takes to win tough, high-stake games and will come out of the gate hot after winning the Big Ten tournament.

Ridge Wilson’s Final Four: Alabama, Baylor, Gonzaga, Illinois East: Alabama Crimson Tide I still remember the success that head coach Nate Oats had when he was at Buffalo.

In 2018, they routed Arizona 89 – 68 in a huge first round upset. In 2019, they went 32 – 4, earned a No. 6 seed, ran away with the MAC and won another first round game against Arizona State. That success has

translated well to the SEC at Alabama, where they captured their first SEC regular season title since 2002, 16 – 2 in SEC play, and won the conference tournament. Put simply, they let it fly and they play great defense. Led by guards Herbert Jones, John Petty Jr., Jahvon Quinerly and Jaden Shackelford, this team is playing well at the right time and is in position to capitalize on a wide-open East Region.

South: Baylor Bears I am banking on this team rounding back into form. They have five players who shoot above 38% from the 3-point line, and their backcourt is elite, led by Jared Butler, MaCio Teague, Davion Mitchell, and Adam Flagler.

They are undersized as a team, and while they did average 84.4 points per game, they can hit an extended dry spell every so often.

However, they are an elite defensive team, so we’ll see if this recipe gets it done this March.

West: Gonzaga Bulldogs This is clearly an elite offensive team that boasts absurd talent, led by Corey Kispert, Jalen Suggs and Drew Timme, all part of the 15 finalists for the Wooden Award. The Zags already beat the top three teams in their region behind them in non-conference play: Iowa, Kansas and Virginia. I believe they’ll make the Final Four, but my only concern for their title hopes is that they really haven’t played a good team since before the calendar turned. When the pressure mounts against better, and even elite teams, how they respond will be the key.

Midwest: Illinois Fighting Illini I knew they were good, but their win over Michigan really caught my eye. Without their best player, Ayo Dosunmu, they went into Ann Arbor and absolutely obliterated the Wolverines, showcasing how elite they can be when their depth plays well. Their frontcourt, led by Kofi Cockburn and Giorgi Bezhanishvili, is also formidable. Their toughness really sticks out, but when they are as dialed in as they are now, I can’t see anyone that can stop them.

Amber Williams’ Final Michigan, Baylor, Iowa, Illinois

Four:

PAGE 8 March 23, 2021 from page 7

East: Michigan Wolverines Dominating the Big Ten, which has been a tough conference to compete in, Michigan has a pretty solid shot of making it to the final four due to their battle-tested team.

With Juwan Howard as their coach, they will have experienced leadership keeping them calm at the big dance. What I potentially see standing in the way of an appearance is the absence of forward Isaiah Livers. However, if key players like Hunter Dickinson, who is averaging 14.2 points per game, step up, I expect the Wolverines to be seen in the final four.

South: Baylor Bears The No. 1 team in the Big 12, the Bears, are a contender this season with Jared Butler heading the team in points with 17 points per game. Baylor is 23 – 2 overall, only losing one in conference matchup to place them as a No. 1 seed. Baylor’s only losses came from Oklahoma State and Kansas. Mark Vital is a defensive on the court for the Bears with 24 blocks on the season, averaging one per game. This is the best shot Bears have had in recent years of making it far in March Madness. If they can pull it off, this will be their first final four appearance since 1950.

West: Iowa Hawkeyes Luka Garza is the main ingredient for the Hawkeyes on the court, leading the team with 23.7 points per game, 8.8 rebounds and 1.7 blocks. Garza’s playing style alone is what I can see carrying this team to the final four. Joe Wieskamp is a nice extra for the Hawkeyes that will assist in their run as well; he is second in scoring with 14.7 PPG. No. 3 in the Big Ten with a record of 14 – 6 overall, Iowa is an incredibly strong team in this tournament and should not be underestimated. The Hawkeyes are the strongest offensive team out of my final four picks and I believe they will be a huge threat.

Midwest: Illinois Fighting Illini Continuing my theme of a majority Big Ten final four, I see Illinois going very far in March Madness this season. Illinois is second in the Big Ten with a 23 – 6 overall record and is on a hot streak. They have won seven of their last games, including all three in the Big Ten tournament to become the champions. Although some people will point to Illinois’ players’ inexperience with the NCAA Tournament, they are still competing at a high level of college basketball and will now have their opportunity to prove themselves.

Nick Cheshire’s Final Four: Gonzaga, Baylor, Illinois, Texas West: Gonzaga Bulldogs

collegiatetimes.com Typically, doubters can point to a weak schedule where the Bulldogs beat up on inferior opponents, but this year, the West Region consists of Gonzaga’s highest profile non-conference victories of the campaign, including Iowa, Kansas and Virginia. Personnel wise, the Zags are as good as they’ve ever been, boasting a pair of potential lottery picks in the upcoming NBA draft with Suggs and Kispert. This duo will outperform Gonzaga’s last pair of first rounders in 2019, Rui Hachimura and Brandon Clarke, who came up just shy of the Final Four, falling to Texas Tech in the Elite Eight.

South: Baylor Bears This Baylor team hasn’t been the same defensively since their three-week COVID-19 pause. Before the pause, the Bears were the best defensive team in the nation in most categories, combining this stifling defense with unparalleled threepoint shooting to build a perfect 17 – 0 record. The defense regressed significantly after the break, leading to their first loss of the year against Kansas and a Big-12 tournament loss to Cade Cunningham and a hot Oklahoma State team, neither of which are bad losses by any stretch of the imagination. When you dive deeper, both of these losses came against teams that Baylor had seen before, so it’s easier to like their odds in a one-and-done tournament against teams that have never faced the Bears’ defense. If Baylor can step it up on the defensive end, their perimeter shooting and rebounding prowess make them possibly the most complete team in the field.

