NCAA Basketball: 2021 ESPN Events Invitational preview and predictions

Quarterfinals

The first quarterfinal pits the young Dayton Flyers against the Miami Hurricanes. If this game was a week earlier, I would’ve said this game could be pretty close, but Dayton has really struggled of late losing to UMass-Lowell and then getting blown out by Lipscomb by 19. Give me McGusty, Moore, and the veteran Hurricanes to move on to the semifinals.

Prediction: Miami 77, Dayton 68

North Texas has gotten off to a good start, but Kansas checks off nearly every advantage box in this game. With the talent disparity and a returning Jalen Wilson and a big game from David McCormack, The Jayhawks should advance easily in this one.

Prediction: Kansas 88, North Texas 70

This is where things get fun. The next quarterfinal has Alabama is taking on Iona, a couple of teams that aren’t afraid to get up and down the floor. The guard play in this one is going to be fun to watch with Shackelford, Ellis, and Quinerly for the Crimson Tide and Jolly and Jolly and Joiner for the Gaels. In the end, I think the Tide’s depth wins out in a high-scoring affair.

Prediction: Alabama 86, Iona 74

The final quarterfinal is like an old-fashioned Bracket Busters game with Drake battling Belmont. I love both teams, Murphy, Hemphill, Penn, Muszynski, and Grayson Murphy, there is talent all over the floor. Expect three-point fireworks in this one as Drake shoots it at 45% and Belmont hits them at a clip of 34%. I think the Bulldogs of Drake pull out a tight one in this mid-major vs. mid-major heavyweight fight.

Prediction: Drake 83, Belmont 80