Will the North Carolina Tar Heels finish Saint Peter’s run, how far can Duke and Villanova go and different Elite Eight storylines

Two Elite Eight video games down, two to go. And not less than one in all Sunday’s 2022 NCAA match conferences is what March Insanity is about for an amazing many viewers.

The Saint Peter’s Peacocks have been the story of the tourney thus far, turning into the primary No. 15 group in NCAA match historical past to achieve the Elite Eight. Their quest to maintain dancing to New Orleans for the 2022 Closing 4 will rely on the flexibility of Shaheen Holloway’s group to get previous one of many blue bloods of the game, the No. eight seed North Carolina Tar Heels — who’ve themselves made a stunning run to the doorstep of the nationwide semifinals below first-year head coach Hubert Davis.

Talking of blue bloods, the lone remaining No. 1 seed Kansas Jayhawks will start Sunday’s motion by vying for his or her 16th all-time Closing 4 journey towards a Miami Hurricanes squad within the Elite Eight for the primary time at school historical past.

Saturday’s Elite Eight motion acquired the weekend off to an exciting begin with the Villanova Wildcats scoring a 50-44 win over Houston and the Duke Blue Devils punching Coach Ok’s ticket to his final Closing 4 with a 78-69 win over Arkansas.

ESPN’s group of Myron Medcalf, Jeff Borzello, John Gasaway and Joe Lunardi weighed in on every part they noticed Saturday, and what they’re in search of within the remaining two Elite Eight video games on Sunday.

Comply with this hyperlink for NCAA tournament tip times, and go to right here to check your March Madness bracket.

Sunday’s March Insanity schedule:

• No. 10 Miami vs. No. 1 Kansas, 2:20 p.m. ET (CBS)

• No. 15 Saint Peter’s vs. No. eight North Carolina, 5:05 p.m. ET (CBS)

Will North Carolina be the group that ends Saint Peter’s Cinderella run on Sunday? What’s totally different about this matchup for the Peacocks?

Borzello: On paper, it could seem that North Carolina is well-equipped to finish Saint Peter’s run one step in need of the Closing 4. However the Peacocks have been out-gunned on paper towards Kentucky, Murray State and Purdue, too — so I feel most of that may be thrown out the window. The one massive distinction between the Tar Heels and the three earlier Saint Peter’s opponents is tempo.

Kentucky, Murray State and Purdue all rank within the bottom-third nationally in tempo, which regularly evens the taking part in discipline for a decrease seed. That is not why the Peacocks have received, nevertheless it’s a part of the explanation they have been in three shut video games. Carolina will attempt to push the tempo and get factors when Saint Peter’s is not set defensively; given the Peacocks’ elite half-court protection, that is in all probability a good suggestion. However there’s simply one thing about this Saint Peter’s group. They’ve handled the nation’s greatest massive males in Oscar Tshiebwe, Trevion Williams, Zach Edey and KJ Williams, so the duty of slowing down Armando Bacot will not be a shock. I additionally do not see Caleb Love going for 30 once more (though R.J. Davis actually can!). I’ve acquired the Peacocks Peacocking yet another time.

Medcalf: I feel the Peacocks’ run will finish on Sunday, though nothing would shock me with Shaheen Holloway’s group. Saint Peter’s may play the Brooklyn Nets and it could really feel like that they had an opportunity proper now. I feel Saint Peter’s will be sure that that is one other tight sport, and if the Peacocks are in a decent sport, they’re going to know the way to excel. I additionally imagine, nonetheless, kinds impression video games. And this North Carolina squad is a unique problem.

Via three video games, Saint Peter’s opponents within the NCAA match have mixed to shoot 60 3-pointers. None of these groups made greater than 33 % of these makes an attempt in a single sport. North Carolina has 91 3-point makes an attempt by the Candy 16, and the Tar Heels have made 37 % of their makes an attempt. North Carolina goes to unfold the ground in ways in which Saint Peter’s earlier opponents didn’t. And I feel that dynamic would be the distinction on this sport. North Carolina wins. However I am unable to wait to see Saint Peter’s take its shot.

