A No. 1, a No. 2 , a No. 3 and a No. 5. Virginia, Michigan State, Texas Tech and Auburn. That's one of the more random Final Fours we've had. And that's OK! In fact, maybe it's even good. I like my Final Fours zesty and unpredictable. That's what we've got here, even if there's nothing wacky from a seed perspective like a No. 7, No. 8, No. 9, No. 10 or No. 11 moving on -- which was a feature, not a bug, of every Final Four since 2013. Now the Final Four crashers are Texas Tech and Auburn, which have 30 wins apiece but are the two programs making their debuts on college basketball's ultimate stage. The Cavaliers, Spartans, Red Raiders and Tigers survived the second weekend to make a march to Minneapolis after what was arguably the best quartet of Elite Eight games in NCAA Tournament history. Looking back And so before we set the Final Four table, an ode on what just happened on Saturday and Sunday, because it wouldn't feel right to move on before giving credence to a terrific set of regional finals. Thrilling games. Vintage tournament-type memories and images. The kind of stuff the fans of schools on the right and wrong end of those outcomes will not forget. I do think it was the best Elite Eight weekend in tournament history. By pure numbers, it's got a good case: the four games were settled by a combined 18 points. That comes out to 4.5 points per margin of victory/defeat, making it the tightest in history in that round of the tournament. Plus, two of the four games went to overtime, the Virginia-Purdue affair doing so on one of the more memorable buzzer-beating chaos sequences you'll ever see. Chills still. The other two games that didn't require overtime were decided be seven points total. Here's how I would rank the four games: Purdue goes down after getting the second 42-point performance from Carsen Edwards in this tournament. His 28 3-pointers in four games are the most in a single NCAA Tournament in the history of the event. I was courtside and on tenterhooks at what Edwards was providing and how Virginia was counterpunching. Michigan State's poise -- that 3 from Kenny Goins to take the lead for good with 34.3 to go was pure -- and capability to end the Duke story was impressive. Only seven turnovers for Sparty, while Cassius Winston had 20 points, 10 assists and one turnover. Only other MSU players to have 20 and 10 in a tournament game: Magic Johnson and Draymond Green. Hello. The TTU and Auburn wins were dramatic and compelling for their own reasons. But all told, given the knockout nature of the bluebloods, the fact that all four games were close throughout, that we had all-time performances and even a buzzer-beater, I think it nudges past the epic 2005 Elite Eight that featured Illinois' ridiculous 90-89 comeback over Arizona in OT; Louisville's 83-85 OT win against West Virginia; UNC's 88-82 staving of Wisconsin; and Michigan State's 94-88 win over Kentucky in double overtime, featuring the Patrick Sparks 3-pointer that extended the game. Looking ahead College football relies on Clemson and Alabama like clockwork to make the College Football Playoff. The Golden State Warriors are, barring a seismic upset, winning another NBA title this year. The New England Patriots, minimally, are likely to yet again make the NFL's final four come 2020. The NCAA Tournament doesn't play by those rules. And that's why it rules. The first weekend of the tourney turned out predictable, which set up a second weekend that paid off in a big way. Now the Final Four is a mixed bag. There's the letdown of not having a Kentucky or Duke or Gonzaga -- but now we've got really good stories to focus in on. New blood! This is the first Final Four of Virginia coach Tony Bennett's career. He's no longer the best coach in college basketball without a Final Four on his résumé. He did it 19 years after his father made his one and only Final Four -- and what a powerful story that's turned out to be. This is a Final Four filled with newbies. Texas Tech's Chris Beard and Auburn's Bruce Pearl are also here for the first time in their careers. Beard and Pearl's programs, as noted above, are also into the national semifinals for the first time. Contrast that with the man whose last name is a synonym for March: Tom Izzo. He's back here for the eighth time in his career. Might this is the Big Ten's best chance to win a national title since 2000? It's also the last time the Big Ten