THE FINAL FOUR

Old School · Mar 29, 2009

<TABLE style="WIDTH: 100%" border=0><TBODY><TR class=AD1><TD>Sat 4/4</TD><TD>815</TD><TD>Michigan State</TD><TD>+4 -105</TD><TD>+165</TD><TD>OVER 135 -105</TD><TD vAlign=center align=middle rowSpan=2></TD></TR><TR class=AD1><TD>03:05 PM</TD><TD>816</TD><TD>Connecticut</TD><TD>-4 -105</TD><TD>-183</TD><TD>UNDER 135 -105</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

VILL..UNC SHORTLY

Old School · Mar 29, 2009

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 summary="" border=0><TBODY><TR class=game_time><TD class="first left">7:55 PM EDT</TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD class=notescol></TD></TR><TR class=game_team><TD class="first nowrap">817 villanova wildcats</TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD class="left last "></TD><TD class=notescol></TD></TR><TR class=game_team><TD class="first nowrap">818 north carolina tar heels</TD><TD>-7.5 -05 </TD><TD></TD><TD class=highlight>-7.5 -05 </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

bake2252 · Mar 29, 2009

Sat 4/4 815 Michigan State +4 -105 +165 OVER 135 -105
03:05 PM 816 Connecticut -4 -105 -183 UNDER 135 -105
Sat 4/4 817 Villanova +8 -111 OVER 160 -105
05:45 PM 818 North Carolina -8 +101 UNDER 160 -

Old School · Mar 30, 2009

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 summary="" border=0><THEAD><TR class=section_heading><TD colSpan=2>NCAA BB

04/04/2009</TD><TD class=announcement colSpan=5></TD></TR><TR class="game_heading bottom"><TH class="first left" scope=col>Team</TH><TH scope=col>Open</TH><TH scope=col>Line Movements</TH><TH scope=col>Current</TH><TH scope=col>Moneyline</TH><TH class=last scope=col>Scores</TH><TH class="notescol left" scope=col>Notes</TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=game_time><TD class="first left">6:07 PM EDT</TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD class=notescol></TD></TR><TR class=game_team><TD class="first nowrap">815 michigan state</TD><TD>135 </TD><TD>135 / 134.5 </TD><TD>134 </TD><TD>+165 </TD><TD class="left last "></TD><TD class=notescol></TD></TR><TR class=game_team><TD class="first nowrap">816 connecticut</TD><TD>-4 -11 </TD><TD>-4 -11 </TD><TD>-4 </TD><TD>-190 </TD><TD class="left last "></TD><TD class=notescol></TD></TR><TR class=game_team><TD class="last left" colSpan=7>NCAA FINAL FOURFord Field, Detroit, MI. [CBS] </TD></TR><TR class=game_toolbar><TD class=first>

</TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD class=last></TD><TD class=notescol></TD></TR></TBODY><TBODY><TR class=game_time><TD class="first left">8:47 PM EDT</TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD class=notescol></TD></TR><TR class=game_team><TD class="first nowrap">817 villanova</TD><TD>160 </TD><TD></TD><TD>160 </TD><TD>+280 </TD><TD class="left last "></TD><TD class=notescol></TD></TR><TR class=game_team><TD class="first nowrap">818 unc</TD><TD>-7.5 -05 </TD><TD>-7.5 -05 / -8 </TD><TD>-7.5 </TD><TD>-340 </TD><TD class="left last "></TD><TD class=notescol></TD></TR><TR class=game_toolbar><TD class=first>

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

interesting to see if this CONN/MICH.ST. total continues to drop..

2 blowouts last year ...

w/1-fav..1-dog..1-over...1-under

Old School · Mar 31, 2009

Final Four ? Michigan State

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</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Team: Michigan State Spartans<INPUT type=image height=327 width=250 src="http://images.athlonsports.com/d/15062-1/Lucas+Kalin.jpg" align=right border=2 longdesc="undefined">

