Welcome to Glass Slipper! The AFC North will dearly miss Najee Harris and his weekly 14 carries for 47 yards; please enjoy the show.

- Jacob Rhee

**NOTICE: Glass Slipper will arrive on Tuesday and Friday next week.

One of the best annual three-week stretches of the sports calendar has finally arrived. The name of this very newsletter was inspired by it.

Here are my men’s Final Four selections, as well as a championship pick. Let’s dance.

South Region

The pick: No. 2 seed Michigan State

If Keshon Gilbert was healthy, this prediction would be different. Plain and simple. I had Iowa State claiming the national title before the season, and little Jakey was totally prepared to double down right here; it’s absolutely heartbreaking to see the Cyclones have to trudge forward without their senior leader.

I’ve been skeptical of Auburn ever since that plane incident. The national media swept it under the rug, but I know what fake chemistry looks like.

Pull the Tigers into a close game, and watch the fissures appear.

Meanwhile, Michigan State is a real family. Tom Izzo waited months for a true No. 1 option to emerge from his group of guys, and soon-to-be first-round pick Jase Richardson finally answered the call in early February. While the thought of putting Jaxon Kohler on Johni Broome in the Elite Eight is admittedly quite concerning, I just have so much more belief in Sparty’s culture. MSU gets to San Antonio.

West Region

The pick: No. 3 seed Texas Tech

Seemingly every human employed at ESPN is taking Florida to win it all, and I totally get it. Walter Clayton is a superstar, Alijah Martin has Final Four experience, and the Gators have won their past seven ranked matchups by a combined 91(!!) points. It’s a gifted team that’s peaking at the right moment.

Meanwhile, St. John’s deserves your respect; don’t discredit a program just because it hasn’t been relevant in a while.

Rick Pitino is one of six coaches with a ring, and he has his signature full-court press humming again. Those that have yet to see the Red Storm compete this year are going to fall in love pretty quickly. The intensity and resolve are unmatched.

There’s just something about these Red Raiders, though. I believe JT Toppin is the best player in the region, and I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t start showing up in the lottery of some mock drafts by the end of the month. You can claim Grant McCasland’s crew isn’t sufficiently battle-tested, but I would disagree. If the committee had chosen West Virginia over North Carolina - the obvious correct decision, in spite of that lopsided result on Tuesday - Texas Tech would possess seven victories over tournament squads, to Duke’s five.

The kids from Lubbock shoot it well from three, knock down their free throws, and don’t turn the ball over. That’s a fairly bulletproof blueprint for a deep run.

East Region

The pick: No. 2 seed Alabama

The Blue Devils and Crimson Tide are on a direct collision course. Sixth-seeded BYU is the only team that I could realistically see crashing the party, but it would require one of those special avalanches from beyond the arc.

Bama needs vintage Mark Sears if it wants to get through Duke. The kid who knew last May that his draft stock would never be higher, and returned to Tuscaloosa anyway for one more shot at a championship.

Assuming Sears is rolling, I kind of like the matchup for the Tide. Throw Grant Nelson on Cooper Flagg, while Clifford Omoruyi lurks at the rim. Though it’s full of five-stars, I personally remain a bit skeptical about Golden Boy’s supporting cast; I’ll take Alabama to cut down the nets for a second consecutive year.

Midwest Region

The pick: No. 1 seed Houston

If the Cougars survive Gonzaga, they’re going to the Final Four. Period.

I would be downright stunned if Houston falls to any other squad in this region. Tennessee is too vulnerable up front, Kentucky can’t be trusted to get stops in big moments, and Kelvin Sampson’s crew is built to silence both Purdue and Clemson.

I gave you all this 11-word warning a couple of weeks ago.

I sincerely hope you were paying attention.

Final Four

No. 2 seed Michigan State OVER No. 3 seed Texas Tech

No. 1 seed Houston OVER No. 2 seed Alabama

National Championship Game

No. 1 seed Houston OVER No. 2 seed Michigan State

It’s time for the Cougars to demand their respect. Kelvin Sampson sheds tears of joy on the podium, LJ Cryer grabs his second title and a Most Outstanding Player award, and Houston hoists the trophy for the first time ever.

Pressroom

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