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NCAA Tournament Tidbits: 04.01.11

Throughout the NCAA Tournament, we’ll be providing you with the daily chatter from around the webosphere relating to what’s going on with the teams still playing.

Butler

Connecticut

  • Kemba Walkerhopes to have his picture alongside Ray Allen, Richard Hamilton and Emeka Okafor on a wall inside Gampel Pavilion which features UConn’s NBA Draft selections. Assuming the NBA holds its draft as planned despite a looming work stoppage, Walker doesn’t have much to worry about.
  • If you’ve seen footage of Jim Calhoun at a microphone, you can detect his Boston accent without much effort. Calhoun isn’t the only UConn fixture on this season’s team to hail from Beantown, though: Alex Oriakhi, Jamal Coombs-McDaniel and Shabazz Napiereach graduated from high schools in the Boston area.
  • There’s no love lost between Calhoun and John Calipari. While it’s rare for them to face off against one another on the court anymore, the waters run back to 1993, when Calipari beat out the UConn coach for the services of Marcus Camby, who chose UMass.
  • Caron Butler, one of UConn’s brightest stars now in the NBA, is amazed by Kemba Walker’s spectacular month. Walker’s ability to lead a young team has also left several coaches in awe of what UConn has accomplished.
  • Shabazz Napier may not stuff the box score on a nightly basis, but his fearlessness is just one component that makes UConn a tough nut to crack. It takes some confidence to speak your mind when your coach is Jim Calhoun.

Kentucky

  • An interesting statement from guard DeAndre Liggins touches on last season’s freshmen class. Liggins said that there were “too many egos” among the class. This season’s class may be just as talented, but is clearly more cohesive than in 2010, which is far more important to Kentucky’s NCAA Championship prospects.
  • John Calipari has a bigger championship bonus than VCU head coach Shaka Smart‘s annual salary. The phrase “embarrassment of riches” doesn’t only pertain to Kentucky’s incoming talent.
  • Point guard Brandon Knight might have played alongside Kemba Walker at UConn. Knight took an official visit to Storrs during his junior season in high school and seriously considered playing for the Huskies.
  • Terrence Jones and Doron Lamb are starring for the Wildcats in a lesser capacity than they did during the regular season. Jones and Lamb have done a solid job playing supporting role to Brandon Knight, DeAndre Liggins, and Josh Harrellson.
  • John Calipari has been a wildly successful head coach throughout his coaching career. Calipari makes sure to remember his roots, though.

VCU

Brian Goodman (987 Posts)

Brian Goodman a Big 12 microsite writer. You can follow him on Twitter @BSGoodman.


Brian Goodman: Brian Goodman a Big 12 microsite writer. You can follow him on Twitter @BSGoodman.