NCAA Basketball: 2021 Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament preview and prediction

Projecting Rest of the Tournament and Champion

Michigan State Spartans vs UConn Huskies

Sanogo and the ability of the Huskies to shoot from beyond the arc is too much for Michigan State. The Spartans do not have anyone on the inside who can stop Sanogo and he is able to take over the game and camp out in the paint. Michigan State does make some threes and keeps this close but in the end, the Huskies are just too much.

UConn wins 75-70

Baylor Bears vs Syracuse Orange

Syracuse is going to give Baylor their biggest challenge at this point in the season but outside of a 35-point game by Buddy Boeheim it likely won’t be enough. Baylor is not going to be affected by the 2-3 zone as they have enough shooting and are going to make threes. That is going to bring that defense out and then the cuts to the basket will start. Syracuse will score the most points of any team the Bears have played this year, but Baylor still lets it go on cruise control.

Baylor 72-58

Loyola Chicago Ramblers vs Auburn Tigers

The is going to be the toughest game for Loyola to date and even though the Ramblers likely won’t win this game, as it is an absolutely terrible matchup for them. Loyola Chicago is still one of the better mid-major teams in the country. Auburn is going to have a matchup to exploit with Jabari Smith and Walker Kessler in the frontcourt.

Look for the Tigers to pound the ball inside to their big guys. This will also open the driving lanes for the Auburn guards to get to the lane for easy baskets. Loyola should be able to score just don’t know if they can stop Auburn.

Auburn wins 78-73

Arizona State Sun Devils vs VCU Rams

Another game that could be low-scoring. This is the biggest toss-up game of the tournament and Arizona State may have enough to beat VCU just given their overall talent. VCU is going to have to massively fix their offense to have a chance in a lot of games this year. They have been awful on that end and no one on the offensive end scares you.

Arizona State has a good three-point shooter in Marreon Jackson, and Kimani Lawrence is going to patrol the inside. Arizona State may not score a lot of points but VCU brings me zero confidence on the offensive end. Arizona State advances to the fifth-place game.

Sun Devils prevail 52-41

Seventh Place Game

Loyola Chicago vs VCU Rams

The Ramblers are the better team and are going to be able to exert their will in a big way. They should be able to get steals, get out in transition and score easily in this one. VCU still can’t score and they play a way that the Ramblers thrive on.

Ramblers win big 65-41

Fifth Place Game

Auburn vs Arizona State

Auburn needs to exploit this matchup as well. They have the most size and some of the most skilled big men in the country. There is no one that Arizona State can put out there that should be able to slow down the Auburn big men. Arizona State is going to need to make a ton of threes and not turn the ball over because getting shots at the rim in this one will be tough.

Auburn wins the game 85-70

Third Place Game

Syracuse vs Michigan State

An extremely competitive game between two teams who are traditional blue bloods. Two coaches who have won a ton of games in their careers. Michigan State and Syracuse play different ways but both teams play hard and get after it on the defensive end.  Michigan State also has a ton of three-point shooters who can bring that zone out and make it a little easier to operate in the paint. Syracuse is going to keep this close until the end and both teams are going to make a ton of threes and will play high-quality basketball.

Michigan State wins 74-71

Championship Game

Baylor Bears vs UConn Huskies

UConn appears in the title game on the Men’s side, and the UConn Women’s team also appeared in the title game of the same tournament that ended yesterday. It has been stated here that UConn has a dominant center in Adama Sanogo. The Baylor Bears are the only team in the field who can successfully neutralize him as they likely won’t ever allow the ball into the paint and if the ball does get into the paint big man Flo Thamba is a tremendous defender who won’t make it easy for Sanogo.

On the offensive end, LJ Cryer is going to get going and the Bears are going to hit a bunch of threes and run an immaculate offense that will overwhelm UConn. Baylor is still a legitimate National Title contender and they will win the Battle 4 Atlantis.

Baylor wins the title 81-67