There is one question that people are asking today, when all is said and done and the 2011 tournament is over with, who is the team that will be shown at the end of "One Shining Moment"? Who will be hoisting up the plaque and saying, with all the truth in the world, we are number one? We know it will either be Butler or Connecticut, teams that if you put $10 on before the season started you are in line to make a pretty good profit from, because no matter what success they achieved this year, national champions was not believed to be in the cards. So who is going to win, and why?
When looking at Butler you know it has to happen on the defensive end, because the athletes that Connecticut has, more so than a team like Pittsburgh from the Big East that Butler beat, are going to be able to defend the Bulldogs really well. Guys like Zach Hahn, Chase Stigall, and Andrew Smith are going to find it tough to score tonight. Then of course all the attention is going to be on Shelvin Mack and Matt Howard anyways. On that defensive end though, they can keep this game low scoring, low possession, and really make it a grind it out game that UConn would prefer to stay away from. They will have to decide if they are going to let Kemba Walker try and do his thing, and put their best defenders elsewhere like on Jeremy Lamb, or Shabazz Napier when he is in.
Now on offense they need Mack to really get started early, because when he starts off well they put themselves in a better position to win, stay out of early holes which they have usually had a tough time getting out of, despite what happened in the Florida game. They also need those roles players to continue to show up like they have been. Shawn Vanzant has really hit big shots in this tournament, and probably having a good defender on him in Jeremy Lamb is going to limit his chances, and he will need to step up and take advantage of his openings. Khyle Marshall is an X-factor because he has come on in these last few games and really given them great energy off the bench, and more importantly offensive rebounds and extra possessions. He needs to come in and get those rebounds and extra possessions again, because Butler is going to need to control the ball and tempo of this game.
Connecticut has to have the guys down low step up, that is maybe their greatest advantage tonight besides Kemba, their size and athleticism advantage over Butler in the paint. Alex Oriakhi and Roscoe Smith have to control the paint, get rebounds, block shots, and really be a presence down there. They will also need to watch their turnovers, because easy buckets are not what you want to give up to a Butler team that prefers to execute in the half court, giving them easy transition baskets would be like charity. They have been good in the tournament about turning the ball over, but Saturday against Kentucky they struggled, and this is the biggest stage where nerves could certainly get the better of people. Then the obvious would be the scoring of Kemba and Lamb, they need both of them to really come through and dominate the way that they have all season and tournament long. They will need guys like Smith, Napier, Oriakhi and Jamal Coombs-Mcdaniel to step up and hit shots, maybe have a couple of them get double figures, but it will be on Kemba, as it has all year, to run this team and dominate this game.
When all is said and done the Huskies are too athletic on the defensive end, something that gave a lot of teams trouble in this tournament, their opponents averaging only 59 points against them, and they will be able to keep the Bulldogs in check, though Mack can shoot from anywhere and steps up in big games so he will cause problems. Kemba may get off to a slow start, and it will be close for most of the first half, but he and Lamb will get it going in the second and Connecticut will win, though Butler will keep it close as always with their fight, and determination. In the end though Connecticut will remain undefeated in the 2010-11 season against opponents outside of the Big East, and they will win their third championship this season, and third National Championship under Jim Calhoun.
Last year when the Butler Bulldogs made it to the Final Four, and then the National Championship game, it was this feel good story of a little school going to play down the road from home in the Hoosier state. They were Cinderella, but were also a five seed, with an NBA lottery talent, and had an up and coming coach even before that run. They were not supposed to be there, but you could see why an upset or two got them there.
This year they come into the tournament a team that lost that NBA player, at one point were 14-9, an eight seed with a very losable first round match up, and once again not on people's radar. Well here they are now back in Monday night's National Championship game, and 40 minutes away from getting what eluded them by a half an inch on a half court heave. They beat the regular season champions from the Big East, the SEC, and took down a Big 10 foe to get there, and then last night they took out the team of destiny in VCU.
