MBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[VOJ]

I know this post should have been made before today, but it was nice to see the MIAC coaches out in force at the HS state tourney, especially the large schools on day 1...

Lots of future talent in the MIAC was on display in those games, unless that talent gets a ride somewhere....

[piperinsider]

Lots of things

1. That Fischer kid actually played wide receiver for the Gophers last year (well, he was redshirted). Transferred to WSU for basketball - good call. He played some huge minutes.

2. Flowers was amazing. Henderson's 3 right before the halftime was what started it all. What well spoken kids afterwards. Great job by WSU. W/o a loss to UST and that devasting loss to Barton last year, WSU would have 100+ wins in a row. Wow.

3. Black Sea is some of the best food I've had. Ali opened the first Turkish restaurant my junior year (2001) I believe. Right across the street from the SuperAmerica. You're always welcomed with "Hey buddy."

4. Congrats to Ellsworth (what a program), New London-Spicer (what a season), Benilde-St. Margaret (beat those title chasers) and Tonka.

5. And everyone laughed when the experts (and me) had most of the top seeds advancing. I had seven of the eight (I had Wisconsin beating Davidson...yes, I had them beating G-Town). With a couple of Big 12 wins today, I'll have my final four intact.

I know, a lot of people do as well. It wasn't a surprising tournament (outside of Curry and Co.).

[MiacLostProphet]

Props to WSU.  Great comeback.  Just finished up watching that and the Ellsworth semi-final game on Tivo.  Anybody know where that Schilling kid is headed to?  He got tot he whole at will that game.

[piperinsider]

It sounds like Winona State or Northwestern College of Iowa. His priorties are education and his religions, so I see him going to NWC. His brother also plays there and will be a senior next season.

What a game between Davidson and Kansas - credit the Wildcats for an unbelieveable run. Kansas plays insane defense. All four No. 1 seeds for the first time ever. Digger Phelps was dead on with his prediction.

[VOJ]

More recruiting news...J's coaches have been very busy...

http://www.sctimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080331/SPORTS/103310032/1002

[abominable_snowman]

It sounds like Winona State or Northwestern College of Iowa. His priorties are education and his religions, so I see him going to NWC. His brother also plays there and will be a senior next season.

What a game between Davidson and Kansas - credit the Wildcats for an unbelieveable run. Kansas plays insane defense. All four No. 1 seeds for the first time ever. Digger Phelps was dead on with his prediction.

Can someone explain to me what happened at the end of the Davidson game.  I know we have some great basketball minds here.  So if you are Davidson, and you are given the gift of being able to win (at least tie) the game, what do you do?

I was suprised to see so much ball handling done by Curry. (bad call-coach, or poor execution Curry?)  I was looking for some sort of double-triple screen action.  The had a very capable PG who could deliver the pass.  Curry is probably the go-to guy in this situation, but would you use him as a diversion and try to get someone else open?

Give credit to somethering Jayhawk defense, forcing the final pass.

[VOJ]

It sounds like Winona State or Northwestern College of Iowa. His priorties are education and his religions, so I see him going to NWC. His brother also plays there and will be a senior next season.

What a game between Davidson and Kansas - credit the Wildcats for an unbelieveable run. Kansas plays insane defense. All four No. 1 seeds for the first time ever. Digger Phelps was dead on with his prediction.

Can someone explain to me what happened at the end of the Davidson game.  I know we have some great basketball minds here.  So if you are Davidson, and you are given the gift of being able to win (at least tie) the game, what do you do?

I was suprised to see so much ball handling done by Curry. (bad call-coach, or poor execution Curry?)  I was looking for some sort of double-triple screen action.  The had a very capable PG who could deliver the pass.  Curry is probably the go-to guy in this situation, but would you use him as a diversion and try to get someone else open?

Give credit to somethering Jayhawk defense, forcing the final pass.

I think what they envisioned was a Hoosiers type of ending...clear out for Curry and let him go, but as their coach said they tried to set a screen for him, just sent the wrong guy out there...my question is did they have a timeout left?  I might have called it when it was falling apart on the floor with 5 or 6 seconds left and tried to set up something else...

No doubt about it Curry belongs in the ACC or SEC or a Big 6 conference, they have a solid team which was playing their best when it mattered most...

Great doubleheader coming up next Saturday night...at the start I picked a Kansas-UCLA matchup...right now I would have to say UNC-Memphis...

