Sweet 16 and the Final Four Matchups 2011 - Revisited

Well, the first weekend of March Madness is behind us and a lot of brackets have been busted.  We always expect there to be upsets in the first round of the NCAA tournament, but most were still surprised when we reached the Sweet 16 after Sunday Night.  My national championship pick, Notre Dame, was indeed sent packing to the shock of many as well as myself.  Florida State looked as though they belonged among college basketball’s elite.  The Seminole team that showed up to play on Sunday night was not the same team that the committee felt was no more deserving than a 10 seed.  They held Notre Dame to just 30.6% percent shooting.  Anytime it looked as if the Irish were going to stage a comeback, the Seminoles immediately ran in transition and scored a basket or got a foul in the process. A great weekend for the Seminoles and they look to keep it up this weekend.
 

When looking at the Southwest Region, hardly anyone could predict we would see three double-digit seeds moving on to the Sweet 16.  The committee raised a lot of questions among the sports world when VCU was given a spot in the tournament over their neighbor Virginia Tech.  Well the committee was bailed out of that controversy as VCU took down Georgetown and steam – rolled Purdue, very impressive job by the Rams.  In making matters worse for Virginia Tech, Richmond also made the round of 16 by squeaking by Vanderbilt, but got a gift in playing Morehead St in the 3^rd round.  Once again Virginia Tech was left out of the tournament for the 4^th year in a row, but two of their neighbor schools are shockingly in the Sweet 16. 

In the Southeast bracket, Saturday night’s game between Pittsburgh and Butler had everyone on their heels.  We all saw last year what Butler and coach Brad Stevens did for the mid major teams.  Not too many people thought Stevens and the Bulldogs could bring their magic from last year into this year.  Well guess what, they once again find themselves surviving into the 2^nd weekend of the tournament after defeating the number 1 seed.  Yes, the referee’s calls towards the end of the game were controversial, but the calls were not one sided.  So that’s the end of that and we move forward.

The only real surprise in the West region was that Texas lost a nail-biter to Arizona, a team nobody thought could make it to the Sweet 16.  Rick Barnes has proven once again that he has all the talent in the world, but yet can’t get them over the hump.  Maybe it is time for a coaching change in Austin.  This doesn’t take away from the performance of Arizona’s Derrick Williams who was quite impressive in leading the wildcats to victory.  Duke got back Kyrie Irving, but he saw limited minutes in both games.  After almost blowing a 15 point lead to Michigan, Irving sealed the deal with a crucial basket that put the Devils back in the lead with only seconds remaining.  It will be very interesting to see how many more minutes Irving gets in the game against Arizona. 

In the East, We saw more referee controversy the following day in a great game between North Carolina and Washington.  The non – call on the goal tending at the end wouldn’t have mattered anyways because it was a two point shot.  How much time should have been on the clock?  Well, I don’t really know but maybe Washington shouldn’t have thrown it up from half court to put them in that situation in the first place, but it was a great victory for a young North Carolina team. Ohio St looked like the overall number one seed with a impressive performance in 1^st round and a blowout against George Mason in the 2^nd round.  A lot of dramatic games overall for the entire 1^st weekend and I can promise it’s only going to get better as action kicks off tonight.  My bracket predictions have already been busted so I am going to start from a clean state and go through each region and give my picks once again. 

EAST REGION

Ohio St over Kentucky

North Carolina over Marquette

REGIONAL WINNER – North Carolina

WEST REGION

Duke over Arizona

Connecticut over San Diego St

REGIONAL WINNER – Duke

SOUTHWEST REGION

Kansas over Richmond

Florida St over VCU

REGIONAL WINNER – Kansas

SOUTHEAST REGION

Butler over Wisconsin

BYU over Florida

REGIONAL WINNER – BYU

FINAL FOUR

Duke v. North Carolina – Wow, the two teams have never met in the NCAA tournament but I think this is finally going to be the year that it happens.  Many fans do not want to see this happen, but as a die-hard North Carolina fan, I would love it.  The loss could be devastating for either club if they were to go on and win a national championship.  Coach K would be going for the all time wins record over Bobby Knight.  Wouldn’t that be great for Heels fan if they were the ones who made him wait an entire off season for that to happen. 

WINNER – NORTH CAROLINA

Kansas v. BYU – A lot of people are assuming that Kansas would be a lock for the national championship game.  Well, they are going to have to get by a BYU team, who has an unbelievable player in Jimmer Fredette.  I do think the absence of Brandon Davis will be too much for them to handle.

