Four teams left in the running for the men’s basketball championship
There is no event that captivates basketball fans more than National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) March Madness.
The magnitude of the Final Four weekend is something that cannot be described by the athletes or coaches fortunate enough to experience it.
The remaining teams will now travel to Glendale, Arizona to face the one thing standing between them and the NCAA Championship game.
Gonzaga Bulldogs vs. South Carolina Gamecocks
This game will be one of the greatest defensive battles of our time.
Gonzaga, the second most efficient defense in the nation, will take on the third-ranked defense of the Gamecocks.
These teams sport two distinct styles of play and will test the ability of head coaches Mark Few and Frank Martin.
This game presents uncharted territory for both rosters, as they have each recorded their first Final Four berth in school history.
The Bulldogs make their first Final Four appearance thanks to Nigel Williams-Goss and Jonathan Williams; upper year transfers that give Gonzaga the athletic ability they craved to compliment their smart style of play.In their convincing victory over Xavier, Gonzaga played a well-rounded game with no stark stand out performances. The Bulldogs shot 50 per cent of three-point shots from beyond the arc and looked confident as they coasted into the semifinals.
South Carolina has proven they aren’t your average seventh seed. The Gamecocks have dominated second halves in every game they’ve played and have active hands on defense.
They possess an intensity only matched by their composure, and the team displays fundamentals comprised of tenacity and a special breed of southern charm.
Sindarius Thornwell gave his hometown team a 26-point performance in the Gamecocks victory over Florida.South Carolina established dominance in the paint against the Gators, but Przemek Karnowski may be the answer the Bulldogs need to shut them down.
Gonzaga shows an edge in offensive production and have an NCAA projected 13.8 per cent chance of winning the championship, which are the second highest odds in the nation—below North Carolina.
The Bulldogs look ready to tear up the Gamecocks, but South Carolina has made it clear they will fight to keep their fairytale season alive.
Oregon Ducks vs. North Carolina Tar Heels
Oregon is a team that is difficult to match up against defensively. North Carolina is a group with a deep bench and an answer to big scorers in the tournament. The winner of this meeting will be the team who sticks to their game plan the best.
Oregon reaches the Final Four for the first time since 1939 thanks to their presence around the rim and free-flowing offensive positioning. The Ducks lead the Pacific-12 conference with 226 blocks, 219 of these coming from forward Jordan Bell.Bell neared a triple double against Kansas in the elite eight with 11 points, 13 rebounds, and 8 blocks.
The unique offensive set of Oregon has proven to be an issue for matchups this tournament; but Justin Jackson and Theo Pinson may be the length on the perimeter that the Tar Heels need.
The coaching edge goes to North Carolina head coach Roy Williams, who has a decorated career and showed off his experience with some clutch late game coaching decisions versus Kentucky.
North Carolina is no stranger to the Final Four and has proven no challenge is too great for this guard dominant roster.
The Tar Heels are aggressive on the offensive glass and have shown that they can shut down scorers, as demonstrated by their lock down defense on Kentucky’s Malik Monk and De’Aaron Fox.North Carolina’s Joel Berry II has been battling an ankle injury throughout the tournament and is performing at less than 100 per cent.
Will this be enough for the Ducks to overtake the NCAA favored Tar Heels, or will North Carolina have a second consecutive chance at the title?
Championship Prospect
The four teams left have dominated this tournament in very different ways. Gonzaga with a well-rounded roster, South Carolina with sheer will, Oregon with a presence at the rim, and North Carolina with depth and coaching.Overall consistency bodes well for the Bulldogs and would leave them in a desirable position to come home with their first championship.
Gonzaga may have finally found the perfect balance: a balance of experience, intelligence, and sheer athletic ability that a team requires to win the NCAA championship.
Photo courtesy of Peter Griffin via Public Domain.