Don’t you think they should reseed the Final Four teams?
Once again, it looks like one semifinal game Saturday night in San Antonio will determine the national champion. That’s because surviving No. 1 seeds Villanova and Kansas play in the second game after third-seed Michigan plays Cinderella 11th-seed Loyola of Chicago.
How hard would it be, and how dramatic could it get, if the NCAA tournament committee said that before the Big Dance started it would re-seed the Final Four teams? For an organization that cares more about money than anything else, wouldn’t that help insure the highest-possible rating Monday night?
Ironically, the only way the championship game will draw over-top-ratings is if the Ramblers of Loyola should upset Michigan and become a Butler-like sentimental favorite in the title game. Villanova is likely to defeat Kansas and, doing so, would be a heavy favorite over either Loyola or Michigan.
Why wouldn’t the NCAA do that for maximum dramatic effect? Villanova is the highest No. 1 seed remaining, so match the Wildcats against the 11 seed Saturday. Kansas, the fourth No. 1 seed in the pairings, would be a great semifinal matchup with the Big Ten champion Wolverines.
Is it because one side of the Final Four bracket played its Elite Eight games on Saturday and the other on Sunday? Sure Loyola and Michigan get one extra day’s rest over Kansas and Villanova, but it’s a full week and one more day of rest for one team could become one more day of rust for the other.
With games that started after 10 p.m. during the first two rounds and Sweet Sixteen, the NCAA didn’t seem to give a hoot about how much time fell between games. They made the next matchup based on what was best for TV. So, do that in the Final Four, for Jiminy Christmas.
Kansas is a sneaky good team, despite playing four guards most of the time. The Jayhawks’ zone offense against Duke was excellent and if they hadn’t turned the ball over 18 times they would have won long before overtime. Villanova is the best all-around remaining team, with dogged defense and five starters who can all score in double figures.
Please don’t let it be Jay Wright’s team versus Sister Jean’s team. That would be like the hard-core coach playing the sweet, 98-year-old nun, one on one.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
Comments on Chapelboro are moderated according to our Community Guidelines