Sports

NCAA Final 4 - No Underdogs But No Top Dogs Either

by optic | March 30, 2007 at 12:12 pm

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No Cinderalla story in this year's Final Four... and the lack of true underdogs making it to the final weekend of the tournament leaves reporters looking for an angle. Without a real feel good story this year people are grappling for an angle, and that story seems to be whether Florida can repeat as National Champion. If they do it will be the first time since Duke did it in 1991 - 1992. But Florida is no prince in this attempted fairytale. Not only have they not won it all yet (beware UCLA and the redemption factor - Pat Forde at espn points out that UCLA looks a lot like Duke did in '91), but UCLA and the rest of the field don't come close to class that UNLV had that year (yet anyway).

In any case, even if they should be the ones cutting down the nets on Monday night all the comparisons between this year's team and those Duke teams are premature... The Duke championship teams graduated no less than 7 bona fide NBA players, including 4 first round selections; two of which, Grant Hill and Christian Laettner each went #3 overall. Though time will tell, no team lookos as deep 1 through 6 as either Duke or the UNLV team that they beat to start their run. And frankly no result this weekend could be either an upset or surprise so the Duke legacy is safe for now. (And with North Carolina out at least there is Florida to chear against). It seems it's a year for everyone to find their own story in the tourney... and with no upsets in sight for the least experienced people in the office pool to clean up.

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trozbo

at 17:22 on March 30th, 2007

Anyone who thinks that Florida will run away with the title is crazy. All teams will be gunning for the Gators let alone trying to win the title. The key to beating Florida is to get comfortably ahead and force foul trouble. That being said, if Florida can keep the games close, avoid fouls and pull ahead in the final minutes they should take the title again. Go Gators!