BetQL Editors' Picks For 2022-23 Final Four
Check out our favorite college basketball teams to make (and win) the 2023 Final Four
By BetQL – Nov 8, 2022, 5:21pm
Final Four: Kentucky (+330, DraftKings), North Carolina (+330, DraftKings), UCLA (+550, PointsBet), Tennessee (+900, DraftKings)
Winner: Kentucky (+1200 at FanDuel)
Last season, Oscar Tshiebwe won the National Player of the Year award and still elected to return to Kentucky to chase a championship and continue his development as a pro prospect. The last time a reigning National P.O.Y. returned to school, Tyler Hansbrough led North Carolina to a title back in 2009. While the Wildcats haven't won a National Championship since 2012, haven't been to a Final Four since 2015 and haven't won an NCAA Tournament game since 2019, this program that went 26-8 last season features upperclassmen in the presumed starting five (surprising for a John Calipari team) including Tshiebwe and SEC assist leader Sahvir Wheeler. It will also benefit from five-star freshmen recruits Carson Wallace and Chris Livingston.
As for the other three teams? North Carolina lost in the championship game and has key stars returning: center Armando Bacot and guards Caleb Love and R.J. Davis. They'll have to repl ace Brady Manek, but this team is going to contend once again for Hubert Davis.
This should be Rick Barnes' best Tennessee team since they're a veteran, deep bunch with three preseason All-SEC team selections: Santiago Vescovi, Zakai Zeigler and Josiah-Jordan James. Keep an eye on five-star recruit Julian Phillips as well.
Finally, UCLA will have one of the best veteran backcourt duos in the nation this year, as Jamie Jaquez Jr. and Tyger Campbell will make life easy for coach Mick Cronin. Prized freshmen Adem Bona and Amari Bailey should also step in and produce right away for the Bruins. Overall, I'm very high on all four of these programs this year, but love Kentucky to win it all.