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Get inside March Madness with SI.com's Luke Winn in the Tourney Blog, a daily journal of college basketball commentary, on-site reporting and reader-driven discussions.
On To The Sweet 16 ...
AIRPSPACE BETWEEN LITTLE ROCK AND DETROIT -- On the off-day before Wisconsin beat Kansas State in Omaha to reach the Sweet 16, reserve senior center Greg Stiemsma found time to shop for a fishing pole at the Outdoor World in Council Bluffs, Iowa. This trip did not affect his preparedness for Saturday's game -- he scored 14 points in 14 minutes against the Wildcats, and also did some inadvertent damage to Bill Walker's face -- but it did help Stiemsma get ready for Memorial Day weekend, when, instead of preparing for the NBA draft, he'll be angling in Canada. Stiemsma specifically selected a seven-foot rod with medium/heavy action because, he said, "I needed something with backbone. We're going to be catching some big Northern up there." I'll go out on a limb and guess that none of the victorious players from this past weekend's other sites -- in Little Rock, or Anaheim or Birmingham, or Denver or Tampa, or Washington D.C. or Raleigh -- went hunting for new tackle boxes before practice. But the Sweet 16 we were left with has room for all kinds: Rural fishermen (Stiemsma, who's from Randolph, Wis.) and brawny West Baltimoreans (Memphis' Joey Dorsey, who's from Wire territory); super-sized clutch stars (Stanford's 7-foot, 260-pound Brook Lopez) and super-slender ones (Davidson's 6-3, 185-pound Stephen Curry). Glamour teams (the Tigers, 'Horns, North Carolina, Kansas, UCLA and Tennessee), Final Four darkhorses with "backbone" (the Badgers, Louisville, Xavier, Stanford, Michigan State and Washington State) and even a pack of giant-killers (West Virginia, Davidson, Western Kentucky and Villanova). All of which should make the NCAA tournament's second weekend as good as its first. Five Matchups I'm Most Excited For (over the next two rounds): 5. Rick Pitino vs. Bruce Pearl: Can we get them to break out the white suit (Pitino's) and the orange blazer (Pearl's) just for the occasion? It's doubtful that either signature look was packed for the Louisville-Tennessee showdown in Charlotte, but this duel of sideline flamboyance and pressure D should not disappoint. One gets the feeling that if these guys met twice every season, they'd hate each other. 4. Stanley Burrell on Darren Collison. It would be in Xavier's best interest to put Burrell, its defensive stopper, on the Bruins' speedy point guard should the two teams meet in the Elite Eight. An all-out lock-down of Collison could make it hard for the Bruins to break 55 points. 3. Michael Flowers on Stephen Curry. Neither Gonzaga, whom Curry scorched for 40 points, nor Georgetown, whom he lit up for 30, has a perimeter defender like the Badgers' Flowers. He was snubbed for a second straight Big Ten defensive player of the year award, but is still considered the main cog in the nation's most-efficient defense. 2. Tennessee vs. North Carolina. Would Tyler Hansbrough be a bigger matchup problem for the Vols than Tyler Smith would be for the Heels? And will UNC defend the perimeter against JaJuan Smith and Chris Lofton as well as it did in its second meeting with Duke, or will the Heels let one of Tennessee's shooting stars turn into Tyrese Rice for a half? I'd prefer if Louisville and Washington State played nice in the Sweet 16, just so these questions can get answered. 1. Texas vs. Memphis. This shootout could easy top that Tigers-Vols classic from February. A.J. Abrams is shooting 60 percent (12-of-20) from long-distance in the dance, and every player in the 'Horns' starting lineup is capable of knocking down treys. Derrick Rose and Chris Douglas-Roberts, meanwhile, would love to get in a transition war that ends with scores in the mid-80s. Five Half-Serious Suggestions: 1. For players: Don't wear NBA socks. The two guys I saw rocking the Jerry West logo above their shoetops did not fare well on the first weekend. USC's O.J. Mayo wore a white pair against Kansas State, perhaps in honor of Heat coach Pat Riley's attendance, and the Trojans were upset 80-67. Mississippi State's Charles Rhodes wore a black pair against Memphis, perhaps in honor of it being his last game before the NBA pre-draft camp, and the Bulldogs lost 77-74. 2. For the NCAA: Create a screening process for potential refs in the West Regional, just to be sure they're not susceptible to the "UCLA Spell" in late-game situations. I picked the Bruins to win it all -- and still think they can pull it off -- but would rather it not happen by virtue of non-calls like the one below, from Texas A&M's final shot in Saturday's thriller:
