Villanova 78, Pitt 76: A battle between Big East turned out just how most expected it too - a slugfest. Villanova landed the first punch, jumping out to a quick 18-8 lead. But as you would expect from this Panther squad, they were not going to go away. They went on an 8-0 run, sparked by a Fields triple and capped by a Blair three-point play, which cut the lead to 22-20. Villanova would cling to a one possession lead for a while, but another three by Fields, this one a tough step-back J, tied the game up at 30. Sam Young hit a pair from the charity stripe with 4 seconds left in the half to give Pitt a 34-32 lead heading into the break.
The second half was much of the same, with the teams trading the lead several times. eventually, Pitt would take a 67-63 lead with 3:26 left on the clock. But Villanova would respond. Dwayne Anderson and Corey Fisher would score 10 of Villanva's point during an 13-5 run which opened up a 76-72 lead after a Reggie Redding free throw with 20 seconds left. Words wouldn't do the last 20 seconds justice, so just watch the ending (the video clip starts with 46.9 seconds left, but its worth it):
Honorable Mentions
Siena 74, Ohio State 72 2OT: Great endings to regulation and both overtimes.
Wisconsin 61, Florida State 59 OT: Trevon Hughes finishes a three-point play with 2.0 left in OT to advance Wisconsin.
Continue reading...
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
2009 NCAA Tournament - Best Ending |
North Carolina was the real "team of destiny" |
There may not be a better coach in the country at breaking down a team's weaknesses than Tom Izzo. The guy has an unbelievable ability to put together a game plan that will maximize the Spartan's strength and his opponent's weaknesses.
Against Louisville, the Spartans played a slower game, focusing on tough defense and limiting turnovers and bad shots, because Izzo knew that the key for Louisville was getting into their press after a score. The result? Louisville scored 13 points in a 15 minute second half stretch.
Against UConn, Izzo had the Spartans going up and down the floor, knowing that forcing the Huskies to play a transition game would minimize the Thabeet effect. It worked, as the big fella had just six boards and two blocks.
But Izzo came up blank against the Heels.
Why was that?
Because UNC did not have a weakness this year. Not one.
The Heels celebrate their title.
(photo credit: Getty Images)
They have the best point guard in the country. Their shooting guard and their power forward are both in the top three at their position. Their small forward is going to be picked in June's draft. Their center is going to average a double-double as the focal point of the offense next year. Their first guard off the bench is the ultimate glue guy, while their first big off the bench would start for just about any other team in the country.
But talent can only get you so far if your team does not play well in its system (see UConn circa 2006).
That's the thing. UNC's players were perfectly suited to their secondary break offense. In a nutshell, this is how the UNC break works (my college squad actually ran the same system). Make or miss, your are looking for three guys to get out and run the floor - your two wings players to get out wide and sprint to each corner, and one of your big guys (whoever does not get the rebound or take the ball out of bounds) to sprint to the block. You look for your point guard to take an outlet pass and push the ball up the floor, trying to hit an open wing as early as possible.
If nothing is there on the initial push, the Heels look to swing the ball around the perimeter in what is called a four-out, one-in set (the big that threw the outlet trails the play and is the fourth). This is what is known as the secondary break, and is what makes UNC so dangerous. The theory behind the secondary break is that, by pushing the ball up the floor, you catch the defense out of sync and not set. Maybe Hansbrough beat his man down the floor and has a seal on a guard under the rim. Maybe the defense forgot to locate Danny Green, and he is left open for a three. Maybe the opposing point guard is retreating and off balance, which allows Lawson to get into the lane. It goes on and on.
Ty Lawson finds Tyler Hansbrough for a lay-up in the second half.
(photo credit: Getty Images)
Think about that. UNC's offense is essentially designed to beat the defense down the floor, and then take advantage of mismatches on the offensive end. When you have seven guys on your team with a legitimate chance to be an NBA draft pick, exploiting mismatches becomes pretty easy.
Yes, the Heels offense has been phenomenal from day one. No one can argue that. But the knock on UNC throughout the season was that they didn't defend. They gave up penetration too easily, especially to high-scoring lead guards.
But what once was a weakness for this team became a strength down the stretch.
Take a look at their last three games. Oklahoma was 2-19 from three, Villanova was 5-27, and Michigan State was 7-23.
Why did they struggle so much from three? The casual observer would say that it was because these three teams forced shots from the perimeter. Which is true.
The reason, however, that they had to force so many tough threes was a direct result of the Tar Heel defense. As I said before, what was once a weakness had become a strength for this team. No one was able to get penetration against UNC during the NCAA tournament. Not Willie Warren. Not Scottie Reynolds or Corey Fisher. And not Kalin Lucas.
Ty Lawson's eight steals contributed to the six turnovers committed by Kalin Lucas.
(photo credit: Julian H. Gonzalez/Detroit Free Press)
Those are three very talented basketball players that I just mentioned. Their lines against UNC?
Not exactly what you would expect from those three guys.
For the game, UNC forced 21 turnovers and scored 25 points off of them. And more than anything, that was the difference in this game. UNC jumped out to a 55-34 lead at halftime, scoring 17 points off of 13 Spartan turnovers. Yes, UNC's break was vicious last night, but would it have been anywhere near as effective if they Heels hadn't forced those 13 turnovers?
(Hint: the answer's no.)
I am 24 years old. I have been a huge college basketball fan as long as I can remember. But as much basketball as I watched growing up, I couldn't tell you too much about the teams that played before this decade. I think it would be safe to say that my first real memory of college basketball, one where I was cognizant of what was happening beyond a nice dunk or a big three, was the game between Duke and UConn in the 1999 title game.
I never saw Ewing's Georgetown teams play or any of Wooden's UCLA teams. I was in kindergarten when UNLV was running rebellious all over the country, and in first grade when Duke usurped the throne. I fully admit that I have a limited firsthand knowledge of college basketball's historically great teams.
But in my short time as an avid college hoops follower, this UNC team that played in the NCAA tournament is the best team I have ever seen play. They are unstoppable offensively, punching you in the mouth with an early run, then taking the air out of the ball and executing you to death in the second half. They have talent at every position on the floor. As many as seven guys from this team could end up being drafted. And to end the year, they started playing some of the best perimeter defense in the country.
Izzo said it best. Before the title game, Izzo was quoted as saying "If we play good and they play good, we're losing." What happened? UNC played a perfect first half, taking a 55-34 lead, and erasing any doubt as to who would win the title 10 minutes into the game.
Yeah, I know. Michigan State was playing in Detroit, trying to shine a light on a downtrodden city and its suffering inhabitants.
But this UNC team returned for guys that would have been picked in the 2008 NBA Draft. Why? Because they wanted this national title.
The Heels were last night's real team of destiny.
Continue reading...
Is Tyler Hansbrough the best college basketball player of the last 20 years? |
Has there ever been a more decorated college hooper? Four time all-american, and a three-time consensus first-teamer. He won a national player of the year award. He is the ACC's all-time leading scorer. He is college basketball's most prolific free throw shooter, ever. He is the first guy to lead his team in scoring and rebounding for four seasons in ACC history. Conference player of the year. All-ACC teams. The list goes on.
But now, it is complete.
