Well, it’s finally here. It’s officially Tournament Time. I thought the seeding and field ran pretty much to form and when you get right down to it, you’re really only dealing with 4 to 6 teams as you wait to see who is in and who is out. Every year the NCAA sends a message that they want teams scheduling quality opponents in November and December, and this year the message was sent to Larry Brown and SMU.
Back in the Izzone:
Michigan had to play Michigan State’s varsity when the pair met the third time around for the Big Ten championship and Coach Izzo got everyone’s attention with his injured players back. Michigan was inept against the Spartans in this one as Izzo has a team capable of getting to the Final Four – but what else is new?
Quick reactions:
Wichita State is good enough to win it, although I give an edge to Florida, Michigan State and Louisville. Arizona’s right there also… My upset alert? Shaka Smart and VCU better be careful. Stephen F. Austin can play… Best second-round game? How about Gonzaga versus Oklahoma State on Friday in San Diego. I’ll be there with Dave Sims and it should be a good one with Marcus Smart and the Cowboys squaring up against Sam Dower and the Bulldogs. Can’t wait…
Finding Providence:
You really have to feel good for Ed Cooley and his Providence Friars, who simply said RIP to the RPI and punched their ticket the old-fashioned way with an automatic bid. The Friars won a game they had to win over St. John’s in the first round of the Big East tourney, took advantage when Seton Hall knocked out Villanova and then put on a clinic against Creighton at both ends of the floor. Bryce Cotton never leaves the floor, as he averages over 40 minutes a game, and simply controlled the Big East Tournament. Providence hasn’t been to the NCAAs since 2004 and has not won an NCAA Tournament game since 1997 when the Friars advanced to the regional final but lost to eventual NCAA champion Arizona. North Carolina better pack a lunch on Friday.
Member of the Wolfpack:
There are those that say North Carolina State didn’t deserve to get in, but at this point it doesn’t matter because let me tell you this, next to Doug McDermott I am not sure there is a player in the nation who can get you buckets more than T.J. Warren. Think about this…he averaged nearly 25 points a game and has scored at least 20 points in every game since January 11, when he had just four against Virginia. Two months of basketball, 20 points every game. He also rebounds well and shoots over 50 percent from the field.
Tornado Watch:
I like Iowa State a lot right now. The Cyclones lead the nation in assists per game with 18.5, and with all due respect to second-seeded Villanova and top-seeded Virginia, the East is a good bracket for Iowa State. Melvin Ejim continues to show folks that Canada is improving in producing talent, as he averages more than 18 points and eight rebounds. It is an experienced team, with a tough coach, confidence and an 8-2 record down the stretch. Remember, the Cyclones beat Michigan, BYU and Iowa early in the season. Fred Hoiberg’s squad can play with anybody.
The Hawk:
On Sunday, St. Josephs beat VCU 65-61 to win the A-10 tourney for the first time since 1997. Senior Langston Galloway had another great game, scoring 19 points and grabbing four rebounds. Galloway was impressive in many ways throughout the weekend. Against Dayton he scored 31 points, including the deciding three-pointer with 19 seconds left. He shot over 50% from the field and was 15-17 from the free throw line. But the thing that impressed me the most was his endurance. Galloway played a grueling 40 minutes in a physical game against Dayton, 33 minutes against St. Bonaventure and then another 40 minutes in the final against VCU. For a guard to play that many minutes and still shoot 5-8 from the three-point line in the championship game is very impressive. Galloway and St. Joseph’s take on another great senior guard in Shabazz Napier and Connecticut on Thursday.
– Bill Frieder
Former Michigan and Arizona State head coach Bill Frieder is an analyst for WestwoodOne’s coverage of NCAA Basketball. In his weekly blog Boxed Out, Bill scours the box scores to bring you interesting stories from the world of college basketball.
