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First, Braeden Proctor, a former high school hoops reporter in Michigan and current assistant coach at Sunrise Christian Academy, joins the show to discuss Emoni Bates' commitment to Michigan State and his transfer to Ypsi Prep.

What were some of the main reasons Bates made these moves? Will he ever play a minute in a Michigan State uniform? What will Ypsi Prep's schedule look like next season?

Our second guest is ESPN senior writer for The Undefeated, Marc Spears. Marc brings his wealth of NBA knowledge to the show and discusses how NBA players, teams and the league will address social justice issues during the Orlando restart. Marc also breaks down the NBA "bubble" protocols and gives an insider's perspective on how players, coaches, and team front office members are feeling about getting back to action.

Our third guest is Lakers beat writer Kyle Goon of the Southern California News Group. Kyle gives our local listeners an idea of how the purple and gold are preparing for Orlando. How big of a hit is the loss of Avery Bradley? Which way is Dwight Howard leaning? What role to the Lakers see for newly-signed guard JR Smith? You can hear all that and more on the latest episode of the In The Paint Show.

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It’s all good, though, because as someone who watches quite a bit of college, NBA and high school hoops, my bracket burst into flames after the second weekend and all the money I confidently wagered in the pools of my own is now buried deep in someone else’s pockets.

But let’s forget about the first four rounds and get into what really matters this weekend: The four teams left in the field - Virginia, Michigan State, Texas Tech and Auburn, Virginia - and how you can redeem yourself to your friends, family and significant others by spitting out some in-game stats and knowledge that will blow them away.

What are there strengths and weaknesses of these four squads? How do they match-up against each other? Who will advance to the National Championship game? The complete guide is below.

Auburn (30-9)

Strengths: The Tigers’ bread and butter is clearly the back-court of Bryce Brown and Jared Harper. The duo is averaging a combined 31.4 points per game, while Brown has connected on 137 3-pointers at a 41 percent clip and Harper has drilled 96 from deep. Auburn features an offensive rating of 120.9 in KenPom.com's system of points per 100 possessions, ranking it sixth in the country in that category with two other Final Four teams (Virginia and Michigan State) among the five teams above it. In addition to being able to hit the 3-point shot a good rate, Auburn defends against the deep ball very well. The Tigers have held opponents to just 34.4 percent from three on the season and 8.1 3-point makes on average per game.

Weaknesses: The Tigers’ front-court play has to be its most glaring deficiencies, especially with the loss of forward Chuma Okeke to a season-ending injury. Okeke was the team’s leading rebounder (6.8 per game) and shot blocker (1.2 per game) with the next closest in those respective statistics being Austin Wiley (4.1 and 1.2) who has played in 10 less games and started only five of his 28 appearances. In Auburn’s four NCAA Tournament games, front-court personnel not named Chuma Okeke have combined for 95 total points on 37-for-80 from the field, respectable numbers, sure, but will those figures translate against Virginia’s vaunted pack-line defense.

Michigan State (32-6)

Strengths: A little bit of everything, really. The Spartans are as solid as they come on both sides of the ball, even with a couple of key injuries. Cassius Winston is an experienced, trustworthy and high IQ point guard who you can count on to make the right basketball decisions more often than not while Matt McQuaid is a knock-down 3-point shooter and the interior combination of Nick Ward and Xavier Tillman has been difficult for opponents to deal with for 40 minutes of game action. Michigan State ranks fifth in KenPom’s rating for points scored per 100 possessions at 121.6, while ranking ninth in the adjusted defense statistic, allowing opponents to score just 90.1 points per 100 possessions. The Spartans are holding teams to 31.4 percent from 3-point range on the season.

Weaknesses: The biggest concern for Michigan State entering Saturday’s match-up with Texas Tech is its lack of depth. We touched on two key injuries above, the first being guard Joshua Langford who was lost for the season after just 13 games to a left foot injury. He was averaging 15 points per game at the time. The second hit came when redshirt junior forward Kyle Ahrens went down in the Big Ten Tournament championship game against Michigan. Ahrens played a solid role off the bench, contributing 4.7 points in 18.8 minutes of action. Michigan State coach Tom Izzo has tightened the screws on how many guys he plays beyond his five starters. In the Sweet 16 win over LSU, Izzo gave seven players 10 minutes of court time and in the Elite Eight win over Duke, Michigan State played only six players more than 10 minutes.

