Kansas-Duke shows that sometimes upsets aren’t great
Everyone loves the upsets throughout the NCAA Tournament, every year. This year especially has seemed to have more upsets than usual, especially with UMBC defeating Virginia.
It’s great for memorable reasons, but eventually I like to just have some of the country’s top teams play in unreal games. Upsets don’t necesarily mean one team is better than the other, rather they just played better that day.
The small-school teams taking down big powerhouses are always fun in the moment, but I’ve found that by the second weekend of the tournament, I want the best possible games.
This isn’t against Loyola-Chicago making the Final Four, because I really think they’re one of the best teams. However I would’ve loved watching them play a team like Virginia or Kentucky in the Elite 8, rather than Kansas State.
The Duke-Kansas game on Sunday proved that these primetime matchups are always so fun to watch. There were an insane amount of lead changes, and the game was always incredibly tight between some of the top players in the country.
Having the season’s truly best teams battle for chances to survive in this tournament is always awesome.
The big-name players that will be taking over the NBA in a couple years, playing historic games on the NCAA’s biggest stage is always the best.
Being able to watch Kentucky-Arizona in the second round, or Michigan-UNC would be terrific. It’s nothing against the small-schools pulling off these upsets, because they did all play better that day, it just stinks for selfish viewer reasons.
I do think four very good teams made the Final Four and next weekend will provide for tremendous games. The last couple of season’s have provided great championship games, but the semifinals weren’t great with teams like Oregon and South Carolina.
Loyola will give Michigan a run because that offense and defense is legit. Then of course Villanova-Kansas will be another instant classic.
It might be a dumb thing to say because I do thoroughly enjoy the upsets when it’s against teams that won’t make a run like Miami losing or Wichita State. But in the big games, I like the huge programs, and Duke and Kansas going to overtime proved how great it is.
