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作者:熱點 来源:焦點 浏览: 【大中小】 发布时间:2024-11-10 01:47:38 评论数:
The Oklahoma Sooners, North Carolina Tar Heels, Villanova Wildcats and Syracuse Orange -- they've all landed in Houston for Saturday's Final Four. Two winners will advance to Monday's national championship game; the victor there will bask in March Madness glory until the end of time.
That much we know for certain. Now, by way of a Final Four preview, here are 10 more things that will definitely, probablyhappen in Houston this weekend.
SEE ALSO:Jay Bilas on the exploitation of college athletes and Young Jeezy's teeth10. Buddy Hield gets revenge after Valentine's day
Whoa, Buddy.Credit: Alonzo Adams/APOklahoma guard Buddy Hield has been a scoring machine all season, to the tune of 25.4 points per game. He's also come up huge on gigantic stages. But the college hoops world reacted with surprise on Thursday when Michigan State's Denzel Valentine -- a fantastic player, but no Buddy Hield -- was named player of the year by the Associated Press in a close vote.
Failure Keeps Me Humble 🙏🏾💯🏀🔥
— Buddy Love !!!! (@buddyhield) March 31, 2016
Hield now has two games left in his college career to prove Valentine's voters wrong. Look for the Bahamian bomber to go out with a bang.
9. Jay Wright's suit game is on point
Sharp-dressed man.Credit: Christopher Szagola/CSM/APProbably the one true lock on this entire list. The Villanova head coach's predilection for fine haberdashery is so legendary his players call him "GQ Jay." Win or lose, Wright will do it in style.
8. Oklahoma beats Villanova to advance
Oklahoma head coach Lon Kruger.Credit: David J. Phillip/APFans of the Wildcats and impeccable suits, however, will be let down by Saturday's first game, when Oklahoma finally ends Villanova's run. The Sooners already won a December matchup by 23 points; expect a closer result here. Villanova features a well-rounded attack with Ryan Arcidiacono, Josh Hart, Kris Jenkins, Phil Booth and Daniel Ochefu. Oklahoma, too, is much more than just one player -- but Hield's star power will probably put the Sooners over the top.
7. Misanthropes whine about college hoops
North Carolina forward Brice Johnson might beg to differ.Credit: Gerry Broome/APYes. We get it. College basketball can look constipated and elementary compared to the NBA. Ragging on college hoops is fashionable these days, and it's justified by offenses nationwide sputtering in recent years. But save the whining for another day. Enjoy what's in front of you as best you can.
6. Ramses gets well-deserved love
The same week that North Carolina reached the final four, its ram mascot, Ramses XXII, became a father to twin lambs, Ollie and Marvin. The university put out the adorable video below to celebrate on Thursday.
Expect the new dad to get more media love this weekend as long as the Tar Heels stick around. Ramses and his lamb-momma, Stella, deserve it.
5. Carolina takes down Syracuse
Joel Berry, left, and Theo Pinson are key parts of a stacked Carolina team.Credit: Gerry Broome/APSpeaking of the Heels, look for them to have a relatively easy time dispatching Syracuse in Saturday's nightcap. Carolina has teased fans with its potential all year, but the team's been flat-out excellent for weeks now. Brice Johnson became a powerhouse as a senior, and Marcus Paige is arguably the nation's best point guard. Syracuse has enjoyed a magical run, and there's no shame in it ending here against a team that's just more talented.
4. Syracuse will be scrutinized like no other team
Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim.Credit: David J. Phillip/APFirst, everyone expressed shock when the Orange snuck into the March Madness field with a 19-13 record. The common consensus: They didn't deserve it. Now they're the first 10-seed to reach a Final Four.
Couple that with iconic coach Jim Boeheim doing one of the most brilliant jobs of his career in this tournament. Then, add the fact that Syracuse just wiggled out of any substantial punishment after being found in violation of NCAA rules. Syracuse is certainly the Final Four's most intriguing team in several ways. Expect hot takes to follow.
3. That one ref looks really familiar
John Higgins don't play.Credit: Chris Coduto/Getty ImagesJohn Higgins was announced Thursday as one of 10 Final Four refs -- marking his seventh time working college basketball's signature event. Having called many other big games over the years, Higgins has become perhaps college hoops' most recognizable referee -- for reasons good and bad. Sports Illustrated ran an interesting profile of him in January.
2. North Carolina wins its sixth national title
Carolina, shown here celebrate its Final Four berth, will be all smiles again Monday.Credit: Streeter Lecka/Getty ImagesThis is it, the championship matchup we all want to see: Hield coming out armed to the teeth in a bid to slay the giants from Chapel Hill. Alas, North Carolina will be too much. Oklahoma's "core four" is nothing to discount -- Hield, Isaiah Cousins, Ryan Spangler and Jordan Woodard have started a combined 104 straight games. But the Tar Heels are just deeper overall, with Joel Berry, Justin Jackson, Kennedy Meeks and Isaiah Hicks flanking Paige and Johnson.
The good news for fans with no particular allegiance is that Carolina's uptempo attack paired with Hield's individual brilliance should lead to a highly entertaining season finale.
1. "One Shining Moment" delivers differently
Duke players and coaches watch "One Shining Moment" after last year's title game.Credit: Lance King/Getty Images"One Shining Moment" -- the ballad that plays over a tournament-capping video montage following each championship game -- is schmaltzy but irresistible.
This year, it's also a mystery.
A Turner executive said Tuesday that the tearjerker typically performed by Luther Vandross will be done by a new artist Monday night. But the identity of that new artist was still a secret at the time of this writing.
After a version of "One Shining Moment" was performed by Jennifer Hudson in 2010, the switch away from Vandross got panned and the classic rendition was re-instituted the following year. Our bet is producers learned their lesson, and this year's surprise twist delivers.
But that's not until Monday. For now, we'll leave you with last year's montage to hold you over until Saturday's Final Four doubleheader.