3. For followers of pregame minutiae in Houston: Count how many different combinations of Adidas gear Memphis players sport during warmups. At one point on Sunday in Little Rock there were seven: Dorsey was the only player in warmup pants, presumably so he'd have a pocket for his iPod. Antonio Anderson wore a black tank top. Derrick Rose and Jeff Robinson wore blue tank tops. Shawn Taggart and Willie Kemp wore white tees. Robert Dozier had on a Memphis shooting shirt. Chris Douglas-Roberts rocked his new no-sleeves look. The rest of the Tigers wore their new Adidas long-sleeve warmups that read "Believe in We" on the front and "March is a Brotherhood" on the back. While Memphis may have a brotherhood, apparel-wise, there is no unified front. 4. For Stanford's Trent Johnson: Call Wagner's Mike Deane and have him send his seatbelt guy over to Reliant Stadium. 5. For CBS: If Memphis happens to lose, make Dorsey a guest analyst for the Final Four. I'd pay extra for a special audio feed of Gus Johnson on play-by-play and Dorsey on color -- and I'd probably replay the audio clips for the whole offseason, just for comedy's sake. Dorsey hates talking to the press so much that he avoided local writers for a long stretch of the C-USA season, and even hid under a table during the Tigers' off-day media availability in Little Rock. But when he actually does choose to speak, you tend to not want to move away from his locker, for fear of missing something golden. Case in point: after Sunday's 13-point, 12-rebound, six-block game against Mississippi State, Dorsey offered the following window into his mental fluctuations ... "Everything was on me today. Beginning of the game, coach [John Calipari] was on me hard, and I'm like, 'What am I doing wrong?' I'm blocking shots and rebounding, and I'm still getting an earful from coach. So the guys on the team told me, 'Don't worry about it, we'll talk to coach and get him off your butt.' They got coach off my butt and it was good after that." The All-First Weekend Team: G: Stephen Curry, Davidson 30 points, five assists vs. Georgetown; 40 points, five steals vs. Gonzaga If they gave out a first-and-second-round Most Outstanding Player award, Curry would've been a lock to win it. G: Scottie Reynolds, Villanova 21 points, four rebounds vs. Clemson; 25 points, eight rebounds, five assists vs. Siena Reynolds has been the best player on the floor for two straight games; is there any way he can keep it up against Kansas? G: A.J. Abrams, Texas 26 points, 6-of-10 threes vs. Austin Peay; 26 points, 6-of-10 threes vs. Miami Another game, another six treys: Why Miami didn't put more of a defensive emphasis on Abrams is beyond me. F: Kevin Love, UCLA 20 points, nine rebounds, four blocks vs. Miss. Valley State; 19 points, 11 rebounds, seven blocks vs. Texas A&M Add "block machine" and "fadeaway jumper artiste" to potential descriptions of the Bruins' super-frosh. F: Joe Alexander, West Virginia 14 points, eight rebounds vs. Arizona; 22 points, 11 rebounds, three blocks vs. Duke Breakout star of the Big East tournament is turning into the breakout star of the NCAA tournament, too. Alexander earned plenty of new fans by insulting Duke, too. Sixth Man: Courtney Lee, Western Kentucky Stats: 15 points, nine rebounds, four assists vs. Drake; 29 points, seven rebounds, three steals vs. San Diego Lee's pro-level game made the difference in the second-round Cinderella clash. And Finally, Five Predictions: 1. Final Four: Tennessee vs. Kansas and Texas vs. UCLA. 2. Regional Most Outstanding Players: UCLA's Kevin Love (West), Tennessee's Tyler Smith (East), Kansas' Brandon Rush (Midwest) and Texas' Damion James (South). 3. Western Kentucky -- but not Xavier -- takes UCLA to the wire in Phoenix. 4. Louisville, the sexy Final Four sleeper, doesn't put much of a scare into Tennessee in Charlotte. 5. The Drake-Western Kentucky buzzer-beater aside, Memphis-Texas ends up being regarded as the best game of the dance. I'm headed to Houston on Wednesday. And I cannot wait for that one.
posted by Luke Winn | View comments (111) |
111 Comments:The under the radar or rather invisible Badgers will be in the final four. Too bad you sports "experts" find them boring.
