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VCU - No one is playing better basketball right now then the Rams of Virginia Commonwealth. 5 wins, 4 of them by startlingly large margins, over power conference teams have cemented VCU as the talk of the nation. I haven't been able to turn my head this week without seeing head coach Shaka Smart. The narrative of this play-in underdog from the CAA is so powerful that Alabama coach Anthony Grant had to remind interviewers this week that he's coaching the Crimson Tide, and not the Rams, because he was getting so many questions about his former school. Many will talk about Kemba Walker from UCONN, but Ram forward Jamie Skeen has been equally impressive through the tournament, including his 26/10 performance in the shocker over Kansas. The only power conference they haven't taken a bite out of is the SEC, and they could get their chance if they were to meet Kentucky in the final.
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| They're playing excellent basketball right now, but can they keep it up? |
Butler - As probably one of the most eyebrow-raising repeat regional champions in history, the Butler Bulldogs are the only team in Houston with the right to talk "been-there-done-that." After making their national final run last season, and losing star Gordon Hayward to the NBA, many people (myself included) thought "well that was nice, but welcome back to reality." Yet, coach Brad Stevens has his squad back in the Final Four. Two weeks ago, one of my roommates commented "I should've known about Butler (when filling out my bracket)," and in retrospect maybe we all should have. The squad is lead by the relentless play of forward Matt Howard and the do-it-all guard Sheldon Mack.
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| Howard and Butler are back for another bite at the national title apple. |
Kentucky - Kentucky coach John Calipari has now taken 3 different programs to Final Fours. I wholly expected that feat from him at some point in his Kentucky career, he's a fantastic recruiter and UK nearly recruits itself, but this appearance seems before its time to me and many others. After losing 5 players to last year's NBA draft, to have his program in serious contention for a title is a serious feather in the cap for "Coach Cal." Everyone has been talking about bulky center Josh Harrelson, who's been averaging 15/9 in the Tournament, but I think this team will live and die in Houston based on the streaky play of Brandon Knight.
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| You may not like him, but you have to recognize Coach Cal's talent |
UCONN - Interestingly, this is the only team in the semi-finals to not have beaten their regional #1. Beset by a violations scandal that had been brewing for two years, the Huskies have rebounded to win their last 9 games and a Big East title. They played those 9 games in the span of 3 weeks, and I have to believe they're getting tired, title on the line or not. Obviously, the fate of UCONN will be decided by the play of the nation's single best player: 6-1 guard Kemba Walker. He's beyond good, and has been averaging near 27 points/game in the month of March with 4 efforts over 30.
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| Kemba is Connecticut basketball. |
Predicitons - It's been a nice run for VCU, but Butler's experience should send the Bulldogs through to the title; this should be a fantastic game. Butler 83 - VCU 79
UK and UCONN played earlier this season in the Maui Invitational, and the Wildcats got blown out of the warm Hawaiian waters 84-67. I don't think it'll be that large of a gap, but Kemba Walker is too much for anyone to handle right now, and UCONN will have just enough gas to keep the train rolling to extend their winning streak to 10. UCONN 76 - Kentucky 69
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