Every now and then, when the sports junkie in me is thirsty for a little more than the daily dose, I find myself perusing various sports outlets. And if I’m lucky, I stumble across a marathon of NFL Films, or a highlight package of Lakers/Celtics from the 1980s.

Last week I was lucky enough to be channel surfing at the right moment, and I came across something that made me more nostalgic than ever. The screen flashed a date: Tuesday, January 3rd, 2006. Marquette Men’s Basketball was making its Big East debut against the #2 Connecticut Huskies.
It took me back to my freshman year, where I saw one of the greatest single game performances in the history of this institution. Steve Novak’s 41 points and 16 rebounds made me believe that we were an NCAA Tournament team. We had a good coach, a trio of freshman who were ready to carry the program, and we were just a few pieces away from being dominant. The possibilities were endless.

Fast forward to October 29th, 2008… We sit on eve of a new era in coaching, and the beginning of the end with the Big Three. The possibilities are certainly there, but no longer are they endless. The Golden Eagles return a team that continues to be extremely athletic, strong defensively and very one-dimensional. But it’s not like this is some big secret.

The pleasure I take in Marquette Basketball is not determined solely by wins and losses. It’s the game day atmosphere on campus. It’s debating match ups with my roommates. It’s about gathering as an entire university to get behind something that we all identify with.

The season will put you through more emotions than a self-conscious teenager on prom night. From trudging to the Bradley Center in sub zero temperatures, to jumping up and down and screaming for two hours in the student section, the basketball season is an experience.

So in order to officially christen this new season of good times and high hopes, we will celebrate “Marquette Madness.” The journey begins Saturday night. Just make sure you have a seat for the ride.

Popularity: 9% [?]

The newest reports coming out of Bloomington, Indiana may put smiles upon many Marquette basketball fans’ faces. A crippled Hoosiers team, already beaten down by NCAA sanctions, could be facing even further penalties when the NCAA infractions committee makes its decision in the coming weeks.
The forecast for Indiana basketball and former MU head coach Tom Crean could not get any worse. Indiana is returning only two players from last season (with a combined 11 minutes of playing time in 07-08) and is bringing in eight freshmen.

Marquette fans can easily mitigate the loss of Crean, who left for Indiana in early April, with such news. But even more promising news can be found in what college basketball experts are saying about Marquette basketball and the forthcoming season.

The outlook on Coach Buzz and the Golden Eagles is very promising leading up to the regular season opener on November 14th. Sports Illustrated and ESPN both consider the team to be in the upper echelon of the Big East, as well as in college basketball.

It is even circulating that USA Today picked Marquette to win the Big East in its College Basketball Preview.
There is reason for such high expectations to be bestowed upon the Golden Eagles.

For starters, the team returns with most of its core players from a season that was a Brook Lopez miss away from the Sweet 16. That core includes senior guards Dominic James, Wes Matthews, and last season’s standout, Jerel McNeal.

All three have scored at least 1,000 points in their college careers and are no strangers to winning games. For the last three years the trio has won at least 20 games and landed in the NCAA tournament three consecutive times.

With such a solid lineup in place, this season will be rather atypical for a first-year coach. Rather than having to build the program from the ground up, coach Buzz Williams has inherited a talented and experienced squad.

In an interview with ESPN, Jerel McNeal spoke of the team and its new coach. “We didn’t need a coach to come in and revamp and change what we did,’’ McNeal said. “We didn’t need another [outside] coach being here. Coach Buzz had been here a year and understands what our team is about.’’
While current players seem to believe that off-setting the loss of their head coach will not be as difficult a task as perceived, replacing departed players may be another story.

Gone from last year are Dan Fitzgerald, Ousmane Barro, and Trevor Mbakwe. Although none of the three posed a truly formidable threat down low, maybe with the exception of Mbakwe, the fact that all three were 6-7 or taller makes the Golden Eagles extremely vulnerable underneath the basket.
Lack of size, especially in the Big East, could potentially derail a season, even for a team with such talent in the backcourt. Senior Dwight Burke, 6-8, figures to enter the season as the starting center.