Both halves of last night's game really started out the same way, VCU coming out hyped and energetic and really taking control of the early going. Each half then followed the same suit of Shelvin Mack taking over for a period of time, and in each half Butler regained control and took the lead. Eventually both halves ended the same way too, with Butler ahead on the scoreboard.
These games are won by the players of course, but Brad Stevens continues to make brilliant moves here and there. Able to sit his two stars for extended periods of time in both halves, and put the lineups together that can keep their gameplan working and on pace for the victories.
Mack was able to take over the game when it was necessary, hit a dagger shot here, dagger shot there from outside to keep the Bulldogs in control, or to help them take control back. Just look at the stats, he went 5-6 from behind the arc, and all of those were huge shots. Matt Howard was able to his strong play despite not making a three, pulling down eight rebounds to go along with 17 points. Much like the Kentucky and Connecticut game though, it was about the other guys that really got this win for Butler, and is that not what Butler always is though, a team. Shawn Vanzant was able to hit big shot after big shot, a corner three when they needed it, a pull up 15 footer with both Howard and Mack on the bench. Just big shots. Then little Zach Hahn who had not really scored thus far in the tournament, he decides to go on a streak of scoring eight in a row before Mack would step up and do the same thing. Khyle Marshall came in and got nine rebounds, five of which were offensive and gave them extra possessions in a slowed down tempo.
That is what VCU was missing, because though Mack played incredible he was still not the best player on the court. Jamie Skeen of VCU played an MVP-caliber game last night, scoring 27 points on 10-17 shooting, while ripping down six boards, dishing out three assists, and making three of his four three point attempts. Unfortunately for the former Mr. Basketball in North Carolina the rest of the team only was up to score 35 points between them.
No, it was Butler again playing the team game, with a couple players of upper echelon talent taking over when necessary, and winning a national semifinal to play its way into a national championship game. They lost to Duke last year, maybe they can pull a Duke, a-la the loss to UNLV in 1990, only to come back the next year and win it all. It could happen.
You have probably heard it a thousand times by now, "What would you say if I told you that either Butler or VCU would be playing in the national championship game at the beginning of the tournament? You would call me nuts!" Well it has happened, and we have to deal with it. The great thing is, come tonight around 10 after six o'clock, we will probably have a great game of two teams on great tournament runs. Butler has had close games in all four of their match ups, and VCU has had probably the greatest NCAA Tournament run of all time, beating teams from the Pac 10, Big East, Big 10, ACC, and Big 12. Absolutely amazing. So who will win the meeting of the under dogs?
VCU has shot the ball incredibly well from behind the arc in this tournament, they really beat Kansas because of the number of first half three pointers they made. They need to maintain that hot shooting because Butler's defense is so stout, so physical, that they need to hit the open shots when they get them, like they have been all tournament long. They have to use their athleticism over the Butler players in certain match ups, especially since many times in the tournament they have not had that advantage at many positions. Joey Rodriguez has to control this game and its tempo, because he is the biggest reason on the court as to why they have made it this far. He has controlled the pace of their games, found the open man, made the open shots, and just made the correct play almost every time he was put in position to make a play. They need him to continue to play that way, because they know that Shelvin Mack is going to everything in his power to get back to that championship Monday.
Butler has to do one thing to win, play Butler tournament basketball, because that seems to work very well lately, a half an inch away from a 10 game tournament win streak. The key to Butler has been their defense, and if they are able to play that defense on VCU, and get the team concept to really get into the space and faces of the shooters, then VCU should find it difficult to keep up their hot shooting. The Bulldogs also have to make sure they hit the defensive glass, the last thing you want to give VCU is second chances, third chances and so on. The fewer possessions you give them the better, so they need to control the boards. Lastly, get Mack going early. He is a player that can take a game over, and if he is able to get started early, and he is a guy that thrives on the spotlight, then it could be a long day for the Rams, because he has that killer instinct, and he has it often.