2008-09 Record: 30?6 (15?4 Big Ten)
Road to the Final Four:
Midwest Region (Indianapolis)
Elite Eight: Louisville (64?52)
Sweet 16: Kansas (67?62)
Second Round: USC (74?69)
First Round: Robert Morris (77?62)
Head Coach: Tom Izzo (5th Final Four)
Born in Iron Mountain, Mich., Izzo played ball at Northern Michigan before serving as an assistant coach at Northern Michigan and Michigan State. Finally, Izzo became the head coach of the Spartans in 1995. With five Big Ten championships and a national championship in 2000, Izzo is one of the most respected coaches in the game today. No one was more excited to see Michigan State advance to the Final Four in Detroit.
Go-To Guy: Kalin Lucas, So., PG
The Big Ten Player of the Year has the ability to dictate the flow of a game, something MSU has done marvelously thus far. Lucas averaged 12.8 points, 5.5 assists and 1.75 steals per game en route to the Final Four. More important, Lucas has hit 94.4 percent (17-of-18) of his free throw attempts in the NCAA Tournament. The Detroit-area product will need to stay hot from the charity stripe if the Spartans are going to give the partisan Ford Field crowd something to cheer about.
X-Factor: Goran Suton, Sr., F-C
The Spartans? 6?10? senior leader averaged 14.3 points, 11.5 rebounds, 2.25 assists, 2.25 steals and 1.25 blocked shots per game, improving with each round of the Big Dance. A glue guy who does the little things ? like setting screens, throwing quick outlet passes and playing solid defense ? Suton is the lynchpin of the MSU attack. Originally from Yugoslavia, Suton attended Everett High School in Lansing, Mich., the same high school as Earvin ?Magic? Johnson.
Will win the national title if? the Spartans are able to dictate the style of play. Michigan State?s defense has been consistent in the NCAA Tournament, holding Louisville (52), Kansas (62), USC (69) and Robert Morris (62) near the Spartans season average for points allowed per game (62.7). MSU will also have a rowdy Detroit crowd on its side for a homecourt edge.
Will lose to Connecticut on Saturday if? Goran Suton is overwhelmed by UConn center Hasheem Thabeet down low. So far, Suton has outplayed and outsmarted every big man he?s gone up against. The inconsistent Thabeet is 7'3" of terror when he is on his game. When rattled, however, Thabeet disappears. Suton-Thabeet is a Motown heavyweight showdown.
Last National Title: 2000
The Flint-stones from Flint, Mich. ? notably M.O.P. point guard Mateen Cleaves and shooting guard Morris Peterson ? led the Spartans to an 89?76 win over Florida at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis.
Notable Number: 30
The 2009 Final Four marks the 30th anniversary of the 1979 epic national championship game battle between Michigan State?s Earvin ?Magic? Johnson and Indiana State?s Larry Bird. The Spartans defeated the Sycamores, 75?64, in Salt Lake City in an historic match-up that many cite as the start of what has become ?March Madness.?

Old School · Mar 31, 2009

Final Four ? Connecticut

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</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Team: Connecticut Huskies<INPUT type=image height=327 width=250 src="http://images.athlonsports.com/d/8046-1/AJPrice.jpg" align=right border=2>
2008-09 Record: 31?4 (15?4 Big East)
Road to the Final Four:
West Region (Glendale)
Elite Eight: Missouri (82?75)
Sweet 16: Purdue (72?60)
Second Round: Texas A&M (92?66)
First Round: UT-Chattanooga (103?47)
Head Coach: Jim Calhoun (3rd Final Four)
The 66-year-old Calhoun led Northeastern ? where he coached the Celtics? late Reggie Lewis ? to five NCAA Tournament berths before taking over at Connecticut in 1986. Since arriving in Storrs, Calhoun has won two national championships (1999, 2004) and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2005.
Go-To Guy: A.J. Price, Sr., PG
The Huskies senior guard averaged 20.0 points, 5.3 assists and 4.5 rebounds to lead UConn back to the Final Four. Price hopes to follow in the footsteps of Rip Hamilton, Khalid El-Amin and Ben Gordon by leading Connecticut to a national championship. The Huskies have a perfect 4?0 record in the Final Four, with national championships in 1999 and 2004 ? coincidentally after coming out of the West Region, just like this year.
X-Factor: Hasheem Thabeet, Jr., C
Thabeet has the ability to control a game from the defensive end of the floor. The 7?3?, 265-pounder from Tanzania is undeniably the top shot-blocker in the Final Four but his inconsistent production is a concern for UConn. Thabeet had a 15-point, 15-rebound, four-block game against Purdue in the Sweet 16 before posting a five-point, 13-board, zero-block effort in a closer contest against Mizzou in the Elite Eight. The Huskies need Emeka Okafor not Jake Voskuhl to show up against a tough Michigan State squad.
Will win the national title if? the Huskies can maintain the focus and intensity they?ve shown en route to the Final Four. UConn has never lost in the Final Four, cutting down the nets following national titles in 1999 and 2004. A.J. Price must keep up his postseason (Big East and NCAA) Tournament numbers (22.6 ppg, 6.2 apg) and Hasheem Thabeet needs to stay out of foul trouble to win.
Will lose to Michigan State on Saturday if? they are unable to adapt to the Spartans? deliberate offense and suffocating defense ? two problems Louisville was never able to solve. With what should be a partisan Detroit crowd, UConn cannot afford to fall behind early on against a tough MSU team that knows how to squeeze the air out of the ball and hold a lead.
Last National Title: 2004
A squad featuring All-American center Emeka Okafor, All-American guard Ben Gordon and freshman sensation forward Charlie Villanueva cruised to an 82?73 win over Georgia Tech at the Alamodome in San Antonio. Okafor was named M.O.P. of Calhoun?s second national championship run.
Quote:
?I don?t know what we are this year, but I know we?re really, really good.? ? coach Jim Calhoun, whose previous national championship teams (1999, 2004) came out of the Phoenix-area West Region in five-year increments.

