"I Know the Game Like I'm Reffing It"















Monday, March 28, 2016

Kruger And Wright Downplay Oklahoma's Early Season Romp Of Villanova

The Final Four is set and familiarity abounds.

Of course, it makes sense that ACC foes North Carolina and Syracuse are familiar with each other, but the other National Semifinal match-up will also be a rematch.

Villanova and Oklahoma played each other during the non conference portions of their schedules in early December and the result was far from kind to the Wildcats. Oklahoma dominated Villanova, winning the neutral court contest in Hawaii, 78-55. 

The Sooners were paced by five players in double figures, led by Isaiah Cousins’ 19 points, 10 assists and 6 rebounds, along with Buddy Hield’s 18 points. Meanwhile, the Wildcats shot 32% from the field, including a putrid 4-32 from beyond the three-point stripe. 

That result doesn't seem to bode well for Villanova. However, both coaches downplayed its significance.

“I see very little carryover,” Oklahoma coach Lon Kruger said during a Final Four conference call on Monday. “They're doing things differently, we’re doing things differently. It's almost like we played them last year.”

They did, actually.

Villanova coach Jay Wright elaborated a bit more.


“We were both ranked in the Top 10 going into that game,” he said during the conference call. “But, when that game unfolded, it was very clear that Oklahoma was playing like a top ten/top five team and we were not. We really used that [game] as a bar.”

It’s clear Wright believes his team is much better equipped this time around.

“[Oklahoma] was close to a Final Four team at that time of the year,” he said. “We weren't even close at that time. I think we just got to that point, Saturday night, of playing like a Final Four team.”

We’ll see which team is playing at a championship level on Saturday.

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Food For Hot Take: Underwood Shows Mid In Mid-Major Refers To Money Only.

What a difference a few days make.

After beating West Virginia in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday in Brooklyn, Stephen F. Austin coach Brad Underwood genuinely sounded like a man not just happy to be the coach at SFA, but a man grateful to be at a so-called mid-major program.


“[Mid-majors are] able to get better players [than in the past] and keep them for their career and have seniors, so there’s maturity,” Underwood said. 

“One of the biggest discrepancies in college sports is the difference between an 18-year old freshman and a 22-year old senior. The maturity level is drastically different.”

After Stephen F. Austin’s heart-breaking second round loss to Notre Dame on Sunday, Underwood remarked that “the name [on the uniform] doesn’t mean anything. Stephen F. Austin is here to stay.”

Well, if that’s true, SFA will have to do so without their 89-14 head coach, who bolted Monday for more money, higher stature, and likely, perpetually younger and less mature players, at Power 5 school Oklahoma State.

I am definitely not blaming Underwood, but it illustrates what the “mid” in mid-major truly refers to. It’s no longer talent, great coaching, or good basketball teams.

It’s money. 



Saturday, March 19, 2016

Iowa's Fran McCaffery On NCAA Tournament: "There's no such thing as an upset."

Everybody loves the NCAA Tournament, or almost everybody. You can find a hater or two out there in the twitterverse if you try hard enough. But for the most part, it is a beloved event.

Why? Easy: the love of March Madness stems from fans’ love of the upset. We all love to see David come through from time to time and take down Goliath. The NCAA Tournament provides ample opportunity for these surprise results.

This year, the Tournament’s first round did not disappoint.

On Thursday, Ivy League Yale took down Big 12 power Baylor, Arkansas Little Rock came from behind to beat one of the Big Ten’s finest in Purdue, and in a slight upset, Wichita State pretty easily took care of Arizona.

Friday produced even gaudier results. Hawaii, who many didn’t realize fielded a basketball team, upset a talented, though injury bugged California team. 14 seed Stephen F. Austin took it to 3 seed West Virginia and in one of the biggest upsets of all time, 15 seed Middle Tennessee State took down mighty Tom Izzo and Michigan State.

Insert your favorite bracket busted joke here.

However, according to Iowa coach Fran McCaffery, there are no upsets in this tournament. That’s right, those random occurrences that we all love and root for do not really exist. They are figments of our imagination.

“There’s no such thing as an upset and I mean that sincerely,” McCaffery said after Iowa’s last second victory over Temple in Brooklyn. “I’ve had lower seeded teams that won. You’ve seen higher seeded teams lose.”

Iowa coach Fran McCaffery

“It’s really difficult [to win an NCAA Tournament game],” he explained. “You’re playing somebody that you haven’t played, on a neutral site. You’re trying to figure them out in a short period of time.”

Hmm, maybe he has a point, especially nowadays.

