The first full round (64) starts on March 21, 2019.
Welcome to KJ's round-by-round
prediction of the Tourney. This page hosts the Big Stage matchups, that is, the Semi-Finals and National Championship.
Semi-Final One: East Vs. West Regions
Semi-Final One: East Vs. West Regions
| #2 Michigan State | Predict >>> | #3 Texas Tech |
| Synopsis: Michigan State finally had a narrow call of their own since the First Round, taking down #1 Duke by a single point. On the other hand, Texas Tech made Gonzaga make a bunch of errors and benefited from several bonehead decisions by the Gonzaga team to reach the National Semis for the first time in their school's history. MSU might be better favored on paper, but Tech is notorious for using their top-tier defense to force teams into playing their weaknesses. Texas Tech will use this to great effect, and become one of the two finalists for the Championship. | ||
| #1 Virginia | Predict >>> | #5 Auburn |
| Synopsis: Auburn struggled without their star player, but got revenge against Kentucky to earn their first trip to the Big Stage. As for Virginia, they barely scraped by Purdue, needing an extra five minutes to do so. No one guessed Virginia would be the sole surving 1-seed, but here you go. That being said, Auburn is a 1-seed killer already, taking down UNC. And Virginia is much shakier than UNC. The numbers favor Virginia, but with all those narrow calls, I don't see how they make the title game. Tigers to the Champ game. | ||
Championship
| #1 Virginia | Predict >>> | #3 Texas Tech |
| Synopsis: Well, here we go again. Texas Tech used it's smothering defense to shut down Michigan State, and Virginia got a foul call at the very end to save their season, providing yet another (#$@#@#!) escape. No more. Tech and UVA are both defensive teams, but has shut down a #1 seed and two #2 seeds. Granted, if UVA escapes once more to win it all, they will have earned it, but I think Tech takes this one home and sends shockwaves that the Red Raiders are here and they belong. | ||
