Arizona, N.D., Kansas, Duke headline West region
With upsets and buzzer-beaters galore over the first weekend of the NCAA tournament, March Madness has truly lived up to its billing. The West region of the NCAA tournament has been anything but wild with four of the top five seeded teams advancing to the regional semifinals. Great basketball showdowns await those lucky enough to have a ticket to watch the games in Anaheim.??
The four teams remaining in the West play like heavyweights in a prizefight. Arizona, Kansas, Duke and Notre Dame all have the ability to explode offensively, and have battle-tested players.
The games begin tonight as top seeded Arizona takes on the fifth seeded Notre Dame in the first regional semifinal. The No. 1 seed Wildcats hold many key advantages in this match up.?? They have had consistent scoring from most of their team throughout the tournament. In their past two games the Wildcats have scored at least 80 points, as every Wildcat has gotten into the act.??
Led by senior forward Luke Walton and senior guard Jason Gardner, Arizona's seniors are primed and ready for a national title run. All of the ingredients are there; the team has finesse, depth at all positions and fabulous senior leadership. As the last round has shown, Arizona does not seem to crack under pressure, sinking several key baskets to beat a dangerous Gonzaga team in double overtime.??
Notre Dame will have to play nearly a perfect game in order to beat the Wildcats. The Fighting Irish came into the NCAA tournament shooting as cold as a polar bear's thumb; however since the Madness began, the Irish have rediscovered their offensive power.??
In their last match up, the Irish made an astounding 13 three-pointers to upend Illinois. This hot shooting will have to continue, as the luck of the Irish probably will not be enough to defeat a deep, experienced Arizona club. Sophomore guard Chris Thomas and senior guard Matt Carroll will have to continue to put up huge offensive numbers if they are to advance further in the tournament.??
Putting up huge point totals is nothing new to the other two combatants in the west regional.?? The second seeded Kansas Jayhawks and the third seeded Duke Blue Devils will face off in the second regional semifinal.??
The Kansas starting five features two of the most talented seniors in the country, center Nick Collison and guard Kirk Hinrich. Averaging 18.4 and 17.6 points per game respectively, this dynamic duo is almost as hungry for a Final Four run as their snakebitten coach Roy Williams.??Interestingly enough, senior leadership has been the key to championship programs the past few years.
Over the years, Williams has coached several deep, talented Jayhawk squads however, has yet to taste a national title. This may be Williams' year, since his team has two of the most talented players in the country, tournament experience and a hunger that will not be satisfied unless the Jayhawks win the national title.
National titles are nothing new to Head Coach Mike Krzyzewski, since he has already won three. His Blue Devils head into Anaheim with significant depth at all positions.??Senior guard Dahntay Jones leads Duke in scoring, averaging 16.9 points, and freshman guard J.J Reddick can shoot lights out from beyond the three point line.??
With all this offensive firepower, Duke does lack some experience. Most of this year's Duke squad features underclassmen who do not have the same kind of mettle and experience a senior player would have. Causing Duke to at times become complacent, it's youth can be detrimental especially when they play away from the Cameron Crazies.??
With four of the top five seeded teams advancing to the western regional semifinals, these games look to feature the passion, flair, and drama that we have all come to expect in the NCAA tournament.
