College Basketball

I don't usually take joy in the misfortune of others especially when it is centered around a group of college kids that just want to play basketball, but when I read that Isiah Thomas' Florida International University basketball team was beaten this week by NAIA Northwood, I had to smile.

Continue reading "Joy at Florida International basketball ..."

This off-season for college basketball fans was one of the toughest in recent memory. Scandals, coaches in trouble and basketball teams fighting football teams all marred the sport.

Probably biggest of these scandals to me was the Rick Pitino scandal where he was allegedly being blackmailed by a former lover with whom he allegedly had an extra-marital affair. Pitino was always one of those guys who seemed to do everything right, at the college level at least, and when he became front page news, it was a real shock to many.

Continue reading "NCAA Basketball Season Beginning ..."

So, rumor has it online sports betting used to be really sweet; I heard pinnaclesports was an excellent, reputable site until the US cracked down on this alleged integrity issue.  An article I read points to a 1999 study that over $380 billion is illegally wagered on betting.  Now, I am not an advocate of; well, if society does it.. then it must be right.  Because usually, I think people are pretty stupid, especially society.  However, this seems harmless to me because the money can be used in so many ways.  Think of all the tax money and money, in general, the state and the US can collect, insane.  Anyway, it appears sports betting is only allowed in several states where it was legal before a certain law was passed.

Continue reading "Centsports Is Sweet"

As if losing starters Terrance Williams, Earl Clark and Andre McGee weren't enough, the Louisville Cardinals will have a tough schedule heading into the 2009-2010 season. An Associated Press article on July 2 has the Cardinals facing UConn and Syracuse along with St. Johns twice next season.

Continue reading "Louisville Will Have a Tough Road This Season"

When reports came out last week that Coach Mike Kryzewski was possibly considering leaving Duke to take over Lakers if Phil Jackson retires, few could really take it seriously. It was serious enough that Coach K addressed it at his summer press conference last week though, but I doubt anyone thought the Duke of Duke would abdicate his NCAA throne for one in the NBA.

Continue reading "Summer Malaise Probably Led To Coach K Rumors"

When Michigan State shocked Louisville last Sunday, college basketball fans around the country had to take notice. The Big Ten, which was supposed to be having another down year, had sent its eighth team to the Final Four since 2000. Maybe this conference wasn't as bad as some people thought?

Continue reading "Penn State Win Is Redemption for Big Ten"

This is the time of year when college coaches gather around and play the game of musical chairs to see who will be the next coach where. We have already seen it with Billy Gillespie being replaced by John Calipari. But one coach, at least, seems to have bucked the trend.

Continue reading "College Coaches Staying Put Was The Right Call"

When Kentucky and Indiana square off in their annual non-conference matchup, the rivalry is usually intense. Both storied traditions looking to gain an edge on their opponents not just in the eyes of voters in the national polls but in the eyes of the nation and the athletes in talent rich Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky.

Continue reading "Calipari Hiring Will Create Recruiting Rivalry"

As the sports world waits anxiously for Saturday and the Final Four of the NCAA Men's Basketball tournament, college hoops fans will get a taste of the excitement tonight as the NIT revs up with its semifinal contests.

Continue reading "NIT Moves to New York: Previewing ..."

At one point yesterday color commentator for CBS Len Elmore said that if Louisville was going to come back and win, the Cardinal would have to "take it away" from Michigan State. Nothing could have been more true.

Continue reading "Michigan State Put Together Perfect ..."

The Big East will have at least one team in the Final Four as Pitt and Villanova square off tonight in one of the two Elite Eight games. But for fans of the Big East another step toward basketball dominance will be the UConn/Missouri game.

Continue reading "UConn versus Missouri Will Be Key ..."

Okay so last night I went 2 for 4. Not bad. If I were a baseball player, I would be in the Hall of Fame. Apparently UConn is not as affected by the off court issues as much as I thought they would be and Coach K did not prepare for Villanova manhandling and basically running the Dukies out of the gym. At least Missouri lived up to its billing hanging 102 on Memphis in regulation.

