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For the second straight season, Marquette has reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. While last year’s run was somewhat unexpected as an 11 seed, this year’s Golden Eagles were expected to do some damage as the third seed in the West Regional. Thursday evening in Albuquerque, Buzz Williams‘ team will match up with Billy Donovan and the seventh seeded Florida Gators with a trip to the Elite 8 on the line.
Well, I didn’t see that one coming. Shaka Smart had an offer of $2.5 million plus, doubling his salary, and a chance at a top 20 national job in what was the nation’s best conference this year. And he had a chance to step up from mid-major to high-major in the Big Ten. I’ve been to Richmond, Virginia a couple times so I can tell you- this denial was shocking.
The only way the decision to stay at VCU could be interpreted as a smart one is if Smart wants to be a Ram for life (and life means a decade or so) like Brad Stevens at Butler, or he’s holding out for the UConn and UCLA jobs; and now only one of those jobs looks to be open next year. high percentage of Illini nation is hard right-wing politically. They won’t like a coach spurning them to stay at Virginia Commonwealth. “Sounds like a socialist commune!” they’ll say.
Illinois Athletic Director Mike Thomas had a plan: option 1 was Shaka Smart, option 2-11 was Smart.
Now it’s time to move on to option 12.
The 2012 NBA Draft figures to consist of a deeper, more talented group of prospects that the 2011 class. Team needs HAVE been taken into consideration with this 2012 NBA mock draft and the order is based off the current NBA standings. Click on the players’ name for a complete, in-depth scouting report. Check out The Sports Bank’s NFL Mock Draft as well.
(By the way, The Sports Bank was graded as the most accurate 2011 NBA Mock Draft on the web.)
Check out our ridiculously early 2013 NBA Mock Draft.
UPDATED: 3/19/12
Warning: I will not be responsible if you copy these brackets and are out of your NCAA Tournament pool by Sunday. However, if you do listen to my college basketball wisdom and win some money, I want 20% of the pot or at least a shout-out on your twitter or facebook page. In my opinion, the West Regional is the deepest and has the most exciting possible match-ups of the four regionals as it features ten teams who won their conference tournaments and enter the Big Dance playing a high level of basketball.
Happy Selection Sunday! Get your brackets ready because the NCAA Tournament field will be announced today. Here is The Sports Bank‘s latest Bracketology. I have more than held my own the past couple of years against ESPN’s Joe Lunardi and with my extreme college hoops nerdom, plan to do so again this year. (An * represents a team that has already clinched an automatic bid.)
UPDATED: 3/11/12 4:30 PM
Playing under the spotlight of Madison Square Garden during the Big East Tournament can do wonders to either help or hurt a college basketball player’s NBA Draft Stock. NBA scouts and general managers flock to the five-day tournament to check out some of the elite talent in the country. Here are some players who have seen their stock rise and fall with their play in the BET. Click here for The Sports Bank’s 2012 NBA Mock Draft.
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It is kind of hard to believe that Selection Sunday for the NCAA Tournament is just nine days away and conference tournaments are already underway. Here is The Sports Bank‘s latest Bracketology. I have more than held my own the past couple of years against ESPN’s Joe Lunardi and with my extreme college hoops nerdom, plan to do so again this year.
UPDATED: 3/2/12
It is kind of hard to believe that Selection Sunday for the NCAA Tournament is only two weeks away and conference tournaments begin this week. It is becoming time when college basketball teams are separating themselves as either tourney contenders or pretenders. Here is The Sports Bank‘s latest Bracketology? I have more than held my own the past couple of years against ESPN’s Joe Lunardi and with my extreme college hoops nerdom, plan to do so again this year.
UPDATED: 2/27/12
Marquette head coach Buzz Williams is a fiery head coach. There is no debating that. However, Williams took his emotion to a whole new level after the Golden Eagles‘ win at West Virginia Friday night when he did a little dance across the Mountaineers mid-court to John Denver‘s “Take Me Home, Country Roads” that nearly caused a riot among the WVU student section.
Friday is usually when I do my updated Big East Basketball Power Rankings. Since nobody cares about the DePaul’s, Providence’s, and Rutgers’ of the world this late in the season, this week’s Big East Power Rankings will an analysis of the teams in the conference who have solidified their status in the NCAA Tournament or are firmly on the bubble and still have work to do. Let’s break down some resumes… (Click here to check out my latest bracketology.)
The 2012 NBA Draft figures to consist of a deeper, more talented group of prospects that the 2011 class. Team needs HAVE been taken into consideration with this 2012 NBA mock draft and the order is based on the current NBA standings. Click on the players’ name for a complete, in-depth scouting report.
(By the way, The Sports Bank was graded as the most accurate 2011 NBA Mock Draft on the web.)
UPDATED: 2/23/12
The NBA Draft Stock Report checks in on which college basketball players have made a name for themselves in the past week; either helping or hurting their future draft position.
