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This year is historical for the final four, the first time all four number one seeds have advanced and as I result there is no clear underdog with the remaining 4 teams. None of the teams left has an obvious weakness that can be exploited in the upcoming games. U.C.L.A. is an all time great basketball program who now headlines Kevin Love, a 6’10 freshman center who has shown that he is a player who makes plays in key moments of big games and also comes up big statistically. He may also be the quarterback of the future as he throws amazing length of the court passes with radar accuracy. His game is a blend of power and finesse all geared towards results. Guard Darrin Collison has played like the college version Chris Paul, and it a leader on the court who can get it done. The team has a blend of front court performers that also are outstanding defenders and can score in paint. I would say they are the best defensive team of the remaining four. The Memphis Tigers are the least storied of the programs although they have been big time all along all the way back to Larry Finch, Larry Kenon, and the big game in the national championship against the Bill Walton led U.C.L.A. Offensively, they are led by superlative inside outside scorer Chris Douglas- Roberts a tall shooting guard at 6’6 who loves to go to the basket and gets there seemingly at will. Big men Joe Dorsey, Robert Dozier and Shawn Taggart play big and are consistently effective and keep a constant pressure on the defense. The straw the stirs the drink is Derrick Rose, a 6’4 freshman guard who if he was for example was on the New York Knick’s this year, would be the best player on the team. He is relatively unselfish but is the type of player that can score if he wants on most trips down court with an excellent pull up jumper or an unearthly driving game. He cannot be double teamed effectively due to his ability to read the game as poetry in motion. North Carolina is considered the overall number one team in the tournament, and has only two losses for the season. They play the classic fast break style and the team as a whole is an overall blur on the court and this exciting offense is led by guard Ty Lawson. Wayne Ellington, a 6’6 shooting guard, is a gifted long range shooter who has tremendous power and extension on his drives. He can self generate his offense in one on one style as well as in the context of catch and shoot. Tyler Hansbrough, a 6’9 junior center from Popular Bluff, Mo. brings everything to the table including a great competitive approach to the game. He really knows how to read defenses and find his way to the basket. He is an outstanding free throw shooter and a go to offensive performer. His game is of the classic quick leaper and he combines this with body control that is along the lines of the high diver doing flips off the Olympic board. It terms of sheer acrobatics at the basket he is the best and he is in the game from start to finish. Danny Green, a 6’6 small forward is a winner on the court who hits from deep and has court vision that is as good as it gets. His excellent power complements his great skills. There isn’t a weak link on this team so there isn’t much hope except for an exceptional or even extraordinary performance to get by this year’s Carolina team. Kansas has a great team this year as well. I would rate them slightly behind the other three, but there are still capable of winning two games and the championship. They will be able to stay in games because of excellent rotation of guards and leadership from the backcourt but they will need these players to have on shooting games in the final four. Mario Chalmers, a 6’2 guard from Anchorage, Alaska is a lights out shooter. Russell Robinson, a 6’2 guard from New York City, is a steady performer and court general who can occasionally break out offensively and he is also a superb athlete. Sherrod Collins, is a 6 foot guard who is a former high school All American from Chicago and has a nice all around game with an emphasis on offense. The backcourt also includes Brandon Rush, a strong 6’6 shooting guard who is equally adept in shooting threes or slashing to the hoop so in combination Kansas does have the best backcourt in the country. There is also enough height and power in the front court, led by super Darrell Arthur, who is an unworldly dunker, and has the finesse on the outside as well. Sasha Kaun, at 6’11 contends nicely in the paint and has been a major contributor in this years final four run. The key for the front line of Kansas is staying out of foul trouble early in these games and they might be better off rotating their bench in a bigger percentage of the first half to keep their primary big men out of trouble for the stretch drive. Darnell Jackson a big 6’8 and 250 yet cat quick, is not going to give the defense a break. How can you not root for Kansas, the state that brought us Dorothy and Auntie Em. So the stage is set, there is something to like and root for with all the teams. There will be a differential in the final scores but these should be exciting contests. There is no overriding favorite and no look to the next game in this final four. It will be a great weekend for college basketball.
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