NCAA Final Four | Preview – Open Thread

Games

#7 Connecticut Huskies (30-8) vs #1 Florida Gators (36-2)

Game Time – Saturday, April 5th at 5:09 PM

Preview - Florida has not lost a game since December 2nd, 2013… and it was to none other than the UConn Huskies. The game was won 65-64 on a Shabazz Napier buzzer beater. If knowing that doesn’t increase your interest in watching this game, I guess nothing will. It’s going to be a hell of a show!

Florida has beaten every team in this tournament by double-digits so far with their pretty game play. They are an experienced bunch that uses their skill to jump out to early leads and coast to easy victories. The standout of the tourney has been guard Scottie Wilbekin, who has scored 10+ in all four games and 20+ in two. Florida is ready to play calm and collected like they always do. They want payback for what UConn did to them last December.

UConn has battled their way to this Final Four. They have fought off St. Joe’s, Villanova, Iowa State, and Michigan State to get here. That is impressive for any team to do. I think they may be worn down from all the emotions and effort that has been put into their run. Shabazz Napier is going to be the best player on the court and he has been on fire this whole tournament. UConn has already taken down Florida once, so why should anyone believe it won’t happen again?

#8 Kentucky Wildcats (28-10) vs #2 Wisconsin Badgers (30-7)

Game Time – Saturday, April 5th at 7:49 PM

Preview - Guess who is the other team this season that beat Florida? It was the Wisconsin Badgers. Kentucky has lost 3 times this season to Florida, but Wisconsin has beaten them in their lone contest. Not to take away from UK, who has knocked out K-State, Wichita State, Louisville, and Michigan already in this tournament.

Wisconsin had to go into overtime to beat Arizona and prove they are worthy for this Final Four. They are clutch when it comes to making big shots. That’s what it takes to be a winner. Seven foot star forward Frank Kaminsky can do it all from draining threes to pulling down boards. He is the definition of Badger basketball. I would look for "Frank the Tank" to be the deciding factor in this game with UK.

It amazes me with how Calipari can take a crop of freshman and roll them along to the Final Four. Throughout the season these guys were learning as they went along. Now, they are finishing games with victories against the best teams in the country. Amongst the frosh their leader is Julius Randle who has recorded a double-double in every game of the tourney. UK needs others to play lights out, but Randle needs to be his consistently brilliant self. Kentucky was forgotten about halfway through the season, but now they’re here.