Final Four
No one envisioned this bracket busting Final Four and the odds listed below are a testament.
The Final Four:
UCLA, rank 12th, West 2nd seed, season open 25 to 1; tournament open 12 to 1; now 3 to 1 versus
LSU -2, rank 17th, South 4th seed, season open 300 to 1; tournament open 25 to 1; now 2.25 to 1.
Florida -5, rank 14th, Midwest 3rd seed, season open 50 to 1; tournament open 20 to 1, now 1.6 to 1 versus
George Mason, nationally unranked, East 11th seed, opened season OTB (off the board), tournament open 400 to 1, now 6 to 1.
Factoids, since the advent of seeding in 1979:
The last and only Final Four which did NOT include a #1 seed: 1980 (#2 Louisville, #8 UCLA, #6 Purdue, #5 Iowa).
The 8th seeded 1985 Villanova Wildcats are the lowest seeded team to ever win the tournament.
The previous lowest seeded team to make the Final Four was 1986 LSU Tigers at #11, George Mason is the second #11 seed to make the Final Four.
Pick:
If you like bench depth and defense, UCLA and Florida. If you like scoring balance and quickness George Mason. If you like board control and the inside game LSU.
Its really wide open and anyone could take it. Defense generally wins championships, but we are going with LSU's high percentage in the paint game, Why?
We think they played in the toughest bracket and with the muscle to control the game in the paint at both ends, they don't have to rely on perimeter shooting. The only thing that could trip them up is running into foul trouble. Just a guess.
The Final Four:
UCLA, rank 12th, West 2nd seed, season open 25 to 1; tournament open 12 to 1; now 3 to 1 versus
LSU -2, rank 17th, South 4th seed, season open 300 to 1; tournament open 25 to 1; now 2.25 to 1.
Florida -5, rank 14th, Midwest 3rd seed, season open 50 to 1; tournament open 20 to 1, now 1.6 to 1 versus
George Mason, nationally unranked, East 11th seed, opened season OTB (off the board), tournament open 400 to 1, now 6 to 1.
Factoids, since the advent of seeding in 1979:
The last and only Final Four which did NOT include a #1 seed: 1980 (#2 Louisville, #8 UCLA, #6 Purdue, #5 Iowa).
The 8th seeded 1985 Villanova Wildcats are the lowest seeded team to ever win the tournament.
The previous lowest seeded team to make the Final Four was 1986 LSU Tigers at #11, George Mason is the second #11 seed to make the Final Four.
Pick:
If you like bench depth and defense, UCLA and Florida. If you like scoring balance and quickness George Mason. If you like board control and the inside game LSU.
Its really wide open and anyone could take it. Defense generally wins championships, but we are going with LSU's high percentage in the paint game, Why?
We think they played in the toughest bracket and with the muscle to control the game in the paint at both ends, they don't have to rely on perimeter shooting. The only thing that could trip them up is running into foul trouble. Just a guess.
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