NCAA Basketball Men’s Final Four: Preview for Saturday, April 4th
There are four “Hall of Fame” coaches. There are four teams, with one dream. On the opening day of the NCAA Men’s basketball tournament, commonly referred to as “March Madness”, the late game heroics of players representing both 14-seeded UAB and Georgia State knocked off 3-seeds Baylor and “Dark Horse” favorite Iowa State. This had college basketball fans holding on to their brackets in fear of a bust. Many questioned if we would see any of the top teams in the country, with the exception of undefeated Kentucky, reach the “Final Four”. But, when the dust settled, three of the four number 1-seeds remained as we reach the Final Four this Saturday. The four teams that remain really shouldn't come as a surprise. The teams of Kentucky, Wisconsin, Duke and Michigan State have been there before and they go to battle this weekend. Each team has its own story and they all have the same end goal in mind. This will be a preview of what's to come, along with some thoughts about what the games could produce.
Kentucky vs. Wisconsin
Saturday, April 4, 2015 – 7:49 PM (CT)
Coverage: TBS or NCAA March Madness Application
Kentucky
Record: 38-0
Conference: SEC
Coach: John Calipari: Overall (635-177)
Players to Watch: (F) Karl Towns and (G) Aaron Harrison
Kentucky coach, John Calipari is known for recruiting players with NBA potential year in and year out, many of whom leave after just one year of college basketball. This year is no different, but several key players from last year’s “Final Four” also returned and questions began to swirl about whether or not this Kentucky team could make a run for perfection.
Why Kentucky will advance: Kentucky stole last years “Final Four” match up against Wisconsin. UK guard Aaron Harrison continued his tear of consecutive “clutch” shot moments and sent the Badgers packing. To win this game they will need more of those big-time shots from the sophomore, along with some help from the big men freshmen Karl Towns and 7-foot-tall Willie Cauley-Stein. Towns scored 25 points while pulling down five boards and tallied four assists against Notre Dame in the “Elite Eight”. Without his star defining game and one earth shattering block from Cauley-Stein, it could be the Fighting Irish preparing for Wisconsin this weekend.
Why Kentucky will go home: There are a number of ways that Kentucky can fail to reach perfection. Wisconsin could flat-out outplay these young Wildcats and that is something the Badgers are preparing to do. The four remaining teams can all beat one another on any given night. The make-up of this roster primarily consist of 19 and 20 year old players. The Fighting Irish gave these young men a fight to remember, come this weekend will they finally crack against arguably, a much more experienced and skilled Wisconsin team? Wisconsin has the experience and ability to control the tempo of this game, but Kentucky’s depth could play the deciding factor when the buzzer sounds. It will interesting to see who controls the pace of this game. If Kentucky decides to go for a run, can Bo Ryan and his pesky Badgers keep up?
Notable Team Advantages: Depth- The top 8 players could start for this team
Notable Team Disadvantages: Outside Shooting- This is what could really hurt the Wildcats, Wisconsin locks down the perimeter.
Wisconsin
Record: 35-3
Conference: Big Ten
Coach: Bo Ryan: Overall (739-227)
Players to Watch: (F) Frank Kaminsky and (F) Sam Decker
Why Wisconsin will advance: Wisconsin has been here before. Last year Frank Kaminsky was considered by many to be the breakout player of the year. He has all the tools to destroy Kentucky’s two formidable big men. He is a 7-foot-tall player who will spread the floor and hit shot after shot from anywhere on the court. If Towns and Cauley-Stein hold “Big Frank” to a minimum, they will still need to be concerned with preventing 6’9'' Junior Forward, Sam Decker from slashing to the rim, something that hasn't been achieved in the tournament thus far. Decker scored 23 points against North Carolina in the "Sweet 16", only to prove the following game that he has the outside shot to put the nail in the coffin. He drilled a 3-pointer with 17 seconds left against Arizona in the “Elite Eight”, extending the lead to 84-76. The Badgers are chasing redemption and they have everything they need to break the hearts of Kentucky fans everywhere.
Why Wisconsin will go home: Kentucky has one of the deepest teams in NCAA history. If used effectively, Wisconsin could find itself gasping for air late in the second half. If there is one thing that we have learned this year about Kentucky, it's that once they wear down the other team, the game is over. Wisconsin will need to slow down the game, just as they have in previous years.
Notable Team Advantage: Offensive Efficacy- The Badgers rank number 1 in this category.
