CBB: Final Four Preview
The Final Four is finally set. After five months of basketball, we are left with four teams. North Carolina is the only No. 1 seed remaining, and they look like the team to beat right now. Villanova had a third straight dominant season, but this one feels different as they are finally showing their talent on the biggest of stages. Oklahoma has the best player in the nation, Buddy Hield and company have the balance to win the title. As for our Cinderella, Syracuse is getting hot at the right time and is the first No. 10 seed ever to make it to the Final Four. I will present my updated Top 25, Road to the Final Four for each team, and a prediction for the last three games of the college basketball season.
Top 25
1. North Carolina (32-6)
2. Villanova (33-5)
3. Oklahoma (29-7)
4. Syracuse (23-13)
5. Kansas (33-5)
6. Oregon (31-7)
7. Virginia (29-8)
8. Notre Dame (24-12)
9. Miami (FL) (27-8)
10. Indiana (27-8)
11. Gonzaga (28-8)
12. Texas A&M (28-9)
13. Maryland (27-9)
14. Duke (25-11)
15. Iowa State (23-12)
16. Wisconsin (22-13)
17. Michigan State (29-6)
18. Xavier (28-6)
19. Utah (27-9)
20. West Virginia (26-9)
21. Kentucky (27-9)
22. California (23-11)
23. Purdue (26-9)
24. Baylor (22-12)
25. Michigan (23-13)
Road to the Final Four: North Carolina
The Tar Heels started off 11-2 in non-conference play. They lost two games on the road, one to Northern Iowa and another to Texas. The former was without starting point guard Marcus Paige. Even though the loss knocked UNC from the #1 ranking, it may have made them better in the long run. Not having Paige for the first few weeks of the season woke up a sleeping beast inside of Brice Johnson and made Joel Berry II emerge into a playmaker. From then on, North Carolina was a force. The Heels sprinted through the ACC regular season with a 14-4 record, suffering tough losses against Notre Dame, Duke, and Virginia. The Duke loss stung at the time, but also made the overconfident Heels realize that they were not invincible. They would later exact revenge on all three of those opponents, winning at Duke on Senior Night, blowing out Notre Dame in the ACC semifinals, and getting past Virginia in the championship game. North Carolina then ran through FGCU and Providence to get to the Sweet Sixteen, before taking down Indiana and Notre Dame to reach the Final Four. We have known for a long time that this is the most talented team in the country, and they are putting it all together at the right time. Paige, Berry, Jackson, Johnson, and Kennedy Meeks are the best lineup remaining in the field, not to mention ACC Sixth Man of the Year Isaiah Hicks and Nate Britt off of the bench. This is the 8th Final Four Roy Williams has reached, and he will try to get a third title to Chapel Hill after winning it all in 2005 and 2009.
Road to the Final Four: Villanova
The Wildcats got off to a good start, but it seemed like they could not win the big game. That has been the feeling about Villanova over the last two seasons. They could dominate most opponents, but not beat championship level teams. Villanova was 12-2 in non-conference with losses to Oklahoma in Hawaii and at Virginia. The Wildcats were the best team in the Big East for the third year in a row, earning a 16-2 mark. Their only losses were against Providence in overtime and at Xavier. The Wildcats were the No. 1 seed in the Big East tournament, but lost in the Big East title to No. 6 Seton Hall. It was a tough loss for the Wildcats, but there was no doubt that they had the coaching and talent to make a tournament run if they could find the right mix. Villanova relies on outside shooting a lot, and they caught fire over the first three games of the tournament with over 60% from the field. Ryan Arcidiacono is the leader of this team, and has been since he walked on campus. The "other guys" are the reason Villanova has taken a step further this year. Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Kris Jenkins are all good scorers and have the ability to take over a game. Daniel Ochefu also provides a post scorer that deserves attention from opponents and he is able to kick it out to four shooters. The Wildcats beat UNC Asheville, Iowa, and Miami (FL) to get to the Elite Eight, before taking down No. 1 seed Kansas in the Regional Final. If Villanova is on from three, they can go all the way. Jay Wright is taking this team to the second Final Four since 2009, where they lost 83-69 to the eventual champions North Carolina.
