The NCAA men’s basketball tournament has certainly not failed to provide the madness college basketball enthusiasts salivate over every March. With three of the four Elite Eight games going to overtime, and the other being decided in the game’s waning minutes, the NCAA tournament—unlike Arizona—delivered in the clutch.
It would be easy to reflect on Louisville’s 20-point comeback against Cinderella West Virginia, or talk about Michigan State’s epic double-overtime win over favored Kentucky, or reminisce about North Carolina’s timely shooting, or debate over whether Arizona choked away a 15-point lead in the game’s final four minutes, or if Illinois is simply that good.
While such chat would generate some nostalgia—good or bad, depending on the school colors you bleed—the more pressing issue at hand is the one that awaits the starving masses of hoop junkies already parading the streets of St. Louis; the Final Four.
Ding, Round One! Okay so this might not be round one of the tournament. There are no longer 12 and 14 seeds looking to eliminate an unsuspecting giant. No; now the threat is real and the prize is real. The dream is a reality for those who weaseled their way through a maze, or a bracket, of worthy adversaries.
Looking at the matchups, the two surviving number one seeds have to be the favorites entering their respective contests. Illinois has been described by many as a team of destiny after its magnificent comeback and Arizona’s tragic collapse in the Chicago regional final.
There is no doubting Illinois has the talent. They have a backcourt of Dee Brown and Deron Williams that is as dangerous as any in the nation, and much needed size in the front court in James Augustine. They have proven to be nearly perfect all season, and there is no reason to expect they and Head Coach Bruce Weber will not find a way to walk away with the NCAA Championship this season.
Louisville, however, will certainly give Illinois all they can handle. The Conference USA champs are white-hot and proved what they are capable of shooting in their 20-point rally against West Virginia. The combination of Taquan Dean and Francisco Garcia is deadly from the outside and the Cardinals’ ferocious trapping defense could spell trouble for Illinois.
Rick Pitino could be the X-factor. He has proven success in the tournament, and he will undoubtedly have a great game plan against Illinois. Garcia and Dean, however, will have to outperform Brown and Williams for the Cardinals to march on.
The experts have been proven wrong before. Michigan State and its flurry of athletic guards and tenacious defense could spell disaster for North Carolina in the national semifinal or Louisville/Illinois in the championship. The Spartans take it to the hole with authority, and showed against Kentucky they can shoot the ball too, going 16-for-17 including six-of-seven from three-point range to open the second half. The week off, however, may cool off the red-hot Spartans, and prevent Tom Izzo and company from again denying Roy Williams a championship.
Sean May, Rashad McCants, and Raymond Felton may just be too much punch for any team to handle. May has been dominant inside and Paul Davis will have to step up big for Michigan State to have a chance. McCants and Felton have been quiet but superb over the tournament, delivering clutch shots when called upon.
North Carolina has looked beatable thus far, struggling against Wisconsin and getting bailed out with a terrible traveling call against Villanova. Michigan State will provide their toughest test yet; just ask Duke and Kentucky. This Tar Heel team, however, is full of NBA talent, which leaves Roy Williams looking like he might just get his first-ever national championship in only his second season at his alma mater.
The curtain will close Monday night, the drama over, a champion crowned, leaving those glued to their seats silent in the dark. But those anxious admirers will not rise, for the mayhem is only another 11 months away, and it’s never too early to reserve your ticket for the dance.
