The Final Four from the Big Easy
The 2012 edition of the NCAA tournament may not have played out like everyone thought it would, yet again when does it, but how can you not be happy with the this year's Final Four?
Louisville and Kentucky, one of college basketball's biggest rivalries, face off in the Battle of the Bluegrass from New Orleans with a trip to the title game on the line. Ohio St. and Kansas, two of the countries most successful programs the past five years, battle it out in the other national semifinal setting up a title game Monday night that could be one for the ages.
It doesn't get much better than that.
Nobody probably cares who I think will win, but here's who I like to win anyway, from who will advance to the title game, to who will be crowned champions of college basketball on Monday night. I'll probably be wrong once again so don't take by picks to the bank.
Final Four (New Orleans)
(1) Kentucky over (4) Louisville: UK against U of L for a trip to the National Championship. Two schools separated by about 78 miles, a rivalry that goes back to 1913 and the state of Kentucky up for grabs. This will probably go down as the biggest game these two arch rivals have ever played against one another.The Battle for the Bluegrass is on, but I just hope the game lives up to the hype.
For fans of these two schools this is the National Championship, because some would say that beating your arch rival is just as good as winning a title. I would have to disagree with that though. I'd rather see the Cincinnati Bengals win the Super Bowl than have them beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship game and then lose the Super Bowl, but that's just me.
This is without a doubt the biggest game in the history of college basketball in the Commonwealth and I think the Wildcats will be remembered as the team that won it.
The first half Kentucky had against Baylor last Sunday in the Elite 8 was one of the most dominating performances I have ever seen in the tournament. Granted, Baylor did come back some, but the final score of 82-70 did not show just how one sided the game really was. I know people are waiting for the freshman of Kentucky to fold under pressure at some point, but I just don't see it happening.
Rick Pitino's squad will put up a fight for a while, but I think John Calipari's youngsters will pull away at the end as Kentucky gets to their first National Championship game since 1998.
(2) Kansas over (2) Ohio St: I personally cannot wait for this game. As good as the Louisville/Kentucky game has the chance to be because of the rivalry between the two, I think OSU/Kansas will be one a hell of a game.
The most intriguing matchup, perhaps the best matchup of the entire tournament, has to be down in the paint with All-American Jared Sullinger from Ohio St. going up against Kansas All-American Thomas Robinson. Both these guys should be top five draft picks in this year's NBA draft and let's hope the referees let them play, because it would be a shame if one of them has to sit on the bench due to early foul trouble.
Overall this game should be very close. I think both teams have equal talent at all five skill positions, both teams only play seven or eight guys, so neither bench is very deep and both teams are led by very good head coaches in Thad Matta of Ohio St. and Bill Self of Kansas.
This game really could go either way, so I think it's a toss-up. Kansas did beat Ohio St. earlier this season, but Jared Sullinger did not play, so I do not think you can go off of that. In the end though, I like the Jayhawks. The game should be close throughout and I like Kansas to use a late run in the final five minutes to take the lead away from the Buckeyes and advance to the National Championship Monday night against Kentucky.
National Championship
(1) Kentucky over (2) Kansas: If there was one word to describe these two programs it would be what Charlie Sheen has become popular for saying, "Winning!"
Kentucky and Kansas are the two most winningest men's college basketball programs in the country and how exciting would it be to see these two Goliath's of college basketball collide in New Orleans for the title.
The history of these two programs is well documented. 10 National Championships, 29 Final Fours, 38 Consensus First Team All-Americans, 102 regular season conference championships between the two and the list goes on and on. Kentucky and Kansas are college basketball and it will be a title game for the ages.
The fact of the matter is, Kentucky has the better players and it's been that way all season. I thought the Wildcats had the best chance to win the tournament when the bracket first came out and I still feel the same way. Kansas will give Kentucky all they can handle, Thomas Robinson versus Anthony Davis should be a good one, but I think the Wildcats will be bringing the hardware back to Lexington, their first since 1998. Kentucky 75, Kansas 72.
