More Motown Madness

The Big Dance is down to four teams vying for a Monday night Division I Championship game. North Carolina and Connecticut are both number one seeds and favorites to win their Final Four showdowns in Detroit tonight. The Big East representative Huskies are joined by fellow conference comrades, Villanova. The Wildcats will have to prove they can play at the highest possible level against a ferocious North Carolina Tarheel team. Meanwhile, Connecticut faces a dark horse Michigan State team. The Spartans are playing in their own backyard and will have the home field advantage by far.
The number one rebounding Spartans must find support for scoring machine, Goran Sutton. Sutton will need the help of his teammates to match the size of the Huskies frontline. Michigan State hasn’t seen a team like the one they will face tonight at all during this tournament. Tom Izzo’s credentials are good and the Spartans will be motivated by a crowd that will hardly be subdued. Last week, Michigan State throttled Louisville by taking them out of their element. They smashed the Cardinals with a brawny blend of physicality and slick speed. This is one fighting team and if any of the lower seeds are winning tonight, I give them the best chance. It won’t be easy knocking off another number one seed but Izzo’s Spartans are a practiced and patient team. They will need to slow the tempo and control the game against a potent Huskie offense.
Junior, Raymar Morgan, hasn’t been a factor this tournament for Michigan State. He suffered a broken nose and hasn‘t been playing with confidence. Durrell Summers, Chris Allen and Draymond Green showed they can handle new roles as premier players. Izzo’s young collegiate crew exhibited exactness when encountering Louisville’s lashing defense. Green is a smart position player, and only a freshman. Idong Ibok, on the bench at the center spot, could be a factor in the game against Connecticut. Izzo is expecting him to come off the bench and get a chance to block some shots. The Spartans are undermanned but should find other ways to contain the Huskies. Sutton is averaging 14 points this tournament. He led the conference in rebounding this year and earned most outstanding player of the Midwest region. Kalin Lucas deserves kudos for his ability to run with anybody in Division I. I anticipate Lucas will be of assistance if the Spartans have any hopes of keeping this a game.
Michigan State may have the best rebounding team in the nation but they are followed by their opponent, Connecticut. The Huskies have so many offensive weapons and now even more options to rely on with the debut of Manhattan freshman, Kemba Walker. Walker starred for Jim Calhoun against Missouri and proved another ball handler for the evocative Huskies. Kemba had 9 points and 4 assists in only 9 minutes against Mizzou. He handled the pressure of the Tigers like a pro. Connecticut is a dominant Big East program with stories success. They expose and exploit other teams with a crop of sharp shooters. Jeff Adrien and A.J. Price are leaders on the court, and Hasheem Thabeet has unprecedented ability when he is on his game. I think Connecticut wins in a close affair. They have a lot to prove and are out to make a statement.
The North Carolina Tarheels were the consensus number one team to start the year. The NC backcourt with Wayne Ellington and Ty Lawson can create insurmountable intensity. Danny Green is a money shooter who rarely misses the big shots for NC. With their commanding athleticism and size, breakaway ability and senior laden team, I foresee a win and trip to the finals for Roy Williams. The seniors are looking for a championship sendoff and this is their last chance. Lawson is an all-American point guard the Wildcats will have a hard time holding back. Both teams posted 30 win seasons and are capable of putting up points. Carolina operates mostly on offense, and Jay Wright’s Villanova team tends to rely on the rebound. The Wildcat guard play will keep the game from being a blow out. Dwyane Anderson is a great rebounder and can shoot in double figures. Anderson and Dante Cunningham are a dynamic duo. The Villanova defense is terrific and will cause North Carolina fits. But Tyler Hansbrough, the All-American 6’9” force for NC needs to be stopped if the Wildcats are to prevail. Hansbrough is the ACC’s all time leading scorer. He only accounted for 8 of North Carolina’s points last week against Oklahoma. I think he will look to at least double that digit tonight. Nova’s game plan will be to force Hansbrough or Deon Thompson into foul trouble. That sounds pedestrian enough, but is harder than it really is. Scottie Reynolds for Villanova is a sound and solid, respectable player. He will have his hands full with the intricate, illuminating and illustrious Carolina interior. Villanova held Duke to 26% shooting tough and the tough-minded team can catch on quickly by playing the basics well.

Parting points: Are the Mets serious with the Gary Sheffield signing? He’s 41 years old and only hit .225 in 418 games for Detroit last year.
It’s about time Plaxico Burress was released from the Giants. Thank goodness story that had legs is no longer running.