By Paul Casey Gotham

Shhhhhh….did you hear that? Tick, tock, tick, tock…The time is drawing near.  College pigskin kicks off on Thursday, September 2nd with 18 games including openers for Ohio State, Miami, Pittsburgh and even Lane Kiffin’s folly. There is no playoff, so, as the talking heads say: EVERY GAME MATTERS. Here are a few games that might matter more than others.

10. Boise State at Virginia Tech – September 6: Gentlemen start your engines! A top 10 tilt in the first weekend – the Hokies and Broncos are wasting no time with a soiree on Labor Day.  Plenty of time to recover from a loss and get into the BCS, but the blemish could exclude from the title game.

9. South Florida at Miami – November 27: The Bulls won’t be competing for a national title, but the Hurricanes might. Skip Holtz should have his gang focused by this time.  Miami won by 21 last year. Not so easy this time.

8. Oregon State at TCU – September 4: Geez. Gone are the days when teams opened against the sisters of mercy. If the Horned Frogs want a shot at the title game, they have to beat a school from a “power” conference. Then, they need to go on and beat another school from a “power” conference – Baylor (Big 12).  And they need to beat BYU. Oh yeah, and they have to beat Utah. Don’t forget SMU – June Jones is there now. And they have Air Force on the ledger. Hmmmm…maybe the Mountain West isn’t for patsies after all.  Back to the point, TCU better beat Oregon State and make it interesting.

7. Pittsburgh at Notre Dame – October 9: I know. I know. Pittsburgh? Notre Dame? National title? Don’t forget. Last year, the Panthers lost at West Virginia by 3 and to #5 Cincinnati by one. They went on to win a bowl game over UNC. Pitt has beefed up the schedule with an opening weekend game at Utah and a game against Miami. The Big East gets a spot in the BCS. Pitt could earn it. If Pitt is 4-0, ND could come bearing pumpkins.

6. Georgia Tech at North Carolina – September 18: Both are ranked in pre-season polls, and both want to take out the Hurricanes. Let’s see. Last year, the Ramblin’ Wreck won by 17 in Georgia. It’s going to be different this time around.  If the Heels open with a win over LSU, this could be very interesting.

5. Stanford at Oregon – October 2: Someone from the Pac 10 is going to get a BCS game. The Ducks have some unfinished business after falling to the Cardinal last year.

4. Florida at Alabama – October 2: A spot in the SEC title will be at stake. How good is Mark Ingram?

3. Texas at Nebraska – October 16: The Longhorns get a week to rest before this one. Mack Brown’s crew will need it. After a three-year absence from the polls, the Cornhuskers finished in the top 20 last year and almost look relevant again. Some are suggesting this is a bigger game than the Red River shootout. Nahhhh!

2. Texas at Oklahoma – October 2: It’s the Red River Shootout. It’s Mack Brown and Bob Stoops. It’s the end of the Big 12 as we know it. Whooaaaaaa Nellllllllllllllllllllie!!!!!!!!!!

1. Ohio State at Iowa – November 20: Last year, the Hawkeyes looked past Northwestern and fell on their collective face. For good measure, Iowa followed that with an OT loss to the Buckeyes. This could be a late-season battle of two undefeated teams.

By Paul Gotham

Now that the dust has settled, and the NCAA Championship is behind us, time to take a look at the conferences. Much gets made about the strength of individual conferences and how a team’s strength of schedule impacts tournament status.

Take the numbers from the last ten years. Put them in jar. Shake them up and see what you get.

Number of titles won; numbers of teams making the Final Four; number of Final Four wins – The Atlantic Coast Conference comes out on top.

The ACC might not get the most teams in the tournament. But when it comes to deciding the champion, the ACC, more often than not, has the final say.

Since 2001, ACC teams have climbed the Werner ladder and cut the nets on five occasions: Duke (2001 and 2010), Maryland (2002) and North Carolina (2005 and 2009).

The Big East and SEC each have two titles. Syracuse (2003) and UConn (2004) account for the Big East shares. Florida (2006 and 2007) claimed the title twice for the Southeastern Conference.

Kansas (2008) brought the title to the Big 12.

When it comes to spots in the Final Four, again the ACC heads the list with nine. Along with their two titles, Duke appeared in the 2004 Final Four. UNC reached the final weekend in 2008. Maryland lost to Duke in the ’01 national semi-final. Georgia Tech lost to UConn in the ’04 finals.

The Big East ranks second in this category. Eight times Big East squads reached the Final Four. The power conference provided the widest variety of teams winning regional titles. Marquette joined Syracuse in the ’03 Final Four. UConn and Villanova each lost in ’09 semi-finals. Louisville won four games in the ’05 tournament as did Georgetown in ’07. Of course, West Virginia reached the plateau this year.

Seven times Big 10 teams reached the Final Four. Tom Izzo’s Michigan State Spartans joined the party in ’01, ’05, ’09 and ’10. Indiana (02), Illinois (05) and Ohio State (07) all appeared in the Final Four.

Kansas (02, 03, 08) tops the list of Big 12 teams in the Final Four. Oklahoma (02), Texas (03) and Oklahoma State (04) all won regional championships.

