By: Tyler Ward
I'm sure you all have seen the brawl that occurred at the end of the game between the Cincinnati Bearcats and the No. 8 ranked Xavier Musketeers.
After the dust had settled, Cincinnati announced that they had suspended senior Yancy Gates, junior Cheikh Mbodj, and freshman Octavius Ellis six games each for their actions in the brawl. Cincinnati freshman Ge'Lawyn Guyn was also suspended one game.
Xavier also announced that they had suspended freshman Dez Wells and walk-on Landen Amos for four games, junior guard Mark Lyons for two, and senior guard Tu Holloway for one game.
So in case you haven't seen it, here it is:
Showing posts with label NCAA Basketball. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NCAA Basketball. Show all posts
Monday, December 12, 2011
Saturday, April 16, 2011
A Look Back: Visiting Kemba Walker's Childhood Home In The Bronx
By: Tyler Ward
Walker, a Bronx native, led his UConn Huskies to the NCAA Championship this season, winning the MVP award in the process.
Walker was undoubtedly the leader of the team and without him, the Huskies were nothing.
Now, he will take his talents to the professional level.
So, here's a look at Walker's home in the Bronx.
Walker, a Bronx native, led his UConn Huskies to the NCAA Championship this season, winning the MVP award in the process.
Walker was undoubtedly the leader of the team and without him, the Huskies were nothing.
Now, he will take his talents to the professional level.
So, here's a look at Walker's home in the Bronx.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Former UNLV Coach Lon Kruger Takes Job At Oklahoma
By: Tyler Ward
It was announced Friday that former UNLV Runnin' Rebels head coach Lon Kruger will now be the new head man for the Oklahoma Sooners.
Kruger coached at UNLV for seven seasons, including taking the team to the annual NCAA Tournament four times.
Terms of Kruger's contract weren't immediately given, but his annual salary has nearly doubled to $2.2 million per season.He said in a statement, "This is an exciting day. I have appreciated the Oklahoma program for many years and always felt it had all of the components necessary to compete at the highest national level."
The 58-year-old compiled a 161-71 record with UNLV.
In total, he has 479 career wins with UNLV, Kansas State, Florida, and Illinois. He also coached the NBA's Atlanta Hawks for the three seasons.
Kruger takes over for Jeff Capel, who was fired on March 14 after five seasons with the Sooners.
Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione also said, "Lon Kruger wins with class, and in the coaching realm, I don't know if the praise gets any higher. His background, ranging from regular trips to the NCAA tournament to his time in the NBA, is among the most unique and complete in college basketball.
"He has demonstrated the ability to manage a program across the board, and the results speak for themselves," Castiglione went on to say. "We have placed our program in the hands of a true professional and one of the most respected coaches in the country."
Since becoming a head coach, Kruger has taken his teams to the NCAA tournament thirteen times, reaching the Sweet Sixteen or farther three times.
Former Memphis Tigers Coach Larry Finch Dies At 60
By: Tyler Ward
Larry Finch, who led the Tigers to a 1973 NCAA championship appearance, has died at the age of 60.
Memphis spokesman Lamar Chance said Finch died at Saint Francis Hospital on Saturday.
His #21 jersey was also retired by Memphis.
He would go on to coach the Tigers before the 1986-87 season. He would become the Tigers' all-time leader in wins, as he would retire in 1997. When he retired, Finch had won 220 games and lost just 130.
Finch would also lead them to a Final Four appearance.
As he has gotten older, Finch had grown accustomed to health problems. He suffered a debilitating stroke in 2002 and in October 2010, he was hospitalized with a case of pneumonia.
It finally caught up to him on Saturday, but the cause of death is unknown thus far.
Gene Bartow, who coached Finch in the 1973 title game against UCLA, said in a statement, "I'm asked a lot about who was the greatest player I ever coached, and I always have the same answer: Larry Finch. Larry helped provide the roots for this city's wonderful basketball tradition, and his contributions to Memphis were immense. He will be missed."
Tigers athletics director R.C. Johnson also said of Finch, "Larry Finch was so much bigger than just a basketball player or a basketball coach. He did so much for the City of Memphis, his community and his University, that it would be hard to mention all of his achievements."
