Even though Iowa State isn’t in any tournaments this season, the NCAA Tournament and the NIT are playing this week in the opening rounds. 

The NCAA Tournament starts on Thursday with the First Four games happening on Tuesday, while the NIT starts on Tuesday with a handful of games. 

The Iowa State Daily sports editors decided to take a crack at predicting the Final Four and the champion for the NCAA and NIT as well as sleeper picks to look at in each of the tournaments.

So, sit back and enjoy the upcoming week full of upsets and games that will bring you to the edge of your seats. 

Brian Mozey, Sports Editor 

NCAA Final Four: 

Virginia: I think Virginia has one of the easier roads to the Final Four than any region as a No. 1 seed and I think they’ll take full advantage of it. The Cavaliers are the overall No. 1 seed for a reason because they only lost one game in conference play. Watch out for them. 

North Carolina: In my eyes, I don’t think Xavier should’ve been a No. 1 seed and North Carolina will take full advantage of it. The confidence that the Tar Heels having heading into the tournament with a win against Duke in the ACC semifinals, that can be the boost they need for a run to the Final Four. 

Kansas: The Jayhawks won the Big 12 regular season and tournament titles this season and they look bigger and better than before. They deserve to have the No. 1 seed and even though the game between Kansas and Duke in the Elite Eight will be a good game, the Jayhawks will find a way to pull out the victory. 

Texas Tech: I’m not a Big 12 fan, it’s just the truth. The Red Raiders have to beat Florida and Purdue to reach the Elite Eight for a game against probably Villanova. I truly think Texas Tech has the ability to compete and win against No. 1 seed Villanova to reach the Final Four and play Big 12 champions Kansas for a spot in the finals. 

NCAA Winner:

Virginia: The Cavaliers couldn’t be stopped in the regular season and in the ACC Tournament, so what’s going to stop them in the NCAA Tournament? Nothing. They have a powerful lineup and a deep bench that will result in clutch performances and eventually a NCAA title. 

NCAA Sleeper Pick: 

San Diego State: Who? I know. It’s not a name that most people think about in the NCAA Tournament. I’m not saying they’re going to win the entire tournament, but I believe they will turn heads. San Diego State won the Mountain West Tournament and beat No. 7 seed Nevada in the semifinals to earn that automatic bid. I see them beating Houston in the first round and definitely making a run in the second round against probably Michigan. Then, their journey will end against North Carolina. 

NIT Final Four: 

Baylor, Notre Dame, Oklahoma State and Saint Mary’s: Three out of the four teams are No. 1 seeds with Okie State as a No. 2 seed. All four teams stand out amongst the other teams and should be the only teams left in the Final Four. Oklahoma State will have to beat USC in the Elite Eight, which I think is possible. 

NIT Winner: 

Oklahoma State: The Cowboys should’ve been in the NCAA Tournament, but didn’t make the cut. Therefore, Oklahoma State will have a chip on their shoulder and will take it out on its opponents for the tournament resulting in a NIT title. 

NIT Sleeper Pick: 

Nebraska: The Cornhuskers had a good Big Ten regular season resulting in them almost reaching the NCAA Tournament. They are a force to be reckon with and I think they could make a run to the Sweet 16 or even the Elite Eight. 

Aaron Marner, Assistant Sports Editor

NCAA Final Four:

Kentucky: Kentucky is usually a pretty good bet in the NCAA Tournament. Right now, they’ve won seven of their last eight games, including a victory in the SEC Tournament championship game. I think they beat Cincinnati in the Elite Eight to get to San Antonio.

North Carolina: The Tar Heels played a murderer’s row of a schedule and still won 25 games. They also got paired with Xavier, who I believe is the weakest of the 1-seeds.

Michigan and Houston are good opponents, but I don’t think either of them will challenge North Carolina. After that, the Heels only need one win — likely over Xavier or Gonzaga — to reach the Final Four. Give me Carolina.

Villanova: The east region, in my opinion, is the weakest of the four. Villanova is a strong 1-seed, and I think Arkansas deserved better than a 7-seed, but the rest of the region seems very uninspiring.

Honestly, Villanova’s toughest opponent in the first four rounds might be the Alabama/Virginia Tech winner. Alabama has one of the best guards in the nation. If Collin Sexton can channel his inner-Kemba Walker, maybe Villanova goes home early.