UCLA (06, 07, 08) represented the Pac 10 three times. Arizona lost to Duke in the 2001 finals.

Along with Florida’s two appearances, LSU (06) reached the last weekend of the season.

Butler represented the Horizon League this season. Memphis (08) carried the torch for Conference USA as did George Mason (06) for the Colonial Athletic Conference.

ACC teams won 11 Final Four games over the last ten years. Big East, Big 10 and SEC teams each won four. The Big 12 won three. Pac 10 teams won two. The Horizon League and Conference USA each won a game on the final weekend of the season.

By Paul Gotham

The hits just keep coming for the Golden Arches. It was bad enough when Morgan Spurlock released his documentary exposing the ills of fast food. Like any of us needed a movie to prove that a steady diet of Big Macs, fries, and Coke would lead to poor health. Did Spurlock really need to put himself through 30 days of three meals a day from McDonald’s? Wouldn’t fifteen have sufficed? Has anybody heard from Spurlock since the 2004 release? What kind of detox did he have to endure?

Back to the subject.

Yeah, we knew McDonald’s food was suspect, but now it looks like McDonald’s All-Americans are not all they are cracked up to be.

Once was a time when McDonald’s All-American on a resume meant a freshman was ready to contribute. Of recent years, if a program was honored enough to keep a McDonald’s All-American for a sophomore or junior season, it meant multiple wins in the NCAA Tournament. After this season’s results, a few teams might modify their recruiting channels.

A quartet of McDonald’s nominees couldn’t keep the long running Arizona Wildcat streak intact. The last time Arizona didn’t get an invite to The Dance, Ronald Reagan ruled the Oval Office. The Wildcats were to the NCAA Tournament what The Guiding Light was to day time television. Not that I am trying to compare the Wildcats to a soap opera. Or, am I? After all, there was that whole escapade with Lute Olson and Kevin O’Neill. Then came Olson’s recruiting gaffe.

Sean Miller walked into a tough situation in the desert. Maybe that’s why he could only get McDonald’s nominees Jamelle Horne, Lamont Jones, Kevin Parron, and D.J. Shumpert. Maybe that’s why Arizona finished 16-15 and 10-8 in the Pac 10 and out of the NCAA Tournament.

A coaching change and McDonald’s All-Americans nominees might not be the best example.

The UConn Huskies had their own share of problems this season. Health issues caused Coach Jim Calhoun to take a leave of absence. Upon his return, the Huskies looked ready to make a run. UConn bonked, and Kemba Walker and Alex Oriakhi could not do enough to merit their high school status. Jonathan Mandeldove is still getting a scholarship at Connecticut. That’s about it.UConn finished 17-15 and 7-11 in the Big East.

Is UConn going to the NIT?

UCLA and the NCAA Tournament go together like hamburger and cheese. Along with that comes the Bruins pick of the west coast crop – guys like Malcolm Lee, Jerime Anderson, and James Keefe. UCLA went 14-18 and 8-10. UCLA did not receive a mercy at-large bid like they did last year.

Arizona, UConn, and UCLA all pale in comparison to another school that has a stable of McDonald’s All-Americans.

North Carolina’s roster is loaded down with not one, not two, not three, four, five, or six. No, seven, count them seven Tar Heels have Ronald McDonald’s on the resume.

Ed Davis, Larry Drew II, John Henson, Dexter Strickland, David Wear, Travis Wear, and Tyler Zeller could not save the Heels from a 16-16 ledger.

Common logic says fast food lacks nutrition. Maybe it is time to consider that student-athletes who achieve early success aren’t necessarily ready to compete at a high level.

Leading up to the 2009 NIT Season Tip Off on November 16th, Pickin’ Splinters will be counting down the top 25 of the college hardwood nation.

’08 – ’09 Results: 34 -4 (13 – 3 ACC) Beat Michigan State to win NCAA Tournament, 89 – 72.

Coach: Roy Williams 176 – 37 (6 seasons at UNC) 594- 138 overall

Key Returners:

Ed Davis – 6.7ppg,6.6rpg

Deon Thompson – 10.6ppg, 5.7rpg

Will Graves – 4.0ppg, 2.6rpg

Larry Drew II – 1.4ppg, 1.1rpg

Marcus Ginyard – 1.3ppg, 2.7rpg

Tyler Zeller – 3.1ppg, 2.0rpg

Notable Non-Conference Tilts: 11/19 vs. Ohio State, 11/20 vs. California or Syracuse, 11/29 vs. Nevada, 12/1 vs. Michigan State, 12/5 at Kentucky, 12/19 vs. Texas

Stat of Identity: 1.45 Assist to Turnover ratio – 4th in the country.

By Paul Gotham

Few programs could lose 64+ points and 20 rebounds per game yet still find themselves ranked in the top five. Welcome to life in Chapel Hill where the Tar Heels never rebuild.  Instead, Roy Williams simply reloads. Don’t forget the Tar Heels are God’s team. Why else is the sky Carolina Blue?

