NCAA Championship Game

Ok, this is it. This is the final men's NCAA basketball game of the season. We have the Michigan State Spartans going up against the North Carolina Tarheels for all the marbles. Can we call this one 'The Throwdown in Motown'? This NCAA tournament didn't provide a lot of surprises until the end, so will it provide us any more? The Tarheels are widely favored by many as the team to beat. The Spartans have been the under dogs for the majority of the year and especially now. Although, they have the one thing that many teams don't in this tournament for the final game, home court advantage. Let's take a look at this matchup.


Coaching: Roy Williams vs. Tom Izzo

Both coaches are good/great. Some might say that Tom Izzo has done more with less than many other coaches. The other day, my father-in-law and I had a discussion about the number of Michigan State Spartans in (or have played in) the NBA that Izzo has coached. Charlie Bell, Mateen Cleaves, Morris Peterson, and Alan Anderson are some of the first that come to mind. Other than that, there aren't the high profile guys that have come out of the Michigan State Program. Roy Williams on the other hand has coached at Kansas and has 10 of his Kansas players go in the first round of the NBA draft. So maybe Izzo gets the slight edge here because he gets the most out of his kids than Williams.

Advantage: Even

Point Guard: Ty Lawson vs. Kalin Lucas

Everyone knows about Ty Lawson. When he's on, he's one of the best point guards in the NCAA and a sure fire 1st round pick in the NBA Draft this summer. He has worked on his shot from the 3 and he has also worked on being a little bit more in control. He has a great first step and can find his teammates easily to get them going. When UNC needs it, he takes over the game. Kalin Lucas has shown us through the tournament that he is as quick as Lawson. He can score, he runs his team in the half court sets well, and he can hit a shot when his team needs it. This is going to be the showdown of the game. Which ever point guard plays better, in mind estimation gets the win. If they play even, then the balance shifts to UNC because of the talent.

Advantage: UNC

Shooting Guard: Wayne Ellington vs. Durrell Summers (you can switch Travis Walton here also)

Wayne Ellington did him self justice by returning to UNC last year instead of heading to the NBA. He has shown a better shooting stroke (catching fire as of late) and the ability to take the ball to the rack. Durrell Summers has shown the ability to shut down people in the tournament, while at the same time he has been a pretty consistent 10 point a game scorer. He's probably the most athletic player the Spartans have and he could switch between guarding Ellington or Danny Green. I think they go with him on Ellington because they are about the same size (6-4).

Advantage: UNC

Small Forward: Danny Green vs. Travis Walton (you can switch Durrell Summers here also)

Danny Green may be the lynch pin to this Carolina team. He has been known to catch fire from the 3 point line and just be an a do it all kind of player. Green doesn't wow you by any athletic means, but he always seems to be there when you need him. A three here, a rebound there, a put back, whatever you need. Travis Walton has been a stopper for the Spartans. He has done a great job in the tournament and he gets the opportunity to continue this job against Danny Green (or Ellington).

Advantage: UNC

Power Forward: Deon Thompson vs. Raymar Morgan

This is going to be a battle. Thompson has turned himself into a 3rd banana of sorts. He can score around the basket and block shots. He's always ready to get the ball when he sees Lawson driving to the basket. He plays good defense and could be a star in another system (Coach K, this is the type of big man you need at Duke,...sorry for that note, yeah a little off track). Raymar Morgan is a smaller big man, but he has the heart and he can score around the basket or on the perimeter. He may be able to pull Thompson away from the basket.

Advantage: Even

Center: Tyler Hansbrough vs. Goran Suton

This ought to be a good matchup. Hansbrough has all of the accolades to back him up. He can score in the paint, rebound, and has a decent jumper that can extend to the three point line. I will go on record to say Hansbrough is overrated, but he hustles and he does the dirty work for his team. If you fall into that Hansbrough being overrated, he'll kill you. Suton has been a beast in the tournament. He has shown that euro game, a big man that can space the floor and hit jumpers from all over the place. He can rebound and has a bit of a mean streak in him that may serve him well during this matchup. He definitely won't back down from Hansbrough.

Advantage: UNC

Bench: UNC vs. Michigan State

The Tarheels have a deep bench with all different kinds of attributes: Frasor (shooting, guard play), Zeller and Davis (another big who can score and rebound), and Larry Drew II. The Spartans go 10 deep and they can bring scoring (Lucious and Allen), hustle and rebounding (Delvon Roe).

Advantage: Even

Intangibles: Michigan State is playing at home and they have been on a roll. Carolina has guys that were there last year and decided to come back in order to win the big one.

Advantage: Even


Outcome: I'm sticking with the ACC on this one. This Carolina team is too deep and too talented. Michigan State will play and keep this one close, but look for Carolina to puts some distance at the end and run away with this one.


Who you got? Does Michigan State have a chance?

Final Four

Ok, we're down to the last 3 games of the college basketball (thanks AverageBro, 'cocaine is a powerful drug) season. Let's take a look at the teams playing tonight and see who I'm picking to play in the Championship game.

6:07 pm EST

Michigan State vs. Connecticut - I would say the team that we didn't think would be here is the Michigan State Spartans. They played in the Big Ten, which I thought wasn't a good league this year anyway. But they have played their way into the Final Four by playing Spartan basketball, and that starts with DEFENSE. They don't have a lot of offense, so they need to keep the game in the 60's in order to win. They have the guard play and active bigs, which is the recipe for winning this game. Connecticut comes in with Hasheem Thabeet being the name that had been pushed to the forefront, but Stanley Robinson and Kemba Walker will be the reason the Huskies win (or lose). I have to go with the team that has the size and the guard play.

