Ball or Nuthin' » NCAA Basketball

Virginia Tech Hoops – 6th Best Team in Virginia?

T Lamont — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 17:37:48 +0000

Yes, I am fully aware that we have arrived at the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament – an event that Virginia Tech did not participate in.

In fact, the Hokies didn’t even make noise in the tournament that they were invited to – the NIT. The harmlessly left the fray after a second-round loss to Wichita State at home in Cassell Coliseum. Nice way to go out for seniors Malcolm Delaney and Jeff Allen.

But, yes, I will continue to talk ‘VT.’

Over the past few days, two separate messages from friends served as the inspiration for my latest rant. First, my cousin (in-law) – a Facebook friend – posted the following status:

LOL! I think ppl in Virigina, no names please! Need to hop off Seth Greenberg and Va Tech bandwagon, and get on VCU Rams and Shaka Smart’s bandwagon. here’s an even better idea Va Tech should hire Shaka Smart. But I think he should stay at VCU! LOL!

I’m sure that the VCU bandwagon has reached its capacity, so it won’t have to worry about me jumping on…but point taken. Shaka just about has the whole world in his hands right now.

Then, my long time boy, T-Spoon, sent me an email with the following text:

Virginia schools in the Final Four

UVA -2 (16 NCAA Tournament appearances)

George Mason – 1 (6 NCAA Tournament appearances)

VCU – 1 (10 NCAA Tournament appearances)

Virginia schools not in the Final Four

ODU – 11 NCAA Tournament appearances

Richmond – 9 NCAA Tournament appearances

Virginia Tech – 8 NCAA Tournament appearances

James Madison – 4 NCAA Tournament appearances

Radford – 2 NCAA Tournament appearances

Liberty – 2 NCAA Tournament appearances

Bottom line – looks like we (Hokie fans) have the 6th best college basketball team in the state. If JMU, Radford or Liberty make a run for it, we are going to drop in the (state) rankings.

As a former 90′s student at Tech, I’ve witnessed the basketball team work its way through three conferences – the Metro, the Atlantic 10, the Big East, and now, the Atlantic Coast Conference. Each move seemed to increase the Hokies’ stature, particularly by increasing the acknowledgement of successful programs that they played against on a regular basis. Tech’s eventual progression into two of the most prestigious hoops conferences in the country (which happened primarily through the exploits of its football program) had to be considered a landmark achievement.

The Hokies have established themselves as a slightly above average performing team in the ACC. That has garnered them a miniscule amount of respect. While that miniscule amount far exceeds what they had been given a decade ago, it hasn’t been enough to lift them up off of the NCAA bubble and into the Big Dance. And although schools from smaller conferences have made appearances into March’s premiere showcase, I generally summoned two excuses to make myself feel better about my team:

Virginia Tech plays in a much tougher conference
Virginia Tech could beat any of those teams head-to-head

And that would provide me with the closure that I needed.

But this year, something strange happened. After the usual news that VT would be returning to the NIT, I realized that there were indeed lots of other state schools that would be dancing. No less than five Virginia colleges were included in the brackets for the tournament.

And then, the ‘strangeness’ occurred. Virginia Commonwealth easily dispatched USC in the new ‘First Four.’ Old Dominion University played one of the openers in the field of 64, competing in a thrilling tilt against Butler (now one of the Final Four for the second straight year) that was decided by a last-second whistle. George Mason executed a spirited comeback over Villanova, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat. Predictably, Hampton got murdered by Duke. In a 12-5 matchup that almost all ‘bracketeers’ picked, the Spiders of Richmond sent Vandy home early. Then VCU returned to play in its first field of 64 game, and shocked us all by sending the Hoyas back to the dog pound.

The fighting spirit of Shaka Smart and the VCU Rams has captivated the nation.

Then, as Richmond and VCU coasted into the Sweet Sixteen, reality set in. The supposed conference-superiority argument didn’t hold water any longer. The new reality was that four of the five VA schools that were dancing would beat Tech (I’ll gracefully give us the edge over Hampton).

