The (Mostly) March Madness Third Weekend RTRS Corner Three

Final Four Time! Zo and Mike are back to talk about their favorite dudes and teams taking part in this weekend's climactic action, and also run down some big Qs facing our Sixers.

Zo’s Five Big Quetions Facing the Sixers

1. Just how far can this specific group go now?

Truly the wildest of wildcards, the most dangerous 6-8 seed in playoff history. I truly believe that. Will they go so far as to upset the Bucks/Celtics/Cavs in a round one series? Sure, why not. I personally think beating the Cavs wouldn’t be an upset because fully healthy Philly is the better team by a considerable margin, but we’ll play along. Much of this as always, depends on Joel Embiid, his meniscus and how soon he ramps up to 46 minutes a game, but my gut tells me they will be one hell of an opponent and a pretty scary one for either of those teams.

2. Now that the big guy is back, what’s the second most important task for the Sixers?

Kyle Lowry said it himself after Tuesday night’s game: The team has gotten so used to not having Embiid that they have to get acclimated to him being around again, and honestly, with little time to spare. Jo cleans up so much on both ends of the court that these newer guys will have to get used to as well. Lastly, I think it really will come down to everyone being comfortable in a more reduced role. This is a team built around one guy specifically and he’s back and seemingly ready to rock. 

3. To that point, who in your eyes is the most important non-Maxey/Embiid Sixer now?

I really think it’s a Lowry and Hield tie, man. Kyle is so sharp basketball IQ -wise, and Hield is so important to the proposed spacing in an offense anchored by Embiid – not to mention, a guy they gave up real assets for – so it’s almost impossible to pick otherwise. 

4. What is Nick Nurse’s biggest hurdle now?

Putting a cohesive product on the floor. I don’t think motivation will be a problem, they seem plenty motivated and dialed-in to the task at hand but for me, the biggest issue now is putting out consistent, coherent lineups. 

5. Is The Year back on?

It’ll probably end in agony and a lot of angry tweets but don’t they all? So fuck it, let’s go win the whole fucking thing (shoutout Jake Taylor in Major League).

It's So Over and We Are So Fucking Back

Final Four Predictions!

NC State vs. Purdue

I love DJ Burns and future Sixer DJ Horne so much and they’re no cinderella and Purdue’s brand of basketball is boring. So for that reason alone, go Pack.

UConn vs. Alabama

Really no offense to a superbly talented and hot shooting ‘Bama team that finally looks like it’s supposed to look, but I don’t think Uconn will play a competitive game this whole tournament. 

National Championship

NC State vs. UConn

The national championship game the country wants and deserves. NC State will be what they always are, disciplined and very tough, but UConn will be even tougher and a lot faster – and that, friends, will make the difference in Dan Hurley’s death squad capturing chip No. 2. 

Mike’s Guys, March Madness Final Four Edition

The Final Friggin Four. We got two chalk picks, a frenetic all-octane team finally breaking through, and a remarkably-shaped Cinderella who hasn't lost in a month. The deeper you get into the tournament, the more you find vet-laden teams without real prospect hype, but that's strangely not the case this year - perhaps due to the weakness of the draft. I wrote about my guy Mark Sears from Alabama going into the first round, so we won't double up there. And as much as I have to say about Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, and my fallen JuJu Watkins, we'll keep it to the men's ranks until the WNBA smartens up and brings a team to Philly.

ZACH EDEY/DONOVAN CLINGAN, C, PURDUE/UCONN - Two seven-footers who could be headed for a collision course in a heavyweight title fight we haven't seen in decades. Ewing/Pinckney in ‘85 maybe? Edey is a monster, following in the huge Boilermaker footsteps of Isaac Haas and Matt Haarms to become the biggest offensive force in recent men’s college hoops memory. He's too big too play straight-up, and now that Purdue's guards can shoot, possesses too much vision to send that much help. At 7'4 he's got excellent touch on his hooks or through contact - he got to the line 11.5 times per game this year, hitting a respectable 71% of his freebies. Similar to Luka Garza, I think he'll pretty easily add a consistent above-the-break three to his game. 

The issue is on the defensive end, where he predictably can't move his feet that well, and isn't *such* a great shotblocker (in a Boban way) to make up for it. I think he's an NBA player, but it would have to be for a team that schemes the shit out of things to tailor the defense to his strengths.

Clingan, on the other hand, is a defensive anchor. The reason UConn went on a 30-0 run over Illinois' best offense in the country is because the Illini simply could not get to the rim. Clingan erased absolutely everything. He averaged 2.5 blocks per game *in just 22 minutes*. He's not the defensive rebounder Edey is (that's where he uses his size extremely well), but he is absolutely mobile enough to start at the 5 at the next level. Though he doesn't jump out of the gym or project as a shooter or go-to option, he'll be a lottery pick because the defense is that good.

Dan Hurley doesn't ask him to do much more than what he's best at, but that's what it'll be in the pros also, so I anticipate a Walker Kessler-y rookie year for a guy I consider the better all-around prospect. As much as I love this Wolfpack run (and won some money on it), I hope we get to see Edey v Clingan in the title game, to see just what the fuck these two do with each other. 

Limited Edition Kelly Oubre Tribute Shirt

CAM SPENCER, G, UCONN (formerly Rutgers) - I've been rooting against UConn for months. I think people who root for dominant teams to stay dominant are probably happier people, but obviously you know that's not me. I want to see the giant fall. And there's nothing more annoying on a team you want to lose than a guy who simply does everything right. Spencer just doesn't make mistakes. He is a lights-out shooter from three (over 44% in 4 of his 5 college seasons) and from the line (92% this year), and I don't think I've ever seen him miss a floater. He moves the ball and doesn't turn it over, and he has quick hands on steals. 

The lateral footspeed is going to be an issue, but for your 8th or 9th guy, you could do worse than a 6'4 guy who makes everything and never fucks up. He's a 5th year senior, so he'll probably go undrafted. I'll take him.

TRISTAN NEWTON, G, UCONN - The heart and soul of this UConn juggernaut, Newton does some of everything. Another nearly mistakeless player with more athleticism and quickness, he's got beautiful touch on the glass and always seems to play on balance. He's not the shooter Spencer or Karaban is, but he supplements that with rebounding and passing, sometimes at the same time with high IQ hit-aheads to start the Huskies transition train. Guy just glues everything together. And he’s the kind of player who will shoot better at the next level. I think he'll be a backup point guard for 40 years. 

DJ BURNS, FUCKING BIG, NC STATE - Look, man. This is what college basketball is all about. I look forward to seeing his big tapdancing ass destroy people with touch and passing in Belgium someday. 

I should also shout out UConn’s Stephon Castle, who will be a lottery pick, but he's just not one of My Guys so I didn't feel compelled to write about him. He'll be a menace defensively, but I don't believe in the shot. Alex Karaban is another Husky who I'm also mulling over, as a college role player who could also do this in the pros. He shoots 63% on twos, 38% on threes on low usage and he defends. Would have a spot on my team, but it's hard to know how much that kind of role player really translates. Plus their Danny Hurley is really running an NBA team down there. And for Bama, I'm getting a real kick out of Aaron Estrada and Grant Nelson, but I think Rylan Griffen is the other pro on the team. 

Enjoy the weekend of men's and women's Final Four action, after which I will become a real person again.