The Final Four happens this weekend in Phoenix, Arizona, with only one team being crowned champion on Monday Night.
Let’s preview these games and discuss 4 of the Biggest Headlines surrounding these Final Four matchups!
Battle of the Big Men – D.J. Burns Jr. vs Zach Edey
This big man matchup is one everybody is excited for. America’s Sweetheart, D.J. Burns has led his team all the way to the Final Four. But can he be the big that stops Edey?
Burns is listed at 6’9″ weighing 275, while Edey is 7’4″ and 300. That’s a HUGE difference.
Edey has 25 pounds and over 6 inches on this guy. With the way Edey plays, Burns might have two fouls on the first two possessions. While Burns is more shifty offensively, I do not see it making up for him having to play defense against the behemoth that is Zach Edey.
Can the Tide Stay Hot from Deep?
The Crimson Tide play a very unique style of basketball. They play incredibly fast, take almost exclusively threes as their jump shots, or get right to the hoop and get a bucket or fouled.
Alabama is so live or die by the three, but so far this tourney they’ve lived by it.
In four games, Alabama has shot 57%, 26%, 42%, and 44% from deep, and the three ball has taken up plenty of their offense. The Tide shoot over 45% of their shots from deep, and if they make them rain, it is tough to beat. Alabama will certainly shoot even more this game to avoid taking the ball into the paint where shot blocker Donovan Clingan resides.
UCONN has the perimeter defense to compete. In their L10 games, the Huskies have held opponents to 29% from deep and rank 78th in 3P Rate Defense.
If the Tide’s threes aren’t falling, this could be a very long night.
Nate Oats vs The Hurley Brothers
Nate Oats was hired on by Dan Hurley’s sometimes more famous brother, Bobby, to be an assistant coach at Buffalo. Oats eventually took over the job, and from there got hired on at Alabama.
In his last year at Buffalo, Nate Oats faced Bobby Hurley in the NCAA Tournament, where Oats led his team to a 91-74 victory. Now he gets a shot to take down the other Hurley Brother, this time with much higher stakes in the Final Four.
As far as Dan goes, everyone knows he’s wearing the same lucky underwear as last year.
This will be a hell of a matchup on the court, but also a great battle between the benches.
Will Matt Painter Finally Get It Done?
Matt Painter has been with Purdue since the 2005-2006 season, and what does he have to show for it?
He has 3 outright Big Ten Titles, and 2 others that were split. He’s got 2 Big Ten Tournament Championships, and he’s led the Boilermakers to 15 NCAA Tournaments, but has only 2 Elite Eight appearances, this being his only Final Four.
Is this the year he goes all the way?
At some point, championships must matter. We see the same situation with John Calipari in Kentucky. All those wins, all those NBA draft picks, but just one championship in almost 15 years.
Is that more than some other coaches? Of course. But ultimately, the head coach is there to win the school a National Title.
In my opinion, this is Purdue’s best shot, and anything short of hoisting the trophy is a failure of a season.
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