Will Virginia, Michigan State beat the underdogs?

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The Final Four has arrived and the States of Michigan, Virginia, Texas Tech and Auburn will compete for a spot in the national title game. We asked the ESPN.com basketball writers' group to tell us what they expected from Saturday's games.

Go on to score some predictions for the four finals on Saturday

Virginia, Michigan State, Tech Texas and Auburn – although there is reason to recommend all these teams, no one had them in this combination. For which member of this group do you feel the most differently compared to the beginning of the tournament?

Myron Medcalf, Senior Writer in University Basketball: Auburn. I was impressed by his participation in the NCAA Tournament. That Tennessee 20-point victory in the SEC Tournament, the Tigers' second 10-day flight, confirmed them as a real threat. But I asked if they could maintain the momentum, especially after the game was played by the New Mexico State in the first round. Even when they defeated Kansas in the second round, I thought it had more to do with the shaky and underhanded Jayhawks than anything Auburn could do.

But when the Tigers held out against North Carolina in an unbalanced Sweet 16 win, despite Chuma Okeke's loss with eight minutes to go, I knew this team was a reality. And then, the victory over Kentucky without Okeke in the Elite Eight proved that point again. In the Final Four, the Tigers should not beat Virginia, a talented and defensive team that should minimize the impact of Jared Harper. But they continue to prove that those who doubt are wrong. I would not be surprised if Auburn wins all in a pair of impressive performances.

Jeff Borzello, University Basketball State of Michigan. I've had Virginia and Texas Tech in the Final Four, and Auburn is just putting out lights and playing in a terrifying way. But Michigan State just won, dude. I've doubted Spartans for most of the season, mainly because I do not see how they can continue to score as effectively in offense without Joshua Langford, without Kyle Ahrens and with a limited number of Nick Ward. But the answer to any question about Michigan State begins and ends with Cassius Winston (and Tom Izzo). Winston is undoubtedly the best gaming leader in the country and has always concocted big games and big throws throughout the tournament.

John Gasaway, basketball academic writer: Auburn. I chose Virginia and Michigan State to get there, and I knew I was living in dangerous conditions when I included Texas Tech among the "345 teams that will not win the title." (It does not look so smart.) But the Tigers really showed me something with this victory over Kentucky. After just bursting Kansas and North Carolina with speed and 3 seconds, the Bruce Pearl guys won an absolute fight in rock the afternoon when they had managed that seven 3 in 45 minutes. Bryce Brown was his usual unbelievable in this game (4 out of 7 outside the bow) and he was arguably the best tournament in attack of all Final Four players. Brown and Auburn were remarkable, which changed my thinking.

Michigan State, which has the largest tournament history among the remaining teams, will face an advanced Texas Tech program in the Final Four. Patrick Semansky / AP Photo

Jordan Schultz, insider / analyst: Auburn has been a bit of an enigma this season. The key to the Tigers is the 3-pointer, and the offense seems to be going well, no matter the defensiveness of the opponent on the defensive. Auburn, which has already defeated three Blue Blood programs, ranks third in the country with 11.5 points at 3 points per game and has increased its 12.8 average over 40 percent since the beginning of the SEC tournament. Bruce Pearl would probably prefer a few more possessions – his team has a modest average of $ 70.4 at the NCAA tournament – but that shows the effectiveness of the Tigers, especially against Carolina and Kentucky.

If Auburn can keep this game close, the pressure will return to Virginia; we all know that. But if the Tigers can open any advance, they have proven that they can keep it with a defense based on speed, even without defense ace Chuma Okeke.

Courtney Cronin, NFL basketball reporter: Texas Tech. The Red Raiders dismantled Michigan taking the Wolverines to their lowest point in NCAA tournament history, and then resuming that performance by stifling Gonzaga's high tempo offensive and dominant front yard. We knew that this defense would present a challenge for all the teams met in March and this is one of the main reasons why Tech enters its first Final Four. It is intriguing to think of how some of the smaller queues used by Chris Beard could limit the explosiveness of the Michigan State Guards.

Auburn and Texas Tech are here for the first time. When we remember this Final Four in 10 years, will its presence be like a strange anomaly, or at the beginning of something bigger?

Medcalf: Anomalies and for different reasons. The SEC will continue to grow, especially after adding Buzz Williams to Texas A & M and Nate Oats in Alabama. So, a team like Auburn will continue to fight for quality wins that will lead to a favorable seed in the NCAA tournament. It all worked for Auburn this year, regarding his path to the Final Four. This will not be the case in the years to come. As for Texas Tech, it will be an anomaly because Chris Beard will be gone. And it's hard to bet on a team that has reached the second round only five times since 1976. In ten years, I think we'll look back, win or lose, and say, for both teams: "C was their chance.

Let's take a closer look at the four teams competing for the national championship this weekend in Minneapolis.

Anonymous coaches answer key questions about Michigan State, Texas Tech, Virginia and Auburn.