WINNER – KANSAS

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

North Carolina v Kansas – Roy Williams will face his former team once again in the national spotlight.  They met in the 2008 national semifinal and Kansas handled the Tarheels, eventually cutting down the nets that year in a great win against Memphis.  These two powerhouse programs will play for it all, but will the young North Carolina team have what it takes especially after the semifinal game against their arch – rivals?  Well, I believe this team has something magical going for them.  They have been a different team ever since Kendall Marshall has taken over the point guard position.  A year ago this team didn’t even make the NCAA tournament, a huge disappointment to all the coaches, players, and fans.  Well………..order is going to be restored and they will be partying all night long on Franklin Street baby!!!!!!

    2011 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS – NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS!!

Patrick Warco

Guest Columnist

March Madness Begins 2011

Let the Craziness begin. This year is going to be harder than ever to figure out who is going to make it in the Big Dance and because of this extreme difficulty I have called in a Sports Professional my good friend Patrick to help us sift through the top teams and figure out who is overrated and who is going to possibly win it all. I have a feeling that he may be onto something with these picks.  Enjoy!

The Ides of March is upon us and most are becoming anxious for the start of spring.  People are thinking about the weekend getaways to the beaches, the nice boat rides while enjoying the beautiful sunset, but most of all the warm weather.  Yes, we all love when the frigid temperatures and terrible winter weather is behind us.  Though, let’s not forget the real excitement that accompanies the month of March and the madness that is about to ensue in the world of sports.  It’s the month that is College Basketball’s grand stage.  An event in which so many people want to participate in filling out a bracket that they make their picks based on which mascot is better, or which color uniform they like the most.  When the word “Cinderella” is heard all over the city and everyone knows you aren’t referring to the folk tale.  Every alumni packs their local bars to cheer on their alma mater in hopes their team survives to live another day.  A time when office pools are popping up everywhere and work production hits its lowest point of the year.  CBS offers every game in live streaming over the internet with the infamous “boss button."  Let’s all be serious though, your boss is probably not going to come check to make sure you aren’t watching because he/she is too busy watching it themselves. That’s right ladies and gentleman, MARCH MADNESS is finally here!  

A lot of you have been researching teams and studying the brackets the minute they were released on Selection Sunday.  Some of you might think that your picks are golden and you are confident you have the winning bracket. You probably have the traditional #12 over #5 seed upset that occurs every year, even some have #13 over # 4, #14 over #3, and MAYBE a #15 over a #2. I am going to go through each region and give you some possible upset picks as well as possible Cinderellas, and of course my winner for each region.  This will lead me to my final four and eventual 2011 National Champion!

EAST REGION

When CBS released the brackets on Sunday, they first started with the East.  I didn’t even have to look at the other brackets to know the East was going to be the most difficult.  Ohio St., North Carolina, Syracuse, and Kentucky are the top 4 seeds.  Ohio St has been hot all year long, and North Carolina has turned it around since mid – January with the presence of Kendall Marshall at point guard.  Kentucky is riding high after defeating Florida in the SEC championship game, and Syracuse is always a danger with the zone defense. 

Possible 1^st round Upsets-

Clemson over West Virginia: Fatigue might be a factor for Clemson after playing in the opening round against UAB on Tues Night…but with a forceful defense and the way they are shooting as of late, Clemson very well could win.

 Marquette over Xavier:  A very popular upset pick from what I've been reading and what people around me are saying…but Xavier has proven they can play come tournament time..if you are going to go with this one…do so with extreme caution…I believe Xavier could knock out Syracuse in the 2^nd round.

Possible Cinderella: #7 seed Washington.

East Regional Winner: Ohio St over North Carolina - I believe the experience of Jon Diebler and David Lighty…along with the great post play of the freshman Jared Sullinger is going to be too much for a young North Carolina team….Should be a fantastic Elite 8 matchup.

WEST REGION

Possible 1^st round upsets –

Oakland over Texas: Yes, Texas has been one of the top teams in the country throughout the year, but they have shown recently with losses to Nebraska and Colorado, that they have vulnerability.  Oakland has played seven teams in that are in the field this year.  This very well could be the upset that have people talking.)

Missouri over Cincinnati: The Tigers have a very athletic team with a Coach that has experience in the tournament.  They have a very aggressive defense that will allow them to shut down the Bearcats offense.

Possible Cinderella - #5 seed Arizona.

