(Editor’s note: This article is part of the Bracket Central series, an inside look at the run-up to the men’s & women’s NCAA Tournaments, along with analysis and picks during the tournaments.)
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Friday might have boasted the best collection of games of the men’s basketball season, though too many of them disappointed — in the process, featuring some of the teams that are storming toward the NCAA Tournament.
Florida, for example. Are we sure this isn’t the best team in the country right now? The Gators took another step toward a No. 1 seed by shredding a very good Missouri team here at Bridgestone Arena, 95-81. This team has shooting, size, depth, chemistry, everything.
How about Houston? BYU has been playing excellent basketball and moving rapidly up the seeding list, but the southernmost of the two Cougars rolled by 20 in the Big 12 semis. If there was an inkling of drama about Houston on the top line, it’s gone.
St. John’s throttled Marquette to set up more 1980s flashbacks at the Garden. Maryland and Wisconsin crushed Illinois and UCLA, respectively, reminding us that the Terps and Badgers can look Final Four good (and that Illinois is an extraordinarily erratic, if talented, team).
Back to Nashville, Alabama vs. Kentucky was supposed to be…