Twelve months ago, some might have suggested that Williams could not win a title with his own guys. After a decade toiling in Lawrence, Kansas, the former UNC assistant came home and delivered a title. Then the Tar Heels found life in March difficult despite having more than enough talent. Tyler Hansbrough, Ty Lawson, Wayne Ellington, and Danny Green left no doubt. The quartet romped to the NCAA title and promptly moved on to the NBA.

Carolina’s current roster may not appear as sexy as Tar Heel lineups of the past, but the ’09-’10 version has talent aplenty. Which means Carolina will run over, under, and completely past less talented teams early in the season. This prospect could doom the young Heels to an early exit next March.

Marcus Ginyard is really the lone holdover from the previous regime. Ginyard remembers the Heels frustrating showings against Georgetown and Kansas in ’07 and ’08.  Last year, Ginyard watched from the sidelines as the Heels ascended the hill. Now, the senior has a chance to lead.

Ed Davis won’t replace Hansbrough in the paint. Coach Williams won’t need him to. Davis needs to fill a role rebounding and finishing.

Davis is joined in the front court by the lone returning starter, Deon Thompson. The athletic forward is a ball-getter. Of his 216 rebounds, 70 came on the offensive glass. Thompson will need to fill the void in this department.

Will Graves and Larry Drew II round out the starting five.

With Drew running the point, can the Heels get out and run? If not, can UNC settle into an efficient half-court offense?

25 | 23t | 23t | 22| 21 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5

by Paul Casey Gotham

At some point last night while ‘Let it’ Wayne Ellington was dropping shots like he was playing the ‘pop-a-shot’ at the local tavern, and Ed Davis was pulling down rebounds faster than Hubert Davis can deflect a Coach Knight taunt, I decided to sit back and enjoy the Tar Heels winning their fifth title.  (Somewhere, someone is thinking of  Knight’s insensitive comment to Connie Chung.)

When I looked at the in-game tally sheet, and Michigan State had more fouls (7) and turnovers (7) than points (5), I knew it was futile – well not as futile as Duke – UNLV 1990.

There was no need for me to get upset. Besides my daughter took care of any grumbling.  Ceil wears well the 17 years allegiance to the denizens of Durham.  She is a little shocked when I actually admit that UNC is good.

She’ll be downright aghast when she hears me say I am happy that Tyler Hansbrough reached his green light.

A thought came over me as I flipped off the tv and headed for a slumber: is it possible that UNC’s victory could cause future players to consider the importance of staying in college?  After all, Ellington, Hansbrough, Ty Lawson, and Danny Green could have declared for the NBA draft last year, and none of us would have batted an eye.

And there they were on the Ford Field court whooping it up and having a great time like…like…college kids.  They even looked like they were happy. Maybe future players might consider the prospect of staying around and enjoying the college experience (AHEM Mr. Gerald Henderson -wink wink).

What place in history does this Tar Heel band grab?  Are they the best college team of last ten years?  The logical match up would be against the recent teams from Florida.  I’m thinking Hansbrough would treat Joakim Noah kinda like DeJuan Blair treated Hasheem Thabeet as a rag doll.  Al Horford would cause some problems.  Corey Brewer and Ellington would set a record for points scored at the same position.  I could see the two of them making some sort of pre-game pact to make it look like they are defending eachother. All the while raining shots from another zip code

How would the ’09 Heels do versus the ’05 Heels?  Speaking of the ’05 Heels – has anyone heard from Sean May, Rashad McCants, and Ray Felton?

How will the future treat Hansbrough?  How will history treat Hansbrough?  Much has been made that the Poplar Bluff native doesn’t have a game that converts to the NBA.  He’s gotta be at least as good as Eric Montross.  That should work for eight seasons.

While CBS kept posting the graphic of all-time NCAA tournament scorers, I couldn’t help but think how dominant Elvin Hayes and Oscar Robertson must have been.  That graphic represented total points.  Right? Hayes and Robertson played in the era when freshmen were ineligible.  Further, there were fewer games because the tournament consisted of fewer rounds.  Yet Hayes and Roberston still rank in the top five?

Yes – the Spartans looked over-matched last night.  But they’ll rebound nicely.  Especially when considering that Kalin Lucas, Raymar Morgan, Chris Allen, Delvon Roe, Durrell Summers, Draymond Green, and Korie Lucious will all return. How does Tom Izzo have such an acute ability to find players who want be part of something larger than themselves? They went down last night, but those kids never stopped working. Like Rey expounded – who needs McDonald’s All-Americans when Izzo is your coach.

Speaking of Summers – do you think Stanley Robinson has recovered from this yet?  

How does the Big East’s performance or lack thereof in Motown affect the league’s assessment this year?  The conference’s seven representatives, three of which were no.1 seeds, accumulated 16 tournament victories.  Yet none occurred in the final weekend. 

The coaching carousel is already in motion as we enter the off-season for college hoops.  I have spoken on this topic before, but it’s worth updating.  

