Final Four

[bbtds]

Sure would help the Final Four if there was a mid-major or at least Indiana or Vanderbilt in it. Both have beaten Kentucky and the drama would be more enticing. Who cares if Pitino beats Calipari. The only Italian I'm really concerned about is Capobianco

[StlVUFan]

I just read a review over at CBSChicago.com yesterday who greeted this year's final four with a ho-hum.

I thought for sure this was what they were all looking for.  This was what they whined about last year and the year before, wasn't it?  But no.  Even when chalk wins, it's still not good enough.

I wanted to say to the guy: look, why don't you just admit it: You don't like College Basketball, period.  So why do you even try?

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2012/03/28/baffoe-are-you-excited-for-the-flaccid-four/

   

[vu84v2]

All - I know that I am biased, but the Kansas story is amazing.  An entire lineup of players (other than one - Taylor) that had never played more than 14 minutes per game.  No freshman one and dones - actually, no freshman.  Lots of players that have improved immensely (Withey has got to be the most improved player in the country because of his amazing defense).  No McDonalds All-Americans.  Players like Releford, Teahan and Young that will never play beyond college ball playing essential roles (Teahan was a walk-on for three years and Young transferred from Loyola Marymount).  Sure Robinson was first team all-american and Taylor was third, but this team is winning because of the other players.

No one in Lawrence (or elsewhere in the nation) expected this.  Heck, no one expected them to win the Big 12.  The utter joy and surprise here is amazing.

A few other comments from yesterday...
-Allen Fieldhouse is the best and toughest place to play in the country (if you disagree, take the advice of Jay Bilas and go there and then offer your opinion).  We watched the game there last night (with about 10,000 other people).  You could make an argument that Allen is among the best and toughest 30 places to play even if no one is playing in Allen.  It was loud, fun, the band played - students stormed the court.  Amazing!
-Lawrence is about 80,000 people with about 24,000 more students attending here.  They had a celebration downtown last night - closed off the main street for about 7 blocks and implemented a temporary open liqour law.  Most would think this would be a disaster in the making - it wasn't.  They had about 30,000 people in the street celebrating.  Lots of students, but families and older people like me.  It was loud and raucous - but no damage other than garbage which they had a plan for cleaning up.  Police were there (about 200), but they stood on the side and made sure people didn't damage anything or each other - and I never saw an officer take action (I am sure they did - its not perfect).  The police from neighboring communities volunteer to help.  As my neighbor (a Lawrence police officer) said, its great to have such great students here.