What are you...anti UNC?!? They are by far the favorite in the tourney. They are peaking offensively at the perfect time. Avg. 111 points per game. Check the stats before you make predictions next time!! Go over and check ESPN.com!!
Having watching North Carolina and Tennessee play this weekend I'm not sure how you can go with UT in the Final Four. No doubt they are a great team but they struggled while North Carolina cruised.
That's not to suggest North Carolina will cruise the rest of the way - they won't - but they are so complete and deep that when they're playing as well as they are now on both ends of the court, they're hard to stop. Obviously you do not think too much of UNC's chances. They are playing at the top of their game, with a home court advantage and have just as much drive to win as anyone. I also don't understand that if all the polls showed them #1 at the end of the year and the NCAA committee picked them as the overall #1 seed, why isn't there that same confidence with all of you writers out there?
How come everybody forgets about Michigan State. How can you doubt Tom Izzo or give him some love for all he has done in the tourney. I know Michigan State has a tough task in front of them with Memphis, but the Sparties have the talent to beat them, they have the coaching to out smart them and can run with the best. How can we forget that Michigan State man handled Texas earlier in the year.
I think all of you all are idiots, doubting Louisivlle. Are u serious lets not forget are shooting percentage, lets not forget are Defense that ranks sixth in the country. U guys are blind. Tenn has struggled ever since Memphis and has not rebounded, i think the Lou Tenn will be a blow out, not becuase I am a Louisivlle Fan, ut you guys obviously don't know basketball. It will BE Louisville VS UNC, and that will be a game to watch beucase they will match up the best. NC SEE U SOON< TENN HEAD BACK TO ROCKY TOP!!!!!
Seriously, must be an anti-UNC conspiracy over at SI. Well at least they won't be a victim of the SI curse; thanks for that at least, SI pundits.
They are all anti-Carolina because all these writers are on Coach K's jock!
How in the world can you not pick UNC for the final four, are you on something, or just not watching the same games every one else is
Wahh... you sports writers never pick my team... why do they even play the game at all? Go VOLS!
Luke, I am SO with you on the blazer v. blazer potential of Pitino v. Pearl. Also, agreed on the garbage officiating of that UCLA/A&M game. Disappointing.
If you actually read anything Luke Winn puts out, you'd recognize his lack of badger hating in stark comparison to the sports experts you speak of. He even gives a Stiemsma anecdote in the beginning of the article. Give Wisconsin fans a better name and pick your battles more wisely next time around
How can you be looking forward to a Memphis - Texas matchup when it is far from a sure thing that either of these teams will even win their next game. Stanford beating Texas is not at all a long shot...they will be able to pound on Texas in the paint, and Tom Izzo will outcoach Calipari every day of the week...especially in March.
I agree with most of the comments before mine - I think Louisville wins comfortably over Tenn. I'm a Carolina grad and I said before the selection show that the team I least wanted in our region was Louisville. Carolina got hosed in the selection. Second best 2 seed and best 3 seed by far.
How can you be looking forward to a Memphis - Texas matchup when it is far from a sure thing that either of these teams will even win their next game? Stanford beating Texas is not at all a long shot...they will be able to pound on Texas in the paint, and Tom Izzo will outcoach Calipari every day of the week...especially in March. Oh yeah, Michigan State handled Texas earlier this season too. SI writers, especially Seth Davis, have seriously bagged on the Big Ten this season. Wouldn't it be hilarious if Wisconsin and MSU both made the Final Four? Just a side note...the ACC is the media's best conference every year...right?
As far as UNC's "home" game, UT's campus is not far from Charlotte. Should both teams meet, expect the crowd to be fairly even. Also, the fact that UNC cruised in the first two games is not necessarily a good thing. Adversity builds toughness and a belief that they can come back late in games. I feel UNC will win this region, but there are some very good resons to back UT.
Although I like your moxy with regards to the Longhorns, I wish you wouldn't dismiss Stanford.
WOW!! No love for the Spartans. Reading this article you would think that State was already out of it. If MSU loses, I'll have no problem pulling for the Badgers...gotta support the Big 10 baby.
SI has been anti Big Ten all year. I just ignor it and smile as the Badgers and Spartans continue winning
What about Stanford. Marquette had the great guards that were supposed to take down Stanford. But the Lopez Twins are just too good. Stanford has faced teams that go 3-4 deep at guard. But nobody outside the Pac 10 has faced the two 7 footers. I think Stanford keeps dancing.