West Regional Winner – Duke over UConn -  Let me set the record straight.  Connecticut is a very good team, as they showed by winning five straight games in the Big East Tournament.  Duke is returning two starters, Nolan Smith and Kyle Singler, and if the Freshman guard Kryie Irving is healthy, this team has a shot to win it all.

SOUTHWEST REGION

Possible 1^st Round Upsets –

Richmond over Vanderbilt: Richmond beat Purdue at the beginning of the season which showed people that they can compete with powerhouse schools.  Vanderbilt played in a weak SEC conference this year.

Florida St over Texas A&M: The Seminoles have a great defense and it will be interesting to see if Chris Singleton can rebound from an injury in mid – February.  If he comes back to play, this team could be a dark horse in this region.

Possible Cinderella: #10 seed Florida State.

Southwest Regional Winner: Notre Dame over Kansas -  Ben Hansbrough is the Big East Player of the Year and the three point shooting of Notre Dame has been lights out coming into post season play.  The leadership and intensity within Hansbrough will surprise most and lead this team to the Final Four in Houston.

SOUTHEAST REGION

Possible 1^st Round Upsets –

Utah St over Kansas St:  Kansas St has played erratic over the course of the entire season and Utah St. has only lost three games.

Belmont over Wisconsin: The Badgers inability to score as was seen in the Big Ten Tournament when they scored only 33 points spells trouble for this team.  Belmont has five seniors that average double digit points and only lost four games the entire season.

Michigan St over UCLA: Don’t bet against Tom Izzo when it comes time to play in the tournament in March.  They have made back to back Final Fours, including the championship game in 2009. I know they had 14 losses during the season, but the experience of Kalin Lucas and Draymond Green could lead this team to a 3^rd consecutive final four.

Possible Cinderella: #10 seed Michigan St.

Southeast Regional Final: Pittsburgh over Michigan St - The Panthers have a well balanced team and might be one of the most complete college teams in the nation.  Jamie Dixon is a great coach and is trying to get over the hump and finally make a Final Four.  Brad Wanamaker is a senior guard who will lead this team to Houston.

NATIONAL SEMIFINALS

Ohio St over Duke

Notre Dame over Ohio St

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Notre Dame over Ohio State -  Yes, they will be celebrating a championship in South Bend, Indiana, BUT NOT FOR FOOTBALL!!  Ben Hansbrough will join his brother Tyler, as a National Champion!

Patrick Warco

Guest Columnist 

2009 World Series Champions New York Yankees - The Movie

Monday night Cody Dee and I had the opportunity to attend a red carpet event at the Ziegfeld Theatre honoring the World Champion New York Yankees. You may ask, how in the world did Cody Dee and I score tickets to such a big time event with celebrity folk from Manager Joe Giardi to Timothy "Poindexter" Busfield(from Revenge of the Nerds)? Only a cool thirty five bucks each and lightening quick fingers on the keyboards got us through the doors and into the thousand plus seat house. Once we found our seats and the place started to fill up it felt and sounded like a typical crowd at Yankee Stadium. They were feisty yelling out curses and praises as the ads began to play on the big screen. I also noticed a fairly large section toward the middle of the theatre was empty. Cody Dee assured me that the event was sold out so it occurred to me that the same rich jerks that call themselves Yankee Fans were at least consistent, they couldn't be bothered to show up during the season, so why show up for the celebratory World Series movie?Before they started the movie John Sterling, the voice of the Yankees on radio and Yankeeography, took the podium to get the ball rolling. Sterling seemed a bit punchy as he made some pretty kick to the nuts comments about the Red Sox and the Phillies. I got a little chuckle out of it, the man seemed like he'd been pulling on the jug a bit before coming out. All of a sudden the crowd started to boo loudly as I noticed a woman in red coming to the podium. Sterling welcomed Suzyn Waldman to the podium for a few words. She is the other half of the radio show with Sterling and she apparently is not well liked, at least by this Yankee crowd. I honestly don't know much about her although I have heard her some on the radio and I have to say she is pretty terrible as a commentator. She said a few things and was basically booed away until Michael Kay stepped up to the podium. Michael Kay was welcoming and said a few words about the championship season, he made a little slip when they introduced the Championship trophy though. He said something about the trophy LEAVING New York next season... and of course the place erupted in boos. Of course he meant to say until they win it again next year but, he diffused it and moved on quickly, introducing General Manager Brian Cashman and Manager Joe Giardi. Giardi was gracious and said a few kind words about the enormity of the win and what was in store for next year. I don't care what people say, Joe Giardi is a class guy. He made gutsy calls during the season and the post season and let's not forget his heroics after his big World Series win saving that woman on the Cross County Parkway in Westchester. He crossed over 5 lanes of traffic to stay with her until help arrived, what a guy.The lights dimmed and the show began. I will say up front that if you hate the Yankees then this isn't the movie for you. We saw a recap of the amazing season with the pies and the new faces like CC, AJ, Tex and Nick. They showed a few behind the scenes of the Phillies and the Yanks as they responded to one another as to who will win it all. There are a some amusing parts especially with pitcher Pedro Martinez, that guy is certainly not operating with a full deck. We had to relive the embarrasing first game against Cliff Lee, but we also got to witness on the big screen what AJ Burnett's pitches look like when he is lights out. And let me tell you just seeing that was worth price of admission. It always amazes me how a pitcher does what he does but watching Burnett's pitches dance all over the plate makes it look like magic. What can you say about a ballclub that has won 27 World Series championships? It's just exciting to be a part of it in some way. I think for the older generation, and my Father can attest to this, it was the one thing he had in common with his father. It was the unspoken joy they shared which is Yankee baseball. Now I feel I have much more in common with my Father but this feeling is certainly one of them and it is something I truly hope to pass down to my son and beyond.I fully intend to show this film to Nathan when he's old enough. And thankfully the operators of this wonderful event decided to surprise us with a free DVD of the film as the credits were rolling. It was a really fun night, I enjoyed sharing it with my good friend Cody and I got a great memento to show to future Marvin's about this amazing season of baseball in the greatest city in all the world.
Grade: 5 Buckets (Of Course)