I think that VCU comes out of the gates and really jumps out in front. They are hyped, energetic and really bring it to the Bulldogs on the offensive end. I think Mack and Matt Howard settle the guys down and they chip away at the lead, and their team defense figures out their slides and plays more cohesively as the game continues on. I see Butler coming out with the win, in another pretty close game.
The annual McDonald's High School All-American game took place last night, and the future stars of Duke, Kentucky, Syracuse, North Carolina and others took the United Center to show off their talents. There was a competitive game played, but as is with all star games its about the individuals, and in this high school game it is about what these guys show off for their future teams. There were the big names that you could only watch a 10 minutes special on, and then the top recruits that do not get quite as much fan fare. They were all there and all performed, who was the most impressive though.
Brad Beal, G, Florida: He was the most impressive to me last night, the way he played and moved looked great. He was very smooth on the court, and his shot was entertaining to watch. Scored the first points of the game effortlessly from outside and inside the arc. I had only heard a little of him before last night, but afterward I left thinking that Florida may lose their front court players to graduation, but their guards are going to be among the top in the nation next year.
Austin Rivers, G, Duke: The son of Doc Rivers is the top player in the class among many recruiting databases, and last night he was able to show why. Like Beal he looked real smooth in the way that he moved, especially on the offensive end. His shot looked great, and NBA range threes did not seem to pose a problem to him at all, but the most impressive play was when he attacked the rim and went across the lane in between defenders to lay in a reverse of the glass. Showed he is not just a shooter but a scorer, a real player. James McAdoo, F, North Carolina: The North Carolina front line is maybe the best set in the nation already, and now they are adding another athlete that can go inside and out. The most impressive part of McAdoo's game was not his great athleticness, but his ability to shoot from the outside. The versatility he brings with his game will give Roy Williams the opportunity to be versatile with his lineups, that if Harrison Barnes comes back could be the best in the nation. Anthony Davis, F, Kentucky: Anthony Davis not only grew a lot since he was a point guard in this class, he is a freak of an athlete, and there does not seem to be a lot he can not do. He can jump out of the gym and will be able to get John Calipari a lot of rebounds, he was the best athlete on the court last night.
Michael Gilchrist, F, Kentucky: He is a beast on the boards, and can score from anywhere on the court. He was among the most impressive last night because of how he showed there are a number of things he could do on the court. When you think of a front court that could consist of Terrence Jones, Davis, and Gilchrist you think Calipari should be all set come the start of the 2011-12 season. Shannon Scott, G, Ohio St.: Now Ohio St. already has Aaron Craft to man the point guard role next year, but Scott is going to be on that court and playing either way. Maybe it was because he was playing defense in an all star game, but Scott was really impressive with what he was able to do last night. He was the quickest guy on the floor, and the way he read passing lanes and was able to get into people was really great. Cody Zeller, F, Indiana: Zellers has always had something to deal with, first it was being the youngest of a basketball family powerhouse, now it is going to be the savior to Indiana basketball and Tom Crean's job maybe. Well last night he showed the arsenal that would be able to help him live up to all that. He was able to do his work on the inside, but like his brothers he showed the touch from outside, hit a nice little baseline fade away. He is definitely going to be big man on campus from day one.
Kyle Wiltjer, F, Kentucky: What gets you right away is his shot, and he showed that last night, as well as in winning the event's three point shooting contest. He will bring great diversity to Kentucky, if he can get on the court with all their talent, because he has a really pure stroke that he showed off last night. What might have been even better though, was when he went in for a little hook shot on the block. That is what he will need to succeed to the fullest, and it was impressive to see him do it against the best competition he has faced yet.