Zion and Ja are gone, but there is still a ton of individual talent in the Final Four. Cassius Winston and Jarrett Culver are in the lead.

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Borzello: A bit of both? I do not know if either team will qualify again for the Final Four over the next decade, but I think it depends largely on the ability of both teams to keep their respective coaches for an extended period. Chris Beard of Texas Tech has been the best coach in the country this season. He has now led the Red Raiders to an elite eight and final four in two consecutive seasons. But Beard is going to be connected to a number of jobs on the coaching carousel until he signs an extra extension or he leaves his job to fill an elite position. As for Bruce Pearl and Auburn, I think he's less likely to leave – but I also think that Auburn has caught a bit of lightning in a bottle this season, and it might be hard to replicate.

Gasaway: I'll go back to some of what Borzello said: Beard staying in Lubbock might well mean that this is just the beginning of great things for Texas Tech as a program. Conversely, if he leaves, you may rather consider a moment of "Calipari in Memphis" where the coach keeps his success, but his old program is less so.

As for Auburn, do not tell Charles Barkley, but accessing the Final Four can be an anomaly, even for very powerful programs (which Pearl is currently building). Just look at Virginia. The Cavaliers were at the top of ACC for years with Zero Final Fours to show up to now. If Pearl stays with the Tigers, we'll be back in 10 years, in much the same way that we now consider West Virginia to qualify for the 2010 Final, as the best year for a good program and a good coach.

Auburn has surprised some basketball writers this season. Kirby Lee / USA TODAY Sports

Schultz: Since 1985, 14 teams have participated in the Final Four for the first time. And out of these 14, eight were power conference schools (South Carolina in 2017, Maryland in 2001, UConn in 1999, Minnesota in 1997, State of Mississippi in 1996, Florida in 1994, Georgia Tech in 1990 and Arizona in 1988). Maryland, UConn and Arizona are the only schools to have maintained national success, all of which have won championships.

While predicting the future success of tournaments is a futile exercise, I think Texas Tech probably has the best model to use. Chris Beard has created a formula focused on elite defense with players and staff. This is not to discredit Pearl: he helped rebuild Tennessee, and he quickly built Auburn into a national powerhouse. But Beard seems to have the upper hand because of his defense. As he lands better rookies in Lubbock, the Red Raiders can be expected to challenge Kansas in the Big 12 – and enjoy deep runs in March.

Cronin: Probably the last one. Chris Beard closed Texas Tech a year ago. Despite a regular ups and downs, it seemed that Auburn was about to participate in a serious tournament under Bruce Pearl for quite some time. Of course, Texas Tech and Auburn have both met teams that have stumbled (Gonzaga, Kansas) more than usual in the tournament, and their biggest test will run as planned throughout the month of March. Neither team feels completely aberrant although it has never reached this stage of the match. And of course, this is largely due to coaching. Even though Beard and Pearl have more and more job offers beyond the season due to the success of their respective programs, regardless of the fate of these teams after 2019, we will not consider one or the other group as an anomaly in 10 years. now.

Which team are you most shocked NOT to see in Minneapolis, and can you argue for their access to the Final Four 2020 in Atlanta?

Medcalf: Kentucky. In Elite Eight, the Wildcats faced the same Auburn team they had beaten 80-53 last month. Yes, this team from Auburn has just won a series of impressive wins to reach this point, but when you beat a team at this margin (and in the first match too), you assume that a team has a significant advantage over the another, especially after Chuma Okeke's injury and the Wildcats double-digit lead in the first period. It was right there. But Kentucky can do another race next season with Ashton Hagans likely coming back and rookies Tyrese Maxey and Kahlil Whitney entering the mix. In addition, Nick Richards, EJ Montgomery, Jemarl Baker and Immanuel Quickley could all flourish in new roles next season. With Calipari and a leading recruiting class on the way, the Final Four will be a workable goal.

Borzello: It must be Duke, right? The Blue Devils were the NCAA Tournament's favorite 1, the biggest basketball history this season and will have three of the top five or six picks in the NBA Draft in June. So yes, I'm shocked not to see Duke in Minneapolis. And I think it might be hard for Mike Krzyzewski to recharge fast enough to bring the Blue Devils back to the Final Four next season. He does not have Zion Williamson or RJ Barrett coming in, and he's going to lose them both, plus at least Cam Reddish.

The incoming recruiting class is excellent, but there may not be an immediate American in the group. Vernon Carey should be a dominant back-to-basket player, while Wendell Moore brings tenacity and scoring and Boogie Ellis can score. I think the key will be the maturation of Tre Jones as an offensive threat, assuming he stays in school, and that Duke can land five-star rookie Matthew Hurt.

Mark Few's most talented team has not yet joined the Final Four, but experts at ESPN.com have confidence in Gonzaga's future. James Snook / USA TODAY Sports

Gasaway: Gonzaga. The Bulldogs had all that was needed this season, including perhaps the best frontcourt in the country. Not to mention the Zags, we were fortunate to be able to enjoy the experience that everyone fell in love with after losing Kentucky and Duke on Sunday. Depth, balance in both attack and defense, name it: Mark Few's guys had it. But they met one of the best teams in the country at Texas Tech, and six Brandon Clarke's turnarounds later, we are there. Give credit to the Red Raiders; they were the top team.

