Making sense of the madness

Hopefully those of us making predictions for this weekend’s Final Four matchups will fare a little better than we have up to this point. According to ESPN, roughly 200 out of 4.8 million brackets in the network’s bracket challenge correctly selected all four teams playing this weekend.

Keeping our fingers crossed, let’s take a look at the games slated for Saturday.

DUKE VS. WEST VIRGINIA

Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski earned his 10th Final Four appearance Sunday and West Virginia’s Bob Huggins is coaching in April for the first time since 1992, when he took Cincinnati to the final weekend.

Whether or not Duke can counter the superior athleticism of West Virginia is the big question here. If Duke can slow the game up and avoid getting in a track meet, the Blue Devils have the potential to match the Mountaineers’ perimeter shooting.

Transition will be key for both teams. Duke’s ability to get back on defense and limit fast-break points could be the difference in this game.

Duke out-rebounded Baylor 41-35 in the regional final. West Virginia, which began its game Saturday with a one-guard front, will need to hit the boards hard to allow minimal second-chance points on Duke’s end.

Prediction: Duke 65-West Virginia 74

BUTLER VS. MICHIGAN STATE

Saturday’s first semifinal pits the two hottest teams in the tournament against each other.

On paper, Butler sizes up against the Spartans much like they did against Syracuse and Kansas State. The Spartans are deeper than Butler down low, as sophomore Draymond Green has been a super-sub all season for Michigan State. Green came off the bench for 13 points in the Spartans’ Elite Eight win against Tennessee.

That said, Butler’s dribble-drive offense could again present problems if Michigan State continues to go with a two-guard lineup. The versatility of Willie Veasley and Gordon Hayward is what will keep Butler in the game. However, while the Bulldogs have found a way to win with Matt Howard getting in foul trouble throughout the tournament, this is one game where it could be fatal. Michigan State is too big and too deep in the post for Howard to not be in the game.

Butler, with Hayward edging out of a shooting slump, will also have home-court advantage in this one. With that, why can’t Butler down a third-straight giant?

Prediction: Butler 68-Michigan State 62