NCAA TOURNAMENT MEN’S BASKETBALL PREDICTIONS

USA TODAY Sports Network writers predict who will make a run to the Final Four in Indianapolis:

John Adams, Knoxville News Sentinel

Final Four: Gonzaga, Baylor, West Virginia and Alabama.

Championship: Alabama over West Virginia.

The reason: Picking unbeaten Gonzaga, the No. 1 overall seed, is too easy. Alabama 3-points its way past the Zags in the Final Four.

Will Backus, Knoxville News Sentinel

Final Four: Baylor, Illinois, Alabama, Gonzaga

Championship: Gonzaga over Baylor

The reason: No hot takes needed. Gonzaga has not come remotely close to losing since its third game of the season.

Gentry Estes, The Tennessean

Final Four: Gonzaga, Alabama, Ohio State, Illinois.

Championship: Illinois over Gonzaga.

The reason: I liked the Big Ten championship between Illinois and Ohio State so much that I think we’ll see a rematch in the Final Four. Winner will hand the Zags their first loss.

Mark Giannotto, The Commercial Appeal

Final Four: Gonzaga, Alabama, Illinois, Arkansas

Championship: Gonzaga over Illinois

The reason: The SEC will prove it’s a better league than people thought, but this is the year of Gonzaga. The Zags will become the first undefeated national champion since 1976.

Glenn Guilbeau, Lafayette Daily Advertiser

Final Four: Gonzaga, Michigan, Baylor, Illinois.

Championship: Gonzaga over Baylor. The reason: In a classic confrontation, Gonzaga 6-foot-7 senior Corey Kispert’s 3-point shooting and driving ability will be too much for Baylor.

Drake Hills, The Tennessean

Final Four: Gonzaga, Texas, Illinois, Baylor

Championship: Gonzaga over Illinois.

The reason: For every opposing impact player, the Zags have two. The well-oiled offensive machine of Corey Kispert, Drew Timme and Jalen Suggs will dominate the Fighting Illini in Indianapolis.

Cecil Hurt, The Tuscaloosa News

Final Four: Gonzaga, Baylor, Illinois, Texas Championship: Gonzaga 80, Illinois 75 The reason: All the regions except the South have superior No. 1 seeds. Michigan is good but has injury issues and is not markedly better than Alabama, and Texas might struggle with LSU in Round Two.

Jason Munz, The Commercial Appeal

Final Four: Alabama, Oklahoma State, Gonzaga, Baylor

Champion: Gonzaga over Baylor

The reason: Let’s not overthink this. Because the Zags have Drew Timme and Jalen Suggs. Because the Zags have won more consecutive games by double digits (23) than any team in college basketball history. Because the Zags are the best team in the country.

Mike Organ, The Tennessean

Final Four: Gonzaga, Ohio State, Alabama, Illinois

Championship: Gonzaga over Illinois. The reason: Gonzaga is better this year than it was last year and that’s saying something.

Josh Vitale, Montgomery Advertiser

Final Four: Gonzaga, Alabama, Baylor, Illinois

Championship: Gonzaga over Illinois The reason: Gonzaga has been the best team in college basketball all season. That doesn’t always equal an NCAA championship, but this year it does. Mike Wilson, Knoxville News Sentinel Final Four: Gonzaga, Alabama, Baylor, Illinois

Championship: Illinois over Gonzaga The reason: Illinois is seriously battletested from the brutal Big Ten. Gonzaga is on a historic heater, but the Illini will break the Big Ten’s 21-year national title drought.

Adam Sparks, The Tennessean

Final Four: Gonzaga, Baylor, Illinois, Alabama

Championship: Baylor over Gonzaga

The reason: Baylor has been eagerly awaiting this opportunity, and more than most teams.