COMMENTARY | The Final Four is set to play out on Saturday, and while there are no true underdogs, only big seed schools lined up to play, America will still be cheering for the most heart-wrenching story and it doesn't involve Kentucky. No, there is not a dream team story like VCU last year, but one team shares a story of loss and determination.
Final Four teams
March Madness has come down to the Final Four: Kentucky, Kansas, Louisville, and Ohio State. One-seed Kentucky is a strong favorite to win the tournament with Ohio State being picked as the championship opponent, but Kansas and Louisville are far from inexperienced when it comes to winning big games. Throughout the tourney, Kansas has had some close matchups, but has found a way to win tight games. One explanation could be the heart-breaking story of one of the team's players, and also the reason people are rooting for them to take it all.
Tragic story gets America's cheers
Since the Final Four teams are all big name teams, America has found its underdog story in a Kansas player, Thomas Robinson. When he was only a sophomore player with a young sister, he lost his grandpa, grandma, and mom within weeks of each other. They were his only family since she was a single mom. Since then, Robinson has played with the intention of being able to care for his sister in the future by playing in the NBA. He has put every ounce of determination into his game catching the eye of NFL scouts and gaining the utmost respect from his own coach, Bill Self. As a junior this year, he has been named Big 12 Player of the Year and has led his team to the Final Four. Robinson is also expected to go the NBA as a top pick where he will be able to care for his younger sister, Jayla.
With a team so dedicated to taking care of each other in addition to winning, it would be hard not to cheer them on to the championship game. Although my Oklahoma Sooners didn't make it to the Final Four, I will have plenty to cheer for in the Kansas Jayhawks and Thomas Robinson.