Without including Butler, UConn (University of Connecticut) or Kentucky, if you picked VCU (Virginia Commonwealth University) to be in your Final Four you are either a genius or have some close connection to that school. The 11th-seeded Rams defeated number-one ranked Kansas to advance to their first Final Four in school history. Cinderella once again crashed the “Big Dance” and ruined the hearts of schools, fans and bracketologists everywhere.
VCU will face 8th-seeded Butler for a chance to head to the finals. Butler was last year’s Cinderella story – an 8th-seed reaching the finals, only to lose a close game 61-59 to Duke on a miraculous final shot. Even if Butler was playing a good team, like Kansas, you couldn’t consider them a fairytale story; everyone is already aware of what they’re capable of. Butler has a very good chance of reaching the finals again. The spark, urgency and passion the VCU Rams play with aren’t going to be enough to get them into the final game. Their playing style revolves around a pressure up-the-middle, kick-out and take a three-point shot mentality. It can only get them so far. The Butler Bulldogs are more physical and play better in the paint than the Rams do. Experience can’t be discounted either; VCU may be caught off-guard being in such a spotlight while the Bulldogs experienced this aura just last year.
Fourth-seeded Kentucky is matched up against the third-seeded UConn Huskies. This game is sure to excite college basketball and sports fans alike. Two well-coached programs to go along with good basketball pasts make this the premiere game in the Final Four. Neither team is jaw-dropping with talent, but each team plays solid, fundamental basketball. Both of these teams have hall of fame-caliber coaches on board as well. This game will turn into a chess match more than a battle on the court and really could go either way.
The biggest variable that will decide either team’s fate is UConn point guard Kemba Walker. He is a monster on the court, and if there is any doubt just take a look at his film. He is a very smart and gifted player, and he is most likely headed to the pros after one year in Connecticut.
If the Kentucky Wildcats can get Walker into foul trouble early, or to foul out of the game, their chances to win will skyrocket. If Walker is having a bad game, the Wildcats will win. If Kentucky Coach John Calipari conjures up a defensive scheme to stop Walker, the Wildcats will win. The focus of this entire game will be on Walker and his play; he will be the reason UConn wins or loses. Apart from Walker, Kentucky has the better basketball team.
Kentucky versus UConn would make a much better final match than a Final Four game. VCU and Butler are very good stories; if either of these teams win the tournament it would be amazing and would prove that any team can win once they’re in the playoffs (hint hint, college football), but that’s going to be a big “if.” Sure, they’ve gotten this far and whichever team advances only needs one more victory to win, but it’s still unlikely. I’d much rather see a close, nail biting, intense final match than risk a blowout. Butler, again, scored only two points less than the number one-seeded Duke Blue Devils did a year ago in the tournament final. I just hope they can make it interesting again this year.
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