Mattie T’s 2008 March Madness Final Four Preview

This is the mecca for basketball fans everywhere! For the first time ever, four #1 seeds will be playing in the NCAA’s biggest weekend & NBA scouts will be on hand to watch players from all four schools.

 
One thing i do like about this weekend’s matchups is that 3 of the 4 head coaches (Bill Self, John Calipari & Ben Howland) have yet to win national titles.

The only exception is Roy Williams, who took North Carolina to a National Championship win in 2005 over Illinois.

From the Alamodome in San Antonio, TX. (5:07 pm CST tipoff on Saturday)

#1 UCLA Bruins (35-3)

vs.

#1 Memphis Tigers (37-1)

 

Mattie T’s Analysis: This game will feature two of the premier freshman in the country, as Memphis freshman guard Derrick Rose leads his team up against UCLA freshman center Kevin Love.

I think that Memphis’ run & gun offense might really hurt UCLA & i think that the Tigers will be in good shape if they can score around 85-90 points.

All eyes will be on Derrick Rose, who will have to play a sensational game with backup guard Andre Allen serving a suspension that will run throughout the entire Final Four.

This looks like a hungry & determined Memphis team that had their season end at the Alamodome a year ago with a regional finals loss to Greg Oden & Ohio State.

Joey Dorsey was trash-talking before that game & got dominated by Oden inside. Dorsey is keeping quiet this time around as he prepares to go up against Love, who will give Memphis problems with both his inside & outside game.

Dorsey will deliver tonight & help Memphis reach its’ first National Championship game apperance since 1973.

From the Alamodome in San Antonio, TX. (tipoff at 7:47 pm CST on Saturday)

#1 Kansas Jayhawks (35-3)

vs.

#1 North Carolina Tar Heels (36-2)

Mattie T’s Analysis: Out of all the matchups Roy Williams envisioned in the Final Four, this is the one that he didn’t want to take place.

Williams’ emotions will certainly be running high tonight as he tries to get North Carolina to a 2nd National Championship game apperance in 4 years against his old school.

Roy Williams spent 15 years at Kansas from 1988-2003, won 418 games there & took the Jayhawks to the NCAA Tournament in 14 consecutive seasons.

Kansas is going to have to play an almost perfect game to knock off North Carolina, who has the advantage both offensively & rebounding.

 

 

That means both Brandon Rush & Mario Chalmers must have outstanding games & they’ll also need strong frontcourt play from Darrell Arthur & Sasha Kaun.

 

I think that Kansas will have trouble tonight trying to contain North Carolina’s frontcourt duo of Tyler Hansbrough & Deon Thompson, which will lead the Tarheels to a win & their 2nd National Championship game apperance in 4 years. 

 

Look out for my blog tomorrow from the Cubs/Astros game at Wrigley, which i’ll be attending & sitting from the Bud Light Bleachers in left field. Temps will be in the mid 60’s for 1st pitch, so i hope that i’ll get a chance at some souvenir home run balls…only if it’s hit from a Cub player of course. (There’s been a Wrigley tradition for bleacher fans to “throw back” a baseball on the field if it’s been hit by a player on the opposing team.)

Until then,

Mattie T

Sports Writer for BMS Radio Chicago

www.BMSRadio.com

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