The contrast in 2023 could not be more pronounced than when four conventional collegiate basketball powers met for the Final Four last year, each bringing its own group of previous top-100 prospects and at least one past McDonald’s All-American. There are no previous McDonald’s All-Americans who will be wearing uniforms in Houston this weekend for the national semifinals between No. 4 seed UConn, No. 5 seed Miami, No. 5 seed San Diego State, and No. 9 seed FAU.
It’s the first time that’s happened since the NCAA started seeding the tournament in 1979, and it’s just one way to describe the unsung group of athletes who will be vying for a national championship on the sport’s biggest stage. With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at some of my favorite prop bets for Saturday.