The tournament waits for no one. In covering college basketball over the years, I'm always taken back a little at how abrupt a loss is the first weekend; teams are thrown off the runaway wagon as it steams towards the Final Four--and instead of anticipation (as has been the case with most of these schools all season) there's plenty of reflection:
Maryland played above itself in getting into the tournament...and unfortunately after outplaying Cal Thursday wound up facing a red-hot Memphis team in the second round. The Tigers weren't fooling around as they did against Cal-State Northridge...and the Terps run ends with a 21-14 mark-- a transitional year to say the least. Good to see Dave Neal go through an entire season unhurt--his junior year was torpedoed with a shoulder injury...one that really hurt the team as well even though he didn't play a lot of minutes.
Offseason questions: Now that they have the reputation as a school that doesn't recruit well, who will the Terps bring in? Will Greivis Vasquez stay, turn pro, or simply stop making inflammatory comments? Will there be any turnover in a coaching staff that's finally solidified? And will Gary Williams have a spread in the Post's Style Section this summer (Recruiting at Rehoboth? Dominating at Dewey?)
American was a made three-pointer by Brian Gilmore away from putting major fear in Villanova in its home city...instead the shot rimmed out and the Eagles 14 point lead slowly dissolved before the Wildcats went on a 15-point run. Still, a nice run through the season by AU...the team's 13 game winning was the second longest in the nation behind Memphis entering the tournament. As I've said previously in this space--AU was expected to win this winter... received everybody's best shot in the Patriot League...and still flourished.
Offseason questions: How will Jeff Jones revamp a roster decimated by the graduation of seven seniors? How come Jones' name hasn't come up regarding any major coaching openings (Georgia, Alabama)? And will the Bender Arena McDonalds continue to offer the Shamrock Shake next March?
Sweet Sixteen Incidentals:
One week ago I had Villanova beating Duke and Xavier upsetting Pitt in the East...no reason to change those picks: the Wildcats' guards will find a way to make the Blue Devils play--and DeJuan Blair's due for a 3-foul first half...after which the Panthers wheels will come off. Wildcards: Duke's Gerald Henderson and Pitt's Sam Young--both can take over a game if the opposition lets them.
Chalk is the rule in the West...UConn and Memphis were deemed the 4th and 5th number one seeds in late February and early March; I see no reason to think otherwise after watching the Tigers and Huskies dismantle their second round opponents. Wildcards: how UConn's alleged recruiting violations will affect the Huskies--what's the deal with phone calls, anyway? First Indiana, now UConn...I feel like the NCAA is turning into a parent ("no phone privileges unless you wash the dishes!")...and if Missouri's tempo can make Memphis uncomfortable.
Finally--a football thought: the NFL is considering expanding its regular season from 16 to 18 games...PLEASE DON'T! The season is perfect as it is (although I'm still getting used to the Super Bowl being in February)...just long enough to give teams opportunities to find themselves yet just short enough to make every game matter...plus a longer season means more injuries and football should not necessarily be a marathon of attrition. Last year's Super Bowl winner the New York Giants looked awful in September and didn't hit their stride really until November--do we want to make early-season games even less important? Tack on the draft and free agency periods and the league has become a ten month a year affair. I love pro football-and have had the NFL as #1 since I was 13...don't mess up a great product! We won't miss you if you never go away!
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