Myck Kabongo, G, Texas: The Canadian guard is following in the footsteps of Cory Joseph. He was able to distribute the ball last night and find the open man a lot of the time. The most impressive part of last night was his quickness, he was so quick out there in a game of players with superior quickness. In losing Balbay in Texas he will be able to step right in and run that two guard set with either Jospeh, or J'Covan Brown. Quinn Cook, G, Duke: Cook was going in as the second best point guard heading to Duke last night, but what was impressive was his court presence. He seemed to know when to push it, when to pull it back, when to take his own shot. The other thing was his speed and quickness, he has such a good frame that the speed and quickness he showed was a little unexpected and a pleasant surprise, and quite impressive. P.J. Hairston, G/F, North Carolina: Hairston was rather impressive last night, he showed great range, hitting a number of NBA range threes, and really showing a smooth form. The thing about last night though, and it was an all star game so this may be skewed, was his selfishness and looking for his own shot. Now a lot of guys were looking for their own shot, but in looking for his own shot it just seemed a little more selfish than the others, less willing to move the ball to get his own shot. Just something from last night that will be interesting to see in the future under Williams. Michael Carter-Williams, G, Syracuse: The guard from Syracuse was one of the more impressive players when it comes to effort, he was really getting after it and showed the ability to really get into his guys defensively. He really impressed when he decided to take a charge in an all star game, and his motor. He also showed great quickness and the ability to get into the lane and make plays.
Rakeem Christmas, F, Syracuse: The forward was really impressive in how he moved, at his size he was able to really run the court, get up and down at a good rate that will really help in the fastbreak game Syracuse likes to play. He also shot a little mid range jumper that looked smooth and was without hesitation which was nice. Unfortunately, he seemed to be disinterested at times and almost not into the game, which was troubling. He is going to need to show more initiative and hustle in the future.
Marshall Plumlee, F, Duke: One thing he has going for him is his athleticness, he can definitely move around the court and for his size that is a great attribute. On the other hand while watching him last night all that came to mind was the other two brothers. You heard about their size, they are athletes, but then they only show flashes of really contributing for Coach K. I saw some potential there, but in reality it just seemed like you were watching the two other brothers in a different body.
To say a team that just now has 15 wins at the end of March had the biggest win franchise history might be hyperbole, but it is what is behind the win. The way James left, the things he has said, the beat down given to the Cavaliers and their fans on December 2, all of that bundled up into one win on Tuesday night was something that might have given those fans as much satisfaction as any previous win. Perhaps that is the better way to categorize this, the most satisfying win the fans of the Cavaliers have ever had, rather than most meaningful win for the franchise. How does it compare though?
Perhaps you look at the game seven win in the series known as the "Miracle at Richfield" as the most satisfying win in Cav's basketball history. It was their sixth season in the league and that game seven victory was their first playoff series win, mostly because it was their first season to be above .500 and in the playoffs. That game might have just put the Cavaliers on the map, but it is not one of the wins you hear about when people speak of the franchise.
Then you skip ahead to the late 1980's after a long time of heart ache for Cleveland fans, and you have maybe their best stretch as a team, going on great runs and establishing themselves as contenders in the Eastern Conference. Their most memorable win came in game four of the first round best-of-five series in 1989 when they were able to beat Chicago in Chicago and force a game five back in Cleveland. The win over Michael Jordan and the Bulls was huge for the Cavs and their fans, invigorating the city. This game probably does not measure up though simply because of what happened next. That was the series that "The Shot" took place, when Jordan got the ball and seemed to hover in mid-air as Craig Ehlo flew by and he hit the series winning 15 foot jumper. The heartbreak of that game and series tends to take away from the game four satisfaction.
The next game that would be incredibly satisfying to Cavalier fans would be game one of the career of one LeBron James. He was the hometown boy, the high school phenom who was a man among boys, the consensus number one pick overall, and the savior. He did not disappoint either that night in Sacramento as he had 25 points, nine assists, six rebounds, and four steals while shooting 60% from the floor. An amazing debut as an 18 year old right out of high school, and a game that Cavalier fans had to love and get an extreme feeling of satisfaction, knowing they were heading in the right direction.
The next great, satisfying game that Cavs fans will remember came in the playoffs in 2006, in LeBron's first playoff game he joined Magic Johnson and Johnny McCarthy as the only players to have a triple-double in their first playoff game. He recorded 32 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists. The pride that they felt as one of their own was able to join such an elite club in a playoff series they would eventually win for the first time in years.
