the Seahawk | SPORTS I March 30, 2006
11
Seahawk championship predictions
Sports EdUor Brant Wilkerson-New. Senior Staff WrUer Chris Kronmueller and Correspon
dent Justine Sgalio weigh in with Final Four predictions.
LSU vs. UCLA
Chris Kronmueller - I.SII:
PAC-IO teams that make it this far generally
fall short at this point and this year will not
be any different. LSU made me a believer
with the way in which they turned it on in
overtime with Texas. UCLA will have to
do better than 50 to win this one, as LSU’s
Tyrus Thomas and Glen Davis will give the
Bruins more than they can handle.
JuSTlNESr.AI.IO-I..SII:
Their athleticism will prevail over this #2
seed.
Brant Wilkf.rson-New - I.SIl:
LSU simply has too much size and skill up
front for the Bruins. Where UCLA has an
excellent set of guards, the whole world saw
what LSU did defensively against Duke’s
guards. Tyrus Thomas is proving he’s the real
deal, and not just another athletic big man
with upside.
George Mason
vs. Florida
Chris Kronmueller - FLORIDA:
While Mason remains the feel-good story
of the tournament, Florida has played like a
team with a chip on thier shoulder. Mason
has beaten Michigan State, UNC and
UConn; an impressive feat, especially for a
team that many thought should not even be
in the tournament. As long as Florida does
not underestimate Mason, they should be
in the championship game, but not without
a fight.
Justine Sgalio - MASON:
I’ve got to stick with my gut here, Mason
could win this game, despite Florida’s size.
Brant Wilkerson-New - FLORIDA:
Mson’s story is a great one, and they have
the talent to win the whole thing, but Florida
is just playing too well. Joakim Noah, A1
Florford and Corey Brewer are enough to neu
tralize the Mason front-court attack. Florida
will move on to Monday night’s championship
game, 1 do expect the game to come down to
the final minutes though.
The Championship Game
Chris Kronmueller - LSU:
Both teams are playing well and look like
teams of destiny. I give a slight edge
to LSU, who will have an easier time
with UCLA than Florida will with Mason.
Florida beat LSU twice already, by 9 and
16, which should motivate the Tigers fur
ther. This one will be determined at the
free throw line in the final seconds. LSU
67, Florida 66.
Justine Sgalio- LSU
Brant Wilkerson-New - FLORIDA:
Florida is 2-0 against LSU already this sea
son, and they will go to 3-0 to take home
the national championship. It’s going to be
a heavyweight fight up front, with Joakim
Noah and Co. winning the war. Look for
Taurean Green to pick up the scoring slack
caused by the war of attrition down low.
from STORYLINES page 9
play a lot more together than the ‘trying to
get to the NBA, winning be damned’ show
last year. Center Joakim Noah has a head of
hair that makes even me jealous, and he’s
a pretty good ballplayer too, averaging 17
points and 10 points per game through four
tournament games. He willed the Gators to
victory over Villanova with 21 points and 15
points against the undersized Wildcats.
Most of all, this Final Four is something
different. It’s good basketball without the
media hype about one clear-cut winner. Each
of these teams has a legitimate shot to win
the title, because they play good tournament
basketball. Though it may not have the glam
our of previous years, this Final Four may be
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