Continue reading "Friday Night Has Been Wild in The NCAA Tournament"

Crank up the Victrola the dance is about to start again.

After a long week of wishing it was Thursday, the day has finally arrived and the NCAA Men's Basketball tournament is ready to resume. And tonight's games should provide a good wake up call that March Madness is back in full swing.

Continue reading "Despite Lack of Lower Seeds, March ..."

Dana Altman and his Creighton Blue Jays probably had nightmares last night about falling bricks.

Creighton had its second round NIT game with Kentucky all but wrapped up. All they had to do was make their free throws. And that's where things went off track.

Continue reading "Free Throws Ground Creighton in the NIT"

Despite all the wild finishes, the close calls and unbelievable endings, the top seeds emerged from the first two rounds on top of the NCAA Men's Basketball tournament.

Of the 16 teams remaining, 15 are a 5 seed or better and the only remaining double digit seed, No. 12 Arizona, faced another double digit seed in No. 13 Cleveland State in the second round. While the underdog did not come out on top in this year's tournament (or last year's for that matter with all No. 1s making the Final Four) that does not mean college basketball has lost the parody that we all love.

Continue reading "Top Seeds Show Their Mettle in NCAA ..."

Lost in last night's overtime fest in the final games of the first round was Cleveland State's dismantling of Wake Forest. It was such a blowout that CBS didn't even switch to it so we could watch Cleveland State celebrate. While the Vikings remain the highest seed left in the tournament, two other teams who garnered upset victories last were the ones taking the biggest deep breaths.

Continue reading "In a Wild Friday, Teams Showed They Belonged"

I picked Kansas right last season. I had them going all the way. A couple of years ago, I picked the Northwestern State upset of Iowa. I did. I also had George Mason going to the Final Four. Okay I didn't have that one but I did pick the others.

Continue reading "Multiple Brackets Secure Bragging Rights"

The NCAA Tournament selection committee did not have to look far when deciding if Louisville should get the No. 1, No. 1 position. They just had to look back at last year's tournament champion.

The Cardinals are eerily similar to the Kansas Jayhawks.

Continue reading "Louisville is Built for Deep Tourney Run"

Teams in this year's NCAA Men's College Basketball Tournament need to look at not just their seeding to see how the selection committee viewed their performance this year, they need to look at where they will play their first and second round games.

Continue reading "Location, Location, Location: Creative ..."

What a time to start a blog about college basketball? Talk about your baptism by fire. The conference tournaments get started this week, there are so many teams on the bubble it is about burst and NCAA and NIT Tournaments are on the horizon.

Continue reading "Welcome to My NCAA Blog"

2008 is winding down, the NBA season is rolling along, the NFL playoffs are right around the corner, and the college football bowls are in full swing. In just a few weeks we can start focusing on the most exciting and important sport, ever – men’s college basketball.

Continue reading "North Carolina Isn't A Sure Thing ..."

After witnessing Tennessee Volunteers defeat the number one ranked team in the nation the Memphis Tigers, it is crystal clear what this game meant:  Memphis is one of the most overrated number one team.  Sure, they had the second best RPI in the nation, but they just were not that good.  They have not been tested at all while they faced Conference USA teams.  Sure they defeated USC, UCONN, Arizona, and Gonzaga, but that was all in the start of the season when those teams were slow out of the gate.  After those uplifting victories, Memphis has not been tested at all by facing mediocre teams in CUSA.  While watching them face Tennessee, it was clear who was the better  team.  In one of its biggest games of the season, it struggled because this team has not faced this kind of atmosphere all season.  The players seemed rattled by the atmosphere and there was sloppy plays everywhere.  From bad shots, passes, and turnovers, it was a display that showed Memphis is not considered one of the best teams in college basketball.  Even though Tennessee was horrible at times, they were able to overcome their struggles, and the crowd.  They were able to prevail.  Memphis shot too many threes and played selfishly as they tried to drive it to the basket when other players were open.  Memphis is not a considered a national champ, but rather a national flop.

Continue reading "IT'S OFFICIAL: MEMPHIS IS THE MOST ..."