had a champ; MSU took it that year, of course. Izzo got here by winning his ninth Elite Eight game in 11 tries. As a school, MSU has a weird dichotomy. It's 9-2 record in Elite Eight games is the best in college basketball history of all schools with at least five trips to the regional final. But MSU's success in winning the title after making the Final Four: 2 for 9. Can this be title No. 2 for Izzo? You'll also hear a lot about how this Final Four lacks a one-and-done player. The four teams are not only without that, 15 of the 20 starters on Saturday night will be juniors or seniors. It's a Final Four of experienced players but inexperienced coaches and programs -- mostly -- on this stage. It's also the first Final Four in 12 years without a school from Kansas, Kentucky or North Carolina involved. Given how feverish those states' fan bases are with their college hoops, the ticket demand in Minneapolis will be worth tracking. Michigan State figures to have an advantage in fan support, but Texas Tech could prove to show up in stronger numbers than you might think. If Tech or Auburn can win this thing, they'll become the first time since UConn in 1999 to win the national title as a first-time guest at the Final Four. Before you go doubting Auburn, take this into account: it just beat Kansas, UNC and Kentucky to get here. The only other time that's ever happened was in 1997. Arizona won the title that year. It's not a dream Final Four but it is one that will give us a compelling story, potentially even a controversial one, no matter who wins. And given the way these four teams are tough, physical and reliable defensively, we have a better-than-average chance of getting more close-if-not-great games to wrap up the season. That's the most important part. You can wish for the hype and the stars and the biggest schools and usual suspects, but in the end, once we get to the games, we want close finishes and memorable moments and something that can give college basketball its best finish. And more often than not, college basketball gives us just that.<doc-sep>Step aside, blue bloods. Make way for the new bloods. The Auburn Tigers and Texas Tech Red Raiders will make their first appearances in the NCAA tournament's final weekend at the 2019 Final Four in Minneapolis on Saturday. Both squads are vying to become the first team to win a national title in its initial Final Four appearance since UConn did it 20 years ago. Joining them will be the Michigan State Spartans -- the only team left in the field that has won a national championship -- and a Virginia Cavaliers squad that will make its first Final Four appearance since 1984. Will a school from the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12 or SEC cut down the nets at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 8? Let's size up the challengers: Auburn Tigers Bryce Brown has been dangerous from long range all season for Auburn. AP Photo/Charlie Riedel Final Four matchup: vs. Virginia 2018-19 record (conference record): 30-9 (11-7 SEC) Road to the Final Four: New Mexico State, 78-77; Kansas, 89-75; North Carolina, 97-80; Kentucky, 77-71 (OT) Coach (record): Bruce Pearl (100-71 in five seasons at Auburn, 562-216 overall) National championships (team): 0 Final Fours (team): First Leading scorer: Bryce Brown (15.8) Leading rebounder: Austin Wiley (4.2) Assists leader: Jared Harper (5.9) Most 3-pointers made: Bryce Brown (137) Offensive rank (BPI): 8th Defensive rank (BPI): 35th Experience (KenPom): 2.18 years (37th in Division I) How they beat you: Auburn wants to run. Pearl is a firm believer in owning tempo with pace, particularly with Harper (15.2 PPG) at the controls. Harper's diminutive size underwhelms, but he plays with no fear and understands exactly how to get downhill. Harper's speed helps open things up for Brown, whose flurry of triples helped bury Kentucky in the Elite Eight. Remember, Auburn ranks sixth in the country in adjusted offensive efficiency, per KenPom. Even without the versatile Chuma Okeke (38.7 percent 3s, 1.8 SPG and 1.2 BPG), Auburn was able to match up athletically against the Wildcats' physical front line of PJ Washington and Reid Travis. Defensively, however, is where the Tigers have made the most significant strides in this tournament, and really since the SEC tournament. To hold a juggernaut like Kentucky to just 71 points in an overtime game -- and worse than 