And Then There Were Four.....

It's the eve of the final four and as I reflect on the incorrectness of my bracket I think back on where I started and how I arrived at this point. Every year my brother and I make a friendly wager on both the men's and women's tourney. Rules?...two points for every correct win. The loser makes a desert of choice for the winner. I don't put much stock in winning the men's brackets. Although I watch a lot of basketball, I watch much more women's basketball. I pretty much knew I was making one desert when #1 Pitt went down on the men's side (I had them in the final four). After the first round of the women's tournament I was comfortably leading without a care in the world, after all the women's tourney doesn't experience Cinderella's,...right? You can pretty much copy the number one seeds in the bracket blanks all the way to the finals.

Television coverage usually lets you see into the lives of many different basketball programs across the country. Especially if you're a part of the ACC, Big East, Big 12, Big Ten, SEC or PAC-10. But, I'm afraid I, like others, never got to know the caliber of talent in some obscure women's basketball parts of the nation. I thought cheese-heads only cheered for the Packers. I'll admit I had Tennessee and Baylor in my final four bracket (now I owe my brother two deserts). I didn't expect anything different than the four number one seeds meeting in Indianapolis. Just another reason to play the games, right? You always hear the critics of the world say that women's basketball is not exciting, the same teams always get in year after year. The top seeds always prevail. I took a look back at the last 11 years (2000-2010) from both the men's and women's tournament final four to see if they were on to something.

Just The Facts (200-2010)
#1 seeds who have won the national title?
Men-8
Women-9
*(Looks pretty even to me)

Schools which have had a men's and women's program in the final four.
Duke (2 or more times)
Louisville
LSU
Maryland
Michigan State
Oklahoma
Texas
UCONN (2 or more)
UNC (2 or more)

The statistic that starts most of the comparisons and arguments comes in this form. From 2000-2010, there has been 27 different schools (men) who have participated in the final four versus 17 schools (women). Clearly there are a lot of repeat programs there year after year. Here's where the parity in men's basketball takes centerstage and where most people consider this to be why men's basketball is more exciting. Any team on a given night can beat the top seed. Perhaps this year was a turning point in the women's game. Teams like Gonzaga could make a memorable run to the Elite Eight or Louisville's giant slaying of top seeded Xavier. Even the pressure felt by some top seeds to dispatch their lower seeded counterparts. The gap is beginning to widen. It was truly fun to watch this years tournament. And even though Tennessee and Baylor are absent, the additions of Notre Dame and Texas A&M offer plenty of drama and personalities. After this year I'm just not confident that UCONN will defeat Notre Dame, again, nor are they a lock for their 8th National Championship. It's anybody's tournament.

So I look forward to the uncertainty of the remaining games. I'll watch the final four and the championship game and simultaneously satisfy my brothers sweet tooth. Mid majors!... these cookies, brownies and pound cake are for you!