Who Will Earn a Trip To the Final Four?

The 2014 NCAA basketball tournament has proved to be yet another wild ride to cap off the collegiate basketball season.  Just like every other year, there have been enthralling matches, buzzer beater finishes, and dramatic upsets as 64 was whittled down to our current Sweet Sixteen.  But all the fun is going to kick off again this weekend, and by Sunday we will know whose season has culminated in a trip to the fabled lands of the NCAA Final Four!  All the Cinderella teams and upsets aside, now is the time for the big boys to make their mark, and I fully expect several of the top ranked sides to make the trip to Arlington, Texas.  Here is your predicted 2014 Final Four:

Florida Gators – Not only do the Gators have one of the nation’s top defenses and well-rounded scoring options, but they also have the easiest roads to the Final Four.  Both Kansas and Syracuse have been eliminated, leaving their first match against UCLA as the stiffest test ahead.  With Jordan Adams and Kyle Anderson playing great, Florida will be challenged, but the combined efforts of Scottie Wilbekin, Casey Prather, Michael Frazier II, and Patric Young should be able to see Florida through.  In fact, this team is so strong that they are considered by many to be the favorites to go the distance and cut down the nets!

Arizona Wildcats – Their first game against San Diego State should be a defensive battle, with both teams’ defenses ranked in the top 5 nationally (San Diego State actually is actually 2^nd, though their schedule was far easier…).  However, Arizona has supreme talent and has been the most consistent team in the nation all year.  Nick Johnson and Aaron Gordon have both been very productive and they should progress.  The next matchup against either Baylor or Wisconsin should also figure to be a great contest, but I think this Arizona team call pull it through.  They were awarded the number 1 seed for a reason, and I expect them to battle on to the Final Four!

Louisville Cardinals – I didn’t expect this team to do so well before the tournament started, but their play last weekend has brought back echoes of 2013!  With many of the same stars of last year’s triumph like Luke Hancock and Russ Smith, the school also brought in 3-point specialist Chris Jones.  This team has the best potential to repeat as any I’ve ever seen and will certainly return to the Final Four.  With a young Kentucky and either Michigan or Tennessee standing in their way, I feel that Louisville has all the merits of a nationally contending force once again!

Virginia Cavaliers – Disrespected by all the experts, no one thinks this 1-seed will progress past the Spartans of Michigan State, but I disagree.  Virginia is the ultimate basketball “team”, and while they lack a dominant star NBA prospect, their duo of Malcolm Brogdon and Joe Harris can shoot the 3-ball consistently while their squad can all chip in to help score.  But what makes Virginia so strong is their top-ranked defense that won not only the ACC regular season but the ACC tournament as well.  An NCAA title may be beyond them, but I foresee the Cavaliers putting the MSU bandwagon to bed and progressing past Iowa State or Connecticut and right into the Final Four!

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2013 NCAA Final Four Prediction: Who Wants it Most?

At this stage of the NCAA tournament, every team is riding the emotional high that only a serious Final Four tournament run can produce. Having already won four straight games against quality opponents, the combined teams of Louisville Cardinals, Syracuse Orangemen, Michigan Wolverines, and Wichita State Shockers must truly believe that they have a golden chance at tournament glory. But belief isn’t everything, and only one team can actually win it all. So which of these teams has that all-empowering “it” factor this year? My money is on the Orange of Syracuse.

All the experts are picking Louisville, the only remaining number 1 seed, and some of the more risk-loving fellows have chosen Michigan and their high-flying offense led by sensational point guard, Trey Burke. But for me there is something special about Syracuse and their zone defense that held Marquette to just 39 points in the Elite 8 round. Coach Jim Boeheim finally has this Syracuse team playing defense to its full potential and the results in the NCAA tournament have been impressive.

 

Opposing teams simply cannot find a way through the zone marking, and the guards have been stout in defending the 3-point shots, limiting opponents’ offensive production in the tournament.

 

Guard Michael Carter-Williams has been sensational in the NCAA tournament, and scored 24 points against the Indian Hoosiers, another number 1 seed. Also, forward C.J. Fair has been a solid performer and has averaged over 14 points per game. One of Syracuse’s strong points is that they have four players averaging over 10 points per game, making them a threatening side all over the court. With their stingy defense, they will stay close in the Final Four games, and this will give them every opportunity to win.

 

Standing in their way is mighty Michigan though. The Wolverines have a very dangerous offense, and it will be curious to see how they match up against the zone defense of Syracuse. Although they are just a 4 seed in this tournament, Michigan was undefeated and ranked number 1 in the nation back in January. The team probably has the best player in Trey Burke, who distributes well and scores lots of points. The defensive play of Syracuse’s guards in defending him will be an intriguing matchup in their semifinal fixture.