With the win last night, Hansbrough silenced his doubters that said his legacy was not complete without a title. 
Hansbrough celebrates his national title.
(photo credit: Detroit Free Press)
So now his legacy is complete. But what, exactly, is that legacy?
For the last few years, Hansbrough has been one of the most hated players in all the game, right up there at JJ Redick and Christian Laettner's level. He got all the foul calls, but was never called for a travel. He played too hard, but he didn't show enough emotion. He'll never make it as a pro, but he was dumb to come back for his senior season. He put up great numbers, but he wasn't as good as everyone says he is.
But doesn't being the best and being hated go hand-in hand? How many people love Kobe Bryant that don't wear purple and gold?
And let's face it, over the last four season, Hansbrough has been the best. Sure, Michael Beasley and Kevin Durant had great seasons, but I challenge you to name me one player that even nears Hansbrough level of play over this four year period.
So if he is the best over the last four years, how does that stack up with the players of the last 20? How do you determine "the greatest college basketball player?"
I see three criterion. First off, you have to have played at least three, preferably four, years in school. Part of what makes college athletes so amazing is that they are able to perform at a high level in the classroom as well as on the court/field/pool/etc. Carmelo Anthony taking one semester's worth of classes while leading Syracuse to a national title should not get him put into consideration.
The second is that you have to have won something. Conference crowns, made a Final Four, the Preseason NIT. Something. You cannot be the greatest even without having won anything.
The third, and maybe the most important is that you have to be remembered for what you did in college. Tim Duncan played four years at Wake Forest, leading them to a couple very successful years. Many people put him in the conversation as greatest college basketball player. But how many people can tell you, off the top of their head, where Tim Duncan went to college. Then think about how many can tell you where Laettner went to school.
Hansbrough passes all of these with flying colors. He passed on the NBA Draft three times, even though he probably hurt his draft stock in the process. He has won numerous ACC titles, reached two Final Fours, and now has won a national title. And I challenge you to find a single (knowledgeable) person that thinks Hansbrough can ever come close to duplicating his collegiate success in the league.
So was Hansbrough better than Laettner? There is no easy answer to that question, and odds are your choice probably centers more around the shade of blue you wear than on any factual evidence.
I will say this. I won't remember Hansbrough for his exploits on the court. I won't remember him for winning this title. I won't remember him for the ridiculous dances he did to celebrate.
Tyler Hansbrough seconds after the clock ran out last night.
(photo credit: AP)
What I will remember him for is putting team first. Think about this - Hansbrough, as good as he was, was not the MVP for this UNC team. He was not the focal point of what the Heels wanted to do offensively, and while he did average over 20 ppg, he was not the go-to player for this team.
That distinction would go to Ty Lawson. Hansbrough was in and out of the line-up during the season's first seven games, sitting out four of them and playing limited minutes during the other three. UNC's record: 7-0. Ty Lawson sat out two games during the ACC Tournament. UNC's record: 1-1.
This was best exemplified during the Elite 8 games against Oklahoma. Hansbrough was going to have a chance to go up against the guy that took his national player of the year title in Blake Griffin. Most players would salivate at the opportunity to make a statement in a match-up like this.
Not Hansbrough.
He finished with just 8 points and 6 boards, spending much of the game as a decoy (four field goal attempts) and a defender. Griffin? He went for 23 points, 16 boards, and a couple thunderous dunks, solidifying his standing as 2009 POY.
Hansbrough lost their 1-on-1 battle, but he won the war as the Tar Heels advanced to the Final Four with a 72-60 win.
And that was perfectly fine with Hansbrough. Why? Because he was all about UNC, all about his team, and all about winning.
That is how I will remember Hansbrough.
Continue reading...
4/7 - Some Links, Some News |
A number of players of declared, or strongly hinted that they will declare, for the NBA Draft in recent days. For a full list of the players that have declared their intentions, click here.
- It's official. Blake Griffin is going pro. Who saw this coming?
- Pitt's DeJuan Blair will be putting his name into the NBA Draft. The sophomore forward was the co-Big East player of the year after averaging 15.7 ppg and 12.3 rpg. It is probably a good time for him to head out. Both Sam Young and Levance Fields are graduating, which makes it seem fairly unlikely that Pitt will duplicate their success from this season. Blair would also probably end up being the focal point for opposing defenses, which could severely decrease his production. Blair is probably a mid-to-late first rounder this year.
- Earl Clark looks like he will be taking his game to the next level, and the junior forward is also expected to sign with an agent. Tough loss for Louisville, who will also lose Terrence Williams to graduation. Without those two, the Cards are left without a playmaker on their roster.
- Yesterday, we wrote about Sean Miller taking the Arizona job, and how there was a chance he could be at a severe disadvantage with some of his players heading to the draft early. That exodus has begun, as Chase Budinger will be putting his name into the draft, and he is gone for good as this is his second time declaring. Budinger is an excellent athlete and an excellent scorer. Expect him to be taken near the back end of the lottery.
- Jodie Meeks, the prolific junior scoring guard from Kentucky, will enter his name into the NBA Draft. Meeks, who is not expected to sign with an agent, is projected as second rounder. With Calipari coming to Kentucky, I see Meeks going through the draft process before withdrawing his name from the draft.
- Along those same lines, South Carolina junior Devan Downey will be testing the NBA Draft waters. He is not signing with an agent, as he probably would not end up getting drafted. Tyler Smith, a junior forward for Tennessee, is also expected to declare, and he won't sign wiht an agent either. Chad Ford is reporting that Greivis Vasquez is going to test the waters, but I cannot find it anywhere else.
- Ed Davis, UNC's freshman center, will "definitely" be returning to school. So will Clemson's Trevor Booker.
- The rosters for the Portsmouth Invitational have been announced, and there is a ton of talent at this year's event. One of the reasons is that the NBA pre-draft has dramatically scaled back their event, and this will be the only place that these seniors can get scouted playing five-on-five basketball.
Marcus Jordan to UCF |
Marcus Jordan, the younger son of that guy that used to play for the Bulls, has decided on where he will be attending college. After being offered a scholarship by schools like Miami, Iowa, Butler, and Stanford, Jordan has committed to Central Florida.
(photo credit: MLive.com)It is an interesting decision. For starters, he had a chance to play at a bigger school. But I'm guessing the decision to go to a school like UCF is a desire for playing time - his brother Jeffrey didn't earn a scholly at Illinois until his sophomore season, and still sees very limited minutes as a defensive stopper. Continue reading...
One Shining Moment 2009 |
Might be my favorite part of the tournament. For those of you that missed it last night.
Continue reading...
Monday, April 6, 2009
Title Game Live-Blog |
Yup, it is here. The national title game. And once again, BIAH will be in attendance.
One of the most interesting things about today has been how quiet the city has felt. The last two days, there were people everywhere, decked out in Green and different shades of blue. But today, nothing. I'm sure a lot of it had to do with the dismal weather outside, but you would think that a city whose team is about to win a title would be a little bit more enthused.
As I wrote that, the sun has begun to peek through the clouds and a group of four guys wearing Go Green shirts walked by outside my hotel. Through the glass, I could hear them chanting "Go Green, Go White".
Maybe I spoke too soon.
