I so wanted to share my thoughts with you on March Madness right away on Sunday night. That became problematic since I was laying comatose on my couch, most likely drooling and babbling incoherently. It has taken me until Tuesday to recover from my basketball overdose. I’m a simple man. This year’s coverage by four networks, allowing us to watch EVERY SINGLE GAME, might just be the greatest concept ever.
I’m just going to share some random thoughts about the tournament so far:
*I have to start with my Syracuse Orange failing to reach the Sweet 16 again. A few weeks ago I wrote about this team’s lack of intangibles and intensity. Never more evident than in the second round ( no, I won’t refer to the play in games as round one). A very sloppy 18 turnovers and horrible decision making allowed Marquette to advance. While this year’s Orange missed the numbers put up by Wes Johnson, Andy Rautins and Arinze Onuaku, they were done in by their inability to replace their leadership. I’ve spent the season shaking my head at the poor decisions by the supposed veteran point guard, Scoop Jardine. Two plays from Sunday night exemplify my frustration. Down one with 18 seconds to play in the first half. Brandon Triche grabs a rebound in the lane and has the presence of mind to pass it out to hold for the last shot. He gives it to Scoop who immediately shoots and misses a three. Marquette rebounds and comes down and scores at the buzzer. A gift wrapped two points. Tie game with 51 seconds left and on the in bounds pass Scoop tip toes near the half court line trying not to step on it for an over and back. Really? All he had to do was let the ball bounce in the backcourt and take two steps over the line to get it. Instead he turned the ball over. All season long.
*The end of the Pitt/Butler game was something that I have never seen in 45 years of watching sports. Let’s start with the fact that both plays were fouls and needed to be called. In the span of two seconds it went from Butler’s game to Pitt’s game to Butler’s win. While I love exciting endings, I don’t like them as the result of a bad play. I want to see someone make a spectacular play to win it. I feel so badly for Nasir Robinson of Pitt. I can’t fathom what he feels like Yes, it was a terrible, terrible foul. But I still feel for him. If Shelvin Mack doesn’t foul Gilbert Brown then the game ends with Brown throwing up a prayer that probably doesn’t go in. And then if Brown makes the second free throw, Robinson never has the chance to commit the foul. Tough.
*I also feel for Texas’ Jordan Hamilton. If he just holds the ball after his rebound, he gets fouled up 2. Inexplicably he calls time out and then gets called for a five second violation trying to inbound the ball. Derrick Williams then makes an amazing “and 1” and Arizona moves on. I have to wonder where Rick Barnes was while Hamilton was trying to inbound. He can call timeout also and should have at 3 seconds to help Hamilton out. Hamilton waited until the count reached four. Too late.
*30 years after Danny Ainge, say hello to Jimmer.
*Either Florida State or VCU will be in the Regional Final. Amazing.
*How have so many babies become such great coaches? Butler’s Brad Stevens is considered one of, if not the best, in game coaches around. Watching him run into the locker room and do a flying chest bump was great. His team immediately gathered around him. Richmond is blessed with two of these new hotshots. Chris Mooney of the Spiders and Shaka Smart of VCU are apparently locks to take over Georgia Tech and Tennessee respectively. I’ve talked about Memphis’ Josh Pastner. How cool is Marquette’s Buzz Williams? Any Curly look alike is awesome.
*Thanks for letting me watch Morehead State’s Kenneth Fareid before he gets to the show.
*That intensity I’m looking for from my Orange? Caring? Let me introduce you to Kansas State’s Jacob Pullen. Any team of mine Jacob, anytime.
I need another nap.
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