Schultz: Gonzaga, my pre-season choice to win his first national title. Much of the Zags' success in 2020 will depend on the status of Brandon Clarke, Killian Tillie and Zach Norvell Jr., all of whom could become first-round picks this summer. The losses of Rui Hachimura and Josh Perkins – the number one aids at the school – will hurt, but Few is a model of consistency. In the past seven seasons, the Bulldogs have won 32 games or more five times, earning them the top spot three times.

Perhaps the most impressive is Few's ability to attract elite prospects from around the world: Tillie, Kelly Olynyk, Domantas Sabonis and Ronny Turiaf, to name a few. Hachimura will soon become the first player born in Japan integrated into the NBA. This year's recruiting class ranks 19th nationally, by ESPN, and includes three of the top 100 recruits. Do not sleep on the 2018 Filip Petrusev center of Serbia, a multidimensional threat with a tangible rise in the NBA. Make no mistake: the Zags will once again play their first national championship in 2020.

Cronin: I wonder where to place Duke in this argument. Despite a team as busy as that of the Blue Devils and expectations close to that of the lock to travel to Minneapolis, it's hard to expect that a team consisting of rookies will win a championship, no matter the quality of its players. We were treated to a unique talent a generation a year at Zion Williamson. Regardless of the quality of Coach K's recruitment and the program itself, players of this type do not follow all recruitment cycles. Although Duke manages to be part of another historic recruiting class, it is now difficult to envision a class of talented people able to carry a team in March. The way Duke played in several pests and his eventual defeat in Michigan State was kind of a microcosm for what he's been through most of the season.

Which individual match are you looking forward to Saturday night?

Medcalf: Jarrett Culver vs. Michigan State, a full team of 6 foot 6 inch athletes to pitch among the top 10 picks. Culver finished 5-in-19 against Gonzaga in the Elite Eight. He has 30 turnovers in six games this season. Can Matt McQuaid, a member of the top 10 defensive team, and young Aaron Henry upset Culver? Culver is the best player in Minneapolis and he led a new attack in the NCAA tournament. Michigan State must force him to embark on tough throws in the national semifinal.

Borzello: Ty Jerome and Kyle Guy against Jared Harper and Bryce Brown. In general, I think the key will be how the perimeters of Auburn and Virginia agree. Kihei Clark took the responsibility to keep Carsen Edwards last weekend and it would not be surprising to see him keep Harper. That said, Harper's defensive aggression will be an asset against Jerome on the other end. The Auburn Guards will also need to be disciplined on the defensive side, chasing Guy and Jerome around the screens and pin-downs for 30 seconds each possession. Harper and Brown, however, have an advantage over the speed of the foot on Guy and Jerome and will try to put them under pressure at every opportunity.

Gasaway: Cassius Winston vs. … does the Texas Tech defense count as one unit? It is known that the Red Raiders change on occasion, so let's just say that no matter who wins Winston in the first possession, I can not wait to see the 40 minutes. Texas Tech has been outstanding in D against the Gonzaga backcourt and, while I think the world of Josh Perkins and Zach Norvell, facing Winston is a tough step forward. He will simply take what you give him and, unlike the most prominent scorers, he has no prior commitment with regard to a single action plan. Winston will drive and drive, drive and score, shoot all 3, all that is available. In the meantime, the Raiders excel at making nothing available. It will be the force on the force.

Schultz: I can not help but focus on Cassius Winston, the Big Ten player of the year. How was Chris Beard and Texas Tech's # 1 defenseman among the Wooden Award supporters, whose Tom Izzo was clearly informed in my Pull Up podcast with CJ McCollum, were the most important player on his team? Matt Mooney is a hardball defenseman, but I think Jarrett Culver also has some responsibilities. He is arguably the country's most complete perimeter defender, able to deploy his length and speed on smaller players.

Recently, I talked to Winston with a former NBA head coach. Although he was complimentary, he was worried about the speed with which Winston would end up at his post. As coaches and university players told me, Tech is not afraid of defense: the Raiders are too strong and well trained. Look for them to trap Winston in the half-court to try to force sudden and potentially errant decisions, while turning auxiliary players into focal points. Again, Winston averages 7.6 GPAs and 2.9 turnovers, a low number given his gambling usage and responsibilities. In other words, something must give.

Cronin: I'm excited to see the Tariq Owens-Xavier Tillman confrontation. Owens' formidable shots blocked and his ability to keep several positions helped Texas Tech limit the number of half-court sets for the Sweet 16 in Michigan. Tillman played an important role in the Spartans' big round and if he could replicate what he had done against Zion Williamson, the state of Michigan would be about to qualify for the national championship. These players are the spark of their respective teams, and I can not wait to see who's doing the best in this game.