It’s Villanova, Kansas, Loyola of Chicago, and Michigan in The Final Four

Now that the dust has settled, we have two #1 seeds, a #3, and a #11 advancing in the NCAA men’s Basketball Tournament to the 2018 Final Four. None of the teams were in last year’s Final Four,

With all the upsets that occurred in the earlier rounds, we still wound up with #1 seed Villanova coming out of the East region, and #1 Kansas coming out of the Midwest. Villanova beat #3 Texas Tech 71-59 and Kansas beat #2 Duke in a thriller in overtime 85-81.

Kansas will be in its 15th Final Four, and has won the title three times. Villanova is in its sixth Final Four, with two ending in championships, including one just two years ago. These two will meet in one semifinal.

It was more unpredictable in the South and West regions, starting with #16 Maryland-Baltimore County beating #1 Virginia. UMBC didn’t get any farther, but #11 Loyola of Chicago became just the fourth 11 seed to advance to the Final Four. The Ramblers are making their second appearance in the Final Four; the first was in 1963 when they won the title. Loyola will face Michigan, the #3 seed out of the West. The Wolverines have put on an impressive late season burst, winning 13 in a row to get to this point. They’ve been a bit under the radar but can beat anybody. Michigan is making its eighth appearance in the Final Four (including two that were vacated by the NCAA). The Wolverines were NCAA Champions in 1989.