The Spartans will roll to San Antonio. Don't doubt Izzo.
The fact that there is no mention of MSU in this article shows how much Luke doesn't know. Four Final Four appearances since 1999 and no mention of the Spartans upsetting Memphis? Tennesseee is the best team in the tournament by a long shot and unc is way overrated because they had about a hundred close games that they barely won against horrible teams. Thay got really lucky in those games. On the other hand Tennessee handed Memphis their only loss of the season at Memphis in the biggest game of the year. Noone is "anti-unc" it's judt everyone knows who is better except for all of the unc fans. GO TENNESSEE!!!!!!!
Calipari doesn't think his team's free throw woes are a big deal. Spoken like a coach who doesn't play many tough teams over the course of the season. Time for a wake up call against a team like MSU who's opponents only beat them by making three times as many free throws as State attempts.
The first poster is an idiot. Luke Winn not only grew up in Wisconsin, but I believe he's from the Madison area.
Give him some credit for not being a homer even though Wisconsin is in a good position to challenge Kansas in the Midwest Region. That said... go Badgers. Stanford will beat Texas. Stanford is unbeatable in a half court game, their weakness is against the press and Texas doesn't press.
He's all about the Texas Memphis match up they play in the sweet 16 right? Oh ya Memphis has to beat a tough MSU team and Texas has to beat Stanford still.....One of the 2 won't happen my money's on the Spartans, Tom Izzo in March is tough to beat
Wow, I'm surprised you don't think Louisville will even give Tennessee a game . . . Louisville is the better team statistically, according to kenpom. That game looks like a tossup at best for Tennessee.
Luke Wynn has been against Carolina since the start of the season, they are by far the superior team in the tournament and have held the #1 ranking the most all year of the other teams. They are peaking at the right time and i see them winning it all if they play like they have the last 2 games. The only other team that is as deep as them on the bench is KU, so i see them playing KU and that to me is the national championship game because UNC and KU are by far the best teams in the country. I think the committee messed up putting KU and UNC on the same side. UNC all the way!!!!!!!
"they have the coaching to out smart them and can run with the best."
Factually inaccurate. MSU is at least a step and a half slower then Memphis. Plus MSU hasn't faced guards like Memphis has. MSU's starting guards are both 6'0". UM goes 6'3" and 6'6". So they are both taller and faster as well as having better hops. I think MSU has the edge in the frontcourt, but getting them the ball will be a problem. The Big 10 doesn't do much full court defense, so the Tiger Pressure will be a challenge for MSU. I'm looking for 20+ turns out of MSU. That will more then make up for Memphis shooting 30% free throws. That said, if MSU can not turn the ball over and get it past the timeline, then their front court will win the game. Memphis is the only roadblock between Stanford and the final four. Texas, MSU and Stanford all play slow tempo BB only Stanford has those 7 footers so they do it better. finally, somebody actually noticed how much the refs love ucla. Thats at least the game winning calls or non calls that have gone ucla's way. And Flowers vs curry. Oh my god I am so pumped to see that game go badgers.
God forbid he pick anyone but North Carolina. How dare him.
Anti Carolina and anti Wisconsin.... too bad, they could go for the championship themselves
Thanks, you are the first and only writer to give Tennessee a chance.
Guess we will have to see if Louisville and UNC are as good as hype puts them up to be. You guys think this dude is a homer??..... I think all of you all are idiots, doubting Louisivlle. Are u serious lets not forget are shooting percentage, lets not forget are Defense that ranks sixth in the country. U guys are blind. Tenn has struggled ever since Memphis and has not rebounded, i think the Lou Tenn will be a blow out, not becuase I am a Louisivlle Fan, ut you guys obviously don't know basketball. It will BE Louisville VS UNC, and that will be a game to watch beucase they will match up the best. NC SEE U SOON< TENN HEAD BACK TO ROCKY TOP!!!!!
The Vols had their scare against Butler, which is bad for L'Ville. I believe they'll rebound nicely and be ready for the Cards. Also, i'm excited at the "possibility" of Memphis/ Texas. I believe the Longhorns will role in that one. Umm, you guys forgetting about the Tarheels? I mean no mention of Tyler Hansbrough or Wayne Ellington on the MVP list and you snub them in the final four. Where is the love?
As long as Michigan State gets beat, thats all that really matters. Anyway, Go Badgers.