Road to the Final Four: Oklahoma
The Sooners were 12-0 in non-conference with wins against Wisconsin and Villanova. They were one of the best teams in the first few months of the season, before struggling in the middle part of the Big 12 season. Oklahoma suffered losses at Kansas, at Iowa State, and at Texas which are all forgivable. Losses at Kansas State, and Texas Tech were a little tougher to swallow. OU got better as March approached, but they still lost in the Big 12 semifinals to West Virginia. In one of the best games of the season, Buddy Hield came up just a bit short (which did not happen often this season). Even with seven losses, Oklahoma earned a No. 2 seed in the West Region. Oklahoma took down CSU Bakersfield and VCU in the first two rounds, and then beat former Big 12 rival Texas A&M in the Sweet Sixteen. After being favored in the first three games, OU was the "underdog" going into the Saturday showdown with No. 1 seed Oregon. They were far and away the best team that day. Buddy Hield went for 37 points and four rebounds. The other starters (Jordan Woodard, Isaiah Cousins, Ryan Spangler, and Khadeem Lattin combined for 34 points, 13 assists, and 14 rebounds. OU won 80-68 and notched their spot in the Final Four. Which is the first one for the program since 2002, and coach Lon Kruger's second after taking Florida in 1994.
Road to the Final Four: Syracuse
The Orange are not like the other teams. This team barely got into the tournament, and now they are one of just four teams left standing. In November, they did look like they were going to be a very good team. In non-conference, Syracuse went 10-3 and won the Battle 4 Atlantis with wins against UCONN and Texas A&M. Their winning streak came to a close with a home loss to Wisconsin. It seemed like the Orange struggled from the on, and it did not help that their coach Jim Boeheim was being suspended for nine games due to violations. Syracuse was 4-5 in that stretch and was sitting at 0-4 in the ACC. The season looked lost at that point, most people expecting them to make the NIT. The Orange turned their season around with a huge road win against Duke. It was a win that gave life and hope to the Orange, which also led to a home win versus Notre Dame. Syracuse finished 9-5 in ACC play after the tough start, but were still not a lock for the tournament. The Orange lost a tight game to Pittsburgh in the ACC first round, and a lot of experts had Syracuse outside of the tournament field. They earned a No. 10 seed in the Midwest, and were set to play Dayton. The Flyers were no match for 'Cuse, as they ran away for a 70-51 victory. Syracuse then beat No. 15 Middle Tennessee, No. 11 Gonzaga, and No. 1 Virginia in the Elite Eight. The last two wins were of the comeback variety. They trailed by double digits in each game, including down 15 points to Virginia before roaring back to claim a spot in the Final Four. Seniors Michael Gbinije and Trevor Cooney are the leaders of this team. DaJaun Coleman is the anchor in the middle of the zone. But the young guys are why this team is still standing. Tyler Lydon, Franklin Howard, Malachi Richardson, and Tyler Roberson. Richardson has emerged as one of the best stories of the tournament, as he scored 17 points in the final 12 minutes against Virginia to complete the comeback. Roberson has been huge on the boards, Lydon is a good stretch four, and Howard uses his quickness to help Syracuse's press. This team is only the fourth double digit seed to make the Final Four, but that does not mean that they do not deserve it. Boeheim is taking the Orange to a fifth Final Four in his career, the first since 2013, as he will try to repeat the magic of 2003 when Syracuse won the title.
Games (and picks) of the week:
Villanova over Oklahoma (Final Four #1): The Wildcats are on a great run, and their streak will continue. Josh Hart and Kris Jenkins will be able to contain Buddy Hield, while Arcidiacono and Ochefu will dominate the other side of the ball. I expect this to be the best of the two games, but Villanova has too much fire power. OU relies on Hield too much, and it will come back to hurt them in a close loss. Villanova advances.
North Carolina over Syracuse (Final Four #2): The Tar Heels are the title favorites right now, and I do not see them going down to the No. 10 seed Orange. Syracuse has had quite a ride over the last two weeks but it will end here. UNC has the inside presence to hit the gaps in the 2-3 zone and Berry, Jackson, and Paige are all shooting well and will be able to shoot over the zone as well as handle the full court pressure. UNC moves on with a double digit win.
North Carolina over Villanova (National Championship): Both teams had great seasons, and earned their spot in the Final Four but only one will come out on top. I think this will be a good game, coming down to the last few minutes. But UNC just has too much talent and too much depth, with an experienced coach. Brice Johnson and Marcus Paige have had wonderful careers and it will culminate in a National Championship for the Tar Heels.
Original Final Four prediction:
No. 1 Kansas
No. 2 Oklahoma
No. 1 North Carolina
No. 2 Michigan State
Official Final Four field:
No. 2 Villanova
No. 2 Oklahoma
No. 1 North Carolina
No. 10 Syracuse
Last weeks record: 5-2 (26-11 overall).
Photo Credit: Getty Images.