Michigan State defeated Duke, 68-67, in the Elite Eight to advance to the Final Four where it will face third-seeded Texas Tech. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)

Texas Tech (30-6)

Strengths: DEFENSE. Jarret Culver is one of the top perimeter defenders in the nation and Tariq Owens is a shot blocking and rim protecting maniac, which is why the Red Raiders are KenPom’s most stingy defense, ranking No. 1 in the country in points allowed per 100 possessions at 84 and are third in scoring defense, allowing just 59 points per game on the season. Opponents are shooting just 36.9 percent from the field against Texas Tech, while shooting the deep ball at a 29.3 percent clip, good for a top 20 ranking in the country. Texas Tech’s defense has held teams to under 60 points on 19 different occasions this season, including three out of its four NCAA Tournament games.

Weaknesses: Texas Tech isn’t a barn burner when it comes to the offensive end of the floor, but it certainly is not an inept scoring team. The Red Raiders average 73 points per game and rank in the top 30 in KenPom’s adjusted offense for points per 100 possessions at 113.5. One thing to look out for is the lack of second chance opportunities that Texas Tech creates as it ranks 272nd in the country in offensive rebounds per game at around 8.7.

Virginia (33-3)

Strengths: A year after becoming the first No. 1-seed to lose to a 16-seed in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, the Cavaliers find themselves as the lone surviving top-seed in 2019 edition of March Madness. That’s because Virginia is good. Very good. The Cavaliers have very few holes as a team, ranking atop the country in scoring defense, allowing opponents to put up  just 55.4 points per game on the season. The Cavaliers are another team that won’t blow you away with offensive firepower, but rather wear you down with execution and hitting big shots at the right time. Virginia has three players scoring in double figures on the season - Kyle Guy (15.2), De’Andre Hunter (14.9) and Ty Jerome (13.3).

Weaknesses: The most difficult part of picking apart the Cavaliers is finding something that they aren’t good at. Sure, some will point to the pace they play at, which ranks dead last among the 353 Division I basketball programs at 59.2 possessions per 40 minutes, but since that tempo is by design, can it really be considered a weakness? Eh, probably not. A lull in scoring against a fiery Auburn offense, however, could spell some trouble for the Cavaliers. Freshman point guard Kihei Clark has been a big game player all year for Virginia and it will need him to be good again to advance.

Take that information as you will, because in a pressure-packed situation like the Final Four, numbers seemingly go out the window and the team who played best that day usually advance. Which two teams do I think will face-off in Monday’s National Title? I’m taking Virginia and Michigan State, but please don’t reference this when I’m wrong.

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Hosts Devin Ugland and Ronnie Flores give their takes on the Elite Eight games this past weekend and preview the upcoming Final Four featuring Virginia vs. Auburn and Michigan State vs. Texas Tech. With the start of travel, club and AAU basketball seasons, the duo breaks down what they look for when evaluating high school prospects during the spring and summer.

The guys also discuss LaVar Ball's comments about LaMelo Ball playing overseas instead of exploring his options at the college and NBA G League levels. Where will the youngest Ball brother end up playing for the next year until he's eligible for the 2020 NBA Draft? Listen in to Episode 18 of the "In The Paint Show" to hear what Ron and Dev think on the situation.

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CLICK HERE for more information on the 2019 BILAAG scheduled for May 4 at the Long Beach Convention Center!

BILAAG Alumni Still Dancing in the 2019 NCAA Tournament

Marques Bolden, Duke

Bolden tallied four points in the 2016 BILAAG and is now a key contributor for one of the favorites to win the National Title. The 6-11 center has appeared in 33 games this season, starting 21, and is 5.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game for the Blue Devils. Duke will play Virginia Tech in the Sweet 16.

Ahmed Hill, Virginia Tech

Hill participated in the 2014 BILAAG and scored 21 points with three 3-pointers. The 6-5 guard has helped lead the Hokies into an All-ACC match-up against Duke in the Sweet 16. Hill has started all 34 games for Virginia Tech this season, averaging 13.1 points while leading the team in minutes played at 35.2 per game. Virginia Tech will play Duke in the Sweet 16.

Nassir Little, North Carolina

Little totaled 17 points in the 2018 BILAAG, helping his team to a 146-143 victory. Now, the 6-6 wing is playing a major role off the bench for a Tarheels’ team many expect to make a run to the Final Four. Little is averaging 10 points and 4.7 rebounds in just 18.4 minutes of action per game. North Carolina faces Auburn in the Sweet 16.

Miles Norris, Oregon

Norris scored four points in the 2018 BILAAG and finished second to Mac McClung in the dunk contest. The 6-foot-10 forward is playing a bench role for the 12th-seeded Ducks, scoring 3.3 points and 1.9 boards per game. Oregon will take on Virginia in the Sweet 16.

