Steve Alford's Final Four Picks

[Scott4USC]

STEVE ALL FOUR ...

By LENN ROBBINS

March 29, 2005 -- Iowa coach Steve Alford awoke yesterday morning as the most wanted basketball mind in a the nation. When the horn sounded after the Michigan State epic 94-88 double overtime triumph over Kentucky to cap the most exhilarating weekend in Elite Eight history, Alford allowed himself a second to smile:

Michigan State, Louisville, Illinois and North Carolina were headed to the Final Four. Alford's Hawkeyes are the only team in the nation to have played all four.

"How much should I be charging for the week?" Alford said with a laugh yesterday. "I guess no one can accuse us of not playing a tough schedule."

If last weekend is any indication, next weekend could showcase the most thrilling Final Four ever. Louisville (33-4) will meet Illinois (36-1) in one. Michigan State (26-6) and North Carolina (31-4) will face off in the other. Here's how Alford sees the games shaking out.

The Louisville-Illinois will ultimately be decided by two factors, said Alford, who played on Indiana's 1987 national championship squad: The team that has a better night shooting 3's.

"Louisville is doing the best job of scoring of any team in the nation right now," said Alford. "I'd still try to make them beat me inside."

The X-factor is Roger Powell, an unsung power forward who's averaged 9.5 points and five rebounds in the tourney. If Louisville's guard trio of Taquan Dean, Larry O'Bannon and Francisco Garcia of The Bronx can match Dee Brown, Luther Head and Deron Williams, then Powell, a senior, could give Illinois an edge over Louisville freshman Juan Palacios.

"You've got to get up on Illinois' guards, not extend them but get into them at 22, 23 feet and make the bounce the ball," said Alford. "And you've got to keep Powell under control."

Michigan State against North Carolina is a head game as well as a personnel matchup. Alford believes the pressure is off these Spartans, who became the first Tom Izzo-led group to beat Duke.

UNC, despite rebounding from an 8-20 season when its seniors were freshmen in 2001-02, has no room to relax. The Heels were a Top 5 preseason pick, with at least four potential NBA players.

"Carolina has incredible depth and talent," said Alford. "They keep sending guys in and you'd swear they haven't subbed."

But the Tar Heels have a fatal flaw. There is no backup to junior point guard Raymond Felton. When he fouled out against Villanova, Roy Williams admitted his team panicked. When he rolled an ankle against Wisconsin, the Heels twice lost a lead.

"He's the one guy that takes them to the next level," said Alford. "They are not a national championship contender without him."

Michigan State may not be able to attack Felton because the Spartans point guard, Drew Neitzl, is a freshman. But the Spartans have other ways of disrupting the Tar Heels.

"Not many teams can run the floor like Michigan State," said Alford. "They can run a lot of people at you. But they have to do a good job of finishing because Carolina will come right back at you. Transition defense, even after made baskets, will be key. These are the two best transition teams in the country."

So who plays Monday night? Alford likes his Big Ten counterparts, Illinois and Michigan State. The winner? Don't ask.

 

[Kdogg21]

wow, I thought Alford would be busy recruiting players who like to rape and beat up women....

 

[DIRTY Diapers]

Is this a suprise? Of course he is going with the Big Ten teams.

 

[vyrus858]

Dirty I disagree, these are 2 of his biggest rivals, I highly doubt he wants them to be crowned NC and make his AD have even higher expectations for him to live up to

 

[maverick2112]

He just said on the Mike and the Mad dog show he is biased towards the Big Ten........so there ya go.........

 

[pt1gard]

"He's the one guy that takes them to the next level," said Alford. "They are not a national championship contender without him."

wow, thats out on a limb, Alford, saying they need Felton, etc. (one of my x-players coached Fball at small school Alford first coached hoops at--my player is awesome person, super christain, etc., never bad word about anyone--anyhow, he said Alford was the biggest baby he ever met; they used to play pick up games and Alford would cheat and moan and quit when behind all the time, which he wasnt behind too often ) figured that was worth a chuckle ...

So, anyhow, Alford, what about Sean May, what about the best player on any other team, no Davis, Head, Garcia, etc ... You lose your best or 2nd best player i doubt any team goes far in hoops; right Kobe, you are looking sweet w/o Shaq

 

[maverick2112]

wow, thats out on a limb, Alford, saying they need Felton, etc. (one of my x-players coached Fball at small school Alford first coached hoops at--my player is awesome person, super christain, etc., never bad word about anyone--anyhow, he said Alford was the biggest baby he ever met; they used to play pick up games and Alford would cheat and moan and quit when behind all the time, which he wasnt behind too often ) figured that was worth a chuckle ...

So, anyhow, Alford, what about Sean May, what about the best player on any other team, no Davis, Head, Garcia, etc ... You lose your best or 2nd best player i doubt any team goes far in hoops; right Kobe, you are looking sweet w/o Shaq

I always questioned his selection on the 1984 olympic hoops teams........you can be sure he would'nt have made it had B Knight not been the coach......cut guys like Stockton and Barkley in favor of Alford........Made me wonder whos really judging the talent??

 

[vyrus858]

I always questioned his selection on the 1984 olympic hoops teams........you can be sure he would'nt have made it had B Knight not been the coach......cut guys like Stockton and Barkley in favor of Alford........Made me wonder whos really judging the talent??

Kinda like Lattner over SHAQ lol...that was a joke

 

[Blackman]

I hate Duke as much as the next guy but Laettner was the best college player in the nation that year hands down.

Shaq obviously is the better player in the NBA without comparision but Laettner was a major star in the college game, while Shaq wasn't the best center on his own team for much of his collegiate career (and he says so himself).

 

[pt1gard]

didnt hurt Coach K was lackey on Daly's staff that year

 

[Cie]

while Shaq wasn't the best center on his own team for much of his collegiate career (and he says so himself).

Blackman,

I completely disagree with you (and Shaq ) on this one. Shaq played at LSU for 3 seasons and was a far superior player to Stanley after their 1st season together. When they arrived at LSU, Stanley ( who is 1 yr older than Shaq) was a more developed player offensively, but Shaq was able to outboard Stanley and alter far more shots. By Shaq's soph season, Stanley weighed 350 lbs and was headed to Europe. Meanwhile O'neal scored, rebounded and blocked shots as if they were going out of style over the next 2 seasons. Was Laettner the way to go? Probably so. Was Shaq the 2nd best Center on his own team? No way.

Cie :weed:

 

[pt1gard]

the steamer better than shaq, and shaq said this? well shaq also said kobe was better than him -- diesel's a team player and says whats needed at the moment in most cases ...

saw roberts play several times and altho he had lotsa PO, he was into buffets and never amounted to squat in long term, tho the flash in college did flicker for warhol's 15 minutes ... they played GA Tech and kenny Anderson in ncaas one year, great game! GT and cremins won ... prob 2 biggest dudes hgt. + wgt. on court at same time in college history

shaq was a great great college player; the steamer wasnt