The mid-major teams – the good ones that end up in the NCAA Tournament – tend to be more experienced, upper-class dominant squads that have been together as a unit and with their coach for a number of years. That’s a sharp contrast from the now typical major program that is dependent on highly ranked freshmen, likely to leave the program before they are ready to take it to any significant heights.

Stephen F. Austin coach, Brad Underwood, sees some advantages to building a team at the mid-major level.

“We’re able to get better players [than in the past] and keep them for their career and have seniors, so there’s maturity,” he said after his team dispatched of West Virginia Friday night.

“One of the biggest discrepancies in college sports is the difference between an 18-year old freshman and a 22-year old senior. The maturity level is drastically different.”

So maybe there are no upsets and these are just a collection of good teams knocking each other off.

That’s likely the case, but don’t expect to hear that narrative. We don’t want to.


We love the upsets, real or not.

Sunday, March 13, 2016

Final Bracketology

FINAL Selection Sunday Bracketology



*Automatic bids in italics

1 SEEDS: Kansas; Virginia; North Carolina; Oregon.

2 SEEDS: Michigan State; Oklahoma; Villanova; West Virginia.

3 SEEDS: Miami; Xavier; Utah; Kentucky.

4 SEEDS: Duke; Purdue; Texas; Iowa State.

5 SEEDS: Texas A&M; Seton Hall; Indiana; Iowa.

6 SEEDS: California; Arizona; Maryland; Baylor.

7 SEEDS: Notre Dame; Wisconsin; Providence; Connecticut.

8 SEEDS: St. Joe’s; Texas Tech; Dayton; Butler.

9 SEEDS: Cincinnati; Gonzaga; Oregon State; Wichita State.

10 SEEDS: Colorado; VCU; Saint Mary’s; Pittsburgh.

11 SEEDS: USC; Michigan vs. San Diego State; Syracuse vs. St. Bonaventure; Northern Iowa.

12 SEEDS: South Dakota State; Arkansas Little Rock; Chattanooga; Yale.

13 SEEDS: UNC Wilmington; Stony Brook; S. F. Austin; Fresno State.

14 SEEDS: Iona; Middle Tennessee State; Hawaii; Buffalo

15 SEEDS: Weber State; Green Bay; CSU Bakersfield; UNC Asheville.

16 SEEDS: Hampton; Southern; Austin Peay vs. Holy Cross; Fairleigh Dickinson vs. Florida Gulf Coast.


LAST FOUR IN: Michigan; Syracuse; St. Bonaventure; San Diego State.

FIRST FOUR OUT: Vanderbilt; Florida; Valparaiso; Monmouth.

NEXT FOUR OUT: South Carolina; Tulsa; Temple; George Washington.

CONFERENCE BREAKDOWN: ACC (7); Big 12 (7); Pac 12 (7); Big Ten (7); Big East (5); Atlantic 10 (4); SEC (2); AAC (2); Missouri Valley (2); West Coast (2); Mountain West (2).







Thursday, March 10, 2016

Updated Bracketology - Predicting the Tournament Field


As of games through Wednesday, March 9, 2016.

WARNING: The predicted field/seeding is highly likely to change from day to day or minute to minute.

*Automatic bids in italics

1 SEEDS: Kansas; Virginia; Oklahoma; Villanova.

2 SEEDS: Michigan State; Oregon; West Virginia; North Carolina.

3 SEEDS: Miami; Xavier; Utah; Duke.

4 SEEDS: Texas; Iowa State; Indiana; Iowa.

5 SEEDS: Purdue; Kentucky; Texas A&M; Maryland.

6 SEEDS: California; Arizona; Baylor; Wisconsin.

7 SEEDS: Notre Dame; Oregon State; Seton Hall; Texas Tech.

8 SEEDS: Colorado; Connecticut; Dayton; Providence.

9 SEEDS: Butler; Vanderbilt; USC; Cincinnati.

10 SEEDS: Wichita State; Gonzaga; Pittsburgh; Syracuse.

11 SEEDS: St. Joe’s; Tulsa vs. Florida; VCU vs. Saint Mary’s; San Diego State.

12 SEEDS: Arkansas Little Rock; Northern Iowa; Chattanooga; Akron.

13 SEEDS: South Dakota State; Yale; UNC Wilmington; Stony Brook.

14 SEEDS: UC Irvine; UAB; S.F. Austin; Iona.

15 SEEDS: New Mexico State; Green Bay; Weber State; UNC Asheville.

16 SEEDS: Hampton; Texas Southern; Austin Peay vs. Holy Cross; Fairleigh Dickinson vs. Florida Gulf Coast.


LAST FOUR IN: Tulsa; VCU; Saint Mary’s; Florida.

FIRST SIX OUT: Michigan; St. Bonaventure; Georgia Tech; Florida State; South Carolina; Valparaiso.

