Final Four

The college hoops season is drawing to an end but not without going out with a bang. This year's tournament and by tournament I mean the NCAA tournament (no one cares about the NIT, CBI, or College Insider) has been unreal. Last weekend once again proved why college basketball is awesome.

I need to first talk about my boys at Xavier. Thursday night's game against Kansas State was arguably one of the best college basketball games I have ever witnessed. It went double OT with so many high level plays. When it looked like Xavier was done in regulation Terrell Holloway got fouled in the act of shooting a three. He calmly stepped to the line and knocked down three pressure foul shots. Then it was the man of the night, Jordan Crawford knocking down one of the biggest time shots I've ever seen. That three he laced from about 32 feet was truly an exclamation point on his season at Xavier. The guy is just absolutely unreal. Both him and Holloway put the team on their back in the extra sessions. Even though Xavier fell just short in the second over time I felt nothing but proud to be a Musketeer as the final horn sounded. There was nothing to hang your head on in that game. They played extremely hard and fought until the end. Thanks to Jason Love for a fantastic four years. Like BJ Raymond last you, Love showed what it truly means to be a Musketeer. He stuck with it, got better every year, and went out a winner no matter how you look at it. He too is a role model for any basketball player coming into that program. The more BJ Raymonds and Jason Loves they get the better. Coach Mack had a heck of a first year and I'm thoroughly looking forward to many more years like that from him at X. In closing, I would like to say that I think Jordan Crawford is jumping to the league. I mean after the numbers he put up in the tournament, how can he not leave? I've been told that he's projected as a top 20 pick. If he does return, an imminent NBA lock out in 2011 would force him to stay through his senior year and I just don't see him wanting to stay that long, especially with his talent and potential. He has the total package to play in the league right now. But then again, I read just over a month ago that NBA scouts would like for him to stay one more year. That would be unreal and certainly be huge for the team next year. It would certainly make them a pre season top 15 team in my mind. Only time will tell. Until then I will pray like five times a day that he stays. I am already looking forward to the start of the 2010 season! Do what we do.

In the first semi-final Butler will match up against Michigan State. What a story line here. First you have Michigan State making it to their second consecutive Final Four. Seriously, you can never count Tom Izzo and Sparty out in March. That guy and his teams always click come tournament time. Even with out Kalin Lucas they still have the fire power to advance to the biggest stage in college basketball. Butler is quite a story in itself. I know it was salt in the wound to all Xavier fans to see them beat Kansas State full knowing that a rematch between Butler and Xavier would've been the perfect opportunity to advance to the Final Four. But, you have to give Butler a lot of credit. They are the little school that could. In reality they have been on the map since the late 90s and finally got over the hump. Not only are they in the Final Four but it's being played in their back yard in Indianapolis. Much like Michigan State last year in Detroit, Butler has a great opportunity to do something special in front of the home crowd. Lucas Oil Stadium will certainly be rocking on Saturday night. I think on paper you have to give the slight advantage to Michigan State in this match up. Tom Izzo is the veteran coach who has been on this stage plenty of times and knows what it takes to win. Not only that, I would argue their talent is better than Butler's talent. Not to put Butler aside, they have legit guys too. Gordon Hayward, Shelvin Mack, and Matt Howard are three very very solid players and obviously they have proven their worth by advancing to the Final Four. My mind says Michigan State but the my great story line loving heart says Butler. This game could come down to a possession or two, I got Michigan State to make it's second National Title game in a row here. Sorry to my sister who went to Butler, but I got Sparty in this one.