Another March Madness is in the books. It may not have been the most memorable, heartbreaking or shocking tournament of all-time, but still a pretty damn good one. It's always sad to see the tournament come to an end, but Major League Baseball returns Wednesday night and I personally cannot wait to see what the Cincinnati Reds have in store for this season. More thoughts on the Reds later in the week so stay tuned.
2012 has been a great sports year so far and here's to hoping it continues. Enjoy the final weekend of March Madness in the meantime.
Louisville and Kentucky, one of college basketball's biggest rivalries, face off in the Battle of the Bluegrass from New Orleans with a trip to the title game on the line. Ohio St. and Kansas, two of the countries most successful programs the past five years, battle it out in the other national semifinal setting up a title game Monday night that could be one for the ages.
It doesn't get much better than that.
Nobody probably cares who I think will win, but here's who I like to win anyway, from who will advance to the title game, to who will be crowned champions of college basketball on Monday night. I'll probably be wrong once again so don't take by picks to the bank.
Final Four (New Orleans)
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| John Calipari and Rick Pitino are not exactly best of friends, but that's quite alright with Kentucky and Louisville fans. (US Presswire/Getty Images) |
For fans of these two schools this is the National Championship, because some would say that beating your arch rival is just as good as winning a title. I would have to disagree with that though. I'd rather see the Cincinnati Bengals win the Super Bowl than have them beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship game and then lose the Super Bowl, but that's just me.
This is without a doubt the biggest game in the history of college basketball in the Commonwealth and I think the Wildcats will be remembered as the team that won it.
The first half Kentucky had against Baylor last Sunday in the Elite 8 was one of the most dominating performances I have ever seen in the tournament. Granted, Baylor did come back some, but the final score of 82-70 did not show just how one sided the game really was. I know people are waiting for the freshman of Kentucky to fold under pressure at some point, but I just don't see it happening.
Rick Pitino's squad will put up a fight for a while, but I think John Calipari's youngsters will pull away at the end as Kentucky gets to their first National Championship game since 1998.
(2) Kansas over (2) Ohio St: I personally cannot wait for this game. As good as the Louisville/Kentucky game has the chance to be because of the rivalry between the two, I think OSU/Kansas will be one a hell of a game.
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| Jared Sullinger will go toe-to-toe with fellow All-American Thomas Robinson Saturday night. (Jim Rogash/Getty Images) |
Overall this game should be very close. I think both teams have equal talent at all five skill positions, both teams only play seven or eight guys, so neither bench is very deep and both teams are led by very good head coaches in Thad Matta of Ohio St. and Bill Self of Kansas.
This game really could go either way, so I think it's a toss-up. Kansas did beat Ohio St. earlier this season, but Jared Sullinger did not play, so I do not think you can go off of that. In the end though, I like the Jayhawks. The game should be close throughout and I like Kansas to use a late run in the final five minutes to take the lead away from the Buckeyes and advance to the National Championship Monday night against Kentucky.
National Championship
(1) Kentucky over (2) Kansas: If there was one word to describe these two programs it would be what Charlie Sheen has become popular for saying, "Winning!"
 |
| Kentucky already took a regional championship trophy back to Lexington and they will be looking to take home more hardware Monday night. (MCT/Mark Cornelison) |
The history of these two programs is well documented. 10 National Championships, 29 Final Fours, 38 Consensus First Team All-Americans, 102 regular season conference championships between the two and the list goes on and on. Kentucky and Kansas are college basketball and it will be a title game for the ages.
The fact of the matter is, Kentucky has the better players and it's been that way all season. I thought the Wildcats had the best chance to win the tournament when the bracket first came out and I still feel the same way. Kansas will give Kentucky all they can handle, Thomas Robinson versus Anthony Davis should be a good one, but I think the Wildcats will be bringing the hardware back to Lexington, their first since 1998. Kentucky 75, Kansas 72.
Another March Madness is in the books. It may not have been the most memorable, heartbreaking or shocking tournament of all-time, but still a pretty damn good one. It's always sad to see the tournament come to an end, but Major League Baseball returns Wednesday night and I personally cannot wait to see what the Cincinnati Reds have in store for this season. More thoughts on the Reds later in the week so stay tuned.
2012 has been a great sports year so far and here's to hoping it continues. Enjoy the final weekend of March Madness in the meantime.
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