After that came the game that many would assume to be the most satisfying game Cavs fans could have had, and maybe could ever have, when LeBron simply went off. With the series tied at two games apiece with the Detroit Pistons, Cleveland found themselves on the road and looking to LeBron. He responded. He scored 29 of the teams last 30 points, the last 25 points in the game, as well as the game winning shot with two second left for the double overtime victory. Not to mention the nine rebounds and seven assists in a game that would eventually propel them to the franchise's one and only NBA Finals appearance. That is a hard game to top.
Then comes Tuesday night's game though. This game has so many factors to it that make it satisfying and special to the fans of the Cavaliers. LeBron had left them, and not only left them but did so in a fashion that both hurt and disgusted those fans. They felt disrespected, and it was a level of disrespect that rose exponentially from the fact that it was by one of their own, the man that they had called their King. The way he treated them that night, and in the months since "The Decision." Then tonight, when they thought maybe all they would get was a chance to boo this man, and show their discontent, something they can do on only two nights out of 365, he is hiding in the locker room, taking away one of the few things they still had over him. Why he would do that boggles minds, and is just fuel to the fire. Not really sure what he thought would come of that, even if it was something as simple as using the restroom, think of how that will come across.
So what is the most satisfying win, the game seven that won their first playoff series? They have won many series since, and people just do not seem to even remember it. The game four victory in Chicago, a monumental win at the time for the franchise? "The Shot" kind of knocked that one down quite a bit, it is hard to celebrate a win that then led to one of the city's most heartbreaking moments, let alone the Cavaliers. How about LeBron in his first game? The triple-double in hist first playoff game? Maybe the Jordan-like performance to defeat the Pistons en route to their first NBA Finals? "The Decision" seemed to wipe away all of those sentiments did it not? The hate they have for him now, the disrespect that was shown has tainted all of those moments right? This win, with the worst team in the league, when he skipped introductions, by double-digits, just might be the most satisfying and long lasting win these fans have had, and will have.
It comes down to your criteria, most satisfying that night? That week? That month? Forever? However you deem the time frame that is going to determine the "winner" of this poll as to the most satisfying win in Cavaliers history. Other than maybe that performance to beat the Pistons, this game might be the run away winner. Just ask Cavalier fans.
It is now that time of year for the national player of the year, freshman of the year, coach of the year awards to being getting announced. Well yesterday the Associated Press came out with their annual All-American First Team, and the question is simple, did they get it right?
Well there were a few no brainers for the list, and luckily they got those right, then it seemed to get interesting when the big men came into play:
G Jimmer Freddette BYU (64 of 65 votes) G Nolan Smith Duke (61 of 65 votes) G Kemba Walker Connecticut (51 of 65 votes) F Jared Sullinger Ohio State (58 of 65 votes) C JaJuan Johnson Purdue (44 of 65 votes)
I have a couple of problems with the list and voting that took place. First of all, it seems interesting to me that Jimmer got one vote less than a unanimous selection, which almost feels as if there were a sort of personal aspect to that voting. What did all but one of the voters see that this last one could not, that just feels weird and it makes the reader of the list a little uneasy.
The second problem with this list deals with votes again, Kemba Walker and his lack of them. Not only did Kemba Walker's play deserve first team, it should have been in the 60 plus vote range, and he should not have found himself behind a freshman big man, that he had a better year than in the toughest conference in America. There is no way 14 voters could tell me that he did not deserve to be on that list, maybe three or four could make arguments, but a total of what equates out to over 21% of the voters believed him not to be first team worthy is atrocious. No matter when the voting took place.