One thing that can't be stressed enough is that this is the perfect storm, so to speak, of title game storylines. You have Michigan State, the team that has been slept on all season. The "little guys", playing for a city and a state that the economy has left in a heap and who have already beaten Big East beasts Louisville and UConn, will be taking on the best team - the most talented team - in the country in UNC. Add to that that the game is going to be played in Detroit in front of 72,000 fans (probably 50,000 of which will be wearing green), and you get one of the most intruiging finals in recent memory.
Did I mention that they have already played this season, with the juggernaut beating the underdog by 35?
As always, follow along after the jump.
- The last six minutes of this game has had absolutely no pace and has been extremely boring to watch, especially since the game has not been in doubt. Let's get this over with.
Izzo is now emptying his bench. Congratulation Tar Heels.
- You cannot stop Ty Lawson. You just can't. Twice tonight he has split two defenders with a behind the back dribble. One ended in a lay-up, and the other ended with a gorgeous no-look pass through traffic to Hansbrough for a lay-up. As good as T is, the difference tonight (all season long as well) has been Lawson.
- State fans are already filing out. Too soon, as they have the lead down to 15 points. UNC needs to stop putting the Spartans on the line.
- UNC might have just put the seal in this game. They have pushed the lead back to 19 points with under eight minutes left.
Do they show One Shining Moment here?
- MSU has gotten it down to 16. The biggest reason is that they are finally attacking offensively, especially in transition. They have reallĂ started to get out and run the floor.
- Lawson has set the record for steals in a title game tonight with eight.
- MSU is trying to make a run, but another steal on an outlet pass puts a damper on that push. MSU hasn't been closer than 18 in a very long time.
- More important than the score, more important than UNC's shooting percentage, the biggest stat of this game is that MSU has 14 turnovers. When a team puts up 55 points in a half on you, you can't waste possessions like that.
- So far tonight they have honored Magic, Bird, Stockton, David Robinson, and Jordan at center court. Imagine having those five on a team.
- UNC is just better than Michigan State. They don't have a weakness. There is nothing for Izzo to exploit. For example, against UConn Izzo could make it a fast paced game, and take out the Thabeet effect. With the Heels, you can't do that.
- 55 points is a record for points in a half in a title game.
- MSU is starting to heat up offensively, but they need to start getting stops. Everytime they cut it to 18, UNC answers with a bucket.
- Here is what UNC does. They get a lead on you by pushing the ball and getting points in transition. When they build up the lead, they then start to slow it down a bit. But their half court offense is so efficient that they can score just about every time they have the ball. There is nothing more demoralizing than playing 25 seconds of good defense before giving up a bucket.
- MSU has finally woken up a bit, as Lucas is getting more aggressive. But it is too little too late. They were down 23 when they woke up.
- MSU needs to take better shots on the offensive end. They are forcing so many tough threes. Lucas has been an complete non factor. I don't think he has even shots.
- UNC's MO of late has been to jump out big leads early. They have done it again, getting up 13 at the under 12 timeout. Sparty needs to start slowing down Lawson, which is proving impossible. A good analogy for Lawson's style is that he is a north-south running back. He doesn't dance around, he doesn't play with the ball by crossing over and putting it between his legs a bunch. When he sees space, he attacks it. And since he is so quick, defenders cannot stay in front of him.
- The weirdest part of this game is that the rim is micced up to the PA system in Ford Field. So loud too.
- Two straight possessions where UNC fouls a jump shooter. They may be up 24-8, but don't do the Spartans any favors. You don't want them to get hot.
- UNC is so good offensively. I hope everyone out there can appreciate how good this team is. They are absolutely incredible too watch. 17 points in 4:36? That's 70 points in a half pace. Watch how well this team moves the ball around. Every pass they throw is the right pass, and it is always on the money. When they swing the ball, they just zip it around the perimeter.
I could wax poetic all day, but I'll spare you for now.
- Three possessions for UNC, three baskets on tough shots. Not a good sign for MSU. The Spartans are already falling into a trap of forcing it offensively.
- Is anyone surprised that Hansbrough hit the floor 3 seconds in?
- And here we go. The atmosphere in here is incredible.
- It is so loud in here that you cannot here Jim Nantz finish the names of the players due to cheering (for State) and/or booing (for UNC).
- Here is the difference between Jay Bilas and Dick Vitale: during pre-game warm-ups, Vitale was out shaking hands and joking around with some fans. Bilas? He was intently watching the lay-up lines, trying to get any piece of information he could.
- Memphis has just announced that they have promoted Josh Pastner to head coach.
Continue reading...
4/6 - Some Links, Some News |
- The guys over at RTC compiled a great list of columns previewing the game tonight.
- From the Hartford Courant:
"I'm coming back next year," Robinson said. "And I will be on scholarship again. ... Right now I'm taking classes I withdrew from. I'm going great in my class 93 and 81 so far."- If this turns out to be true, MJ's kid in an idiot (side note: we saw MJ himself at Cheli's last night, which is Chris Chelios's bar in Detroit). Continue reading...
UConn will need Robinson next season and keeping him eligible is paramount. Part of me believed Sticks would turn pro after this season. That would have meant he'd post zero grades during a 16-month period in which he played more than 40 games. While it evidently would have broken no rules, it sure would have made the notion of student-athleticism a sad joke.
Sean Miller to Arizona - its official. But why was it so hard for Arizona to find a coach? |
(UPDATE: Memphis has promoted former assistant Josh Pastner to head coach. If the name sounds familiar, it should. He was the guy that Arizona wanted to be the interim coach this season.)
Last night, the talk of the town was that another high-profile coach had turned down the Arizona coaching gig. Sean Miller of Xavier had told Jim Livengood that he did not what to take the job, but around noon today, he informed Xavier that he would, in fact, be leaving Xavier.
This raises a bigger question. Why was it so hard for Arizona (and still is hard for Memphis - they were just spurned by Baylor's Scott Drew) to find a new coach?
Let's face it. The Wildcats have been a top 10 program in the country the last 25 or so years. It is a basketball school with great fans and an administration dedicated to winning.
But the issue lies in who will be replaced. Lute Olson is a living legend. While I have knocked his coaching ability at times (I wrote something along the lines of "rolling the ball out and letting five Mickey D's play does not a Bobby Knight make"), there is no mistaking that the guy put Arizona on the map as a basketball institution. It is so tough to replace a legend (see Mike Davis at Indiana or Matt Doherty/Bill Gutheridge at UNC) at a school with a basketball tradition.
It makes it even more difficult when that team is going to have to be built from scratch. Memphis loses Tyreke Evans, Shawn Taggart, Robert Dozier, and basically their entire recruiting class. Arizona will more than likely lose all or part of their trio Chase Budinger, Nic Wise, and Jordan Hill. You combine what is left at these two schools, and I doubt that team makes the tournament.
With the expectations and the pressures that will come at both of these schools, would you want to be the guy expected to rebuild the program from the ground up?
I don't think I would.
Continue reading...
Title Game Preview |
After nearly six months and more than 10,000 games, we are finally here.
Doesn't October 17th seem so long ago?
The weather in Detroit is, well, disgusting (35 degrees and snowing? Great place for the Final Four), but it hasn't stopped Sparty nation from being out in full force. I've never seen so much of one color in one place in my life.
