NCAA Tournament Tidbits: 03.19.13 Edition
Posted by rtmsf on March 19th, 2013
The NCAA Tournament is here and there’s more news, commentary and analysis than any of us can possibly keep up with. To make things a little easier, we’ll bring you a list of daily links gathered about teams in each of the four regions all the way through the Final Four.
Midwest Region
- Louisville did not really get rolling until the final month of the season, thus the question has emerged: Can Rick Pitino lead the Cardinals to a national title?
- Colorado State coach Larry Eustachy confirmed his commitment to the school by saying, “It’s my final job in college.”
- Missouri coach Frank Haith is still waiting for his transfer-heavy roster to click as the NCAA Tournament is set to begin.
- Could Oklahoma State‘s late-game ability overcome its lack of NCAA Tournament experience?
- Oregon big man Arsalan Kazemi is enjoying a storybook ending to his collegiate career with the Ducks.
- Saint Louis starting forward Grandy Glaze does not have very impressive statistics, but he provides a lot of energy that helps spark the Billikens.
- Memphis had a great regular season, but what it is really looking for is the first NCAA Tournament win of the Josh Pastner era.
- The match-up between Middle Tennessee State point guard Bruce Massey and Saint Mary’s point guard Matthew Dellavedova is going to be key in Tuesday’s First Four game between the programs.
- Michigan State coach Tom Izzo acknowledged that he will be very disappointed if his team falls short of its goal of a deep NCAA Tournament run.
- Creighton coach Greg McDermott‘s impressions of Round of 64 opponent Cincinnati: “Cincinnati will test you with their length and toughness and athletic ability.”
West Region
- A great read on the unusual redshirt taken by Gonzaga big man Kelly Olynyk and how it allowed him to blossom into the star he has become for the Bulldogs.
- An argument that Pittsburgh’s NCAA Tournament run is dependent on the play of freshman big man Steven Adams.
- Wichita State senior center Ehimen Orukpe‘s road to Wichita State was long, but his journey with the Shockers is winding down as the NCAA Tournament is set to begin.
- With a strong weekend that included wins over Michigan and Indiana on consecutive days, Wisconsin proved it can compete with the most talented teams in the country.
- Ole Miss coach Andy Kennedy said of coaching the phenomenon known as Marshall Henderson, “It’s like traveling with the Beatles.”
- Kansas State seniors Jordan Henriquez, Martavious Irving, and Rodney McGruder remember the lessons they learned as freshmen when the Wildcats advanced to the Elite Eight in 2010.
- Notre Dame forward Jack Cooley‘s girlfriend and her family are committed Iowa State fans, which brings about a strange situation with the Irish set to play the Cyclones in the Round of 64.
- Arizona coach Sean Miller believes his team is playing at a “high level” as it prepares for its Round of 64 match-up against Belmont.
- Past and current New Mexico players compare this season’s team to the 2010 squad that also earned a three-seed.
- Ohio State sophomore LaQuinton Ross is stepping up his game at the right time for the Buckeyes.
South Region
- Kansas‘ bench play has stepped up recently and that is good news for the one-seeded Jayhawks as they begin play in the NCAA Tournament.
- Since entering the starting lineup last month, North Carolina sophomore P.J. Hairston has stepped up as the team’s main offensive threat.
- VCU coach Shaka Smart will face his former employer Akron in the Round of 64. Smart was a Zips assistant from 2003-06 and has remained friends with Zips coach Keith Dambrot.
- Akron coach Keith Dambrot wants more than just a good time, as he wants an NCAA Tournament win for his Zips.
- South Dakota State guard Nate Wolters is an explosive offensive performer who will test a Michigan defense that has been shaky at times this season.
- UCLA coach Ben Howland has received no indication from his bosses about what the Bruins must accomplish in the NCAA Tournament for him to stay on the job.
- Florida coach Billy Donovan wants a strong defensive performance from his Gators in the NCAA Tournament.
- Northwestern State forward O.J. Evans and guard Patrick Robinson have stepped up as glue guys for the Demons.
- Oklahoma is hoping that its late-season skid will come to an end in the NCAA Tournament.
- Florida Gulf Coast faces a tough task against Georgetown in the Round of 64 and Andy Enfield’s squad is keeping its preparations for this game under wraps.
East Region
- Indiana‘s draw in the East Region is more conducive to a Final Four run than it would have been if the Hoosiers had been placed in the Midwest.
- James Madison coach Matt Brady suspended leading scorer Rayshawn Gaines for the first half of Wednesday’s First Four match-up with LIU-Brooklyn following Gaines’ arrest Sunday for obstruction of justice and disorderly conduct.
- Temple coach Fran Dunphy was apologizing for his team’s poor play in the Atlantic 10 Tournament instead of celebrating its bid to the NCAA Tournament.
- Marquette coach Buzz Williams has done an outstanding job leading the Golden Eagles even though he never played college basketball himself.
- UNLV is viewing its Round of 64 match-up against Cal in San Jose as a road game due to the short distance between Berkeley and San Jose.
- Syracuse forward James Southerland has a bit of a strange ritual as he prepares for games – he does not overdose on ESPN.
- Fun fact about Montana coach Wayne Tinkle: He has two daughters who play major college basketball. Joslyn Tinkle is a senior starter for Stanford and Elle Tinkle is a freshman reserve for Gonzaga.
- Butler guard Rotnei Clarke has waited most of his life for his first NCAA Tournament game, which will come Thursday afternoon.
- An NCAA Tournament berth in the first year of the John Groce era at Illinois marks a bit of a “rebirth” for the program.
- Jim Larranaga led college basketball outsider George Mason to the Final Four in 2006 and he is now looking to lead college basketball outsider Miami to this season’s Final Four.
Rotnei Clarke is an off guard on Butler’s team (not Gonzaga). This will, indeed, be his first NCAA tournament.