Greg Logan analyzes the Final Four
Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski watches his team as they practice in preparation for the NCAA Final Four semifinals. (April 2, 2010) Credit: MCT/Mark Cornelison
The 2010 NCAA Final Four did not produce the lineup most of America expected. Duke was considered the weakest of four No. 1 regional seeds but was the only survivor. Michigan State was runner-up last year, but lost leading scorer Kalin Lucas to an injury in the second round this year. West Virginia upset Kentucky to prevent one-and-done freshmen John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins from lending star power. And who truly believed mid-major power Butler would make it home to Indianapolis?
Who will be crowned Monday night? Consider the possibilities:
DUKE (33-5): If resumes mean anything, Blue Devils coach Mike Krzyzewski is making his 11th appearance in the Final Four and has reached the title game seven times, winning three. This might be more meaningful for him because it’s his first visit in six seasons. Duke makes 38.2 percent of its three-point shots but converts only 43.9 percent overall. However, the Devils have great size and are averaging 15.8 offensive rebounds, which gives them extra possessions, and playing great defense, holding tournament opponents to 56.2 points per game. Guard play by Nolan Smith and Jon Scheyer is the key to their chances against West Virginia’s 1-3-1 zone defense in the semifinals.
WEST VIRGINIA (31-6): This is the Mountaineers’ first trip to the Final Four since 1959, when they were led by the great Jerry West, whose youngest son Jonnie is a seldom-used reserve on this team. WVU has won 19 games away from home, the most of any Division I team. As a seventh seed two years ago, the Mountaineers upset second-seeded Duke in a second-round game. With 18.5 offensive rebounds per game, WVU is tops in the tournament, and it has held opponents to 57.8 points per game. Leading scorer Da’Sean Butler has hit six game-winning shots this season, but the key might be how well forwards Devin Ebanks and Kevin Jones score against Duke’s imposing front line.
MICHIGAN STATE (28-8): Spartans coach Tom Izzo is in his second straight Final Four and sixth in the past 12 seasons, but his team lost leading scorer Kalin Lucas in the second round to a torn Achilles tendon. Durrell Summers, who shot 7-for-10 in the Midwest Regional at Lucas Oil Stadium a year ago, now is the primary offensive threat. The Spartans are the best three-point shooting team left (41.1 percent), and their big-game experience should help against hometown Butler in the semifinals. They are trying to duplicate North Carolina’s experience of winning the tournament after losing the previous year’s championship game.
BUTLER (32-4): The hometown Bulldogs have the longest winning streak in the nation (24 games), haven’t lost in Indianapolis this season (15-0) but are making their first appearance at Lucas Oil Stadium. Butler is the first Final Four team to play in its hometown since UCLA in 1972. Coach Brad Stevens, 33, was a marketing associate charged with developing sales incentives locally at Eli Lilly before becoming a coach. Izzo said Stevens’ complex offense makes it hard to defend. Stevens is only a third-year head coach, but his sideline demeanor is the coolest of his older, more famous Final Four competitors. Does he know something they don’t?
