Yes, it is time for BB to disappear for a while. But before I do, I need to thank you, the loyal readers. I couldn't do it without you! Well, I guess I probably could, but what would the point of that be? Anyway, thanks for reading and posting and entering the contest. Congrats to Kansas. Have a Rock Chalk summer!
-- BB
Read moreJohn Calipari: The new Guy V. Lewis?
This is the funny thing about the national title game. I can think of about 15 reasons why Memphis choked it away, but I can't think of but two or three why Kansas won it. Most of the talk afterward centered on how Memphis blew that nine-point lead with 2:12 left, and not how Kansas stole the victory.
Much will be made about free-throw shootings -- and yes, that certainly was a factor. Memphis was 7-of-16 from the line after the first half, missing four of five freebies down the stretch when any one of them might have iced the ... Read more
SAN ANTONIO — This was a busy day for our resident expert. First, he spent the entire morning handing tissues to his old friend Dick Vitale after the veteran college hoops analyst was announced as an inductee into the Basketball Hall of Fame.
"I told him, ‘Dick, you are a blubbering mess. Get a hold of yourself!" Bracket Boy said. "But the old lug was just so overcome. It was sweet ... and maybe just a little pathetic."
After Vitale finally composed himself, BB had to rush down to the Riverwalk. It was such a beautiful day that, for the ... Read more
Winner, winner ... chicken dinner?
If your name is Michael McGrath, you might have a TV headed your way soon ...
Now, the Bracket Boy Legal Team has told me not to officially announce anything today, because they're lawyers. But let's just say it sure seems likely that Mike McGrath, who has been leading the BB contest for some time now, will walk away with the grand prize.
Mike picked all four No. 1 seeds and had Davidson making a long run -- that turned out to be the key in his bracket. He picked UNC to win it all, but it didn't matter. I ... Read more
The final Final Word!
Here it is. Your pick for the championship game!
Kansas vs. Memphis
Derrick Rose had a stomach ache yesterday, but tonight, he’ll be on the court making Kansas coach Bill Self feel queasy. The dynamic point guard is the biggest reason the Tigers are 38-1, but hardly the only one. They also have Chris Douglas-Roberts in the backcourt, Joey Dorsey up front and an athletic lineup was too much for UCLA to handle. But Kansas is better and deeper defensively – just ask North Carolina after falling behind 40-12. They will make it much harder for the Tigers to attack ... Read more
SAN ANTONIO – Our deflated expert spent last night holed up at the Alamo, hiding from the angry mobs of loyal readers who listened to him and picked UCLA in their office pools.
“I figured nobody would ever get me here!” Bracket Boy said. “You know, just like Davy Crockett.”
While he was hiding, he figured it was a good time to start working on his expenses. BB has had some, uh, issues with the editor of the newspaper in the past about his expense reports. There was that time in New Orleans, for example, ...
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SAN ANTONIO – The cleanup crew found him in a trash can in a dark hallway at the Alamodome, a crumpled UCLA roster clenched in his fist and a gaping pencil hole in his empty orange head.
“Hey Bob, looks like somebody popped this old basketball – wait a minute!” one of the janitors said. “I think it’s moving!”
“Owwww …” our deflated “expert” moaned. “Memphis … so darn good … Derrick Rose and all that speed… Joey Dorsey and all those muscles … Calipari and all that hair … OWWWW!”
Yes, loyal readers, ...
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Another year, another bracket busted
UCLA did not play well and Memphis did, but I can safely say this: Memphis is the best team in the country. And I say that as I watch Kansas absolutely DESTROY North Carolina. Seriously, would somebody wake up Roy Williams. Is this his guilty conscience at work about leaving Kansas high and dry a few years ago?
Anyway, I'll have more on Memphis after the games, but suffice to say, the Tigers now have a chance to be remembered as one of the all-time great college teams. The record (38-1) puts them at the top ... Read more
The ball is tipped ... and you are, well, here.
Are you ready? Well, I am. Took a nice long walk with defacto Big East commissioner Tom Luicci along the Riverwalk this morning. Now, I am sitting on my balcony overlooking the scores of anxious fans -- nearly all of them wearing some shade of blue, dark or light or Carolina -- and watching "One Shining Moment" clips on YouTube.
This one, of Michigan State winning the title in 2000, is the best of the eight or so I watched. But if you enjoy one more, please let ... Read more
And now ... the Final Four final word!
UCLA vs. Memphis
Talk about contrasting styles: Memphis, with point guard Derrick Rose leading a team that loves to get up and down the court, is fun to watch. UCLA? Not so much. The Bruins prefer the half court game in which every basket is coveted. Which style wins out? It could depend on the inside matchup between Kevin Love and Joey Dorsey. The Tigers have the better starting five; the Bruins are deeper. Plus, the Bruins are making their third straight trip to the Final Four – they won’t be intimidated.
Bracket Boy says: If the Tigers win, the ... Read more
SAN ANTONIO – Bracket Boy has spent much of the week wondering where he went wrong with his picks, and the answer came to him some time during his first day in Texas.
Maybe it was staring at the restaurant “Steers & Beers” that he can see from the balcony of his hotel. Maybe it was the brisket and bacon omelet (with the side of liposuction) that he had for breakfast.
Everywhere he looked in the city, he saw meat. And everywhere he looked in the Final Four.
“I saw the same thing!” ...
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Love is in my air
It didn't take an hour after arriving at the Alamadome for my man crush on Kevin Love to reach new heights.
First, I sat in on his interview session. The kid is polished. He talked about the Beach Boys. He talked about his father, former NBA player Stan Love, showing him videos of the 1980s Celtics and the Showtime Lakers. "I'd like to be a breath of fresh air for the people into the old school game," Love said. Yes you are!
Then, during the UCLA practice session, he started to wow the crowd with his full-court shot attempts. I've ... Read more
The Kansas Breakdown
Who else would pay for the Kansas all-time team to play the UNC all-time team. I would say the UCLA all-time team, but I'm pretty sure it would win ...
All-time starting five
Wilt Chamberlain … Wilt The Stilt played only two seasons at KU, but changed the sport, averaging 29.9 points and 18.9 rebounds.
JoJo White … the explosive guard hit a last-second shot in 1966 that would have ended the historic run of Texas Western – but the refs ruled he was out of bounds.
Danny Manning … KU’s all-time leading scorer (2,951) and rebounder (1,187) lead ... Read more
