Let's Get it On.

We're finally here. A fortnight ago, us basketball fans set out on a quest to watch the 

royal rumble for the highest honor in non-professional basketball. We filled out our brackets, laid our bets, knowing we'd be witnessing the enthralling Madness that goes down every year, but unsure of how it would play out. Two weeks and a few complete days' worth of basketball later, it's time for what's left of the NCAA bracket to duke it out for the national crown; the Final Four march into Detroit next weekend. 

Along the way we've seen it all: stunning upsets, thrilling conclusions, thorough blow-outs, moments of truth, of glory, of defeat and agony. We've witnessed highlight reel dunks and brutal rejections, sick dishes and disgusting turnovers, heroic game-winning shots from all over the court. We've seen a point guard shake off an injury to dominantly lead his team to the Final Four, a team remain focused through off-court allegations against their program and stay alive, a perennial powerhouse overcome the nation's overall #1 seed to fight for the crown in their own backyard. And we've learned that the side of the backboard's about the only thing that can get in Blake Griffin's way.

What's left are a quartet of top-3 squads that faced some tough competition and showed that they could live up to the expectations of a high seed. Villanova's been riding the momentum of their blowouts over Duke and UCLA, and played like the better team against a Pitt squad that, despite its #1 status, looked like the wackest team left in the Elite 8. Their last-second heroics from Scottie Reynolds may have been the clutchest play of the Tourney, and they might need more from him against UNC when Dante Cunningham goes up against the same double-team that just slayed the Griffin the Terrible. 

UConn meanwhile looks as thorough as a team could be, obliterating their early opposition and grinding out relatively close games over Purdue and Missouri. What's impressive is their ability to ignore a looming recruiting scandal (something about a text message. big deal), even winning a game by 60,000 without their coach, showing why they don't need to cheat to attract the country's best young players. Thabeet's been as good as advertised; dominating the glass, altering shots he doesn't block, and benefitting from the sudden defensive presence of Stanley Robinson. Jeff Adrien and AJ Price have been a dangerous scoring combo, and even on a star-studded roster, it was freshman Kemba Walker who stepped up and absolutely ate Missouri, leading UConn to the Elite 8 win. They'll need him to stay aggressive against a potent Michigan State D that will be playing in front of a home crowd of 70, 000.

The local support almost seems unfair, seeing as the Spartans just knocked off what was considered the best team in tournament in a comfortable victory, after coming from behind against the defending champs. Their newfound health, especially in the case of Goran Suton has been the difference-maker for them. Suton's excellence in the past two rounds cannot be overstated; he's scored from inside and out, worked the glass, passed remarkably well for a player his size and held Lousiville's imposing front line in check on D. Kalin Lucas has been a steady hand at the point, providing a scoring punch when needed and Travis Walton's defense will be welcomed against Price and Walker. They're playing like a #1 seed, have a brilliant coach and legions of hometown fans, they'll be a tough draw. But as impressive as all of these teams have been, I don't think they're going to win.

UNC's been dominant; Ty Lawson's return provided a consistent boost for an attack that's been getting balanced contributions, every night it's a different guy stepping up for them on offense. Their D's been stunningly good for a team that plays a high-octane game; against Oklahoma they did an excellent job of doubling Blake Griffin anywhere and rotating to close out on the shooters off the pass out, shutting down a team that had just abused Syracuse from the outside. Their balance and depth bodes well for them heading into next weekend; too many guys have been stepping up for them, chances are they'll play accordingly with the 'ship in their sights. Guys like Hansbrough and Green who passed up the L to win a national title have come this close and you can count on the former POY to be the hungriest guy on the court against anyone. 

Regardless of how the action plays out next weekend, it'd better be a fitting conclusion to the drama thus far. Nothing's worse than anticlimax and the bar's been set pretty high for a rivetng Final Four. I'm still rooting for UConn to win it like I called it and redeem my shattered bracket, but the only reason I didn't go with UNC was Lawson's injury concern, but having him back to his dominant self, and the rest of the team firing on all cylinders and supremely motivated, it's tough to see them losing, but it's the NCAA Tournament here; anything can happen. Regardless of who it is, may the best team win.