MARCH MADNESS!
A look at the final four
Vuthana Suon Staff
The final four teams have been set in one of the most exciting NCAA March Madness tournaments to date. The common thread between these four teams seems to be an emphasis on suffocating defence.
George Mason Patriots
The epitome of a Cinderella team, the 11th-seeded George Mason Patriots have been able to accomplish some pretty major feats. Knocking off the last two champs in North Carolina and the University of Connecticut (UConn) certainly qualifies as a huge accomplishment. Key to their attack is their inside presence, anchored by Jai Thomas and Will Thomas, along with the outside shooting of Gerald Butler and Tony Skinn.
The Patriots’ game is predicated on their ability to shut down the opponent’s opportunities to run and get into the open court, forcing a half-court game at which they excel. This was exemplified in the elite eight game against the more talented UConn Huskies, which the Patriots won 86-84 in overtime.
What troubles the Patriots, however, is a team that can dish-and-drive — a team much like Villanova, with their four-guard starting lineup. Luckily for them, they will be facing off against the Florida Gators, who defeated Villanova in the elite eight.
Flordia Gators
Joakim Noah is tall, lanky, and he’s also pretty good. The 6’11’’ beast, along with point guard Taureen Green, has been central to the Gators’ strong play of late. The duo’s inside-outside game has yielded much success so far and helped them dispatch of number-one seeded Villanova rather easily. They have also been able to thrive on mismatches, thanks in large part to Noah, whose combination of speed and length presents a challenge for any defenders.
The Gators, third seeds in the Minneapolis region, thrive on a balanced attack. On any given day, any one of the very young starting five (four are sophomores) can explode offensively or can knock down game-winning shots, like Corey Brewer did against the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
UCLA Bruins
Despite playing an ugly brand of defence, the UCLA Bruins get the job done. This was evident in their come-from-behind victory over the Gonzaga Bulldogs. Led by point guard Jordan Farmar, the Bruins came back to win that game on the strength of their defence. Down by as much as 17 points in the first half, the Bruins clawed their way back before shutting down the Bulldogs’ star player, Adam Morrison, in the final few minutes to steal the victory.
This was no fluke though, as their elite eight game against the first-seed Memphis Tigers showed. Sophomore guard Arron Afflalo shut down Memphis’ leading scorer, Rodney Carney, holding him to five points in a 50-45 win.
With such a storied past, which includes an NCAA record 11 national championships, it would be folly to think that these Bruins would be happy with anything less than winning the tournament.
LSU Tigers
At 310 pounds, bruising sophomore Glen “Big Baby” Davis looks like a shorter version of Shaquille O’Neal. Along with Tyrus Thomas, he has formed a formidable frontcourt that gives teams fits. Just ask number-one seeded Duke. The Duke Blue Devils found it tough to get past Davis, and when they did, Thomas was right behind to swat away shots using his enormous length and athleticism.
This brand of defence has been LSU’s trademark throughout the tournament. The guards force ugly shots from the perimeter, while Davis and Thomas tempt the opposition into coming into the paint before muscling them out and blocking any errant shots.
The team has a level of chemistry that is evident in their play, especially considering they are so young and raw and seem to be getting better every game. Make no mistake — they will give UCLA fits with their style of play.
Predictions
Cinderella will continue her run at the national championships, so expect George Mason to eke out a win against the Gators.
LSU will have its way with UCLA, as the Bruins’ already mediocre offence is shutdown by Davis and Thomas.
