Wow…what a maddening March it has been in college basketball as almost assuredly no one could have predicted that both Kentucky and UConn, two teams with some obvious flaws entering the Tournament, would wind up playing each other Monday evening for the 2014 NCAA National Championship.
Kentucky, the preseason #1 tanked team in the country behind perhaps the most touted recruiting class in NCAA history, struggled all season long to find consistency, lost a double digit amount of games, and finished the regular season out of the polls before being given little respect as a #8 seed in the dreaded Midwest Bracket.
But after being down in every game in the Tournament, the upstart Wildcats came of age when it mattered besting Kansas State, the previously unbeaten Wichita State, defending National Champion Louisville, 2013 runner up Michigan, and the tougher than nails Wisconsin Badgers, for a chance to win their 2nd Title in 3 seasons and 9th overall in team history.
Many point to the daring late game exploits of freshman 2 guard Aaron Harrison, who has connected on 2 consecutive game winning shots, and a late trey against Louisville but it has truly been a team effort, as Kentucky has simply been too talented for the opposition, dominating the boards, and playing much older and more experienced than their largely freshman and sophomore statuses.
Most people know about coach Cal and his dribble-drive offense, potential one-and done Lottery selection Julius Randle, and twin freshmen guards Andrew and Aaron Harrison. But in absence of injured shot blocker Willie Cauley-Stein, it has been the monstrous contributions of unproven freshman center Dakari Johnson, sophomore forward Alex Poythress, and late season athleticism and effort of fellow frosh Marcus Lee that have propelled UK to yet another Title game appearance.
For Connecticut, it has similarly been a bit of a bumpy ride as they were equally not given much respect, earning a #7 seed in March Madness, after being very good but widely inconsistent in coach Kevin Ollie’s 2nd full season taking over for Hall of Fame coach Jim Calhoun.
Late in the season, the Huskies were thoroughly thumped by Louisville, losing twice to the Cardinals in blowout fashion 81-48 and 71-61, and getting surprised by non Tourney invitee SMU, prompting many to disregard POY candidate Shabazz Napier outstanding senior season and predict UConn as a Sweet 16 team at best.
But as the old saying goes to “Never underestimate the heart of a champion”, Connecticut had an equally difficult road to the Championship Game, beating A-10 Champion St. Joseph’s, Villanova, Iowa State, everyone’s sleeper bracket pick Michigan State, and the nation’s #1 ranked team Florida.
Many are aware of UConn’s uber talented backcourt consisting of Napier and junior guard Ryan Boatright, but it has been the maturation of junior forward DeAndre Daniels, a former highly touted HS player, as well as freshman big man Amida Brimah and Terrence Samuel that have made the difference in the Huskies attempting to win bookend National Titles in both Napiers’s freshman and senior seasons.
That’s right, Napier was just a freshman and understudy to the dynamic Kemba Walker during UConn’s magical run to the 2011 Title and has learned immensely from the current NBA standout, as he was recently awarded the 2014 Bob Cousy Award, given out annually to the nation’s best point guard.
Daniels has been phenomenal after averaging just 13.2 ppg during the regular season, posting games of 18 pts against St. Joe’s, 27 pts and 10 boards against Iowa State, and another 20 and 10 against Florida.
As for Monday’s Championship Game, on paper Kentucky appears to be the favorite but UConn possesses all of the intangibles and seem to play every game as their last.
Kentucky has a huge size advantage from the perimeter as the Harrison twins(6’6) outweigh and tower over both Napier and Boatright, but the Huskies not only stick to their opponents like glue but their backcourt players seem get into and under the opposition, shutting down some of the nation’s elite guards like Scotty Wilbekin, Keith Appling, and DeAndre Kane.
With everyone’s bracket already busted, let’s sit back and enjoy an evenly matched Championship Game between two teams that weren’t expected to be here. On the other hand, Kentucky will need to find an answer for the suddenly surging DeAndre Daniels and always potent Shabazz Napier.
Prediction: Kentucky 72, Connecticut 68
Allen Moll has been a lifelong NBA and NCAA College Basketball fan who watches and studies games religiously, and coaches youth basketball in his native Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. Allen has also provided content to Bleacherreport.com, Upperdeckblog.com, Cleveland.com, CSN Philly.com, Buckets Magazine, in addition to being a tenured NBA and NCAA columnist for TheHoopDoctors.com.
