Richey | Who are you rooting for in the Final Four?

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Apr. 6—CHAMPAIGN — This year’s Final Four has everything casual men’s college basketball fans could want.

Connecticut is aiming to be the first back-to-back NCAA champions in more than 15 years. Purdue is trying to continue its redemptive path after losing to a No. 16 seed a year ago. North Carolina State — namely D.J. Burns — is capturing everyone’s attention as a No. 11 seed. And … a football school. Roll Tide?

The only thing that’s missing in Glendale, Ariz., before the two national semifinal games tip off Saturday night? The super mega stars making Cleveland a destination for the women’s Final Four. Friday night’s late showdown between Iowa and Connecticut matchup had the two brightest. Caitlin Clark vs. Paige Bueckers? No equivalent exists on the men’s side.

But I suppose two things will actually be missing in the greater Phoenix area.

Illinois was one disaster of a second half away from possibly knocking the UConn men off what continues to look like an inevitable, preordained, inexorable path. One win away from the Final Four and another check in a “first time in 19 years” box.

So how should you view this Final Four, Illini fans? Which of the four remaining teams will you root for?

It would be a simple choice to throw support behind UConn. Beaten by the eventual national champs can assuage some of that Elite Eight disappointment. (Some, not all, of course). It’s an easy fallback position to begrudgingly take.

But maybe you can’t stand the thought of Dan Hurley winning another national title.

You watched him on the sideline — and sometimes on the court — during the game against the Illini last Saturday night and can’t stomach the idea of rooting for his Huskies.

Then it’s time to go all in on Alabama. A real “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” situation. And the Tide might have a shot at the upset given the way they play.

UConn has lost just three times this season. The most recent? An 85-66 thrashing at Creighton on Feb. 20 where the Bluejays shot 50 percent…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/richey-rooting-final-four-144900988.html

Author : The News-Gazette, Champaign-Urbana, Ill.

Publish date : 2024-04-06 14:49:00

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