In the second semi-final you have Duke and West Virginia. In Duke you have the sure fire hall of famer Coach K at the healm of the ship leading a once again very solid, sound, and skilled Duke team to their first Final Four since 2004. Duke is probably the least talked about team in this tournament. They have quietly been winning in solid fashion. They probably had the easiest run up to this point as well. Of all four teams left I would say they have the best chance at winning this whole thing. Their inside presence is really good. I mean they out rebounded a very athletic Baylor team, a team who rarely if ever gets out rebounded. They can stroke from deep as well and Nolan Smith is the slasher with a ton of potential. On the other end you have a West virginia team coached by hard nosed and well respected Bob Huggins. Huggy Bear stopped the most talented team in the country in stunning fashion. The 1-3-1 zone worked to perfection on Kentucky as they went 0-fer from long range. With the possibility of Truck Bryant returning to the line up this weekend they will be at full force. Da'Sean Butler is a very good player. Devin Ebanks at 6'8" can guard a perimeter player and seems to be coming into his own this tournament. Defensive leader Mazzula out of nowhere scored 17 against Kentucky as well. Because I picked West Virginia to lose to Kansas in the title game I'm going to stick with West Virginia here. They are my pick to match up with Michigan State next Monday night in Indy.

Meanwhile while hoops as been in full affect things have been going down here in Charlottesville. We are half way through spring practice. I really like the tempo of practice so far. The new staff is great and I can see the attitude changing in players already. Marc Verica has looked solid as QB 1 and the defense looks good in the new 4-3 scheme. Our spring game is April 10th and then we will begin getting ready for a much anticipated match up with Richmond on September 4th followed by a little trip out west to USC on September 11th. Stay tuned. The men's baseball team is still #1 in the country after taking 2 of 3 from top 5 ranked Clemson this weekend. The men's lacrosse team is also still ranked #1 and undefeated after beating Johns Hopkins this weekend. UVA athletics is just on deam right now.

It's that time of year, softball is back. I once again will be taking to the field on a football staff squad. We're looking for a little better effort this year as I think we were placed in a division a little over our heads. I just got a new glove so you know I'm ready to take right field and have that on lock. They are implementing wooden bats this year which should be interesting. I do plan on keeping my power hitting heavy in the mix. The Young Guns and Old Men are back with much swagger this year.

-'Killa

Or you could do it like the post office.

To steal a phrase used by every sportscaster around this time of year, "...and then there were four."  Here we are, the Final Four is set and the bill for Detroit is as follows, UCONN vs. Michigan State and Villanova vs. UNC.  

UCONN has looked like the most complete and dominant team so far in this tournament.  AJ Price and Jeff Adrien have gone to work and Stanley Robinson is an emerging star on this team.  UCONN has all the pieces to not only make it to the championship game but to win the entire thing.  They have a hall of fame coach, a stand out point guard, a dominant big man, and enough guys to get the job done on both the perimeter and down low.  Do not be so quick to count Michigan State out.  Tom Izzo is March.  In the past 11 years Michigan State has been to five Final Fours.  Whether you're down with Sparty or not that is an impressive feat.  State doesn't have the star power but they will compete.  Not only that you have to give an advantage to Michigan State in the fact that they will be playing in front of a home crowd.  However, even in front of a home crowd back in December, Michigan State got waxed by UNC at Ford Field.  I don't think past history will have anything to do with the outcome of the game.  I just think on paper UCONN is the much better team and I think they go on to win and make it into the championship game.  

I wish I would've paid attention to what I told myself and others back in October/November as college basketball was gearing up.  "I think UNC will win the whole thing this year.  Four guys decided to come back with the sole purpose of doing one thing.  Win the championship."  That's what I said about 6 months ago.  Of course I picked Pittsburgh to win the entire thing and that certainly is not the case.  If I could I would go back and change some things in my bracket.  Going into this tournament UNC was just not looking like they could do it.  But, let's face some facts.  With the return of Ty Lawson they look unbeatable.  They have just been throttling teams and everyone is getting involved.  UNC also has the pieces to win the title: Hall of Fame coach, point guard who is dynamic with the rock, strong post presence, and dudes who can burn the silk.  Again, do not be so quick to toss 'Nova to the street.  They were superior underdogs against Pat Ewing's Georgetown Hoyas back in the day and against all odds won the entire thing.  This year they will once again be underdogs.  You have to think 'Nova is going to be in the mix just by the way they have battled all tournament.  I like Scottie Reynolds and Dante Cunningham.  But I just don't know if 'Nova has what it takes to keep up with UNC.  In this case, 'Nova will be too small.  I think we're going to see a UCONN and UNC battle for a championship.

