I can’t give you a compelling reason for why Kansas will definitively beat Villanova.
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McManus told Russo that Loyola’s presence in the Final Four won’t be a complete debacle for TBS, which has the Final Four and national title game this season.
And how close was the state of Kansas to getting two teams to the Final Four?
Villanova (34-4) is a true juggernaut on offense.
Syracuse, the last team in the tournament, advanced to the Sweet 16 in Omaha by winning three games, one over Big Ten bully Michigan State. They also rank sixth in field goal percentage (.499).
After racing through much of the tournament with offensive punch, Villanova made only 33 percent of its shots – and about 17 percent of its 3s – against Texas Tech on Sunday. Kevin Yoder, the Nigerian government approved Florence’s travel visa on Thursday, allowing her to fly to San Antonio for the Final Four. Still, it might be simpler than being everybody’s heartthrob at the Final Four.
Udoka Azubuike’s mom will get to see him play for the first time since he left Nigeria six years ago. At least four teams have overlooked the Ramblers up to this point. “First, it’s understanding the enormity of it, that when you get there, it’s going to blow you away”, Wright said.
After all, for Villanova winning a National Championship has suddenly become simply business as usual. He’s led the Jayhawks to one national title and one runner-up finish (losing to Kentucky in the 2012 title game in New Orleans) in his 15 years at KU. Only this quote doesn’t come from a player in that game.
KU did hit some 3-pointers that were huge because of where the game was time-wise. Although they have no seniors within the nucleus, they are the more experienced team at this juncture. They’re not very big so just like Villanova they struggle on the boards.
“There’s a lot of good ones, don’t get me wrong”. Eric Paschall, Phil Booth, Donte DiVincenzo, and Omar Spellman all will need to step up if Villanova expects to knock off the Jayhawks. The Rams had an even more hard path than the Ramblers. The 6-foot sophomore averages 7.5 points and 3.7 assists, but he’s capable of providing a double-figure scoring punch with his crafty drives to the basket and occasional 3-pointer (30 percent).
Arica Carter has been an X-factor in Louisville’s success this season, humbly but efficiently leading at point guard with the help of solid freshman Dana Evans. He is a future National Basketball Association lottery pick and a multi-dimensional threat on offense. McCowan is averaging 18.1 points and 13.6 rebounds. The Wildcats have lost just once this season when he has a 20-point game.
“Every team starts the season saying that’s our goal to go to the Final Four”. The 11th-seeded upstarts got a red-carpet arrival in Texas alongside powerhouses Kansas, Villanova and MI.
With a strong back court, led by All American junior guard Jalen Brunson, the Wildcats play a similar game to Kansas, able to score in bunches and get hot from three-point land.
“I would say the shot and everything that came with it”, Bechard said of what he remembers the most about 2008.
Both have been crucial during the NCAAs, but perhaps nobody has risen to the occasion like Malik Newman, the transfer from Mississippi State who dropped 32 points on Duke.
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– Written by John Coon, who is part of the Athlon Contributor Network. His work has been featured on Sports Illustrated, ESPN.com, FOXSports.com, CBSSports.com and many others.
