The Final Four Is Set
Fans Are Going To Enjoy These Matchups
After 4 great days of basketball, the stage is set for the final 4 in New Orleans. What's amazing about this final 4 is the coaching prowess that it possesses. Although unusual to say, North Carolina is by far the weakest coached team left in the tournament. The reason for that is because he's only been a coach at this level for a year. Although an assistant under Roy Williams, he's going up against one of the best coaches of all time in Mike Krzyzewski.
Let's start with the first game.
(2) Villanova vs (1) Kansas. Although the tobacco road game is probably the matchup everyone is looking forward to, this game in my mind is the one to watch. These two teams are fairly evenly matched. However, Villanova suffered a devastating blow with Justin Moore being ruled out due to a torn Achilles tendon. Moore is a leader and was having an exceptional tournament, however one still can't count the Wildcat's out. A team coached by Jay Wright ALWAYS has a chance to win. With that said, I do believe the Jayhawks are the team to beat in the tournament. Bill Self also an excellent coach has this Kansas team running on all cylinders. They play controlled offense and excellent defense. I think it's going to be hard for a Moore(less) Villanova team to beat them. I'm picking Kansas.
(8) North Carolina vs (2) Duke. Duke sure hasn't looked like a #2 seed thus far. They have been playing as well as any team in the tournament. There is also the emotional high of coach K's last season. I'm pretty sure the crowd will be behind Duke, and I do think UNC is playing beyond themselves. The coaching matching is pretty lopsided in Dukes favor and I think Baycot will finally be refereed appropriately and won't be able to manhandle everyone like he has been. So i'm going to take Duke in a blow out.
According to my picks, that leaves us with (1) Kansas playing (2) Duke. That could potentially be a very exciting matchup. One I certainly didn't see coming, but I like the possibility of it happening. But first we have to get through these next to games to see if it happens.