Midwest: Illinois Fighting Illini After topping Ohio State in an overtime thriller to take the BIG-10 championship, Illinois earned a one seed in the big dance, avoiding slipping to the two line and subsequently avoiding another big name, possibly Baylor or Gonzaga, in the Elite Eight.

Illinois boasts one of the best inside-outside duos in the country with junior guard Ayo Dosunmu and seven-footer Kofi Cockburn.

Illinois finds themselves with a trio of dark horses in their bracket, with an unusually tough matchup with Oklahoma State looming in the Sweet 16. If they can get past the Cowboys and the presumptive number one pick in next year’s NBA draft, look for the Fighting Illini to make a deep run.

East: Texas Longhorns Finally breaking my trend of straight number one seeds in the Final Four, my sleeper pick this year is Texas. Texas probably has a more favorable draw than any of the other three-seeds, potentially facing Alabama in the Sweet 16 and Michigan or Florida State in the Elite Eight. The East Region seems to be largely wide-open, with

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one-seed Michigan missing a key piece, star senior forward Isaiah Livers, who is unlikely to see the floor for the entirety of the tournament. Texas is another battle-tested team that I trust is getting hot at the right time, a recipe for sustained success in the NCAA tournament.

in their last six games. However, Baylor is still no team to be messed with and has routinely dominated opposing teams with a +18 point differential this season.

Logan MacDonald’s Final Four: Alabama, Gonzaga, Houston, Baylor

West: Gonzaga Bulldogs What is there to say about this team that hasn’t already been said? This is a team with a perfect 26 – 0 record coming into the tournament, the most efficient offense in all of Division I. The Bulldogs have two forwards in Corey Kispert and Drew Timme who both average over 18 points a game and a head coach in Mark Few who has experience coaching in the Final Four. Choose against this team at your own risk — and at the risk of your brackets.

East: Alabama Crimson Tide The Crimson Tide has grown a reputation for being a high-octane three-point shooting squad in what has only been Nate Oats’ second season as the head coach.

Additionally, this team ranks at the top of the NCAA for defensive efficiency which ensures that they can stay in the game even when their shots aren’t falling. As if this team didn’t already have a solid chance of going deep into the tournament, the absence of star forward Isaiah Livers from the top seeded Michigan Wolverines should make their road to the Final Four that much easier.

South: Texas Tech Red Raiders There always seems to be one team outside of the top three seeds who finds their way to the tournament. The Red Raiders will be that team this year. This team gets by with their aggressive defensive style, which they use to force turnovers, as well as their excellent guard play from Kyler Edwards and Georgetown-transfer Mac McClung.

Head coach Chris Beard has already led this program to one Final Four — who’s to say he can’t lead them to another?

Midwest: Houston Cougars The Cougars arguably have their best chance at a championship since the days of Phi Slama Jama. Behind seventh-year head coach Kelvin Sampson, this team has managed to compensate for a lack of shooting talent with elite production on the defensive end. They hold teams to an average of 58 points per game on an average shooting percentage of 37.5% (the lowest in Division I). The Cougars also rank third for Division I in offensive rebounds with 14.5 per game.

As long as this team can keep their games low-scoring, expect them to be a tough out.

East: Alabama Crimson Tide Alabama is poised to go far in this tournament due to the team’s multidimensional skill set. Alabama has an offensive ability to rain 3-pointers that is rarely seen in the college game. Additionally, they play sound defense all around and are loaded with talent in the backcourt. The one seed Michigan may pose a challenge to Bama’s Final Four Chances; however, the fourth seed FSU has a good chance of being a dark horse to knock Michigan out of the way before that opportunity even comes to pass.

West: Gonzaga Bulldogs Every year in the NCAA tournament there’s that one team to beat that everybody has their eyes on to be upset. This year, Gonzaga is the favorite by far and for good reason. Gonzaga is the only undefeated one seed in the tournament and has a +23 point differential this season. As if that isn’t enough, Gonzaga is shooting an astounding 55% from the field this season. No team has run the table since 1976, but Gonzaga will be looking to end that streak this year.

Midwest: Houston Cougars Everybody has heard the saying “defense wins championships.” If this rings true, then this bodes quite well for Houston, who is allowing an incredible mark of just 57.9 points per game this season. Additionally, Houston dominates the boards and imposes their will on opposing teams in the rebound department. Their offense is led by star guard Quentin Grimes who is averaging an incredible combination of 17.9 points per game and 6.1 rebounds per game this season. While Houston having only played one game this season against a top 25 team poses concerns, they still have carved out a 24 – 3 record, which is better than one seed Illinois in the Midwest. Expect Houston to stick around.

South: Baylor Bears Baylor checks just about all requirements to be a tournament juggernaut. They have an incredible record of 22 – 2, are an impressive 7 – 2 against top 25 teams and have the best three point attack in college basketball.

Baylor is shooting an unreal mark of 41.8% from downtown this season and has a backcourt to be feared. Granted, Baylor started 18 – 0 before losing both of their two losses

Colby Talley’s Final Four: Gonzaga, Alabama, Texas Tech, Houston

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