COLUMN: Final Four selections
I start with a very vital disclaimer: this column is going to be boring. Incredibly boring.
I know. I know. We’re talking about the columnist who makes a living off of writing about Slurpees, facial hair and obscure 1990s pop-culture references. How could he possibly put together a piece that lacked any flair?
It’s easier than you would think. I give you the warning of this column’s boredom because, quite frankly, there isn’t much I can tell you that you don’t already know. I mean, we’ve had three weeks of filling out brackets, studying film on players we never even close to knew from Adam earlier this year, and keeping our fingers beyond crossed in hopes of those ever-so-sexy Cinderella-style upsets.
And golly Miss Molly did we see them. I can’t recall the last time I saw that many double-digit seeds moving so far into the tournament. For a while during the NCAA Tournament, it seemed as if nobody was safe, that any school nestled comfortably in the field had their own weight in the ring in hopes of capturing a title.
As much as I hate to be the gloomy bubble buster, those days are over. I’ve looked at it from every angle, and I have become increasingly convinced that the writing is very much on the wall for this weekend’s final four. At the end of the day, or the tournament in this case, it simply comes down to separating momentum with star power.
Don’t believe me? Let’s take a look at the Final Four games and see.
Ohio State vs. Kansas – The Ohio State Buckeyes comes into this matchup with quite the tool clad to reign victorious. It can be summed up in three simple words: Jared freaking Sullinger.
It’s pretty simple; the kid can ball and lead an offense. When his game is on and he stays out of foul trouble the Buckeyes are a scoring machine and can play up with just about anyone in the league.
Here’s the problem: Kansas is coached by Bill Self, and Kansas has the size to slow down an always fast-paced Ohio State team. No surprises here, Kansas wins.
Louisville vs. Kentucky – The Louisville Cardinals were so much a sleeper pick in the tournament you would swear they were on NyQuil. It didn’t seem feasible, but they matched well with every team they played, smartened up on defense late in games and fed from the palms of coach Rick Pitino enough to get them where they are. They are the very epitome of momentum and possibly the only team with a profile to give Kentucky a run for their money.
The Wildcats, however, also have a dominant tool in their quiver, and it is also summed up in three words: Anthony freaking Davis.
The difference between him and Sullinger? Davis is too powerful to be stopped. It’s hard for me to believe Louisville can stop this scary conglomerate of size and speed. Kentucky wins by a ton.
Championship Game – Kentucky vs. Kansas – The biggest part of me wants to go with Kansas on this. I mean, they are young, fast and well coached, but the Wildcats just have too much going for them on both sides of the ball. I fully expect Kentucky to dominate the ball and leave New Orleans as National Champions.
Now, did any of that shock you? I told you it was boring. My apologies in advance.
– Steve Schwartzman is a junior studying communication studies. He has had just about every job in sports writing, including blogs, analysis, statistics and fantasy football tips, but especially loves making bold picks. Think you can out-pick Steve? Let him know: steve.schwartzman@aggiemail.usu.edu.