Final Four Saturday is quickly becoming one of my favorite days. It generally features two great games back-to-back and I get to shoo away any other responsibilities and just watch (and type). I’ll be doing another live blog on Saturday evening and you can follow along, if you like. I am much more interested in the first card, which would usually be considered the undercard. I watched Oklahoma disembowel Villanova in December. It wasn’t pretty (disemboweling rarely is). The Syracuse run has been amazing, but I noticed in the ESPN rankings of best champions ever that no team had ever lost more than 11 games and won the championship. The Orange has 13 losses and I think UNC has the right ingredients (Brice Johnson) to take care of the 2-3 zone. See you later on for tip-off.
[Pre-game rant] We are almost there. Before the games start, I wanted to get something off my chest: it is one of those things that after you notice it, it is hard to concentrate on other things. I am not a big fan of Jim Nantz because he doesn’t add much to games. However, he puts so much emphasis on the foul situation that it just drives me crazy. I was planning on writing after the first basket that Nantz would comment that the defender was wise to let his opponent score because he didn’t want to pick up his first foul. The foul situation is important, but I think Nantz makes it seem like the most important thing. Sadly, both Bill Rafferty and Grant Hill fall in line with Nantz’s way of thinking. I guess they want to drum up controversy or put even more onus on the refs. I am sure to be annoyed this evening, but I will try not to comment upon it again. Let’s get to basketball!
[16:00 minute timeout] Predictions: I think Oklahoma will win, but Buddy Hield will score fewer than 20 points. I also think the shooting background will not be that big of a deal. Always reppin’! I am watching on my computer and one thing that bugs me about streaming shows is that the ads are always perfect, but the show itself can be choppy. I wish it were the reverse. Daniel Ochefu’s development in the paint has been one of the nice surprises. Ochefu looks older than Greg Oden. “Lattin’s first foul is dangerous.” Ho hum. A lot of scoring already. Both teams getting some easy baskets in the early going. Jalen Brunson could be a big producer for the Wildcats next season after Ryan Arcidiacono moves on. I am skeptical about early trends, and there hasn’t really been one, fortunately enough, in this game. It should be a nice high-scoring game.
[12:00 minute timeout] Hield was freelancing on defense which led to an open Kris Jenkins 3-pointer. Both of these teams have excellent passing skills: it is fun to watch them look for the open man. This has been a quick four-minute segment. Only one foul so far, so maybe my pregame rant will be for naught in this game. Both teams getting some points from surprising sources and hitting their shots (better than 50% from the field and at least half of their 3-pointers). That won’t last. This is already a better game than the Dec. 7 affair.
[8:00 minute timeout] Josh Hart is an unsung performer. I like the way he does what Villanova needs him to do. He is highly versatile and I think he could be a decent pro. I’ll be curious to see what he does next year. Jenkins is also an interesting pro prospect, but I think he might be too slow for the pros. There are a lot of lousy seats for basketball at the Jerry Dome. Oklahoma in a bit of an offensive funk, but they can be explosive. The Wildcats are playing very opportunistic defense. Oklahoma does a lot of pass-backs on offense, and Jenkins just stepped in front of one of those back passes for an easy steal. That looks like good scouting. Villanova by six.
[4:00 minute timeout] Oklahoma is in a real funk after Ryan Spangler misses both free throws. Ugly. Timeout, coach Kruger, TO, baby! The Wildcats up now by 11. One of the announcers will say that Hield needs to do more, but the team just needs to dribble less and pass more (if you ask me). I am glad to say that the online presentation has different ads this year. I have not seen Barls Charkley yet. Aerial coverage for an indoor sport? Danny Green is a nice comp for Hart. Wildcats by 16. One could say that Oklahoma has the right where they want them, but I don’t think that’s the case. The Sooners are going to need to trim this lead before halftime. I don’t think Villanova will continue to shoot this well. Wait a second, the Apple Watch tells the time?!? At least according to the Audi ad.
[Halftime] Oklahoma putting a bit of press in the backcourt. Same team – Wildcats battle for the ball and it goes back to Oklahoma. The Sooners get a fast break opportunity just as Grant Hill calls for one. Oklahoma doesn’t score with nice transition defense by Jenkins. Neither of my pregame predictions are looking very good right now, although Hield has just seven points. That turnover off of Ochefu’s hands wasn’t because of the defense, it was a bad pass. “The Sooner, the better!” A dominant first half from Villanova and the Wildcats are up 14. The Sooners looked a little defeated at the end of the half. How will they adjust? Can Villanova keep shooting like this?