Then the issue of the players left off the list comes into play, and that has to do with the big men. In the terms of how good Ohio State was all year the team aspect was overlooked for a good part of the season. Sullinger is a great talent, a nice kid, and definitely deserving of being in the top seven players being voted onto this list, but that is just it, top seven, not top five. He had a great year, but the idea was that this big man (which the college basketball experts drool over in their game) came in and put this school on his back. They had the all time Big 10 three point record holder on their team shooting 50% for the year. They had two forward/guard seniors that were able to do anything on the court that you could ask of them. Lastly, he was playing in a Big 10 that did not have the upper echelon big men that people have become used to seeing. That is where the selection of Johnson comes into play as well, because despite his great year, he was not going up against the best big men in the country night in and night out, and there were players elsewhere that deserved to be on that list, and receiving votes ahead of them.
Derrick Williams has now become a name that everyone knows, and if the draft were today he would have a great shot at being taken number one. He is a freak athletically, and he was able to at times put his team on his back just like Sullinger and Johnson were able to. Just look at his statistical output, to go along with his freak attributes and NBA ready body (which I am aware not part of the All-American criteria). He averaged 19.5 points per game, 8.3 rebounds per game, 1.1 assists as a big man, a steal per game, shot 59.5% from the field, and that included over 56% from outside the three point line. Those stats are ridiculous and those do not even include the intangibles he brought to his team, and game winning plays he made, including a huge block to win a game that he duplicated later on in the NCAA Tournament. Derrick Williams should have been getting at least the fourth most votes to be an All-American.
The second player that should have been on this team might have been overshadowed a little bit simply because you might not always know it is him doing the things that he is doing. Marcus Morris was a stud in the Big 12 and was deserving of being on the first team. the man averaged over 17 points a game and nearly brought down eight rebounds while dropping almost two dimes a game. He was playing a mixture of the small and power forward spots and doing that damage. His versatility to play four, maybe all five positions if Bill Self asked him to, his intangibles, and ability to know when his team needed him to step up were outstanding. In a list of the guys that should have been recognized as first team All-Americans I believe that Morris should have found his way onto that list.
VCU became only the third 11 seed to ever reach the Final Four on Sunday, and the first since 2006 when Jim Larranaga and his bunch from George Mason put on that glass slipper and embraced the role of Cinderella. If VCU had played and won on Saturday against Kansas it would have eerily been the five year anniversary to the day of that awe inspiring win over one seed Connecticut. So who had a more impressive and inspirational run, VCU or George Mason?
You take a look at something that is strangely similar, the bashing of the two teams before a game was played in the tournament. Back in 2006 Billy Packer of CBS was very vocal of his displeasure for the Patriots even being invited to the dance, and that ended up biting Packer in the butt as they made their way into the Final Four to face eventual champion Florida. VCU was struck with similar criticism, even more wide spread this time, as you had Dick Vitale, Doug Gottlieb, and Jay Bilas (amongst many others) saying that they should not only not be in compared to other teams resumes, but should not have even been in the consideration. The fuel that naysayers provided the two of them.
Well with the pregame talks out of the way the games had to be played, and that is instantly giving VCU a leg up on George Mason because they had to play in the First Four game. The inaugural First Four experiment has certainly gotten the boost it needed from the Rams, because maybe next year people will be more interested by the teams playing in it. They were able to take on a power conference team, and hold them to only one field goal over the final nine minutes in a 59-46 win. The win was the momentum starter with all that negative talk that the Rams just might have needed to put it all together.
VCU 1 George Mason 0
Then came the round of 64 and a match up with a six seed for the two teams. In that round George Mason was able to take out the tournament juggernaut that is Michigan St., while VCU was able to knock off Big East's Georgetown en route to a third game. The difference here is where Georgetown was coming into this game, on a losing streak and trying to insert senior leader Chris Wright who had missed over a month due to a broken bone in his non shooting hand. They were not the team that had risen to a possible three seed prior to the injury, and it could be said that VCU caught them at a good time, a team that does not really have a good tournament record following their last trip to the Final Four with Jeff Green and Roy Hibbert.