Please refer to comment below:
"I think all of you all are idiots, doubting Louisivlle. Are u serious lets not forget are shooting percentage, lets not forget are Defense that ranks sixth in the country. U guys are blind. Tenn has struggled ever since Memphis and has not rebounded, i think the Lou Tenn will be a blow out, not becuase I am a Louisivlle Fan, ut you guys obviously don't know basketball. It will BE Louisville VS UNC, and that will be a game to watch beucase they will match up the best. NC SEE U SOON< TENN HEAD BACK TO ROCKY TOP!!!!!" Before you start bashing the Vols and others being idiots I would look at your writing and realize that you are the idiot that uses are when you are supposed to use OUR! Some school they got up in Louisville. Go Vols! I can't grasp the kind of blind devotion that these comments allude to. What kind of expert would it take to pick the number one team as the ultimate NCAA champ? A chimp could do that.
Luke,
Get your head out of your ***. You dont even mention the other teams in the south. I cant wait to hear from you after Stanford beats Tex and MSU beats MEMP. Not one mention of Michigan State!? I don't get it. Many people predicted Temple to upset them and then EVERYONE predicted a Pitt blowout, but MSU HANDLED both of them. I think they deserve at least a cursory mention. Watchout Memphis States gonna use their 5 big men to hack you with all 25 fouls and make you earn the win at the line (where you s-u-c-k)
One would think sports commentators know best, but that clearly isn't the case seeing that you didn't acknowledge just how dominant UNC was in its first two games. They really are a complete team and appear to be on a mission to win the national championship!
I believe that they are anti Carolina due to Carolina's defensive problems this year. But, all of the teams left in that part of the bracket are legit. Great games ahead.
Indeed -- SI is so anti-Carolina that they put Tyler Hansbrough on the cover and declared him player of the year over Beasley. Those jackals!
If you are a moron and want purely the "good" news about UNC, go over to ESPN where they are falling all over themselves to crown them before the final game.
Have hate for UCLA? Go over to ESPN where they have plenty of it. From SI, I expect more objectivity. P.S. anyone see that gang-tackle of Collison? You know, the one where he is thrown to the ground by an A&M player and then called for the foul? Or the one where UCLA made a play for the a loose ball and was called for the foul on obviously incidental contact after the ball was in UCLA's control? Lots of bad calls in that game going both ways and it doesn't do the student athletes any justice throwing all these conspiracy theories about because this is, after all, college hoops not pro. Save it for your favorite pro team. I think maybe the fact that the ACC is a mid major conference has something to do with people being down on UNC. Yes, UNC is good. But when a team plays in a conference where the second best team is Duke and no one but UNC gets out of the first weekend, you have to wonder about that team's ability to compete against top competetion.
For anyone who thinks the ACC is anything but a mid major this year, why do they have the same number of teams in the Sweet 16 as the A10 and Conference USA but less than major conferences like the Big 12, Big East and Big 10? Please give some love to Wazzu! We are NOT a fluke and, if we can control the tempo, we can go ALL THE WAY!
Go Cougs! UNC may have blown out their last two opponents, but look at the two previous games in the ACC tourney: 2 point win over VTech and a 5 point win over Clemson. And neither Clemson nor VTech is of the same caliber as Louisville or Tennessee. Don't be surprised if UNC drops in the Elite Eight against either of those teams.
would a ku v. unc final four game be the game of the decade or century for that matter?
As a Badger fan, I am pulling for both the Badgers and the Spartans.
This year, i do not see where a true Badgers or Spartans fan would not pull for the other team to move on. It's all a matter of our conference getting more respect. IMHO, what would be cooler than a final tussle between the 2 for the National Championship? you mentioned the poor calls (or lack there of) in the A&M v UCLA game... I would say about half of Love's "blocks" were hacks! Especially in the last 2 minutes! I am not of fan of either team - but A&M got robbed!!!
Luke made the North Carolina babies mad!!! Bad Luke! BAD!!!
These UCLA lunkheads are the only people who can compare a bad foul call with the score 21-17 midway through the first half to one in the last five seconds that denied a team a chance to tie the game.
UT will defeat Louisville! TN plays better basketball against better teams.#1 Tyler Smith will play his best game yet as a Vol which will send them to the next round
For all of you Michigan State idiots- Don't forget your 43-36 loss to Iowa and another loss to Penn State as you mention your one good win against Texas. The team you play has 6 more RPI Top 50 wins and only one loss.
