Wisconsin was a #1 seed. Duke was a #1 seed. Both opened the the season in the top 5. Wisconsin was 36-3 and won the Big 10 regular season and tournament titles. Duke is 34-4. They have lost one game since January 28, and have road wins at Wisconsin, Virginia, Louisville, and North Carolina. When the tournament started I said this…
I dont think tourney is wide open…. only see 5 tms that can win it. Kentucky zona wisconsin duke and uva – if anderson healthy
— Jeff or Jeffrey Fann (@TalkinACCSports) March 19, 2015
I considered all 5 teams very close in nature. Virginia bowed out early, and I think Anderson clearly not being the player he was pre-injury hurt the Cavaliers. That left Kentucky, Arizona, Wisconsin, and Duke as the teams that I thought were capable of winning it all. Kentucky despite winning 38 straight games had flaws. They struggled shooting the basketball more often than not, and despite their length weren’t all that quick. They had problems with teams that spread the floor and could shoot jumpers. They did have a win at Louisville and beat UNC.
They also knocked off a strong Notre Dame team in the Elite 8.
This was a very good team, but playing in a poor SEC without any other school that made the Sweet 16, you could easily argue they would have lost 2-5 games in any other power 5 league in America.
I’m not taking away what Kentucky did. As I said they were one of my 5 teams that could win it all, but were they better than Duke? Wisconsin? or Arizona? I saw just Wisconsin beat them on a neutral floor, and it wasn’t a fluke. Wisconsin controlled the game, and the Wildcats were fortunate to have the chance to win the game late. If Wisconsin and Kentucky played 10 times, they probably split the 10.
Two number 1 seeds Duke and Wisconsin playing for the national title… Why can’t you say these are the two best teams in college basketball going at it in the title game. Kentucky had their chance to stake their claim as the best team in 2015, but they lost to another excellent team.
Frank Kaminsky, Sam Dekker, Quin Cook, Tyus Jones, Justise Winslow and Jahlil Okafor, Bo Ryan, Mike Krzyzewski, Wisconsin, Duke – tell me why these aren’t the two best teams in college basketball? They are playing their best basketball at the right time. It should be a great championship game.
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