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the Finch family in their time of grief,
Johnson continued. "Larry Finch will live on in the memories of all Tiger fans. He will never be forgotten."
A few years after his pro career ended, Finch went into coaching at his alma mater. He became the head coach before the 1986 season, succeeding Dana Kirk.
He would lead the Tigers to the NCAA Tournament six times. Finch coached players such as Penny Hardaway, Lorenzen Wright, Elliot Perry, and David Vaughn.
To honor Finch, the Tigers named their practice facility after him in 2000.
"Coach Finch was one of the biggest influences in my life," said Elliott Perry, who played for Finch. "Playing for coach Finch at Memphis was a perfect scenario for me. He helped shape me as a basketball player, but more importantly into the person that I am today."
Current Memphis coach Josh Pastner said of Finch, "Larry Finch is one of the two most important figures in the city of Memphis' history, along with Elvis Presley. Larry surely will be missed, but his spirit will continue to be with us."
Finch was born in Memphis and attended Melrose High School. He started attending Memphis State University in 1970 and stayed there all four years.
During his final season in a blue and white uniform, Finch led the Tigers to a championship appearance against Bill Walton's UCLA Bruins.
Memphis lost the game, despite Finch scoring 29 points.
Finch was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in 1973, but instead signed with the Memphis Tams of the American Basketball Association.
He went into coaching after his playing career ended.
Finch will be sorely missed, as he was one of the best coaches in the school's history. He was a great person and we can do nothing, but honor his greatness.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
ESPN Special: The Fab Five (Entire Episode - Video)
By: Tyler Ward
Considered by some to be the best recruiting class ever, the "Fab Five" consisted of Jimmy King, Ray Jackson, Jalen Rose, Chris Webber, and Juwan Howard.
On February 9, 1992, the Wolverines matched up against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
This was perhaps one of the most notable games of the season for the Wolverines, as this was the first time all five players started in the same game.
Not only did the Wolverines win the game, but all five players accounted for every single win. Michigan reached the championship game in 1992 and 1993, both of which have been vacated by the school for violation of NCAA rules.
As high school players, all five were rated in the top 100 of prospects, four of which were in the top ten (Ray Jackson was ranked 84th).
Not to mention, four of the five players went on to play in the NBA (Jackson was the only one never to play in a game). Jimmy King played two seasons, while Webber, Rose, and Howard ended up to have long, lenghty careers.
The ESPN documentary has caught some heat lately, most in part to some comments made by Rose. Rose recently referred to Duke black athletes of the 1990's as "Uncle Toms".
It has drawn much controversy from former players such as Grant Hill, Antonio Lang, and head coach Mike Krzyzewski.
Rose has said that the comments weren't what he actually felt, but he was just in the moment.
Regardless of what was said in the documentary, the Wolverines were a great team, despite never winning a championship ring.
But their team will still go down in the history books as one of the best collegiate basketball teams of all-time.
Here is some of the documentary:
Considered by some to be the best recruiting class ever, the "Fab Five" consisted of Jimmy King, Ray Jackson, Jalen Rose, Chris Webber, and Juwan Howard.
On February 9, 1992, the Wolverines matched up against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
This was perhaps one of the most notable games of the season for the Wolverines, as this was the first time all five players started in the same game.
Not only did the Wolverines win the game, but all five players accounted for every single win. Michigan reached the championship game in 1992 and 1993, both of which have been vacated by the school for violation of NCAA rules.
As high school players, all five were rated in the top 100 of prospects, four of which were in the top ten (Ray Jackson was ranked 84th).
Not to mention, four of the five players went on to play in the NBA (Jackson was the only one never to play in a game). Jimmy King played two seasons, while Webber, Rose, and Howard ended up to have long, lenghty careers.
The ESPN documentary has caught some heat lately, most in part to some comments made by Rose. Rose recently referred to Duke black athletes of the 1990's as "Uncle Toms".
It has drawn much controversy from former players such as Grant Hill, Antonio Lang, and head coach Mike Krzyzewski.
Rose has said that the comments weren't what he actually felt, but he was just in the moment.
Regardless of what was said in the documentary, the Wolverines were a great team, despite never winning a championship ring.
But their team will still go down in the history books as one of the best collegiate basketball teams of all-time.
