Expert picks for Final Four (from CBS Sports)

[HooperScooper]

Kyle Boone loves us again. Jerry Palm is now on the UConn bandwagon. Some other picks to get to the Final Four. A larger write up than below further in the article.

UConn​

Sure, a lot of talent walked out the door to the NBA at the end of last season, but the most important person spurned the NBA to stay in Storrs. Coach Danny Hurley turned down an offer to coach the Lakers to return to UConn and go for a third consecutive national title. That hasn't happened since UCLA ran off seven straight from 1967-73. Veteran Alex Karaban is back, joined by transfer Aidan Mahaney, the heart and soul of Saint Mary's the last two seasons and freshman Liam McNeeley, who decommitted from Indiana prior to joining the Huskies.

One interesting player to watch is senior center Samson Johnson, who has waited his turn behind Adama Sanogo and Donovan Clignan. Now he'll get his shot, although he may share time with Michigan transfer Tarris Reed Jr. This pick is about the players, sure, but it's also about the Midas touch that Hurley has enjoyed the last two seasons. — Jerry Palm (also predicted by Kyle Boone)

Expert picks for Final Four: Who will win the 2025 NCAA Tournament and more bold predictions for this season

CBS Sports experts provide their picks for the Final Four field and the national champion for 2024-25

www.cbssports.com

 

[formerlurker]

Aidan Mahaffey!!

 

[HooperScooper]

Aidan Mahaffey!!

Funny, I didn't even notice that. That's a new one! Lol. I will fix it in my post even though that is what is in the article. I'm sure they'll fix it at some point.

 

[Waquoit]

I notice that no one made the mistake of picking UConn to lose the title game.

 

[NewBlood]

Insane to think that "experts" are picking us to win a 3rd in a row. 3 in a row? In 2024?

They better stop us 24/25 because we are going to be great 25-26 and 26-27.

We are in the platinum era of UCONN basketball

 

[UConn2SF]

Vecenie also has us winning the National Championship in The Athletic season preview/final four predictions. And 5 of the 10 "experts" have us making the Final Four.

 

[TheShot1990]

Aidan Mahaffey!!

I'll allow it.
We have already proven that once you have achieved name mis-spelling, you are on the road to Husky stardom.

 

[RuffRuff]

Non-homerish, gun to head this year, putting money on Bama. Oates is in many ways part of the Hurley tree, forward thinking and data reliant. With a real rim protector and Sears, as well as that deep roster, coming off a F4, really like what they’re rolling out there. They feel due.

I question Kansas’ chemistry. Not ready to anoint Houston without Shead. Love Sampson but hard to replace that kind of gamer on a team that tends to struggle offensively. They do have some beasts down low, but always seem to hit an offensive rut in March. Duke is freshman reliant. Flagg is good but unlikely Anthony Davis good. All the other teams come with flaws.

 

[Supes]

Non-homerish, gun to head this year, putting money on Bama. Oates is in many ways part of the Hurley tree, forward thinking and data reliant. With a real rim protector and Sears, as well as that deep roster, coming off a F4, really like what they’re rolling out there. They feel due.

My only real concern with 'Bama is whether they would survive a poor shooting night. That's what doomed them in 2022-23 against SDSU, and I just don't know if they have enough other weapons. Feels like some other teams (like Duke or Kansas) have more ways to score even if their shot isn't falling, and you could include a team like Houston which always has a chance to win due to their defense.

Alabama can certainly beat anyone though, they're a scary team.

 

[AidanFan20]

"Aidan Mahaffey" has to be the worst one I've seen yet...

 

[Ricker]

I see Duke as a pretty big obstacle. We can match up with everybody else but unfortunately there are plenty of teams that have enough to trip us up. I do have faith in Bama coming up short with Cliff at center. Rewatching our 2024 ncaa run it is sobering how important Donovan was. That tempers our odds in my mind. Our 3pt shooting will be key to offset losing the big guy.

 

[RuffRuff]

What’s different about this Bama team to that 2023 team is Sears as a stabilizer. That Bama teams best player was a freshman. With Nelson, they have a big skilled 4 that can score in a variety of ways. As bullet proof a team as I see this year.

Duke could be very good. Flagg will be Flagg, but the +factor there could be Kneupel. As young as he is, seems to be their Cam type player and a kid that will make the tough shot and do the little things. Proctor needs to make some kind of leap, as does Foster. Will also have to see if their frosh 5 is instinctive or will get pushed around. The international 5s seem to need a couple seasons to figure it out. They are a very big team, and seem much better constructed than their more recent editions.

 

[NJHusky]

We are in good shape...Parrish doesn't have us in the FF