April 1, 2008

By Steve Lappas

Special to CSTV.com

STEVE LAPPAS
Steve Lappas is a game and studio analyst for CSTV men's basketball coverage.
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        ---   Column Archive   --- MEN'S BASKETBALL 4/1: North Carolina, Memphis Looking Very Strong 3/26: Battle Of Tempos Will Be On Display In Sweet 16 3/25: Memphis Can't Do Anything About Free Throw Woes 3/17: Tough Road For Memphis, Easy One For UCLA 3/7: Carolina Feeling Revenge, ACC Title 2/22: Don't Count Out The Vols 2/15: Indiana Needs To Shed Distractions 2/8: Full Deck Of Cards 2/1: Beasley Could Be Joining Durant 1/25: Going Tiger Crazy 1/18: Rhody's Loss Hurts More Than Dayton's 1/11: Bruins Still The Best In The West 1/11: Saint Louis Can't Buy A Bucket Against GW 1/4: Conference Play Big For Clemson, Villanova 12/28: It's Wait And See For Vandy, Ole Miss 12/21: Tigers Have Athleticism To Get By Hoyas 12/14: Davidson Did The Right Thing 12/7: Shocker At The Top 11/16: Cardinal Looking Good Early 11/12: It's Hansbrough's Time Now TOP 64 BREAKDOWN January 18, 2006 January 11, 2006 December 28, 2005 December 13, 2005

Over the course of the 2007-08 season, CSTV.com will be talking with CSTV analyst Steve Lappas each week to get his thoughts and opinions on all the action and happenings in college basketball. Got a question you'd like to ask him? Here's your chance.

1. Is North Carolina playing too well right now for Kansas or do you like Roy Williams' former team to knock off the Tar Heels and head on to Monday night's championship game?

I think North Carolina is just better right now. The Tar Heels are playing very well, and Kansas doesn't have anyone as physical down low as Tyler Hansbrough. The matchup between Brandon Rush and Wayne Ellington is going to be a great one to watch and they're probably going to be guarding each other throughout the game. Rush is a little more athletic and Ellington is a little more skilled, but I think Rush was trying to take over in that last game against Davidson and I give him credit for that. He's really added another dimension to Kansas' rather small backcourt since coming back from that ACL tear last May and his presence at 6-foot-6 should play a factor on Saturday for the Jayhawks, which in my mind, had the easiest road to San Antonio so far.

On the other side, North Carolina has played great defensively in its last two games. The Tar Heels have been criticized a lot over the season for their defense, but that's started to change as you saw against Washington State in the Sweet 16 and Louisville in the Elite Eight. Ultimately, though, the talent in the front line for UNC is really the big difference and I think that's going to play the part for Roy Williams' team down the stretch.

Prediction: North Carolina

2. What do you see being the difference between Memphis and UCLA this Saturday in the Final Four and who do you like advancing to play for the national title?

The biggest thing in this game is that Memphis and UCLA are both great defensive teams. I think Memphis can give UCLA some trouble because its perimeter players are so big and athletic. Chris Douglas-Roberts, Antonio Anderson and Derrick Rose are bigger than Josh Shipp, Russell Westbrook and Darren Collison, though it was an even bigger factor last weekend against Texas in the Elite Eight with D.J. Augustin and A.J. Abrams trying to guard the Tigers' shooters.

Of course, though, we can't forget about that huge matchup down low between Joey Dorsey and Kevin Love. I know Dorsey is not near the offensive player that Love is, but he's capable defensively of making it hard on the standout freshman. If Dorsey can contain Love and not let him go crazy, the Tigers should have a good chance of winning a game that's going to be very close and should be decided by a basket or two.