These are my Final Four predictions for the 2013 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament and it looks like it'll come to a close with a Big East Tournament Championship repeat. It's the Louisville Cardinals vs. Wichita St. Shockers and the Syracuse Orange vs. Michigan Wolverines. Why will the Big East star in the National Championship? Here's why.
Louisville vs. Wichita St.
The great salsa crooner, Hector Lavoe, said it best in his song, "Todo Tiene Su Final," (Everything has an Ending) and, with this game, Wichita St.'s magical run as the No. 9 seed in the Final Four will come to a close at the hands of the No. 1 overall seeded Cardinals. Never mind the stats, the Cardinals are playing for more than a National Championship, they are playing for one of their own. It's the same fury that propels players to their best as Louisville is dedicating this run to a fallen soldier, Kevin Ware.
Outside from personal motivation, the Louisville Press is suffocating and has been working all tournament long. Not only is the Louisville defense up to par, but their offense is averaging just a little over 80 points a game. That's a deadly combination for anybody to attempt to beat.
Score Prediction: Louisville wins 82-66 to breeze into the National Championship.
Syracuse vs. Michigan
The Orangemen are simply playing great basketball and so are the Wolverines. This is why this matchup will go to the wire. However, with defense ruling this matchup, the much talked about Syracuse 2-3 Zone looks impenetrable.
Michigan will need another huge night from three and I will say this, if the Wolverines can shoot over 50 percent from three, this game is there. However, if their defense sleeps, allows Syracuse to score and then set up their zone and can't hit threes, then it's going to be a long night for Michigan. The key to their victory will be breaking down the zone by hitting outside shots similar to how Davante Gardner briefly made the zone look vulnerable as Marquette almost had a chance to beat the Orange in the Elite Eight.
Score Prediction: Syracuse wins 69-64 to set up a Big East Championship