Projected Winner - Connecticut

8:47pm EST

Villanova vs. North Carolina - This Villanova team is showing us that heart has a lot to do with winning. They have Scottie Reynolds and like I've said before, Dante Cunningham scares me, because he's not a big big, but he definitely gets the job done on the boards and through his scoring. Unfortunately for them, they are going up against a juggernaut. Let's cut to the chase, I'm a Duke fan and the Wildcats beat my Dukies, but the ACC will pay them back for that. Carolina is too deep and too talented. Like I've said before, they have many different weapons and the odds of all of them having a bad day,...well let's just say you'd have a better chance winning the lottery without buying a ticket.

Projected Winner - North Carolina

Elite 8 - Part 2

Today is going to be a good day of games. You have two #1 vs. #2 games. Like I said before, I have my pick for NCAA champion playing today.

2:20pm EST

Michigan St. vs. Louisville - Michigan State pulled out a close one against Kansas. The thing they showed me is that they have that fight in them. They were down 13 and they ended up winning. I like Lucas and the rest of this cast, but the light they see coming down the tunnel is a train. Louisville looked awesome playing against Arizona. I mean the Wildcats had a rough time inbounding the ball. I think Rick Pitino got a basket during the game (let me check the box score). Louisville looked so good, I can't in good confidence pick anyone over them right now.

Projected Winner - Louisville

5:05pm EST

Oklahoma vs. North Carolina - Oklahoma showed me something against Syracuse. I think that they showed me that they can play even without their All American, Blake Griffin. This team has scoring on the perimeter and when they have Blake Griffin in the post, he's gonna get you 20 and 10 if he's sleep walking. North Carolina destroyed Gonzaga in the same manner that Louisville beat Arizona. I think that Carolina is deep enough in the front court to handle Blake Griffin. The Heels are deeper and they have the better point guard in Ty Lawson. Lawson looked okay yesterday, but if you watched him he was running differently, he wasn't running on his toes, he was running flat footed. With back to back games, we'll see just how good that toe is feeling. Still, Heels will be too much.

Projected Winner - North Carolina

Sweet Sixteen - Part 2

Great games last night, but tonight is THE night. In most of my brackets, the winner of the tournament is coming from one of these games. Let's take a look at the tale of the tape.

7:07pm EST - Arizona vs. Louisville - Yes, I was surprised that Arizona made the tournament, but once they were in, I knew they'd mess up some people's brackets. These guys have talent and actually started playing well late in the season and they look like the team that many thought they would be throughout the year. They have their own big 3 in Budinger, Hill, and Wise. These guys have NBA talent and they are scary.

Louisville has the best coach to ever wear a white suit and a few guys that will just flat out out play you. Terrance Williams is possibly the best all around player in the tournament and when you add Clark and Samuels to the mix, that makes this pressing and running team tough to beat. I have Louisville in the title game, so there should be no question about which team I pick.

Projected Winner: Louisville

7:27pm EST

Syracuse vs. Oklahoma - The team on the roll against the team with the National Player of the Year (yes let's just go ahead and give it to Blake Griffin, no one even close). The Cuse as we all have seen (whoever stayed up to watch that 6 OT game against UCONN) have been playing well. They have one of the best point guards in the country in Jonny Flynn. Along with Flynn they have 4 other guys that average 10+ points a game. To me that means that any of these guys could go off on you at any time. Dangerous team.

Oklahoma is led by Griffin. Blake Griffin. He's a double double machine and he just seems to command attention. The Syracuse 2-3 zone will help limit his touches where he's most dangerous, in the paint. Oklahoma is going to have to hope their guards can hit those 3's. So, with that said, Austin Johnson is going to have to be hitting on all cylinders.

Projected Winner: Syracuse

9:37pm EST

Kansas vs. Michigan State - Big Ten vs. Big 12. This Kansas team is dangerous because they are deep. Bill Self might play 12 people tonight. Sherron Collins is the cog in the wheel, but this team is balanced and they play a good team game. Aldrich already had a big game, can he do it again?

Michigan State is led by Kalin Lucas and Raymar Morgan. But this Spartan team is also balanced and they push the ball pretty well. Coach Izzo has his team poised to make some noise this year, and I think they take care of Kansas.

Projected Winner: Michigan State

9:57pm EST

Gonzaga vs. North Carolina - Never has a big toe caused such a stir. Ty Lawson has said he will play and everyone wearing Carolina blue is praying for his toe to heal. If Lawson is at full strength, I don't see anyone beating them. They have too many horses in Ellington, Hansbrough, Green, Thompson, and Frasor. Without Lawson, the Heels will have problems with Gonzaga.

Gonzaga is playing well and they look to be a tough out. I am going to say that I am a Josh Heytvelt fan. This guy hustles and he can stretch the floor with his shooting range. He's a forward but plays mostly center for this team. Austin Daye gives the Bulldogs a Twin Towers look. Although Daye is probably 100 pounds wet with weights on, he throws his body around on the boards and has a decent mid range game for a big. You throw in Bouldin and Pargo and you got a chance for an upset.

Projected Winner: UNC


Ok, I did go with the ACC with my picks, but I think they pull this whole thing off. Can Gonzaga beat UNC? Do you see any other upsets happening?