The NCAA Tournament finally resumes tonight with the Final Four. It feels like forever since games were played, and maybe the excitement of Opening Day in Major League Baseball has something to do with that.
One thing is certain about tonight’s games: an underdog will play in Monday’s National Championship
Butler will take on VCU in the first game at 6:09 p.m. on CBS tonight. Butler — the team that was a buzzer beater away from beating Duke in last year’s championship game — is still considered an underdog although this is the second year they have made it to the Final Four.
VCU has been the biggest surprise. They had to play in the play-in game just to advance to the real first round in the tournament. Before they even played a game, college basketball experts criticized the selection committee for even putting VCU in the tournament. Of course, it’s not their fault that they were picked, but they sure have made the selection committee look good.
The game also features two talented young coaches: Shaka Smart of VCU, and Brad Stevens of Butler. Both have shown composure during March’s big games, and have yet to look overmatched against veteran head coaches.
If the first game is about underdogs and the small schools in college basketball, well the second game is the total opposite.
Kentucky and UConn will face off at 8:49 p.m.
Both are among the elite programs in the NCAA and their coaches have never really been very fond of each other. UConn coach Jim Calhoun, and Kentucky coach John Calipari’s relationship goes back to when Calipari was coaching UMass in the ’90’s.
The two games will be played at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas.