Add to that the fact that UVA – who was supposedly one of the ACC’s bottom feeders – handed Tech their hats twice this season, and it’s clear that the Hokies are falling behind the regional competition.

Tech drastically needs to do something to enhance its pedigree, or relevance in the basketball arena. Pedigree, in all sports, is traditionally built by winning. But winning is a process that doesn’t come overnight.

What do we have to overcome? Recruiting is the clear challenge. Prospects who would aspire to play in the ACC won’t be impressed by Tech. Why would they when they can play for Roy Williams (UNC), Mike Krzyzewski (Duke) or Gary Williams (Maryland)? But why stop there? Until earlier this year, when the Phoenix Suns signed D-Leaguer Zabian Dowdell, Virginia Tech was the only ACC team who hadn’t produced a player currently on an NBA roster.

In addition to the conference competition for prospects, Tech is positioned to lose out on talent to other in-state rivals. Freshmen who prefer to stay close to home can now choose from teams who made noise on college basketball’s biggest stage. Unfortunately, the Hokies are not one of them.

Indeed, all seems to be lost for VT hoops. But I do believe that one change could bring them back into relevance.

Their head coach.

Now before I continue, I am not campaigning against Seth Greenberg. I believe that he is a great motivator, and I believe that he (typically) is able to squeeze every ounce of success out of his players. I enjoy his enthusiasm for the game; it’s evident that Greenberg puts all of his being into each game that he roams the sidelines.

But it’s time for someone else.

The fact of the matter is that playing in Blacksburg (and its surrounding area) is not attractive. Playing for Greenberg is not uniquely beneficial, and therefore, our recruits lack the transcendent abilities of other top college prospects.

So, Tech’s athletic department must ask itself the question – - “what will really improve us?”

Many feel that younger coaches (similar to the aforementioned Shaka Smart, and Brad Stevens) bring more diverse and open game plans into play. And while this may indeed be true, it takes the proper players to execute those game plans.

An established, well-reputed coach? Well, that would be a start. However, the possibility of the Hokies drawing one of them into its program would be an extremely long shot.

While there seems to be no sure-fire options for a turnaround, I would suggest the following…

Hire Dell Curry as the top man.

Curry, well known for his long-range marksmanship, played four superb seasons for Virginia Tech back in the mid-80′s. Curry was an All-American, and the juggernaut behind the program’s last back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Tournament (1985, 1986).

He went on to have a 16-year NBA career, and still ranks as the Charlotte (New Orleans) Hornets all-time leader in points scored and three-point field goals made. After his playing career, Curry has also maintained his ties with the Association. He had a brief spell as an assistant coach with the Charlotte Bobcats, and now is a commentator for Bobcats basketball.

Through it all, Curry has three key elements that could propel him to success in the position:

Curry's Hokie legacy would vastly improve the program's recruiting efforts.

Coaching Experience. There’s no question that this is the weakest of Curry’s credentials. However, Curry has been around basketball for decades and certainly would recognize all of the subtleties with playing the sport effectively. While Curry excelled in putting the ball in the basket, his success was dependent upon the proper execution of a set offense. He wasn’t supremely talented in an athletic sense, and that perceived weakness would seemingly enable him to understand and create true offensive and defensive sets.

NBA Connection. In today’s recruiting game, a coach’s connection to the next level of play cannot be overstated. Top recruits will always gravitate toward a program that has a proven track record of getting its athletes a chance at the pros. This is something that Tech has clearly lacked. However, having a leader who not only played at that level, but also experienced great success there will be a real plus in the recruiting game.

Hokie Connection. This would be the icing on the cake for his candidacy. Curry has endured as a symbol of excellence for a basketball program that he done very little (in the sense of postseason appearances, or wins). The former college great would have the support of the alumni from the moment that he stepped into the position. Just imagine the love that Curry would receive from primetime college hoops analysts and commentators such as Dick Vitale, Jay Bilas and Hubert Davis, for coming home to coach his alma mater.

