Rather than bore you with a tired tale from my trip to the Kansas hinterlands (A store clerk freaked out at my American Express Blue card; the clear construction clearly befuddled her), I’m back on the sports ‘wagon.
Sure, the Hawkeyes’ loss was depressing, and the Cubs’ impending season isn’t exactly instilling me with pride, hope, or excitement – but the NCAA tournament remains the best sports game in town, any year, every year. This year is no exception — after last year’s snoozefest, the parity all season in college basketball is giving rise to some fantastic tight tourney games. And, as per se, I’ve got some random points:
1. As I’ve said, each year I fire off a tourney prediction right after the seedings that turns out to be better than my final picks. Like, for example, my inexplicable need to fall in love with Michigan Freaking State in my money pool this year. Seriously, I knew they were bad. How did this happen? Same with Memphis. Who talked me out of Memphis? And Florida? They pick this season to finally show up for the tourney?
2. Regardless, it’s been a great tournament so far, even if evil UConn is still alive. (Not a tough equation. Syracuse = good. Connecticut = evil.) In fact, the tourney’s always a little brighter after Duke is shown the door. And no, CBS, it wasn’t the monumental upset that you thought. I’ve banged the drum repeatedly – Duke is slow. Any modicum of perimeter quickness spells their doom. LSU had it. To their credit.
3. By the way, unless JJ Redick attempts to adapt his game into a spot-up shooter only – he may be back at Duke as one of their jackass floorslapping assistants. Which would be a shame, because he can shoot. But then, so could Casey Jacobsen. It’s too bad some moronic GM will take Redick fifth in the draft, expecting Ray Allen, when they will receive Steve Kerr. Seriously, who will have the better pro career — Redick or Rashad Anderson? Neither will be stars, and my money’s on Rashad.
4. Speaking of CBS’ coverage, it’s also been pretty good. Jim Nantz has apologized for his inane rants against the RPI computers, Billy Packer has at least shut up about Michigan State, George Mason, or anything else he loves or hates, and even Seth Davis has improved in-studio next to the professional Clark Kellogg. Gus Johnson got to call the UCLA game (I’m ripping off a joke from someone when I say I want Gus to follow me around for the rest of my life — “He’s BACKING THE CAR out of THE DRIVEWAY! He’s GOING TO WORK! But WHERE is his BREAKFAST — can he MAKE IT on TIIIIIME?!”Whatever blogger I stole that from, thanks…).
But seriously, CBS, what’s with the constant shots of coaches’ wives? It’s like, during every single timeout, in every single game! Who cares? More to the point, Julie Boeheim‘s team already lost!
5. Finally, there’s also news in the region where MFG lurks, usually absent of any basketball talk this time of year. (Well, that’s not true. Normally, in full spirit of the Big 12, K-State fans throw all their support to Kansas during basketball season. Or Texas. Or whomever.) However, K-State, after making an astoundingly progressive hire of talented young football coach Ron Prince, completely flipped its outlook before hiring a new basketball coach.
Bob Huggins is a good coach. That’s it. He’s good. He may be interesting, he may, like Bobby Knight, attract some more attention toward the program — but I can’t see it going any further than that.
Now, I’m all for second chances, and I don’t hold a DUI against Big Bob. I don’t even mind coaches who think they can fix everyone – even the bad seeds, and even if it comes back to haunt them.
Still, I don’t see how a school can be bowled over by pure coaching talent when making its football hire – yet turn right around, flipping that logic on its head, and hire a retread with more baggage than an airline terminal for its basketball program. Spare me any of the rationalizations for Huggins’ poor graduation rates or what-have-you at Cincinnati – the reality is, his players simply get into waaay too much trouble off the court. His teams are rankled with distractions, whether directly Huggins’ doing or not. And in my opinion, none of his resume, rationalizations, or interviews are enough to quell the smoke that surrounds each of his fires. Naturally, I always lean toward giving someone fresh a shot — and I’m no different this time. (Why not wait for Mark Turgeon?)
If that wasn’t enough, it’s not as though Huggins is actually a great playoff coach. Rather, he runs off tons of regular-season wins, only to have his discombobulated teams flame out early in any of the NCAA tournament’s pressure games.
Hmm. Come to think of it, that does sound familiar for Manhattan. Hm. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.
