After two weeks of Cinderellas and magic carpet rides, we are right back where we started. Though some might find the chalky result of four No. 1 seeds in San Antonio a boring conclusion to an exciting two weeks, this Final Four offers more intrigue than any in 15 years.
There is an abundance of skill at this year’s Final Four. By my count, there are a whopping 10 players at the Alamo this weekend who could be selected in the first round of June’s NBA Draft. Three of the five AP All-Americans ““ Tyler Hansbrough, Kevin Love and Chris Douglas-Roberts ““ will suit up on Saturday night.
There is tradition here, too. North Carolina, Kansas and UCLA, three programs on the Mount Rushmore of college hoops, have combined for 48 Final Fours and 17 national championships.
And then there are the matchups.
Memphis’ Joey Dorsey versus UCLA’s Kevin Love. Dorsey models his game after Ben Wallace, using relentless hustle and a man-child physique to block shots and rebound. He even shoots free throws like Wallace (38 percent this season).
Love’s rebounding and fundamentals are well-documented, but his greatest skill is the lost art of outlet passing, which often sparks UCLA’s breaks and results in easy scores. Outlet passing in a game isn’t as sexy as dunking on someone, but Love’s display in warmups last week, where he effortlessly scored on his outlet passes from midcourt, 3â„4 court, and 95 feet away was the stuff of legends. Look for a few critical outlet passes this weekend, and for Love to have his way with Dorsey.
UCLA’s backcourt of potential lottery picks, Darren Collison and Russell Westbrook, will face off against Memphis’ super-sized stars Derrick Rose (6 feet 4 inches) and Douglas-Roberts (6-7).
Rose is expected to be one of the first two players selected in the draft, and was absolutely unstoppable in the South Regional. Westbrook is the best perimeter defender in the country, but he will face a difficult assignment Saturday night with Rose or Douglas-Roberts. Needless to say, NBA scouts will be drooling at whatever pairings unfold on the perimeter, and the deciding factor in the game could be Rose’s ability to penetrate into the lane.
Memphis’ offensive scheme ““ the so-called “dribble-drive motion” ““ hinges on dribble penetration into the lane. Expect UCLA to sag into the paint defensively, switch underneath any screens and force the Tigers to beat them with outside shooting. This antidote worked well for Tennessee against Memphis, and it should for the Bruins as well.
In the other semifinal, both North Carolina and Kansas field balanced lineups capable of exploding offensively. Hansbrough has received all the accolades, but Darrell Arthur of Kansas is considered by many to be a better pro prospect.
The question for Hansbrough is not whether he will score, but how will he hold up defensively. Foul trouble could be a deciding factor in this game; Kansas has depth inside, but North Carolina is a completely different team when Hansbrough is relegated to the bench.
The Jayhawks are led by Brandon Rush and Mario Chalmers, two fantastic defenders with silky smooth jumpers. North Carolina will have to defend them well if they want to advance to the championship game.
While Davidson and Stephen Curry were the darlings of the tournament, this Final Four is reserved for Goliaths.
The combined record of the finalists is a head-turning 143-9. No wonder Vegas is having a difficult time installing a favorite.
Underdogs are captivating, but this year’s Final Four is a basketball showcase rife with scintillating matchups, big names, great players and unbelievable athleticism.
So don’t lament the presence of four No. 1 seeds. Instead, enjoy history.
E-mail Taylor at btaylor@media.ucla.edu.