The team’s two tallest players are 6-10 freshman Chris Otule and 7-0 red-shirt sophomore Liam McMorrow. Otule figures to see extensive playing time, but his lack of experience could limit him and the Golden Eagles.

Sophomores Patrick Hazel (who played sparingly last season) and Joseph Fulce (a Junior College transfer), both 6-7, could also garner some playing time, as they are two of only four active players 6-7 or taller on this year’s roster.

Due to both the lack of size and experience in the frontcourt, Buzz Williams will have to counteract these limitations with a sleeker, faster style of play.
Williams spoke to Sports Illustrated about possibly employing some novel line-up combinations to achieve such a goal. Williams predicted, “There will be times when we have five guards on the floor.”

A smaller, faster game play will most likely translate into more possessions and ultimately more scoring opportunities for Marquette and its guards.
Among those figuring to be in a guard-oriented rotation along with the senior-trio are juniors Maurice Acker and David Cubillan. Another sophomore juco transfer, Jimmy Butler will also see some time at both guard spots as well as small forward.

Perhaps the most underrated player on the Marquette roster is forward Lazar Hayward. Last season he finished third on the team in scoring and first in overall rebounds.

The overachieving Hayward seems to be overshadowed by the triumvirate backcourt. But that could only mean more mismatches with the opposition underestimating the 6-6 junior. Hayward will slide into the starting power forward spot as he did for most of last season.

Hayward has steadily been improving each year and this year does not appear to be any different. Look for him to have a breakout year and possibly end up on a second or even first All-Big East team come season’s end.

College basketball teams can officially begin practicing on October 17th, but fall break has moved the Golden Eagle’s yearly Marquette Madness to Saturday, October 25th at 6 p.m. at the Al McGuire Center.

Per usual, the free event will consist of free giveaways, men and women basketball introductions, a dunk contest, and an intra-squad scrimmage.
The season officially kicks off on November 16th at the Bradley Center against Houston Baptist and the Badgers come into town Saturday, December 6th.
The Big East opener is slated for New Year’s Day against Villanova, also at the Bradley Center.

For seniors James, McNeal, and Matthews, this season is one to be filled with a variety of novelties: a new coach, new teammates, and new expectations.

Popularity: 8% [?]

Cell phone buzzes at 1:47 a.m. on the morning of August 25, 2008. Text message says: “Mbakwe quit the team.”

Please excuse the radically confused look on my face, but WHAT? None of it makes any sense. So, let’s naturally try to make some sense out of this.

I’ll quickly recap for those of you unaware. Trevor Mbakwe, to be the 6 foot 7 inch power forward, quit the Men’s Basketball team and left Marquette on the eve of the first day of class. A highly touted recruit, Mbakwe was the crown jewel of Tom Crean’s final recruiting class. He demonstrated a tenacity for rebounding that we have not seen here for quite some time.
Missing the majority of his freshman season due to a knee injury, rumors circulated that Mbakwe was terribly homesick, and was considering a transfer back to Minnesota. And once Tom Crean packed his bags for the land of Cream & Crimson, Trevor’s transfer seemed to be a mere formality.

However, much to the surprise and excitement of Marquette Basketball fans everywhere, Mbakwe came out with a statement regarding the potential of his transfer on April 16th, “I just want to let everyone know that isn’t true. That’s never been in my head.”

Whew. Sure glad that was established early on… Whoops.

From my early assessments of the new Head Men’s Basketball coach Buzz Williams, the man is a straight shooter. He will look you in the eye and tell it like it is. So when you read a quote that says, “I was shocked by the news,” it sounds like everyone was caught with their pants down on this one.

Now what Buzz will not tell you, is that this REALLY hurts. Everyone knows how guard oriented and undersized the team is. Still, it was beginning to appear that with Lazar, Dwight and Trevor, the team could stand up to the giants of the Big East. Now Dwight and Lazar are going to be asked to shoulder the workload.

This is not to say that break out seasons from guys like Patrick Hazel, Chris Otule or Joe Fulce are impossible. But relying on unproven and, for Otule and Fulce, untested talent in key reserve roles is a serious gamble.