Cue up the circus music and start the coaching carousel.  Anthony Grant accepted the job at 'Bama, John Calipari is about to get paid mass straight at UK, and Tony Bennett is at UVA.  It was time for Grant to move on but I am not convinced that he is going to succeed at 'Bama.  John Calipari will get UK back into the top 25 but like my homie AB told me tonight, UK most likely doesn't make it back to the level it once was at during the Pitino and Tubby days.  The campus isn't really that big time for legit dudes these days and you have to bus to practice.  John Calipari will be successful at UK but maybe not to the level that the alumni would like to see.  I still think Gillespie got a raw deal there.  However, I will blame the search committee for hiring him in haste.  He may have not been the right choice for the job, but at least give the guy a chance to get his own people into his system and certainly don't fire a guy because he "doesn't get along with the administration."  Tony Bennett is at UVA.  Many people are probably like, "what the f?!"  They certainly have the right to be since the short list of candidates included: Tubby Smith, Jeff Capel, Anthony Grant, and Sean Miller.  Clearly Bennett's name was never in the mix.  But we don't always know what goes on behind closed doors.  Bennett is a defensive minded coach and has created the "pack line" defense.  For those of you unaware of "pack line" defense Xavier, Wake Forest, and other schools use the philosophy.  I love it and will use it if I ever become a coach.  The only glaring problem I see in this hire is that you're bringing a west coast guy to the east.  It will be tough for him to recruit early on.  But, I think eventually he gets the job done here.  UVA is going to have to be patient as the team is not quite ready to win right now.  It's going to take awhile before they are back and among the dudes at the top but the team can only go up and it starts right now with Bennett.

Sean Miller is staying put at Xavier.  I don't think we have anything to worry about for at least another season.  In my opinion and of course this is only opinion, I only see him leaving to very high level position in either the Big East and ACC.  Who's to say that he will leave?  But, if he does it is going to be a situation where the program is poised to win and win immediately.  As long as he is winning at Xavier I honestly don't see him leaving anytime soon.  You're going to see the program continue to grow.  Cintas Center is going to receive some changes over the next couple of years in terms of scoreboard technology.  Sean is going to continue to land high level homies.  I've been told that the two best players on the team didn't even play this year in Jordan Crawford and Mark "Cheekz" Lyons.  But, as long as Sean is there every player should strive to be like my man BJ Raymond.  BJ has left his legacy at Xavier.  He was the first recruit Sean landed as a head coach and look at the legacy he left.  That should say something about the talent Sean lands and the ability of him as a coach to get the best out of his players.  To me, as long as Sean is there, Sweet 16 should be expected every year if not better.  Keep up the great work Coach.  I got your back.

Eldrick is back.  He won his first tournament since going under the knife.  He was five shots down going into Sunday.  Of course he won in dramatic fashion with a crispy putt on 18 to seal the deal.  I don't follow golf as much as others do but I would say Tiger has to be a legitimate candidate to win "A Tradition Unlike Any Other" aka The Masters.  

Seth Curry is transferring to Duke.  That's pretty dumb Seth.

If the Cavs get home court throughout the playoffs they are going to slap face and win the title.  Is the NBA fixed?  Maybe.  I don't really look into it enough to say whether it is or not.  If you break it down the Cavs got Mo Williams for basically nothing and the Lakers for Pau Gasol for about the same price, nada.  I got 'Bron as MVP.  It may be biased it may not.  Regardless he's the man and nothing beats when "Flight number 23 is about to take off."

Unwar the guy who says, "just living the dream" when you ask him what's up?

--'Killa