The Men’s Final Four is set with NC State, Purdue, UConn, and Alabama. When considering the stories behind how these teams made it, we can’t help but ask, “How can that be?”…and all for different reasons.
NC State
It’s hard to believe that NC State finished the regular season losing four straight, and were the 10th ranked team in the ACC Tournament, but won five straight to win the ACC Tournament, beating UNC and Duke along the way.
Then as an 11th seed in the NCAA Tournament, they won four straight including beating Marquette and Duke, and becoming only the sixth No. 11 seed to make a Final Four. Are you kidding me? How can that be?
Purdue
As for the story of their opponent for this Saturday, it doesn’t make sense that this similar Zach Edey-led Purdue team was also a number 1 seed in last year’s tournament, yet they lost to 16th-seeded Fairleigh Dickinson in the first round.
Are you serious that, Purdue came back this year, overcame the pain of that loss, learned from their mistakes, and is now in the Final Four? How can that be? It’s too good to be true!
Alabama
Try wrapping your mind around this story, too. Alabama was the number one overall seed in last year’s NCAA Tournament, and despite being led by Brandon Miller who ended up being drafted 2nd overall by the Hornets, they were bounced early in the Sweet 16 to San Diego State.
This season, without Brandon Miller, they go to the Final Four in part, thanks to key contributions from a transfer from North Dakota State, Grant Nelson. Really? What? How can that be?
UConn
Then there is UConn, the reigning NCAA Champions who find themselves back in the Final Four. It’s not as shocking since some of their key players returned, but they did lose three players to the NBA. The part that’s hard to comprehend is how UConn continues to dominate their opponent.
This past Saturday, they went on a 30-0 run in the middle of their 77-52 blowout win over Illinois. Are you serious? How is that possible in the Elite 8?
UConn also became the first team to win ten straight games by double digits in the NCAA tournament, when you factor in last year’s games. How can that be? It’s hard to believe, but it’s true!
Final Four
The stories behind this year’s Final Four teams are hard to grasp because what they’ve done to get to this point has included the unexpected, the unexplainable, and the unbelievable.
As hard as it was to imagine this would be the Final Four, that’s the reality.
We don’t have to fully understand how or explain why it turned out to be these teams, to embrace how amazing it is. We can’t deny that they belong here because it doesn’t make sense to us or it’s not what we thought should happen based on our reasoning or logic.
Truthfully, this is what happens in basketball and why we remain in awe of this wonderful tournament. We get to enjoy and celebrate with gratitude this year’s unexplainable Final Four.
The Story of Jesus
When considering the story of Jesus and His life, death, and resurrection, a similar reaction happens as we ask “How can that be?”
In thinking about Jesus living a perfect life, predicting His death, and willingly sticking to God’s plan of redemption which required Him to die, then come back to life and make a way for us to be given eternal life through faith in Him, we ask, are you kidding me? Really? What?
Try wrapping your mind around this, too. Despite our sins and rebellion toward God, the Creator of the universe loved us so much that He sent His one and only Son to die on our behalf to pay the punishment of our sins and give us the free gift of salvation.
Does that mean He’s willing to even save a sinner like you and me? How can that be? It’s hard to believe, but it’s true!
It’s hard to grasp the depth of God’s love for us and the immense amount of grace and mercy He shows us, but even though it can be hard to comprehend at times, this is the truth.
The story of the Bible and God’s redemptive plan through Jesus might seem unexpected, unexplainable, and unbelievable, but it points to how big and powerful He is.
Romans 11:33-34 (AMP) says, “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and decisions and how unfathomable and untraceable are His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been His counselor?”
We don’t have to fully understand everything or explain why God’s plan is what it is to embrace how amazing it is and understand that Jesus is real.
We can’t deny that we belong in God’s family or that the story of Jesus isn’t true because it doesn’t make complete sense to us or it’s not what we thought should happen based on our reasoning or logic.
The fact that it’s so unbelievable and remarkable is why we put our faith in and remain in humble awe of our wonderful Lord and Savior. We get to enjoy Him and celebrate with gratitude the story of Jesus and how we get to be included in it both now and forever.
1 John 5:20 (NLT) tells us, “And we know that the Son of God has come, and He has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and He is eternal life.”
I’m Bryce Johnson, and you can UNPACK that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for opening my eyes to see You and know You. I trust in the truth of Your Word and I place my faith in Jesus. Even though I can’t explain all of Your ways and the story of Jesus is so unfathomable, I know it’s true. Thank you for Your love and Your grace. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