It’s hard to believe that the departure of one reserve power forward could be so traumatic, but it puts the rest of the team in a tough spot. If this team wants to eclipse and surpass what it has done the last three years, its stars are going to have to shine brighter than ever.

Dominic, Wes, and Jerel have been the backbone, selling point and marketing tool of Marquette Men’s Basketball for over three years. And we must ask more from them once again. Is it fair? No. Is it our only option? Yes.

If anyone still cares, Trevor Mbakwe enrolled at Miami-Dade Community College earlier this week, where it is rumored he will transfer to Miami University after the school year. Trevor… we hardly knew thee. He left a hole in Milwaukee, and he did it under the cover of darkness, in the middle of the night, without a trace.

Popularity: 9% [?]

To the Newest Members of the Marquette Student Body,

Welcome to what will be the best four years of your life (perhaps five or six for some of you). It is my pleasure to welcome you to Marquette.
Now, I’m sure you’ve all heard about the friends you are going to make, the lessons you are going to learn, and the beer you are going to drink (trust me, it deserves it’s own category). That stuff is all fine and dandy, but I’m not hear to tell you about any of it. I’m not sentimental…
I’m a sports writer. And as a sports writer, it is my job to quench the one insatiable desire on this campus that never runs dry: Marquette Basketball. With that being said, it is time for you, the Class of 2012, to be acclimated to the proudest athletic tradition we have on campus.
First and foremost, there are no pre-requisites to be a fan of Marquette Basketball. You can be the fourth generation of your family to come to this fine institution, know its history, and know why its basketball program is so treasured. Or, you can still think Marquette is a city in the upper peninsula of Michigan. Either way, we’re all in the same boat.

The next, and second most important step is getting yourself in the building for every home game.
How do we do that Brian?
Easy. Walk into the Al McGuire Center, reach into your wallet, and throw down 85 big ones. That’ll get you one seat to every single home game for the season. Here’s another suggestion to go with that: buy those tickets ASAP!
Before I tell you why, it’s time for a brief history lesson. The last three years have been the most successful stretch in the history of Marquette Basketball since 1980. Come to grips with that. Not one of best, THE best in almost 30 years.
Sixty-nine total victories, averaging 23 wins per season and most importantly, three consecutive births into the NCAA Tournament. On top of that, the returning team was a goofy 7-footer’s miracle shot away from advancing to the Sweet 16. As you can imagine, tickets to these games are a hot commodity to students, faculty, and alums alike.

Now I know the year is just beginning, but do some math with me. There are roughly 4,200 student section seats at the Bradley Center. Our undergraduate enrollment is just over 8,000. Toss in grad students, and that’s 11,500 people who eligible to purchase student season tickets. That means well over half of the student body at Marquette will not have season tickets to basketball games. So if you want to be in the house, make it a priority or trust me, there are plenty that will.

Once you’re in the building, you are entitled to do anything that won’t get you kicked out of the arena (Trust me, I know from experience. Security can get pretty physical). Everyone knows the drill whether you’ve stepped inside the Bradley Center or not. Cheer loud and hard until you are blue in the face. I have no fear that you will struggle with that at all.

It’s the conversation that goes on after the game that forces me to lay down the law on a few issues…
Dominic James is not going to stop shooting threes… Deal with it.
We are a fast-breaking, guard oriented team that loves to play defense… Embrace it.
No, that huge guy at the end of the bench, transfer Liam McMorrow, cannot suit up this year, no matter how bad you want him to.
You are limited to only three uses of the phrase, “If we only had a true center…”
Yes, it is awesome that they sell beer at games, even though the prices are absurd.
And finally, never under any circumstance begin a statement with, “If Tom Crean was here…” (The person that hears you say that gets to punch you in the arm).

I’m not going to try and explain it in detail, but you are going to have a blast this year. This team will put you through more emotional highs and lows than Brett Favre’s off-season (It still stings, doesn’t it Packers fans?). Enjoy your time down at the Bradley Center and love your time here at Marquette.

Sincerely,
Brian Henry
Class of 2009

Popularity: 15% [?]

