The last time Chicago hosted a NCAA Regional Final we were treated to astonished/happy/excited March Madness Bill Murray the Illinois Fighting Illini fan. Over the weekend we saw despondent March Madness Murray, the Xavier fan. Perhaps that meme will put the stale “Crying Jordan” meme out to pasture now.
It’s all come full circle Virginia basketball fans: Bill Murray at March Madness, Chicago hosting an Elite 8 game, a team in blue and orange favored to cut down the nets and head to the Final Four.
Here’s Murray in action at that game in Rosemont 11 years ago.
TV:
6:10 PM
CBS Virginia vs. Iowa State
Kevin Harlan/Reggie Miller/Dan Bonner//Lewis Johnson
After conc. I (8:40 approx)
CBS
Chicago II
Syracuse vs. Gonzaga
Harlan/Miller/Bonner//Johnson
(Here’s our game preview and score prediction for Cuse-Zags)
(Here’s our picks and predictions for the entire rest of the tournament)
It’s a shame that Michigan State isn’t here. It would have been good for them to form an intersectional NCAA Tournament rivalry with Virginia like Paris Saint-Germain has with Chelsea. And of course, Borussia Moenchengladbach might be the most fun team name to say in all of sports.
With MSU out of the way, maybe this is the year for UVA? The way the Spartans played against Middle Tennessee, the Cavaliers would have beaten them anyway.
Head Coach Tony Bennett has become a “rock star” college basketball coach now. Well, maybe he’s more like a “standard singer” college basketball leader given that he’s got the same name as the legendary crooner who’s lately been teaming up with Lady Gaga.
(At this link, we do Tony Bennett vs Tony Bennett, tale of the tape)
This is the third straight year he’s led the Wahoos to a #2 seed or higher, and he keeps getting it done while the ACC consistently grows even stronger. This is his second sweet sixteen, and a win tomorrow night ends the Virginia basketball Elite 8 drought (1995). Beat the Syracuse/Gonzaga winner, and it’s UVA’s first Final Four since 1984.
The Wahoos are led by Malcolm Brogdon, perhaps the best player in the country not named Buddy Hield. The 6-5 senior two guard is both a shooter and a scorer, and you’ll see his name in the early second round of many a NBA mock draft. (More on Brogdon here). Anthony Gill and London Perrantes round out the Virginia basketball big three.
This is looking like the perfect time…to end that 32 year Final Four drought. This mini bracket here in Chicago sets up nicely for them. Also, fun fact for those who aren’t all that familiar with UVA athletics, the Cavalier Fight song appropriates “Auld Lang Syne” the theme of New Year’s Eve.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CIBlMGrUg8
Iowa State Basketball Preview:
Coach Steve Prohm is in his first season, with The Mayor Fred Hoiberg having taking over Tom Thibodeau here in Chicago; in this very building where the game will be played. Word is Hoiberg is taking his former team to the Bulls contest against the New York Knicks tonight.
Hoiberg was never able to bring the Cyclones past the sweet 16, so if Prohm can get it done he’ll lead the first Iowa St. team since 2000. Those ‘Clones played the de facto national championship game in the Elite 8 giving eventual champ Michigan State all they could handle. Marcus Fizer and Jamaal Tinsley had Tom Izzo on the ropes and that’s been the apex of modern Iowa State basketball history.
They did go to the Final Four in 1944.
The Cyclones are led by Gorgeous Georges Niang, a big boy who’s putting up even bigger numbers. ISU boasts five double figure scorers in addition to him, and also come quite close to having a sixth. So this Virginia basketball team will really have their hands full trying to contain a very balanced team with a whole lot of weapons.
They’ll need their defensive rotations to be fast and furious.
Prediction: Virginia Basketball 69, Iowa State 61
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes regularly to the Chicago Tribune’s RedEye publication and Bold Global.
He also consistently appears on numerous talk shows all across the country. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram