The NCAA tournament is almost over. The 3 weeks go so fast every year. I look forward to noon on that first Thursday, and like that we are at the Final Four. There have been a fair share of upsets in the first round of this tournament, but for the most part the final four has 4 very good teams with no true Cinderellas.
I have been disappointed by the coaching in this years tournament to be honest. I have seen too many teams shoot 3s at the end of the game when they are only down 2, or hold for the last shot when they are down 3 instead of getting the quick two and making the other team keep making free throws, or just not taking a timeout at the end of the game to draw up a play. The execution in the last minute has been subpar for most of the tournament. There are countless games where I can look back and wonder where is the “magic” of the tournament. The magic this year was a lack of basketball IQ to allow teams to escape with wins that they might not otherwise get. But, even though this has been disappointing so far, the tournament has been exciting like always.
The number 1 seeds were instantly in question after Syracuse found out Melo was out for the tournament. I thought Missouri could have taken that last 1 seed, and Syracuse been pushed down to Mizzou’s position. Then UNC lost Marshall late in the Creighton game. MSU just forgot to show up in their sweet 16 game against Louisville, and Kentucky is just rolling over opponents.
The tournament still is Kentucky’s to lose, as it was before a single game was to be played. They are head and shoulders better than the next closest team. UNC might have been able to keep up with them for a while, but only if Marshall was completely healthy. If they lose this year, there is something very wrong with Calipari’s coaching ability. Sure he can recruit better than anyone since John Wooden’s days (where there were no scholarship limits), but how do you not win a championship when you have 4 more sure NBA players than the next most talented Final Four team. The Wildcats could have 6 draft picks in the first 35 choices. They seem to be hitting their stride lately, and I just cant see someone matching their athleticism.
Although the Final Four is where the coaches make their money. It is where the best coaches shine and the average ones look like fools. Enter Thad Matta. When you look at the roster, you can easily see why the Bucknuts are in this position, but then you look at the gump leading them there and you think it could be a practical joke. Seriously, Bucknut fans, do you like this clown? He might be the worst x’s and o’s guy I have ever seen at such a high profile job (maybe Isaiah Thomas comes close). He recruits like an SEC football program, and then gets out-coached in almost every game. His late game strategies are confusing at times, and likely cost the team at least 1 game per season. Luckily, that number has been held at a couple of regular season games and not when it really matters. I think OSU’s physicality could really effect Kentucky’s athleticism, but it will be a battle of which coach will make enough terrible decisions to lose.
Louisville was a preseason top 10 team, and then they looked awful for most of the year. They were only barely in the top 20 after winning the big East tourney. And now they are on a similar run that UConn was last season. Some people overlook that this Cardinals team is just not that good. They have gotten a dream cruise to the Final Four. I am not saying that they don’t deserve to be in this place, but they got to play a 7 seed Florida in the Elite 8. They were going to lose to a 7 seed Florida in the elite 8, until the Gators decided that they didn’t want to face Kentucky again and then promptly choked over the final 3 minutes. They got to play a completely unprepared MSU team. How often do you see the Spartans look like deer in the headlights in March? It was one of the first times for me. Louisville tried to lose that game as well, but the Sparty pride was just too much. Both teams were shooting less than 20% in the first half. were they all shooting left handed?
This brings us to the Jayhawks. A team that you could say limped into the Final Four. They should have lost to Purdue in round 2, but Purdue forgot that they had 4 other guys on the floor besides Robbie Hummel. They played and coached not to lose down the stretch and guess what… they Lloyd Carr’d it and ended up losing a game they completely deserved to win. Kansas moved on to face the Wolfpack, an 11 seed. Kansas actually played pretty well for the 2nd half of the game, but then couldn’t make a free throw to allow NC State to hang around. Nex they faced the depleted Tar Heels. They were playing what seemed like a walk on point guard. This dude might have been the worst on ball defender out of anyone in the Elite 8. It was a big time matchup between big time programs, but in the end UNC just didn’t have enough fire power to pull the game out. Maybe people realize just how important Kendall Marshall was to the team now. With Harrison Barnes terrible tournament, it means that he should be around for the Pistons to take (even if Detroit keeps winning). That is good news for us Michiganders.
I am just hoping that the remaining 3 games will be close and can we get some late game execution people? I just don’t see how Louisville hangs with Kentucky right now, unless Dieng has 20 block shots on uni-brow… not likely. Kentucky wins easily.. again. In the second game, this rematch should be very exciting. The first time the teams played, Sullinger was out nursing a sore throat from whining to the refs so much. Kansas controlled the game and won pretty easily. This time, OSU is playing better basketball, but will the refs let them play? Or will we get the double bonus with 12 minutes left again? Somehow I just cant see Thad Matta ever win a National Championship, he is just a moron. I would like to think a coach needs some sense to win it all. Tyshawn Taylor will have to show up for KU to win, but somehow I think they do. Kansas is the only team remaining that I wouldn’t mind seeing win a championship. They are led by 3 seniors, not 18 freshman, and their coach doesn’t cheat or get accused of sexual harassment. Go Jayhawks.
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