Spring Break
"GENERAL"-ly Speaking: The Last Men Standing
Joshua P. Gaccione
Issue date: 3/31/05 Section: Sports
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03/31/05 - So your brackets are busted, your "diaper-dandies" were sent home sucking their thumbs and there is absolutely no way that you picked this year's Final Four on your first bracket. Although the regional champions aren't exactly an astonishment, the road to St. Louis was a bumpy path for not only the perennial powerhouse teams, but for those bracketologists who had them winning.
Not since the years of the late 90s when URI and PC were in the Regionals (and no I was not a student at URI yet) has there been a more electrifying tournament. Look no further than Bucknell who layed the smack down on the tourney-choking Kansas Jay Hawks (and wasn't Bucknell just an intramural team last year), UConn, the defending national champions, were ousted in the second round and Villanova was one step (one too many steps actually) from sending the Tar Heels back home to Chapel Hill and dining hall grits.
Louisville, this year's disrespected team, tore up the Albuquerque bracket, and Michigan St. handily defeated both Duke and Kentucky. What more could a college basketball enthusiast ask for? I know... the winners.
No. 1 North Carolina vs. No. 5 Michigan St.
UNC (31-4) was a dominant force, in one of the best conferences (ACC) all year long. Losing in the ACC Finals to an overachieving Georgia Tech team was exactly what the Tar Heels needed. They have coasted their way through the Syracuse bracket led by junior center Sean May (21.5 ppg) and have four starters in double figures. Had it not been for the incredible season by Illinois, UNC would have spent most of the year as no. 1, looking down at the rest of the field.
Michigan St. (26-6) has been a team of ups and downs, hots and colds. After ending the miracle-season of UVM, the Spartans have since annihilated both No. 1 Duke and No. 2 Kentucky in the same weekend. They have all five starters averaging in double figures and definitely know how to put points on the board. This is the same team, however, that was trounced by GW (96-83) earlier in the season. The Spartans will need a career day down-low from 6' 11" center Paul Davis (55 percent from the field) if they want to stay close.
Look for Michigan St. to come out strong early, riding the wave of their past success. UNC is too strong and too deep for the Spartans to hang. The Tar Heels pull away at the end 78-71.
No. 4 Louisville vs. No. 1 Illinois
Now this is the game of games. This Louisville Cardinal team has played with a chip on its shoulder for the entire tournament. Feeling disrespected with their No. 4 seeding, Rick Patino's team has made quick work of all who have come their way. Junior Francisco Garcia has been the best guard in the tournament. Shooting lights out from behind the arc, he may as well start shooting from the half-court line, at least that is where the Illini will have to guard him from.
The Fighting Illini from Illinois (36-1) have won, it's that simple. In a way, they play like the Patriots, just finding a way to win, no matter how ugly it looks. They have been a handicapper's nightmare, but a dream come true for Coach Bruce Webber who is bringing his team to the Final Four for the first time in sixteen years. Guards Deron Williams and Luther Head are playing flawless basketball, and never miss a big shot. With all five starters shooting in double figures the Illini are never strapped to find a body to throw down the rock.
Look for Louisville to jump out to a big lead behind their fearless three point shooters. When the shots stop falling, so will their lead. Illinois will make it close at the end, but Patino's team will pull it out. Louisville, my bracket champion, will go on to face the Tar Heels for the National Championship by defeating Illinois 83-80.
Enjoy the games, it's the best competition you'll see ... until Sox vs. Yanks Sunday night. GO CARDINALS!
Not since the years of the late 90s when URI and PC were in the Regionals (and no I was not a student at URI yet) has there been a more electrifying tournament. Look no further than Bucknell who layed the smack down on the tourney-choking Kansas Jay Hawks (and wasn't Bucknell just an intramural team last year), UConn, the defending national champions, were ousted in the second round and Villanova was one step (one too many steps actually) from sending the Tar Heels back home to Chapel Hill and dining hall grits.
Louisville, this year's disrespected team, tore up the Albuquerque bracket, and Michigan St. handily defeated both Duke and Kentucky. What more could a college basketball enthusiast ask for? I know... the winners.
No. 1 North Carolina vs. No. 5 Michigan St.
UNC (31-4) was a dominant force, in one of the best conferences (ACC) all year long. Losing in the ACC Finals to an overachieving Georgia Tech team was exactly what the Tar Heels needed. They have coasted their way through the Syracuse bracket led by junior center Sean May (21.5 ppg) and have four starters in double figures. Had it not been for the incredible season by Illinois, UNC would have spent most of the year as no. 1, looking down at the rest of the field.
Michigan St. (26-6) has been a team of ups and downs, hots and colds. After ending the miracle-season of UVM, the Spartans have since annihilated both No. 1 Duke and No. 2 Kentucky in the same weekend. They have all five starters averaging in double figures and definitely know how to put points on the board. This is the same team, however, that was trounced by GW (96-83) earlier in the season. The Spartans will need a career day down-low from 6' 11" center Paul Davis (55 percent from the field) if they want to stay close.
Look for Michigan St. to come out strong early, riding the wave of their past success. UNC is too strong and too deep for the Spartans to hang. The Tar Heels pull away at the end 78-71.
No. 4 Louisville vs. No. 1 Illinois
Now this is the game of games. This Louisville Cardinal team has played with a chip on its shoulder for the entire tournament. Feeling disrespected with their No. 4 seeding, Rick Patino's team has made quick work of all who have come their way. Junior Francisco Garcia has been the best guard in the tournament. Shooting lights out from behind the arc, he may as well start shooting from the half-court line, at least that is where the Illini will have to guard him from.
The Fighting Illini from Illinois (36-1) have won, it's that simple. In a way, they play like the Patriots, just finding a way to win, no matter how ugly it looks. They have been a handicapper's nightmare, but a dream come true for Coach Bruce Webber who is bringing his team to the Final Four for the first time in sixteen years. Guards Deron Williams and Luther Head are playing flawless basketball, and never miss a big shot. With all five starters shooting in double figures the Illini are never strapped to find a body to throw down the rock.
Look for Louisville to jump out to a big lead behind their fearless three point shooters. When the shots stop falling, so will their lead. Illinois will make it close at the end, but Patino's team will pull it out. Louisville, my bracket champion, will go on to face the Tar Heels for the National Championship by defeating Illinois 83-80.
Enjoy the games, it's the best competition you'll see ... until Sox vs. Yanks Sunday night. GO CARDINALS!