NEXT SIX OUT: Washington; George Washington; Princeton; Virginia Tech; Temple; Monmouth.

CONFERENCE BREAKDOWN: ACC (7); Big 12 (7); Pac 12 (7); Big Ten (6); Big East (5); SEC (4); AAC (3); Atlantic 10 (3); Missouri Valley (2); West Coast (2).



Note: Automatic bids are determined by conference champion or the highest RPI team remaining in conference.


Tuesday, March 8, 2016

Updated Bracketology - Predicting the Tournament Field


As of games through Tuesday, March 8, 2016.

WARNING: The predicted field/seeding is highly likely to change from day to day or minute to minute.

*Automatic bids in italics

1 SEEDS: Kansas; Virginia; Oklahoma; Villanova.

2 SEEDS: Michigan State; Oregon; West Virginia; North Carolina.

3 SEEDS: Miami; Xavier; Utah; Duke.

4 SEEDS: Texas; Iowa State; Indiana; Iowa.

5 SEEDS: Purdue; Kentucky; Texas A&M; Maryland.

6 SEEDS: California; Arizona; Baylor; Wisconsin.

7 SEEDS: Notre Dame; Texas Tech; Seton Hall; Oregon State.

8 SEEDS: Colorado; Connecticut; Syracuse; Dayton.

9 SEEDS: Providence; Butler; Vanderbilt; Cincinnati.

10 SEEDS: USC; Wichita State; Gonzaga; Pittsburgh.

11 SEEDS: St. Joe’s; Tulsa vs. Florida; VCU vs. Saint Mary’s; San Diego State.

12 SEEDS: Arkansas Little Rock; Northern Iowa; Chattanooga; Akron.

13 SEEDS: South Dakota State; Yale; UNC Wilmington; Stony Brook.

14 SEEDS: UC Irvine; UAB; S.F. Austin; Iona.

15 SEEDS: New Mexico State; Green Bay; Weber State; UNC Asheville.

16 SEEDS: Lehigh; Hampton; Texas Southern vs. Florida GC; Austin Peay vs. Fairleigh Dickinson.


LAST FOUR IN: Tulsa; VCU; Saint Mary’s; Florida.

FIRST FIVE OUT: Michigan; St. Bonaventure; Florida State; South Carolina; Valparaiso.

NEXT FIVE OUT: Georgia Tech; George Washington; Washington; Princeton; Temple.

CONFERENCE BREAKDOWN: ACC (7); Big 12 (7); Pac 12 (7); Big Ten (6); Big East (5); SEC (4); AAC (3); Atlantic 10 (3); Missouri Valley (2); West Coast (2).



Note: Automatic bids are determined by conference champion or the highest RPI team remaining in conference.


Updated Bracketology - Predicting the Tournament Field


As of games through 9:10PM Tuesday, March 8, 2016.

WARNING: The predicted field/seeding is highly likely to change from day to day or minute to minute.

*Automatic bids in italics

1 SEEDS: Kansas; Virginia; Oklahoma; Villanova.

2 SEEDS: Michigan State; Oregon; West Virginia; North Carolina.

3 SEEDS: Miami; Xavier; Utah; Duke.

4 SEEDS: Texas; Iowa State; Indiana; Iowa.

5 SEEDS: Purdue; Kentucky; Texas A&M; Maryland.

6 SEEDS: California; Arizona; Baylor; Wisconsin.

7 SEEDS: Notre Dame; Texas Tech; Seton Hall; Oregon State.

8 SEEDS: Colorado; Connecticut; Syracuse; Dayton.

9 SEEDS: Providence; Butler; Vanderbilt; Cincinnati.

10 SEEDS: USC; Wichita State; Pittsburgh; St. Joe’s.

11 SEEDS: Tulsa vs. Gonzaga; VCU vs. Florida; Saint Mary’s; San Diego State.

12 SEEDS: Arkansas Little Rock; Northern Iowa; Chattanooga; Akron.

13 SEEDS: South Dakota State; Yale; UNC Wilmington; Stony Brook.

14 SEEDS: UC Irvine; UAB; S.F. Austin; Iona.

15 SEEDS: New Mexico State; Green Bay; Weber State; UNC Asheville.

16 SEEDS: Lehigh; Hampton; Texas Southern vs. Fairleigh Dickinson; Austin Peay vs. Florida GC


LAST FOUR IN: Tulsa; VCU; Florida; Gonzaga.

FIRST FIVE OUT: Michigan; St. Bonaventure; Florida State; South Carolina; Valparaiso.

NEXT FIVE OUT: Georgia Tech; George Washington; Washington; Princeton; Temple.

