While the conversation will focus around Zach Edey and Donovan Clingan, I think this game will ultimately be decided by the perimeter players and that's where the Huskies have a noticeable edge. If we were to draft all the players in this title game Edey might be the first pick, but the next five players would be Huskies. The performance of players like Stephon Castle, Cam Spencer and Alex Karaban in the national semifinals only drove home how well-rounded and complete this UConn team is, and no matter how you want to play or what kind of challenge you want to present for the Huskies they always have an answer. I'm expecting a competitive game, but one where the Huskies pull away late to cover.

The Crimson Tide clearly have the ability to score enough to beat most teams, the question here is whether Nate Oats’ group can be patient and locked in defensively at the right times. Alabama will not be in the business of stopping UConn on every possession, but what we saw at points in the wins against both North Carolina and Clemson was enough defense to get the job done. When you factor in the way both Grant Nelson and Jarin Stevenson performed in the regional wins I think Alabama has bigs that will not be intimidated by Donvan Clingan’s presence at the rim. I like Alabama to be the first team to keep within single digits for the reigning champs.

There will be some three-point regression from going 14-of-28 from behind the arc in a blitzing effort against JMU, but the fact that the Blue Devils have one of the best catch-and-shoot players around in Jared McCain remains. Duke has shooters that can make an aggressive Houston defense pay when it gambles, and the Cougars can be challenged if it has to keep up with a hot shooting night on the other side. The Blue Devils have not always done a great job maintaining their edge in the wake of strong performances, but if Jon Scheyer can get this team dialed again they’re good enough to win, and definitely cover.

Few teams were as impressive as Purdue over the opening weekend, and what the performances — wins of 28 and 39 points — highlighted the surrounding parts that make the Boilermakers a more well-rounded title contender than a year ago. The guards are older, the transfer additions have hit and the team fits well around Edey structurally on both offense and defense. Gonzaga has been playing like a different team since March 1, but Purdue has been playing a higher level all season and that will be on display on Friday night.

The epic clash of the nation’s best offense against the nation’s best defense will go the way of the bucket-getters. Iowa State’s aggressive defensive pressure sometimes leaves open looks and that’s where Illinois can make them pay. The Fighting Illini have enough dangerous shooters to do that and so I love catching two points with a team I think is going to win.

Statistically, Clemson turned in one of its best defensive performances of the season in its 77-56 win against New Mexico. I credit Brad Brownell for getting the Tigers locked in for the challenge but I’m not ready to say this is all of the sudden a lockdown defensive team. Both of these teams can score at an extremely high level and with Baylor already having some issues defensively I think we see a back-and-forth that keeps the game competitive down the stretch with plenty of buckets to help take us over the total.

I think the Dukes are live to win outright and certainly a strong play on a three-possession spread. JMU may be undersized, but they overcame those weaknesses against Wisconsin and can do it again against Duke. This is a group that’s playing with a ton of confidence as they dispel the notion that a schedule strength rating should downgrade a team that has won 32 games this season.

It was not surprising to see Marquette get off to a slow start with Tyler Kolek’s return, as the team to adjust to his absence and then get back in rhythm with him back in the lineup. But what we saw from Marquette in the second half of its first round win was much closer to the form that earned them a top 2 seed. Colorado, meanwhile, is playing its third game in four days and just poured it out in a track meet against Florida.

Ducks have a way to neutralize Ryan Kalkbrenner a little bit with star big man N’Faly Dante, and there’s enough perimeter versatility to think Oregon can be disruptive on the perimeter. If the Jays can’t get into the flow of their offense they are more than beatable, and this is a 50-50 game to me. That’s value on the dog.

The Cyclones have not let up on the gas at all from their Big 12 Tournament tear, and their top gear is more than capable of putting together another double-digit win. Washington State stormed back after Drake left the door open late in the second half, and Iowa State isn’t the kind of team that would let that happen.

I was surprised, but not shocked, to see Kansas muster a strong performance after hearing a week of doubt that they could match their regular season form without Kevin McCullar Jr. in the lineup. But the Jayhawks almost let an impressive start go to waste as Samford came roaring back only to fall short in controversial fashion. Gonzaga, on the other hand, put an end to trendy upset talk immediately and stayed on the gas in its runaway win against McNeese. The Bulldogs are healthier and have been a more consistent team in recent weeks, so that’s the team to trust when it comes to getting the motor going again on a quick turnaround.

Iowa State's top gear is extremely dangerous, as we saw in their thrashing of 1-seed Houston in the Big 12 title game, and I think the Cyclones will be able to get to that top gear against a South Dakota State team that relies mostly on being good shooters. The problem with that against Iowa State is their defense doesn't allow easy shots. Iowa State's ball pressure will be impactful in a major way and I think it's a game the Cyclones can win by 20.

Colorado State head coach Niko Medved had his team dialed on Tuesday night in Dayton, and it's important to note the Rams were not just beneficiaries of Virginia's awful offense in their dominant win. That was a high level of efficiency for Colorado State against a well-coached Wahoos defense, and that will be important against Texas given the Longhorns ability to fill it up offensively. Texas presents challenges to any team on its roster with its wealth of scoring options, but the inconsistency of performance is why they are a 7-seed with 12 losses on the season. Give me the team in rhythm to keep it close or pick up the win.

Nevada laid a little bit of an egg defensively against Colorado State during its one-and-done showing in the Mountain West Tournament, and I'm expecting that disappointment will have them dialed in against a talented Dayton team. The Wolf Pack closed the regular season strong with 10 wins in their final 11, while Dayton saw its performance tail off a little bit over the final month of the season.

I don't think South Carolina will have enough adequate answers inside facing Oregon big man N'Faly Dante. This is a Gamecocks team that may be reduced to shooting 3's over the Ducks' defense, and as a 33.5% three-point shooting team I think that's a scenario Dana Altman would sign up for. Ducks' keep it rolling after claiming the Pac-12 title in Las Vegas.