Yankees Win 27th World Series!!!!

It's hard to put into words the emotions and excitement after watching my Yankees win their 27th World Series! It's also not half bad to do it in a brand spanking new Stadium! 2009 has been an incredibly satisfying year for me in the sports department. (My Tarheels won their 5th NCAA Championship against Michigan State earlier this year.) What can I say about this team that won 103 games during the regular season, which is the most in all of baseball. They led the American League in Home runs and RBIs. They had the most saves, this was a dominant Yankee baseball club. They were also a thrill to watch, I think my Grampa Ned would have loved to watch this team do battle.Now the first thing the pundits have thrown out is that the Yankees have finally bought their World Series Championship. Is it true that the Yankees spent a lot of money in the Pre-Season? Yes they have. But these talking heads are missing the bigger picture. The Yankees as a club have spent billions in the last 9 years trying to catch that elusive 27th World Series and have met failure in ways no fan would like to remember. I get it, they have the biggest payroll in sports, but if anything these 9 years have proven that no matter how much money you throw at a problem it will not get you a championship. So what made this year so different? Obviously the pitching between the big three C.C. Sabaithia, A.J. Burnett and Andy Pettitte were a major factor. But I really believe that the relaxed attitude in the dugout mixed with the strong bond between these Yankee players is ultimately what got the job done. These Yankees were hungry but they also played as a team. Unlike in previous seasons where the Bombers won many games and their bats were heavy, time and time again The Yanks were unable to put the pieces together in the post-season, and I firmly believe it was because of the business like attitude they took toward the game. They weren't having fun they weren't enjoying it. It was frustrating to see this the past few years. But after the first game this year I could tell a world of difference thanks to manager Joe Giardi and the fun Bench guys like Nick Swisher and A.J. Burnett, they calmed this team down which I think contributed to their success in this series. 17 Pies to the face is proof in the pudding.This was a World Series for the ages, and I have to give the Phillies their props they almost gave me and Cody Dee a few heart attacks along the way. What can you say about Chase Utley and his monster bat. He tied our own Reggie Jackson for 5 homers for the World Series record. The spinedly Jayson Werth and his big bat was also quite overwhelming and of course the tenacity of Cliff Lee and his ability to shut down the Bombers in Game 1. These are great contenders and I'm almost certain they will be here in November again. They are a also a cocky group, I believe it was the Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins who said to Jay Leno that he would beat the Yankees in 5. And what the hell was Pedro talking about being the King of New York after Game 2? Who's your Daddy now Pedro? Even though they beaned A-Rod 3 times and Tex once, the blood didn't seem to be too heated between these teams which allowed a fairly clean series to unfold. I also think the officiating was much better in the overall series then it was in ALCS division series. Maybe next year they will try to utilize the playback a bit more, it's a fine line but I think this post season has shown that the eye in the sky could make for better play calling in the future.
There were some instances in this series that stick out in my mind as key moments to the World Series. Regardless of AJ Burnett's meltdown in game 5, his shut down performance at home for Game 2 allowed the Yankees to recover off of the blistering game 1 loss to Cliff Lee. He went 7 innings and only gave up a run, 4 hits and he struck out 9 for the night. Say what you want about A.J. Burnett but when he's cooking you ain't getting in his kitchen. Andy Pettitte also came up big in Game 3 when he gave up 3 runs early but recovered his stride and even hit an RBI single to build out of the defecit. Andy proved the Yankees were making their case to stay in every game no matter what the Phillies tried to do. Pettitte truly earned his place among champions as he dug in and gave a gutsy pitching performance in Game 6 on only 3 days rest. I will admit I was worried going into the game but I never had any doubts about Andy. Game 4 was a wild one but Johnny Damon rose to the challenge in the top of the ninth inning as he fought his way onto base with a single. But what he did next was the stuff of legends, he miraculously stole 2 bases off of one pitch just because someone on the Phillies couldn't be bothered to cover third base. This move allowed A-Rod to crush a two run double and Posada to single bringing in two more. This was the decisive game for the Yankees, without Johnny Damon's play this series could have ended very differently. Even though the Yanks lost Game 5 I felt they battled honorably in the 8th and 9th innings cutting a 6 point defecit to 2 but it wasn't to be when Tex whiffed one for strike 3. But I firmly believe that the Yankee bats put the fear of God into these Phillies which brings up the last hero of the series Hideki Matsui. His performance in Game 6 was incredible. He made Pedro his bitch as he hit a two-run homer in the second, a two-run single in the third and a two-run double in the fifth. He almost hit for the cycle which had never been done before in the World Series. He had 6 RBIs which is a World Series record for a single game. He also received the MVP trophy which has never gone to a DH before.

