Virginia vs. Auburn: 5 key storylines in Final Four matchup
Virginia faces Auburn in the first national semifinal on Saturday, the game has plenty of intriguing stories on both sides. Here are five things to watch for during this Final Four matchup.
One team was on the wrong side of history last season, the other defeated three of college basketball’s elite programs to get here. Now, they will meet up in the first game of the Final Four, the winner getting a chance to play for the national championship when top-seeded and south regional champion Virginia takes on the fifth-seeded and champs of the Midwest Region, the Auburn Tigers in Minneapolis.
We all remember Virginia’s trials and tribulations in last year’s tourney, becoming the first No. 1 to fall to a No. 16 seed when they were handled by UMBC. Flash forward to this year, the Cavaliers are again a top seed and again found themselves struggling with their first opponent, trailing Gardner-Webb by 14 in the first half. Tony Bennett’s team recovered and now find themselves two wins from one of the best stories in the history of the NCAA Tournament.
The Midwest Region was labeled by some the blue blood region because that’s where Kansas, North Carolina, and Kentucky all ended up. Auburn though, had other plans. After an opening-round scare from New Mexico State, Bruce Pearl and his team have dispatched the Jayhawks, Tar Heels, and Wildcats in succession, to reach the Final Four.
Related Story. How Auburn reached the Final Four. light
It’s not a surprise that Virginia is here, being a top seed, but Auburn is a bit of a surprise as a No. 5 seed, now both teams find themselves two wins from the top of the mountain. This interesting matchup in styles has some fascinating storylines to look at.