NCAA Tournament Update 3

Since my last post some of the most exciting tournament basketball has happened. Fantastic finishes, buzzer beaters, double overtime games. Some how I still on my revised picks got 3 of 4 final four teams. Michigan State surprised me by beating Kentucky. North Carolina put an end to that last night with a fairly convincing win over Michigan State. Illinois and Louisville didn't disappoint. Roger Powell jr. was just in a zone last night. Pitino and Louisville had no answer for Powell. Garcia, Dean and O'Bannon were ice cold. That was a surprise, but when you look at Illinois' Deron Williams as the best perimeter defense guard in the nation it's not much of a surprise. Illinois has always been my pick to win the national championship. The NCAA Selection Committee has to be pleased with the overall #1 in the tournament vs. another #1 seed in the final.

North Carolina and Illinois have been firmly entrenched in the top 2 spots in national polls and rankings all season. Tomorrow night will give most fans the best night of men’s college basketball the NCAA could provide. Illinois Bruce Weber's heartwarming fairytale in memory of his mom vs. Roy Williams first national championship and North Carolina's revival. Illinois will be fighting the pressure of former graduates spewing off in the media and jitters to bring home their first national championship in men’s basketball, while North Carolina will be rebounding from its worst season ever in 2001-2002 at 8-20. To Matt Doherty's defense Sean May, Raymond Felton and Rashad McCants were his first recruiting class. So he has a hand in the construction of the team just as much as Roy Williams.

Monday night will be a really good game. Illinois will win on a late run in the second half. Bruce Weber's team is good enough to make their fairytale season become a reality.