Note to Yankees Management: DO NOT LET MATSUI GET AWAY FOR THE 2010 SEASON!!!What a rush this season has been between lows of A-Rod and his steroid problem, the Wang Meltdown, Joba's struggles to pitch a full game to the highs of A-Rod becoming Mr. October with clutch hits down the stretch in both the ALDS and the ALCS. To Damaso Marte and his level-headed pitching in the post season. His strike out of Chase Utley in the 7th inning was big time but Marte topped himself by then striking out Ryan Howard in the top of the 8th. I mean this is the same guy earlier in the season who had an ERA of 9.45. What a difference a World Series makes. Although to be fair the guy was recovering from an injury earlier this season. What else can I say, it's been a hell of a year! My Yankees played exceptionally and they kept on chugging through all season through thick and thin. I'm proud of my boys and I'm proud to be a Yankee fan. As my Grandfather and Father before me and hopefully my son and his kids after me---YANKEES FOREVER!!!

THE EVIL EMPIRE STRIKES BACK!

Well, I’m just finally coming out of my hangover from Sunday night; the result of a 10 mile walking tour of Brooklyn, followed by two margaritas, a countless number of beers, and two celebratory shots of Canadian Club to finish it off. But, I gotta tell ya, today’s headache and haziness were a small price to pay for finally witnessing the team I love get back to the Fall Classic. And in such a gritty, gutsy fashion to boot.

The Angels gave us a great fight and made us earn it. Congrats to that team and their fans for a well fought battle and a tremendous, entertaining, tooth and nail series. Really a top notch, stand-up group of guys and their manager Mike Scioscia is a total throwback class act. Much respect for that ball club.

But here we go again. It’s gonna be another dogfight with a tough, scrappy bunch in the Philadelphia Phillies. Some great hitters on that team and a collective never say die attitude. I’m fully expecting these two clubs to push each other to their limits and bring out the best in one another.

However, at the end of the day, I’m truly confident in this 2009 Yankees team and that they will get it done. There is just something intangible about them that has inspired confidence in us fans. It’s a feeling we haven’t had in what feels like a very, very long time. This year's Yankees are just too dynamic, too talented, too well rounded to fail. Their starting pitching has been absolutely dominant. It’s gotten them this far, and it’s going to be the difference maker in this series with the Phillies, as well.

I didn’t drink a drop of Champagne last night (and thankfully so…). Figured I’d save the classy stuff for when we bring #27 back to New York.

GO YANKEES!!!

