We have a lot to cover in the next few weeks and I would like to jump back on the wagon with a look at the Final Four, which is being played in Indianapolis, Indiana, the cradle of basketball.
For starters, to me this is the most likable group of teams in some time. I know everyone hates Duke, but there is a soft spot in my heart for the way Coach Kyasrasraskski;s guys get after it.
Its also important to note that every team remaining in the field was ranked in the preseason top 10. So just because the guys on Butler's bench look like the cast of Revenge of the Nerds, don't be mislead into thinking that this achievement is much of a stretch for them.
I'm going to give you a look at all 4 clubs remaining., with strengths and weaknesses, as well as what I think of their chances.
West Virginia: The Mountaineers are the lone representatives of the Big East. If you didn't get the memo, the Big East is the greatest thing in the history of all things and anyone who disagrees is about as smart as Ron Artest. The Morgantown boys feature a bevy of long, athletic 6'8 guys who are tough as hell and can really run. In fact, other than guards Jonnie West, Joel Mazzulla, and Truck Bryant, the entire squad might just be made up of clones. Devin Ebanks, Wellington Smith, and Kevin Jones are all guys who play a very infectious brand of basketball. Look for senior leader Da'shean Butler to continue creating matchup nightmares all day long Saturday. This team gets a considerable amount of brownie points for knocking of Kentucky, a team that in this mans opinion can't receive the NCAA death penalty soon enough. This team is coached by Bob Huggins, a raging alcoholic who looks like he is getting a root canal done while his car is being towed. Honestly, old Huggy bear is the only think not to love about this team.
Chances: This team will go as far as Mazzulla takes them. Following a near career ending injury, the junior has returned and put in a gallant effort. However, as Ray Felton, Mario Chalmers, Tywon Lawson, and company can attest, the tournament is all about guard play. If Mazzulla goes down or gets in foul trouble, the Mountaineers must rely on West, a walk on who plays about as often as I do.
Duke: Hated by, well, everyone but me, the Blue Devils return to the final four for the first time since the Luol Deng era (2004 for heads that don't know). Coach K's outfit is actually fairly similar to their opponents y from Morgantown. Short on guard depth but long on solid bigs, the Blue Devils thrive on rebounding and kick outs to Nolan Smith and Jon Scheyer. With only three guards getting any run, Duke counts on this dynamic duo to play nearly the entire game. Look for do-everything swingman Kyle Singler to play a big role in breaking down the Mountaineer's 1-3-1 defense. Bigs Brian Zoubek, Lance Thomas and the Plumlee brothers get their points off of second chances. This team is very good at offensive rebounding. Coach K (his name is pretty hard to spell) is one of the most hated figures in the NCAA for many fans, but you have to give credit where its do and recognize him as one of the all time greats in college hoops.
Chances: You can pretty much copy and paste what was written about the Mountaineers in previous paragraphs. I think Nolan Smith is decidedly more talented than Mazzulla, but the West Virginia quarterback more than held his own against John Wall, the greatest athlete in the history of sport and somebody from which we can all learn a thing or two from about life. I will say this. If the Blue Devils don't win this year, you have to like next years chances. Zoubek and Thomas are replaced by younger McDonalds All American centers, and the Blue Devils welcome proven scorer Seth Curry to the mix. Don't sleep on Kyrie Irving either, who in this man's opinion might just be the best senior in the nation right now.
Michigan State: All Tom Izzo has done is put a ton of guys in the NBA, make exactly half of the Final 4s since 1998, and dress up like an idiot at midnight madness. How on earth does anyone think that John Calipari and Rick Pitino, who by the way dresses like he got kicked out of a Date Dash, can even hold a candle to this guy? This year the Spartans have gotten this far with their best player, Kalin Lucas, sitting on the bench. I don't see a ton of Big Ten ball on the idiot box out in Tucson, so forgive me for at one point thinking that his replacement, Korie Lucious, was the same guy. Korie has stepped up big time, in very similar fashion to the often mentioned Mazzulla. Raymar Morgan is another stud to look out for, but I think the key for MSU is Durrell Summers, who is averaging a cool 20 a game this tourney. Coach Izzo is yet another Hall of Famer in this tourney, and a guy that I wish got more love from ESPN than he does.
Chances: It seems everyone is sleeping on this team, which happens a lot. The Spartans are great at forcing their opponents to adapt to them, and they constantly control the tempo. I would never bet against an Izzo team.
Butler: I'm sure your familiar with the story of the hometown boys who play on the set of Hoosiers. The Bulldogs are incredibly confident. Gordon Hayward, a wiry, 6'9 former tennis sensation, might be playing the best basketball in the country right now. If its not him, it's 6'3 220 pound lead guard Shelvin Mack. Both of these guys dictate the tempo of the game, and also have no problem hitting big shot after shot. These guys love step-back threes. Inside, Matt Howard has to do a better job staying out of foul trouble than he did in the Elite Eight against K State. Avery Jukes, his backup, is simply too limited to rely on down low. Ronald Nored and Willie Veasley are crafty defensive whizzes with the speed to get to the basket, taking what the defense gives them. Coach Brad Stevens might be the most skilled X and O guy remaining in the field. The 33 year old, who is going on 13 (He and Hayward are rumored to play on the same little league club) has an uncanny knack for halftime adjustments, inbounds calls, and determining who should take shots. I have a feeling this is the start of something big for the former pharmaceutical rep.
Chances: The bottom line here is that Mack and Hayward have to continue to play at the high level we have seen from them in the tournament. If Matt Howard stays out of foul trouble, and the dynamic duo can keep these guys within striking distance, Coach Stevens might be the evil genius who shocks the world.
Regardless of how the Bulldogs do, I have been pumped all week to see these guys run out of the tunnel Saturday. It has been repeated ad nauseam, but Lucas Oil Field is going to be full of Indianians (Indiaygons? Indianoans?) who are ready to get behind the hometown kids. These big, expensive venues are also chock full of people with no rooting interest, prime targets to get swept up in Cinderella Magic if Butler does in fact make a run at this thing.
This might be the last tournament with a 65 team field. I know its all about money, I truly get it and am ok with it, but watch the NIT and tell me that there are any more deserving teams out there. As far as the product on the floor goes, all this expansion is going to do is keep crappy coaches like Ernie Kent and whoever perennial bubble clubs like Michigan, SDSU, Seton Hall, and company from losing their jobs. Bottom line, if you aren't at least capable of playing good teams, and winning, why should you be in the tournament? I don't get it either folks. I hope you enjoyed my comeback as much as I loved writing it.
I am also not making predictions on the games because I guarantee you something crazy happens this weekend in Indy. Keep it locked on the Real Talk.
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