(In essence, this would be his second attempt to save the program. Most of us have heard about Greenberg not being able to promise Curry’s son - Golden State Warrior Stephen Curry – substantial playing time if he would have committed to VT. Here’s one of the many accounts of this missed opportunity.)

In the NCAA, it’s all about baby steps. Each piece of the puzzle brings a program closer and closer to a state of completeness.

For Tech, there may be different approaches that can be taken. And perhaps, even more qualified candidates to lead the team. But more often than not, success is determined by talent….which would give Tech a shot at something special.

And there’s no one more accomplished at knocking down shots than Dell Curry.

Jalen Rose’s Duke Comments Overblown

T Lamont — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 15:14:12 +0000

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A few days ago, I finally got the chance to catch the highly-publicized – and criticized – Fab Five documentary on ESPN.

I’ll admit that I’m a little late, but my timing would seem to be impeccable considering that the team at the center of the controversy, Mike Krzyzewski’s Duke Blue Devils, were knocked out of the this year’s NCAA Tournament on Thursday night – getting trounced by NBA top prospect Derrick Williams and the Arizona Wildcats.

After viewing the special in its entirety, I had just one thought:

“You can’t be serious.”

That’s what I said to myself when I listened to the appropriately-chosen narrator, ESPN basketball ‘analyst’ Jalen Rose, make the infamous remarks about Blue Devils past and present. Take a listen below:

Yeah, I don’t believe it either.

I don’t believe that there was a condemning of what Rose said. After listening to it over and over and trying to be offended, I still can’t. Now, surely, every aspect of what Jalen said doesn’t apply to me. I didn’t have highly educated parents. I didn’t attend Duke University. And I’ve never played on a team that consistently won anything.

But on the other hand, I was raised by two parents who were attentive, involved and genuinely encouraged me in all of my endeavors. They celebrated my athletic pursuits, but placed the utmost interest on my academic achievements.

So, while my origins may differ greatly from those of Grant Hill, they also differ greatly from Rose. I’d rate myself to be somewhere in-between the both of them.

With that in mind, I can clearly say that if I had attended Duke on an athletic scholarship, I would in no way have felt the need to publish a post in the manner that Hill did. Almost all of us have had the chance to read Mr. Hill’s rebuttal to the comments made in the documentary. Hill definitely proved that he is indeed the well-spoken, well-educated, respectable athlete that Rose referred to in The Fab Five. In my estimation, however, the long, drawn out letter intended to mock what many considered to be ignorant expressions (by Rose and other Fab Five members) was absolutely unnecessary.

I respect Hill, and certainly respect his right to express his feelings in the manner that he chose fit. And if we all respect Hill for what he did, we should just as sternly support Rose for his candid talk. Rose was transparent enough to become the spokesman for college basketball fans across the country who despiseDuke. But unlike the majority of those fans, Rose revealed that his dislike for the university actually revolved around a matter that touched home for him (and other players similar to him, demographically). I have personally heard Jalen’s comments from people all the time. I’ve read them countless times on social networking sites – Facebook and Twitter – with no one caring to even bat an eye lash at them. And to the contrary of Rose, these are fans who appear to have no good reason for harboring a hatred for the Blue Devils.

As I mentioned earlier, this documentary was one that fell into the laps of ESPN. The network knew that Rose would more than oblige to participate, and that he’s outspoken enough to give the media some soundbites to circulate. ESPN relishes the rare opportunities when it can be on the cutting edge of controversy, and this time was no different. Both Rose and the network realized that the production would be incendiary to some, and that’s exactly why the former Indiana Pacer allegedly tweeted Hill prior to the show’s airing – apparently apologizing for what he was about to see.

But, from what I saw, there was no apology needed. In the piece, Rose clearly explained that his feelings were a product of one thing that is a common problem for all of us: jealously.

He didn’t term it this way, but – when you read between the lines – that’s precisely what it was.

How else would you describe Rose’s anger about the fact that he was raised in a one-parent household as opposed to the traditional two-parent household? Or the fact he and Juwan Howard respected how successful the Duke organization was? Or the statement that they wanted the world to see that they were just as talented as the Blue Devils?

