Kentucky isn’t in the Final Four this year. Neither is Louisville or any other instate school for that matter. However, that doesn’t mean college basketball’s final weekend won’t lack for excitement as four schools — two of them newcomers to the party — battle for the title this weekend.
Defending national champion North Carolina, Oregon, Gonzaga and South Carolina will take the big stage in what should be an entertaining three-day event in Phoenix. Although it will be harder to follow the Final Four without the Wildcats in the picture, there are plenty of reasons to root for each of the four programs this weekend. In an effort to help pick and choose, here’s a brief rundown of each team participating in the main event this weekend.
South Carolina
The road to Phoenix: The Gamecocks are making their first appearance in the national semifinals and the surprise team of this year’s tournament. South Carolina beat three of the top four seeds in the East Region, including Duke in the second round, to earn a spot in the national semifinals. It had been 44 years since South Carolina had even won a game in the NCAA Tournament.
Why cheer on Gamecocks: Frank Martin has done it all in his career. He was a Dairy Queen worker, busboy, short order cook, waiter and a junior varsity and varsity high school coach. The South Carolina coach knows the definition of blue-collar work. In addition, South Carolina is a Southeastern Conference program and Sindarius Thornwell is one of the league’s top players, three good reasons to root for the Gamecocks.
Gonzaga
The road to Phoenix: The Zags got some help in the West Region bracket, as second-seeded Arizona lost in the Sweet Sixteen, leading to a finale between Xavier and Gonzaga, with the Zags advancing easily. Gonzaga’s toughest out in the region proved to be Northwestern and West Virginia.
Why cheer on the Zags: Mark Few has spent nearly two decades at Gonzaga and his past teams have been on the brink of success, but never reached the proverbial mountaintop. The son of a minister, Few’s father was never a pastor to move around a lot, one of the main reasons Few has stayed at Gonzaga so long. Like South Carolina, the Zags are making their first national semifinal appearance and rely on Nigel Williams-Goss on both ends of the floor. Cheering on a newcomer is a good reason to root for the Zags.
Oregon
The road to Phoenix: Oregon had to overcome a red-hot Michigan team in the Sweet Sixteen before knocking off No. 1 seed Kansas in the Midwest Region finale in Kansas City, Mo. The Ducks persevered even without one of their top players — Chris Boucher — who tore his ACL in the Pac-12 Tournament.
Why cheer on Oregon: The Ducks, haven’t been to the Final Four since the NCAA Tournament began in 1939 and Oregon won it all that season with a 46-33 victory over Ohio State. Back then, there were only eight teams in the event, which was initiated by the National Association of Basketball Coaches. Since the injury to Boucher, Dillon Brooks has provided a bulk of the leadership for the Ducks. If you like Nike, it’s another good reason to root for Oregon. Nike founder Phil Knigh is a big supporter of Oregon athletics.
North Carolina
The road to Phoenix: North Carolina was placed in the toughest bracket in the tournament and had to fend off Arkansas in the second round, rolled past Butler and then needed a last-second 3-pointer to defeat No. 2 seed Kentucky in the South Region championship game. The Tar Heels are the most experience team in the Final Four and seeking a sixth national championship.
Why cheer on North Carolina: The Tar Heels are one of two top seeds remaining and the only team that participated in last year’s Final Four, losing to Villanova on a last-second shot. The loss motivated North Carolina to come back for more, a rarity in this day and age. North Carolina has history on its side and a Hall of Fame coach to go with it. Roy Williams is among the top coaches in college basketball and continues to prove it on a yearly basis. Michael Jordan is the school’s most famous alumnus, another reason to cheer for the Tar Heels. If you like pulling on the school that defeated Kentucky, the Tar Heels are the top choice.
Prediction: Although my bracket has been busted for weeks, it’s worth another try. North Carolina over Oregon and Gonzaga defeats South Carolina in the semifinals. North Carolina gets the nod over Gonzaga in the championship game.
Keith Taylor is a senior sports writer for KyForward, where he primarily covers University of Kentucky sports. Reach him at keith.taylor@kyforward.com or @keithtaylor21 on Twitter