NCAA Final Four Poll & Discussion Thread

[DanMcQ]

Pick the national champion and discuss away. I'll lock the poll before the games start Saturday.

[jerseyhoya34]

I think UNC has the most talent, but I see Illinois as a team of destiny. Illinois guards outplay UNC guards and make up the difference in interior play in a strong championship game.

My $.02.

[TBird41]

Illinois finishes off a magical season, solely because I need them to in order to win my brackets. ;D

[FrostbackHoya]

Spartans pulling it out yesterday kept me from a perfect 4/4 in our office pool.

But I can still have Tarheels/Illini w/ UI winning -- although this is one of those bizarre 'multiply the round by the seed' pools, so if someone took MSU to get this far, they'll be WAY ahead already...

[FormerHoya]

If Michigan St. can beat UNC I win my second office pool. C'mon Spartans!!

[EasyEd]

Louisville all the way, the only 4th seed (yeh!) left.

[Bahstin]

I'm going with Mich St. Just because.

[hoyarooter]

I picked UNC because I have them in the Hoyatalk pool, and because no one else seems to be. But honestly, I like Louisville. While the Illinois comeback was a miracle, I was even more impressed by the Louisville comeback against a team that continually refused to miss any shots. I think Illinois-Louisville should be a fantastic game, but I'll go with the team with the better coach, and I think that's Pitino.

[the_way]

Michigan St. will beat UNC. They are physical and deep. When you are not afraid of UNC like Villanova and Wisconsin weren't, and you have the depth, which Michigan St. does, UNC is beatable. Plus, UNC has a coach who lacks cahones in close last minute ballgames. Get it in a close game,and Michigan St. will beat UNC.

[KHoyaNYC]

Bizarre as this may sound, I like Michigan State too. I also like Louisville PROVIDED that their injuries heal up this week.

[RDF]

I like MSU to upset UNC because they'll bang the heck out of May and we all know ACC boys don't like it when the game gets physical and more importantly, Shannon Brown and Maurice Ager can defend Pouty Face McCants and force him to play defense. Felton is a tough match up in open floor game but I expect MSU to control tempo and if you make him play halfcourt game, he's very marginal player. For being as quick as he is, Felton is a terrible defender and especially on the ball, he really gets whipped a lot but then again ACC is not a good league if you want to see people guard the opposition.

Illinois guards will handle Louisville's pressure but if they keep firing 3pt shots all damn night, Illini will go down. It was very disturbing just how outclassed they were once they saw a REAL TEAM and that's all that's left in this tournament. I see them winning it all if MSU beats UNC--which I expect to happen and if not, UNC should beat Illini---they have a big who will kill Illinois and Felton will be able to play in open court game. Heels thrive in that type of game.

[Big Dog]

An All Big Ten final? I'd have had a heart attack if someone had told me that was coming two weeks ago.

[Fan Of The Game]

Illinois - Because I have them in my Sweet 16 pool. Gotta root for somebody, right?

[Nevada Hoya]

L'ville, because that will give the BE three out of the last four, when the new BE starts.

[hoyarooter]

Correction, Nevada. Including Louisville as a conference member-to-be would, if they win, give the Big East 3 of the last 3! ;D

[lichoya68]

yes louisville for a bigeast three peat ... if not that illionis.. if not that michigan state.. NO WAY NORTHCAROLINA ... NEVER THE ACC... GO HOYAS ...SEE YOU AT THE BBALL DINNER... WHAT A CELEBRATION OF THE HOYAS. ;D ;D

[WilsonBlvdHoya]

I have a real problem rooting for Louisville and Pitino, despite their entrance into the BE. Pitino coached the 87 Providence team, which begat Donovan as a coach. Along with Calipari and Huggins and Donovan, Pitino is clearly one of the slimiest coaches in the country.

Did any one of us root for Cuse and Boeheim against Kansas in 2003 just because the Orange is in the BE?!? I didn't think so. Why should we root for this polar opposite of JT2 and JT3?!? Instead, we should be hoping JT3 is doing is utmost to prepare the program to beat the Cincinnati's and Louisville's of the world on a regular basis while continuing to educate and graduate GU's players....

I will be rooting for UNC, since Roy Williams is a disciple of Dean Smith. And we all know who JT2's closest associate is in college basketball....

[ColumbiaHeightsHoya]

If louisville is off on their outside game, they are done. I have been impressed with them though. UNC doesn't have the heart and I just don't see MSU pulling off two big upsets. I think the Ville/Illini game is going to be wild but the Illini will get enough turnovers out of the Ville to pull it off. In the final which will be all big ten, I see the Illini having too much for MSU to handle.

[HoyaAlbany]

Illinois is too strong across the board for Louisville, playing with confidence. UNC has survived a couple of scares, I think they'll play well and move on. A great championship game, but composure by Illinois leaves Coach Roy in tears yet again. The third year in a row that the Hoyas have lost to the national champion!

[TBird41]

HoyaAlbany said:

Illinois is too strong across the board for Louisville, playing with confidence. UNC has survived a couple of scares, I think they'll play well and move on. A great championship game, but composure by Illinois leaves Coach Roy in tears yet again. The third year in a row that the Hoyas have lost to the national champion!

Is that a postive thing? It's kinda of interesting, but not as cool as beating a Sweet 16 team and an Elite 8 team.

And, I can't wait until it's "the third year in a row the Hoyas have beaten the national champion" or, even better, the third year in a row the Hoyas are THE national champions.