Hill's talent level was much greater than that of an "Uncle Tom."

And what about his assertion that Duke didn’t recruit players like him (or the other Fab Five members)? While there’s usually a certain set of characteristics that seems to be favored by coach Krzyzewski, they don’t seem to include individualistic, flamboyant, outwardly-troubled players. But for every coach who routinely entertains one-and-done NBA talents, like John Calipari, there are those who prefer to shy away from them. The bottom line is that each program chooses players that fit their mold, and coach K’s success has earned him that right. So, although Duke has had some high profile players that have left the program early in more recent years (Elton Brand, Corey Maggette, Jay Williams, Mike Dulnleavy, Carlos Boozer, Luol Deng to name a few), there is definitely a lot of truth to Jalen’s statement.

Now, what about Rose’s idea of Black players playing for Duke as being ”Uncle Toms?” From a high-level perspective, Duke basketball has always maintained a squeakly-clean, blemish-free image. It doesn’t recruit players who would need someone to take a test for them, or a player who it may believe could have received illegal benefits from a booster, or a player who may just be straight-up shady. Up until Rose’s Michigan years, Duke was a spotlighted program where White players experienced great success. And that image persisted, particularly with those within the Black (and urban) community. Therefore, any Black players who contributed to the success of such a “White program” would not escape the label of being referred to in the manner that Rose did.

Grown, mature adults would certainly acknowledge that any such comment, even given the historical relevance within this nation, would be ideally inappropriate. However, our history has been flooded with colorful events, all of which have, and will continue to, shape the viewpoints of Americans for decades to come.

Also, since we’re grown, mature adults, we should all understand the sentiment of a group of teenagers who were chastised by people who considered themselves to be grown adults at the time. Failing to embrace a team that was unconventional, yet more talented than its peers, clearly illustrated the reluctancy of any foreign or unfamiliar – even in the globally insignificant scope of collegiate athletics.

Therefore, I’d like to think that we can easily excuse the nationally broadcasting of Jalen’s feelings.

If not, at least try to recall your inability to understand Rose the very next time that you visit Facebook.

Sweet 16 is Here…How’s Your Bracket?

T Lamont — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 14:43:39 +0000

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As is often the case during March Madness, this year’s NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament has been a medley of unexpected surprises and excellence.

‘Bracketeers’ (those who dare to fill out tourney brackets) often realize the basic principles of the task:

1. Have a good grasp on who are truly the best teams in the nation.

Coming into the Big Dance, the two teams that were most often cited as favorites by analysts across the nation were Ohio State and Kansas. And after the first full weekend of games, they still stand head and shoulders above the rest of the field.

Ohio State totally obliterated its first two opponents – Texas-San Antonio and George Mason – by a combined total of 61 points. The Buckeyes looked about as sharp as a team could look in its first two games (albeit they were against non-challenging foes). OSU will receive its first true test on Friday when it battles Kentucky. But based on this weekend’s performances, the Buckeyes - assuming that they play with purpose and focus – should come out on top.

Kansas showed us that its inside brother tandem will make them very tough to beat. Marcus and Markeith Morris took over in the second half of Sunday night’s game, providing the Jayhawks with some distance between themselves and the Fighting Illini. Bill Self’s plan is to use his team’s size to wear down it’s opponents, and it has worked in two games that were closer than anticipated. At initial glance, Kansas - as a byproduct of the upsets in the Southwest Region - has appeared to land an easier path to the Final Four.

When looking at the big picture, it’s important to single out the more complete teams (offensively and defensively) from those that has glaring weaknesses which can be exploited.

2. Figure out where to take chances on upset picks.

In the NCAA tournament, it’s not a matter of if upsets happen, but rather when they happen. Therefore, correctly picking upset wins usually represents the difference between winning and losing in a bracket pool. So, what’s the best way to predict upsets?