It should be a fantastic game tonight. Obviously, everyone is expecting the Spartans to put up a bit more of a fight than they did earlier this season, when the Heels smacked the Spartans by 35 at Ford Field.
There were two factors in that game that will be much different tonight. For starters, Goran Suton will be in the line-up (he was out for the start of the season with knee issues). But what may have been a bigger factor was that the Spartans were playing their fourth game in seven days - they had just gotten back from the Old Spice Classic in Orlando. Tired legs and an up-and-down game are not a good combination.
The key tonight for MSU is Kalin Lucas. As good as UNC is, the one thing that they struggle against is a dynamic scoring guard. Tyrese Rice had 25 points and 8 assists when BC beat the Heels; Jeff Teague went for 34 in Wake's win. Even Marcus Thornton had 25 in LSU's second round loss to the Heels.
Lucas is not as good of a scorer as any of those three guys, but he certainly has the ability to go for 25. What may be more important than simply catching fire from the floor tonight will be Lucas's leadership. MSU can run the floor. They proved that against UConn. But they need to avoid getting into an all-out foot race against the Heels, because there is not a team in the country that can out run UNC.
So what does Sparty need from Lucas?
They need him to run the team and to be a great decision maker. If you have numbers, get out and lead the break. If there are no numbers or UNC is able to get back on D, pull the ball out and run a set. I know, it is a bit contradictory, but Lucas needs to be an aggressive scorer tonight, but he also needs to be patient run this team.
Defensively, the Spartans must slow down Ty Lawson. He has been the best player in this tournament. It isn't just his ability to lead the break that makes him so effective. Against Villanova, Lawson was able to get into the lane at will (17 FT attempts). MSU will need to stay in front of him if they want to win (side note: I'm curious to see who Izzo puts on Lawson. He had Walton defending AJ Price in the semi's, but Craig Austrie and Kemba Walker have no where near the ability of Wayne Ellington. I think you put Walton on Lawson, and take your chances with Lucas defending Ellington).
Michigan State actually matches up very well with UNC. They are more athletic, especially along the front line, where they have enough big bodies to rotate through and be physical with the Heels front line. For all that has been said about the Heels depth this season, the Spartans are deeper and have more talent coming off of their bench.
The front line is going to be so important for MSU. Villanova was able to get 19 offensive rebounds against the Heels, something the Spartans bigs are going to have to do well. Part of the reason that UNC jumped out to such a quick lead was that Nova was sending three and four guys to the offensive glass, and were then unable to get back on defense. They got to the offensive glass, but part of the reason they were able to was that UNC's guys were starting to leak out. So while the Wildcats got some second chance points, they also gave up a number of fast break baskets to the Heels.
Michigan State needs to get some offensive boards from their bigs, because they can not afford to send more than two or three guys to the offensive glass.
Many people had MSU as a Final Four pick in the preseason, before they were hit by the injury bug. A huge reason for that was because of Raymar Morgan, who is one of the best small forwards in the country ... when he is right. Against UConn, he was right, going for 18 points, 9 boards, and 5 steals. The Spartans need him to show up again tonight to win.
The bottom-line is this - UNC is the better team. They are a juggernaut, and are back to playing like they did early in the season, when people were saying that they were one of the greatest teams of all-time. At every position on the floor, UNC is more talented. If this were a seven game series, most people would probably be picking UNC in five.
But this isn't. The beauty of college basketball is that anyone can win on any given night. That is even more true with a guy like Tom Izzo running your team (anyone that watched a less-talented Spartan team dismantle UConn and Louisville in the second half will attest to that).
So what needs to happen for MSU to win? They need to slow down the Heels. Of Lawson, Ellington, Hansbrough, and Green, two of those four need to have an off-night. And the Spartans, specifically Lucas, need to be great.
It is not as far-fetched as it sounds, especially playing in front of what will probably be 65,000 State fans.
All that said, I just don't see UNC losing. My prediction: the Heels by 15.
Continue reading...
Sunday, April 5, 2009
James Johnson of Wake Forest enters the NBA Draft |
Wake Forest sophomore forward James Johnson will put his name into the draft, and more than likely will sign with an agent (he is 22 years old). This is not a terrible decision at all. Johnson has an NBA body, NBA athleticism, and the skill set that could make him an intriguing combo forward. He could even end up sneaking into the back end of the lottery.
The biggest question now becomes Wake Forest. Many expect that they are also going to lose Al-Farouq Aminu and Jeff Teague to the draft as well. If that were to happen, it could be a long season for Dino Gaudio and company in Winston-Salem.
Continue reading...
UNC's defense, not their offense, was the difference last night |
UNC's offense was as explosive as usual last night. They scored 26 points in the first 9 minutes and had 49 points in the first half.
But what got the Heels to the Final Four last night was their defense.
Villanova shot 32.9% from the field last night. They shot 18.5% (5-27) from deep. Think about that. This is a good shooting Wildcat team. This is a team that scored 77 points against Duke and 78 against Pitt.
And UNC completely shut them down offensively. Imagine what the Wildcats would have shot if they didn't grab 19 offensive rebounds and get countless lay-ups off of them?
The Heels did not do anything amazingly complicated against the Wildcats. They ran a bit of a token press early, and combined with the early lead the Heels jumped out too, Nova got into the mindset of push, push, push.
This defense forced Villanova to take quick, contested threes and force penetration. Think about this for a second. Villanova scored 69 points on the game, and took 79 shots. In comparison, UNC shot just 40% form the floor, but still scored 83 points on 62 shots.
How often do you see a team have more shots taken than points scored?
Rarely.
This same type of defense could be effective against Michigan State, another team that likes to run the floor. But UNC will have to tighten up on the defensive glass. They gave up 19 offensive boards to Villanova, who isn't a bad rebounding team. The Spartans, however, are one of the best rebounding teams in the country.
Continue reading...
Jim Calhoun: Thoroughly out coached by Tom Izzo |
In the past 11 seasons, Tom Izzo has been to 11 NCAA Tournaments, 5 Final Fours, and is now on the brink of winning what would be his second NCAA title in that span. There are not many coaches that can get more out of a player than Izzo gets out of the kids he coaches, and I challenge you to find someone that can put together a game-plan better than this guy.
He proved that again last night.
The difference in last night's game between the Spartans and the Huskies wasn't talent; most people would probably say UConn was the more talented team. It wasn't effort, because the Huskies left their hearts on the court.
It was effort. It was preparation. It was execution.
It was coaching.
(photo credit: Eric Gay/AP)I hate the term second-half team. I do not believe there to be such a thing as a "second-half" team. The players are not going to be any different. You are still the same squad playing the same opponent.
What makes a team a proverbial second-half team is that they are, in fact, a better team - they are able to execute offensively down the stretch while simultaneously getting stops on the defensive end.
What makes a team better able to execute and get stops?
Preparation by the coaching staff.
That is exactly what happened last night. Michigan State was able to get stops because they knew what UConn wanted to do on the offensive end, and they didn't let them do it. They were able to score because they knew what would be effective against the Husky defense.
UConn's offense revolves around the ability of AJ Price to get by his defender and into the paint, either to score or to find someone for a dunk. The Spartans countered by putting Travis Walton, who might be the best on-ball defender in the country, on him. The results? Price never got going until the game was already decided.
