5 story lines add to Madness
The Madness has reached its final phase. Four teams, three games. One national champion. On Saturday, the Final Four tips off at University of Phoenix Stadium. Seventh-seeded South Carolina faces No. 1 Gonzaga in the first contest, followed by No. 1 North Carolina and No. 3 Oregon.
“As all players, they’ve dreamed about this for a long time,” Oregon coach Dana Altman said.
That moment is now. Here are five story lines that will shape the national semifinals:
North Carolina’s experience
The Tar Heels danced on this stage just last season, losing a national title in the final seconds to Villanova. In a field of Final Four infants (South Carolina and Gonzaga are here for the first time; Oregon was last here in 1939), they are the grown-ups. Been there, done that. But does it matter? “It’s a factor, but I also think there are different levels of experience,” said Sean May, North Carolina’s director of player personnel and the Most Outstanding Player of the 2005 Final Four. “I don’t know if just getting to the Final Four automatically gives you a trump over Final Four teams that haven’t been there. Just playing in big games helps.”
South Carolina guard Sindarius Thornwell on Friday was asked which team would be more nervous: the Gamecocks or Gonzaga. “Gonzaga,’’ he said. Then adding: “Everybody’s nervous. Nobody wants to lose.”
Oregon’s big shot
Every team here has a go-to guy. To date, Thornwell might be the tournament’s MVP. North Carolina’s Justin Jackson is the Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year. Gonzaga’s Nigel Williams-Goss is a second-team AllAmerican.
But the one to watch: Oregon’s Dillon Brooks. The junior forward, who was the Pac-12 Player of the Year, has a knack for producing in the clutch. He hit winning shots this season against Tennessee, UCLA and California. In a 71-70 win over Arizona State, Brooks scored Oregon’s final 12 points.
“I want to be in that moment,” said Brooks, who is averaging 16.3 points. “I’m ready to take the criticism, missing or missing the shot. I’m confident in my game.”
For North Carolina, that’s concerning. “It’s not just one thing he does well,’’ Tar Heels assistant coach Hubert Davis said. “He can shoot from 3. He can shoot off the catch or the dribble. He’s a good driver. He can post up smaller guards. And when you put him at the (power forward) position, he’s tough to handle.”
Gonzaga’s big man
Gonzaga has the nation’s top-rated defense. South Carolina is No. 2. After their tournament-opening win over Marquette, the Gamecocks held Duke, Baylor and Florida all to under 42-percent shooting. They’ve forced 17 turnovers