Friday, April 4, 2008
Best scorer – Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina forward – Hansbrough’s game isn’t pretty, but he is extremely effective. He can bruise smaller defenders in the post or step back near the three-point line against bigger defenders to get his points. Hansbrough is also great at finding his way to the free throw line, where he converts at an 81 percent clip.
Best rebounder – Kevin Love, UCLA forward – At 6-foot-10 and 250 pounds, Love doesn’t look like an elite leaper. But the UCLA post uses great fundamentals to seal off opponents and his thick frame to create space to work on the glass. Love averaged nearly 11 rebounds per game this season, second-best in the PAC-10 Conference.
Best outside shooter – Mario Chalmers, Kansas guard - UCLA point guard Darren Collison may shoot a better percentage from beyond the arc, but Chalmers gets extra credit for making 20 more three-pointers than Collison did. Chalmers’ ability to torch defenses from long range is Kansas’ most dangerous weapon, especially when the Jayhawks are in their transition offense.
Best passer – Ty Lawson, North Carolina guard – Most of the attention Lawson has earned has been thanks to his lightning-quick feet and ability to hustle the Tar Heel offense down court. But the diminutive guard is an underrated passer in the half-court offense. After all, someone has to feed the multitude of North Carolina offensive options.
Best defender – Russell Robinson, Kansas guard – Robinson doesn’t even lead his own team in steals, but his intense on-ball pressure frequently forces opposing guards to take bad shots or throw errant passes. Robinson is usually matched up with the opponent’s best guard, and he usually puts the clamps on. In the Jayhawks’ Sweet Sixteen victory against Villanova, Robinson limited Scottie Reynolds to 11 points on 4-for-13 shooting.
Best uniforms – Kansas – Memphis loses points for its generic look. North Carolina’s color scheme is excellent but loses some of its luster away from the Tar Heels’ home court. UCLA sports some classic duds, but changing the color of the “C” in UCLA to celebrate 100 NCAA Championships seems a little silly. Sure, some people hate the new font and style, but there’s no denying that the uniforms look outstanding. Home whites, road blues, even the alternate reds – Kansas basketball put a fashionable foot forward with its new look.
Best mascot – UCLA – What animal is better than a bear? Trick question: Bears are the best animals. UCLA’s own bear, Joe Bruin, isn’t all that ferocious, but he can “crank dat Soulja Boy” with the best of them, as seen on YouTube. Bonus points to UCLA for its cheer and dance squads.
Best legacy – Kansas – UCLA has won 11 NCAA Tournament titles, including 10 in a torrid 12 year stretch. Memphis has made deep runs into the tournament under current coach John Calipari. North Carolina has qualified for the tournament 39 times and taken the title four times. The Jayhawks only earned the NCAA Tournament crown twice, but Kansas claims Dr. James Naismith as a piece of its history, and having the father of basketball as a former coach trumps any other accomplishment.
All-Final Four First Team
G – Derrick Rose, Memphis
G – Ty Lawson, North Carolina
G – Chris Douglas-Roberts, Memphis
F – Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina
F – Kevin Love, UCLA
All-Final Four Second Team
G – Darren Collison, UCLA
G – Mario Chalmers, Kansas
G – Brandon Rush, Kansas
F – Joey Dorsey, Memphis
F – Darrell Arthur, Kansas
All-Final Four Third Team
G – Russell Robinson, Kansas
G – Wayne Ellington, North Carolina
G – Russell Westbrook, UCLA
G – Danny Green, North Carolina
F – Darnell Jackson, Kansas
Finest Names of the Final Four Team
G – Mario Chalmers, Kansas
G – Surry Wood, North Carolina
F – Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, UCLA
F – Lorenzo Mata-Real, UCLA
C – Pierre Niles, Memphis
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