Here are today's regional finals (all times Central, AP rankings in parentheses):
MIDWEST REGION FINAL (Chicago, Ill.):
1:15 P.M. (CBS): (3) Michigan (34-3) v. Tennessee (25-11)
Now that Kentucky has decided to deemphasize basketball, Tennessee has begun to dominate basketball in our part of the country much as it has long done with football. The Vols are in the Elite Eight for the third year in a row. UK hasn't been there since 2019, and may never get there again. U of L hasn't been there since 2015. Memphis hasn't been there since 2008. Western hasn't been there since 1971. Vandy hasn't been there since 1965.
UK fans still make fun of UT because the Vols have never been to the Final Four. And, to be honest, I do not think they will be able to get past Michigan today. But you can't go to the Final Four unless you get to the Elite Eight. Rick Barnes has done an extraordinary job for the Big Orange. This year, UK beat Tennessee twice. Vandy took two of three from Tennessee, and eliminated the Vols from the SEC tournament. But UK and Vandy both went out in the Second Round of the NCAA's, and UT has a shot at the Final Four. That's really impressive.
Of course, it's also impressive that Dusty May, the Michigan coach, could win the National Title in only his second year at the school. After all, the Wolverines went 8-24 in 2024, Juwan Howard's last year as coach. Since then, May has gone 27-10 in 2025 and 34-3 so far this year. Of course, May has a history here -- he took Florida Atlantic (!) to the Final Four in 2023, so he knows what he is doing. Michigan was smart to hire a coach who had enjoyed so much success in the NCAA Tournament, and we can only wish that UK had done the same. But of course, Michigan was trying to win, and UK apparently was not.
EAST REGION FINAL (Washington, DC):
4:05 P.M. (CBS): (1) Duke (35-2) v. (7) Connecticut (32-5)
On March 24, 1990, Duke beat UConn 79-78 on a buzzer beater by Christian Laettner in overtime to win the East Region. At that point, neither Duke nor UConn had ever won the NCAA Championship. Since then, however, they have played a dominant role. The Blue Devils have five titles: 1991, 1992, 2001, 2010, and 2015. The Huskies have six: 1999, 2004, 2011, 2014, 2023, and 2024. And people can say whatever they want about Arizona and Michigan, but I can assure you that those of us who live on the East Coast expect the winner of this game to go all the way -- if only because they so often do.
To me, the tournament began with five teams who could win it all: Duke, UConn, Arizona, Michigan, and Florida. The Gators went out last week, but the other four are still dancing. This game is the first time in the tournament that any of the true favorites are going against each other. I'm very excited to see what will happen.
It's genuinely fascinating to watch a game where the officials don't just let UT foul on every play. We've only played about 10 minutes so far, Michigan already has 11 free throws.
ReplyDeleteMichigan 38 - 18 Tennessee (3:56 left in 1st half)
ReplyDeleteThis is a fitting end to a mediocre year of SEC basketball.
Well, that's not really fair. The SEC had a lot of teams in the top 40, but Florida was the only team that was competitive at a national level. If Florida had properly defended Iowa's last play, the Gators would probably be on their way to the Final Four right now. But they didn't.
DeleteMichigan 48 - 26 Tennessee (Halftime)
ReplyDeleteThat was incredibly satisfying. You spend five months watching Tennessee whack everyone in the back of the head, and you just get used to it. And then, the NCAA says, "Not so fast, my friend." The officials called 13 fouls on Tennessee in the first half. That was 19 FT's for Michigan. And once the Vols were forced to stop fouling so often, and they had to actually play basketball instead of football, the Wolverines just smoked them. In the last 10 minutes of the first half, Michigan outscored Tennessee 31 to 10.
Don't get me wrong. I still give Barnes a lot of credit. In the last two years, he's reached the Elite Eight with guys who can neither shoot, dribble, or pass. That's not easy. But I have always hated his style of play, and I find it enormously pleasing to watch a team like Michigan shred that defense.
ReplyDeleteIn last year's Elite Eight game, Houston led UT 34-15 at the half. This first half was even more fun than that one.
ReplyDeleteBarnes is 71 years old. Is there any chance he retires after this season?
ReplyDeleteMichigan went through Alabama and Tennessee like Sherman.
ReplyDeleteMichigan 95 - 62 Tennessee (Final)
ReplyDeleteThat was my favorite game of the season so far.
Now for the Big One: first meeting in the tournament between Duke and UConn since the 2004 National Semi-Final.
ReplyDeleteDuke is rolling over UConn: the Devils lead 36-21 with 5:27 left. So Duke is going back to the Final Four.
ReplyDeleteThe Dukies will crush Illinois in the Final Four, and then we will get a matchup between Duke and whoever survives the Arizona/Michigan game. That will set up a classic final between the ACC Champion and a team from the provinces.
ReplyDeleteSince 1996, Kansas in 2022 is the only team from the provinces to beat a team from the Big East or the ACC in the final. Arizona lost to Duke in the 2001 final. Michigan lost to Villanova in the 2018 final.
ReplyDeleteDuke beat Michigan on a neutral floor in Washington a few weeks ago.
ReplyDeleteDuke 44, UConn 25 (2:54 left in the 1st). Danny Hurley isn't even going nuts. I think he knows that Duke is just too good for the Huskies.
ReplyDelete