Notable Team Disadvantage: Defensive Turnover Efficacy- Overall, Wisconsin is a defensively solid team. However, they rank 317th when it comes to causing turnovers for the other team.
Duke vs. Michigan State
Saturday, April 4, 2015 – 5:09 PM (CT)
Coverage: TBS or NCAA March Madness Application
Duke
Record: 33-4
Conference: ACC
Coach: Mike Krzyewski: Overall (1016-251)
Players to Watch: (G) Quinn Cook and (C) Jahill Okafor
Before I get into what makes Duke a formidable team, I need to acknowledge Tyus Jones, a Minnesota Native who has been a big part of Duke’s success as their starting point guard. He is averaging 11.6 (PPG), 5.7 (APG) and a respectable 3.5 (RPG). It’s a nice change to have a basketball star in the making coming from the “State of Hockey.”
Coach K became the winningest coach of all this time this season and is now looking to add another NCAA Championship to his resume. In this game, look for the likely number one pick in this year’s NBA draft to make a huge impact. Jahill Okafor is averaging a bit of 17.7 (PPG) and 9 boards to go with it. Okafor has some glaring weaknesses on the defensive end, some would say he is “soft”, but in this game that won’t be a factor.
Why Duke will advance: Duke will win this game on the back of Jahill Okafor and Senior guard, Quinn Cook. Cook is averaging 15.5 (PPG). If statistics were all that mattered in sports, we wouldn’t play the games. What Quinn brings to this team is the leadership and toughness to overcome the feisty Spartans. Coach K also holds an (8-1) Record over Tom Izzo, and history suggests the Blue Devils will be tacking on another victory to Coach K's historical coaching career.
Why Duke will go home: Defense. I know you can score Duke, but can you defend the rim? Can you out hustle the hungry and underrated Spartans? Tom Izzo is phenomenal at getting what is considered second-tier talent to rise above the occasion. Sports can often be about who wants it more. Watch out Duke, because "State" is coming for you.
Notable Team Advantages: Scoring from inside and out- Okafor can score at the rim while finding 40 percent 3-point shooters Justise Winslow and Quinn on the perimeter.
Notable Team Disadvantages: Okafor's FT%- If the best player on your team shoots just above 50 percent from the line, that can be a problem. You know the phrase "Hack-a Shaq?" Try "Hack-a-for."
Michigan State
Record: 27-11
Conference: Big Ten
Coach: Tom Izzo: Overall (493-198)
Players to Watch: (G) Travis Trice and (G) Denzel Valentine
You see 27-11 and you would think this Michigan State team's bid to the "Final Four" must be a fluke. Tom Izzo is known for having a squad that fits his coaching style, and this year is no different. When Michigan State was labeled a 7-seed, it was a blessing in disguise, a few key injuries earlier in the season hampered their record, and they were able to get healthy just in time for a Big Ten tourney run that ended against a possible NCAA Championship opponent, Wisconsin.
Why Michigan State will advance: Tom Izzo is a mastermind when it comes to figuring out how to adjust to his opponent’s style of play. Look for Senior guard Travis Trice to take center stage. He will play breath taking defense and bury a flurry of three-pointers that will keep his team right there at the end. This isn't about the talent Michigan State has, it’s about who wants it more. So far in this tournament the Spartans have done whatever it takes to get the W. They dismantled 2-seeded Virginia, knocked out legendary coach Rick Pitino and his Louisville Cardinals. The University of Connecticut (UConn) was a 7-seed last year and won it all. Will Izzo slay two more giants over the next week?
Why Michigan State will go home: Tom Izzo is one of the top coaches of all time. As stated earlier, Coach K is (8-1) against Izzo and once again he has the better roster. Tom Izzo’s team lacks the shooting, depth and pure talent that Duke possesses. It’s hard to imagine Okafor struggling against bigs of MSU. It's possible that Travis Trice lights up Tyus Jones, but one player won’t win this game for Michigan State. The Spartans will need another warrior to step up and that player would likely be Denzel Valentine. He had a strong performance against Louisville last round, scoring 15 points, snaring seven rebounds and distributed the ball for six assists. Win or lose, Michigan State solidified the Big Ten Conference as a force to be reckoned with.
Notable Team Advantages: Perimeter Defense- Holding Virginia to a Field goal percentage of 29%, Louisville to 35 percent and Georgia to 33 percent.
Notable Team Disadvantages: Ranked 330th in FT% shooting only 63 percent.
Statistics provided by ESPN.com
Photograph Courtesy of Pro Image Sports-Duluth