VCU 1 George Mason 1
In the last game of the first weekend George Mason was facing no easy task, as they had the defending champion North Carolina Tar Heels to deal with. They were able to defeat the Tar Heels by slowing them down and making it a grind of a game, pulling it out 65-60. This was their second win against the power conferences and a larger upset than the previous game had been, winning over a three seed in North Carolina. VCU matched up next with Purdue out of the Big 10, getting a third win from a power conference, and winning despite the fact that they were dominated down low going into the game with JaJuan Johnson being one of the nation's top big men. They were able to shut down E'Twaun Moore, only allowing him to get 10 points, in the dismantling of Purdue, outscoring them by 10 in the first half and eight in the second. Given the absolute domination of the Boilermakers, VCU has to get the upper hand in making it to the second weekend.
VCU 2 George Mason 1
So both teams found themselves in the sweet 16, and both were lucky enough to not have to face the two seed in their bracket, as they had already been knocked off. With that being said George Mason got more of a reprieve than VCU, because you can not just look at the seedings. In terms of that, VCU got a 10 seed and George Mason got a seven seed, but the difference was in the competition, as VCU had to play against Florida St., the nation's best defensive team perhaps, and George Mason was facing Wichita St., another mid major. Florida St. came out punching and VCU was able to withstand it, shoot 46% from three as a team, and hold on for a win in overtime against Florida St. George Mason was able to control the game against the Shockers, and win going away 63-55. In terms of the tougher and more impressive win, the edge goes to VCU.
VCU 3 George Mason 1
Finally we have the Elite Eight match ups, both got no reprieve here as they had to face the number one seeds in their region, Kansas and Connecticut. Now VCU was facing a Kansas team yesterday that was clearly among the two best teams in the nation all year with Ohio St., and they were outmatched again at almost every major position, but they were able to shoot their way to a huge lead in the first half, while Kansas could not hit water in the middle of the ocean. They took their nine first half threes and went into the locker room up 14, only to come back out and get hit right in the mouth, Kansas opening the second half on a 19-7 run to cut the lead to 48-46. The Rams then regrouped and shot their way back out of it, gaining a 10 point lead right back, and holding on for an incredible upset, one of the bigger ones in tournament history.
George Mason's upset to reach the Final Four though can not be overlooked, because going into that game Connecticut was a prohibitive favorite and seen as the overall best team in the nation by a good margin. They were loaded with NBA talent, moreso than the Kansas team that VCU beat yesterday, and their top talent was better than the Jayhawks top talent. In that game George Mason was not only able to stay in it in regulation, helped in large part by their outside shooting, but they forced overtime. There you thought that the Huskies would regroup and win this one going away with the extra five minutes. Wrong. George Mason hit 5-6 shots and was able to hold on for the 86-84 victory when Denham Brown missed a three at the buzzer. Given the teams involved in the two games, you have to definitely give the Elite Eight edge to George Mason.
VCU 3 George Mason 2
When it comes down to it the fact that VCU was able to win that extra game, against a power conference school, and beat five power conference schools to George Mason's three, was what put them over the top. They had to win more games against better competition as a whole. Though that win by George Mason to make it into the Final Four over Connecticut could have still almost pushed them in front because that was an upset for the ages. There is no way that they should have beaten that team, but they did, and that is why these two Cinderella stories are so great, taking the criticism and naysayers and just continuing to come out on top.
able to defend the Bulldogs really well. Guys like Zach Hahn, Chase Stigall, and Andrew Smith are going to find it tough to score tonight. Then of course all the attention is going to be on Shelvin Mack and Matt Howard anyways. On that defensive end though, they can keep this game low scoring, low possession, and really make it a grind it out game that UConn would prefer to stay away from. They will have to decide if they are going to let Kemba Walker try and do his thing, and put their best defenders elsewhere like on Jeremy Lamb, or Shabazz Napier when he is in.
anywhere and steps up in big games so he will cause problems. Kemba may get off to a slow start, and it will be close for most of the first half, but he and Lamb will get it going in the second and Connecticut will win, though Butler will keep it close as always with their fight, and determination. In the end though Connecticut will remain undefeated in the 2010-11 season against opponents outside of the Big East, and they will win their third championship this season, and third National Championship under Jim Calhoun.
