Fantasy Final Four set
The college basketball world turned its attention to Indianapolis, New York, Los Angeles and Houston for the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight. ■ Ah, we can wish. ■ No matter your rooting interests, wouldn’t it be nice to be looking forward to the Final Four right now? Instead we are left with our dream scenarios in this sports void after the NCAA canceled the postseason because of concerns over the spread of the coronavirus. ■ Join the Tribune as we break down a hypothetical journey, picking up where we left off last week. ■ Thanks to ESPN’s Joe Lunardi, who projects the bracket throughout every season, we at least can enjoy an alternate universe in which games still take place. Midwest Region
Top-seeded Kansas breezed into the Final Four with double-digit victories against No. 4 seed Wisconsin and No. 2 seed Kentucky. The Jayhawks will advance to Atlanta.
East Region
No. 2 seed Florida State upended No. 6 seed Penn State 72-61 and snuffed out top-seeded Dayton 66-60 with its ability to block shots and force turnovers.
The showdown with the Jayhawks in Atlanta awaits.
(We wish.)
West Region
No. 2 seed San Diego State quickly ended No. 10 Texas Tech’s long-shot hopes of returning to the national championship game. Guard Malachi Flynn scored 18 points in the 82-70 victory.
But once again, Myles Powell and No. 3 seed Seton Hall dazzled. Powell helped hand the Aztecs just their third loss, scoring often in transition for 17 points in a 66-62 victory.
The Pirates moved on to face No. 4 seed Oregon in the Elite Eight. The Ducks pulled off the most talked about game of the tournament, knocking out top-seeded Gonzaga with an 80-78 overtime victory.
Seton Hall dismissed Oregon 72-66 behind eight points, four blocks and seven rebounds from 7-foot-2 center Romaro Gill.
The Pirates are in their first Final Four since 1989 — and have become fan favorites.
South Region
No. 3 seed Michigan State received a battle from No. 7 seed Illinois in the Sweet 16 — the first time the Illini advanced that far since 2005.
The Illini battled the Spartans on the boards, but their spotty shooting caught up with them. Illinois made just 3 of 16 3-pointers and shot only 38% from the field.
The Spartans went to the wire with brutish No. 1 seed Baylor, which was plagued with foul trouble from the start, and pulled out a 67-63 victory. Michigan State heads to Atlanta looking for its first — and the Big Ten’s first — title since 2000.