Michigan State: This might be the toughest region to pick. Michigan State, Duke and Kansas are all in the top nine in KenPom, and they’re all at least five spots higher than 1-seeded Xavier. Heck, Auburn is a 4-seed in this region and the Tigers are only two spots behind Xavier in KenPom.

In the end, I think there’s a strong chance the Rhode Island/Oklahoma winner knocks off Duke, and I don’t think Kansas is a lock to win the top half of that region. Michigan State faces the fewest possible landmines before the Elite Eight, and I think they have the talent to win once they get to that point.

NCAA Winner:

North Carolina: I like how battle-tested the Heels are, and Roy Williams is no stranger to big games. They don’t have an easy path, but North Carolina is my pick to win it all.

NCAA Sleeper Pick: 

Nevada: There are always a few sexy upset picks. This year, those teams are South Dakota State, Loyola and Murray State. Some people even like Penn to knock off Kansas, but I won’t reach that far.

Nevada is a 7-seed that looks more like a 2 or 3-seed. They took Texas Tech to overtime in Lubbock earlier this season, took TCU to the wire, beat Rhode Island, beat San Diego State and beat Davidson. They won 27 games this year for a reason, and that reason is because they’re good.

Nevada has a tough draw with Texas and Cincinnati in the first weekend, but don’t be surprised if you see Nevada make an Elite Eight run.

NIT Final Four: 

Notre Dame, Baylor, Oklahoma State, St. Mary’s

I’ll be honest, I didn’t know the bracket until I was asked to fill this out. But I think all four of these teams had legitimate cases for the NCAA Tournament (so did USC) and I think they could win the NIT.

NIT Winner: 

St. Mary’s: St. Mary’s should’ve made the NCAA Tournament. I think they’ll be out to prove people wrong. Madison Square Garden is a long way from California, but I like St. Mary’s to take home the hardware.

NIT Sleeper Pick: 

Boise State: Boise State has one really talented player and a decent supporting cast, which is more than a lot of NIT teams can say. The winner of St. Mary’s versus Boise State is my favorite to win the NIT.

Jack MacDonald, Assistant Sports Editor

NCAA Final Four:

Arizona – Arizona is a contender. Arizona is good. Arizona will punch the NCAA right in its own face. 

Xavier – Xavier has been a force all year. Its upset loss to Providence won’t slow the Musketeers down one bit and will roll into the Final Four. 

Villanova – I don’t like the idea of having two No. 1’s in my Final Four, but how can you not have ‘Nova going to San Antonio with the way its played all year long???????? 

Michigan State – The Spartans are another team that have been a force all year. After they lost the B1G Tournament Championship two weeks ago, everyone acted like their season was over. Well, it’s far from over. 

NCAA Winner:

Arizona Wildcats – It’s simple, Sean Miller and DeAndre Ayton are going to put a fist right into the face of the NCAA. I kind of like that idea, too. 

NCAA Sleeper Pick:

Syracuse – Yes, there are a lot for practical sleeper picks, but look at what the Orange did last time they barely snuck into ‘The Dance’. They danced all the way to the National Championship game. It might also be because I’m partial to Syracuse since my dad graduated from there and bleeds orange. 

NIT Final Four:

USC, Middle Tennessee, Oregon and Saint Mary’s – In my opinion, three of these teams were ROBBED of an NCAA Tournament appearance. It’s simple, they shouldn’t be in the NIT. USC should be in over just about any at-large, Saint Mary’s is deserving of a bid and Middle Tennessee was robbed by an at-large bid after an upset loss in its conference tourney.  

NIT Winner:

USC Trojans – Would anyone in a million years actually think the No. 2 seed in a power-five conference would be playing in the NIT? The answer is no. It’s ridiculous and USC is going to win the tournament to stick it right back at the NCAA just like Arizona.  

NIT Sleeper Pick:

Nebraska – This is mainly to honor my lovely friend and co-worker, Noah Rohlfing, but I truly think the Cornhuskers can make a run in the NIT. They proved it multiple times this season that they are a legit squad that can ball. And I like the term ‘Nebrasketball’. Just imagine this sound, ‘Nebrasketball Champions’.