Well, if there was a concrete method, they really couldn’t be termed as upsets…now could they? But from a logical standpoint, there is a way to make surprise choices that make sense. A prime place to examine the potential for these picks is in the first round. In most pools, points for correct selections increase as the tournament progresses – so, it’s traditionally best to go for these picks while the potential damage to your overall point total is relatively low. But in groups that more heavily reward victories by lower-seeded teams, the potential for additional points may well be worth the risk. For example, in this year’s opening round of 64, there were seven teams that pulled off such upsets. Removing the sure-fire #1-, #2- and #3-seeded teams in each region yields a startling fact: 35% of the questionable first-round contests were won by the lower-seeded team.

The best formula is to pick upsets against those teams that you believe will not make it into the Sweet Sixteen. Employing this method should ensure that you keep your point loss to a minimum, while giving the potential for a bigger payoff for a correct upset prediction.

Brandon Rozzell's attacking style is one of the reasons that VCU is in the Sweet Sixteen.

3. Realize that wins and losses are based on matchups, especially in a one-and-done tournament format.

Regular season team success is great, but often times, units that have the most versatile players end up on top. Programs containing the appropriate combinations of height, speed and skill are usually not strangers to going deep in the Big Dance. It’s extremely important to note how individual players compare with one another, and whether they can be effective in a given matchup.

Take, for example, Notre Dame’s upset loss to Florida State. It would be easy to come to the conclusion that the Fighting Irish was off of their game on Sunday, but that would be a blatant generalization. The Seminoles have one of the premier defenses in the nation, and their perimeter athleticism and interior size kept the Irish frustrated the entire evening.

Another example would be Richmond’s win over Vanderbilt. Vandy is a team built with lots of dependency on its perimeter scorers (John Jenkins and Jeffrey Taylor), and only Jenkins showed up. Taylor was 1-10 from the field. Couple that with the Spiders’ ability to effectively connect on the long ball – five Richmond players made at least one three-point field goal – and the recipe for an upset was on the menu.

Of course, all of this is much easier said than done. My bracket looks like a train wreck right now. It’s certainly a totally different ballgame when it comes to putting these principles into practice.

And that is undoubtedly what makes the Big Dance as special as it is.

We’ve Got Questions For Kyrie Irving

T Lamont — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 17:26:11 +0000

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A few days ago, unbiased college basketball analysts had varying opinions regarding the projection of Duke’s success in this year’s NCAA Tournament.

Today, Duke, who was already given a #1 seed, is being anointed as one of the favorites to win it all.

So, what happened in the past two days?

Some freshman guard who injured himself very early in the season announced that he may return to the team.

Just how badly injured was he?

Is he really 100% healthy now?

Was it his (or someone’s) goal all along to come back for the NCAA tournament?

Why not ride things out and get his (NBA) money?

During the entire regular season, there was this cloud – or general vagueness – when it came to the public knowing what exactly was wrong with Kyrie Irving. Very little could be drawn from Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski when asked about a timetable for Irving’s return, or even about the progress of the injury.

So, considering how little we know about Irving’s injury, there’s not much that we can project about his affect on the tournament.

It was clear from the start of the season that, with Irving active, Duke was in a class by itself. The fact that Nolan Smith, who went on to become the ACC Player of the Year, was a normal cog in the offense reveals how dangerous their pairing was to other teams.

If Irving is healthy, then Duke should sail through the early rounds, right? Well, maybe. Irving has yet to play in a competitive college game since December 4th. It seems like it would have been more ideal to work him back into the flow late in the season, or even during the ACC Tournament. But again, was he ready at that time?

Irving's explosiveness is difficult for opponents to contain.

Having Irving make his return on the biggest stage in college basketball could be a bit risky – for Duke, and for Irving. Duke is trusting that Kyrie’s talent can override the fact that the team has adapted its style of play due to his absence.

As for Irving himself, he’ll be scrutinized like never before. Krzyzewski will be watching to monitor Irving’s level or mobility and comfort. Duke fans will be expecting nothing less than the Kyrie Irving that they witnessed dominate games from the start of his college career. NBA scouts and personnel will be closely examining Irving to see if he’s still worthy of being one of the top three selections in the upcoming draft.

