Final Four Viewing Guide: TV Info, Betting Lines and What to Know About Duke vs. North Carolina and Villanova vs. Kansas

The conclusion of March Madness and the crowning of a new national champion is right around the corner, but first, college basketball has gifted us with two incredible Final Four matchups.

Duke and North Carolina, two heated rivals, are meeting for the very first time in the NCAA Tournament. Seriously? Seriously.

Villanova and Kansas, two college basketball bluebloods, will play a rematch of their 2018 Final Four matchup. 

With so much on the line, let’s get you familiar with everything you need to know about the Final Four.

NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Final Four: When and Where

The 2022 Final Four tips off 6:09 p.m. EST on Saturday, April 2nd. 

The action kicks off with what is essentially the “undercard” of the night: No. 1 Kansas vs. No. 2 Villanova.

That’s a primetime matchup between two of the biggest brands in college basketball, but the fact that it’s considered the warm-up act for No. 2 Duke vs. No. 8 North Carolina just goes to show you how big of a game that one really is.

The two arch-rivals are expected to tip-off at 8:49 p.m. EST.

Both games will be on TBS, and they can also be live-streamed on March Madness Live or Sling TV.

The games will be played at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. 

What to know about No. 1 Kansas vs. No 2. Villanova 

This is a rematch of the 2018 Final Four matchup between the two schools. That was a game saw the Wildcats beat the Jayhawks en route to their second National Championship win in the Jay Wright era.

Villanova’s best player: 

Senior forward Jermaine Samuels has been the best player for Villanova in this March Madness run and the Wildcats will need him to continue that hot streak against Kansas. Notably, he was on the bench as a young player for Villanova’s last championship run, so he knows what it’s going to take.

Samuels is averaging 17.5 points and 8.5 rebounds for Villanova in the tournament.

Kansas’ best player:

You’ve got to pay attention to senior Ochai Agbaji when he’s on the floor. He’s a 6-foot-5, 215-pound guard who has been averaging 18.9 points and 5.2 rebounds for Kansas this season. Notably, he put up a stat-line of 18 points, five rebounds, four assists, and four steals in the Jayhawks’ Elite Eight win over Miami, so this is a guy who can do it all for Kansas.

X-Factor:

Villanova’s second-leading scorer, Justin Moore, is out for the rest of the tournament with an Achilles tear. How will Villanova respond and who will pick up the slack? Keep an eye on senior guard Collin Gillespie, who will need to step up. 

Betting Line: Kansas -4 (-115), according to Bovada.net

What to know about No. 2 Duke vs. No. 8 North Carolina 

This is a rivalry that goes back over 100 years. Duke and North Carolina first squared off in 1920, and they’ve been heated rivals ever since, having played an additional 255 times since that initial 38-25 win by North Carolina.

This will be the first time the two storied programs meet in the NCAA Tournament. 

Duke’s best player:

Freshman forward Paolo Banchero has a case to make that he deserves to be the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming NBA Draft. He checks in at 6-foot-10, 250-pounds and has all the advantages of a big man near the rim. he also has the athleticism and outside shot of a guard, though. He should be the best player on the court and Duke looks to him in the big moments of the game.

North Carolina’s best player:

At 6-foot-10, 240-pounds, Armando Bacot is a traditional forward in that he’s big and thrives in the paint. He’s more than just a bruiser, though. He has excellent touch around the rim and is an absolute force on the boards.

Bacot averaged 16.5 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game this season for UNC. He’s averaging 16.5 points and 15.8 rebounds in the tournament. He put up 20 points and 22 rebounds in UNC’s Elite Eight win over Saint Peter’s.

X-Factor: 

Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski has five national titles under his belt, and his team is looking to send him into retirement with one more. North Carolina head coach Hubert Davis is in his first season as head coach, so Duke has a decided coaching advantage.

Betting Line: Duke -4 (-110), according to Bovada.net

Stats courtesy of ESPN.

RELATED: Eric Church Selfishly Ditches Fans for North Carolina-Duke Final Four Clash

The post Final Four Viewing Guide: TV Info, Betting Lines and What to Know About Duke vs. North Carolina and Villanova vs. Kansas appeared first on Sportscasting | Pure Sports.

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By: Andrew Kulha
Title: Final Four Viewing Guide: TV Info, Betting Lines and What to Know About Duke vs. North Carolina and Villanova vs. Kansas
Sourced From: www.sportscasting.com/final-four-viewing-guide-tv-info-betting-lines-what-to-know-duke-north-carolina-villanova-kansas/
Published Date: Sat, 02 Apr 2022 16:54:24 +0000