Final Four Preview

Can the madness possibly continue? After the first two weekends we were all fortunate enough to witness, tomorrow's Final Four certainly has some high standards to live up to. Based on the matchups, I think it is possible. Most of the talking heads seem to think this Final Four lacks cache since there is only one #1 seed and only Duke and Michigan State pass the "brand name" test. I wholeheartedly disagree. From a straight up basketball perspective, I could not possibly be more excited for these matchups. Let's get it:

The early game, approximately 6:30 pm tipoff, is your #5 Michigan State Spartans out of the Midwest bracket going against the #5 Butler Bulldogs representing the West Bracket. For some reason, Butler is getting the whole underdog, "Hoosiers" label while MSU is getting the mighty Big 10 power label that is going to bully the smaller school. This is where the "brand name" thing comes into play. Yes, MSU has Tom Izzo, probably the best coach in the country. Yes, MSU seems to get to the final weekend of the tourney every other year or so. However, this is not your typical top five overall MSU team. First, their best player, Kalin Lucas is injured. They have no "go-to" stud player. This is just a bunch of hard working, rebound and play defense types who play their butts off for Lupe Izzo's husband. Conversely, Butler was ranked in the top 20 nationally all year long. Yet, because they are Butler, they automatically get the "sleeper" label. This is a legitimate basketball team that deserves to be playing this weekend. Not only did they beat Syracuse and Kansas State within 48 hours, but they totally dictated tempo in those games and looked like the better team. It wasn't like they staged massive comebacks or hit buzzer beaters or had some kind of luck come into play. This is a legit team, a dangerous team, and is actually FAVORED in this game against the "mighty" Spartans. With all that said, I like the Spartans to win a gritty, close game just like they have won all four of their games this tournament. Butler fans all over rejoice as I look to continue to be as wrong as possible on every prediction that I make. Spartans 76, Bulldogs 71 (as CBS rejoices).

The nightcap is CBS's money shot as they get their beloved #1 Duke Blue Devils in prime time going against #2 West Virginia. While WVU does not necessarily have brand name value, they have Coach Bob Huggins who is known nationally, for better or for worse. They also are coming off a Big East Tournament championship where they played on a Saturday night on ESPN at the Garden as well as taking down #1 seed and national darling Kentucky last week. So by now any casual fan knows that West Virginia means business. What makes this game so interesting to me is the contrasting styles. It's like a WNBA team (Duke) going against a team from the California Penal League (WVU). Duke likes to chill on the perimeter and let their guards drain threes. WVU, Kentucky game notwithstanding, can't shoot the rock from beyond the rock and likes to take it to the tin, get fouled, get put-backs, etc. Another interesting key to the game is how Duke responds to WVU's 1-3-1 zone. What I love about WVU is their team composition. They play five guys who all look the same and can all do the same thing (except for Da'Sean Butler who can shoot and score at will). They all seem to be 6'7" who are long and athletic and are hyperactive on defense. When Huggins plays these guys in the 1-3-1, they wreak absolute havoc on defense. Here's the interesting part - Baylor played a similar, havoc-wreaking zone all tournament that absolutely smothered teams until Coach K, on one day's prep, was able to cut that zone apart like he'd been practicing against it all year. So - will WVU's zone and ruggedness be able to bully the fragile Blue Devils? Or will Coach K's genius and the hot shooting of Scheyer and Singler make Duke able to sidestep Huggins' thug passion? Tough, tough call. This one has 'classic' written all over it. Gimme the bruisers. West Virginia 94, Duke 93 in double overtime. That's right.

That would give us a WVU/MSU finale on Monday night. If I had to call that one right now I'd take the Mountaineers again in a matchup I'd love to see. But I will give an in-depth anaylsis on Monday afternoon after the finals are set for sure. Stay tuned.

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