9 years ago, my wife and I had been lucky winners of the NCAA ticket lottery for the Final Four, which ironically enough was in New Orleans. We saw Syracuse beat Kansas for the title following the great play of Carmelo Anthony. After the game, my wife and I walked from the Superdome through Bourbon Street and into the Syracuse team hotel, where we met Jim Boeheim. That was one happy man that night.
Today, we have the Final Four back in New Orelans. The first matchup is between Kentucky and Louisville, 2 teams whose fanbases hate the other ones. Growing up with family in Kentucky, I can honestly say that this is probably the nastiest rivalry between two fanbases in basketball, and only the Auburn-Alabama rivalry compares to it in football. Read this article to fully understand the hatred. Kentucky beat Louisville 69-62 earlier in the year.
Don’t forget to apply for tickets to next year’s Final Four in Atlanta. Wouldn’t it be great if there was be a Triangle team playing that weekend that wears red and white.
The second game is a rematch between Kansas and Ohio State. Kansas won the first game 78-67 as Ohio State played without Jared Sullinger. What will happen today with a healthy Sullinger?
My picks are Kentucky and Kansas.
Who do you have?