I'm not sure I've ever seen a tournament with so many brackets mangled so early in the tournament, but if you somehow escaped to the Sweet Sixteen it actually wasn't wild to see all of your Elite Eight teams through, and even less crazy to see your teams reach the illustrious Final Four. We're going to introduce to you the four teams in only the way we can.
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| Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and the high profile Kentucky Wildcats looks like the consummate favorites. |
Kentucky
The Consummate Favorite
NBA's Jr. College
1st Round Pick Factory
On paper this year's Kentucky Wildcats team might as well be a Rhode scholar composition on talent, athleticism and size. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this squad. They've only lost two games all season. They've destroyed everyone they've played in this tournament and they're more than likely to have 5 1st round draftees if their starters declare. But, as we all know basketball is not played with stats or through here say and Calipari's history is also against them. Despite high win totals every year for his teams, Calipari has only reached the National Championship Game once and fell victim to a horrible free throw shooting night. That '07-'08 team was equally hyped up in terms of draft prospectus, but flamed out. This Calipari team is very similar in terms of athleticism and swagger, but they do one thing that Memphis team didn't, make their free throws. So far in the tournament they're shooting 75% from the line and had an absurd 35-37 against their rival Indiana. The only team that's going to beat Kentucky is "Ykcutnek"or Kentucky backwards. If they go arctic cold from the line like Calipari's last Championship Game appearance, then expect an unexpected exit for the Wildcats. But if they avoid a mental collapse then expect the Wildcats to be dancing come next Monday.
Louisville
Big East Battlers
Grinders
Kings Of Ugly Basketball
The name recognition here obviously gives Louisville a big boost, but if we start talking about the 2011-12 Cardinals, specifically, their identity gets a bit lost. Rick Pitino's squad backed their way into the Big East tournament after 4 of their last 6 games. The bright lights of MSG turned these Cardinals into winners though, as they stormed through the Big East's best and haven't lost in their last eight games. But this is surely the ugliest team in the Final Four. They win games with defense and rebounding. They don't shoot well and don't have an absolute scorer. But they've proven that they can beat the best lately and they're confidence is electric. You also cannot count out Rick Pitino's experience as head coach, which certainly has had something to do with his team's resurgence. If you're rooting for Louisville against Kentucky you're probably going to want to bring your lunchpail and your hardhat because if they're going to have any chance against the Wildcats or anyone for that matter they're going to be digging deep.
Ohio State
The Overachievers
The Underachievers
Ohio State is probably the most interesting team out of all of our Final Four squads. The Buckeyes were ranked #3 in the preseason rankings but never truly lived up to their billing. Several analysts pick them to be an early exit, but here they are in the Final Four, just where we thought they'd be back in November. Jared Sullinger was also predicated to be one of the players of the year, and while he might not be at that level, he still has been good for OSU, especially of late. I truly believe the Buckeyes are a mix bag of goodies, they could go out there and get smacked by Kansas or they could win this all, it really depends on which OSU squad shows up. Beating Syracuse wasn't as big as it looks because Fab Melo didn't play, but still, the Buckeyes dominated that game through and through. It's hard to say if this team has overachieved or underachieved or are right where they should be, but if they win it all I'd say they played above their potential just a bit. Interesting squad here for sure.
Kansas
The Old Guard
Slept On
Been There, Done That
Kansas has been deep in this tournament plenty of times under Bill Self, and are no novice to this pressure-filled spot. But unlike Kentucky, everyone is sleeping on this Jayhawk squad who shoot the ball incredibly well and have two elite scorers in Tyshawn Taylor and Thomas Robinson. If those two continue to play at high level I'm 100% Kansas will win their next two games. I'm just salivating over the thought of watching the Jayhawks steal another National Championship from Calipari and co. Back in 2007-'08 it was Bradon Rush and Mario Chalmers, why can't Taylor and Robinson do the same? Everyone was riding the Missouri train after their Big 12 Championship that they forgot about the Old Guard in the Big 12. The Jayhawks are for real and if their two stars play well, this team will be title bound once again.
Never forget.
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