Hopefully, the young point guard is making the decision that’s right for him. A chance at an NCAA Championship doesn’t come along for many. But while the jury’s out on whether or not Irving has been ready for some time, coming back early could have catastrophic consequences. Irving has an NBA future that he needs to make sure that he doesn’t jeopardize.

But perhaps we’re getting all worked up for nothing. Maybe Krzyzewski, a coach with obvious ties to the NBA, held Irving out of action longer than necessary to ensure that his career wouldn’t be affected. Again, this continues to feed into the huge information gap. And lots of questions abound.

But starting Friday, Kyrie Irving’s play will provide us with the answers that we seek.

NCAA Southeast Region: 2011 Bracket

T Lamont — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 17:01:19 +0000

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It’s bracket time!!!

Let’s take a look at the Southeast Region…

Most Exciting Opening Round Matchup:

St John’s and Gonzaga. With this one, the committee gave fans a rare early round gem of a contest. These are two teams that have the potential to take down some of the tournament’s big dogs, and unfortunately, one of them is going home very quickly.

St. John’s has been ‘that‘ team all season – the one that highly ranked teams are not so excited about seeing on their schedule. They’re a good team that plays the game at their pace, and Dwight Hardy has become more and more sensational as the year has progressed. Gonzaga relies on its balanced trio of scorers – Stephen Gray, Robert Sacre and Elias Harris – to control the flow of the game. The Bulldogs always keep themselves within shouting distance of their opponent, and they will ensure that this becomes a dogfight.

Most Unheralded Players in the Region:

Jordan Taylor (Wisconsin): Taylor has had a magnificent season, contributing averages of 18 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists. The 6’1″ junior is able to dominate with his scoring (he’s put up 30+ twice) and playmaking (averaged over 6 assists per game in February), and has the strength to bully other floor generals. Taylor’s confidence could be the difference in the Badgers making a Sweet Sixteen run or having a first-round exit.

Potential Upset Brewing?:

Kansas State and Utah State. Jacob Pullen is the only factor that could perhaps save the Wildcats from underachieveing, but the Wildcats have been one of the season’s most sporadic units. The Aggies are statistically one of the best defensive teams in the country, holding their foes to field goal percentage of 38.3% while only allowing 58.2 points per game. Utah State doesn’t depend on any one particular player for scoring – they have 7 players posting 6 or more points per game. If K-State gets three-point happy, this could be a short tournament stay for Frank Martin’s ‘Cats.

Florida's tendency to ignore Chandler Parsons for long stretches of play will make them vulnerable for a potential upset.

Surprising Team That Could Make A Deep Run:

Michigan State. Sure, many feel that this team did little to deserve being a part of the NCAA field. They played inconsistently all season (which is usually a recipe for NCAA rejection), and – although they had numerous opportunities – had very few wins in big games.

But with an experienced, talented trio like Draymond Green, Durrell Summers and Kalin Lucas, Michigan State is more than capable of stringing together wins. And, more importantly, they will not be intimidated by the spotlight. Green is one of college basketballs best high post players, Summers is an energetic athlete and clutch performer, while Lucas is a former Big Ten Player of the Year.

We know what Tom Izzo and the Spartans are capable of. Will we see that this weekend?

In the End it Will Be:

Wisconsin and St. John’s. Pittsburgh has a well-documented legacy of underachieving in recent years in the Big Dance. Although Pitt has been seeded #1 twice in the past three years, it only has one Elite Eight and another Sweet Sixteen appearance to show for it. #2-seed Florida is talented, but its guards are quick to fall in love with hoisting long-range jumpers. #3-seed BYU is very dependent on The Jimmer, but they are potentially headed for a second-round tilt with the battle-tested Red Storm.

Wisconsin and St. John’s have the proper blend of control, defense, toughness and attention to detail that make them legit candidates for an Elite Eight appearance.

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