Elite Eight: Which Four Teams Are Houston-Bound?
What a month it has been.
After the craziness of the conference tournaments, things really heated up for the Big Dance, the NCAA tournament. From the unthinkable first round upsets to the VCU-Florida State thriller, it has been a tournament for the ages.
Big question now is which four of the remaining eight teams will advance to the Final Four in Houston?
Six elite programs remain in Kentucky, North Carolina, Kansas, Connecticut, Arizona and Florida. America's Sweetheart, the Butler Bulldogs, remain of course. There is also this year's Cinderella, VCU. Could they be this year's George Mason?
The weekend matchups are set. Let's make conjectures while we can. Come Saturday evening, its all about the play on the court.
Southeast: Butler Bulldogs
1 of 4
The Southeast gives us one of our biggest surprises, or not so much. Brad Stevens' Butler Bulldogs, who somehow made the National Championship Game and only lost on a near miss at the buzzer, are back in position to be the first mid-major to reach the Final Four in consecutive years in the modern era and only the fourth mid-major overall.
They knocked off Old Dominion in a thriller, then kept it going with an incredible last minute win over top seed Pittsburgh. Back in the Sweet 16, they jumped out in front early against Wisconsin, and despite a desperate comeback by the Badgers, Butler survived.
Now comes Florida. The Gators are looking to get back to the Final Four for the first time since winning their second straight championship in 2007. It won't happen though.
Butler is an elite team. They've proved it time and again. Led by Shelvin Mack and Matt Howard, the Bulldogs will get back in the Final Four.
Florida will be challenging for Butler, and as such a young team for the whole nation next season and beyond, but Butler has the "been there, done that," advantage, plus I feel a bit more talent. It's Butler again in 2011.
West: Connecticut Huskies
2 of 4
They are young, but they are good and hot.
The Big East champions are riding an eight game winning streak, dating back to the First Round of the Big East Tournament, which they famously won over five days. Led by Kemba Walker, this team is back in position to reach their fourth Final Four.
Only two players, Walker and senior Donnell Beverly, remain from the last Final Four team in 2009. Now, with five freshmen, two sophomores, Kemba and two seniors, the young, deadly Huskies face their toughest test on the March to Houston: Arizona.
The Wildcats handled Duke almost with ease. Led by Derrick Williams, this team is more dangerous than their five seed would suggest.
This is arguably a battle of the strongest 3 and the strongest 5 in the tournament. It pits two elite programs and two of the nation's premier players against each other.
In the end, UConn is the hottest team in college basketball. There is no doubt about it. Kemba Walker is playing in a way worthy of being named National Player of the Year. Jeremy Lamb is playing like he is from another planet, especially after San Diego State when he dropped 24. Oriakhi is officially a monster down low. With the support of Roscoe Smith, Shabazz Napier and company, the Huskies will roll on down to Houston.
The West has always been kind to UConn. They are 3-1 in the Elite Eight in the West Region, the only loss coming to UCLA in 1995 when the Bruins won it all. The West Region is the only region that has progressed UConn to the Final Four, where the Huskies are 4-1 with two national championships.
Connecticut is the only program to ever win both the men's and women's championships in the same year (2004). Do not be surprised if it happens again this year.
Southwest: Kansas Jayhawks
3 of 4
We all love the run that Virginia Commonwealth is on right now, but come on, this is Kansas. Plus, a Final Four without a No. 1? Come on.
The Jayhawks are the only top seed to remain and face the No. 11-seed VCU Rams on Sunday for a ticket to Houston.
Led by the Morris brothers, do not expect the Jayhawks to pull a UConn and get knocked out by the potential new George Mason.
Kansas is playing extremely well this tournament and has had little trouble getting this far. I expect them to have little trouble getting past VCU.
This run has been incredible for a team that in all honesty really did not deserve to make the tournament while Colorado and Alabama sat at home (well, played in the NIT, but still).
Beating USC, Georgetown, Purdue and Florida State is an incredible accomplishment, but they cannot keep it up like this. I do not see VCU having a chance at the Final Four having to play Kansas.
.png?w=256 "NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Championship")
East: Kentucky Wildcats
4 of 4
Kentucky's had a tough road to get this far, but now they are a win away.
This is the best match-up of the four in terms of prestige. Kentucky versus North Carolina. John Calipari versus Roy Williams. Super freshman Brandon Knight versus super freshman Harrison Barnes. In the words of Dick Vitale: "It's awesome baby!"
These are two young teams. Like UConn and Florida, they will be dominant over the next few years. This weekend though, advantage Wildcats.
Brandon Knight and Terrence Jones are on fire. Not even Ohio State could put a stop to the dynamic duo which has been the engine for John Calipari's team all year.
Harrison Barnes may be a one-and-done, so this could be his last game. He has gotten UNC out of some tight spots this year, but not this time. The Wildcats move on and play Connecticut in a rematch of the Maui Invitational Championship. They will have revenge on their minds. That game was UConn's coming out party as they beat the Wildcats 84-67 after beating Michigan State the day before.
I like the winner of Kentucky-Connecticut to win it all.
.png?w=480 "NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Championship")
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