An Open Letter to Red Sox Nation:

This weekend the Red Sox got swept by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in what must have been a tragic, tragic, heartbreaking loss for the Nation; a loss reminiscent of the pre-2004 days. Aaron "Fucking" Boone, Bill "Fucking" Buckner, Bucky "Fucking" Dent; now you can add Vladimir "Fucking" Guerrero to the list of players that have had the distinction of sticking a proverbial knife into the collective heart of Red Sox Nation.

I'm a Yankees fan, so I should take incalculable amounts of pleasure in the Red Sox regressing back to their cursed ways. But I gotta tell ya... I'm not. I'm really not. For starters, I'm not a Yankees lifer. Actually I only started rooting for them after I moved to New York in 2003. Unfortunately, that year also coincides with the end of the road for the great Yankees' run of championship caliber teams that started in 1995. So I know all about October disappointment. 2004 alone was probably the bleakest moment in Yankees' history and I was right there, just one year into my fanhood, to experience every excruciating moment of ALCS Games 4, 5, 6, and 7. The Sox went on to the win the World Series that year and again in 2007, as the Yankees, year in and year out, got progressively more inept and dysfunctional in the Post Season.

So, I get it Sox Fans. And I wanna speak to you directly here, mano a-masses: I'm not here to gloat or shove it in your face. I'm not that guy. I'd like to rise above it all and say I am sorry it didn't work out for you this year. Despite the fact that I think the majority of you let 2004 and 2007 go to your head. Despite the fact that most of you still insist on hypocritically chanting "You took steroids" when A-Rod's up to bat, when your team actually won two World Series titles with a couple of roid freaks in the middle of your line up. Despite the fact that you have several premiere players who get away with ugly moments that no Yankees player would ever be able to get away with (see: Kevin Youkilis throwing his helmet at an opposing player, and Dustin Pedroia throwing the Fenway grounds crew under the bus after the Sox Game 3 loss to the Angels).

Despite all of this... I'd still like to congratulate you and your team on a winning season and I send my sincere hopes for a bounce back 2010 for the Sox. From the Bucket to The Red Sox Nation at large, we tip our navy cap to the following Red Sox of 2009:

Jacoby Ellsbury:


Dustin Pedroia:


Kevin Youkilis:


Big Papi:


Josh Beckett:


JD Drew:


Jason Bay:


Jason Varitek:


and, of course, Jonathan Papelbon:

John Calipari - Greatest Recruiter ever?

From time to time I like to read the college basketball scouting reports for the upcoming season. I was especially intrigued about this particular kid John Wall. He's a 6'3 point guard from North Carolina. He's a McDonald's All-American and he is considered the best of the crop for the upcoming 2009-2010 season. The reports all say that he is good enough to go pro now. He's what you would call a "One and Done." My brother, a walking sports Almanac, tells me that this kid is a die hard Tar Heels fan and it became public knowledge that his mother had pleaded with coach Roy Williams to take a look at him for recruitment to Chapel Hill. Roy took a look but then did not actively pursue him. Coach K from Duke and John Calipari, now from Kentucky, were relentlessly hounding this kid to come to their respective schools. In the end Calipari won out. With Calipari's switch over from Memphis to Kentucky and his upcoming recruiting class he has been dubbed the greatest recruiter ever by many of the talking heads. But is there any truth to this, is John Calipari the best college basketball recruiter ever?My brother, the sports almanac, and I both disagree with this sentiment. Calipari is a good coach no question, but he is far from the best recruiter. Any school worth it's salt can get a top pick from High School. It's finding a talented player that also has the personality and character that helps your team win. That is a special skill that only a few have, coaches like Roy Williams from UNC. No one will deny that Williams is an excellent recruiter. If this is true then why did he turn down John Wall a point guard who could run the Carolina offense possibly better than anyone? Not to mention he is from Carolina and, as I said above, his mother pleaded with Roy Williams to consider him. With all of these chances why would Roy Williams not really consider this wunderkind of Basketball? This kid who could take UNC to another National Championship probably in his Freshman year. Well it could be that John Wall, as good as he is, he might be a noose over the neck of any school he plays for. If you've read the news recently, John Wall was charged with breaking and entering. Kids do stupid things sometimes no question but this is trouble a top University does not need. Not to mention there are rumors circulating that John Wall has received cash incentives from colleges. This is even worse news. It appears as if this kid is selling his talent to the highest bidder. Calipari and Kentucky, I guess, don't care about this. Kentucky hasn't been a relevant team in a while and now that they have brought controversial coach John Calipari aboard I guess they figure as long as they win championships they can deal with the backlash.Here is something to consider about John Calipari and this is not to say that he is or was involved directly in these dealings, but it does cast a shadow on him and his basketball program. Calipari has only been to two Final Fours. Calipari was leaving Umass to coach the Nets when his first Final Four appearance was under question because of one of his players, Marcus Camby. Camby had received gifts from two agents while still at Umass. Calipari had a bit of a scarlet letter on him with College Basketball after that. So when Calipari decided to return to College Hoops he found the offers to be lacking. No one wanted to really touch him. So he ended up in Memphis for the 2000-2001 season. For nine years he built up the school at Memphis. And in the 2007-2008 season he took his Memphis Tigers to the final game of the Final Four only to lose to Kansas. Now as he takes over at Kentucky his former school is under investigation. Memphis player Derrick Rose is being targeted for cheating on his SATs in order to get into Memphis. If these allegations prove to be true, like Umass, Memphis will have it's Final Four record expunged from the record books. This could be pure bad luck or it could be a pattern of mis-conduct on Calipari's part. It is true he has never been fully investigated in all of these circumstances but if there are to be violations later regarding John Wall, who will be to blame? I think it's time the NCAA does it's job and truly investigate Calipari and his tactics. If the John Wall situation escalates and that it is discovered that he took money then Calipari deserves even tougher scrutiny.

