Parrish: The Thoughts

Four top seeds? That's fine by me

Posted on: March 30, 2008 11:41 pm

Score: 91

Four No. 1 seeds.

Four talented rosters.

Four accomplished coaches.

Man, is this gonna be fun or what?

Now I know some don't like it, having all four top seeds heading to San Antonio. They swear it's predictable (even though it had never happened before) and complain that it eliminates the Cinderella factor. My view: Screw Cinderella! She usually gets exposed in the Final Four anyway. I mean, as nice as that George Mason story was two years ago we all knew the Patriots had no shot to win the national title; it just wasn't gonna happen. So I'm pleased this NCAA tournament produced four legitimate powers, any of whom can reasonably expect to cut nets next Monday night.

Memphis opened as a 1-point favorite over UCLA.

North Carolina opened as a 3-point favorite over Kansas.

That's an indication these games are expected to be tight. And though I've never claimed to be a historian, I can't recall another year when we had four teams so good that there was no way to make a dumb prediction about how things might unfold. Seriously, is there any combination of Final Four winners that could be mocked?

Taking Memphis and North Carolina to advance is reasonable.

But so is taking UCLA and Kansas.

Or UCLA and North Carolina.

Or Memphis and Kansas.

And regardless of what happens in Saturday's semifinals, we're gonna have a Monday title game featuring a pair of worthy championship contenders. So buckle in and get ready because this should be great. The Road to the Final Four only has four cars remaining -- high-powered luxury vehicles, every last one of them

