Cinderella, Goliath, Wooden Award winner-led team, and defensive juggernaut are all on hand in Atlanta, Geogria, for the 75th NCAA Tournament Final Four.
National Semifinal: #1-Seed Louisville vs. #9-Seed Wichita State at 6:09 PM from the Georgia Dome.
Rick Pitino’s team had to grow tough mentally in their Elite Eight win over Duke, 85-63. They lost sophomore Kevin Ware to a horrid broken leg, but Ware will be back to watch Saturday’s affair.
Breaking down Louisville, the Cards are led by Most Outstanding Player in the Midwest Regional, junior guard Russ Smith (26.0 ppg during the tournament). Louisville was taken down by eventual champion last year in the Final Four, Kentucky. Senior guard Peyton Siva is the other Cards’ backcourt stalemate, as he averaged 9.9 points per game during the regular season. Kevin Ware was really being looked upon as the Cards’ main back-up at guard, but Louisville will have to deal without him. Gorgui Dieng is the big man to watch for Louisville, as he averages over ten points and seven rebounds per game. Louisville is one of the best teams in college basketball in points off turnovers.
On to the underdog, Wichita State. The Shockers are led by guard Malcolm Armstead, who has averaged over 15 points per game. Forward Carl Hall fills out the post for the 9th-seeded team. The hustle and scrappiness from Wichita State have been on hand throghout the whole tournament. Forward Cleanthony Early also leads the Shockers out as he has 13.7 points per game. This is the first team out of the Missouri Valley to reach the Final Four since Indiana State in 1979. This is their 10th tournament appearance, and boy has the magic been amazing.
Prediction: Gregg Marshall’s Wichita State Shockers fight hard, but Louisville’s pressure is just reigning upon teams in relentless fashion. I see Russ Smith and the Cards outlasting Marshall’s team, 77-67
National Semifinal: #4-Seed Syracuse vs. #4-Seed Michigan at 8:49 PM from the Georgia Dome
The tight, crisp zone of Syracuse meets Trey Burke and the quick-paced, explosive Mihigan Wolverines. Big men CJ Fair (13. 8 ppg) and Mitch McGary (17.6 ppg) square off when the Orange meet John Beillein’s team. On Michigan’s side, Trey Burke and Tim Hardaway Jr. have been the constants for the Wolverines all season, as they combine for about 34 points a game on average. Mitch McGary is Michigan’s big man, as the freshman has stepped up in a starting role and has performed at a high level, averaging seven points a game and six rebounds per contest. The Wolverines also are averaging 78 points per game in the Big Dance.
Syracuse is playing in its first Final Four since the 2003 team won it all. This will mark the end of the Orange’s long tenure in the Big East, which will be destoryed (as we know the conference now) at the end of this year.
The Orange has surrendered a paltry 45.75 points per game in the Big Dance, holding Montana (34), top-seeded Indiana (50) and Marquette (39) to their lowest scoring totals of the season. Sophomore guard Michael Carter-Williams has an electrifying shot and averages 13 points per game. It should be a down-to-the-wire battle.
Prediction: Defense means success, and I see the Wolverines’ quickness giving the Syracuse zone trouble and Jim Boeheim’s Orage having some issues with defensive pressure, but the 2-3 zone has been lethal. I see Boeheim’s Orange prevailing. The key is this – hold Michigan to under 60 points. If they do that, they win in my opinion.
ENJOY SATURDAY!