UConn's defense centers around their big fella in the middle. It works because Thabeet guard the other team's center and is thus able to protect the rim against all penetration. Since UConn's guards know this, they pressure ball-handlers, and force them to try and get all the way to the rim. Usually, this results is a ton of blocks and changed shots.
The Spartans key to battling Thabeet was that Goran Suton can knock down perimeter jumpers, which would have forced Thabeet to come away from the rim. But Thabeet didn't cover Suton. He was on Delvon Roe most of the game, while Adrien was the one that chased Suton around the perimeter. About midway through the second half, Izzo made a chance, playing Raymar Morgan as the four, which forced Thabeet to have to cover Suton. This opened up the paint for penetration, and UConn could not get big stops during the last 10 minutes of the game.
This also allowed Michigan State's transition game to flourish. They did a pretty good job of beating the Huskies down the floor with two bigs on the court, but with four perimeter players out there, the Huskies didn't stand a chance. It was this transition game that eventually did in the Huskies.
So while you laud the ability of Kalin Lucas, who scored 21 points; credit Raymar Morgan for battling through injuries and illnesses to go for 18 points and 9 boards; and drop your jaw at the athletic ability of Durrell Summers, remember this:
If it were not for Izzo's coaching, the Spartans may not have been in a situation where they could be this successful.
Continue reading...
Final Four Recap |
A bit anti-climactic last night as Michigan State made short work of the Huskies in the second half, and UNC kept Villanova from making it at all interesting with the exception of a two minute stretch to start the second half.
Michigan State 82, UConn 73: This was a back and forth game for much of the first 30 minutes. Neither team was really able to assert control over the game. But midway through the second half, MSU started to take over. As the crowd got behind them, the Spartans finally began to take advantage of four Huskies crashing the offensive glass, going on a quick 9-3 run to open up a 62-54 lead with 7:54 left.
All of the nine points in the run came on transition baskets, capped off by Kalin Lucas almost shaking Kemba Walker out of his shorts with an in-n-out dribble on a 1-on-2 break (40 second mark in the video, the huge Durrell Summers dunk is at the 50 second mark).
After a Suton three would stretch the lead to eleven, UConn was able to get as close as three with just a minute left, but Walker (who played as poorly as I have seen him play all season) fouled Summers, who finished a three point play, that all but sealed the game.
Lucas finished with 21 points for the Spartans, but the best player on the floor was Raymar Morgan. After struggling through much of the tournament, Morgan finally broke out, going for 18 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 steals in the upset win. He was the difference make, especially in the first half. Stanley Robinson spent the end of the first half and beginning of the second half on the bench with foul trouble, and Morgan was able to take advantage of being matched up with Craig Austrie on the block.
Also of note was how well the Spartans handled Thabeet inside. The big fella finished with 17 points, many of which came off of post moves, but he was 6-13 from the floor and finished with just 6 boards and 2 blocks. For the most part, MSU's ability to get up and down the floor essentially made Thabeet a non-factor on the defensive end.
(photo credit: Paul Sancya/AP)
Thabeet wasn't the only Husky the Spartans were able to keep in check. AJ Price finished with just 15 points on 5-20 shooting and had only 2 assists. Travis Walton, who also added 8 assists, was matched up with him just about the entire game, and UConn had no answer as neither Austrie or Walker could get it going.
The guy that did play great for UConn was Stanley Robinson. Playing in an uptempo game was perfectly suited to Robinson's athletic ability, and performed as such, finishing the game with 15 points, 13 boards, and 2 blocks.
UNC 83, Villanova 69: UNC jumped out to 19-8 and 26-12 leads which Villanova was never able to recover from. What is there is write about this Heels performance that hasn't been written all season long? They ran the floor, they hit open threes, they moved the ball well, and when nothing else worked, Ty Lawson was impossible to keep out of the lane.
It was such an impressive performance by the Heels, especially in the first half. Nova was able to make a stand in the second half, as the Heels took the air out of the ball down the stretch, but the Wildcats just could not get anything going on the offensive end.
The issue for Villanova was that they were unable to play at the Heels pace. Don't get me wrong, they were running with the Heels (which was not the way they wanted to play). But instead of running when they had numbers or when it was the right time, they were forcing everything. Corey Fisher and Scottie Reynolds got into the mind set that they needed to score every time they touched the ball, and ended up taking too many bad shots early in the possession. They combined for 30 points, but it was on 11-37 shooting from the floor.
Look at some of these stat lines from the Heels - Hansbrough had 18 points, 11 boards, and 4 steals; Ellington had 20 points, 9 boards, and 4 assists; and Lawson finished with 22 points, 7 boards, 8 assists, and 2 steals. The bottom line in this one was that UNC was just too talented for Villanova.
The guy that is not going to get any credit in this win is Bobby Frasor, but as I mentioned yesterday in the live-blog, Frasor played a fantastic game. He is such an undervalued piece of this team He played great defense on Fisher and Reynolds when he was in the game, I can think of three instances off the top of my head where he quickly swung the ball on the perimeter to yield an open three or a lay-up on the next pass, and he made a number of great hustle plays (he finished with 5 offensive boards). You can have all the talent you can handle on a team, with out guys like Frasor, you are not going to win titles.
Continue reading...
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Final Four Live-Blog!! |
As you all should know, BIAH will be attending the Final Four at Ford Field this weekend. As we did for the Big East tournament, we will be live-blogging from the event as Villanova, North Carolina, UConn, and Michigan State will be vying for the 2009 national title.
We will also be attending the majority of the Final Four festivities. Hopefully, we will have a chance to speak with some notable college basketball personalities, so keep an eye out for that as well.
As always, follow along after the jump.
- Villanova is killing themselves with turnovers and terrible shot selection. When they get the ball to the rim, they can score and get open looks. When they force jumpers and dumb drives, they turn the ball over and miss shots.
If they weren't pounding the offensive glass, this would be worse than 14 points right now.
- Watching UNC play offense is such a pleasure. They are so crisp, move the ball so well and so quickly, and do not miss when they are open. Nova is starting to work their way back into it, but I just cannot see anyway that they slow down these heels.
- UNC looks like they might runaway with this one early. Nova is just completely overmatched on the defensive end, and they are settling for too many perimeter shots offensively.
19-8 early.
- My battery is dying by the second, so posts during the second game will be more limited than during the first game.
- I don't think I have ever seen as many flashbulbs go off as when MSU finally won and celebrated on the floor.
And it was so loud no one could hear a word Izzo or Lucas said in their interview.
- As good as Walker was against Mizzou, he was that bad tonight. You CANNOT give up an and-one on that lay-up.
- With 1:45 Kemba Walker, who was 1-7 from the line, got fouled. As he headed to the line, Spartan fans gave him a standing ovation. He promptly knocked down both free throws.
- And a dunk by Morgan puts the Spartans up by 11 with three minutes left. This one is just about over. It MSU stops taking stupid shots.
- I don't know how else to put it. MSU is better prepared, better coached, and tougher. It is tough to beat a team like that.
- Jim Calhoun is flat out being out coached by Tom Izzo.
