The NCAA men's basketball tournament Elite Eight
ends Sunday. By the end of the day, the 2019 Final Four will be set.
Here is everything you need to know regarding coverage, along
with must-watch story lines as we fill out the Final Four of March
Madness.
Take a look at the updated bracket.
MUST-READ STORIES:
— Virginia is back in the Final Four for the first time since
1984 after
surviving a wild overtime thriller against Purdue.
— Carsen Edwards put on a show
for the Boilermakers, but his heroics couldn't save them from cruel
heartbreak.
— Virginia vs. Purdue was an overtime
classic full of thrilling moments, including one Cavaliers
guard Ty Jerome called the "play of the century."
— Texas Tech is soaking up
history after toppling top-seeded Gonzaga for the first Final
Four berth in school history.
— Josh Perkins' "bonehead
play" on a late inbound pass helped sink Gonzaga.
— The Red Raiders head to Minneapolis with a legitimate
shot to win the national title, and not just because of their
smothering defense.
— Zion Williamson, R.J. Barrett and Cam Reddish have gotten
plenty of attention, but Duke's forgotten
five-star will be key against Michigan State.
— Michigan State's date with Duke is a
long-awaited showdown with a spot in the Final Four at stake.
— Kentucky has already beaten Auburn twice this season, and
the Wildcats hope they're still
charmed for the third time.
— Auburn hopes it has a good-luck charm of its own in
the form of a favorite
pre-game meal.
NO. 2 KENTUCKY
(30-6) VS. NO. 5 AUBURN (29-9)
Midwest Regional
Kansas City, Mo.
Time, TV: 2:20 p.m., CBS
Why Kentucky will win: The bounce-back effect.
While Tyler Herro had 19 points against Houston, the rest of Kentucky’s
starters — Ashton Hagans, Keldon Johnson, Reid Travis and E.J. Montgomery
— had 19 points combined. Granted, PJ Washington skewed that stat by
coming off the bench with his sprained foot, but no way the Wildcats’ starters
have that kind of production two games in a row.
Why Auburn will win: Emotion. The loss of Chuma
Okeke, who will have surgery Tuesday for a torn ACL, is a huge blow, no
question. But the Tigers said it also will give them even more motivation
to win. Auburn is already fired up by its 11-game winning streak, and keeping
this run going for Okeke only adds to that.
NO. 1 DUKE (32-5)
VS. NO. 2 MICHIGAN STATE (31-6)
East Region
Washington, D.C.
Time, TV: 5:05 p.m. ET, CBS
Why Duke will win: Zion Williamson always
provides a huge advantage, but it helps that point guard Tre Jones is coming
off arguably his best game of the season (22 pts). The Blue Devils are also the
rare team that can match Michigan State’s rebounding ability. They actually
average almost one more rebound a game.
Why Michigan State will win: Cassius Winston,
Kenny Goins and Matt McQuaid have the type of veteran leadership that is so
vital this time of year. They won’t be daunted by Williamson, and they’ll be
able to withstand runs — as they did Friday against LSU.
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