NCAA Tournament: Challenges for top seeds

4/2/09
tar heels
By Max J. Dickstein

NCAA Tournament: Challenges for top seeds

Photo credit: Game Face

The Tar Heels’ Ty Lawson (Source: Getty Images)

By Max J. Dickstein

Saturday’s two national semifinal games will more than likely pave the way for a high-powered clash between two pro-style college powerhouses, North Carolina and Connecticut, on Monday.

But while the Tar Heels and Huskies are seemingly in their own class, they must first avoid Final Four pitfalls against scrappy, formidable foes.No. 2 Michigan State (30-6) vs. No. 1 UConn (31-4)

CBS Saturday, 6:07 p.m.

As steamroller-like as the Huskies have been in this tournament, they have shown slight vulnerability this season. UConn was shoved around in two regular-season losses to Pittsburgh, and the Huskies’ overcautious play cost them in a six-overtime, Big East tournament loss to Syracuse last month.

The best the Spartans can hope for is a defensive effort like the one that smothered top-ranked Louisville last Sunday, combined with UConn’s weaknesses resurfacing.

Even then, the Spartans will have to score against an imperious UConn frontline led by 7-foot-3 center Hasheem Thabeet (4.3 blocks per game), who is impassable within five feet of the rim.

No. 3 Villanova (30-7) vs. No. 1 UNC (32-4)

CBS Saturday, 8:47 p.m.

North Carolina point guard Ty Lawson has been the tournament’s best player, averaging 20.3 points, 6.7 assists and 57 percent shooting.

With only two turnovers in three games (Lawson sat out a first-round blowout to rest a sore big toe), his decision making keeps UNC’s 90-point-per-game offense humming, come what may.

Like UNC, Villanova is peaking right now.The Wildcats’ combination of frantic all-court play and a highly tactical game plan gives the seven-point underdogs a shot at an upset.
- Twitter
- Facebook
- Delicious
- Digg
- Stumble Upon

tar heels

NCAA Tournament: Challenges for top seeds

Vote

Partners

Archive