NCAA Tournament Final Four

The Final Four finished up last night in The Big Easy. Both games were very good games to watch. They were exciting and electrifying. The Superdome had it's green court that was bright to the eyes. Here's a Final Four report. 

LOUISVILLE vs KENTUCKY

Anthony Davis Slams It Home
Chris Steppig-Pool/Getty Images

The 1st game of the doubleheader was between rivals Louisville and Kentucky. for most of the 1st half, Kentucky held a good lead over Louisville, even though Michael Kidd-Gilchrist out for most of the period in foul trouble. At the start of the 2nd half, Louisville got on a role and tied the game at 49 with 9:31 left on the clock. Kentucky, however, couldn't be stopped as they won 69-61. Player of the Year Anthony Davis led the Wildcats with 18 points, 14 rebounds and 5 blocked shots. 






OHIO STATE vs KANSAS

Tyshawn Taylor steals the ball in the last minute
AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall

In the 2nd Game, Ohio State started off hot while Kansas couldn't make a shot. For most of the last 8 minutes of the 1st half, Ohio State held a double digit lead over the Jayhawks. At half time, it was 34-25. Kansas came out of half time rolling. The Jayhawks tied the game a few times but they didn't take the lead until about 2 minutes were left. The lead wasn't long but they got it back retook the lead with 1:08 left in the game. With about 8 seconds left and Kansas up by 3, Ohio State passed the ball in and Tyshawn Taylor stole it but threw it away trying to pass the ball to teammate Elijah Johnson who was driving to the basket. Kansas fouled Aaron Craft. He made the 1st shot. He purposely missed the 2nd, got the rebound, and put up a shot. But, the referee called a lane violation. Kansas ran the clock out and won 64-62. Thomas Robinson had 19 points and Jeff Withey had 8 bounds and 7 blocks.


CHAMPIONSHIP GAME PREVIEW


This is the 4th time in history that 2 teams with the same 1st letter in the college name are facing off in a NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Final. The previous times were between Oregon and Ohio State in the 1st ever tourney in 1939, Wisconsin and Washington State in 1941, and Kentucky and Kansas State in 1951. 


Kentucky is the definite favorite being the number 1 overall seed in the Tournament and having defeated Kansas earlier in the year by 10. They have Davis, who is expected to be the number 1 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft.  Davis averages 14.4 points per game, 10.2 rebounds per game, and 4.6 blocks per game. Kidd-Gilchrist averages 11.9 and 7.5 rebounds per game. Terrence Jones averages 12.4 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. Those 3 make up a great front court. The backcourt is just as good with Marquis Teague, Doron Lamb, and Darius Miller. This might be the team that gets John Calipari his 1st NCAA Tournament. 


Kansas's last championship game appearance was in 2008, where Bill Self's Kansas team defeated Calipari's Memphis team in OT. This year's Jayhawk team is lead by Thomas Robinson and Taylor. Robinson averages 17.7 points per game and 11.7 bounds per game. Taylor averages 16.8 points per game and 4.8 assists per game. Withey is having a great tournament. He had 10 blocks vs. NC State and 15 points vs UNC. In last night's game, Travis Releford played really well without much notoriety. He played 38 minutes, had 15 points and 6 rebounds. We can't forget Elijah Johnson, who has had 10+ points tin every game in the Tournament, and also had 10 rebounds vs. OSU.


I believe that Kentucky will beat Kansas tomorrow in the Mercedez-Benz Superdome. Kansas has played really bad in the 1st half in the Tournament and then go on to play a great 2nd half. Against Kentucky, you can't do that. That is a recipe for a loss.