3 & Out: John Middlekauff’s NCAA Tournament Semifinal Picks

Today, I want to pick my NCAA Tournament semifinal on Hard Rock Bet.

I already told you guys about the three teams I hammered. I took Kansas and St. John’s because I knew they were going to play each other, and whoever won that game was going to have a lot of momentum. Pitino didn’t just win that game – it was a walk-off. He calls the dude “Big Balls Bell.” He’s won national championships before. It’s going to be very difficult, but I’m taking St. John’s to make the semifinal.

I’ve also got to stick with my guy John Calipari, who I think is tailor-made for the NIL era. The reason Arkansas has a chance to not only make the semifinal this year but be a dominant team moving forward isn’t because of Nolan Richardson and Corliss Williamson in the ’90s – it’s because of Tyson Chicken and the NIL backing that program. It’s big time. So I’m going with the Johnnies and I’m going with Arkansas.

After Nebraska hits the game-winning layup, then the dude misses the half-court shot that was halfway down – I feel like that bounce, 10 times, goes in at least eight. Nebraska might just be a team of destiny. They had never won an NCAA Tournament game until this year, and now have a chance to make the semifinal. If you look at the bracket, I don’t think it’s impossible. This one’s a little more about heart than what I would typically bet on, but I’m taking Nebraska to make the semifinal.

And last but not least, give me Michigan. It feels like they’ve been there a lot over the last 15 years. They’re just flat out good.

I’m going with Arkansas, the Johnnies, Nebraska, and Michigan to be the last four teams standing in college basketball.