*Updated note - Apparently the SAT situation has been resolved for Derrick Rose and he seems to be in the clear for that violation. Although he is now being scrutinized for unpaid trips his brother took on the Memphis players private plane. There are also new allegations against another Memphis player Robert Dozier and his entrance exams into college.

NCAA Final Four 2009 - UNC Tarheels

The 2009 Season for College Basketball is over and the University of North Carolina has emerged victorious. This was quite a run for the Heels as they barreled through the NCAA Tournament dismantling teams to make it to the final game in Detroit, MI against the Michigan State Spartans. Before the first game was played the Heels were pre-season number 1 and some commentators would even exclaim that the Heels would March into Detroit undefeated to steal the crown. After a strong showing in the first few games Carolina experienced the first set back of the season when they lost Marcus Ginyard for the season because of a fracture in his left foot and star center Tyler Hansbrough had to sit out for a few games due to a stress reaction condition in his right shin. To make matters worse a month later Freshman big Man Tyler Zeller breaks his wrist and at the time is told he may be out indefinitely. (Zeller did return late in the season.) There was an early memorable game in December that mirrored the one in Detroit. UNC destroyed Michigan State in December in the very building they would go on to win their National Championship five months later.The hype on the Heels dropped like a rock when the Heels began the regular season in the ACC blowing two games early with losses to Boston College at home and Wake Forest in Winston-Salem. The talking heads continued to acknowledge the skill of this Tar Heel team but now had doubts about their ability to win it all. Coach Roy Williams never gave up on his squad as he pushed his team. Lead by the unstoppable Ty Lawson the Heels went on a 10-0 run. The Heels were proving once again why they were the best as they dominated the ACC to take first place in the league. The other big news to come out of that run was that Carolina had beaten Duke for the fourth time in Four years at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Take that Cameron Crazies!! But disaster was right around the corner again, after a big win during Homecoming against Duke the Heels lost their star point guard Ty Lawson due to a toe injury. Lawson sat out the ACC Tournament to watch the boys in blue lose in an awkward game to Florida State. UNC had won the regular season and even though they lost the ACC Tournament they were still able to get the number one seed in the South. March Madness had begun and everyone was filling out their brackets. It was great to see President Obama predict the boys in blue to win it all. Which obviously had to illicit a comment from the peanut gallery of Mikey K and the Dukies. (Although I will acknowledge it was in jest.) Duke of course got a second seed in the East after their big win at the ACC Tournament. Wake got a four seed in the Midwest and Maryland wound up with a 10 seed in the West. The Clemson Tigers and Boston College each received a 7 seed in the South and Midwest, while Florida State got a 5 seed in the East. The ACC disappointed big time. I was so sure they were going to represent but all but Duke and Maryland got booted out in the first damn round. Don't even get me started on Wake Forest and their choking in the Tournament. I had them going all the way to the big dance and they go and blow it in the first round to Cleveland friggin State, ouch.>Ty Lawson returned for the second game of the tournament against LSU and the Heels dominated late in the second half beating the Tigers by 14. The Heels would do similar damage to their next opponent Gonzaga. Hansbrough, Lawson and Wayne Ellington had a big night pounding Gonzaga by double digits for most of the game. Danny Green also put up big numbers shooting 3-6 behind the arc. The Heels won easily 98-77. The next challenge was the battle of the Big Men Blake Griffin and his Oklahoma Sooners versus Tyler Hansbrough. Griffin dominated in the paint but UNC was able to choke off any spurt or rally from the rest of the team. Lawson had a great game with 19 points and 5 assists but it was Danny Green who stepped up the 3 point shooting again with 19 points. He was 2-4 from behind the arc. Ellington and Hansbrough both were quiet for the evening but it didn't