Do you think Sean Miller contacted Billy Gillespie prior to making his move from Xavier to Arizona?  Oh how things change when expectations enter into the equation.  Miller made mention that Arizona was attractive because of the possibility of winning the national title.  Hmmm…I guess the two Elite Eight appearances in the last five years weren’t good enough.  Oh and that must be what Miller realized after he turned down Arizona’s original offer.  C’mon Sean; Cash had nothing to do with it – right?

I suppose we should all make a bee line to Lexington, Kentucky.  Somehow the Bluegrass city has been able rise above the recession.  How else can one explain the $4 million a year they threw at John Calipari? Were there any political activists at Calipari’s press conference?   

How many more days until midnight madness?

by Paul Casey Gotham

Sixty-one games later and here we have it – four teams.  Actually, it’s far more than 61 if you count all the single elimination conference tournaments played for an automatic bid.

To many, making the Final Four is akin to a championship.  A team wins four games from one Region and earns the honor of cutting down the nets. Thus now on this final stage in Motown stands the Huskies of Connecticut, Spartans of Michigan State, Wildcats of Villanova, and Tar Heels of North Carolina with the opportunity to grab the most prized title – NCAA Champion.

The paths these four have taken not only converge at Ford Field but in the ability to present an immovable object, a resistance to the force applied.  To one degree or another the Huskies, Heels, Spartans, and Wildcats have all proved their mettle on the defensive end of the floor, and that has been the difference.

Making a claim that the Huskies get it done on defense might be one of the more obvious statements I can make.  While much of Jim Calhoun’s energy off the court has been spent defending his recruiting practices and salary, his team has continued the Husky pride in playing defense on the court.

 Hasheem Thabeet averages over four blocks per game, and UConn as a team knocks away 7.8 per game to rank no. 1 in the nation.  Couple that with a 9.2 rebound margin (3rd in the country) and a stingy field goal percentage defense of 37.6% (no. 2 in the land) including 30.4% from the arc (18th), and the Huskies have their recipe.

UConn topped Purdue in the Regional Semi-Final 72-60.  At quick glance someone could suggest that holding any Big 10 team to 60 points is less than impressive.  But consider that the Boliermakers’ leading scorer was Robbie Hummel with 17, and to get there the Purdue sophomore needed 17 shots.  Translation – UConn made the Boilermakers invest too many possessions to come away with too few points.  UConn held the Boilermakers to 26% (6-23) from long range.

Against Missouri in the Regional finals the Huskies withstood a gamey Tiger squad, 82-75.  Again, at first this could be an unimpressive number until one considers that in a combined 7:00 stretch of the second half Missouri managed three points (on field goal in four minutes and one free throw for three minutes).  The Huskies used their defense to pull away from Mike Anderson’s club.

Suggesting that the North Carolina Tar Heels proved their worth on the defensive end might raise a few eyebrows. After all UNC has shown an acute case of ‘Charmin Tissue play’ on the perimeter – ‘being squeezably soft.’  And why not?  They are no. 2 in the nation in scoring (90 ppg), no. 2 in assists (18per game), leading to no. 1 in scoring margin (18).  Why should they play defense?  They have proven the ability to outscore weaker teams.

But Roy Williams and his Heels stepped it up when they needed.  Gonzaga came into the Regional semis averaging 40% from behind the arc.  Against UNC the Zags went 7-23 (or just under 30%).   In the Regional finals Blake Griffin was like Ringo Starr looking to get by with “A Little Help From His Friends.”  Unfortunately for the player of the year his Paul, John, George… and Stu (had to come up with a fourth – Beatle fans can appreciate) managed 16 points for the first 35:00 of play.  Carolina’s defense schemed to take away the rest of the lineup and succeeded.

Many wondered throughout the season if the Big Ten played solid defense as a whole, or if it was simply a case of poor offensive play.

Tom Izzo’s Spartans proved last weekend that their conference can get it done when it matters most.  Kansas came into the Regional semis averaging over 76 per game.  The Spartans held them to 62 points including 3-12 shooting behind the arc.  Eager to prove themselves as not a fluke MSU beat Louisville 64-52 – holding the Cardinals to 23 points under their average.  MSU’s best defense might have been their offense…or at least their press offense.  The Spartans refused to give into the Cardinal press.  Subsequently, Louisville was forced to run half-court offense on a consistent basis, and MSU frustrated Louisville players time after time.

Trying to measure Villanova’s defense could be tricky.  Sure the Wildcats held Duke to 26% (16/60) from the field and Pittsburgh to 28% (5/18) from long range.  But defensive conversion might be Villanova’s most impressive trait.  The Wildcats possess the ability to take away opportunities and take opponents out of their comfort zone.

Blue Devil shooters looked annoyed having to play every possession with a Wildcat in their grill.  But more than that Duke did not get any easy lay ups.  Why?  Because Villanova did not allow any such chances.  Same went for the bigger Pittsburgh Panthers.  Sure the Panthers managed 76 points, but too often DeJuan Blair was forced into shots he’d rather not have taken.

And so it comes down to force versus object.  Which will succeed?  Time for a little Motown Rebound.  :)

(AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)

by Paul Casey Gotham

Three more games and the college basketball season comes to an end.  It is hard to imagine that two national semi-finals leading to Monday’s championship, and the 2008-2009 NCAA Men’s basketball campaign takes its place in history.