24 percent from deep -- along with the same number of turnovers as assists (14) was the difference. Help defense has been great, but more important has been Auburn's individual defense, proficient enough to avoid over-helping -- and in turn avoid open triples. How you beat them: You must limit Auburn's possessions because its offense helps predicate the tone it sets defensively. Auburn got back in the Kentucky game because of defense, but it wasn't until a barrage of triples and quality half-court offense that the stops eventually came. When the Tigers get in the half court, the key is forcing the ball out of Harper's hands. His creativity in pick-and-roll often bails out the lack of offensive weapons and also creates clean looks for Brown (40.7 percent 3s and a team-high 15.8 PPG). Auburn is fourth nationally in scoring and ranks in the top 25 in 3-point percentage. Ice all of the Harper ball-screens and make somebody else beat you, preferably inside. Both he and Brown earned second-team All-SEC honors. Even limiting one of them significantly alters the Tigers' ability to score points. -- Jordan Schultz Michigan State Spartans Cassius Winston is the engine who has made Michigan State go all season long. Jamie Squire/Getty Images Final Four matchup: vs. Texas Tech 2018-19 record (conference record): 32-6 (16-4 Big Ten) Road to the Final Four: Bradley, 76-65; Minnesota, 70-50; LSU, 80-63; Duke 68-67 Coach (record): Tom Izzo (606-231 in 24 seasons at Michigan State) National championships (team): 2 (2000, 1979) Final Fours (team): 10 (seasons above plus 2015, 2010, 2009, 2005, 2001, 1999, 1957) Leading scorer: Cassius Winston (18.8) Leading rebounder: Kenny Goins (9.0) Assists leader: Cassius Winston (7.5) Most 3-pointers made: Cassius Winston (82) Offensive rank (BPI): 6th Defensive rank (BPI): 8th Experience (KenPom): 1.79 years (140th in Division I) How they beat you: Winston and interior defense. Those two forces of nature haven't been the whole story, but they've been a very big part of Michigan State's getting to the Final Four. Winston is a master with the ball in his hands, scoring on either side of the arc, drawing fouls and, especially, delivering pinpoint assists to waiting teammates. He has no single preferred speed and can lull you to sleep just as easily as blow by you. As the season has progressed, more and more of Winston's assists have been going to Xavier Tillman, the consistently underrated sophomore who was last seen delivering a thunderous and pivotal dunk late in the Michigan State's win over Duke. On the other end of the floor, MSU has been elite all season at forcing misses in the paint. Not many defenses can throw Tillman, Nick Ward and Goins at you and (almost) always have two of those guys on the floor. How you beat them: Attack the offensive glass. The name "Izzo" is supposed to be synonymous with rebounding, but, for whatever reason, this particular group has been known to struggle on its defensive boards. Sometimes one of the best offenses against the MSU defense is a missed shot; LSU and Duke were able to pull down a combined 37 percent of their chances. When the Spartans do get a defensive board, invest early in the possession in denying Winston the ball. Don't let the Spartans' offense devote that first 10 seconds of the shot clock to Winston probing in the half court, because he's lethal at it. Never guard Tillman beyond the arc, and don't be afraid to put Aaron Henry on the line. -- John Gasaway Texas Tech Red Raiders Jarrett Culver has made Texas Tech go on the offensive end of the floor all season. Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images Final Four matchup: vs. Michigan State 2018-19 record (conference record): 30-6 (14-4 Big 12) Road to the Final Four: Northern Kentucky, 72-57; Buffalo, 78-58; Michigan 63-44; Gonzaga 75-69 Coach (record): Chris Beard (75-30 in three seasons at Texas Tech, 171-60 overall) National championships (team): 0 Final Fours (team): First Leading scorer: Jarrett Culver (18.9) Leading rebounder: Jarrett Culver (6.4) Assists leader: Jarrett Culver (3.8) Most 3-pointers made Davide Moretti (69) Offensive rank (BPI): 33rd Defensive rank (BPI): 1st Experience (KenPom): 1.92 years (102nd in Division I) How they beat you: Chris Beard reached his school's first Final Four with America's most effective defense. The Red Raiders' secret is in their personnel. With Tariq Owens (6-foot-10), Matt