 

Chances are that the final match will feature Louisville, as they are too talented to be upended by Wichita State. Louisville is reeling from the heartbreaking injury to Kevin Ware, whose leg was snapped in the Elite 8 game against Duke. However, Ware was mostly a role player, and so although Louisville is rallying around this injury they still have most of their talent on the court, which makes them a quite dangerous side indeed.

 

Guards Peyton Siva and Russ Smith have been excellent recently and are talented at generating turnovers by the opposition while finding points as well. Although Louisville is not that great of a 3-point shooting team, their defensive work is the best in the country, and they will give the other team headaches all night long.

 

For Syracuse, which also prides itself on strong defense, this matchup could be tense and low scoring in the final. Although fans would probably like to see more points scored, the match will likely come down to the wire and maybe even a last second shot. I simply feel that Syracuse will become the heroes and will win another NCAA tournament, their first since Carmelo Anthony helped the Orange cut the nets in 2003.

 

Whoever comes out on top, the 2013 Final Four will surely be exciting. No matter which team you root for, AAA Sports Memorabilia has a large collegiate memorabilia collection. Once the top team is determined, we will be adding Final Four championship collectibles for that team. All of our collectibles are officially licensed and all of our autographed memorabilia is guaranteed for life to be authentic.

A Final Four Prediction and a Contender for Cinderella: March Madness Looms Ahead!

March has arrived, and with it comes the madness! Yes, NCAA basketball is on the cusp of reaching its climax, and as the season starts to wind down and bracketology experts re-organize the potential NCAA tournament entrants, college basketball fans across the country will get their pens ready to start filling out their brackets! What is there to behold in a nation of teams that has already enjoyed countless upsets of #1 ranked teams. Is there really any dominant team that has a definitive claim at reaching the Final Four? And who is going to be this year’s Cinderella darling that reaches the Sweet Sixteen or Elite Eight against all the odds?

 

The Final Four:

 

1. Indiana Hoosiers – Great team. Cody Zeller and Victor Oladipo are beasts and can lead this team to greatness. They also go 6 men deep with decent scoring options and have excellent depth, which is crucial for high intensity tournament games that come thick and fast. Indiana also has good wins against quality teams like Ohio State, Michigan, and Michigan State. Although they have now lost two of their last three games, I do foresee them getting it together for the NCAA tournament.

 

2. Kansas Jayhawks – A thrilling team! The NCAA basketball tournament is all about high thrills and dramatic buzzer-beating victories. Kansas is no stranger to exciting wins. They have gone to overtime 3 times this season and won all 3. Save for a rough stretch of 3 losses in early February, Kansas has been nearly flawless and defeated ranked opponents like Kansas State, Oklahoma State, and Ohio State. They have a very talented freshman in Ben McLemore, who can simply take over any game. Additionally, he is supported by 4 experienced seniors in Jeff Withey, Travis Releford, Elijah Johnson, and Kevin Young. Experience and raw talent will take Kansas far.

 

3. Miami Hurricanes – Experience? Miami has 6 talented seniors and probably more college basketball experience than any other major team in the country. Naturally, their wisdom is enabling them to beat teams like Michigan State, Duke, and NC State. Atop the ACC, their best player is sophomore point guard Shane Larkin, who averages around 14 points per game. Another thing that will help the team is their depth. There is no superstar player, just 8 guys that get at least 5 points per game. Such balance will help see them through the NCAA tournament and allow Miami to wear down their opponents. One potential pitfall though: for all their experience they have not played in the NCAA tournament in years, meaning this is these players’ first trip to the big dance. Have no fear, their coach, Jim Larranaga led George Mason to their infamous Final Four run in 2006. They will be ready to contend!

 

4. Georgetown Hoyas – Superstar! Otto Porter does it all. He scores, he shoots 3-pointers, he makes simple layups, he attacks the rim, he steals, and he can pass. He is a top 5 pick in the NBA Draft. He has led Georgetown on a fantastic 11 game win streak beating ranked teams like Notre Dame, Louisville, and Syracuse along the way. They are in control of the Big East and have surrounded Porter with a strong and deep team that can score from all over the bench. Georgetown has all the makings of NCAA champions and will surely be eyeing a trip to the Final Four.

 

Cinderella Darling. Belmont Bruins – No NCAA tournament will be complete without a minor school making a fantastic run and dethroning several top teams. So who will stun the country this year? The Belmont Bruins. I picked this team to be the darling because they have 5 players averaging 10 points per game meaning they have a well-balanced attack. They can also sink the 3-ball, with 4 players shooting around 40% on 3-point shots. They can make free throws. This is the kind of team that will give an athletic big program all sorts of headaches if their shooters get hot. They did get thumped by Kansas in their only matchup against a serious team, but perhaps that experience will give them an edge for vengeance! Look out for Belmont!

 

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