The NCAA Final Four is in the books and now we're down to a final two: Giant-slaying Wisconsin, which ruined Kentucky's quest for perfection on Saturday, against blue-blooded Duke, seeking its fifth national title, for all the marbles on Monday night at 9:18 p.m. EDT.
There's still March Madness left to be had, and Monday night's finale promises to be quite a capper.
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Bereft of its usual cast of namby-pamby whiners, this is the rare Duke team that's actually easy to like. The Blue Devils are athletic, hyper-talented and play with grit and passion. Wisconsin, meanwhile, is impossible to hate.
A team of relatively under-heralded recruits, the Badgers have giggled and guffawed their way to the Final Four. Trolling stenographers? Check. Goofy good-luck mustache? Check. Team selfie? Check. Plus, led by Frank Kaminsky and Sam Dekker, this team is just really, really good at basketball (which matters, too).
In short, it's hard to pick a bad guy here -- but someone has to win. The answers to the following five questions will go a long way toward deciding who cuts down the nets in Indianapolis; stay tuned through the end for our final prediction.
1. Can Sam Dekker keep it up?
Wisconsin's star swingman is a fierce competitor and extremely talented -- but he's also oddly mercurial, wont to drift idly through games at times with surprisingly little impact on the court. He's been straight fire emoji at the Big Dance, however, going for at least 16 points in each of the Badgers' five games, including 27 to lead them over Arizona in the West Region final.
Wow Sam Dekker is a savage. What a game. https://t.co/RuxgBhwQgH— Sam Laird (@samcmlaird) March 29, 2015
All indications are that Dekker is set to keep up his stellar play on Monday night. If he does one of his disappearing acts, however, the Badgers are likely doomed to a runner-up finish.
2. Who can handle Justise Winslow?
Jahlil Okafor is Duke's most-hyped freshman and the possible top pick in June's NBA Draft -- but it's fellow freshman Winslow who's been the Blue Devils' best player this month. The powerful 6-foot-6 wing is a possible top-5 pick in June, and has showcased his entire arsenal of weapons this March Madness.
Justise Winslow #Iso https://t.co/YdhPXxy6yi— D1 Circuit (@D1Circuit) April 4, 2015
Who guards him for the Badgers? Is it Dekker, in a bid to contain Winslow with length? Is it Nigel Hayes, who has a better shot at matching his muscle? Or do they try to disrupt him with with a smaller, quicker defender? Winslow presents quite a conundrum for Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan. Finding someone who can slow him down is paramount.
3. Can Kaminsky handle Okafor inside?
Kaminsky did well in a losing cause against Okafor in December, limiting the Duke big man to 13 points, six rebounds and four fouls. But this is a new game. Seeing Kaminsky, a senior and the AP's national player of the year, go against Okafor, a freshman and the AP's runner-up, once again is a real treat.
No doubt Okafor, a true back-to-the-basket center, looks to impose his will inside early. Kaminsky was impressive against Kentucky's athletic and talented bigs on Saturday, so we know he's capable of matching Okafor down low. Whether he lives up to that capability, however, remains to be seen.
4. Can Okafor handle Kaminsky outside?
While Okafor looks to pound the rock inside, the seven-foot Kaminsky sports a more diverse game. Expect Kaminsky to draw Okafor outside on pick-and-pops, where he can utilize his deadly jumpshot if given space or employ his deceptive driving ability to attack the rim if crowded at the three-point line. As tough as it will be for Kaminsky to guard Okafor inside, Okafor may have an even harder time handling him from the perimeter.
5. Who will be the X-factor?
Kaminsky, Dekker, Winslow and Okafor get top billing Monday night, and for good reason. But it's quite possible someone else entirely steals the show and decides the game. Who might that be?
For Duke, look to either freshman point guard Tyus Jones or his backcourt running mate, Quinn Cook. It's highly possible that either Jones' speed or Cook's shot gives the Badgers major problems as they focus on Okafor and Winslow. For Wisconsin, don't overlook senior Josh Gasser. He averages just seven points per contest but is a gamer and just the type of player you could see getting hot from three when it matters most.
The prediction
With two teams that are peaking at the perfect time while playing appealing styles of basketball, we could be in for a classic on Monday night. Expect Kaminsky, Dekker, Winslow and Okafor to perform as advertised, but Duke's backcourt to make the difference. Playing in his last game for the Blue Devils, Cook could be the game-breaker as Duke comes out on top, 70-65, to deliver coach Mike Krzyzewski his fifth national title.