UNC basketball Sweet 16 bracket predictions: Our pick to reach March Madness' Final Four
It’ll be UNC basketball, Alabama, Arizona and Clemson at the 2024 NCAA Tournament’s West Regional in Los Angeles.
The top-seeded Tar Heels (29-7) and fourth-seeded Crimson Tide (23-11) will tip off around 9:39 p.m. ET on Thursday from Crypto.com Arena. Second-seeded Arizona (27-8) and sixth-seeded Clemson (23-11) will tip things off at 7:09 in the first game of the regional.
By the end of the weekend, one of those teams will be cutting down the nets in Hollywood before heading to Phoenix for the Final Four.
The winner of the West Regional will face top-seeded UConn (33-3), No. 2 Iowa State (29-7), No. 3 Illinois (28-8) or No. 5 San Diego State (26-10) on Saturday, April 6, at State Farm Stadium in Arizona.
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Now that we know the participants, here are predictions for which team will emerge from L.A. with a Final Four berth.
North Carolina Tar Heels vs Alabama Crimson Tide prediction for Sweet 16
This game likely won’t match the insanity of last season’s 103-101 quadruple-overtime thriller in Portland, but the Tar Heels and Crimson Tide like to speed things up. Alabama guard Mark Sears (28 points per game in the NCAA Tournament) and UNC guard RJ Davis (21 ppg) are two of the most electric scorers in the nation. Will UNC's vaunted defense be able to slow down Alabama's electric offense? We'll see.
UNC 85, Alabama 79: The Tar Heels will get a few more stops and lean on their experience to close the door on the Tide down the stretch.
Arizona Wildcats vs Clemson Tigers prediction for Sweet 16
There are only two teams remaining with top-10 marks in offensive and defensive efficiency: UConn and Arizona. Following their loss to Princeton in the 2023 NCAA Tournament, the Wildcats have unlocked a new level with UNC transfer Caleb Love, who is averaging 18.5 points and 5.0 assists through two tournament games. Love dropped 23 on Clemson last season in Chapel Hill. The Tigers have a postseason star of their own in Chase Hunter, who is averaging 20.5 points per game in March Madness.
Arizona 81, Clemson 74: The Tigers have a roster capable of creating chaos out west, but the Wildcats have elite scoring and defensive balance. It’ll also likely feel like a road-game environment for Clemson.
Will it be UNC, Alabama, Arizona or Clemson advancing to Final Four
As soon as the brackets were revealed on Selection Sunday, it felt like destiny would bring together UNC and Caleb Love for a date in Hollywood. With a Final Four berth on the line, the drama would be incredible if Love is facing his former team. The Tar Heels and Wildcats have the players to produce a game that could be among the most memorable in March Madness.
UNC 80, Arizona 78: The Wildcats haven’t advanced to the Final Four since 2001. The Tar Heels will extend that drought with a defensive effort that leads to the program’s second trip to the Final Four in three seasons.
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Staff writer Rodd Baxley can be reached at rbaxley@fayobserver.com or @RoddBaxley on X/Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: UNC basketball Sweet 16 predictions, pick for March Madness bracket