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North Carolina has a pair of back-to-back 3s from Caleb Love and a clutch tip from Armando Bacot down the stretch to advance to the Elite Eight.

Gasaway: If there’s one factor we have realized from the Peacocks, it is that this can be an in depth sport. Shaheen Holloway’s group has come out on the great aspect of contests determined by six, 10 and three factors, with the primary of these going to time beyond regulation. Sure, Love and Bacot ought to each be important issues for this protection, however we’re speaking a few Saint Peter’s group that has already prevailed towards Oscar Tshiebwe, TyTy Washington Jr., KJ Williams, Jaden Ivey, Zach Edey and Trevion Williams. This is not a case the place an underdog is hitting 3s in a bracket reworked by upsets. (Saint Peter’s did hit its 3s towards UK, however has shot simply 26% from past the arc in two subsequent wins.) The Peacocks have taken the perfect the East Area has thrown at them and prevailed. With the Tar Heels being the bottom seed SPU has seen but, I am going to journey with future for yet another cease and take Holloway’s group in an in depth one.

Lunardi: Each time I am requested about Saint Peter’s, my reply has been the identical. “Kentucky is not favored by sufficient, Purdue is not favored by sufficient,” and many others. But right here we’re. The Peacocks are nonetheless strutting, and nothing appears not possible. What issues me, as at all times, is “Can Saint Peter’s rating sufficient?” The Peacocks averaged simply over one level per possession (1.009) for the season, 216th nationally in response to KenPom. They’re averaging 1.088 factors per possession within the NCAA match, which might have ranked within the prime 70 nationally. So do you belief the three-game pattern or the three-month pattern? Name me the boring numbers man who says the run ends right here.

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Duke performed arguably its most full sport in a 78-69 win over Arkansas within the Elite Eight. From what you have witnessed, can this group be constant sufficient to win two extra robust video games in New Orleans?

Medcalf: After I talked to Wendell Moore Jr. earlier this week, I requested him how that North Carolina loss in Mike Krzyzewski’s remaining residence sport had affected the Blue Devils. He mentioned that week was full of celebrations and admitted that he thought the group was a bit distracted. However it additionally turned Duke right into a disappointment within the eyes of some earlier than the NCAA match had even began. In a manner, the backlash after that loss was about as unhealthy because it may get, the group believed.

Now, you may see this group’s carefree vibe and confidence. They’re like, “What else can anybody say about us?” They requested Krzyzewski to modify again to man protection late within the sport towards Texas Tech, and it labored. They slapped the ground collectively in that matchup. Within the first half towards Arkansas on Saturday, they took turns attacking Arkansas earlier than ending the half on a Trevor Keels 3-pointer that prolonged the lead at halftime to 12 factors. I feel the Blue Devils can put collectively two extra massive video games and win Krzyzewski’s sixth nationwide title in his remaining season. No program within the discipline is extra proficient. And no group within the discipline has the next ceiling. It appears as if these younger Duke gamers have realized as a lot this week.

Borzello: Expertise has by no means been the query for Duke — the Blue Devils have had one of the vital proficient rosters in America because the begin of the season. However what’s impressed me about them within the NCAA match is their toughness and adaptableness. That they had points in shut video games in the course of the common season, main within the remaining 65 seconds in every of their first 4 losses. In opposition to each Michigan State and Texas Tech, they needed to shut robust. The Pink Raiders, specifically, had the protection and physicality to actually knock Duke off it is sport. However the Blue Devils battled and pulled out a win. After which defensively, the place Duke has had issues at occasions this season, Coach Ok has utilized a zone protection in every of the final two video games to stifle Tech and the Razorbacks. These are all issues we did not see constantly from Duke in the course of the common season. However the Blue Devils have turned a web page within the postseason and have proven the sense of urgency wanted to win a nationwide championship.