CONFERENCE BREAKDOWN: ACC (7); Big 12 (7); Pac 12 (7); Big Ten (6); Big East (5); SEC (4); AAC (3); Atlantic 10 (3); Missouri Valley (2); West Coast (2).



Note: Automatic bids are determined by conference champion or the highest RPI team remaining in conference.


Sunday, March 6, 2016

Predicting the Tournament Field - Updated Bracketology


As of games through Sunday, March 6, 2016.

WARNING: The predicted field/seeding is highly likely to change from day to day or minute to minute.

*Automatic bids in italics

1 SEEDS: Kansas; Virginia; Oklahoma; Villanova.

2 SEEDS: Michigan State; Oregon; West Virginia; North Carolina.

3 SEEDS: Miami; Xavier; Utah; Duke.

4 SEEDS: Texas; Iowa State; Indiana; Iowa.

5 SEEDS: Purdue; Kentucky; Texas A&M; Maryland.

6 SEEDS: California; Arizona; Baylor; Wisconsin.

7 SEEDS: Notre Dame; Texas Tech; Seton Hall; Oregon State.

8 SEEDS: Colorado; Connecticut; Syracuse; Dayton.

9 SEEDS: Providence; Butler; Vanderbilt; Cincinnati.

10 SEEDS: USC; Wichita State; Pittsburgh; St. Joe’s.

11 SEEDS: Tulsa vs. Michigan; VCU vs. Florida; Saint Mary’s; Valparaiso.

12 SEEDS: San Diego State; Monmouth; Arkansas Little Rock; Northern Iowa.

13 SEEDS: Hofstra; Akron; Chattanooga; South Dakota State.

14 SEEDS: Yale; Stony Brook; UC Irvine; UAB.

15 SEEDS: S. F. Austin; New Mexico State; Weber State; UNC Asheville.

16 SEEDS: Lehigh; Wagner; Hampton vs. Florida GC; Texas Southern vs. Austin Peay.


LAST FOUR IN: Tulsa; VCU; Florida; Michigan.

FIRST FIVE OUT: St. Bonaventure; Gonzaga; Florida State; South Carolina; Georgia Tech.

NEXT FIVE OUT: George Washington; Washington; Princeton; Temple; Stanford.

CONFERENCE BREAKDOWN: ACC (7); Big Ten (7); Big 12 (7); Pac 12 (7); Big East (5); SEC (4); AAC (3); Atlantic 10 (3); Missouri Valley (2).



Note: Automatic bids are determined by the highest RPI team remaining in each Conference/Conference Tournament.


Saturday, March 5, 2016

Predicting the Tournament Field - Updated Bracketology


As of games through 3PM, Saturday, March 5, 2016.

WARNING: The predicted field/seeding is highly likely to change from day to day or minute to minute.

*Automatic bids in italics

1 SEEDS: Kansas; Virginia; Oklahoma; Villanova.

2 SEEDS: Michigan State; Miami; Oregon; Xavier.

3 SEEDS: West Virginia; Duke; North Carolina; Texas.

4 SEEDS: Utah; Iowa State; Kentucky; Iowa.

5 SEEDS: Purdue; Texas A&M; Maryland; Indiana.

6 SEEDS: Baylor; California; Arizona; Wisconsin.

7 SEEDS: Notre Dame; Texas Tech; Seton Hall; Oregon State.

8 SEEDS: Colorado; Syracuse; St. Joe’s; Connecticut.

9 SEEDS: Dayton; Providence; Butler; USC.

10 SEEDS: Wichita State; Vanderbilt; Pittsburgh; Cincinnati.

11 SEEDS: Michigan vs. St. Bonaventure; Tulsa; VCU vs. Florida; Saint Mary’s.

12 SEEDS: Valparaiso; Princeton; Monmouth; San Diego State.

13 SEEDS: Arkansas Little Rock; Hofstra; Akron; Chattanooga.

14 SEEDS: South Dakota State; Stony Brook; UC Irvine; UAB.

15 SEEDS: S. F. Austin; New Mexico State; Winthrop; Montana.

16 SEEDS: Lehigh; Hampton; Wagner vs. Florida GC; Southern vs. UT Martin.


LAST FOUR IN: Michigan; VCU; Florida; St. Bonaventure.

FIRST FIVE OUT: Gonzaga; Florida State; South Carolina; George Washington.

NEXT FIVE OUT: Stanford; Washington; Temple; Alabama; Creighton.

CONFERENCE BREAKDOWN: ACC (7); Big Ten (7); Big 12 (7); Pac 12 (7); Big East (5); Atlantic 10 (4); SEC (4); AAC (3).



Note: Automatic bids are determined by the highest RPI team remaining in each Conference/Conference Tournament.