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NCAA Basketball: 2022 Battle 4 Atlantis preview, predictions

By Holden Walter-Warner

Oct 28, 2022; Frisco, TX, USA; Tennessee Volunteers guard Zakai Zeigler (5) makes a shot against the Gonzaga Bulldogs during the second half at Comerica Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 28, 2022; Frisco, TX, USA; Tennessee Volunteers guard Zakai Zeigler (5) makes a shot against the Gonzaga Bulldogs during the second half at Comerica Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-USA TODAY Sports /
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Zakai Zeigler #5 of the Tennessee Volunteers (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images)
Zakai Zeigler #5 of the Tennessee Volunteers (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images) /

Who will win the Battle 4 Atlantis?

Day 3 (Nov. 25)

7th Place Game: Dayton vs. BYU, 3:30pm ET, ESPNU

Hopefully, mid-majors don’t get a bad rap from this tournament, as this prediction puts the two mid-majors in the tournament in the competition for last place. Dayton’s defense has been great this season, but the team is not getting enough contributions from its bench. Anthony Grant is too good of a coach to let the Flyers fly home with three losses in three days.

Prediction: Dayton 65, BYU 58

5th Place Game: NC State vs. Butler, 10pm ET, ESPN2

The Manny Bates revenge game? Not sure what Bates’ relationship is with the NC State staff and players these days, but he’ll certainly be in Matta’s makeshift office, tipping off the Bulldogs about the Wolfpack’s tendencies. Senior guard Casey Morsell is not getting enough attention in Raleigh, but he’s been part of the team’s monstrous offense, averaging 14.8 points per game. The Virginia transfer will be the X-factor in NC State leaving the Bahamas with two wins.

Prediction: NC State 83, Butler 70

3rd Place Game: Wisconsin vs. USC, 1pm ET, ESPN2

A fun fact about Wisconsin: as of this writing, the Badgers have the best three-point defense in the entire country. Opponents are hitting only 11.1 percent of their threes against Wisconsin. If Greg Gard’s team can secure a second win in Nassau, teams are going to start taking them more seriously. Boogie Ellis is the only Trojan hitting more than 31 percent of his threes entering Atlantis.

Prediction: Wisconsin 65, USC 56

Championship Game: Kansas vs. Tennessee, 7:30pm ET, ESPN

The championship game of a tournament should always be the final game of a tournament, but I digress. This is the best title game a fan could possibly hope for in Atlantis between two teams who seem like good candidates to make it to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament, at the least. A key factor to watch will be the Jayhawks’ foibles at the free throw line. The team is hitting only 56.3 percent of their free throws, one of the worst marks in the nation.

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Prediction: Tennessee 79, Kansas 75

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