It’s been a week to get caught up on all the things some of us disregarded while watching last week’s competition. For Rutgers, it was firing a Coach, an Assistant, and an Athletic Director that had been long overdue.
In that long week, Rutgers has clearly demonstrated why conference expansion for some is so much of an over-reach. Rutgers got to the Big 10 because of the TV sets they offered, and not the superior performance a conference of their caliber demands.
Now, back to the action. The results of last weekend’s play tomorrow in this year’s Final Four. Here’s are some thoughts on those games in Atlanta …
#1 Louisville vs #9 Wichita State at 6:09PM ET
So much has been said about Wichita State’s run to the Final Four that there is probably nothing unique left. The truth of the matter is that there is little shocking about the fact that “The Shockers” are here. That’s not to say that they had a cake-walk, let’s just say that it was very favorable.
State played and handled a PITT team that is now falling apart at the seams, so that appears to be a good reason why they won so handily. Next was Gonzaga, the team that a great many of us wondered openly about their seeding. Gonzaga was shocked fast and hard and never recovered. State next got LaSalle and it was not a contest.
The first real competition they saw was Ohio State in the West Regional Final and it turned out to be an entertaining game, but one in which the Buckeyes just couldn’t find the answer to beating the Shockers.
Now, after all that, you would think that the team whose motto has been “Play Angry” might be favored Well, under normal circumstances that might be true, but Louisville is playing with more than normal purpose. They have the charge of winning it all for their teammate, Kevin Ware who suffered an incredibly horrendous injury – a compound fracture of the tibia after falling awkwardly while trying to block a shot by Duke’s Tyler Thornton.
The young man gave his teammates their marching orders as he lay on the floor being attended to. “Just win the game …” would morph into Coach Rick Pitino’s “Let’s take Kevin home to Atlanta.”
I had already favored Louisville as the overall favorite this year because they had steadily gotten better as they got healthier. That excelling would take them on a ten (10) game winning streak from February 14th through the Big East Tournament title. They have added four (4) more through the big Dance so far.
I think that Wichita State will make it a good game, but winning against the odds they are playing against does not bode well for them.
Louisville is +10 favorites and I think that’s fair.
#4 Syracuse vs #4 Michigan at 8:49PM ET
Both of these teams have gotten to this Final Four using different styles. Syracuse plays the quintessential 2-3 Zone Defense with the aplomb of a philharmonic orchestra. Michigan, on the other hand, has won their way with various parts of their offense coming into their own without rhyme nor reason – like popcorn – and rising to the occasion.
That makes this the classic matchup of Offense vs. Defense.
The thing that had stymied the teams who have faced Jim Boeheim’s opera is the difference between preparing for it, and actually playing against it. To go along with their defensive execution are the physical attributes of their players with tall bodies and wide wingspans, opponents outside the Big East rarely see.
As we all know though, there’s never a way of knowing which kernel of popcorn will go off, when, or in which direction, but when it does you must quickly reign it in and control it, if it’s going to be useful. The aspect that has made John Beilein’s Wolverine offense so successful is that in his 35 years of coaching in college basketball, he has certainly seen all sorts of kids. Knowing what to do when those kids come into their own is key. Beilein has channeled his kids perfectly to get them to this spot.
So, here’s the ultimate conundrum. Is popcorn allowed at the opera, or better still, will the musicians of the orchestra allow the popcorn to pop in the first place ???
On paper, Michigan’s super-Frosh, Mitch McGary is dominating the team stat sheet for Points (17.5), Rebounds (11.5), Steals (2.8), and Blocks (1.0). Syracuse spreads theirs between CJ Fair (Points & Rebounds) and Michael Carter-Williams (Assists & Steals).
Much has been made of Michigan’s preponderance for Turnovers in the Big Dance and Syracuse’s asphyxiating shot defense thus far. It depends on if they are true after a very long week none of these kids are likely to ever see the likes of again.
It all breaks down to what you like. If you enjoy Defense, then Syracuse, with it’s 60 PPG allowed is the team for you. If you enjoy the sound of the ball passing threw the nylon, then Michigan, with it’s 75 PPG is for you.
Michigan presently enjoys a +2 odd-maker advantage, which I’d like to see happen since Louisville has handled Syracuse two (2) of their three (3) meetings this year so another meeting wouldn’t even be a “rubber game.”