So too draws the curtain on Tyler Hansbrough’s college basketball career and the University of North Carolina forward’s unparalleled resume.  Stat sheets like Hansbrough’s have seduced weaker souls to try for NBA riches. Yet the perennial All-American will walk off the court in Detroit at some point this weekend having exhausted all of his college eligibility.

Images of the senior forward diving head long across the floor, enduring an endless barrage of fouls, and a face covered in blood seem so commonplace that fans have almost overlooked Hansbrough’s accomplishments this year. Love him or hate him basketball fans respect the native of Poplar Bluff, Missouri for playing the game the right way.  He leaves the college ranks as the number one scorer in the history of the Atlantic Coast Conference (currently 2,836), over 1,200 rebounds, and undefeated at Cameron Indoor Stadium.  Hansbrough’s trophy case is filled with All-Americans, a Wooden, a Naismith, and countless other Player-of-the-Year Awards.

Still Hansbrough’s accomplishments lack one thing: a national title.  The Carolina captain will come face-to-face with that goal this weekend at Ford Field.

With this singular objective so close at hand, Hansbrough parallels the quest of  fictional character, Jay Gatsby, whom F. Scott Fitzgerald breathed life into some eighty years ago.

James Gatz left behind a humble existence in North Dakota to become Jay Gatsby the millionaire cosmopolite of Long Island’s West Egg.   In doing so Fitzgerald lent a persona to the American Dream.  Readers have since associated Gatsby’s socio-economic climb with the possibilities provided by this land of opportunity.  Jay Gatsby showed that with hope and the willingness to strive anything is possible.

When Fitzgerald introduces his icon, Gatsby is seen reaching out his hand in the direction of the Long Island Sound. Off in the distance the image of a green light can be seen.  This light at the end of the Buchanan’s dock symbolizes Gatsby’s aspirations.

Motivated by his love for Daisy Faye (Buchanan) Gatsby amassed a fortune with the hopes the two could ‘repeat the past’ when they were once in love.

Unlike Gatsby, Tyler Hansbrough strives to put the past behind him.  But like Gatsby whose collection of material goods include his rented mansion, extravagant cars, lavish parties, and glittering library, Hansbrough hopes his previous accomplishments will provide a foundation for what he will do this weekend.

In the end Gatsby fell short of his dreams.

Maybe, just maybe, Tyler Hansbrough can revive the spirit of Jay Gatsby on the Motown hardwood.  Perhaps Hansbrough can capture the green light that Gatsby found so elusive.

(AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

5. Midwest is becoming the new East

Rey: We don’t want to admit it, but the Midwest is becoming a basketball force. Kansas won the National Championship last year. Missouri and Mike Anderson have turned things around in the past three years. More and more All-Americans are finding their way to Midwest schools rather than East schools. Willie Warren could have gone anywhere he wanted. Kevin Durant ad Michael Beasley certainly bucked a trend a few years ago. Even our newest tournament hero, Scottie Reynolds, was an Oklahoma committed guard before Kelvin Sampson left for Indiana.

Jeff Capel understands East coast bias better than anyone. The Fayetteville, North Carolina native chose Duke over his beloved Tar Heels and is most remembered for his half court shot against UNC. He was skeptical about going to a Midwest school but has since shown that you can recruit out there. After all, former player of the year Tyler Hansbrough, hails from Poplar Bluff, Missouri. If ever a time for the Midwest to shine, it’s right now among the East’s best.

Casey: I can see what you’re talking about, but how many titles can teams in the East win? – UConn, Duke, Maryland, Syracuse, UNC, Florida.  The East has pretty much owned the last decade.  Eventually every streak has to end.  

Like you said Capel has gone to the Midwest and recruited.  Kinda like Rick Barnes. And didn’t Bob Huggins bring Beasley to K-State? Any chance kids are more willing to go to those programs because they have coaches who have cut their teeth in the East?

Don’t forget the Big 10 falls into the category of the Midwest.

Before I forget – Blake Griffin went to Oklahoma to run the floor with his brother.  How many text messages do you think Taylor recieved?

4. Game management

Rey: Jeff Capel has already said he won’t run with the Tar Heels. Carolina averages more possessions per game; however, it’s one thing to want to slow the tempo down, and another to actually have the ability and personnel to do it. Oklahoma does. The Missouri loss late in the regular season revealed to Capel’s crew what they can and can’t do as far as tempo.

The Sooners have basketball IQ. Even freshman guard, Willie Warren, plays within the system and himself. When he can use his speed and explosiveness, he does. When his teammates are doing well, he gets them the ball. Both Griffins invite the double team and patiently pass out of it, often finding the open backside teammate. Austin Johnson is a better guard than he gets credit for and patiently controls the Sooner game plan.

If Capel’s crew can execute, Carolina has shown that a slower tempo and half court game is not their forte.

Casey:  No doubt UNC has trouble when they have to play a half-court game.  But I wouldn’t be surprised if the freshman, Warren, spends the second half on the bench because the Sooner staff will be worried about his psyche. Oklahoma barely advanced past an over-matched Michigan team early in the tournament.

