Two teams will punch their tickets to New Orleans today, and two more tomorrow. First off will be the West Regional final:
Florida vs. Louisville = It is amazing how similar these two teams have played this year, as both have had huge wins and horrible losses. As I'd stated before, it's Forrest Gump's box of chocolates here, so the issue is uncertain depending on what team you get coming out of the lockerrooms. I do think the Gators have a talent edge, and the Cardinals maybe a slight chemistry edge. As for the coaching, I feel it is pretty much a wash, since Donovan's just a younger version of Pitino. I do think Florida played better in their last game than did Louisville, for even though the Cards knocked the region's top-seed out, that was more a factor of extremely bad play on the part of the Spartans. I believe that Vegas is giving Pitino the slim edge, but I think this is a real good opportunity for Donovan to get back in the Finals.
In the East Regional final:
Ohio State vs. Syracuse = I'm not sure the Orange could have found much a worse matchup in their region for this game. The Buckeyes can shoot from outside, have big men and slashers who can take advantage of the rebounding weaknesses of the 'Cuse, and their PG is Craft-y enough to get into the gaps of that zone and create, either for himself or others. Plus, at the other end, he can create havoc and force turnovers, many of which can lead to scoring opportunites before Boeheim's kids can get back. Sure, getting open shots and hitting them are two different things, but I could also see OSU getting 10 or 15 buckets off stickbacks following misses. This might be the best chance you have for seeing a 2 knock off a 1-seed . . . or maybe not.
Tomorrow will round out the action before championship weekend, beginning with the South Regional final:
Baylor vs. Kentucky = So far the Wildcats have given me no reason to believe anybody is going to beat them. But Baylor has given me some reason to believe they may have the talent to play with them. The question will remain as to whether or not they can harness that talent into sufficient teamwork to pull off the upset. Rest assured, it would be an upset if this 3-seed could send the overall top-seed back to Lexington before Calipari even gets the chance to play for his first trophy. However, although I might be surprised by it, I would not be stunned. Not only could the Bears run up and down at least as well as did the Hoosiers last night, it is always possible that UK could have a bad night. Hey, their bigs had some early foul trouble last night, if you recall, and if IU had not had similar problems with baby brother Cody Zeller, they may have been able to pound it inside more to create even bigger problems for the 'Cats. Still, I need end how I began: If you plan to beat Kentucky, you need to show me first.
In the Midwest Regional final:
Kansas vs. North Carolina = Well, you could not ask for much bluer a blueblood matchup than this one, pitting two of the most storied programs in college hoops against each other. Last night the Heels struggled without Kendall Marshall at the helm, yet did what they needed to do to survive. In the nightcap, the Jayhawks did much the same against the upstart Wolfpack, despite the fact that THEIR PG Taylor was only slightly more effective than was a suited-and-tied Marshall for UNC. Bottom line, neither team played all that well. If they both play equally crappy ball Sunday, I'd give my Heels the slight edge. If both improve fairly equally, I'd also give UNC that same slim edge. But if Harrison Barnes has as awful a night as his NCAAs have been so far, and if Zeller, Bullock, Hairston, and McAdoo can't make up for his poor shooting, and if KU can improve somewhat over the putrid shooting percentage against NCSU, then it's back to Chapel Hill for Roy's boys.
That's how I see it, anyway. Feel free to stick your
in here . . . or not, for all I care. Me, I'm just glad I'm not trying to watch these games from a hospital recovery room, the way I was this time last year.
But pipe up or pipe out, in either case enjoy.