Gasaway: Duke is 80 minutes away from a nationwide title, so there’s not a lot runway left for this or that alleged deadly flaw to journey them up. As we have mentioned right here earlier than, Jeremy Roach seems far more aggressive and efficient driving the ball to the rim. Mark Williams is following up on the potential he confirmed together with his excellent sport towards Gonzaga again in November. AJ Griffin is hitting nook 3s. Coach Ok is giving opponents pause by throwing within the occasional zone. We knew all alongside that Duke had the expertise, the one query was whether or not this group of future execs was too inexperienced. The Blue Devils won’t win all of it, however one factor this group isn’t displaying in the intervening time is an inexperienced look. Coach Ok’s group seems assured and harmful.

Lunardi: We generally overlook simply how lengthy the season is and, by extension, what number of variations of the identical group we are able to see. It seems all those that insisted Duke had the very best ceiling within the nation have been proper. It simply took longer to manifest, with a number of surprising bumps alongside the way in which. The Blue Devils can be a favourite over both North Carolina or Saint Peter’s within the nationwide semifinals — the previous due to revenge and the latter on account of an awesome expertise benefit — and who amongst us would doubt Coach Ok if his profession occurs to finish subsequent Monday evening?

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Villanova escapes with a 50-44 win after a gritty affair towards Houston to advance to the Closing 4.

Villanova completed off a workmanlike run to the Closing 4 by profitable a rock combat with Houston on Saturday. What has impressed you most concerning the Wildcats throughout this run?

Lunardi: All 12 months lengthy I’ve characterised Villanova as “common good,” that means it was a far cry from the 2016 and particularly 2018 nationwide champions by way of total expertise. We noticed Saturday evening that the system nonetheless works when executed to perfection. Houston did what it does defensively, limiting the Wildcats to 29% capturing, but the Cougars by no means led, hardly ever threatened and have been chasing the sport all through. Even when Houston acquired inside a bucket at 42-40, my first thought was “Villanova will not panic.” Jay Wright referred to as time, Collin Gillespie got here off a easy display screen, sport over. The Wildcats are so environment friendly that even John McKay would admire their execution. Fingers crossed they’ve a wholesome Justin Moore in New Orleans.

Gasaway: This group is a protracted, great distance from the record-setting shooters of the 2016-18 period, but right here is Villanova as soon as once more. That’s what impresses me. The Wildcats discover a solution to win. Sure, they’ve acquired the great stroke of an opponent (Houston) capturing 1-of-20 on 3s, and certainly 4 match opponents combining to transform simply 21% of their tries from past the arc. Simply the identical, Villanova has held its final 4 opponents to 46% capturing on 2s, and Jay Wright’s group has even began to flash just a little Houston-style offensive rebounding. The shot quantity recorded by the Wildcats on the street to the Closing 4 has been glorious. Jermaine Samuels has been excellent, and scoring 16 factors towards the Cougars ought to get you a medal. These guys are basketball gamers who do no matter’s essential. Here is hoping Moore is match to play.

Medcalf: It is the consistency for me. I feel the similarity between this group and the 2016 and 2018 nationwide championship group is the way in which they completed the season. These two groups had fewer grind-it-out video games such because the one all of us witnessed on Saturday, however these Wildcats have been equally profitable at toppling any group in entrance of them within the remaining chapter of the season. Villanova is 14-1 in its final 15 video games. Within the one sport it misplaced throughout that stretch — 71-69 at UConn — the Huskies scored 5 factors within the final 21 seconds of the sport to win. It has not at all times been fairly. This group doesn’t have a Jalen Brunson or a Mikal Bridges. However they have been strong for almost two months.

It was troublesome to observe Moore sob on the sideline together with his teammates after the sport, although. That is not a very good signal. And if he is unavailable in New Orleans, it is going to change a Villanova’s ceiling and impression the group’s depth.

