Illinois/U.Conn and Arizona/Michigan In The Upcoming National Semis

Other than Connecticut’s shocking comeback win vs Duke, the regional final tilts produced higher seeded/favorites winning by “enough” setting up a pair of 1 and a fraction/semis tilts on Saturday.

(Had thought of Kentucky under Tubby Smith (Pitino lied that he was staying, but his last there was in the final round loss to Arizona and there is no denying Pitino is an excellent coach, nowhere near the best ever, as another ESPN.com “hyper” wrote days back, but yesterday while U.Conn miracled, “Mr. Slick” got not a parking ticket (see the All In The Family episode), but a highly lucrative contract– why care?!!) overcoming a big Duke lead in a ’98 last of the 4 “reg” final. They went on to “title.” Yet ….

Illinois, pathetically deemed as “holding on” by ESPN.com, when they pulled away to win by 12 as say 7 point(s) favorites, vs fellow Big Ten team, Iowa is the aforementioned one plus point(s) favorite vs Connecticut, which I believe is (18-0) ATS and (17-1) in the tournament these last four, winning it all (12-0)/(12-0) in ’23 and ’24 under the cajoling, but face it, so effective, even great, coach, Danny Hurley.

In a battle of the two remaining regional top seeds, Arizona, in its first national semi since ’01, when they lost in the final to Duke, is the slight “fave” vs Michigan.

Click below to hear, the obviously to be far different toned radio, of both Connecticut and Duke, as Braylon Mullins (Jeff Mullins, a great shooter and a Duke player, anyone?!) hit the incredible regional final game winning shot.

Bray Mullins pictured above. I did not like Duke fouling up 3 and it seemed all Duke had to do was hold the ball. I “Truman/Dewey’d” this despite knowing it had been “faves,” essentially not close and another harsh reality, Eagle has so much luck to offset in my opinion, not so much skill.