Old School · Mar 31, 2009

Final Four ? Villanova

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</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Team: Villanova Wildcats<INPUT type=image height=327 width=250 src="http://images.athlonsports.com/d/15060-1/ScottieReynolds_001.jpg" align=right border=2>
2008-09 Record: 30?7 (13?6 Big East)
Road to the Final Four:
East Region (Boston)
Elite Eight: Pittsburgh (78?76)
Sweet 16: Duke (77?54)
Second Round: UCLA (89?69)
First Round: American (80?67)
Head Coach: Jay Wright (1st Final Four)
Pennsylvania born and raised, Wright is married to a former Villanova cheerleader. This is the 47-year-old?s first trip to the Final Four since taking over the Wildcats in 2001. Prior to being the top Cat in Philly, Wright was the head coach at Hofstra, where he was a two-time America East Coach of the Year after leading the Pride to the Big Dance in 2000 and 2001.
Go-To Guy: Scottie Reynolds, Jr., PG
The junior lead guard rallied Nova from a 14-point deficit against American before back-to-back 20-point wins ? against UCLA and Duke, respectively ? and a game-winner to knock off Pittsburgh in a Big East brawl with a trip to the Final Four on the line. Just when it looked like the Elite Eight match-up with Pitt was headed for overtime, Reynolds muscled his way into the paint for a contested game-winner with 0.5 seconds remaining.
X-Factor: Dante Cunningham, Sr., F-C
A model of consistency, Cunningham has averaged 17.8 points and 8.3 rebounds over four games in the NCAA Tournament ? improving on the 16.2 points and 7.4 rebounds per game for the season. The 6?8?, 230-pound senior will have his hands full in the paint against North Carolina?s tidal wave of big men in veterans Tyler Hansbrough and Deon Thompson, along with freshmen Ed Davis and Tyler Zeller.
Will win the national title if? the Wildcats continue to play with an underdog attitude. Much like Rollie Massimino?s 1985 national championship team, coach Jay Wright?s club has been overlooked in favor of their Big East peers. After rallying against American, dominating UCLA and Duke, and defeating Pitt late, Nova is a battle-tested team capable of winning it all.
Will lose to North Carolina on Saturday if? they are unable to neutralize Ty Lawson. If the Tar Heels? point guard is able to push the ball and force an up-tempo pace, it will be hard for the Wildcats to keep up with UNC?s depth off the bench. Also, Nova must handle the bright lights and pressure in Detroit; Carolina was in the Final Four in ?08 and will be ready to play.
Last National Title: 1985
In the first year the field was expanded to 64 teams, coach Rollie Massimino?s team pulled off arguably the greatest Cinderella story in Big Dance history. Led by M.O.P. Ed Pinckney, the No. 8 seed Wildcats took down their Big East rivals from Georgetown, 66?64, for an April Fool?s joke on the ?Hoya paranoia? duo of coach John Thompson and center Patrick Ewing.
Quote:
?In that situation, you have four dribbles and a shot. That?s five seconds. All that goes in your head. That?s why we practice that every day in practice so we can make an instinct play. We did that. It worked tonight. Only has to work once.? ? Scottie Reynolds, regarding his game-winner vs. Pittsburgh

