Nova Gears Up in Final Four

Villanova, with only Kansas and Michigan/ Loyola in it’s way is revved up to take the NCAA Basketball Championship for the second time in three years.  Kansas has played well at the right time, especially when it counted late against Duke, aided by a few advantageous calls, to send the game into and ultimately win in OT.

Kansas only had to get by Duke, no small accomplishment, but Clemson and Seton Hall didn’t really pose much of a threat. Duke struggled to get by play-in winner Syracuse. Villanova blew by a solid Texas Tech team that crushed #2 seed Purdue, and prior to that disposed of West Va. by 12 and ‘Bama by 23.

The other side was a complete washout, everybody’s brackets were busted early. In the South, #1 Virginia and #4 Arizona, out in the first round. #2 Cincinnati and #3 Tennessee out in the second round while #5 Kentucky got bounced in the round of 8. # 11 Loyola determinedly survived with some alleged help from above and has a showdown with Michigan to see who gets to fall to Nova in the final.

In the West, #3 Michigan, almost and should have lost to Houston in the first round, only had to overcome #7 Texas A&M and #9 FSU to make it to the Final Four. #1 Xavier,  #2 UNC and #4 Gonzaga all unimpressive and  knocked out early. The Wolverines are on a nice streak and play tough D so we expect them in the big game Monday night in the Alamodome. However Nova’s experience and shot making ability should prove too much for them.