There have been plenty of upsets and surprises throughout the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament. Top seeds have disappointed, as a #1 seed, a #2 seed, three #3 seeds, and three #4 seeds all have fallen. Essentially 8 of the top 16 seeds in the tournament were eliminated in the first weekend, including the overall #1 in Kansas.
Syracuse and Kentucky are two teams that have not disappointed and just have been dominate in every fashion of the games. As a matter of fact, there is no one playing better than the Orangemen of Syracuse and the Wildcats of Kentucky.
Kentucky started its domination off on Thursday by beating #16 seed East Tennessee State 100-71. Syracuse followed up on Friday by beating #16 seed Vermont 79-56, the margin would of been a lot wider but Syracuse put in reserves the last couple of minutes.
Those margins of victories over #16 seeds surprised no one, because honestly the 1 vs. 16 matchup is always predicted as a blowout. Both Syracuse and Kentucky looked like NBA teams in their first round matchups.
In the second round Kentucky and Syracuse were suppose to meet teams that were capable of pulling the upsets, but I don't think either team got that message.
Kentucky met a Wake Forest team that had a point guard that could keep up with John Wall's speed, a small forward with NBA written all over him, and size in the front court to matchup with Kentucky. Kentucky ended up blowing out Wake Forest 90-60. The game was over after Wake Forest's Al-Farouq Aminu (the small forward with a NBA future) went out early in the game with foul trouble.
Syracuse met a Gonzaga team that was suppose to exploit Syracuse's weakness in the post, but it was soon discovered that that weakness did not exist. The game was close early, but Syracuse soon put it on cruise control and blew Gonzaga out 87-65.
The strong second round performances proved that Syracuse and Kentucky are the best two teams in the tournament, or they're at least playing like it so far.
Both teams are playing team ball and being led by their star players.
Syracuse is led by the Big East Player of the Year, Wes Johnson. Johnson is averaging 24.5 ppg, 10 rpg, 1.5 apg, 1.5 spg, and 1.5 bpg. He is shooting 61% from the field, including 64% (7-11) from 3's. He's simply playing like the Player of the Year right now.
Senior Andy Rautins is also stepping up with 18 ppg, 6 rpg, 5 apg, 1.5 spg. Freshman Brandon Triche has ended his late season shooting slump, as he's averaging 11.5 ppg through the first two rounds.
SEC Player of the Year John Wall hasn't had to do much the 1st two rounds (or play much either only playing 29 minutes a game so far). Wall is averaging 15.5 ppg and 9 apg through the first two rounds. His numbers don't blow you away like Johnson's do, but the numbers have allowed his team to be the dominate force they have been so far.
Wall's back court mate Eric Bledsore is averaging 21 ppg, 3 apg, 2.5 rpg, and 3 spg. With those numbers Kentucky may be losing both of their freshmen point guards to the NBA after this season. The other freshman phenom DeMarcus Cousins is averaging 12 ppg, 8 rpg, 2.5 apg, and 2.5 bpg.
If both of these teams continue to play the way that they are, then there is no doubt in my mind that these two will meet April 5th in Indianapolis for the National Championship.
UP NEXT: Kentucky takes on #12 Cornell & Syracuse takes on #5 Butler.
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