[Drake Palmer]

Snow – if you noticed, the last few possessions of the game, Davidson had Curry bring the ball up the court.  At first I thought it was because Richards was out of the game, but I looked & Richards was playing the 2G.  I think Kansas was doing such a good job of denying Curry the ball & any decent looks, the Davidson coaching staff felt the only way they could get him the ball at the end of the game was have Curry bring the ball up.

Tough ending for a fun club to watch, stingy defense by Kansas. 

Interesting story lines developing for the Final Four this weekend.  Former Roy Williams's team, Kansas, going against his current team, UNC; and the new "Cincinnati" –Memphis going against one of the most storied teams in NCAA history – UCLA.

I'm not a big John Calipari fan, but he's got himself a squad.  I saw Derrick Rose slicing through the Texas D & I had to go check their website to see just how big he is, 6-3 190lbs.  Memphis & UCLA is going to be a real interesting matchup.  In one of my pools I've got UCLA winning it all, but I just don't see how they're going to match up against Memphis' athleticism, speed and defense.  Plus, if UCLA can't get anything going from the perimeter – ahem Josh Shipp, Russell Westbrook, it could be a long night for Kevin Love.  If UCLA's Howland can't get by Memphis, you know the next line the media will trot out is that Howland can't win the big one.  My prediction:  If UCLA loses, it will because their jumpers didn't consistently connect, Love's going to get his.

I stayed up late & watched Rosen's Sports Sunday & caught former Gopher Kevin Lynch on the show with Rosen's sub, Mike Max.   Lynch was picking Memphis to win it all, & said if he was a NBA GM he would take Tyler Hansbrough over Kevin Love. 

So, what's everyone think?

Hansbrough vs. Love vs. Beasley
Rose vs. Collison vs. Augustin
Mario Chalmers vs. Wayne Ellington vs. OJ Mayo

[abominable_snowman]

Hansbrough vs. Love vs. Beasley
Rose vs. Collison vs. Augustin
Mario Chalmers vs. Wayne Ellington vs. OJ Mayo

Thanks for the feedback Drake.

Hansbrough has allowed Dicky V to go without Viagra this tournament.  He's been playing at a fantastic level.  As an NBA GM however, I'd prefer Love.  Nothing really concrete about it, but more that he's got great versaitility, and could come in as a role player and contribuor right away.

Rose edges out Collison, and they both beat out Augustin in my mind.

And of course, being that Chalmers is from Alaska, my personal bias takes him.

[Pat Coleman]

Davidson took its last time out to set up that possession with 16.something left.

[abominable_snowman]

Davidson took its last time out to set up that possession with 16.something left.

and the coach says what...

curry, it's in your hands, try to get an open shot.  we'll give you a high ball screen, but after that you are on your own....

it's hard to comment as just a viewer, so I'll give the coach benefit of the doubt.  But 16 seconds is a lot of time, try to penetrate inside to draw the defense, and look for a kickout, or something.

too bad for curry that such an amzing tournament will come with a tough final pill to swallow.

[TommieHoops4Life]

Even though it would kill my chance to win any brackets, I would love to see Hansbrough match-up with Love in the national title game. I have UCLA beating Kansas for the national title.

[MiacLostProphet]

IN the Davidson situation I would have thought that Richards would have penetrated to the basket and looked to dish or finish.  Have Curry on the close wing as a decoy / kickout possibility.  Kansas was so honed in on Curry that someone would most likely be open for a drop pass and a lay-up.  But then again i'm on the outside lookin in.

Beasley, Rose, Mayo.  It is the year of the freshman....wait, isn't that what evey college season nowadays is?

Hans is like Mark Madsen with a Jumper, so he could find his way in the NBA a little better than Mad Dog did, though Mad dog has 3 championships.

[piperinsider]

1. Beasley
2. Love
3. Rose

No way we get top three though. We're winning too much, so our lottery chances say......crystal ball.....No. 5. We take Dan Coleman.

You have the top assists guy in the country...let him do his work. Whether the pass is to Curry or that other sharpshooter that canned a trio of three's. Again, what a run.

TWINS OPENER!!!

[VOJ]

So, what’s everyone think?

Hansbrough vs. Love vs. Beasley
Rose vs. Collison vs. Augustin
Mario Chalmers vs. Wayne Ellington vs. OJ Mayo

No one plays harder than Tyler...I like him over the other two...I like Rose then Augustin, I like PG who can score...Collison did not have the greatest game yesterday...I think Ellington is the biggest wild card in the Final Four...he could be the difference or Danny Green...OJ Mayo is alot of hype and not much substance in my book...

News note out of C'ville...Harrington leaving as head hockey coach going to Switzerland to coach in the pros