Category: NCAAB

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nyccats Reputation: 0 Level: Amateur Since: Mar 31, 2008	Posted on: March 31, 2008 1:26 am Score: 37 Four top seeds? That's fine by me Gary, Your coverage along with CBS has been pathetic and unprofessional. From your tournament previews to the current post you have refused to truly recognize the accomplishments of any team other than those in the BCS. While it is fine to have a preference for the bigger conference teams, to dismiss the accomplishments of Davidson (and other smaller programs) is unfair and a sad reflection on journalistic abilities. "Screw" Davidson? Really? The story of the tournament and perhaps all of college basketball in recent years should reserve them a little more respect or at least a direct mention. Davidson and their entire college community represent the best of college sports and their accomplishments should be celebrated not their defeat. In addition, to suggest Davidson had no right being in the final four anyway seems ridiculous and questions your knowledge of the sport. A team that beat three rank opponents in a row including the Big Eat regular season champion and the Big Ten regular season/ tournament champion, brought the Big 12 dual champion to their knees, outplayed a unc team but lost by four, and held an 18 point lead over ucla I think has a shot at the championship. So enjoy your final four but please work at your profession. You need it. [ Reply to Comment ]
Gary Parrish Reputation: 99 Level: Superstar Since: Feb 8, 2007	Posted on: March 31, 2008 1:51 am Score: 90 Four top seeds? That's fine by me Man, I'm too tired to be messing with you. But ... I didn't write that Davidson doesn't belong in the Final Four. Or that Davidson couldn't win the national title. Or that Davidson wasn't terrific. In fact, I NEVER mentioned Davidson in the above post. Not once. So perhaps you're just a little on edge, my friend, because my only point is that we will be treated to a Final Four with four legitimate title contenders, which isn't always the case. Like I wrote, I'm not a historian. But I can't remember a better Final Four than this, where there are going to be four teams with the rosters full of pros that it takes to win it all. Also, Memphis is not in the BCS. You should remember that. Take care. gp [ Reply to Comment ]
rustyaustin Reputation: 0 Level: Amateur Since: Oct 26, 2006	Posted on: March 31, 2008 3:06 am Score: 70 Four top seeds? That's fine by me I haven't seen the latest odds on the championship, but it seems to me all four teams oughtta open tomorrow at 5-2. Seriously, any one of these teams could win it. I guess UNC might be favored, given the east coast bias of gamblers in general, but UCLA started the year and the tournament as the Vegas favorite, Memphis spent as I recall many weeks atop the rankings in the regular season, with UCLA and UNC nipping at their heels, and Kansas played a brutal Big 12 schedule and came out on top in almost every game. Also last time I checked it only takes one point more than your opponent to win a game, so all previous games can be thrown out the window. I guess I am picking UCLA due to the experience of going to the last two final fours. The real thing starts now. This has got all the makings of the greatest final four ever. I can't wait. [ Reply to Comment ]
yclept Reputation: 58 Level: Pro Since: Dec 3, 2006	Posted on: March 31, 2008 3:33 am Score: 52 Four top seeds? That's fine by me North Carolina-Kansas should be great. Don't really care much for Memphis-UCLA. Memphis' offense is a dunk. UCLA's defense is almost impossible to watch at times. But at least the game should be close late. As for the four #1's, it isn't a big deal when you consider that four good teams usually get to the Final 4; the fact that this year's teams all had the #1 label shouldn't really destroy the intrigue. I like the Cinderella stories more than anyone; and this year had enough of them to satisfy. Davidson and Western Kentucky both made significant runs and both gave #1 seeds a run for their money (Davidson, especially). What more can a college basketball fan want? And I am sure almost anyone who follows the sport can find a team to root for and a team to dislike next weekend just to keep your own interest in the games that don't feature a Cinderella team. Just sit back, enjoy, and hope for close games! [ Reply to Comment ]
Dr. Cribbit Reputation: 99 Level: Superstar Since: Jan 7, 2007	Posted on: March 31, 2008 7:25 am Score: 89 Four top seeds? That's fine by me I'vew got a question for ya...obviously, this is the first time all four #1 seeds reached the final four...does this change the way people look at college basketball? Will people look at this year differently or will it just a lucky year? In my opinion, if all four #1's made it...well, the selection commite did a damn good gob this year, right? [ Reply to Comment ]
Steamthrower Reputation: 2 Level: Amateur Since: Mar 31, 2008	Posted on: March 31, 2008 9:42 am Score: 33 Four top seeds? That's fine by me I hate to sound obnoxious, but this blog post is completely meaningless and an utter waste of time. I read this and couldn't believe how anyone could write that many paragraphs and still convey no information whatsoever. Sports reporting is not a fine art. It's not as if you have to "dig" to find some actual information. Please read back over your post, and try to actually find something that's not a waste of time. "But so is taking UCLA and Kansas...Or UCLA and North Carolina...Or Memphis and Kansas." I mean, please. Come on. This isn't some forum run by rednecks in Arkansas. This is CBS. If this is what the news reporting world is coming to, then the world's about to be nuked and I might as well get a muscle car, take it into the Australian desert, and name myself Max. [ Reply to Comment ]
pn21250 Reputation: 95 Level: Superstar Since: Jan 16, 2007	Posted on: March 31, 2008 9:52 am Score: 91 Four top seeds? That's fine by me Congratulations to KU, Memphis, NC, and UCLA for making it to the final 4. They are all great teams and no doubt deserve to be there. I can't help, however, but to be a wee bit disappointed that it's 4 #1 seeds in the final 4. One of the great allures of the college basketball postseason is that lower seeds can and often do end up being there in the final 4, and to have that not in existence dimishes the excitement a little. I realize that this is the first year 4 #1's made it in, but last year it was 3 #1's and a #2. I'm hopeful this isn't a trend. [ Reply to Comment ]
Kegzilla Reputation: 98 Level: Superstar Since: Jan 18, 2008	Posted on: March 31, 2008 10:24 am Score: 94 Four top seeds? That's fine by me Four #1 seeds, 3 #1's and a #2, if you look back in history most of the final four teams are top college teams regardless of the seeds. Even when 3's and 4's make it they are top teams. Cinderella normally lasts a round or two. Parrish is right that they normally get exposed. People that think that Cinderella has a chance is wrong. The top teams in college basketball will make it through. A team like Gonzaga, or Davidson will never win it all. That is the one drawback of the tourney...as much as they promote that anything can happen...a big name team will win it in the end. As far as people bashing reporting in a blog, remember this is a personal blog filled with opinions not a normal report for a website or magazine. You are going to get whoever's opinion the blog is not an unbiased account. [ Reply to Comment ]
accnodefense Reputation: 95 Level: Superstar Since: Dec 12, 2007	Posted on: March 31, 2008 12:08 pm Score: 94 It has nothing to do with Cinderella My personal complaint about this year's final four is how UCLA, Kansas, and North Carolina are in it. I as well as many others are tired of these same teams in the Final Four year in and year out. That is why I want the Memphis Tigers to win it all. A breath of fresh air, something new and exciting instead of same old, same old. It would also be hilarious for Memphis to win it all considering the disrespect they have gotten all season just because of their conference. [ Reply to Comment ]
sensenomaking Reputation: 94 Level: All-Star Since: Sep 7, 2007	Posted on: March 31, 2008 12:28 pm Score: 89 Four top seeds? That's fine by me I hope it's fine. With arguably two great first rounds, the tournament finally revealed itself to having 2 -3 of its next 12 games as remotely thrilling (or close, or whatever, IMHO). As ecstatic I am that nobody "who can't go all the way" is in the Final Four, I have such a ridiculously sour taste in my mouth from the last week that let's just hope we didn't "break" the curse by sacrificing competitiveness. [ Reply to Comment ]