Final 4 Preview

The Final 4 is here. Two super match ups are on the horizon this evening as Kentucky-Louisville and Ohio State-Kansas are primed for a couple of showdowns.

First, Kentucky and Louisville, a dream match up in the Final Four. Pitino against Calipari. These two school are just 70 miles apart in the state of Kentucky and there is plenty of hatred shared amongst fans. Louisville is certainly hot. They won four games in four days in the Big East tournament on their way to the title, and have now won 8 games in a row heading into the Final 4. Kentucky stormed through the South region. Their closest game thus far has been 12 points, against Indiana. The Cat's confidence level has to be riding high.

This is going to be a thriller. All the pressure is on Kentucky...or that's at least certainly the card Louisville is trying to play. Here's what I think. When is the pressure not on Kentucky? Every game they play is the other team's "super bowl". On the road in the SEC, they face white-outs, black-outs, orange-outs, so they are used to the heat. And I'm sorry but there is pressure on Louisville. This is the Final 4. You are here to win, not for moral victories. Don't let Louisville fool you. They will be nervous.

Second, Ohio State and Kansas. Obviously the headline match up is in the paint between Jared Sullinger and Thomas Robinson. You think there will be any NBA scouts watching that match up? Of course. The battle in the paint has more than just a national semi-final riding on it, but it could also determine which player is drafted before the other in the NBA draft this June.

If Kansas wants to win this ball game, Tyshawn Taylor is going to have to play well. That will be a tough task against the Big 10 Defensive Player of the Year in Aaron Craft. He has pestered every point guard he has faced thus far in the tournament and you can guarantee he is looking to fluster Tyshawn Taylor. That to me will be the more important match up in this ball game. Whoever wins the battle in the backcourt, will have a great opportunity to play again on Monday night.

Regardless of the outcomes in the two games, we are in for a special national championship on Monday night in New Orleans. There are no Cinderella teams in this Final 4, like we have seen in past years, but rather a class of heavyweights, with a dream of cutting down the nets on Monday night.

--GM