- MSU is outworking, outhustling, and out executing the Huskies. You have to chalk it up to coaching. The Spartans have been better prepared mentally.
- UConn looks terrible on the offensive end. It has to be nerves, because they are unable to get into any semblance of an offensive. Get the ball to Price.
- MSU's running game is the difference right now. UConn is crashing the boards very hard, from every spot on the floor, but when they don't get it they are in terrible defensive balance. It is allowing MSU to get these lay-ups.
- Sticks in foul trouble is killing the Huskies. With him on the bench, Austrie is guarding Morgan on the block. Huge mismatch.
- UConn came out strong at the start of the second half, but Sparty has reeled off six straight points to take a 46-44 lead as the crowd is starting to really get into it. UConn needs to attack Suton, picking up his fourth foul.
- And MSU takes a 38-36 lead into the half. After being outplayed for the first 13 minutes or so, Sparty finally woke up, locking down the Huskies on the defensive end. UConn went ice cold down the stretch of the first half, and MSU responded with, well, freshman Korie Luscious. He scored all nine in a 9-2 MSU run.
- UConn hs gone ice cold offensively. They aren't scoring, they are turning the ball over, and they are missing foul shot. Six straight from Lucious makes it 33-29.
- MSU cannot hit a big jumper right now. They have missed a number of wide open looks with a chance to take the lead.
- That transition game is exactly what MSU wants to do. By running the court they take UConn's size out of the game.
- And the crowd rises in unison the cheer the foul call against Price. UConn now has two team fouls. MSU eight.
- The Huskies size is too much for the Spartans right now. Thabeet, Adrien, and Robinson have combined for 22 of UConn's 27 points as the Huskies take a 27-23 lead into the under 8 timeout.
- UConn is killing MSU on the offensive glass. But the Spartans have been on fire from the perimeter, keeping them close.
- Interesting coaching move by Calhoun - he has Adrien guarding Suton and Thabeet guarding Roe.
- This place is packed. Easily 65,000 here.
- After jumping out to a quick 9-2 lead, the Spartans have gone ice cold from the floor. UConn has outscored them 17-7 since then, using their superior interior strength to their advantage.
- We are experiencing some terrible technical difficulties in the form of my cell phone getting terrible reception in Ford Field. We are going to soldier on as best we can given the circumstances.
- Wow. It just hit me. I'm at the Final Four. The Big East tourney was amazing (6 OT's anyone?), but there are 70,000 people here. The atmosphere is beyond amazing.
- Just got into Ford Field, and this might as well be the Breslin Center. I'm not even kidding when I say that I've seen more Syracuse fans than Villanova fans. Home court advantage? I think so. Early estimate - 60,000 of the 70,000 are Sparty fans.
- You want a perfect example of Detroit? A PriceWaterHouse building is next door to Ford Field. On the other side? Two smoke stacks from a factory.
- In just eight short hours, I've already encountered two nominees for funniest moment of the trip.
#1 A 25 year old (straight) man doing every dance choreographed with the Pussycat Dolls in the crowd.
#2 A woman, about 30 years of age, coming up to me and asking how tall my friend (a 6'6" guy known as Big Baby K) and I (6'3") are. After hearing our heights, she proceeds to stand behind us and say "its ok because you two are cute" ... while standing next to her fiancee.
- Musically, the Pussycat Dolls are, well, not good. Aesthically, however, they are quite nice. Especially on the eyes.
- As I was saying, it was very green-heavy at the Final Four festivities. At the practices yesterday, it was the same thing - according to The Quad, MSU drew 20,000 to practice.
- Some noteworthy news - Memphis signee Xavier Henry, the #1 player in the class of '09, has asked out of his letter of intent and is expected to sign with Kansas.
- I am currently in crowd watching Gavin DeGraw perform, and one thing has become painfully clear - this place is ALL MSU fans. I guess I should have expected it ... but to a point. Of the 10,000 or so people currently on the Riverfront watching this performance, easily 99% are wearing green.
It is a beautiful day today. 50 degrees, sun is shining. Great day to be outside enjoying everything the NCAA has set up. Pussycat Dolls go on at 4. I promise pictures fellas.
Continue reading...
Jonny Flynn to test the Draft |
Jonny Flynn has entered the NBA Draft.
Not all that much of a surprise. He was one of the best point guards in the country this past season, and has an outside shot of landing in the back end of the lottery.
What is surprising, however, is that Flynn was pushed by Boeheim to enter the draft. I know a lot of coaches say they want what is best for their players on a personal level, but does anyone really believe that? In the cutthroat coaching business, where you are only as good as your last game, it says something that a coach will not only advise, but push his best player to the draft.
Especially when odds are good that the player will not be pulling his name out.
Other early entry news:
- Dexter Pittman, the junior center from Texas, will be returning to Austin for his senior season. Pittman has shown flashes of huge potential, but the bottom line is that he is not yet in good enough shape to play in the NBA. Another year of cutting weight and adding to his offensive repertoire could put him in the first round in 2010.
- DePaul's Mac Koshwal will be entering the NBA Draft. Like Pittman, he showed flashes on promise this season, but he still has a long way to go before he is NBA ready. The smart move would be to return to school for a year, but money may be a bigger motivator for the Sudan native.
- Hawaii junior Roderick Flemings has entered his name in the NBA Draft. Flemings is an athletic, 6'7" wing, but he is not quite an NBA player just yet. More than likely will be back in school in the fall after testing the waters.
Final Four Preview: UNC vs. Villanova |
No matter how you slice it, this is going to be a tough game for Nova.
But you could have said that about Pitt. Or Duke. Or UCLA.
The key for the Wildcats is going to be toughness, as it has been all tournament. UNC is going to be the more talented team at every position on the floor. But an argument could be made that that has been the case for Nova all season long. It is the Wildcats versatility that makes them so tough. They run a physical, pressuring, half court man-to-man defense where, most of the time, they are switching everything.
Why are they able to do that? Two reasons.
(photo credit: NY Post)For starters, everyone on the floor is so versatile. Dwayne Anderson and Shane Clark are technically front line players, but they can both defend point guards on the perimeter as well as posts in the lane. Even guys like Dante Cunningham and Reggie Redding are able to guard multiple positions.
But the Wildcats are also as good at any team in the country at communicating on the defensive end. They switch well, they play great help side defense, but what they might be best at is their ability to help on post ups. Especially when a guy like Corey Fisher or Scottie Reynolds gets matched up with a big man. Mark my words, there are going to be at the very least a handful of times where one of those two little guards is going to end up guarding a Tyler Hansbrough or Deon Thompson on the block. Watch how well the rest of the Nova team helps. Whether it is a case of the guard fronting and the help side defenders protecting the lob pass or the guard playing behind and someone coming down and doubling, Nova moves so well defensively that it makes it difficult for teams to take advantage of that.
Another thing they do very well is pressure the ball. Getting off a clean pass against these guys is difficult in itself, let alone getting a clean look at the basket.
On the offensive end, Nova needs to avoid their tendency to settle for threes. Don't get me wrong, this team has a ton of shooters. But the one thing that has almost cost them in this tournament is when they shoot quick threes. I've said this numerous times on this blog - threes are great shots when they come from the inside-out. Whether it is off of a post touch, a guard's penetration, or an offensive rebound, the best look you are going to get at a three is when the defense has to collapse on the interior. When the ball comes out, not only are you going to be able to step into the shot, but you will be receiving the ball with your body already squared to the rim.