3. Somebody always steps up

In games decided by four points or less this year for the Sooners, Taylor Griffin is averaging just over 16 points, which is 6 higher than his average. During Blake Griffin’s two game absence in the regular season, Willie Warren exploded for 23 and 27 points, well above his 14 point average.

In this year’s tournament, Tony Crocker has shown his ability to knock down shots. The first two rounds was more of the usual for the Sooners, with Warren and both Griffins scoring at or above their averages. Junior guard Tony Crocker only averaged 4 points in the first two rounds. Syracuse was a different story. With only Blake Griffin finding the bucket, Crocker exploded for 28 points by shooting 6-11 beyond the arc.

You can easily peruse Oklahoma’s box score this season and find that despite a depth issue, there are three or four players not named Blake Griffin who are capable of scoring. 

Casey: Yeah but can these guys step up when they are the underdog?  You know as well as I do knocking down a three when you are in the lead is one thing.  Hitting a shot in the second half when you are trailing?  Those are uncharted waters for these Sooners.

That explosion by Willie Warren was great.  Of course he didn’t have to worry whether he might cost his team the end of the season.  Do you think the freshman has the moxie to take the shot his team needs in an elimination game?

2. Carolina struggles to guard the perimeter

Rey: It’s true. Kansas’ backcourt scored 54 points in last year’s 2008 semifinal game against UNC. Brandon Rush (25), Mario Chalmers (11), and Sheron Collins (11) did it without a dominating inside post presence. And in case I’m going too far back, Tyrice Rice (25) of Boston College, Jeff Teague (34) of Wake Forest, Greivis Vasquez (35) of Maryland, and Toney Douglas (27) of Florida State can vouch for this year’s ACC regular season. Guards don’t only do well against Carolina, they completely go off.

Carolina has felt the defensive loss of Marcus Ginyard this year many times. It will happen again against Oklahoma. Plus, with all the attention spent on the Griffins and as well as both of them pass the ball, either Warren or Crocker could be looking at a career night.

Casey:  No doubt this has been a weak spot for the Heels.  But none of those teams you mentioned shoot it as well as Gonzaga, and the Bulldogs managed a mere 30% from the arc Friday night.  Chances are UNC was playing possum much of the year.  Yeah their umotivated perimeter defense almost brought on a tragic level of Ol’ Roy’s vertigo, but now they are playing when they need to. The Heels just needed somthing to inspire them.   

Oklahoma looked pretty good against the Syracuse’s zone, but who hasn’t?  Somewhere I read an article entitled: “The Orange Coats Are Coming; The Orange Coats Are Coming.”

1. Taylor Griffin

Rey: Yes, I typed in the correct name. Younger brother Blake is shooting a gaudy 78 percent in this tournament and averaging 30 points. Is there any question what he will do?

Carolina’s forward, Deon Thompson, called older brother Taylor the most underrated big man in the country. He might be right. Taylor averages just under 10 a game, but has shown an ability to go for more than 20. He can rebound and block shots. His best and most underrated skill may be his passing. He has an uncanny ability to get his younger brother the ball from the opposite block and is also not afraid to kick out and allow the offense to flow.

But, most importantly, he is a senior and quintessential team player. He is surrounded by great young players and seems like the quiet, fatherly type that calms them down at any moment.

Casey: That’s a nice story.  I almost hope you’re right.  Of course one of Pitt’s seniors, Dejuan Blair, looked more like a matador than a fatherly type as he let Scottie reynolds go to the basket last night.

If Oklahoma wins, will you be writing the Ode to Taylor piece?

by Paul Casey Gotham

Setting:  Beale Street will be bopppin’ tonight as the Sweet Sixteen comes to Memphis.  Mark Few brings his number 4 seed Gonzaga Bulldogs (28-5) to town for a lip-smackin’ tilt with Roy Williams and the number 1 seed North Carolina Tar Heels (30-4).

Make my pre-game meal bar-b-que chicken.  Ooops!  Scratch that.  It’s Lent.  I’ll wait until midnight for the meat. 

Plot:  Gonzaga is making their 11th consecutive tournament appearance and 12th overall.  This is the fifth time the Bulldogs have barked their way to the Sweet Sixteen.  In getting here the Zags beat Akron (77-64) and Western Kentucky (83-81).

On the other hand UNC is making their 41st tournament appearance and a NCAA record 23rd trip to the Regional Semi-Finals.  The Tar Heels have won eight consecutive third round match ups.  Their last loss came to Ohio State in 1992.  UNC has advanced to the Elite Eight 23 times. Carolina opened the tournament with a 101-58 shellacking of Radford and then topped LSU, 84-70.

Flash back:  Tonight’s game marks the first meeting between the schools in the Dance and second overall.  Gonzaga beat UNC in the 2006 NIT Pre-Season tourney 82-74.  The Zags limited then-sophomore, Tyler Hansbrough,  to five shots from the perimeter and nine points with nine rebounds.  Hansbrough has only been held to single-figure point totals eight of his 138 career games.   Gonzaga shot 51% from the field that night.

