Final Four predictions: Terps to prevail
By Dick Vitale
FINAL FOUR: Saturday, March 30
Midwest No. 1 seed KANSAS vs. East No. 1 seed MARYLAND
South No. 5 seed INDIANA vs. West No. 2 seed OKLAHOMA
The field is set, and the Final Four in Atlanta should be special. Indiana, Oklahoma, Kansas and Maryland will battle it out, hoping to cut down the nets on Monday night.
All year long, college basketball fans believed Duke, Kansas and Maryland were the front-runners to win it all ...and now two of them will go head-to-head.
The Kansas-Maryland matchup should be like the Thrilla in Manilla, baby! It's a heavyweight clash with the battle of the coaching Williamses -- Gary Williams (Maryland) and Roy Williams (Kansas) -- duking it out on the sidelines, matching decision for decision, utilizing their strong benches.
You can rest assured this will be a war inside, as both of these teams are physical. Kansas really showed something by outrebounding Oregon, 61-31. Maryland has an edge in experience, having been to the Final Four last year. The Terps will be able to handle the media crush better. Juan Dixon and company came through against Connecticut in the regional final when Dixon refused to let his team lose.
In the end, the Terps are tournament tough. Their experience will be a factor, and I give Maryland the slightest of edges.
Oklahoma has a suffocating defense and great athleticism. Coach Kelvin Sampson's team has depth and so many weapons with Hollis Price, Aaron McGhee, Ebi Ere and company.
Indiana needs a healthy Tom Coverdale in the lineup. Coverdale suffered an ankle injury in the Hoosiers' Elite Eight victory against Kent State.
I favor the Sooners to move on to the title game Monday night.
In the championship, I see Maryland gaining a measure of revenge in a rematch against Oklahoma. I see Gary Williams, Dixon and company cutting down the nets.
The Georgia Dome will be rocking and rolling, baby. The Final Four is the culmination of the greatest three weeks in sports!
