Question of the Day: Who will win Saturday’s two NCAA Final Four games?
This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.
Writers from around the Tribune Co. weigh in on Saturday’s NCAA basketball games, Kentucky vs. Connecticut and Virginia Commonwealth vs. Butler. Check back throughout the day for more responses, vote in the polls and feel free to leave a comment of your own.
Shannon Ryan, Chicago Tribune
Butler will get another shot at the NCAA tournament title, this time against Connecticut, on Monday.
Butler isn’t so wide-eyed at the whole Final Four experience after last season’s run to the championship. The veteran Bulldogs rely on a solid defense that will cool off VCU’s hot shooters. If Shelvin Mack is on target with his shooting, which he has been in the tournament, the Bulldogs will advance.
In Las Vegas, if a number is hot on the roulette wheel, you keep riding it. Why bet against Connecticut and Kemba Walker?
Walker is the tournament’s brightest star and has taken the Huskies to another level since the Big East tournament. Winners of nine games in 19 days, they’ll unravel a talented Kentucky team just as they did when the teams met in Maui early in the season. Connecticut freshman guard Jeremy Lamb has developed into a solid counterpart to Walker.
It’s been an unpredictable tournament, but Butler and Connecticut have enough reliable players to launch each team into the championship.
Paul Doyle, Hartford Courant
Let’s put an end to the “experience” story line when evaluating the Butler-VCU game. Yes, Butler played in last year’s Final Four and won’t be shaken on the big stage. But after watching VCU run through one favored opponent after another, does anyone think this team will be intimidated by the bright lights?
The problem for the Rams is all about their matchup. VCU succeeds by running and dictating the pace, but Butler Coach Brad Stevens won’t let that happen. The Bulldogs will slow the tempo with their half-court game and win the first game Saturday.
The nightcap shapes up as a classic -– old rivals Jim Calhoun and John Calipari pacing the sidelines as two of the hottest teams in the country square off. When UConn thoroughly outplayed Kentucky four months ago in Maui it was something of a coming-out party for Kemba Walker and the Huskies.
It will be a much different game this time. The Wildcats are riding a 10-game winning streak and freshman Brandon Knight isn’t playing like a freshman. And Calipari, an underrated X’s & O’s guy, will make adjustments.
But in the end, UConn wins. The Huskies have the best player in the tournament, a coach with two rings and some serious wind in their sails. Tune in to a UConn-Butler title game Monday night.
RELATED:
Four coaches, two sides of the coin in the Final Four
Photos, from left: Butler’s guard Ronald Nored, left, and Shelvin Mack; Connecticut’s Kemba Walker, left, and Alex Oriakhi. Credit: Sean Gardner / Reuters; Jae C. Hong / Associated Press