Naz Reid, LSU

Reid scored a team-high 23 points in a victory in the 2018 BILAAG. The 6-foot-10 forward is having an impressive freshman season for the Tigers, scoring 13.7 points and 7.1 rebounds per game, while shooting better than 47.3 percent from the field. Reid dropped 14 points with 10 boards in the first round win over Yale and had 13 points in the second round victory over Maryland. LSU will face Michigan State in the Sweet 16.

2018 Ballislife All-American Game standout Naz Reid has had a strong freshman campaign for LSU (Photo by Matt Marriott/NCAA Photos via Getty Images).

Ja’vonte Smart, LSU

Smart dropped 21 points with four rebounds in the 2018 BILAAG. Smart, a freshman for the Tigers, is putting up 11.4 points and 3.4 rebounds per game while shooting nearly 84 percent from the free throw line. The 6-4 guard has scored nine points in each of his first two NCAA Tournament games.

Horace Spencer, Auburn

Spencer participated in the 2015 BILAAG. The 6-8 senior forward has appeared in all 37 games at Auburn this season, averaging 4.4 points and 4.2 rebounds per game.

PJ Washington, Kentucky

Washington filled up the stat sheet in the 2017 BILAAG, scoring 16 points to go along with seven rebounds and four assists in a winning effort. The 6-8 forward has missed the first two games of the tourney due to injury, but had been having a stellar season before getting hurt. Washington is averaging 14.8 points and 7.6 rebounds per game for the Wildcats but it’s still unclear whether he will be back in action against Houston.

Coby White, North Carolina

White had a solid effort in the 2018 BILAAG, scoring five points with four rebounds and four assists. The 6-5 guard is one of the best players in the country regardless of  in the country averaging 16.1 points, 4.1 assists and 3.6 rebounds per game. White had 10 points, six boards and four dimes against Iona and followed up that performance with 17 and six rebounds against Washington. North Carolina faces Auburn in the Sweet 16.

Emmitt Williams, LSU

Williams was the Co-MVP of the 2018 game along with UCLA center Moses Brown as his 31 points ranks as the third-most scored in the 8-year history of the BILAAG. Williams, now a freshman at LSU, is averaging 7.1 points and 5.4 rebounds per game for the Tigers while shooting 61.3 percent from the field.

Cassius Winston, Michigan State

Winston scored eight points with seven assists while leading his team to victory in the 2016 BILAAG. The 6-1 junior is one of the top players in the country, averaging 18.9 points and 7.6 assists per game for the second-seeded Spartans. Winston dropped 26 points in Michigan State’s opening win over Bradley and had 13 points with nine dimes the second round win over Minnesota.

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Flint Michigan native Miles Bridges finished with 33 points.
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Miles Bridges' name will not soon be forgotten in Columbia, SC. With "man among boys" performance after performance, Miles Bridges was the show at this years Chick-Fil-A Classic. During the National Bracket Championship, Bridges calls out his defender in front of the sold out crowd, pointing at yelling: "YOU CAN'T GUARD ME!" He finished the game with 35 points & 10 rebounds in a truly amazing performance. Huntington Prep eventually fell to Oak Hill in the Championship Game but Bridges took hook MOP honors after averaging 23.3 ppg, 13.3 rpg & 3.3 bpg. Check out the raw highlights from Bridges' Championship Game performance and keep it locked on the east side for more from the future Michigan State Spartan!

SEVENTH WOODS DOMINATES CHICK-FIL-A CLASSIC

Seventh Woods came into his last Chick-Fil-A Classic with high expectations and, in true Seventh Woods fashion, he delivered. Woods led his team to an American Bracket Championship by averaging 24 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 5 apg, 3.3 spg & 1.3 bpg. Hammond School defeated Mullins High School (Jalek Felton), Spring Valley High School (SC), & Greenforest Christian (GA) in route to their championship and Woods took home both MVP & MOP honors. As if all that wasn't enough, his Championship performance was in front of his future college coach, UNC's Roy Williams. Check out all the raw highlights here and keep it locked for more great footage from the east!

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Special thanks to the Alexander family, Curie HS Coach Mike Oliver & Coach Jerrel Oliver, Tournament Director Jim Drengwitz and everyone at Pontiac High School and the Pontiac Holiday Tournament (www.pontiacholidaytournament.com).

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photo courtesy of Patrick Gleason (Chicago Sun Times/hsbball.com)

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