Alright, here we are.
Probably the most anticipated day in the college basketball world every year.
There’s something different about Final Four Saturday than any other day.
1 seeds there for the first time since 2008.
There’s always the storylines and games to go with it.
That’s no different today, at least with he storylines.
We know about them all.
Jon Scheyer finally has Duke in the Final Four, looking to complete the Cooper Flagg year.
Kelvin Sampson is back and feels like Houston is somehow the Cinderella story because people forget about them.
Florida ended the year as hot as anyone and needed Walter Clayton heroics to get them here.
It’s all there and makes for what needs to be a great Final Four.
Give us a Jalen Suggs moment.
Schedule
Bracket
Most important player on each team today
- Cooper Flagg (Duke) -Yeah, no shit.
He just won NPOY, he’s going to be the No.
1 pick in the Draft.
We’ve seen Duke run its offense through Flagg in different ways this Tournament.
As Flagg goes, Duke goes.
Emmanuel Sharp (Houston) -Sharp might be the most underrated player in the country.
I’m concerned about LJ Cryer in this game.
Duke has a ton of size that can blitz Cryer.
So what does that mean?
Turn him into a passer, let him draw attention and set up other people.
Sharp is that guy.
He averaged 13 per game and shot 42% from three.
He can shoot Houston into a lead here.
Alex Condon (Florida) -We’re still waiting for the Alex Condon game.
He had that ankle injury last week and we have no idea how close to 100% he is.
Condon can also score.
He’s an offensive threat that we haven’t seen much of yet this Tournament.
This feels like a Condon game.
But Condon is the key.
Chad Baker-Mazara (Auburn) -I’m sure you’re wondering why Johni Broome isn’t here.
I also think we know what Broome can do, even with basically every limb being injured.
Future Odds
All odds via DraftKings
Games, storylines, breakdowns
Florida vs Auburn
The SEC rematch.
Florida went into Auburn this year, without Alijah Martin, and controlled the entire game against Auburn.
This is when Auburn was rolling too.
It’s hard to shake that.
That’s not to knock Florida, but it’s also kept Auburn a bit undervalued.
They are the No.
1 overall seed and have the longest shot to win.
We saw him basically play one-armed after he came back in last week.
Now he had a 6-day break and I’m sure on some medicine to help out.
I do want to see how Florida plays him.
He’s got 4 guys if he throws Hough out there to defend Broome and give different looks.
For Auburn there are concerns defensively.
it’s possible for you to’t run a ton of drop coverage against Florida with the shooters.
That means Broome/Cardwell have to stay up on the high and PnR’s which opens up space even more.
I want to see who wins the microwave battle.
Tahaad Pettiford is arguably the best bench scorer in the country.
When he comes in constant chaos with him flying around, making plays.
There is also the coaching matchup here.
Houston vs Duke
I’ve said it all year I think Houston is the best team in the country.
This isn’t the same old Houston.
They have shotmakers, they are one of the best shooting teams in the country.
However, Cryer is a concern in this game.
We saw Duke just blitz Mark Sears with his size and take him out of the game.
Sears pressed and was a disaster, in fact he was a complete negative out there.
Cryer can’t be that.
I’m less concerned with him not scoring than Sears because of Houston’s scheme.
The ultimate story here though is what has been talked about since the bracket came out.
The toughness of Houston and physicality vs Duke.
They came out of a finesse region.
Houston is just fine doing that.
However, Duke has Cooper Flagg.
I think you might put Tugler on him, but Tugler is also a guy constantly in foul trouble.
He’s an elite defender, but he has to be patient with his blitzes.
Where Duke can be vulnerable is in the mid-range.
Houston actually likes shooting the mid-range.
Hit a couple early and make them adjust.
Live Show
If you’re in San Antonio get to River North Ice House.
I know this tournament has been favorites rolling.
But I’m sticking with my gut here.
