Author: Coach Z (Page 15 of 38)

The Jayhawks are clicking on all cylinders. In beating the Texas Longhorns in today’s Big 12 championship they have assured themselves a number one seed. This team is deep and deadly. With Darrell Arthur and Darnell Jackson patroling the middle and giving them an inside presence teams are going to have to help out. That leaves open shooters like Brandon Rush and Mario Chalmers.

The key to this team’s destiny in the NCAA tournament is going to be Sheron Collins. He is a playmaker that can create for himself and for his teammates. He demonstrated this in clutch situations today. Either scoring himself or creating for wide open shots by Rush and Chalmers. The other key is going to wether or not Brandon Rush will make the big play. Too often in his college career he has passed up shots to be unselfish. However, for them to win it all, he needs to show a little selfish and the will to take the big shot.

In the Big Ten, Illinois dreams came to an end as they ran into a well drilled Wisconsin team. Bo Ryan’s club has now won both regular and conferene tournament titles. This while replacing three starters from last year. Ryan is surely my choice for Coach of the Year.

With conference tournaments ending this weekend look for the help wanted signs to be posted at many schools. Sometimes justified and sometimes not. It all depends on the administration and how realistic, experienced and knowledgeable they may be.

A couple of openings bound to attract attention are Rice and Providence. Front runners for the Friars job will be Jim Laranaga (George Mason), Fran McCafrey (Siena) and back from NCAA suspension, Jim O Brien. My money is on McCafrey. He has the Saints in the tourney. His third different team he has taken to the dance.

Rice frontrunners could be Josh Pastner if they are looking for a young, inexperienced coach and Pat Flannery. Flannery led Bucknell to back to back NCAA tourney wins over Arkansas and Kansas and has the experience at an academic school.

Hats off to the Georgia Bulldogs. They pulled off the daily double. They beat Kentucky in overtime and then come back the same day to beat league chamion Mississippi State. This is the first time that this feat has ever been accomplished. Due to the tornado that struck Atlanta yesterday the game was moved to Georgia Tech and only friends and family were allowed in to watch the games. This made the scene even more surreal.

I am very happy for Coach Dennis Felton. He has had to defend himself the past couple of weeks as rumors swirled about his job security. He has his team focused and may have a chance to go dancing. Even if they fail he should receive a vote of confidence from his administration.

Illinois upset win over Minnesota in the semis of the Big Ten tourney was tainted by an obvious officials blunder with under 20 seconds to go in the game. With Illinois clinging to a 4 point lead, an Illini player rebounded a missed shot and fell to the ground after being hit in the eye. Replay after replay showed that it was incidental contact caused by two guys going for the ball. After the player fell to the ground the official Steve Skiles blew his whistle. He signaled offcials timeout.

This is a huge mistake. He should have either called a foul on Minnesota or a travel on the Illinois player. After reviewing the clock not only did they not make a call, but took an additional 4 seconds off the clock. They determined that the clock didn’t start at the begining of the play. This is an incorectable call!

In essence they took away any chances for Minnesota to win the game and advance to the NCAA tournament. These officials should be punished with suspension from any further games this year and in the subsequent season. This is the only way to have them accountable for their actions. My money, however, is that nothing will happen to them and you will see all three officiating in the NCAA tournament. This is a travesty!!!

Bubbles burst all across the country last night. Teams needing wins to solidify their entre in to the NCAA tournament came up empty handed.

In the Big 12, Baylor lost to 12th seeded Colorado. This is huge since Baylor was only one game above .500 in the league and Texas A & M won their first round game. The combination could leave the Bears on the outside looking in. I doubt that they will take 6 teams from the Big 12.

Over in the PAC-10, Arizona lost to Stanford. Once and for all let’s stop talking about Arizona’s close losses. They are out and awaiting the return of LUte Olsen next year. Also, look for Kevin O’Neill to be out as well. Arizona State didn’t help themselves last night with their loss. The most crushing blow was to Oregon. Washington State beat the Ducks in what could be the last game for Ernie Kent. One final note on the Pac-10, there are rumors that Ben Braun could be out at Cal after another loss to UCLA. Good guy and great coach who just hasn’t been able to get the Bears over the hump.

Down south in the SEC, Ole Miss lost to Georgia and Florida lost to Alabama. The Gators were 8-8 in the league while Ole Miss finished 7-9 in conference. They definitely pulled a Clemson from last year. Great start agianst bad teams and a bad finish against good teams. Do you think Billy Donovan is having second thoughts about the Maigc job. Mark my words, whenever a coach leaves a job and then comes back it always ends in a bad way.

In the ACC, the young, schizophrenic Maryland Terrapins ended their tourney hopes with a loss to Boston College. Wake Forest’s dream of going to hte tourney in the memory of Skip Prosser was ruined by Florida State.

WHO BENEFITS—

Illinois State and VCU are back in due to the BCS conference bubble teams falling short in their conference tournament. Kind of a switch, usually it is the big schools hoping their are no upsets in the small conferences.