Whether the ACC is a weak conference or not, that doesn't take away the fact that UNC was ranked #1 for most of the season and received the #1 overall seed. If they were voted #1 there's no reason for suddenly saying that they can't even make it to the Final Four. I agree our defense is not the best, but don't rank a team #1 in the country, give them the overall #1 seed, then say they probably won't make the Final Four. That's crap. I just hope they win it all and shut up all the anti-UNC people out there.
UCLA has had way too many wins decided on bad calls (the overtime win against stanford where brook lopez made an amazing block on collison and was called for it). UNC has showed dominance throughout the tournament especially against a strong Arkansas team loaded with exprience. Right now they are my pick. In addition, I think Stanford is one of the best teams in the country with both Lopez twins in if they can both stay out of foul trouble Stanford should have a chance at winning it all.
It is not that sports "experts" find Wisc. boring, they find Wisc. unathletic and they play in a weak conference.
Wisc. will give Kansas a tough game, but Kansas will pull away in the final five minutes to make the Final Four. Texas does not press? are you kidding me. They have goen to the press much more over the course of the season. Watch the horns play before you pretend to know thier game.
I am a UNC fan but the last comment was so far from proving anything. Look at the last team UNC beat-Arkansas which was the last team to beat Tenn- and UNC beat them by 30. So if you want to compare teams played, this is not in your best interest. Louisville gets beat by G-town who cant hold up a 17 point lead in the 2nd half against another team UNC beat (albeit by one but it was the FIRST GAME of the season, classic trap). My advice to everyone...relax, enjoy the tournament and appreciate the fact that from what it looks like, ALL OF OUR TEAMS have made it this far and we all still have the chance to win it all!
Memphis vs Texas?.....Maybe. If the Spartans control the tempo and keep it in the 50's, they will win down the stretch as Memphis bricks at the line.....Now Texas is another matter....
oh come on. Everyone is taking for granted that UNC will win over WSU. WSU not only won over Notre Dame, they completely dismantled the 3rd ranked offense in the nation. How is it so hard to see an upset? Likely? who knows. but don't just throw them away because UNC is "the best".
It truly amazes how writers as so biased when it comes to the NCAA Tournament. I am a Washington State fan and am excited to see them play UNC however I am realistic in my thinking. From what I have seen, UNC appears to be the scarriest team out there. In regards to the refs and UCLA, there last few games of the season showed how the refs will lean toward them with questionable calls at the end of games. I look forward to another great four days of basketball.
Not a thing about Louisville or any of there players?????
MSU was lucky to get out of their game against Pitt... and yet people here are claiming they are going to roll Memphis... who lost 1 game all year... to a very good Tennessee team that could end up meeting them again in the final.
Everyone seems to forget that the generally bad officiating that has plagued the NCAA this year was in full force in the MSU/Pitt game. The refs essentially turned a close game into a 11 point final. I'm all for cheering for your team, but at the very least don't be blind idiots. Tennessee looked really suspect in it's first tournament games. Have you seen you North Carolina play this tournament? I don't even like Carolina but you can't deny how well they are playing and especially because they are playing great D. Furthermore, they are playing these games in Charlotte a major advantage. Tennessee nearly chocked that game against the bulldogs
UNC just blew out the same Arkansas team by 31 that beat Tennessee in the SEC tourney. Tennessee will beat UNC? Get the f*** outta here. Retarded!
Would you UNC lovers quit your CRYING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Everyone in the world says you guys are comming out of east and when ONE PERSON says different get out the Kleenex!!Tennessee does have the ability to beat you and you know it.But right now we are thinking LOUISVILLE!So stop crying like coach K and get ready for Wash St. OR YOU WONT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY to play anyone else!!!!
Like so many of you have said, these SI writers/analysts apparently don't have much respect for carolina, and i think stewart mandel's reason for replacing louisville as his final four pick is absurd! Ok, the ACC was down this year. Carolina couldn't pick what conference they play in. That's clearly out of their control, and all UNC did was what they had to do in conference...WIN! I think, if anything that UNC looks like an even stronger final four pick after this past weekend. They look pretty polished on offense, and they played in plenty of close games in the regular season to know how to face that challenge when it arises in the rounds to come. I guess I'm glad there are such Carolina doubters out there...even more motivation for the 'heels!
Oh my goodness, I'm sure he's sorry he can't pick every team to win the tournament folks. But seriously, in his preferred rankings (from Kenpom.com) North Carolina is not far and away the countries best team, of course they can still win, but |
