Written and Media by Alex Carie
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They call it ‘March Madness’ for a reason, and this season only proved that it is a perfect title for this tournament. We started with 68 teams, and after only two weeks we have narrowed it down to four teams. Out of the teams that are still standing, only one of them started out this tournament as a number one seed. The lone number one seed in this year’s Final Four is the North Carolina Tar Heels.
This year’s tournament has had it all. It has had its fair share of blowout games, upsets and buzzer beaters. You name it and its happened. From the smiles and cheering of happiness, to the jaw dropping shock and tears of players playing their last game, this tournament has definitely been a journey like no other.
The Final Four will include top North Carolina, number two Oklahoma, another two seed in Villanova, and tenth seeded Syracuse, the first ever ten seed to make a Final Four. It has been 31 years since Villanova has won an NCAA Tournament. The last time they won this tournament was in its first year of the 64 team tournament. Oklahoma on the other hand, has never won a tournament and has only been in three Final Fours total. Then we get to looking at North Carolina who has a decorated 26 Final Four appearances and five NCAA titles. This is a team that has the experience of being in this situation. You could almost say it is expected of this blue-blood school.
North Carolina, which is obviously the highest seed left, will play the Orangemen of Syracuse, the lowest seed left. However, the way the Orangemen have been playing over the last two weeks, many spectators of the game would seem to put them close to the same playing level. It will come down to whether North Carolina can solve the ever so tough 2-3 zone that Syracuse has been so famous for. For Syracuse it will come down to stopping the 6’10 First Team All-American Brice Johnson from gettings his 24th double-double of the season.
On the other side we have a battle of the two seeds as Villanova and Oklahoma both upset the top team in their region of the tournament. Both teams coming off of big wins will make for an interesting game. Villanova has been prone to playing below the level of their ability all season, up until the last two weeks. They will need to shut down Oklahoma’s First Team All-American Buddy Hield. Oklahoma on the other hand, has been playing at a more consistent rate than any team in the country at the moment. The question is will Hield be able to carry them through the Final Four and help them secure the first national title in school history? He is good enough to do it. Only time will tell. So tune in or watch the Final Four where in March Madness, anything can happen.
Schedule: Saturday, April 2
No.2 Oklahoma vs. No. 2 Villanova @ 6:09 p.m. Eastern.
No.1 North Carolina vs. No. 10 Syracuse following the first game.
