As I have stated before, I am not a big fan of the conference tournaments but there were some wonderful storylines Tuesday night.
Princeton beat Penn to send Harvard to its first NCAA tournament since 1946. Shoot, I was even born for 10 years yet in 1946.
Western Kentucky tallied its 15th win last night. It was a big one sending the Hilltoppers to the Big Dance with a 15-18 record. It looks like a definite play-in candidate but I doubt Western Kentucky cares.
South Dakota State won an overtime game from Western Illinois in the Summit League final. The win earned the Jackrabbits their first NCAA bid ever. SDSU recently moved up from the Division II ranks.
Detroit put on an impressive show in the Horizon final. It thumped regular season champion Valparaiso on its home floor. This team has come a long way since Dick Vitale coached them. The Titans are fun to watch.
The week is young and the games just keep on coming. There will be more close games and more unexpected winners. It’s the beauty of March.
Showing posts with label Dick Vitale. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dick Vitale. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Friday, March 25, 2011
Hail Butler
Bucky Badger feels sad today. He watched his beloved Wisconsin team steamrolled by Butler last night.
So much for the ESPN experts’ predictions. Dick Vitale and Jay Bilas gave the Bulldogs no chance. They said Butler better not get behind. No problem, boys, Butler handled it.
These Bulldogs are on a mission. Stumbling a bit during the season, Butler is now playing on a high level. It is out to prove that the Bulldogs appearance in the championship game last year was no fluke.
These guys are a veteran group and they show it in the tournament. This isn’t like a kid’s first trip to Disneyland. Butler isn’t wide-eyed. The Bulldogs are business-like and take it one game at a time. They play off their coach Brad Stevens. Stevens keeps them motivated in a steady, confident way. Stevens looks and acts like a choir director out there.
Butler’s next obstacle is Florida. The Gators are an athletic team and a direct opposite of Wisconsin. They like to push the ball and shoot.
The Bulldogs will have a challenge. But this one is for the Final Four. And besides, Butler has already defeated the No. 1 and 4 seeds. It would enjoy added No. 2 to the collection.
It just might happen.
So much for the ESPN experts’ predictions. Dick Vitale and Jay Bilas gave the Bulldogs no chance. They said Butler better not get behind. No problem, boys, Butler handled it.
These Bulldogs are on a mission. Stumbling a bit during the season, Butler is now playing on a high level. It is out to prove that the Bulldogs appearance in the championship game last year was no fluke.
These guys are a veteran group and they show it in the tournament. This isn’t like a kid’s first trip to Disneyland. Butler isn’t wide-eyed. The Bulldogs are business-like and take it one game at a time. They play off their coach Brad Stevens. Stevens keeps them motivated in a steady, confident way. Stevens looks and acts like a choir director out there.
Butler’s next obstacle is Florida. The Gators are an athletic team and a direct opposite of Wisconsin. They like to push the ball and shoot.
The Bulldogs will have a challenge. But this one is for the Final Four. And besides, Butler has already defeated the No. 1 and 4 seeds. It would enjoy added No. 2 to the collection.
It just might happen.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Roy Williams and Harrison Barnes
After watching some of the North Carolina-Duke game last night, I began to reflect on the relationship between Roy Williams and Harrison Barnes.
Coach Williams landed the celebrated recruit from Ames, Iowa high school last year. Ames is only about 70 miles from my home.
Color broadcaster Dick Vitale was talking about Barnes and his hometown last night.
Barnes could have gone anywhere in the basketball universe but apparently developed a deep relationship with Williams. Williams knows the state of Iowa well. He grabbed two stellar athletes from our state when he was coaching Kansas. One guy jokingly said that ‘ole Roy’ should pay Iowa state income tax.
Barnes has had mega pressure on him this season. He was the first freshman ever to be named a preseason All-American. So when Superman came in and didn’t dominant, the questions were flying. But Barnes is picking his game up and playing like the preseason hype.
I wonder what impact Williams has had on Barnes’ improved play. Did the coach give him the tough love speech or did he use the positive reinforcement approach?
Maybe some of both.
You can bet Williams didn’t gush over Barnes like he did during the recruiting process. But it looks like Barnes, Williams and North Carolina will be just fine.
Coach Williams landed the celebrated recruit from Ames, Iowa high school last year. Ames is only about 70 miles from my home.
Color broadcaster Dick Vitale was talking about Barnes and his hometown last night.
Barnes could have gone anywhere in the basketball universe but apparently developed a deep relationship with Williams. Williams knows the state of Iowa well. He grabbed two stellar athletes from our state when he was coaching Kansas. One guy jokingly said that ‘ole Roy’ should pay Iowa state income tax.
Barnes has had mega pressure on him this season. He was the first freshman ever to be named a preseason All-American. So when Superman came in and didn’t dominant, the questions were flying. But Barnes is picking his game up and playing like the preseason hype.
I wonder what impact Williams has had on Barnes’ improved play. Did the coach give him the tough love speech or did he use the positive reinforcement approach?
Maybe some of both.
You can bet Williams didn’t gush over Barnes like he did during the recruiting process. But it looks like Barnes, Williams and North Carolina will be just fine.
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