Thu Apr 3 11:37:25 2008

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Finally Four

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Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - For the first time, the top four seeds have advanced to the Final Four. While that has probably frustrated more than a few office prognosticators, the Tar Heels, Tigers, Bruins and Jayhawks have proved themselves to be the cream of the crop all season long, so is it really a surprise to see them converging on San Antonio this week for what proves to be a highly entertaining Final Four?

NORTH CAROLINA:

Of course, one of the key subplots this weekend will be Roy Williams and the Tar Heels going up against the Jayhawks. Williams had the Jayhawks among the nation's elite teams when he resided in Lawrence, and it was a bittersweet move to Chapel Hill a few years ago for the coach.

Apart from that storyline, the odds-on-favorite to win the national championship has to be UNC, which has fought through a bit of adversity due to the lengthy absence of its point guard. Ty Lawson's ankle kept him sidelined for a good portion of time in the second half of the season, and while the national title hopes on campus seemed lost, the team learned how to win without their court general and are probably a better squad for it.

Of course, it doesn't hurt to have a First-Team All-American and National Player of the Year candidate in Tyler Hansbrough leading the charge. Hansbrough has been outstanding since day one at UNC, and seems to be getting better if that is possible. The 6-9 junior led the ACC in scoring and rebounding this season and was a legitimate 20 and 10 guy all year long. That hasn't stopped in postseason action, with Hansbrough making big play after big play.

He gets plenty of help from a supporting cast that includes standouts like Wayne Ellington, Lawson and Danny Green and underappreciated contributors like backup point guard Quentin Thomas, who really helped UNC in Lawson's absence. The only question that remains is whether or not the Tar Heels' shaky defense can hold up for two more games. It hasn't been a problem thus far in the tournament, but Kansas, Memphis and or UCLA can make teams pay for lapses at the defensive end.

MEMPHIS:

John Calipari's squad has lost just once this season, and if the Tigers' performance against Texas in the Elite Eight is any indication, they have no intention of losing again. Although the team doesn't reside in a power conference like the ACC, Pac-10 or Big 12, Memphis has proved itself to be one of the most athletic teams in the country this year, something the Longhorns can attest to.

It starts with First-Team All-American Chris Douglas-Roberts, but certainly doesn't end there. The emergence of freshman point guard Derrick Rose has given Memphis a lethal backcourt combination.

With Douglas-Roberts and Rose making things difficult for the opposition along the perimeter, Robert Dozier and Joey Dorsey have done the same up front. Two very physical forwards, Dozier and Dorsey have given the Tigers balanced play at both ends of the court.

The University of Memphis may not have the basketball pedigree that UCLA, North Carolina and Kansas has, but the Tigers will play the part of the underdog this weekend with great pleasure.

UCLA:

The Bruins are one of college basketball's most celebrated teams, having won a record 11 national titles, 10 under legendary coach John Wooden and one under Jim Harrick in 1995. The squad that Ben Howland has put on the floor the last three years isn't bad either, with UCLA making its third straight appearance in the Final Four. They certainly had their chances the last two seasons, but this is the year that the Bruins could very well add national title number 12.

The main reason has been the arrival of center Kevin Love. The 6-11 freshman has played more like a seasoned veteran, and whether he stays long at UCLA or moves on to the NBA in the near future, he will still be on the floor this weekend in San Antonio. A double-double producer on most nights, Love commands a lot of attention down low and was rewarded by being tabbed a First-Team All- American this year.

That is a good thing for the rest of the team, with players like Darren Collison (Third-Team All-American), Russell Westbrook and Josh Shipp getting open looks at the basket as a result. Add to the mix the kind of defensive intensity that UCLA brings game-in and game-out and you have a recipe for a national title.

KANSAS:

The tradition in Lawrence is just as steeped in history as that of UNC and UCLA. Kansas' James Naismith invented the game, and with greats like Phog Allen, Dean Smith, Larry Brown, Wilt Chamberlain, Clyde Lovellette and Danny Manning (just to name a few) all spending time at Kansas, Lawrence could be considered the hub of the basketball world in Mid-America.

This will be Kansas' 13th Final Four appearance, but it remains to be seen just where Bill Self's 2007-08 team ranks among the all-time greats in Kansas history. This year's version of the Jayhawks is certainly capable to taking home a national title. A dangerous offensive team, what Kansas has that the other three teams in San Antonio don't is unmatched depth. The Jayhawks have plenty of interchangeable parts and can mix things up to get the matchups needed to exploit opponents' weaknesses.

There is no double-double guy on the roster, but rather a plethora of talented performers, all with the ability to step up and deliver when needed. Brandon Rush has done just that down the stretch for the Jayhawks, and has to be considered the offensive leader heading into this weekend. However, Darrell Arthur, Darnell Jackson, Mario Chalmers, Russell Robinson, Sherron Collins and Sasha Kaun can all get the job done as well.