matter. There are just so many ways for this team to attack. I also want to point out that throughout this series the Tar Heels, who have been criticized for a lack of solid defense, played exceptionally well on the other end of the floor. From steals and turnovers Carolina racked up points so quickly that by the time their opponents had a chance to take a breath they found themselves down 15 to 20 points.The Final Four was now set. Detroit was welcoming home the (2) Michigan State Spartans. The same Spartans that dismantled the defending champions (3) Kansas, in the Sweet 16, 67-62. The Spartans went on to discombobulate overall number one (1) Louisville in the Elite Eight, 64-52. Michigan State had to face up against the rock solid (1) Connecticut Huskies. Uconn racked up a solid win against (5) Purdue, 72-60 and a powering win over (3) Missouri in the Elite 8 to make it into the Final Four. The final score was 82-75. These were all tough teams with excellent coaches and it was Tom Izzo and his Michigan State team that frustrated and harassed the dominating powerhouse Uconn defeating them 82-73 to make it into the final game. On the other side of the aisle the (3) Villanova Wildcats were working on a spectacular run of their own cruising past the Blue Devils of (2) Duke in the Sweet 16 77-54. Villanova added to their list of giant killers by beating (1) Pittsburgh in the elite 8 in a tight match-up 78-76. With Villanova's excellent defense and guard play they were just looking to give the Tarheels a run for their money. But in the end Nova just didn't have enough juice to work their way past the Heels. Coach Wright and his squad made it interesting when they brought the lead down to 5 early in the second half but they just couldn't buy a basket allowing UNC to push the score back up to double digits and the win, 83-69.
Tom Izzo and his Michigan State Spartans were getting support from their home turf in Michigan as they were burdened with the task of carrying Detroit's flailing auto industry and economy on their young shoulders. The way the press made it sound like it was the entire state, nay maybe even the country with its economic downturn and these blue collar Spartans against the Tarheels. It was crazy and really ridiculous that these comments were even made, it would have made an even greater story I guess if Michigan State had won----but that's not what happened. Michigan State led by Goran Suton, Kalin Lucas and Draymond Green came out of the gate flat turning the ball over multiple times in just the first 10 minutes allowing Carolina to get a 10 point lead almost instantly. The Heels played an almost perfect half doing to Michigan State what Kansas had done to them the year before. Michigan State had that same deer in the headlights look throughout the game. The Tarheels had a tournament record breaking half leading the Spartans 55-34. MSU did seem to awaken from their slumber in the second half with their famous pressure defense but by then it was too late, UNC won 89-72. Ty Lawson had a record 8 steals for the game. Junior Deon Thompson and Freshman Ed Davis blitzed Michigan State with a flurry of inside shots and rebounds. I can't speak for anyone else but the win was exciting for me and well worth the wait.It's fair to say that the end was anti-climatic. It's also fair to say that the Tarheels were on another level from anyone else. Will this 2009 Carolina team go down in the history books as one of the greatest college teams ever? The book isn't written on that one yet but it's a tough call. I will say that I have never seen a team as focused as this one. Ty Lawson set the tone and Ellington, Green and Hansbrough buried the shots, inside and out. This has to be one of the most balanced UNC teams I have ever seen. This is the teams fifth National Championship win and Roy Williams second. Roy Williams is the fourth active coach to win consecutive titles. North Carolina also has an all time record of 103 victories in Tournament play. Pretty impressive I must say. These were a great bunch of kids who I will miss watching next year. Tyler Hansbrough has proven his worth to all the critics who said he wasn't deserving of acclaim. Psycho T will forever have his jersey hanging from the rafters of the dean dome and there is nothing any of them can say or do about that. Congratulations to Coach Roy Williams and his excellent squad of players for an unbelievable season and I can't wait to see what's in store for next year. Go Heels Go!!