The majority of office bracket pools have been thoroughly busted, and three of the four teams heading into the NCAA Tournament’s Final Four are a surprise to many. Here’s a look back at the action that unfolded between Thursday and Sunday, as well as a preview of the matchups that will take place this weekend in Atlanta.
Louisville Cardinals point guard Russ Smith has been the talk of the tournament, and his NBA draft stock has increased dramatically over the course of last few weeks. High definition television allows cameras to zoom out to angles that encompass the entire court, which Smith often crosses in just a few seconds’ time. The young and talented leader has made dozens of lightning-quick slashes to the rim over the course of this tournament, and he will certainly be doing so on NBA hardcourts this winter.
Duke Blue Devils head coach Mike Kryzewski has clearly demonstrated the ability to build solid college basketball teams filled with genuinely good young people, and he is a first ballot Hall of Famer as soon as he becomes eligible. That having been said, the Duke Blue Devils were dominated over the course of the second half by a Louisville Cardinals team led by equally well-known and respected head coach Rick Pitino. The result was a 22-point Louisville victory, which sent a clear statement through the college hoops world that they are the best team in the tournament.
Former NBA stars Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith make excellent halftime analysts, and they have repeatedly chosen to focus on poor officiating throughout the tournament. Flagrant fouls have been of particular concern, and the line between a personal foul, a flagrant 1 and a flagrant 2 seems to be a bit blurry. The impact that the call has on the college level is much greater than the pros for a number of reasons, and games can be swayed and ultimately determined by a flagrant foul call in the final minutes. It’s always unfortunate when officiating takes center stage, but the Final Four will likely be devoid of any calls that make an impact on the final minutes of any of the games.
The Wichita State Shockers have had an amazing run, but it will probably end on Saturday at the hands of the Cardinals. The winner of the Michigan Wolverines and Syracuse Orange game will play on Monday evening, where they will have the chance to forever etch their names onto the pages of college basketball folklore with a victory.