Final Four:
A West Coast final isn’t that far-fetched
Why Gonzaga will cut down the nets and other projections.
Days from tip-off, here are four predictions you wouldn’t expect in the Final Four.
1. A WEST COAST FINAL
After Oregon unexpectedly throttled Kansas, a team that was shooting lights out and beating opponents by 30, Tyler Dorsey — who has earned the nickname “Mr. March — had a message for America: “They sleep on the West Coast. Wake ’em up!”
Consider the nation “woke” to Oregon and Gonzaga as title contenders after impressive Final Four runs. In the Sweet 16, the story line was how the Big Ten proved doubters wrong. In the Elite Eight, how the Southeastern Conference had a surprise three teams. Now, it’s the West Coast. If one of them wins a championship, it would be the first for a true West Coast team since UCLA in 1995 (Arizona won in 1997).
So why not an all-West Coast championship game between the Bulldogs and Ducks? Gonzaga is favored against South Carolina, but Oregon is an underdog against North Carolina. The key will be for coach Dana Altman to use an array of defenses as he did against Michigan and Kansas. And as much as the loss of Chris Boucher could be fully felt against a North Carolina team that led the nation in rebounding, Jordan Bell (11 points, 13 boards and eight blocks against Kansas) has been a key. That and Dillon Brooks and Tyler Dorsey have been matchup nightmares. If they are on their A-game against the Tar Heels, there’s no reason to count them out.
2. GONZAGA WINS IT ALL
In a rock fight against fourthseeded West Virginia, Gonzaga showed it had the defensive fortitude to play championship basketball. Against Xavier, the offense finally arrived. Mark Few’s team has lost but once — to BYU in the regular season — and the reason it won 36 games is because it is exceptional on defense and has plenty of offensive weapons.
Point guard Nigel WilliamsGoss and 7-footer Przemek Karnowski key the inside-out game, but it’s the other players such as freshman 7-footer Zach Collins and sophomore guard Josh Perkins who help this team go. For the naysayers who are still skeptical of Gonzaga, they’ll point to an easier path to the Final Four than most. But Gonzaga is used to proving doubters wrong. An underdog No. 1 seed? The Bulldogs shouldn’t be, but they’re playing like it in March.
3. SINDARIUS THORNWELL COMES BACK TO EARTH
Thornwell has been the best player in this year’s tournament, averaging 25.8 points and 7.5 rebounds. But Thornwell could be this year’s Buddy Hield. After scoring 37 points in the Elite Eight last year, the Oklahoma star had nine points on 4-for-12 shooting in a 44-point loss to Villanova in the Final Four. Don’t expect a similar beatdown against Gonzaga. The Gamecocks’ defense will keep them in the game. Thornwell imposed his will on Duke, Baylor and Florida, but Gonzaga will use a collective defensive effort to cool down the tournament’s biggest star.
4. UNSUNG HERO WILL BE THE MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER
Among the players who have won the Most Outstanding Player Award through the years, Duke’s Tyus Jones (2015) and Louisville’s Luke Hancock (2013) are examples of two who were key players on their teams but far from the top catalysts heading into the Final Four.
Here are four players who could become unsung heroes: North Carolina’s Luke
Maye: Maye, a 6-8 sophomore reserve who averages 5.5 points a game, had 17 points against Kentucky, including the game-winning bucket. Before that, he had 16 points and 12 rebounds against Butler. Oregon’s Bell: Bell has been instrumental in getting Oregon to the Final Four after the Ducks lost Boucher to inury. Although it will be hard to one-up his performance against Kansas, which included eight game-changing blocks, his play against North Carolina will be crucial. Gonzaga’s Johnathan Williams: The Missouri transfer was huge in the win against Xavier. He had 19 points, eight rebounds and three blocks. At 6-9, the versatile forward presents matchup problems with his range and ability to stretch the floor. South Carolina’s Chris Silva: The 6-9 sophomore has been on a tear, with 17 points and 10 rebounds against Duke and 13 points and nine boards against Florida. If the Gamecocks’ magic continues, Silva will be a vital part.