Why the Memphis Tigers will beat UCLA

To make it simple if you haven't seen either teams play, its pretty logical from my viewpoint. Memphis played a harder bracket to get to the Final Four and not only did they impress their critics by dismantling some of the top teams in the country, they did it the same way in each of the 4 games. They look like a team thats got a chip on their shoulder the size of the Grand Canyon and they can't wait to prove the entire world that they belong next to the powerhouse traditions of these basketball institutions - Kansas, North Carolina, and UCLA. Now I'm going into intangibles, whoops.

They have better athletes, they're better offensively and in transition. UCLA has the experience, the defensive intensity, and the coaching with one of the best coaches in college basketball. But my man John Calipari can motivate a team, and can get the best out of individuals like he did when he took UMASS to the Final Four.

To me it comes down how UCLA handles Memphis defense and if they can get back in transition when Derrick Rose (who is already and going to be a very special player, not to mention a very rich man when hes the number one pick in the NBA draft this year).

The other thing that makes it real easy to determine is going to win. Who has the better players. It sounds pretty simplistic, but when I look at all the previous national champions, they had the most NBA talent on their teams. If you ask me UCLA has 2 really good prospects and 2 so-so but all 4 will play in the NBA. Memphis has 2 really good prospects and 1 so-so. BUT they have a lot of guys who are young and don't really play right now. So I still think Memphis has the advantage. Because their NBA talent don't have ceilings the way that UCLA players do.


Here's the run-down on previous champions
2007 Florida - 4 players in the NBA, 2 lotter picks
2006 Florida - same team
2005 North Carolina - 5 players in NBA, 3 lottery picks
2004 Connecticut - 4 guys

this is all off the top of my head so might forget about a guy or 2 but it goes back further and further...

Bottomline I expect Memphis to beat UCLA in the second half and then beat North Carolina in of the best championship games of all time.