For UNC, their key is going to be, well, their transition game. Obvious, right? Nova is a very tough team on the defensive end, but the best way to avoid a team's half court defense is to beat them down the floor. Nova just does not have the horses to get into a foot race with the Heels. If UNC is able to attack the Wildcats before they can set up their half court defense, this game could get out of hand in a hurry.
If it does turn into a halfcourt game, UNC's biggest advantage is going to be on the inside. Don't get me wrong, Ty Lawson, Wayne Ellington, and Danny Green are supremely talented, but the Heels are going to be more talented at every position on the floor. They have as many as seven guys that could end up being NBA draft picks. The Wildcats? Maybe one.
But I digress.
(photo credit: NBC Sports Media)As I was saying, Nova is much smaller inside than the Heels. If this game does turn into a half court battle, the Heels need to be able to get baskets from Hansbrough, Thompson, and Ed Davis. As good as guys like Anderson, Cunningham, and Clark are, they are still small. The Heels should have no problem no scoring on the interior.
Defensively, the key is going to be slowing down Nova getting to the rim. The Wildcats have guys at every position that can penetrate and get to the rim, and attack the offensive glass as hard as anyone in the country. Ellington and Lawson are not known as defenders, and Reynolds and Fisher, while not necessarily NBA prospects, are both excellent players at this level.
On the glass, the Wildcats love running guys at the rim, especially from the perimeter. Anderson and Clark especially. Since one of those two is going to be guarded by a big man, and since they love to float around the perimeter offensively, those two guys should have some chances to get offensive boards. The Wildcats are going to need all the points they can get to hang with an offensive juggernaut like UNC.
Continue reading...
Friday, April 3, 2009
Final Four Preview: UConn vs. Michigan State |
Michigan State is a very tough match-up for UConn. The Spartans don't necessarily have the size inside to match-up with the Huskies, but they definitely have the strength, as evidenced by the fact that they are the best rebounding team in the country (coming into the tournament, no one outrebounded their opponents by more than MSU).
But the Spartans are not a team based around their inside play. In fact, they are a perimeter oriented team that relies on the fast break to score. This is exactly the kind of team that UConn struggles with (think Pitt). The key for the Spartans is going to be Goran Suton. Suton is one of the more underrated big men in the country. He is not the greatest athlete in the world, but he is a smart player that really understands positioning and rebounding.
(photo credit: daylife.com)His most important skill as a player, especially in this game, is going to be his ability to knock down a perimeter jumper. Hasheem Thabeet is not going to be able to camp out in the lane and defend the rim, as the Huskies like to have him do, because Suton is a 42% shooter from deep.
Also expect to see a ton of ball screens from MSU. While Thabeet has improved drastically on his ability to move his feet and defend on the perimeter, he is still a very average, at best, defender on the perimeter. Pick-and-rolls or pick-and-pops, using the guy that Thabeet is defending, should be very effective against the Huskies.
On the offensive end, UConn is going to need to find a way to score outside of AJ Price. Travis Walton is one of the best on-ball defenders in the country. The rest of the guys that play in the Husky backcourt are small (Craig Austrie, Kemba Walker), which means that Kalin Lucas will be able to guard them. UConn does not have a player other than Price that can create his own shot. When Price is struggling offensively, the Huskies get stagnant on that end of the floor. When their offense gets stagnant, they rely on their size and offensive rebounding ability to get points. As I mentioned earlier, the Spartans are the best rebounding team in the country. UConn is not easily going to be able to crash the offensive glass in this one.
(photo credit: Chris Carlson/AP)The Huskies do, however, need to at least try and exploit their size advantage. While Thabeet is no where near a polished player on the offensive end, he has shown an effective baby hook in this tournament. When he is playing confident basketball and is strong with the ball on the block, he does have the ability to score down there. And draw fouls. That is the key. I expect Suton to log the majority of the minutes on Thabeet watch. As I mentioned, Suton is going to be the key for the Spartans on the offensive end. If the Huskies can get him into foul trouble, it would be a huge lift for them.
The x-factor match-up in this one is going to be between Stanley Robinson and Durrell Summers/Raymar Morgan. Morgan has the talent to be an all-american, but due to health issues this season, he has been a shell of his former self. Summers is one of the few guys in the country that can say they are close to the athlete that Sticks is.
(photo credit: Hartford Courant)As good as guys like Price and Thabeet have been for the Huskies in the dance, Sticks might be playing the best ball of anyone on the team. After sitting out the first semester, he has really picked his game up after Jerome Dyson went down with the knee injury. His length and athleticism make him such a difficult match-up on both ends of the floor. But Summers and Morgan are athletic/talented enough to counter Sticks. It will be interesting to see who gets the best of that match-up.
This game is going to be won by the team that can control the pace. The Spartans love to run the floor and get quick, easy baskets. Even in their half court sets, they are not exactly a patient team. Their offense is not a continuity offense. What I mean is that they run a called play. If that play doesn't result in a shot, they pull it out and run another called play. For example, one thing you are going to see a lot of Saturday is one big posting on the block with the ball in Lucas's hands, while a shooter (Chris Allen or Walton) runs off of a double screen on the other side of the floor. If the post up isn't there and the shooter isn't open off of the curl, then Lucas will pull the ball out and call another play.
UConn likes to play at a much slower pace. They are a team that wants to get into a slug fest, because they are bigger and stronger than most of the teams that they face. Simply put, without Jerome Dyson, they just do not have the offensive firepower to go up and down with a team like the Spartans. More importantly, an uptempo game severely limits the impact that a guy like Thabeet can have on the defensive end.
UConn wants to keep this game in the 60's, while MSU wants it to go into the 70's or 80's.
Continue reading...
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Coaching Carousel |
Is it just me, or is there an unusually high number of famous coaches and big-time programs involved this year?
Georgia, Alabama, Virginia, Kentucky, Memphis, Arizona.
Calipari, Pitino, Floyd, Capel, Few, Fox, Pearl.
And I'm sure we are just getting started.
The newest rumors circled today around Tim Floyd and Arizona. Many outlets were reporting that Floyd had, in fact, accepted an offer from Arizona to "replace" Lute Olson. Yes, he went and visited with Jim Livengood in Tucson on Wednesday (and apparently also toyed with the idea of going to Memphis), but Thursday afternoon he squashed those rumors by announcing that he would remain a Trojan.
It was probably a good decision. Arizona is going to be going through a major rebuilding process (especially if Jordan Hill and Chase Budinger decide to go pro). It is more than likely that Memphis will be doing the same thing, but in C-USA, not the Pac-10.
Assuming that no one leaves school early (which is a huge leap of faith - Demar Derozan, Taj Gibson, and Daniel Hackett all could end up in the Draft), USC looks like they could be a Final Four contender. In addition to the three players I mentioned, USC also returns, well, everyone from a team that won the Pac-10 tournament and gave Michigan State everything they could handle in the second round of the dance.
Did I mention they also add 5 star recruit Renardo Sidney to the mix?
