Michigan State, Virginia, Texas Tech and Auburn have punched their tickets to the 2019 Final Four, but how do these teams stack up against one another?
The Final Four, to many, was supposed to be about the coronation — or further royal treatment — of Zion Williamson and the Duke Blue Devils. That’s essentially what the 2019 NCAA Tournament was being billed as and what March Madness was centered upon. However, the Michigan State Spartans had other plans, punching their own tickets to Minneapolis and sending Zion back to Durham.
Now, instead of a Duke-centric Final Four, we actually have an intriguing group of college basketball teams that are still alive for a chance at winning the National Championship. If the Virginia Cavaliers, Texas Tech Red Raiders or Auburn Tigers were to cut down the nets, it would be the first title in program history. And, though Michigan State has a bit more historical clout, it would actually be Sparty’s first championship since 2000.
For college basketball fans, that should be a more enjoyable storyline to watch in the Final Four of the 2019 NCAA Tournament than a one-man show playing for a team that was, frankly, poorly coached this season. Yes, Williamson is electric, but the Duke team around him was anything but. Having four teams that are complete and all have distinct identities makes for more enjoyable basketball in the purist sense.
Speaking of those identities, it’s abundantly clear what each of these teams wants to do. Auburn wants to bomb 3s at any pace you want to play, Virginia wants to slow it down and win with defense, Texas Tech wants to do the same, and Michigan just wants to use their experience and toughness to beat you into submission.
But while we know what these teams want to do, which group is going to emerge in Minneapolis? Let’s try and figure that out by looking at these four teams and stacking them up against one another in our Final Four power rankings.