As a fan of college basketball, I have been on the edge of my seat watching this year’s NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament. It has been full of surprises this year, with no number-one seeds making it to the Final Four or even the Elite Eight. This, zero number one seed making it to the Final Four, marks the fourth time in history that this has happened and the first since 2011. The absence of top-seeded teams has made for an exciting and unpredictable tournament, and I can’t wait to see what happens in the Final Four.

The Florida Atlantic University Owls (FAU), The San Diego State University Aztecs and the University of Miami Hurricanes have also made history, as all three are making their first-ever Final Four appearance. The University of Connecticut Huskies (UConn) will be the only team with Final Four experience.

Despite the absence of top-seeded teams, the Final Four teams have produced several storylines, including the UConn Huskies’ pursuit of their fifth national championship. While it is FAU’s, San Diego State’s and Miami’s opportunity to win their first national title.

Here are the rankings of the Final Four teams based on their path to the Final Four and their performances in the tournament.

1: UConn Huskies (4-seed)

I have the four-seeded UConn Huskies ranked first. They won their first four tournament games by an average of 22.5 points per game, an all-time record. They beat Gonzaga by 28 points, which was the biggest win in the Elite Eight since 1992.

They are the lowest seed left in the tournament and the heavy-betting favorites to win the title. The Huskies have made 44% of their 3-pointers in the NCAA tournament, and junior Adama Sanogo has been unstoppable, averaging 20 points and 9.8 rebounds per game.

2: Miami Hurricanes (5-seed)

I have Uconn’s Final Four opponents at number two after defeating the 1-seed Houston in the Sweet Sixteen and the 2-seed Texas in the Elite Eight.

The team has increased its defensive intensity in the NCAA tournament while continuing to play a hectic, free-flowing offensive style that helped it emerge from a double-digit deficit against Texas in the Elite Eight.

Isaiah Wong, the 2023 Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year, has been a key player for Miami, along with Nijel Pack, Norchad Omier, Jordan Miller and Wooga Poplar.

3: Florida Atlantic Owls (9-seed)

The FAU Owls are ranked third. They won their first-ever NCAA Tournament game this year and made it all the way to the Final Four. This has been a special year for the Owls as they finished the season with a 31-3 record and won the Conference USA championship.

The Owls have played with great determination and have not let their underdog status affect their performances. Johnell Davis has been a key player for Florida Atlantic, averaging 17.3 points per game in the tournament.

The Owls face a tough challenge against San Diego State in the Final Four, but they have shown that they are not to be underestimated.

4: San Diego State Aztecs (5-seed)

San Diego State is ranked fourth, having defeated the 2-seed Duke and the 3-seed Tennessee in the second round and Sweet Sixteen, respectively. The team is known for its tough defense, and it has been no different in the NCAA tournament.

The Aztecs have held their opponents to an outstandingly low average of 57.25 points per game in the tournament. Senior guard Matt Bradley has been a standout player for San Diego State this year, averaging 12.5 points per game.

The Final Four matchups will take place on Saturday, April 1. Florida Atlantic will take on San Diego State at 5:09 p.m., and UConn and Miami will play at 7:49 p.m. The winners of those two games will take each other on in the National Championship on Monday, April 3.

The Final Four teams have produced a number of storylines, and it remains to be seen which team will come out on top. UConn is the favorite, having won their first four games in dominant fashion, but Miami, San Diego State and Florida Atlantic are all capable of causing an upset. No matter which team comes out on top in the National Championship, this year’s Final Four has already cemented itself as one of the most exciting and memorable that I have ever witnessed.