Hoops and Horses: Final Four and Florida Derby Picks

Welcome to America’s Best Racing’s Hoops and Horses column, where winners play!
Horse racing is Joe Kristufek’s means to an end, and he loves the sport like no other, but as a Chicago Bulls season ticket holder for eight years and a feared participant in fantasy hoops, Kristufek also has his finger on the pulse of the NBA.
From growing up with the Flintstones of Michigan State, running March Madness pools out of his hidden manila envelope in high school, to attending conference tournaments, Sweet 16s and Final Fours, college basketball runs in Derek Cooley’s blood.
Let’s sprint out on the fast break, spring the horses from the gate and pad our bankrolls!
College Hoops – by Gene Kershner (filling in for Derek Cooley) 
Gene Kershner, the turf writer for The Buffalo News, is a former Division III hoops player at Elmira College and tweets @EquiSpace. 
National Semifinal – Oklahoma vs. Villanova 
The first national semifinal pitting favored Villanova against Oklahoma will be a game of transition. Both teams average close to 80 points per game and this contest will likely to be a lively affair boasting two good shooting teams. The difference may come via the depth of Oklahoma’s bench, where coach Lon Kruger can go nine deep. In a back-and-forth game that could go down to the last few possessions, I’ll put my money on the Sooners and superstar Buddy Hield to advance to the national title game. It won’t be the blowout of December where Oklahoma took the Wildcats to the woodshed winning 78-55 in Hawaii, expect a much closer encounter. 
Projected Score: Oklahoma 81 - Villanova 76 
National Semifinal – Syracuse vs. North Carolina 
Saturday evening’s nightcap features the ACC side of the bracket and the only top-seeded team remaining in the tourney in North Carolina. Don’t be fooled by the two ACC regular season wins by the Tar Heels over the upstart Orange. The 11-point loss in January and 5-point loss in February were both closer games then the score sheet would indicate. The Orange’s vaunted 2-3 zone gave North Carolina fits for periods of both games, holding them to 3-for-16 shooting from 3-point range in January. While Syracuse has thrived on perseverance and to some extent luck to advance this far, it may have reached the end of a terrific run to the Final Four. North Carolina has too many horses inside for the Orange to contend with, but I’ll still look for the ‘Cuse to cover to turn lemons into lemonade for this hometown Syracuse boy.
UNC'S BRICE JOHNSON

By Ijhaniff (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Projected Score: North Carolina 75 - Syracuse 68 
The FINAL 
In a tournament that has had a flair for the dramatic, it will be Oklahoma standing alone on the National stage on Monday night. The tournament has set the table for Buddy Hield's coming out party. Similar to runs made by teams led by superstars, think Jordan in '82, Alford in '87 and Manning in '88, Hield has embraced that role for the Sooners in the tourney. The ACC side of the bracket will produce Carolina as the last hurdle for Lon Kruger's five. The Tar Heels struggle from the perimeter, which will be their ultimate downfall. As Billy Sims proclaimed at a recent Heisman presentation, "Boomer Sooner!"
Ponies – by Joe Kristufek
Sometimes horses you like don’t run well, and there’s really no visible excuse why. Such was the case last Saturday at Fair Grounds with both Roman Approval, who ran sixth in the Muniz and Greenpointcrusader who checked in seventh in the Louisiana Derby. 
Adore performed admirably in the Fair Grounds Oaks, but she got a little tired late and got nipped for second.
Last week: 3-0-0-1 ($2 WPS * $18 wagered * $4.00 returned)
Season Total: 26-7-4-5 ($2 WPS * $156 wagered * $143.60 returned = $5.52)
Saturday, April 2 
Gulfstream Park – Hallandale Beach, Fla. 
12th race – Honey Fox Stakes (G2) 
#2 Celestine (morning line odds, 8-1) 
The lesser regarded of the two Bill Mott trainees, this gal should offer a square price. She pressed into a sizzling hot pace in the Sand Springs last out, led at the top of the stretch and still held on well to be third. She’s well drawn inside and may have a tactical advantage here. 
Race 14 - #4 Nyquist (morning line, odds 6-5) 
In this epic battle with Mohaymen, I think this battle-hardened soldier comes out on top. He has the speed to put himself in position early, he knows to win and with a $1 million bonus on the line, it simply means more to him.
NYQUIST

Photo by Eclipse Sportswire
Turfway Park – Florence, Ky. 
Race 8 –Rushaway Stakes 
#4 Scholar Athlete (morning line odds, 7-2) 
A fast-closing third in his seasonal debut, this progressive son of Einstein got caught pressing a fast pace last out in the Palm Beach. He ran sixth that day, but was beaten less than two lengths. He’s proven on synthetics and is on edge for the best run of his career. 
Race 9 –Bourbonette Oaks (G3) 
#5 Dorodansa (morning line odds, 5-1) 
A deceivingly good third in the Martha Washington two back at Oaklawn, this intriguing daughter of Bellamy Road failed to pick her feet up in the slop last time out. She posted a solid work since, and the bottom side of the pedigree hints at a potential affinity for the Polytrack. 
Pro Hoops – by Joe Kristufek 
During the heat of the playoff race, teams either rise to the occasion or they don’t.
Last Friday, Detroit and Houston, both battling for their post season lives, won and covered, but Miami pushed. We also did well on the totals, with the Rockets game going over, the Heat staying under and the Pistons landing right on the number.
Last week: 4-0-2
Season Total: 18-17-3 (.543) 
Friday, April 1 
Miami Heat at Sacramento Kings
Coming off an embarrassing overtime loss to the lowly and drama-filled Lakers earlier in the week, the previously red-hot Heat have had some time to simmer. In a three-way battle for the all-important third seed in the East, Miami will come out focused against a unreliable Kings squad. They’ve won three of their last four but tend to have a tough time against defensive-minded teams like Miami. 
Miami Heat 107
at Sacramento Kings 100 
Philadelphia 76ers at Charlotte Hornets
Charlotte has been one of the NBA’s hottest teams since the all-star break. They just beat the 76ers by 15 points in Philadelphia and now they return home following a four-game road trip. They’re battling with Boston and Miami for the three seed in the East and the team, and their fans are hungry. I don’t expect them to take their foot off the gas pedal here.
Charlotte Hornets 110
vs. Philadelphia 76ers 93
CHARLOTTE'S KEMBA WALKER

By bwjcaptures (Flickr: bobnets (9 of 58)) [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Dallas Mavericks at Detroit Pistons 
By winning six of their last seven, the Pistons have put some separation between themselves and the Pacers and Bulls at the bottom of the Eastern Conference playoff race. Losers of five of their last six prior to winning consecutive games, the Mavericks are fighting for their playoff lives. They’re not a very good team, but what they do have is pride. Detroit is feeling a little too good about themselves and Dallas just might clamp down the defense and provide a dose of reality. I like the under play a lot here. 
Dallas Mavericks 99
at Detroit Pistons 95