Mooney (6-3), Culver (6-6), Moretti (6-2) and Norense Odiase (6-8) -- plus guys such as Brandone Francis (6-5) and Kyler Edwards (6-3) coming off the bench -- Beard has the size and athleticism (Owens is averaging 2.4 blocks per game) to avoid defensive mismatches and support one another when they get beat off the dribble. When opposing players drive, they have to get through two or three capable Red Raiders. When those attempts fail over time, they settle for perimeter shots. Here's the problem: Texas Tech often recovers to contest those shots. See: Owens blocking Rui Hachimura's jump shot late in Saturday's win over Gonzaga. Michigan settled for deep 3-pointers (1-for-19) in its loss to Texas Tech in the Sweet 16. "Defensively, they read the scouting report," Michigan's Isaiah Livers said. "They knew what guys liked to do. They knew who the shooters were and the drivers were, and you got to tip your hat off." On offense, the Red Raiders play through Culver, a projected NBA draft first-round pick who demands extra defenders and opens the floor for his teammates. They'll go iso and attack the mismatch. Mooney realized early in the Gonzaga game that he could post Josh Perkins. Mooney, Moretti and Owens can all score. Proof? Culver finished 5-for-19 in the win over Gonzaga. How you beat them: Everything starts with Culver. In the Red Raiders' losses, he has been frustrated. Against Gonzaga on Saturday, he had a hard time finding good looks with Hachimura and others defending him.<doc-sep>After a crazy Elite Eight, we are down to the Final Four of the 2019 NCAA Tournament. The second weekend took out some of the top seeds in the field, including No. 1 seeds UNC, Duke and Gonzaga. No. 3 seed Purdue and No. 2 seed Kentucky both fell in overtime. Of the four teams remaining, only Michigan State has a rich Final Four history. Texas Tech and Auburn are in the Final Four for the first time in school history and Virginia has not made it this far since 1984, and have never won a Final Four game. Let's now take a closer look at the matchups Saturday, with the Final Four field now set. No. 5 Auburn vs. No. 1 Virginia When : Saturday at 6:09 p.m. ET : Saturday at 6:09 p.m. ET Where : U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis : U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis TV: CBS CBS Live stream: March Madness Live and fuboTV (try for free) Auburn THE ROAD TO THE FINAL FOUR First round : vs. No. 12 New Mexico State -- W, 78-77 : vs. No. 12 New Mexico State -- W, 78-77 Second round : vs. No. 4 Kansas -- W, 89-75 : vs. No. 4 Kansas -- W, 89-75 Sweet 16 : vs. No. 1 North Carolina -- W, 97-80 : vs. No. 1 North Carolina -- W, 97-80 Elite Eight: vs. No. 2 Kentucky -- W, 77-71 OT The skinny: Auburn showed in the Elite Eight that it does not have to shoot lights out from 3-point range to win games. The Tigers only made seven 3-pointers against Kentucky, but was able to force 14 turnovers and get to the free throw line 24 times. Auburn is ranked second in the country in turnover margin. Jared Harper and Bryce Brown combined for 50 points against the Wildcats, with Jared Harper scoring 12 of his 26 in overtime. The Tigers are without Chuma Okeke, its third leading scorer, in the Final Four, who tore his ACL in the Sweet 16 win over UNC. Virginia THE ROAD TO THE FINAL FOUR First round : vs. No. 16 Gardner-Webb -- W, 71-56 : vs. No. 16 Gardner-Webb -- W, 71-56 Second round : vs. No. 9 Oklahoma -- W, 63-51 : vs. No. 9 Oklahoma -- W, 63-51 Sweet 16 : vs. No. 12 Oregon -- W, 53-49 : vs. No. 12 Oregon -- W, 53-49 Elite Eight: vs. No. 3 Purdue -- W, 80-75 OT The skinny: Virginia may have given up 75 points to Purdue in the Elite Eight, but this is still the best defensive team in the country. The Cavs have only given up 55.4 points per game this season, the lowest in the country. Opponents have struggled to shoot 3-pointers against Virginia, knocking down only 28.7 percent of its looks. On the offensive end, this team has many different weapons. Through four games in the tournament, the Cavs have had a different leading scorer every game. This team also does not turn the ball over too much. Its nine turnovers per game is the least in the country. Virginia has struggled to shoot 3-pointers in the tournament, connecting on only 29.9 percent of its attempts, but this team was one of the most consistent team's from deep this season and has the ability to flip the switch. When : Saturday at 8:49 p.m. ET : Saturday at 8:49 p.m. ET Where : U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis : U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis TV: CBS CBS Live stream: March Madness Live and fuboTV (try for free)<doc-sep>