Borzello: They’re unflappable. They do not stray from the staples that Jay Wright has used to win two nationwide championships and now attain three Closing Fours within the final six NCAA tournaments. Houston is meant to be the group that takes opponents out of their consolation zones and makes them uncomfortable. On Saturday, that was Villanova. The Wildcats pressured Houston to regulate its offense and guard for 30 seconds on the different finish. They restricted the Cougars on the offensive glass and did not commit live-ball turnovers. Self-discipline, ball motion, taking part in off two toes, switching every part defensively — Villanova sticks to these ideas and wins video games.

On condition that Moore did not get off the bench after the buzzer sounded and went to the locker room on crutches earlier than returning in the course of the trophy ceremony, it may be a stretch for him to play subsequent week — and we’ll hope it is not too critical. If Moore is out, that places a whole lot of strain on Caleb Daniels, who has been the sixth man in Villanova’s six-man rotation. Daniels has made a number of key pictures within the final two video games off the bench, and he’ll possible take Moore’s spot within the lineup. The place it hurts the Wildcats can be their depth — Chris Arcidiacono and Bryan Antoine should step up in New Orleans.

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Kansas’ Christian Braun lobs it as much as Ochai Agbaji, who finishes with a thunderous two-handed jam.

Kansas has outlasted moderately than overpowered Creighton and Windfall in its final two video games. How anxious are you for the Jayhawks in a matchup with a peaking Miami group?

Gasaway: At a minimal, Invoice Self is anxious. What Jim Larranaga calls his “scramble” protection gave each Auburn and Iowa State suits, to the purpose the place Miami is definitely the perfect remaining group within the discipline on that aspect of the ball in match play. It has been fairly a turnaround for a Hurricanes protection that in ACC play was simply common. Even so, I am going to take Kansas right here. Miami’s numbers maybe converse not solely to sound defensive ideas but in addition to ghastly capturing from past the arc (19%) by the Tigers and Cyclones. Conversely, USC made 9 3s and performed the Hurricanes into the 40th minute. After all, KU’s perimeter capturing towards Windfall was ghastly in its personal proper, however I nonetheless just like the Jayhawks’ possibilities with Ochai Agbaji, Christian Braun and Remy Martin.

Borzello: If this was a month in the past, earlier than Remy Martin began wanting just like the Arizona State model of Remy Martin, I may need been much more involved for Kansas. However I feel Martin’s return to type over the past couple weeks has solved the Jayhawks’ playmaking and level guard points. He is averaging 16.Zero factors, 3.6 assists and fewer than a turnover per sport over the past 5 video games. I’ve liked the way in which Miami is taking part in currently; the Hurricanes’ three-guard lineup of Charlie Moore, Kameron McGusty and Isaiah Wong has been implausible at each ends of the ground, forcing turnovers defensively and making massive pictures offensively. They are going to check Kansas, however the Jayhawks simply have extra up entrance. Now, I do not suppose Kansas can survive one other sport the place Ochai Agbaji and Christian Braun convey nothing to the desk — however I feel the Jayhawks have sufficient to beat the Hurricanes if the 2 veteran wings could make pictures.

Medcalf: I feel any coach watching what Saint Peter’s has achieved is worried about Miami’s potential to ship his squad residence. This can be a wild match. However this Martin improvement is like an NBA group making a key commerce simply earlier than the deadline. We would questioned how Kansas would look if Martin acquired wholesome and comfy, and right here we’re. He has modified this group and brought the strain off Agbaji to hold the squad each evening. That steadiness is a good improvement for Self’s squad. Martin has made 40% of his 3-point makes an attempt and 64% of his pictures contained in the arc within the NCAA match. You mix that with a Kansas group that is taking part in cussed protection across the rim, and it is not troublesome to check the Jayhawks profitable by double digits.

Lunardi: Kansas is the perfect group left within the match by seed and on the court docket, the place it counts most. If the present model of Martin had been out there all season, the Jayhawks could be within the prime left nook of the bracket because the No. 1 total seed. And should you had requested Self in October if he’d take an Elite Eight matchup towards a 10-seed, everyone knows the reply. Kansas boosters could also be appropriately anxious, however the sleepless evening belongs to Miami.