What we learned from this past weekend:
Goliath’s make history: They said it could never be done because “March Madness” wouldn’t allow for it. I laughed every year when CBS analyst Clark Kellogg picked all the number one seeds to advance to the Final Four, citing “it just has to happen soon enough.” Well Clark, ya finally got us. So did you Dick Vitale. And I can’t forget Jay Bilas! The powerhouse programs of North Carolina, Kansas, UCLA, and Memphis have all taken care of business and advanced to the Final Four in San Antonio, Texas. It’s the first time in the history of the event that all four number one seeds have advanced. If you’re curious, the tournament has been going for almost 70 years but seedings were implemented in 1979!
This is a new era for college basketball and fans better accept it. With the NBA age requirement forcing kids to go to school for one year, the top programs are getting the best talent because of exposure and coaching, both of which can improve a kid’s stock tremendously. Two of the Final Four teams in UCLA and Memphis have key players that are freshmen including forward Kevin Love and guard Derrick Rose. Both players have been tabbed as locks for lottery picks in the upcoming NBA draft. Kansas and North Carolina on the other hand have a plethora of talent that they reload every year (not to say the other two schools don’t). Their depth and experience has soared above the competition, whether it be in their conferences or in the national tournament itself. We saw this last year somewhat too, with all number one and two seeds getting to the Final Four.
Like it or not, I truly believe we are in a powerhouse era. Yes, Davidson was a nice story. Who didn’t like the fact that even LeBron James got a ride to Detroit to watch the baller that is Stephen Curry light up Ford Field. Kansas might have beat them by only two but the final minutes clearly showed who the superior team was in every facet of the game. While everyone always seems to root for the Cinderella’s this time of the year, I’ll take the other path and root for the great programs to get to the Final Four and ultimately face-off in matches for the ages. Three of the four regional final games this past weekend were decided by double digits. I can assure you that won’t be the case in San Antonio.
Memphis deserves “elite program” status: Honestly, I don’t know why it took me this long. I always tried to find something about this team that I just didn’t like. I tried pointing to the lack of an inside presence, remembering Joey Dorsey getting eating alive by my boy Greg Oden and The Ohio State Buckeyes last year. Whatever, forget it all. Let’s just say it plain and simple, repeat after me: Memphis is REALLY good. With their win over Texas Sunday, Memphis reached the 37 win plateau, becoming only the fifth team in college basketball history to do so: They have over 100 wins in the past three seasons and their recruiting classes are easily becoming the second coming of the And-1 Mixtape Tour. All that said, Memphis is doing everything right and has gotten over the hump, reaching their first Final Four since 1985.
Credit John Calipari for sticking up for his players in front of the media time and time again, just like a good coach should. People bashed them for the free throw shooting, hasn’t mattered. People bashed them for playing “street-ball”, hasn’t mattered. People bashed them for coming from Conference-USA, the equivalent of YMCA weekend basketball, hasn’t mattered. So what does matter? Can an 18 point victory over another “elite” program in Texas validate what you have done? Some might say yes. Most would say consistent post-season success defines elite status in college basketball. Obviously, a ring would silence all the critics and the Tigers will be gunning for that this weekend in San Antonio. All they have to do is topple the definition of an elite program in UCLA, a program that hoists 11 championship banners. Yikes.
Hansbrough deserves all the credit he is getting, and some more, plus some more on-top of that: Yes, I know us college basketball fans have been crammed down the throat the fact that North Carolina junior forward Tyler Hansbrough, also known as “Psycho T”, is the hardest working player ever to walk the hardwood and wear the Carolina blue. However, watching the East regional final Saturday night clearly illustrated why Hansbrough is the clear cut favorite to win the Naismith Trophy, awarded to the top college basketball player in the country annually. Too many people are projecting what Hansbrough’s skill-set will translate into for the NBA and are forgetting what a tremendous COLLEGE player he is (and yes, I do think the kid will be an impact player in the NBA, a debate for another day).
During a crucial stretch in the second half against the Louisville Cardinals, both Wayne Ellington and Danny Green of UNC could not find their shooting touch and the Tar Heels were struggling for some offense. Enter Tyler Hansbrough. The kid from Missouri took all of Tar Heel nation on his back for the ride to San Antonio. Whether it was getting offensive rebounds, blocked shots (which has been added to his repertoire this past season), or impressive put-backs like the nasty slam following a Green miss (plus the kid can do a 360 degree dunk), Hansbrough wasn’t going to lose the game, not a chance in the world. After losing to George Mason two years ago and Georgetown last year, the Tar Heels are showing off one of their deepest and most talented teams in recent memory. These kids are on a mission and although I’m rockin’ and chalkin’ with the Kansas Jayhawks, UNC has to be the clear-cut favorite to cut down the final nets in San Antonio.
Thanks to Philly Levin for the top photo.