[16:00 minute timeout] Here’s a shocker: neither Nantz nor Raftery are on Twitter. Halftime analysis: predictably, Hield needs to do more. Nice move by Brunson on the attack of the basket. Oklahoma getting some offensive boards, but they need to convert. Extra possessions are nice, but points are nicer. Any time Villanova needs a basket, it seems like they can go inside to Ochefu: that might be what separates these teams. Raftery says that “the kids understand the game, which is why there have been so few fouls.” Ugh. Maybe the refs don’t want to be the story for once. This has been a really nicely paced game. If the game gets close, the last two minutes will still take 30 minutes. Oklahoma’s defense will be credited, but Villanova is just regressing to the mean. It was bound to happen. Hart also takes big shots. Villanova by 11 with a foul shot coming after the first break.
[12:00 minute timeout] Bridges was open and makes a nice drive to start the scoring after the timeout. Raftery makes me laugh with the toll-Bridges pun. Nantz no-sells the joke. Maybe Billy Packer was the perfect partner for Nantz. Hart blows by Hield. Villanova seems a little out of sorts, but Oklahoma can’t take advantage. This is a bad sign for the Sooners. Hield played great defense on Hart, but the Wildcat junior hits a tough shot. The Sooners are getting open looks but can not hit them. The Wildcat lead is back up to 15 points.
[8:00 minute timeout] Great fullcourt pass by Jenkins. After the 3-pointer by Booth, I think this one is over. I wonder if a team has ever lost while hitting 70% of its shots. That’s crazy. Buddy’s mom does not look happy. I don’t think we need to see her again. Oklahoma probably doesn’t get to 64 points. Ochefu needs to be taken out of the game. That could be a problem in the final against North Carolina. I don’t like when coaches take timeouts just before the TV-timeout. One of those timeouts should be a 30-second variety. Well, my bracket is done. I had Oklahoma winning the entire thing. I did get one Final Four team right! The Wildcats are not regressing to the mean – maybe that theory is a bunch of BS. Ochefu back in the game. Maybe that was the TV timeout. Villanova on a 22-point run. Incredible.
[4:00 minute timeout] I hope the second game is closer than this. I am ready to fold some laundry. Oklahoma did not score from 12:56 to 6:53 in the second half. Six-minute shutout. Sooners may not even score 50. They were held to 63 points twice during the regular season in losses to Texas Tech and Texas. Revenge of Pearl Harbor: Oklahoma just 6-of-25 on 3-pointers after Villanova was 4-of-32 against Oklahoma in Hawaii. Can Villanova score 100? They are up 41 points.
[Final] The Wildcats’ high this season was 95 points in a blowout win over Xavier on New Year’s Eve. Villanova did not play Syracuse or North Carolina, but the Wildcats beat the Orange last year (and I watched it.) An extended talk about the Villanova walkons. Villanova equals its high score. Let’s get 100! Nope. I was a Villanova doubter all season long and I was wrong. Sorry, Sandra. Time for a break before the next game.
[Pregame] So, some yoyo has a sign in support of Syracuse that noted “They don’t want us to win.” This is so dumb. I’ve heard similar things from both Saints and Patriot fans in the NFL does not want the Saints (because of Bounty-gate, I guess) and/or Patriots (Spy-gate, Deflate-gate, etc.) to win, as if the Saints and Patriots are not part of the NFL. I don’t care for Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim who believes there is a difference between “breaking rules” and “cheating” based on intention, apparently. He whined about his suspension rather than taking responsibility. Boeheim isn’t quite as bad as Rick Pitino, but he isn’t far off. I’ll also say that it isn’t easy to root for North Carolina as well. I just hope this is a good game.
[16:00 minute timeout] Brice Johnson is the Orange-zone buster. North Carolina is really long. Syracuse matches up well on the wings, but not particularly in the paint. Fouls are going to be an issue in this game and we will hear a lot about it. Roy Williams looks perplexed. Johnson does a lot of mean mugging. Official timeouts are the worst. “One of the great bounces you’ll ever see!” I like the way both teams are playing in the early going. The offensive glass is going to be an issue for the Orange.
