gpikeNCAA tournament thoughts
March 28th 2011 03:16
VCU became the third 11th-seed to make the final four. They join fellow Colonial division rival George Mason from 2006, and LSU who advanced in 1986.
The semifinal between Butler and VCU is the largest seeded matchup of NCAA tournament history since 1979 when the tourney expanded to this form of seeding. Butler is an eighth-seed, and VCU equal 19, this betters George Mason and Florida who equaled 14 in 2006.
Butler is 9-1 in their last 10 games in the NCAA tournament. The only loss came to Duke in the final last year. It is very hard to pick against this team as they never seem to quit.
The Big East got one team in the final four, their conference tournament champion, Connecticut. The Huskies lead by Kemba Walker continue to impress, though they escaped by the slimmest of margins against Arizona. The Wildcats went for the kill instead of an overtime, attempting two three-pointers in the final seconds.
Kentucky coach John Calipari might be the best coach in men's college basketball. He continues to put together great recruiting classes and plug these new guys in, resulting in wins. Brandon Knight, Doron Lamb, and Terrance Jones are the latest in the line of freshman stars. Josh Harrelson has come out of nowhere and become a solid front-line player to take over the forward/center position.
When will a bigger name school sign Butler's Brad Stevens or VCU's Shaka Smart. Tennessee signed Missouri State's Cuonzo Martin to be the new head coach for the departed Bruce Pearl. Richmond locked up Chris Mooney for ten more years, keeping him off the market. Now Stevens, and Smart emerge as great, young coaches who have their teams on the brink of the NCAA tournament final. Both love the school they are coaching at, but if a new challenge comes calling? Who knows, one may leave. Stevens is under contract through 2022, so he won't likely leave. Butler was smart in locking him up. Smart is under contract for one more year, leaving him a prime candiate for a new job. Miami is looking for a coach. Don't be surprised if Smart leaves.
Is Sunday's game the last we will see of Harrison Barnes at North Carolina? Will Derrick Williams leave Arizona? Both are expected to be top-five picks in the NBA draft. Though Jared Sullinger vowed to come back for next year with Ohio State. Both Barnes and Williams will make themselves elgible for the draft. Though it would be nice to see at least one of them return to school, especially since the NBA is likely heading to a lockout.
Connecticut's Walker is making everyone else on the team better. Young guys like Alex Oriaki, and Jeremy Lamb better. Walker is just a junior, and he is projected to not even be a lottery pick. Coach Jim Calhoun has a great team coming back next year, thanks to Walker. Here's to hope, him and Butler's Shelvin Mack both return for their senior campaigns.
The semifinal between Butler and VCU is the largest seeded matchup of NCAA tournament history since 1979 when the tourney expanded to this form of seeding. Butler is an eighth-seed, and VCU equal 19, this betters George Mason and Florida who equaled 14 in 2006.
Butler is 9-1 in their last 10 games in the NCAA tournament. The only loss came to Duke in the final last year. It is very hard to pick against this team as they never seem to quit.
The Big East got one team in the final four, their conference tournament champion, Connecticut. The Huskies lead by Kemba Walker continue to impress, though they escaped by the slimmest of margins against Arizona. The Wildcats went for the kill instead of an overtime, attempting two three-pointers in the final seconds.
Kentucky coach John Calipari might be the best coach in men's college basketball. He continues to put together great recruiting classes and plug these new guys in, resulting in wins. Brandon Knight, Doron Lamb, and Terrance Jones are the latest in the line of freshman stars. Josh Harrelson has come out of nowhere and become a solid front-line player to take over the forward/center position.
When will a bigger name school sign Butler's Brad Stevens or VCU's Shaka Smart. Tennessee signed Missouri State's Cuonzo Martin to be the new head coach for the departed Bruce Pearl. Richmond locked up Chris Mooney for ten more years, keeping him off the market. Now Stevens, and Smart emerge as great, young coaches who have their teams on the brink of the NCAA tournament final. Both love the school they are coaching at, but if a new challenge comes calling? Who knows, one may leave. Stevens is under contract through 2022, so he won't likely leave. Butler was smart in locking him up. Smart is under contract for one more year, leaving him a prime candiate for a new job. Miami is looking for a coach. Don't be surprised if Smart leaves.
Is Sunday's game the last we will see of Harrison Barnes at North Carolina? Will Derrick Williams leave Arizona? Both are expected to be top-five picks in the NBA draft. Though Jared Sullinger vowed to come back for next year with Ohio State. Both Barnes and Williams will make themselves elgible for the draft. Though it would be nice to see at least one of them return to school, especially since the NBA is likely heading to a lockout.
Connecticut's Walker is making everyone else on the team better. Young guys like Alex Oriaki, and Jeremy Lamb better. Walker is just a junior, and he is projected to not even be a lottery pick. Coach Jim Calhoun has a great team coming back next year, thanks to Walker. Here's to hope, him and Butler's Shelvin Mack both return for their senior campaigns.
Shaka Smart the hottest name on the coaching market after VCU's run
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