Characters:  Gonzaga will start:

Jeremy Pargo 6-2(10.1 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 5.0 assists, 1.4 steals)                                                                                                                                                      Matt Bouldin 6-5(13.8 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 3.5 assists, 1.6 steals)                              Micah Downs 6-8 (9.5 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 1.1 assists)                                                              Josh Heytvelt 6-11 (14.9 ppg, 6.7 rpg)                                                                   Austin Daye 6-11 (12.8 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 1.1 assists)

North Carolina will counter with:

Ty Lawson 5-11 (16.1 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 6.5 assists, 2.0 steals)

Wayne Ellington 6-4 (15.7 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 2.7 assists, 1.1 steals)
Tyler Hansbrough, 6-9 (21.2 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 0.9 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.4 blocks)
Danny Green, 6-6 (13.2 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 2.7 assists, 1.8 steals, 1.3 blocks)
Deon Thompson 6-8 (10.9 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 0.7 assists, 1.0 steals, 1.1 blocks)

On paper Gonzaga matches up with the Heels.  Outside their conference schedule, where they went undefeated, the Bulldogs played an ambitious ledger including the likes of UConn, Maryland, Tennessee, Arizona, and Oklahoma State.

Daye can hang Thompson as can Heytvelt with Hansbrough.  Bouldin should keep Ellington in check.  Can Downs hang with Green?

Gonzaga’s depth might surprise a few people.   Steven Gray, Demetri Goodson, and Ira Brown are capable of making significant contributions with limited minutes.

Then there’s Bobby Frasor.  Will the Heel senior have another night where he takes over a game for a couple of minutes?

Climax:  Pargo vs. Lawson. Pargo packs as much athleticism with basketball as does Lawson.  If anyone can slow down Lawson, it is Pargo…at his best.

Which Jeremy Pargo will show up?  The one that committed four turnovers and had zero assists in the first half at Knoxville.  Or the Jeremy Pargo that came out in the second half of that non-conference battle and had six assists, four rebounds, a steal, and six points to lead Gonzaga to a come-from-behind road win.

Pargo possesses the goods to get the job done.  Can he play within himself?

What will the Zags do?  They make just under 40% of their shots from behind the arc.  Usually that is a key ingredient to their success.  But will they get open on the arc? Carolina was susceptible early in the season on the perimeter.  Have they learned their lesson?

When UNC is at their best, there is no team in the country that can hang with them.  Gonzaga cannot hope to win a track meet against the Heels.  If they slow down the pace, will the Zags be able to get open looks late in the shot clock?

If Gonzaga can control the ball and make UNC play defense, how will the Heels be affected on offense?

Welcome to the South Regional Cafe. The South loves its food, so browse the menu and see what your tastes may get you in this year’s Southern Bracket.

Grits - If you’ve ever seen My Cousin Vinny and have never been south of the Mason-Dixon line, I’m sure you, too, have pondered what exactly a grit is. It looks like baby cereal with no taste, which is why true home grown southerners will cover their grits with butter, cheese or some other condiment. But make no mistake – just like defense in basketball – though bland at times, they’re essential to any southern meal.

This region has two of the top three defenses in the nation in #5 Illinois and #14 Stephen F. Austin. Each school is holding opponents under 57 points per game. The Lumberjacks, champions of the Southland Conference may need to get down to the nitty-gritty of defensive principles in the first round; they play an explosive #3 Syracuse team.

Hushpuppies - These are a staple to all lunches and dinners across the south. A simple recipe: tiny rolls of fried cornmeal bread. These enticing and addicting.

Nothing may be as enticing as a mid-major ready to take on the major players. It seems as though Butler is still a gleam in everyone’s eye. The #9 Bulldogs will face #8 LSU first and if they advance, will likely face #1 North Carolina.

Butler’s best days may be ahead of them as a majority of the players are freshmen and sophomores. Forward Matt Howard has had a stellar sophomore year leading the team in scoring and rebounding. Freshmen Gordon Hayward and Shelvin Mack will need to grow up fast to get their #9 Bulldogs to the sweet sixteen.

Western Kentucky may seem enticing. It may be that most of that magic left with last year’s hero, Courtney Lee.

Spicy Potatoes - The underrated, underappreciated side dish of the south. The potato is cut into quarters swimming in an orange, spicy sauce. Often passed up by newcomers but appreciated by those who truly know their southern food. There are some spicy players in this bracket who have been underappreciated this season.

Watch 6’4″ senior guard Marcus Thornton of #8 LSU. He’s quietly averaged 21 points per game this year, eclipsing the 30 point mark on six occasions. He can be an explosive player and may cause havoc for the Ginyard-less #1 Tar Heels should his Tigers make it to the second round.

Kevin Thompson of Morgan State is no slouch. This 6’8″ 240 pound freshman will have his hands full in the first round as his #15 Bears, champions of the MEAC conference, take on the Griffin brothers of Oklahoma.

