Happy Monday everyone!
Only four of 68 remain after another brilliant weekend of
college basketball.
We have a one-seed (Florida), a two-seed (Wisconsin), a
seven-seed (Connectitcut) and an eight-seed (Kentucky) remaining.
This was about as shocking an Elite Eight I’ve seen in a
while. Probably since Butler and VCU won their respective regions. I know that matchup wasn’t that
long ago, but who wants a boring Final Four with all top seeds?
The NCAA tournament has always been about upsets and what title favorites can survive them. I don't want a predictable Final Four. Give me some new blood and high seeds. I mean who saw these four teams making the final weekend?
And which team are you going to pick to win it all now?
Florida seems destined for a national title after surgically removing Dayton in the Elite Eight. The Gators are the clear favorite entering
Saturday’s matchups, led by four seniors.
Scottie Wilbekin is incredible at point guard, but it’s the
versatility of Florida’s frontcourt that makes it something special. Patric
Young, Will Yeguette and Dorian Finney-Smith all can guard multiple positions
on the floor and are crucial to the Gators’ full court press.
Flordia might be the favorite, but its rival from the SEC is a close second. Very close second.
Kentucky has played in three of the best games of the
tournament, and each one impressed me. The Wildcats have matured more than any
other John Calipari coached team I’ve seen in recent years. That includes the
team that won the tournament in 2012.
There were seniors and other upperclassmen on that squad.
This year’s Kentucky team only plays freshmen. Seven of them!
Alex Poythress is the only sophomore that sees any playing
time, yet this team plays with a maturity beyond its years. The Wildcats wore
down their opponents, and imposed their will at the end of games. And it wasn't like they were playing cupcakes either. They had to beat a nine-seed, a one-seed, a four-seed and a two-seed just to get to the final weekend. Are you kidding me?
Kentucky is playing like the best team in the country right
now, as was predicted at the beginning of the year.
The SEC seems to have the upper hand in this year’s Final
Four, but what about the other teams?
Wisconsin makes its first trip to the Final Four since 2000,
and the first trip for coach Bo Ryan. The Badgers are led by a goofy looking
7-footer in Frank Kaminsky, who can somehow score in as many ways as Doug McDermott. OK, slight exaggeration, but the guy has become a stud this season.
Wisconsin can also shoot with the best of them, as every player
on the floor will be able to hit a three consistently except for freshman Nigel
Hayes, who is dangerous in other ways.
This team is the complete opposite of its Final Four opponent, Kentucky. It is filled with nerdy seniors, trying to win a national title before taking on the world in other ways. There is no hope of an NBA career for almost all of Wisconsin's players. It will be an intriguing matchup to say the least.
On the other side of the bracket, Connecticut returns to the
Final Four, but this time with second-year head coach Kevin Ollie. The Huskies
are led by do-everything point guard Shabazz Napier, who is searching for his
second national title.
Napier is the man, but other players have stepped up this
tournament. Ryan Boatright consistently scores in double digits and is
excellent from the free throw line while forward DeAndre Daniels has become a
star this tournament.
It will be an interesting matchup for Florida as will the
Wisconsin-Kentucky game.
I have no idea what to expect in this year’s Final Four, but
I can’t wait for it.
March may be almost over, but Madness is still here.
Hot Reads
-Twenty observations from the second weekend of the NCAA
tournament by none other than Mark Titus.
Reach me at: award6344@gmail.com
Follow me on Twitter and Instagram: @_andrewward
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