NCAA Betting: Top seeds make Final Four a fitting finale

Basketball / Nick Shiambouros / 03 April 2008 / Leave a Comment

Nick Shiambouros previews this weekend's big basketball action from the US

With all four seeds making it through to the Final Four for the very first time in this historic tournament this Saturday's two games and the final on Monday evening are amongst the most anticipated since the tournament began.

It certainly did not look that way deep in to the second half for the Kansas Jayhawks who had to fight off a resilient Davidson all the way to the end of a low scoring but pulsating encounter.

Kansas led by just two points with only six seconds left. Davidson had a chance to tie the game or win with a three point attempt but Stephen Curry declined the shot and passed the ball out to Jason Richards who fired a low percentage shot that missed and sent the Jayhawks to the final four ... much to my relief!

I think had Curry taken it to the hoop he would have sent the game into overtime and I think he will remember that ill-advised pass for a while. Curry can hold his head high though because he put up big numbers with 25 points scored on the night.

As for Kansas I think they can count themselves lucky to go through and if it wasn't for Sasha Kuan scoring some huge points inside late in the game I think they would have been eliminated.
Kansas will have to face the mighty North Carolina Tar Heels in the semi-final on Saturday after they beat Louisville 83-73 in another fantastic encounter between two great teams.

North Carolina had a 12-point lead at half-time and looked in control but Louisville coach Rick Pitino instilled much-needed belief in his players at the break and they came roaring back to tie the game in the middle of the second half. So, for the first time in the tournament, the Tar Heels looked in real trouble but there was one person who had more than enough up his sleeve to decide the game when it really mattered - of course it was that man Tyler Hansbrough. He demanded the ball and proceeded to make three crucial shots from 15 to 18 feet and with Ty Lawson making a huge three point shot the game was over in a instant.

Hansbrough spent his rest day shooting 500 buckets on his own because this is who he is. As many have said what he lacks in ability he makes up for in pure determination. His coach Roy Williams said: "He is the most driven, focused player I have ever seen in my life".

UCLA booked a semi-final place for the weekend with a thrashing of Xavier 76-57 in the best performance if have seen from then in this tournament. With Kevin Love scoring 19 points and 10 rebounds he was deservedly named as the most outstanding player of the West Regional. The game was over at half-time and they coasted the rest of the way. Solid defensive play was the reason for this huge effort.

Memphis handed out a severe lesson to Texas 85-67 with freshman Derrick Rose particularly outstanding, scoring nine points and throwing in a steal and a block for good measure.

So the stage is set for the two semi-finals. Memphis take on UCLA in San Antonio on Saturday in what looks to be a very closely matched affair. I would just favour Memphis to take this and I will be backing them for the win. There are plenty of markets available and I like Chris Douglas-Roberts to outscore Kevin Love in that market. Memphis really impressed me against Texas but UCLA will be no walkover.

In the other semi-final I do not think that North Carolina will lose to Kansas. Kansas did not impress me with their perimeter game and Hansbrough looks so dangerous in the post area. I will also take him in the points total against Brandon Rush.

I am delighted that the 4 no 1 seeds have made it to the Final Four and I really can't think of a better way to spend Saturday night watching both of these great games. I hope you enjoy both games and I will give you my final thoughts before the championship game on Monday night.