Thompson should be up for the challenge, as he went well above his average in the MEAC championship game scoring 15 points and pulling down 11 boards. If he can get some help from his fellow frontcourt members, the Sooners could have a dog fight on their hands.

Austin Daye of #4 Gonzaga is a rising star on NBA prospect lists. This lanky 6’11″ forward continues to cause matchup problems and may give other schools fits defensively. He’s third on his team in scoring at 13 a game, leads rebounding with nearly 7 a game, and just for good measure will throw in 2 blocks a game.

Daye’s Bulldogs will face MAC champion Akron first. Looking ahead, The Zags may have a potential sweet sixteen matchup with the #1 Tar Heels.

Barbeque - Not the sauce. This barbeque is a vinegar mixture with shredded pork. It’s an acquired taste; regardless, it’s a staple on the southerner’s menu.

Certain players will determine the success of their team. Sometimes the best on the team, sometimes the glue that holds things together, but these players will have to show up big on the menu or no true southerner will consider it a meal – just like their beloved barbeque recipe.

James Harden come on down! This 6’5″ sophomore guard opted out of last year’s NBA draft and made many college basketball fans happy. Averaging 21 points per game to go along with nearly 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and close to 2 steals, he is the #6 Sun Devils main course.

However, if he doesn’t come to play starting in round one, Arizona State can expect an early exit. The road to the Regional will be tough, even in the first round game with the Atlantic 10 champion Temple Owls. Syracuse and Oklahoma will probably be waiting in the wings should Harden strap the Sun Devils to his back.

Tyler Hansbrough has become Carolina basketball, but no true UNC fan will tell you that Ty Lawson isn’t the most important player on this Tar Heel squad. First off: will he play? Roy Williams says it is possible he sits out the first round game against #16 Radford. He makes this Carolina engine run, but if this injury doesn’t heal, this bracket is loaded with guards ready to challenge.

Jonny Flynn continues to put his name out there with the best point guards in the country. What better stage to improve one’s NBA stock? He may have a lot to prove as does his school. Syracuse has been disappointing in the tournament since their championship in 2003, even having to settle for the NIT two years in a row. Orange fans are ready for a return to greatness and Flynn has the ticket.

The #11 Temple Owls will bring their own NBA-esque guard with them. Sharp shooting 6’6″ guard Dionte Christmas has to be salivating. A first round game against Herb Sendek’s matchup 3-2 zone and a potential second round game against Jim Boeheim’s 2-3 zone may have the Owls thinking sweet sixteen. If Christmas gets a hot hand, it could spell trouble for these zone defenses.

No doubt Blake Griffin is it when it comes to the #2 Sooners. Although, we were able to see what his teammates could do when he suffered a concussion and sat out a few games. Those games revealed the athleticism and gutsy play of freshman Willie Warren. The freshman guard scored 27 and 23 in Griffin’s absence, well above his 14 a game average.

Not be forgotten is Blake’s older brother, Taylor Griffin. He averages close to 10 points and 6 rebounds. Most importantly, however, is his interior passing ability. Both Griffin’s are not afraid to move the ball to an open perimeter player or each other to get a better look.

Fried Chicken - Delicious no matter where you go. Sure everyone will have their preferences and claim one area or restaurant is better than another, but in the end, they’re all the same. Don’t be fooled – it’s just like anything you’d have in any other part of the country.

Interesting defensive styles will take the court in the Southern Region. Some like to boast about the prowess of their school’s specific scheme; nonetheless, it’s all about how it’s executed or in fried chicken’s case, how it’s prepared. No secrets but the pressure to do it right is prevalent.

The traditional 2-3 zone could cause trouble if the Syracuse Orange get Temple in the second round. More than likely, though, they’ll face Oklahoma in a sweet sixteen matchup. The Griffin brothers may be passing circles around Arinze Onuaku in the middle of that zone.

Oliver Purnell will bring his #7 Clemson squad to face John Beilein’s #10 Michigan. Both these teams have their signature defense. Purnell will stick to his full court pressure. It’s done wonders against some teams, holding Duke to under fifty points earlier this year. Then in other games it has been their demise as teams’ press breakers seemed to bust the odd front pressure time and time again.

Beilein will put his tall and long 1-3-1 zone up against the Tigers of the ACC. This seems to be a pretty effective strategy when it works; a balanced zone that allows quick close outs on the arc. Terrence Oglesby has become better at attacking with the dribble. He is still as formidable an outside threat as last year, so if the Wolverines fail to identify him at all times, it could be lights out early for Big Blue.

Pig Roast – There is nothing like a huge grill with a pig split open laying in it slowly cooked throughout the day. Most common in the summer time, this delicacy of the Dixie means something special is going on. Grab a plate, get in line, and enjoy the succulent, savory pulled pork.

Let’s be honest: as much as everyone loves upsets and Cinderellas, the South Region comes down to #1 and #2. Who doesn’t want to see Oklahoma versus North Carolina? Former player of the year versus current player of the year? Warren versus Lawson. The seasoned coach in Roy Williams and the new kid on the block Jeff Capel.

Anything else would just be . . . well . . . fried chicken. Enjoy your meal and don’t forget the tip!