The Final Four is Set

It would seem that after everyday of basketball in this tournament the prevailing thought is that the next day's action will not be able to compare, it will be less entertaining. Wrong again. Following the thrilling Butler comeback overtime win, and the exciting game of runs that found Connecticut holding off a similar Arizona comeback attempt you had to think that Sunday's games could not live up to it. In steps VCU and their unbelievable run again.

The prevailing thought going through my head yesterday when VCU was winning, building an 17 point first half lead, was that this was not supposed to happen to just VCU, we were not supposed to see any team do this, power conference or not. The talking heads are always saying we are talking about bubble teams, the last four teams in, the teams that are "not going to win the tournament." Kind of makes you laugh that these things are being said, and yet VCU now finds itself in the Final Four with wins over the Pac 10, Big East, Big 10, ACC, and now Big 12. It really is amazing.

Yesterday's game was all about the fight that VCU had, coming from the top with coach Shaka Smart, all the way down to the graduate assistants. You could tell from the tip that they were not intimidated, they believed in each other and their coach, and expected to be going to the Final Four. The difference in this game, the three point shooting, VCU had it and Kansas did not. While VCU went 12-25 from three, Kansas went an embarrassing, and Final Four berth costing, 2-21. A total of 36 points from beyond the arc to six, though as Kenny Smith said at halftime when the lead was 14 and VCU had nine threes, if those are twos they are still up five. Without that three disparity the Rams would still have had a tie game. Kansas was outhustled, outshot, and outcoached with the mix up of defenses and strategies that Smart used throughout the game.

In the match up of college bluebloods Kentucky was able to control the game from start to finish. Whenever North Carolina would make a three, convert on a dunk, go on a mini run of their own, Kentucky would make a three, it was almost a given. That could be seen with 37 seconds left when DeAndre Liggins made yet another dream killing three pointer from the corner to put Kentucky up four. They went 12-22 from behind the line for the game, while North Carolina was an awful 3-16.

It was seen when Harrison Barnes went on an 8-0 run of this own, seemingly seizing the moment and ready to step up to be that guy and erase this 11 point deficit and get North Carolina back to the Final Four. Then Kentucky dug in, and squashed the Tar Heels hopes. All five starters were able to score in double digits for the Wildcats, but they were led again by Brandon Knight. Knight has taken this team over in the tournament, showing his growth and maturity he gained throughout the season. He is really on an incredible run, and yesterday he had a game high 22 points, keeping his push for tournament most outstanding player alive.

The balance that Kentucky had, was not seen by the Tar Heels as Tyler Zeller was able to continue his great play, having a team high 21 points and nine rebounds, but aside from Barnes trying to take over in the second half it seemed to be a one man army. While Kentucky had all five starters in double figures, North Carolina saw 39 of the 69 come from those two players. John Henson got into foul trouble, much like Derrick Williams in the Arizona and Connecticut game, and was totally taken out of the game. Playing only 23 minutes, many of those worried about the next foul, he was only able to score four points before fouling out. The Tar Heels needed his size and athleticism and were hurting without it.

At the buzzer Kentucky had seized the opportunity in front of them and have set up a date with Connecticut on Saturday in Houston, another game between teams that have a history of winning. The winner will be expected to be a heavy favorite come Monday night's match up.