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NCAA Final Four Preview
By Steen
Lawson OK, obviously I had three wrong picks for the Final Four, but that is the beauty of the NCAA Tournament. In some ways I am glad I was wrong on one of the teams since over the past few weeks I have come to appreciate not only the play but also the hot studs of the Texas Longhorns. No team that I have seen has such a fine mix of young men for all tastes. Over the weekend we said goodbye to the two top teams of the regular season when Kentucky went down in flames to Marquette and Arizona felt the revenge of Kansas. On the other side of the bracket a young Michigan State team failed to match speedy T.J. Ford and the Longhorns while Syracuse shut down Oklahoma. It is sad to think there are only three more games left in what was one of the best seasons in a long time. So many teams reached he top of the Polls only to lose a game and be replaced. Traditional power Louisville returned to prominence and UCLA had a disaster of a season yet beat Arizona in the first round of the PAC-10 Tournament. Several coaches lost jobs, some by cheating and some by loosing. Two weeks ago the loud screams of protest that were heard about the stupidity of Kentucky and Arizona potentially meeting in the semifinal game seems stupid now. Some have called for a re-seeding of the Final Four, yet looking at this year’s lineup it seems unnecessary. Game #1
Saturday 6:05 PM ET As I finish this preview a major distraction for Kansas looms large on the horizon, a North Carolina Blue horizon. Looks like talk of Kansas coach Roy Williams going to North Carolina could be the killer to the momentum the Jayhawks displayed getting to the Final Four. No matter how much he might deny wanting the job no one will believe he isn’t taking it till UNC announces otherwise. That being said I have the luxury of changing my opinion on the game and calling it for Marquette whom I had considered somewhat of an underdog. Strange how this #3 seeded team is getting the attention and buzz that would normally surround a Cinderella story. Dwayne Wade has been spectacular in leading the Golden Eagles to great heights and is showing no signs of descent. However, maybe the senior leadership of Kansas stars Nick Collison and Kirk Hinrich will be enough to overcome the distraction. In the end I think the situation in North Carolina is God’s attempt to even things up in the game and lift the spirits of Catholics who have had such a crappy year. Sorry Notre Dame, God has to work through other religious schools now and then. Game #2
Saturday 8:35 PM ET This game should be called the Freshman Phenom versus the Senior Superstar. The two best players of the Tournament Carmelo Anthony of Syracuse and T.J. Ford of Texas square off in a game that on paper seems very even. It will all come down to the Syracuse defense. If they play the Zone well like they did in the near humiliation of Oklahoma, Texas could be in a heap of trouble. On the other hand, if anyone can break the Orangemen Zone it’s T.J. Ford. In the end I give the edge to Syracuse based on a strong defense and a great coach who will finally get his shot at winning a national championship. Championship GameSyracuse over Marquette Related: Tournament preview plus hot players |