College basketball 2022-23 predictions: Way-too-early Final Four, National Championship picks

The 2022-23 college basketball season is about to begin. Who will reach the Final Four in Houston and win the national championship?

The college basketball regular season is a lot of fun but most fans simply view it as the warmup act for March Madness. The NCAA Tournament may be the most perfect event in sports as 68 teams meet up in a single-elimination bracket to determine one national champion over three weeks in March and April.

Given how difficult it is just to qualify for the NCAA Tournament, making the Final Four is a significant accomplishment in its own right. There are plenty of contenders to reach the season’s final weekend in Houston, but which teams will actually get there?

2022-23 Final Four Predictions

Final Four – Creighton Bluejays

This is a bit of a dark horse pick but the Bluejays are one of the scariest teams in the country. Creighton gave Kansas everything they could handle in the Round of 32 last March, an impressive accomplishment since the Bluejays were down their two best players due to injury.

Both Ryan Kalkbrenner and Ryan Nembhard are back to lead a loaded Creighton offense and should be able to help Gregg McDermott’s team shoot its way to the Final Four. The Bluejays haven’t advanced past the Sweet 16 since 1941 when they reached the Elite Eight in the third edition of the NCAA Tournament, but Creighton breaks through to reach its first Final Four.

Final Four – Houston Cougars

Getting to play in the Final Four in front of your hometown fans is a dream that few schools get to achieve. Houston will make it a reality as Kelvin Sampson’s squad, which made the Elite Eight last season, is stacked and ready to roll deep into March again.

The big key for the Cougars is the healthy returns of Tramon Mark and Marcus Sasser, the team’s two best players, who were unavailable for last year’s NCAA Tournament run due to injury. Both are back now and will help Houston surge into the Final Four as Sampson bids for his first national championship.

Runner-Up – Kentucky Wildcats

This edition of Kentucky is terrifying because the Wildcats return a lot of key pieces from last season’s team, including reigning National Player of the Year Oscar Tshiebwe. John Calipari is well aware that Kentucky is capable of winning it all and stacked his non-conference schedule with quality games to ensure that the Wildcats are ready for the rigors of the NCAA Tournament.

That seasoning will pay off as Kentucky surges to its first national championship game since 2014. Unfortunately for the Wildcats, however, they will finish as the bridesmaid just like the 2014 Kentucky team did.

National Champions – Gonzaga Bulldogs

It has felt like a matter of time before Gonzaga stakes its claim to college basketball immortality with a national championship. The Bulldogs nearly pulled off a perfect season two years ago before losing in the championship against Baylor while last season’s team suffered a brutal Sweet 16 loss to Arkansas.

Mark Few’s squad is loaded with experience, headlined by National Player of the Year candidate Drew Timme, and is deeper than anyone else in the country. That depth will prove invaluable in March as Gonzaga finally wins it all and ensures that Few is no longer on the list of best active coaches without a national title.

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