All These Ridiculous Stats Prove This Is The Most Batshit Crazy Final Four Of Our Lifetime

I mean, yeah, we all know it's crazy to see UConn, FAU, San Diego State and Miami in a Final Four. We all know it's crazy to see a 4-seed, 5-seed, 5-seed and 9-seed in a Final Four. But these just do the trick. No McDonald's All-American, no top-3 seed, no one from the top-16 preview. That's all fucking insane. Say what you want about the McDonald's All-American Game or recruiting rankings, it ends up working out where you need at least one of them. At least until this year.

That's not to say there isn't high end talent. Jordan Hawkins is going to be a 1st round pick. Isaiah Wong is a major conference's Player of the Year. But a year removed from having six first round picks in the Draft to this sort of stat just sums it up. There's a variety of reasons. You can argue top end talent is down this year compared to last. There are transfers and NIL that worked out perfectly - especially transfers. Miami is built on transfers. FAU's starting big man is a transfer. UConn has transfers in their rotation. San Diego State's starting PG is a transfer. The portal is good, this is showing it. Even if it's a little inflated because of the free COVID year and more guys than ever around college basketball, these four teams used the portal perfectly to fill out a team. 

Then there's the top-16 preview. That's the one I can't believe. This isn't done in the middle of the season. It was done in February. You get a pretty good feel about who are the top teams around that time. Again, you tend to get top teams winning in March, except this year. 

And I know and see what a lot of people are saying. The ratings are going to be a disaster, these teams are bad for the sport, whatever. Who gives a fuck? You play who is in front of you. Win 4 in a row and you're in the Final Four. That simple. Obviously blue bloods always draw more eyes. But this isn't bad for the sport like I've seen people say. 

I know the seed numbers aren't as high as the 2011 Final Four, but this is the most batshit crazy Final Four of my lifetime.