[12:00 minute timeout] North Carolina is not hitting from the perimeter and Syracuse is. All of the Tar Heels points coming in the paint. The Orange are having problems from the line. Just 1-of-6 so far. Team has hit 69.4% from the line coming into Saturday. Lydon going for the big dunk! Johnson hit the bottom of the rim on the fast break. Are players who get double-doubles always machines? I prefer double-double gobbler. Phantom call on the foul. Boeheim predictably unhappy. Orange continue to lead by one and the Tar Heels have not hit a 3-pointer yet.
[8:00 minute timeout] With Richardson and Lydon, Syracuse could really be a monster next year. Kind of amazing that the Orange lost 13 games. They have come together after almost missing the tournament. In case you were wondering, North Carolina is always reppin’. Two fouls on Johnson. Two fouls on Johnson!!! He’d better stop playing defense. Berry attacking the basket before the zone gets set. Two fouls on Gbinije. Two fouls on Gbinije!! Nantz is loving this. Tar Heels by two at the break and I promise not to break out the italics anymore.
[4:00 minute timeout] Poor North Carolina has cooperated with the NCAA investigation. Let’s talk about Marcus Paige who has a double-major in no-show classes! Controversy abated. Syracuse has not scored in over two minutes. I hope we don’t get another drought. C’mon Cooney! Coleman with the basket and the block on the other end. Let’s show Derrick! Nice passing from the Tar Heels. I’m sorry but I don’t think Grant Hill adds much to this broadcast. Lots of platitudes. Nothing like “life is like a bowl of Berry.” Gbinije is really smooth.
[Halftime] This is going pretty much as I expected it to go. North Carolina is a little too much for Syracuse. It’s not that the Orange can’t make a run and hit a bunch of 3-pointers, but it will take something unusual for Syracuse to win. Halftime analysis prediction: the fellows will say that the Orange need more from Gbinije and Malachi Richardson. For analysts, it is all about stars. If only things were so simple. Tar Heels lead by 11 heading into the intermission.
[16:00 minute timeout] I am starting to get punchy and I hope this game tightens up to hold my interest. I remember when Marcus Paige was a thing. He has really fallen off. His team is better, so they don’t need him to be a hero. Paige is not a pro. Are the announcers openly rooting for Syracuse to make a comeback? To me, Syracuse’s jerseys are closer to red than orange. OK, Nantz, “silent G and silent J” for Gbinijie was pretty good. We get to a 14-point lead and I yawn. I always harp on size, but it really seems to be a factor in this game. Syracuse staying in it. Maybe the Jerry Dome is helping teams shoot: UNC hitting 70% of its shots in the second half and is up by 16.
[12:00 minute timeout] Cooney is the Keith Hornsby of the Orange. Hicks and Coleman go down in a 500-lb heap. I am sorry – I don’t care how many ads 7-11 has for its free sandwiches, I’ll skip that one. It would be like eating the hot dog from the Quickie Mart. I just don’t think Syracuse has enough to make a comeback. North Carolina might hit a few 3-pointers in the last 12 minutes to really take this game.
[8:00 minute timeout] I don’t get these All-State mayhem commercials either. Why does Mayhem have a cut over his eye? Who is Silky Sullivan? A different team? The Orange showing a bit of life. Is it a last gasp? Lazy rebounding by the Tar Heels. Four players just put one hand on the ball. Syracuse cuts the lead to 10. I knew it: Tar Heels hit a 3-pointer. Johnson almost punched Lydon. C’mon Cooney – hits a 3-pointer. Tar Heel perimeter is regressing to the mean! I love regression, or would it be progression to the mean. Lead back to 14. That was a nice Orange flourish.
[4:00 minute timeout] The Orange press is in effect. Raftery indicates that a higher power is helping guide the ball into the hoop. OK… We’ve had some pretty impressive missed dunks this evening. With all of the foul trouble, the Cuse made need to call on J.B. Reafsnyder. Cooney having a nice game. Like me, the Orange are running out of energy. North Carolina and Villanova have met in the NCAA tournament six times. The Tar Heels have won five of those games, including the Final Four in 2009. Ty Lawson had 22 points, seven rebounds, and eight assists, while Tyler Hansbrough was a double-double gobbler.
[Final] The only game that the Wildcats won was in 1985 on the way to their amazing national championship. Gbinjie fouls out. In that game, the Villanova bench did not score. Where are the walk-ons? How dare people question North Carolina basketball? How dare they? And with that, UNC wins. Monday should be interesting. I think I will root for Villanova. Nantz questioning the committee. Good way to end. Oh, two more words for you: Always Reppin’.
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