2008 Woodie Awards
Remember the Alamodome
Final Four pits nation's best
Brandon Harris
Issue date: 4/4/08 Section: Sports
The NCAA Tournament Selection Committee can finally say, "I told you so."
For the first time since seeding was introduced to the tournament, all four No. 1 seeds have advanced to the Final Four.
Memphis, UCLA, North Carolina and Kansas are still alive and will play Saturday in San Antonio for a berth in the national title game on Monday night.
The Tigers (37-1) dominated in their path through the South Regional, defeating Texas-Arlington, Mississippi State, Michigan State and Texas en route to the school's third Final Four appearance and first since 1985. They will play UCLA at 5:07 p.m. Saturday.
The Bruins (35-3), winners of the West Regional, are in the Final Four for the third consecutive year. They've yet to capture a national championship during that time, but they've also never had a post presence like they do this season in freshman Kevin Love, who almost single-handedly carried the Bruins past Texas A&M 51-49 in the Sweet 16.
On the other side of the bracket is one of the most anticipated Final Four match-ups in recent history: North Carolina and coach Roy Williams against his former team, Kansas.
The Tar Heels (36-2) have overwhelmed their opponents from the onset of the tournament, scoring in triple digits in first- and second-round victories over Mount Saint Mary's and Arkansas, respectively. They've posted an average margin of victory of 25.25 in the tournament, with their closest contest coming in an 83-73 victory over Louisville in the Elite Eight.
Kansas, meanwhile, is in the Final Four for the first time under coach Bill Self. The Jayhawks dispatched of tournament Cinderella, Davidson, with a close 59-57 victory on Sunday. The Wildcats gave Kansas (35-3) its only test of the tournament, but may have exposed a chink in the Jayhawks' armor - slowing the ball down.
But don't expect that to be the case at all when Kansas and North Carolina hook up at 7:57 p.m. Saturday. Two of the faster-paced teams in the country, the Jayhawks and the Tar Heels possess two of the most explosive offenses in the country, and they've got the star power to back it up.
For the first time since seeding was introduced to the tournament, all four No. 1 seeds have advanced to the Final Four.
Memphis, UCLA, North Carolina and Kansas are still alive and will play Saturday in San Antonio for a berth in the national title game on Monday night.
The Tigers (37-1) dominated in their path through the South Regional, defeating Texas-Arlington, Mississippi State, Michigan State and Texas en route to the school's third Final Four appearance and first since 1985. They will play UCLA at 5:07 p.m. Saturday.
The Bruins (35-3), winners of the West Regional, are in the Final Four for the third consecutive year. They've yet to capture a national championship during that time, but they've also never had a post presence like they do this season in freshman Kevin Love, who almost single-handedly carried the Bruins past Texas A&M 51-49 in the Sweet 16.
On the other side of the bracket is one of the most anticipated Final Four match-ups in recent history: North Carolina and coach Roy Williams against his former team, Kansas.
The Tar Heels (36-2) have overwhelmed their opponents from the onset of the tournament, scoring in triple digits in first- and second-round victories over Mount Saint Mary's and Arkansas, respectively. They've posted an average margin of victory of 25.25 in the tournament, with their closest contest coming in an 83-73 victory over Louisville in the Elite Eight.
Kansas, meanwhile, is in the Final Four for the first time under coach Bill Self. The Jayhawks dispatched of tournament Cinderella, Davidson, with a close 59-57 victory on Sunday. The Wildcats gave Kansas (35-3) its only test of the tournament, but may have exposed a chink in the Jayhawks' armor - slowing the ball down.
But don't expect that to be the case at all when Kansas and North Carolina hook up at 7:57 p.m. Saturday. Two of the faster-paced teams in the country, the Jayhawks and the Tar Heels possess two of the most explosive offenses in the country, and they've got the star power to back it up.
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