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march madness

Realistic Expectations for the Golden Gophers

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College basketball has something in common with high stakes poker. Both pastimes are a combination of skill and luck. Tubby Smith has been lacking in the latter since he began his tenure in Minneapolis. He has had to deal with health issues, an irrelevant football program, questionable decision-making by his players, and injuries. The one bright spot for fans and alumni is that … [Read more...] about Realistic Expectations for the Golden Gophers

VCU Rams: America’s new College Basketball Sweethearts?

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This NCAA Tournament second weekend features four double digit seeds, three of them within one region. The Butler Bulldogs are back in the sweet sixteen, but it's hard to actually consider them a cinderella, even though they're in a mid-major conference. The city of Richmond, Virginia (mighty metropolis, urbane, sophisticated, international, cosmopolitan mecca that it is) … [Read more...] about VCU Rams: America’s new College Basketball Sweethearts?

Notre Dame 2010-11 Season Review, Look Ahead to 2011-12

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Less than 24 hours after his team met a shockingly early exit from the 2011 NCAA Tournament, Notre Dame college basketball coach Mike Brey was named this year’s Henry Iba Coach of the Year, presented by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA). The duality of emotion was quite indicative of how the 2010-11 Irish season went. Brey, who was recognized as the Big East … [Read more...] about Notre Dame 2010-11 Season Review, Look Ahead to 2011-12

#10 Seed Florida State Upsets #2 Seed Notre Dame Fighting Irish

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You could say this was payback for the storied 1993 #1 vs. #2 college football game of the century between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Florida State Seminoles. It was the first ever ND-FSU meeting in college basketball, and the 'Noles ran away with it 71-57. In a game that was never really ever in doubt after the first ten minutes. The east coast really smacked up … [Read more...] about #10 Seed Florida State Upsets #2 Seed Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Purdue Gets Blown out of the Building by VCU

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I guess VCU will soon become a trending term. Virginia Commonwealth University might become America's sweethearts since we have no true cinderella this march madness season, and America loves an underdog story. It's fitting that Purdue University's initials are PU, given the way they played tonight. At least on the defensive end, where they surrendered 94 points to the Rams … [Read more...] about Purdue Gets Blown out of the Building by VCU

Notre Dame’s Mike Brey Developing into One of Nation’s Elite Coaches

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If you want to know what makes Mike Brey's mind work, what makes him such a fantastic coach, his background in education is right there at the top of the list. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish leader has experience motivating kids, and shaping their potential. "There's certainly three sets of groups that have impacted me as a teacher. My parents. I'm the product of two … [Read more...] about Notre Dame’s Mike Brey Developing into One of Nation’s Elite Coaches

Illini get Tourney Win, Need to Beat a Higher Seed

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It was a pretty sweet NCAA Tourney win for the Illinois Fighting Illini last night. They absolutely crushed UNLV, and former Illinois Coach Lon Kruger in game that was much more lopsided than the final box score indicates. And it was their first Tournament win in a half decade. That pretty much makes this season the most successful one in Champaign since 2006. For one … [Read more...] about Illini get Tourney Win, Need to Beat a Higher Seed