After all those games, we have 2 teams left that will play it out for the Title on Monday.
Final Four Recap
Huskies Continue Final Four Success
- The 2 Seed Huskies obviously had been there before – 3 of the last 4 Final Fours. Now, this team is different than the others as they were not the more talented team. However, as much as Danny Hurley gets on my nerves, he can coach. He showed the 3 Seed Illini who were favored how to negate size and athleticism.
- In the first half, UConn came out guns ablazing building a quick 9 point lead as Illinois struggled from the field. Finally, the Illini started to get their bearings and actually led briefly after a 14-3 run, but the Huskies would continue to put on the pressure and finished the first half with a 37-29 advantage.
- In the 2nd half, Illinois continued to shoot very poorly from the field. In fact, it seemed like everytime they got a good shot, the ball rattled out, while UConn’s shots would bounce in. The Huskies would build a 14 point lead with just under 10 minutes to play. Finally, the Illini started to get some shots to fall and get to the foul line to cut the lead to 4 with 5:03 remaining mostly behind big man, Tomislav Ivisic’s 16 points. Then, UConn would answer with a Tarris Reed (17 points, 11 rebounds) layup and a Solo Ball (13 points) dunk after a steal to get the lead back to 8 with 4:09 left. Illinois was able to push back to within 4 again on a G Keaton Wagler (20 points, 8 rebounds) layup with 1:40 left, but the Indiana kid did it again – frosh G Braylon Mullins (15 points, 4 of 7 from deep) hit a dagger 3 pointer with 54 seconds that seemed to break the Illini spirit. Even after Wagler answered with a triple of his own, UConn was able to hit their free throws to win at margin, 71-62. UConn won despite getting outrebounded for the 3rd straight game with the help of doubling the Illinois 3 point shooting, 12 to 6 makes, which was more than enough to win and advance back to the Title Game.
Big Blue Destroyed Wildcats
- The second game was supposed to be the default championship game with so much talent on the floor. 1 Seed Michigan with its size and three point shooting against 1 Seed Arizona’s strength and good guards.
- The first half had Michigan running circles around Arizona, as the Wolverines led 26-10 after 10 minutes. Arizona was not ready for the pace of play, and Michigan did it running the floor and burying 3s from deep. Finally, the Wildcats were able to land some blows of their own and get the game back to manageable with a 13-2 run of their own to cut the lead to 28-23, but that would be the closest they would get for the rest of the game. Michigan closed on a 20-9 run to end the half up 48-32.
- In the 2nd half, it was a runaway. Between C Aday Mara’s (26 points, 9 rebounds) dunks, and even after F Yaxel Lendenborg (11 points) left the game with an injury, G Trey McKenney (16 points off the bench on 6 of 9 shooting) hit back to back triples to open the game wide open. Michigan led by as many as 30 points with 10:33 remaining. The Arizona team was no match for the Wolverines, and much to my surprise, they were able to neutralize the Arizona guards for most of the game – Jayden Bradley was held in check (13 points), Brayden Burries shot a woeful, 4 of 16 from the field – the only real bright spot was frosh F Koa Peat’s 16 points, 11 rebounds. It was a complete annihilation on the parts of Michigan, 91-73, which makes them the team to beat on Monday in the Championship Game.
Wegs Pool Standings after Final Four
We have a winner of the Wegs Pool, even before Monday, as our new champ picked the title game. So, even with a Michigan win, no one can catch him. It will be all the rest of the places that matter and the tiebreaker will determine the cash to everyone else.
Congrats, Andy! For the rest of you, enjoy the game tomorrow.
Wegs