Basketball: Kentucky hard to beat in Final Four

Key man for Kentucky . . . Wildcats guard Aaron Harrison in action against the West Virginia...
Key man for Kentucky . . . Wildcats guard Aaron Harrison in action against the West Virginia Mountaineers Photo: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

ODT Online sports writer Jeff Cheshire takes a look at this weekend's Final Four in US college basketball.

Kentucky

The quest for perfection is alive and well heading into Final Four weekend with Kentucky boasting a 38-0 season record. Indeed they may well be the best college team ever put together. At their best they have dismantled quality opponents such as Kansas and West Virginia in a way those schools have never experienced. On the occasions have been pushed, they have always found a way to win, the mark of a truly great team.

Their strength is depth in size. The front-line of this team really is scary. In Willie Cauley-Stein and Karl Anthony-Towns they have two athletic seven-footers who are tough on the defensive end and provide contrasting games on offence. They are joined by 6' 10" freshman Trey Lyles, a intelligent player who cuts well and is a good shooter from mid-range while having some nice moves in the post.

Those three form the most intimidating starting frontcourt ever seen in college basketball. To make them even scarier, they bring another seven-footer off the bench in Dakari Johnson, probably themost physically intimidating player on the team and would be a star anywhere else. They also possess the hustle and athleticism of Marcus Lee, an outstanding rebounder who defends well and can get to the hoop.

That is not to say their guards are not NBA quality either. Aaron Harrison and Devin Booker are both outstanding shooters from deep, Andrew Harrison has improved more than anyone and now has the ability to play aggressive and control a game, while Tyler Ulis brings energy and tenacious defence.

In this they have nine players capable of going to the next level. The injured Alex Poythress will too and that Kentucky are still so good without him shows just their quality.

They wear their opponents down, bringing intensity that they are able to keep up for the whole game, as they can replace a tired player with someone just as good. It is what makes them so tough to score against and on the other end, their size makes them hard to contain.

Wisconsin

Kentucky's opponents in the Final Four have a tough job ahead of them. There is no doubt they have talent on their roster though. In Frank Kaminsky they boast a first team All-American and possibly the best player in college hoops. A skilful seven-footer, Kaminsky can handle the ball comfortably, possesses a handy shot right out to the three-point line. His length combined with good footwork and a solid touch with both hands makes him a threat in the post, while his toughness will see him always battle on defence. If the Buzzcuts are to win, Kaminsky will need to have a good weekend.

But you do not get this far on the back of one player. Sam Dekker is a more athletic forward with a very good all-round skill set, although is not quite as adept Kaminsky at creating his own shot, despite improvements in this area. That said, he can score from the outside, get to the hoop and post-up, giving him a three-dimensional game.

Those two are joined by a handy trio to form a good starting line up that plays intelligent basketball, passing the ball and moving well to get open shots. They may lack the athletic high-flyers of many other teams, but do not write this team off on the basis of that. In last year's Final Four they went down by a single point to Kentucky. This year they are out for revenge.

Duke

Duke present an interesting case. On one hand there are plenty of people who like their game and if they play to their potential there is plenty to like about it. But that is not the Duke that always turns out. So often this season we have seen them get off to a fast start, then fall asleep in the middle, before finishing strongly to do enough for the win. When they bring intensity to their game they rebound well, bring physicality and have the athleticism and strength to cause havoc. In contrast when they get lazy they seem to stop rebounding, defence becomes a secondary thought and they do not attack on offence with the same intent.

Whether Duke can put together a complete game is key to their championship aspirations. They certainly have the talent to win. Jahlil Okafor is big, strong and skilful, possessing sparkling footwork in the post to score through a variety of spin moves, step-throughs and drop-steps. He is capable of going through contact to score with ease and brings a very good rebounding game.

They do rely on Okafor for a presence under the hoop though. It is really on the outside where Duke excels. In Tyus Jones they have probably the most underrated freshman in the country, a strong guard who slashes well with a nice euro-step and a solid jump shot. He is complemented by Quinn Cook, an athletic senior point guard who pulls the strings for this team, but also has a strong scoring dimension. Alongside those two is swingman Justise Winslow, another athlete who gets to the hoop well and excels on both ends of the court with his intensity, strength and explosiveness.

In that quartet Duke have four match-winners. But they all have to perform if they are to win this weekend and they have to put together a 40 minute performance.

Michigan State

With a 27-11 season record, Michigan State is perhaps the odd one out amongst this group. Talent-wise it is perhaps not the most eye-catching team the Spartans have ever put out. There is not Draymond Green, Gary Harris, Kalin Lucas or, going back a few years, Magic Johnson amongst this group. They are performing well at the business end of the season though and have claimed the big scalps of Virginia, Oklahoma and Louisville to get here. So you cannot write them off.

Travis Trice is in the form of his life and after playing second-fiddle to Keith Appling for three years, is finally making the point guard position his own. A small point guard with a cool head and the ability to create his own shot while also set up others, Trice has been key in State's late season run. He combines well with underrated shooter Denzel Valentine and athletic forward Branden Dawson to form a trio that, when playing well, is capable of doing some serious damage.

So who wins?

It really is hard to see anyone beating Kentucky. They have shown their ability to beat down teams such as Kansas and UCLA, while also finding a way to get out of jail when they are being pushed. Last week they came out two point victors in a classic against Notre Dame and it was that man, Aaron Harrison, who provided the clutch moment to finish off. Their depth means they can play with intensity that other teams will struggle with. Often teams will stick with them for 30 minutes, only to tire and fall off in the last ten.

If their opponents played a perfect game and Kentucky had a bad game, perhaps they could be beaten. But you would probably still favour Kentucky, they are just that good. For the Final Four it is hard to see them not coming out with the intensity they exhibited in their dismantling of Kansas and West Virginia. Do not be surprised if they win big.

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