Old School · Mar 31, 2009

Final Four ? North Carolina

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</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Team: North Carolina Tar Heels <INPUT type=image height=327 width=250 src="http://images.athlonsports.com/d/14923-1/Lawson_001.jpg" align=right border=2 longdesc="undefined">
2008-09 Record: 32?4 (13?3 ACC)
Road to the Final Four:
South Region (Memphis)
Elite Eight ? Oklahoma (72?60)
Sweet 16 ? Gonzaga (98?77)
Second Round ? LSU (84?70)
First Round ? Radford (101?58)
Head Coach: Roy Williams (7th Final Four)
An assistant coach on Dean Smith?s 1982 national championship squad, Williams was the head coach at Kansas before taking over on the sidelines of his alma mater in 2003. The emotional Williams won a national title of his own in 2005 before being elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2007.
Go-To Guy: Tyler Hansbrough, Sr., PF
This is the last chance for ?Psycho T? to win a championship. Last year?s ACC Player of the Year has deferred to teammates more this season than he did during the Tar Heels run to the Final Four in 2008 but he is still a 20-10 force in the paint. Expect Hansbrough to leave it all ? blood, sweat and tears ? on the floor in Detroit.
X-Factor: Ty Lawson, Jr., PG
While Hansbrough may be the emotional leader for Carolina, the key ingredient to the success of the Tar Heels is Lawson. The lightning fast point guard has been slowed by an injured big toe, but that may be a blessing in disguise. Lawson has been playing more under control than usual, whether he?s pushing the fast break, pulling up for a stop-and-pop jumper or feeding the post.
Will win the national title if? the Tar Heels can continue to execute on both ends of the floor like they have throughout this year?s NCAA Tournament. UNC has won by an average margin of 22.5 points against Radford, LSU, Gonzaga and Oklahoma. Ty Lawson must continue to play through pain, protect the ball (20 assists, 2 turnovers) and push the tempo.
Will lose to Villanova on Saturday if? Lawson?s injured toe finally slows UNC?s point guard. The ACC Player of the Year sat out the ACC Tournament and the opening round of the NCAAs but has been outstanding since returning (20.3 ppg, 6.7 apg). Carolina has enough depth to survive the potential loss of Tyler Hansbrough to injury or fouls; Lawson is irreplaceable.

Last National Title: 2005
A team led by Final Four M.O.P. forward Sean May, point guard Raymond Felton, shooting guard Rashad McCants and sixth-man freshman forward Marvin Williams defeated Illinois, 75?70, at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis.
Notable Number: 18
UNC is making its record 18th Final Four appearance. Technically, UCLA also has made 18 trips to the Final Four, but the Bruins? 1980 appearance was vacated due to NCAA rules violations. The Tar Heels, however, are the NCAA Tournament?s undisputed wins leader, with 100 victories all-time, moving ahead of Kentucky (98).

Old School · Mar 31, 2009

Back to normal

We've had four schools from four different leagues make the Final Four each of the past two seasons, and that was really rare. How rare? Consider that in the eight previous seasons (1999 to 2006), every Final Four featured two schools from the same league, meaning this is the ninth time in 11 years that two schools from the same league have made it.
Here's the breakdown ...
1999: Big Ten (Michigan State, Ohio State)
2000: Big Ten (Michigan State, Wisconsin)
2001: ACC (Duke, Maryland)
2002: Big 12 (Oklahoma, Kansas)
2003: Big 12 (Texas, Kansas)
2004: ACC (Duke, Georgia Tech)
2005: Big Ten (Michigan State, Illinois)
2006: SEC (LSU, Florida)
2009: Big East (Connecticut, Villanova)
(One thing worth noting: In the eight previous years that a league placed two schools in the Final Four, those leagues only won three national titles. So recent history suggests the Big East is guaranteed nothing despite having two of the four participants.)

By Gary Parrish
CBSSports.com Senior Writer

2. MSU in Detroit: It's 91 miles from the Breslin Center to Ford Field, so you can expect to see a lot of green in the building Saturday, which should give the Spartans a home-court advantage. Of course, last time they played at Ford Field, they lost to UNC by 35 in December, and they had a nice home-court advantage then, too. So who knows?

bake2252 · Apr 2, 2009

some decent movement in these totals.

Sat 4/4 815 Michigan State +4 -108 +162 OVER 133.5 -105
03:05 PM 816 Connecticut -4 -102 -180 UNDER 133.5 -105
Sat 4/4 817 Villanova +7 -105 +290 OVER 158.5 -105
05:45 PM 818 North Carolina -7 -105 -330 UNDER 158.5 -105

bake2252 · Apr 2, 2009

I know it's early but:

67% on UConn.... line hasn't moved at all

almost 50/50 on Nova/ Carolina... line dropped a point.

:shrug:

Does this mean anything or is it too early?

Old School · Apr 4, 2009

Villanova vs North Carolina
North Carolina - 7

below are Vill numbers from their last game of the tourney this past year..
They didn't do so well at Ford Field

I will take the team that should be able to pound it down low ..

TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 8-30 26.7% 2nd Half: 13-29 44.8% Game: 35.6%

3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 2-9 22.2% 2nd Half: 1-8 12.5% Game: 17.6%

F Throw % 1st Half: 4-8 50.0% 2nd Half: 8-10 80.0% Game: 66.7%

Michigan St vs Connecticut
Connecticut - 5

gotta give Mich.St. credit..

they ain't no hot date on Friday night but they have damn sure dug in and got the job done..

but it's time to say...

"Goodnight Edith"

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