Final Four promises to be good after bracket of upsets
March Madness was worth the year-long wait.
The disappointment of losing last year’s NCAA Tournament to the pandemic added excitement for this year’s bracket and it didn’t disappoint with a slew of upsets.
Now that the dust has settled a bit, we’re down to four.
One is chasing history. Another wasn’t supposed to get this far. Two, both from Texas, have rekindled memories of the old Southwest Conference.
This should be fun.
THE TEAMS
Gonzaga. The Zags haven’t lost since February 2020 and have history within their grasp. Win two games and they’ll not only hoist the championship trophy for the first time, they’ll become the first team to complete an undefeated season since Indiana in 1976. Oh, they’re also good on offense. Twenty-seven straight doubledigit wins good.
Baylor. The Bears were discounted as title contenders when a late-season COVID-19 pause seemed to slow their roll. No one’s saying that now after they swarmed their way through the bracket. If you like in-your-jersey defense with a dash of up-tempo
offense, this is your team.
Houston. Like Baylor, the Cougars were in the now-defunct Southwest Conference. They’re playing a bit like they did back then, conjuring up memories of the Phi Slama Jama days. They like to play defense, too, so there’s going to be a few bruises when they meet the Bears in the Final Four.
UCLA. What a job Mick Cronin has done with the Bruins. He brought some of that toughness his Cincinnati teams had with him to Westwood and has UCLA back in a once-familiar place. The Bruins like to squeeze the pace and their opponents, so Gonzaga’s next step on the road to perfection won’t be an easy one.
STAR PLAYERS
Corey Kispert, Gonzaga. The All-American sharpshooter has won more games (126) than any player in decades and is the Zags’ go-to offensive guy. He’s the second player in the last 10 years to shoot 50% from the floor, 40% from 3 and 90% from the free throw line.
Jared Butler, Baylor. The first player in school history to be named an Associated Press All-American is the leader on a team full of standouts. He can score, dish, loves to hit clutch baskets.
Johnny Juzang, UCLA. The athletic guard’s decision to leave Kentucky gave the Bruins a huge boost. He can score in bunches, as he showed in the Elite Eight against Michigan, and is playing his best basketball at just the right time.
Quentin Grimes, Houston. Another transfer who has had a massive impact on his new team. The former Kansas guard is the Cougars’ leading scorer and a big reason they’re back in the Final Four for the first time since the Phi Slama Jama days.