March Madness finally lived up to its name during the second weekend of the NCAA tournament. A chalk-filled first weekend with few upsets and no real Cinderella gave way to an entertaining Sweet 16 and bonkers Elite Eight that included a brain-melting buzzer-beater, an overtime upset, and the elimination of the two biggest favorites in the field. The Final Four will not have Zion Williamson, but it will have a group of four teams that all feel about equally capable of winning it all. This is the Final Four, ranked. 4. Auburn The Tigers are the giant killers of March Madness. Auburn took out Kansas in the round of 32, North Carolina in the Sweet 16, and Kentucky in the Elite Eight to break into the Final Four for the first time in program history. Auburn hasn’t lost since Feb. 23 and heads to Minneapolis on a 13-game winning streak that included winning four games in four days to claim the SEC tournament title. The Tigers have a great case to be the most impressive team of March Madness so far. It feels wrong putting them last, but a) someone has to be last, b) Auburn is by far the lowest rated team left standing by efficiency metrics, and c) they have to play without star forward Chuma Okeke, who suffered a torn ACL against UNC. With that said, Auburn still absolutely has a chance to win the whole thing. Guards Jared Harper and Bryce Brown are brilliant, with Harper acting as a speedy and heady point guard who gets the offense going and Brown asserting himself the primary scoring option on the perimeter. Bruce Pearl has great depth at his disposal, playing 10 guys at least 12 minutes in the Elite Eight win over Kentucky. The roster is also full of tough role players who defend and rebound. Virginia will get run off the floor if they don’t come prepared. 3. Texas Tech The Red Raiders want to put you in a straightjacket on every possession. Texas Tech reached the first Final Four in program history off the strength of its defense, which enters the final weekend of the season at No. 1 in the country by a landslide. Head coach Chris Beard built a scheme designed to keep opposing ball handlers out of the middle of the floor. Few college teams switch as often as Texas Tech. When someone does get free, there’s a rim protector in Tariq Owens ready to challenge the shot. We had Gonzaga at No. 1 overall in our Sweet 16 and Elite Eight power rankings, but the Red Raiders shut down them down in a way no one has all season. The offense has come alive, too, with Jarrett Culver (a possible top-five NBA draft pick) doing most of the heavy lifting. When his supporting cast — led by Davide Moretti and Matt Mooney — hits spot-up jumpers, Texas Tech turns into a behemoth. There’s nothing fun or cute about the way Beard’s team plays basketball, but there’s no denying it’s effectiveness. 2. Michigan State Related Duke screwed up the end of the game against Michigan State in these 3 ways The Spartans are starting to feel like a team of destiny. Michigan State did what UCF and Virginia Tech couldn’t by finishing off Duke in crunch-time, eliminating the tournament’s No. 1 overall seed and making the Final Four field wide open in the process. Sparty pummeled Minnesota and LSU before that, and before that beat rival Michigan three times, once for the Big Ten tournament title. This MSU squad might not have a player drafted if everyone declared this year, but like so many of Tom Izzo’s best teams, these Spartans are smart, disciplined, and confident in their shot-making ability. Michigan State has a wizard at point guard in Cassius Winston, not only the best facilitator in the country but also a threat to score 20 points on any given night. Xavier Tillman is Izzo’s secret weapon, an active defender and efficient finisher who gives an edge to the front line. Matt McQuaid might be a legend after what he did against Duke. The rest of the team hits shots, rebounds, and rarely makes mental errors. The Spartans are much less talented on-paper than they’ve been the last two years, but this is the type of team Izzo always thrives with. If he’s ever going to get a second national title, this might be the year. 1.