It honestly feels like yesterday that we
were sitting in the Asylum watching the first round of the Madness and here we
are ready to crown a Madness Champion between #1 North Carolina and #2
Villanova.
First, big ups to a great career Buddy
Hield! He was held under 10 points for the 2nd time this season,
which was the most inopportune time to play flat and Villanova absolutely
dominated the Sooners. As with Syracuse beating Virginia, this Oklahoma loss
was by no means a choke game, as it would take away from the dominance that was
the Villanova Wildcats!
Man alive Villanova can play defense! They
are executing a phenomenal game plan by Head Coach, Jay Wright!
As for UNC, they just plain ol’ out bigged
Syracuse! The Cuse was most definitely playing with house money, as they could
not surcome another 2nd half deficit as Carolina was able to answer
the Syracuse press with quick cuts in the gaps and accurate passes in those
gaps. The UNC forwards were able to gut the middle of the fabled Syracuse 2-3
zone and Jim Boeheim was able to walk off the court as a proud coach of an
Orangeman team that most definitely belonged in the Madness.
Also, both Syracuse and UNC have had NCAA
sanctions and most likely have NCAA sanctions on them respectively. Please do
not let this cloud the Madness that will hopefully ensue, as the basketball
played on the court should outshine the off-court shenanigans that is NCAA
College Basketball.
The on goings of NCAA Basketball should by
no means be shoved under the rug, but that is NCAA Basketball and this is The
Madness so back to the game!
North Carolina has their forwards led by
Brice Johnson, Isaiah Hicks and Joel James show off their nutty rebounding,
especially on the offensive side, as Marcus Paige hit some clutch hoops. The kicker
for UNC is the very very under the radar but extremely valuable point guard
play of Joel Berry who had another high assist and low turnover game vs.
Syracuse.
Villanova, as mentioned are on fire with
sharp execution and wily veteran play. Senior forward Daniel Ochefu had an OK
game vs. Oklahoma and may be hobbled by an ankle or foot injury. He will play
but how much will the injury affect him?
The kicker for Villanova is that the
Oklahoma bigs were the only players that showed up with a valiant effort by
Oklahoma’s Ryan Splangler. If he was able to get his looks than watch out for
the deep UNC frontcourt to possibly feast on the dymanic duo of Ochefu and Kris
Jenkins.
Nova’s Ryan Arcidiacono and UNC’s Marcus
Paige will have a great match up as senior leaders.
The final x-factor will be the match up
between Sophomore point guard, Joel Berry and Freshman point guard Jalen
Brunson of Villanova. If Berry continues to distribute the ball as efficiently
as he has, then look for Roy Williams to get his 3rd NCAA
Championship.
Finally…..Roy.
Roy.
As in the initial Insanity Report there was
an olive branch of peace extended out to Roy Williams who has been criticized
for the past 3-4 years by many people including myself. I still believe that
the previous years criticism was warranted, but this year Roy and the Tar Heels
have grinded over the many critics of his coaching and that of the off-court
allegations that most likely will be formally handled between UNC and the NCAA
this summer.
Roy has shown some moxy with many quotes of
wanting to fight critics and being so critical of the hate-press from many
members of the media. Despite this fieriness, Roy still seems to have his body
ailments as he wears a knee brace while on the sidelines in his intense defensive
stance. His health and the 2-3 years of non-UNC caliber recruits may have
tonight be the last time we see Roy on the sidelines.
As J-Dawg put so eloquently, Roy deserves
to go out on his terms and once the final buzzer goes tonight, we’ll either see
another crowning of UNC or inauguration of Villanova.
As that buzzer rings, so will the
conclusion of the greatest March Madness, perhaps ever and unfortunately all
that will be left for the summer will be the ugly reality that is NCAA sports.
The hypocrisy and double standards that is
NCAA still gets overshadowed by the purity of the Madness and Madness
gods…..thanks for this ride,
The Madness concludes tonight.
Yours in Madness,
Commissioner Adolph
