Elite Eight preview: A look at Sunday’s 2 region finals
Every Cinderella story has to end sometime, right? The slipper eventually is too big or small, or is lost, or something, right? Right? The idea that Saint Peter’s — a team that went 16-11 in the regular season and finished three games behind league leader Iona in the MAAC — is in the Elite Eight and one win from the Final Four is … well, it’s outlandish.
It’s also true: A victory over North Carolina in the East Region final Sunday puts the Peacocks, who never had won an NCAA tourney game before this season, in the Final Four. And given that Saint Peter’s already has beaten two Power 6 teams, including Kentucky, you don’t have to worry about them being intimidated by the Tar Heels.
The UNC-Saint Peter’s matchup overshadows Sunday’s other region final, with top-seeded Kansas meeting 10th-seeded Miami in the Midwest. Kansas is the lone No. 1 seed still remaining, and at least one No. 1 has been in the Final Four every year since 1980. The Jayhawks are looking for their first Final Four appearance since 2018 and their 16th overall. The Hurricanes, meanwhile, are making their first Elite Eight appearance.
Here’s a quick breakdown of Sunday’s Elite Eight matchups.
Midwest Region
No. 1 Kansas (31-6) vs. No. 10 Miami (26-10)
Location: United Center, Chicago
Time/TV: 2:20 p.m., CBS (livestream of the game will be here)
Announcers: Kevin Harlan play-by-play, Dan Bonner and Reggie Miller analysts
How they got to the Elite Eight: Kansas def. No. 16 Texas Southern 83-56, def. No. 9 Creighton 79-72, def. No. 4 Providence 66-61. Miami def. No. 7 USC 68-66, def. No. 2 Auburn 79-61, def. No. 11 Iowa State 70-56.
The line: Kansas by 6
The buzz: Kansas has looked beatable in each of the past two games, thanks to second-half lulls, but the Jayhawks regained their footing in each game and won. That might be a dangerous pattern to follow against Miami and its trio of talented guards (Chicago native Charlie Moore, Kameron McGusty and Isaiah Wong). KU has the advantage of up front, but that’s basically the case for everybody who plays the Hurricanes. The ’Canes make up for their lack of size with a bunch of junk defenses, quick hands and pesky on-ball defenders. Miami has forced 49 turnovers in its three NCAA games, while committing 21 itself (14 of those came against Iowa State). When that happens, UM gets its transition offense cranked up. UM can struggle at times in its halfcourt sets, but it does shoot the 3-ball well. In addition, its guards have a knack for getting in the lane. Can they finish against Kansas’ big guys? KU G Remy Martin missed 10 games with an injury, but he has been huge in the NCAA tourney with 58 points. That is, by far, his most-productive three-game stretch of the season. His offense has been important because Big 12 Player of the Year Ochai Agbaji has disappeared on that end of the court for long stretches. KU usually does good work on the offensive glass and Miami gives up a lot of offensive rebounds.
East Region
No. 8 North Carolina (27-9) vs. No. 15 Saint Peter’s (23-11)
Location: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia
Time/TV: About 5 p.m., CBS (livestream of the game will be here)
Announcers: Ian Eagle play-by-play, Jim Spanarkel analyst
How they got to the Elite Eight: North Carolina def. No. 9 Marquette 95-63, def. No. 1 Baylor 93-86 (OT), def. No. 4 UCLA 73-66. Saint Peter’s def. No. 2 Kentucky 85-79 (OT), def. No. 7 Murray State 70-60, def. No. 3 Purdue 67-64.
The line: North Carolina by 8.5
The buzz: Saint Peter’s won all season with its defense (well, when it won, anyway). But the Peacocks have been effective and efficient offensively in the NCAA tourney, getting production from a number of guys. G Daryl Banks, an L.A. kid, had 27 against Kentucky. F K.C. Ndefo, a Long Island, N.Y., native, had 17 in the win over Murray State. Freshman C Clarence Rupert, playing in his hometown of Philadelphia, had 11 against Purdue — just the third time all season he scored in double figures. And the defense has remained a constant. That defense will be tested Sunday by the Tar Heels’ diverse offense. UNC can do damage in the low post with Armando Bacot and from the perimeter with Caleb Love, Brady Manek and R.J. Davis. The Tar Heels are trying to get to the Final Four as a No. 8 seed for the second time; the other was in 2000. The Peacocks’ perimeter defense has been absolutely wondrous of late: None of the past nine opponents has shot better than 33.3 percent from beyond the arc, and five of the nine shot 25 percent or worse. If the Peacocks hold the Heels to 33.3 percent or worse? Hell, in that case, get the carriage ready to take Cinderella to New Orleans.