Floyd has had some excellent success recruiting at USC, and if he can ever manage to keep one of his McDonald's all-americans for more than a year, Floyd has a chance to actually build a program. It is not often that a coach has an opportunity to create a legacy for himself. At Memphis and Arizona, he would be replacing legends, and thus would be burdened with expectations and pressures that are going to be near impossible to live up to while these teams are rebuilding.
It also isn't too hard to read into Floyd's desire to make himself a legend much the way that Olson did at Arizona. Take a look at this quote the press conference:"But there is something really special about building your own traditions, your own histories and doing it with a group of guys that you love. ... I have never been more excited to be a Trojan."
Pay raise and school prestige aside, Floyd made the right choice.
But that was far from the only coaching news to come out today. Friday morning, Georgia will announce that they have hired Nevada's Mark Fox as their new basketball coach. Great hire, as Fox has flown under the radar for a while. Nevada has been one of the most consistent mid-majors (is a school in the WAC a mid-major?) this decade.
He also has a knack for landing top-tier talent. If he can get guys like Nick Fazekas, Ramon Sessions, Kirk Snyder (ok, maybe a bad example), and Luke Babbitt to play in Nevada, imagine what he can do coaching at a school that plays in the SEC and is smack in the middle of the talent-laden south.
Not done yet.
Bruce Pearl was one of the guys everyone mentioned when talking about the openings at Memphis and Arizona. But Pearl and Tennessee were able to renegotiate his contract, agreeing to terms on a six-year deal. Again, probably a good decision. Assuming Tyler Smith doesn't go pro, Tennessee returns as much talent as anyone in the country.
Brad Stevens, another young stud on the coaching circuit, has inked a deal with Butler that will keep him in Indianapolis through 2016.
There were even reports that Jamie Dixon, who is from California and whose wife is a USC grad, was considering the would-be opening at USC if Floyd had left.
And I still haven't mentioned the possibility of Jim Calhoun leaving UConn after this season.
So why are there so many big name schools looking for coaches to change zip codes?
Short answer - it is just one of those years. Kentucky is one of the top five coaching gigs in the country. Arizona is top ten. When those schools have an opening, you listen.
Long answer - coaching changes are becoming the trend in sports. It is becoming a more and more cutthroat industry. If you don't win immediately, your job is going to be on the line. And the pressure is only turned up with the deep pockets of the team's boosters and overzealous fan-bases asking "what have you done for me lately".
I mean, look at some of the firings. Billy Gillispie I understand. Not only was he losing games, but he was losing the respect of the fans, the school's administrators, the media, and, most importantly, his players.
Dave Leitao's firing at UVA was probably deserved as well. Other than a freak season where he won a share of the ACC crown (when UNC and Duke were way down) led by two stud guards in Sean Singletary and JR Reynolds, Leitao's tenure in Charlottesville was nothing short of, well, bad.
But Dennis Felton being fired at Georgia? The guy took his team on what was probably the greatest conference tournament game of all time (he won two games in one day!) a year before being canned midway through this season. Remember, this is a Georgia program that was essentially stripped bare by Jim Harrick. But hey, if you coach in Georgia and can't recruit Georgia, you're probably screwed.
And I thought that writing was a tough profession to get into.
Continue reading...
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Point Guards in the Final Four |
It is one of the most cliche things to say during the NCAA Tournament.
You need a great point guard to make a run in the dance.
We have all heard it before, and every bracketologist, whether you are on ESPN or the "expert" filling out your office pool, has more than likely uttered those words yourself. On the surface, it seems to hold true this year. Michigan State's point guard Kalin Lucas was Big Ten player of the year. UNC's Ty Lawson also won conference player of the year, in the ACC. UConn's AJ Price was a second team all Big-East selection, but has been one of the best point guards in the country since Jerome Dyson went down (19.2 ppg, 5.1 apg). Villanova's tandem of Scottie Reynolds and Corey Fisher is one of the more underrated point guard duos around.
Scottie Reynolds scores the game-winning hoop against Pitt.
(photo credit: Elise Amendola/AP)
So does correlation equal causation here? Easier put, are these point guards the reason that these four teams advanced to the Final Four?
Not necessarily.
Sure, they played a vital part. Reynolds hit the game-winner for Nova against Pitt in the Elite 8. Price is UConn's leading scorer through four tournament game. If the tournament ended today, Lawson might be the MOP of this year's dance.
But that doesn't mean they are the sole, or even most important, reason these four teams have advanced.
Take Michigan State. Lucas has been far from dominant through four games. He is averaging 12.8 ppg (down from 14.8) and has shot just 40% (15-37) from the floor. Goran Suton has actually been the best player for the Spartans during the tournament. He is averaging 14.0 ppg and 11.5 rpg (to go along with 2.3 apg, 2.3 spg, and 1.3 bpg). If he didn't score 17 first half points against Louisville, MSU may not have been in a position for the huge run they put on the Cardinals in the second half.
Price has been nothing short of great for the Huskies in their run to the Final Four. He has averaged 20.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg, and 5.3 apg. As valuable as he has been, Price has not been the most important player on the floor. UConn has won their four games simply because they out-big (is that even a word) every team they have faced. Hasheem Thabeet was a dominant force on both ends through the first three games, and when he struggled a bit against an uptempo Missouri squad, the more athletic Stanley Robinson and Jeff Adrien combined for 25 points, 16 boards, and 7 blocks. Price wasn't even the best guard on the floor in that game. Kemba Walker was, as he finished the game with 23 point, 5 boards, 5 assists, and broke the devastating Mizzou press by himself on a number of occasions.
AJ Price scores over DeMarre Carroll and Leo Lyons of Missouri.(photo credit: Chris Carlson/AP)
For Villanova, since the first day of practice on October 15th, it has been all about team. It is tough to pick out a best or most valuable player for the Wildcats, simply because they have so many guys that are just solid players. Is Scottie Reynolds leadership really more important than the versatility provided by "posts" Dante Cunningham, Dwayne Anderson, and Shane Clark? Is the dynamic Fisher more valuable than the fundamental play-maker Reggie Redding? More than anything, the reason that the Cats have made it this far is because they have been tougher, especially on the defense end, than anyone they have played (and that is saying something considering they beat Pitt in the Elite 8).
There is no question that Ty Lawson has been the best player on the floor for the Tar Heels. He took over the second half of the LSU game, scoring 21 points and helping UNC rally back after giving up a nine point half time lead. He continued that hot play against Gonzaga, as he scored 17 in the first half to help UNC open up a lead they would not relinquish. Even against Oklahoma, he was the Heels leading scorer with 19 points. But would UNC have won that game if they weren't able to get the lead on the Sooners? Maybe, but it would have been much closer than the final ended up being. Why were they able to build up said lead? Because their interior defense on Blake Griffin was outstanding for the first 11 minutes of the game, holding the player of the year scoreless. That allowed the Heels to stay at home on the Sooner shooters, who were never able to get into a rhythm, starting off the game 0-15 from deep and finishing 2-19.
Blake Griffin was swarmed by UNC's front line for most of the game.
(photo credit: Matt Slocum/AP)
No.
To win a national title, or even to make a Final Four, a team needs to be just that. A team. They don't even really need to be a great one. They just have to play great for four games.
As a team.
Continue reading...
Posts