With the resignation of Tom Crean last week, the buzz around Marquette’s campus had recently been a downer. But with the promotion of Brent “Buzz” Williams to head coach, there is a reason to look up. While Williams does not have a great wealth of experience as a head coach, he is known as a great recruiter. Shooting guard Tyshawn Taylor, Marquette’s top recruit this year, had recently asked Marquette to release him from his letter of intent, but said that he would stay with the school if Williams was hired.

“I think the only way I end up at Marquette is if Coach Williams gets the head-coaching job, or if Coach Williams and another one of the assistants is still there,” said Taylor recently. “Coach Williams recruited me and I really want to play for him. I think that’s probably the only way.” His hiring may help save this past year’s recruiting class, which looked as if it would disappear after Crean left. Williams played a pivotal role in getting forward Joseph Fulce and center Chris Otule to commit to Marquette.

Williams has already started on next year’s recruiting class. He recently landed an oral commitment from top recruit Erik Williams, a forward who is a junior in high school. Williams had been the head coach of New Orleans University during the 2006-2007 season, in which he lead the team to a 14-17 record, and had been an assistant coach at Texas A&M, Colorado State, Northwestern State, Texas A&M Kingsville, and The University of Texas at Arlington before joining Marquette’s staff last year.

William’s ability to recruit probably was a huge factor for the school’s choice to hire him. Marquette wanted to hire a coach that would bring continuity to the program and continue the success that was seen under Crean.

Popularity: 16% [?]

Buzz Williams will be promoted from assistant coach Marquette’s head coach, according to sources. Williams is known as one of the better recruiters in the nation.

He was the head coach for New Orleans University during the 2006-2007 season (14-17 record) and has been an assistant coach at Texas A&M, Colorado State, Northwestern State, Texas A&M Kingsville and The University of Texas at Arlington before joining Marquette’s staff.

Developing…

Popularity: 15% [?]

By Robert Fafinski III and Joe Beres

Following this afternoon’s press conference about Marquette’s reaction to the departure of nine-year Head Coach Tom Crean, Warrior reporters spoke with Lazar Hayward and Dominic James, both of whom expressed residual troubles surrounding Crean’s departure on April 1.

“It hurts when the team is losing its leader,” James said in the Al McGuire Center lobby. “But we have to move on.”

Hayward said the difficulties he was having stemmed from the fact that the team seemed to be gelling and falling into place as one of the top five teams in the Big East.

“It’s tough to deal with, especially when we played so well last year,” Hayward said.

In terms of the team’s future, Hayward said his goals have not changed.

“It’s the same goals as last year,” Hayward said. “I’m always trying to get better and improve. No matter what happens I’m always working to improve on last year.”

James, though, went one step further.

“It increases goals,” James said.

When asked whether or not Crean’s departure would affect his decision to leave Marquette early for the NBA draft, James indicated that it would.

“It’s definitely a factor, but it is going to take time. I need to talk to my teammates before I make a decision,” James said. “It’s going to take time.”

But to further muddy the waters about his already clouded future at Marquette, James seemed to signal that reprisal was in the front of his mind.

“It increases goals.” James went on, “If someone leaves us, we just want to rub it in.”

In spite of recruits asking for release from their obligations to Marquette and rumors surrounding any future coach – names that include Tony Bennett of Washington State, Bobby Knight formerly of Army, Indiana and Texas Tech, Bruce Weber of Illinois and Sean Miller of Xavier – Hayward’s criteria for a future coach is simple:

“We want someone who’s a hard-worker, allows us to play freely and loves winning,” said Hayward.

Photo Credit: Mike Rudzinski

Popularity: 41% [?]

In 1989, Tom Crean began his coaching career as a Graduate Assistant at Michigan State University and spent four more seasons at the school as an assistant under head coach and close friend, Tom Izzo. Now, as first reported by ESPN on Tuesday, Crean will be heading back to the Big Ten, this time as an Indiana Hoosier. According to the sports network, an IU source close with the school’s hiring process said that Indiana first spoke directly to Crean about taking the job only after Washington State coach Tony Bennett withdrew his name as a candidate but Indiana officials have adamantly refuted that report. What has been confirmed is that IU athletic director Rick Greenspan spoke to Crean over two days, reaching a verbal commitment with the coach around 2 p.m. Tuesday.

