UConn is two wins away from repeating as national champion, and that is definitively the biggest story going into this weekend’s Final Four in Phoenix. The Huskies have rolled through March Madness this year, and they are a significant favorite over Alabama, in their first-ever Final Four, in their semifinal. On the other side of the bracket, both Purdue and NC State are writing poetic narratives of their own. NC State has won nine straight games after falling to 17-14 in the regular season ACC finale and has become the sixth #11 seed to reach the Final Four. A year after becoming the second #1 seed to ever lose in the first round, Purdue has rolled through this year’s tournament, reaching the Final Four for the first time since 1980.
Which narrative will prevail? We’ll find out on Monday night.
FINAL FOUR
Saturday, April 6
The Final Four Show
3 p.m. TBS/TNT/truTV
Adam Lefkoe, Seth Davis, Candace Parker
At The Final Four
4 p.m. TBS/TNT/truTV
Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Clark Kellogg, Kenny Smith, Jay Wright
Additional commentary: Seth Davis, Candace Parker
#1 Purdue vs #11 NC State
6:09 p.m. TBS/TNT/truTV
Ian Eagle, Bill Raftery, Grant Hill, Tracy Wolfson
#1 UConn vs #4 Alabama
8:49 p.m. TBS/TNT/truTV
Ian Eagle, Bill Raftery, Grant Hill, Tracy Wolfson
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Monday, April 8
Championship Central
7 p.m. TBS/TNT/truTV
Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Clark Kellogg, Kenny Smith, Jay Wright
#1 Purdue/#11 NC State vs #1 UConn/#4 Alabama
9:20 p.m. TBS/TNT/truTV
Ian Eagle, Bill Raftery, Grant Hill, Tracy Wolfson
About Joe Lucia
I hate your favorite team. I also sort of hate most of my favorite teams.