Just over two weeks ago on Selection Sunday, ESPN’s Dick Vitale, Jay Bilas and company waxed poetically and endlessly about how the Virginia Commonwealth University Rams had no business being in the NCAA tournament when schools like Colorado and Virginia Tech had better resumes. Now that VCU has somehow found their way into the Final Four after stunning Kansas, students from the Richmond school have taken much pride in letting both Dick and Jay know that they don’t know what they’re talking about.
Joining VCU in Houston this coming weekend will be the Bulldogs from Butler who beat Florida in order to get here. Of course, this isn’t unfamiliar ground for Butler who came within a Gordon Hayward halfcourt heave from becoming National Champions last year. Five years ago, I’m not sure many followers of college basketball ever heard of VCU or Butler, but that doesn’t matter because here we are. One of these two school will play David to either UConn’s or Kentucky’s Goliath on Monday night. If you love the Cinderella story, it’s a shame that these two must play one another in the Final Four rather than potentially in the National Championship game.
But is this a good thing? Do people outside of Richmond and Indianapolis really want to see VCU vs. Butler? In 2006 when George Mason (ironically from the same conference as VCU) made their improbable run to the Final Four, not many people watched. It was one of the lowest rated Final Fours and I’m sure this year will give 2006 a run for it’s money. That’s because most people want to see the Dukes, Michigan States, North Carolinas and Syracuses of the world. Not necessarily a feel good story.
Also, in championship competition, you typically want to see the best teams battle for supremacy. That won’t be the case this year since either 11 seed VCU or 8 seed Butler will be playing for the title. In all fairness, 3 seed UConn and 4 seed Kentucky (it’s hard to believe that this is UK’s first trip to the Final Four since 1998) may not be the best teams either, but they aren’t far from it. And many are OK with that because they’re UConn and Kentucky and, all things considered, they are better teams than VCU and Butler since each spent weeks in the top 10 during the regular season so not many are batting an eye that they’ve gotten this far.
Even though they’re in the Final Four, the fact that VCU’s bid is still questioned shouldn’t be forgotten or overlooked. But let’s certainly give them credit because they have put together the most impressive tournament run ever. What surprised me was how composed they were after beating Kansas – as if they expected to win. I’m torn because VCU and Butler show us that if you get hot at the right time, you can potentially become a national champion. I don’t know if that’s good or bad for the game because this year’s tournament could simply be a battle of “who got hot at the right time?” as opposed to “who’s the best team?”, which is primarily highlighted by these two mid-majors (Yes, UConn has pulled off 9 wins in 19 days, but again, they spent most of the season in the top 10 and they didn’t sneak into the tournament). That coupled with the fact these are two relatively unknown teams makes me wonder if people long for more cache this year.
Do VCU and Butler make you more or less interested in the Final Four?
If you’re looking for your everyday, predictable basketball talk, then go somewhere else, because Kevin Burke of The Kevin Burke Project brings provocative, thought provoking content about basketball as only he can. Kevin also hosts The Hoop Doctors weekly podcast show, which you can subscribe to for free on iTunes. Follow Kevin on Twitter and Facebook