At the Indiana University press conference Wednesday morning unveiling Tom Crean as head coach, Indiana athletic director again refuted the report of there being multiple candidates for the position and emphasized the process as “about hiring the best individual who can lead the program to the best level of academic and athletic success,” clearly something they felt they saw in the former Golden Eagle coach. When Tom Crean finally took the stage, he held up a crimson colored shirt with the words “Crean and Crimson” fashioned on the front. Speaking about his decision to leave Marquette after nine seasons, he characterized the past several days as being a “whirlwind of feelings, emotions, and some incredible sadness at the people I’m leaving…There is no good time to leave. No good time to say goodbye. It happened so fast.” When asked whether or not there was anything Marquette could have done or offered that would have made him stay and change his mind he responded with a no but went on to thank “administrators, faculty, athletic personnel, student-athletes, academic support, (the) strength coach, trainer(s), but most importantly, those young men.” Crean cited strong sentiment towards Marquette fans but called it ultimately a “heart decision. Not a business decision. Not a legacy decision.” The coach said he never felt like he did in previous situations in which he was offered to leave his head coaching post at Marquette. He said it simply came down to the fact that “It’s Indiana. That’s the bottom-line.” It is a coaching position that he felt is at the pinnacle of college basketball, referring to the great basketball tradition not only at the university but throughout the state as well.

Although Crean said at the press conference that he and the school will address the many contentious issues facing the program, what still remains unclear is exactly how that will be done. He is inheriting a team that is possibly losing all five of its starters from last season. Two of them, Armon Bassett and Jemarcus Ellis were kicked off the team early Tuesday morning by then-interim coach Dan Dakich. Two others have used up all their eligibility and there is the expected declaration of freshman Eric Gordon to the NBA. Furthermore, Crean is taking over a program facing self-imposed sanctions with further NCAA sanctions yet to come all thanks to hundreds of impermissible recruiting calls made by former head coach Kelvin Sampson. Although facing an uphill battle, if Indiana was looking for a squeaky-clean coach to restore the tradition and integrity the program once held, Tom Crean is an ideal choice.

After firing head coach Mike Dean in March of 1999, Marquette University hired Tom Crean as a young, active recruiting coach from elite program in Michigan State. After posting a 15-14 record each of his first two years, Crean led the team to an NCAA Tournament birth and a year later guided the team to an improbable Final Four run. Tom Crean’s legacy at Marquette will be one most likely marked by his trip to the Final Four but more so his vigorous recruiting ability. Crean was able to bring in a questionable and passed over talent in Dwyane Wade, who flourished under the coach’s system. He also had a continued presence in the Midwest, evident in his most notable recruiting class in 2005-2006. He was also able to bring in highly sought after guards Wesley Matthews, Jerel McNeal, and Dominic James. What Tom Crean brings to the Indiana University basketball program is fierce mental toughness, great basketball IQ, and much needed no nonsense approach. These characteristics and his ability to recruit in the Midwest and beyond played largely into Indiana’s decision to sign the coach to an eight year contract.

What Crean walks away from at Marquette is a contract that was supposed to keep him at the school through the 2016-’17 season, an administration that gave him full reins of the program, an elite practice facility, and an inconsistent but yet proven set of players. With a large compensation package Crean was undoubtedly one of the highest paid coaches in college basketball, something likely to stay the same at Indiana. He leaves behind his trio of guards and even further uncertainty as to whether two-thirds of it (McNeal and James) will take their chances in the NBA. Tom Crean had a strong impact on his staff, players, fans, and students which makes his exit hard to stomach for so many. He helped to bring the program into the powerhouse Big East Conference and turn it into the program it has become today. As Marquette looks to hire a new coach throughout the off-season who can bring a high level of integrity and coaching ability to the sidelines, fans should be sure to thankful towards Tom Crean for setting that standard for Marquette Basketball.

Popularity: 19% [?]

