Wednesday, March 28, 2007

Final Four Preview, Part Two

For a complete preview of the Final Four, click here.

Best Go-To-Guy
1. Jeff Green, Georgetown: His versatility is the key. Can shoot the jumper from both inside and outside the arc, and can also take people down on the block. Has been very clutch.
2. Arron Afflalo, UCLA: Has come up big in numerous games this year. Can score both inside and outside. His inconsistency in the NCAA Tournament has hurt him some, though.
3. Mike Conley, Ohio State: Has shown the ability to create shots for himself and his teammates. He and teammate Ron Lewis have come up big late in games for the young Buckeyes.
4. Taurean Green, Florida: The most unheralded starter on Florida, Green is who they go to when it counts. Can create shots for teammates, and also get into the lane as well as shoot the three.

Best Three-Point Shooter
1. Lee Humphrey, Florida: One of the best shooters in the country has had his ups and downs this season. However, his ability to hit threes at crucial times separates him from the pack.
2. Jonathan Wallace, Georgetown: Very underrated player on a national leve was one of the best gunners in the Big East. Has deceptively long range, and is not afraid to take big shots.
3. Darren Collison, UCLA: Despite his quickness, defenders can’t back off of him. Doesn’t look for his own shot very often, but he has very good range, and is shooting 46% from three-point range.
4. Jamar Butler, Ohio State: Isn’t leading the Buckeyes in three-point percentage, but if I had to choose one OSU player to take a three, it would be Butler. He has experience and confidence.

Best Second Option
1. Al Horford, Florida: Is very tough to stop once he gets the ball down low. He is too strong for most defenders, and is also athletic enough to get around players. His stock is rising.
2. Roy Hibbert, Georgetown: Has picked up five straight double-doubles and is dominating in the Big Dance. His size and touch inside make him very difficult to defend down low.

3. Ron Lewis, Ohio State: While the Buckeyes go to Greg Oden inside and Mike Conley down the stretch, Lewis is the best scorer on the team. Can shoot the ball and is very adept at getting fouled.
4. Darren Collison, UCLA: One of the best point guards in the country, Collison is more of a creator than a scorer. He can get into the lane on anyone due to his quickness, and is also a good shooter.

Best Coach
1. Ben Howland, UCLA: Prepares his team very well for any team they face. Is nearly impossible to beat when you give him several days to make a gameplan. Brought UCLA back to prominence.
2. Billy Donovan, Florida: Was known as an underachiever heading into last year, but the title proved otherwise. Has kept this year’s team focused and playing their best basketball in March.
3. John Thompson III, Georgetown: The Hoyas don’t have as much talent as the other teams in Atlanta, but his offensive system and ability to get the most out of his players has been crucial.
4. Thad Matta, Ohio State: Has molded a group of young kids into a Final Four team. Didn’t let potential chemistry issues get in the way of the team’s ultimate goal. Some are still not sold, though.

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