Detroit, Michigan, April 4, 2009 is the next stop on the road to the Final Four...it's also the last stop. We've finally approached the last three games in the NCAA Tournament and the bracket looks pretty entertaining.
First tip at 6:07 pm has Michigan State playing a home game against UConn and Hasheem Thabeet. This looks to be an extreme mismatch and I as well as others have UConn going on to the Big Dance.
Shutting Detroit Down
With all the struggles in the economy and especially in the car industry in Detroit, I can see MSU pulling off the big upset based on past experiences in the sports world. In 2002 after September 11, the New England Patriots won Superbowl XXXVI against the Carolina Panthers as underdogs leading to Bob Kraft coming out claiming, "Today, we are all Patriots!". Again, in 2005 Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans hard, giving the Saints that emotional boost to make it deep in the NFC playoffs when they were playing for more than just a trophy, they were playing for an entire state that had been left in ruins. The Saints were playing for the fans that had spent sleepless nights in their old stadium while their homes had been demolished. This year, that same emotional power has been flowing through the MSU locker room, making them an attraction for the people of Detroit and giving them a glimmer of hope and a championship run to forget about the woes of financial discomfort.
Everyone may feel that UConn is a Goliath compared to Michigan State, but David has reared his face through adversity one too many times in similar situations. I can only hope for the people of Detroit that not only does MSU make it to the final game, but that the play of the Spartans gives them hope for a better day. Winning a championship might bring more immediate happiness to the people than an intangible economic bailout from President Obama.
Achilles 'Heels
8:47 marks the tip time for UNC and Villanova. Ty Lawson has had an incredible tournament showing after missing the Tarheels first round game against Radford with a sprained toe. In the last game against those heart-breaking Sooners, Lawson posted 19 points and 5 Assists to help move his team on.
What people didn't forsee was the other Ty of UNC, Tyler Hansbrough (8 points, 6 boards) getting completely shut down by Blake Griffin and the Sooner defense. That shows a lot about both Hansbrough and Griffin (23 points, 16 boards, who now faces the decision of whether to return for his junior season or declare eligible for next years NBA draft). Blake Griffin is already being compared to Lebron James on sports shows and Tyler Hansbrough showed that he will most deffinitely struggle at the next level against NBA athletes that are just much better than he is.
Tyler Hansbrough however is not at the next level yet. Against a four guard set that Nova has put on the court all year, how can they stop the big man. He may struggle against Lebron, Kobe and KG, but Hansbrough will no doubt put the ball down hard in Detroit in the semi-finals. With Ty Lawson controlling the tempo and Hansbrough practically unguarded down low, I don't see Villanova hanging around after Saturday night.
The Big Dance
Here it is, the moment you've been waiting for. Obviously UNC is my pick for one team in the game, but being on the fence for the first game, I'm going to go upset city and take emotion and hope to the championship game and ride Sparty to push past what was called the #2 team back in October (UNC was ranked #1 at the time) to set up the end of the road.
Check back next week for the National Championship pick. The sportsfangirl however, not so patient asked that it be known that she chose UNC to win it all.
I’ve been saying that all along about Hansbrough. He is going to get handled at the NBA level by players that are bigger and stronger than him. He’s great in college but he’s also so much better than most of the kids in the NCAA. Since NBA teams have so few spots the talent level is much higher and so he will have a hard time adjusting to that type of competition, or I’m completely wrong and he’ll be great in the 4 spot.
As a partial UNC alum, I agree with you Matt and Josh. Tyler is a great college basketball player but I don’t see his skills and size translating well to the NBA. Who knows though, under-sized players have made great NBA players before. The real question is what’s his drive and heart, does he have the willpower to work on his weaknesses and do the dirty work to get better? We shall see…
Btw, gotta agree with the sportsfangirl on UNC winning it all. My prediction was for UConn to beat MSU and UNC to beat Duke, so I got 3 out of 4 teams. Hopefully, the rest of my predictions shake out and I can celebrate another Tarheel championship!
You’re right adam, undersized players have become great in the NBA, but usually at the guard positions. I don’t see Hansbrough as a Paul Pierce type player in THE LEAGUE and I don’t see him moving to point either. Sorry, he might be from UNC, but that’s where his best playing days will stay.
Way to pick ‘em Josh. UNC vs. MSU for all the glory tomorrow night.
Got to root for my Tarheels but the Spartans are going to be a very tough adversary.
Adam you must have a short memory. UNC smashed MSU in December by 35. Granted anything can happen now and the Spartans have been playing well, I don’t think it’s going to be as close as we might expect.
I pick UNC to win this game by double figures. For arguments sake let’s go with between 12-19 point margin of victory.
Truthfully, Matt, I haven’t watched many games this year. I’ve got a feel for the season from checking stats and box-scores every now and then but didn’t even know we blew em out in December.
Still think it will be close, but UNC will win.