While the one point overtime loss to Stanford was especially hard to take for Marquette seniors, it did mark the furthest the men’s basketball team has made it in postseason play over the past four years. If nothing else, the tournament experience that was gained this year should pay off in the future.  Take that experience and mix it with a solid returning backcourt (assuming no one goes pro) and Marquette looks to have a great 2008-2009 season lined up.

“You are always gaining experience in the postseason; you are learning how to win.  The players can take a look at what we did and how we got there and then take the next step,” senior guard Tommy Brice said.

Taking the next step will be key for a Marquette team that has won one NCAA tournament game since their Final Four run in 2003.  The men’s basketball team has always competed well in the regular season and this year was no exception finishing 6th in the Big East, a conference that sent 8 teams to the NCAA tournament.

Most students believe that the team can only get better next year.

“I don’t see why we can’t be one of the best teams in the Big East.  If everyone comes back we will be as talented as any backcourt in the country,” senior Matt Marks, who works and travels with the team, said.

After testing the NBA waters with little success last year, most people believe that Dominic James will return for his senior season.  With a strong performance towards the end of the year, especially against Stanford, the question could be raised if Jerel McNeal will look to go pro.  However, both players will most likely stay which will create a backcourt of three one thousand point scorers.

Junior Maggie Connolly believes that because these dominant three guards have three years behind them, they will be very strong with excellent chemistry.

“We will do very well because we have a strong coach and great players along with good players coming in,” sophomore Mollie O’Brien said.

While Marquette will lose two big men in Ousmane Barro and Lawrence Blackledge, Trevor Mbakwe will be a sophomore and will be able to build off of the playing time he gained late this year.  Marquette also has 6-foot-10-inch Chris Otule coming in next year from Texas.  Dwight Burke looks be a valuable asset especially against stronger post players in the Big East.

“It is a problem being such a short team,” junior Laura Hague said.

But, Roy Hibbert (Georgetown), David Padgett (Louisville) and Kentrell Gransberry (South Florida) are all graduating. Hasheem Thabeet (Connecticut) and Donte Green (Syracuse) may leave school early for the NBA.  This means that the Big East will be getting shorter next year which should play into Marquette’s hands. However, that does not mean Marquette will not run into some larger post players in the tournament.

Marquette will enter next season with confidence that they can compete with the best in the country.  With what will be one of the best backcourts in the nation to go along with postseason experience and a solid senior class, it looks to be a good 2008-2009 campaign for the Golden Eagles.

Popularity: 12% [?]

Since its 1939 inception no Final Four has ever featured four number one seeded teams.  That is, until now.  This past weekend, top seeds University of North Carolina, Kansas, University of California-Los Angeles and Memphis all clinched a spot in the Final Four.  When the four teams take to the court this weekend it will mark the first time in the history of the NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament that such a feat has been realized.  The colossal match-ups have the making for one of the most competitive and thrilling Final Fours in recent memory.  The teams will all enter San Antonio with intriguing storylines, high expectations and the desire to leave as the best team in the nation.

Take for instance UNC head coach Roy Williams, who will be faced with the emotion driven task of coaching against a Kansas team that he led to four Final Fours before becoming a Tar Heel in 2003.

Asked in a 2003 Sports Illustrated interview if he would ever schedule a game against his former employer, Williams said, “Nope.  And if we do make the tournament and someone were to schedule us in a first-round game — just one of those ‘miracles’ that happen in the tournament — then I’d strangle everybody on the committee.”

Then the UCLA versus Memphis match-up has both teams with something to prove. UCLA may as well refer to the Final Four as their second home, this year making it three years straight, but leaving each year with disappointment rather than championship hardware.  On the opposite bench will sit undisputed Conference USA Champion Memphis, a team that has had to prove critics wrong all season as well as through the tournament.  Predicted by many to be the first number one seed to go down, the team will no doubt be looking to continue to defy the odds by bringing their up-tempo play against a consistent UCLA squad.

Each team has made a remarkable journey to reach the plateau upon which they currently sit but only one team will leave San Antonio fulfilled by capturing a national championship.  Each of the four team’s journeys, outstanding players and keys to capping off their season with a championship are highlighted below:

The North Carolina Tar Heels season and tournament experience can be summed up by two words.  Tyler Hansbrough.  The junior forward’s performance in the Tourney, as well as all season, has been marked by his steadfast work ethic and tenacious play.  Earning the nickname, “Psycho T,” Hansbrough finds himself averaging 21.0 points and 9.5 rebounds throughout tournament play.  The forward’s determination and passionate play helped guide the Tar Heels to victory over Mount St. Mary’s, Arkansas, Washington State and Louisville.  In the previous Elite Eight game against a Louisville team noted for their defense, Hansbrough hit four deep jump shots and scored 28 points.  Hansbrough will have to set the tone early on in an emotion filled game for UNC, the best transition team in basketball, to be able to pull away from Kansas.

Taking on North Carolina will be an overly athletic Kansas Jayhawks team coached by former Illinois head coach Bill Self who is making his first Final Four appearance.  The Jayhawks are led in scoring by guards Mario Chalmers and Brandon Rush, each player averaging roughly 15 points a game.  But it was center Sasha Kaun who came through for Kansas in their two-point victory over Cinderella Davidson in their preceding tournament game.  The big man came up with huge baskets down the stretch as KU dispelled bracket-busting Davidson’s dream run.  The team also defeated Portland State, University of Nevada-Las Vegas and Villanova.  Perhaps the criticism of Kansas to this point has been the lack of competition they have faced throughout the tournament playing their hardest game against a 10 seed.  Although the team is not to blame, this still may leave them somewhat unprepared for a quick and physical North Carolina team.  If they can play up to their competition, the agile Jayhawks could very easily capture a Final Four victory in this toss-up of a game.

The other game on docket for Saturday features number one seeds UCLA and Memphis.  With the high amount of turnovers in college basketball it has become harder and harder to maintain a consistent level of success.  That is why the Bruins are a bona fide rarity; making it to the Final Four three consecutive years under third-year coach Ben Howland.  The team is led by freshman superstar Kevin Love who enters the game averaging 21.8 points and 11.0 rebounds a game.  Possibly the most NBA ready talent, Love’s repertoire consists of a consistent jump-shot, intense rebounding ability and sound passing skill.

Said Xavier coach Sean Miller of Love, “getting to the Final Four with a go-to player — maybe more so than UCLA has had in the past — could allow them to win the national championship.”  Along with Love, the Bruins have one of the nation’s most talented point guards in junior Darren Collison.  Love, Collison, and a solid core of talent allowed the Bruins to defeat Mississippi Valley State, Western Kentucky, Xavier and barely pulled away from Texas A&M.  The addition of freshman Love to the mix may be what finally gets the Bruins over the hump to bring a 12th national championship back to Los Angeles.

Taking on the Bruins will be a Memphis Tigers team that lost only one game all season.  Due to the team’s lack of schedule strength, Memphis has undoubtedly been the most criticized number one seed in the tournament.  The Tigers responded to the critics by defeating University of Texas-Arlington, Mississippi State, Michigan State and dominating over number two seed Texas.  Memphis head coach John Calipari is making his return to the Final Four after a 12 year absence when he took a one loss UMass team to the land of four.

In tournament play, the Tigers have posted two 20 point scorers in All-American Chris Douglas-Roberts and freshman phenom Derrick Rose.  Douglas-Roberts has taken much of the team’s criticism to heart as their leading scorer but responded strongly with a 28 point performance against the Longhorns.  For Derrick Rose, this season and tournament has been a showcasing as to why he has to potential to be selected in the top several picks of next year’s NBA Draft, if in fact he declares. On Sunday, Rose’s stat line sure read like a top pro-prospect, dropping in 21 points, nine assists and six rebounds.  If the Tigers can continue with the same consistent all-around performance they have exhibited throughout the year, expect them to send UCLA packing for the third consecutive year and bring a national championship back to Memphis.

Over the past several days critics have made the argument that the lack of a Cinderella team in the Final Four will hurt ratings and make for a boring set of games.  But the fact is that such a high level of talent amassed on the court at once can only mean a more competitive and fierce contest.

A quote from Highlander says it best, “In the end, there can be only one.”  Indeed. And the battle to determine the best in the nation will surely make for great basketball.

Popularity: 12% [?]