Here is some of the documentary:
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
And Then There Were Two: Alabama Advances To NIT Final With Win Over Colorado
By: Tyler Ward
The Shockers (28-8) narrowly missed out on the NCAA Tournament so they had to settle for the second option - the NIT. The No. 4 seeded Shockers were led by Garrett Stutz, who led the way with 24 points and 11 rebounds.
Burks, a projected lottery pick this year, added 20 points, six rebounds, and four assists for the Buffaloes as they now pack their bags and go home.
Well, the NIT Championship is now set.
On Monday, Wichita State routed Washington State 75-44 to advance to the NIT Championship. The Shockers would face the winner of the Alabama/Colorado matchup on Tuesday at the famed Madison Square Garden.
The Shockers (28-8) narrowly missed out on the NCAA Tournament so they had to settle for the second option - the NIT. The No. 4 seeded Shockers were led by Garrett Stutz, who led the way with 24 points and 11 rebounds.So Wichita State was forced to play the waiting game.
Luckily, for the fans, the other semifinal was a great game.
Former VCU coach Anthony Grant is currently the Tide's head man and he was hoping that the Tide would do just as well as the Rams have in the "big" tournament. His hopes were on target.
The first half was a rather entertaining one.
At halftime, the Tide was winning the game 36-30. The box score, however, doesn't show how great of a half of basketball it really was.
The first half featured a 10-0 run by the Tide, then a 10-1 run by Colorado, and finally a 17-2 run by Alabama. That put the Tide up six with twenty more minutes to play.
Junior JaMychal Green, who announced that he would return to Alabama for his senior season, scored a game-high 22 points for the Tide. He also added in five rebounds, while going 11-for-16 from the field.
Despite a quality performance, Green sat out five minutes in the second half after picking up his fourth foul. He would eventually foul out with 2:27 left in the game.
At the time of Green's final foul, the Buffaloes were only able to score two points. 'Bama guard Trevor Releford drove in for the game-winning layup with 12.6 seconds left.
Colorado guard Alec Burks missed an outside shot at the buzzer, successfully ending the game with the Buffaloes behind one point.
Burks, a projected lottery pick this year, added 20 points, six rebounds, and four assists for the Buffaloes as they now pack their bags and go home. Colorado's Levi Knutson added 14 points and Cory Higgins also added in 13.
Alabama's Releford, who hit the game-winning layup, was the only other Tide player to score in double digits, as he added 13 points, along with six assists.
Alabama (25-11) will now meet Wichita State (28-8) in the championship game at 6 p.m. CDT on Thursday at Madison Square Garden for what is sure to be a great game.
Memphis Tigers Coach Josh Pastner Gets Five-Year Extension
By: Tyler Ward
The Tigers rewarded head basketball coach Josh Pastner with a five-year extension that will keep in Memphis until the 2015-16 season.
The university said Tuesday that the extension is worth approximately $1.7 million per season.
Pastner was hired last year to take over for John Calipari, arguably the best coach in Memphis Tigers basketball history. Memphis, under a new regime, went 24-10 in Pastner's first season and successfully earned a berth in the annual NIT tournament.
This season, with junior Wesley Witherspoon and freshman Will Barton, the Tigers went 25-9 in the regular season, earning a spot in the NCAA championship tournament. The Tigers faced the Arizona Wildcats in the opening round of the tournament, but exited early and losing, 77-75.
With Pastner secured, the Tigers are hoping to return to their best form after being considered a top-tier team throughout the decade.
Memphis athletic director R.C. Johnson says Pastner is "an outstanding coach and recruiter".
"We have everything we need to be successful and build championship-caliber teams. From a modern arena, to a great practice facility, to one of the strongest fan bases in the nation, to an outstanding recruiting area, Tiger basketball is one of the top five programs in the country and should always remain at that elite level," he said.
Kansas Jayhawks: Punching Bag Of The Little Guy (Video Highlights)
By: Stephen Patterson
In fact, this season's embarrassing 71-61 season-ending loss to the Virginia Commonwealth Rams is just the latest in a string of embarrassments by Bill Self-led Kansas teams.
Luckily for Self, he was fortunate enough to catch a title game against a Memphis team led by John Calipari, who never wins in the "big games" (and yes, that means I'm saying Kentucky will fall flat on their faces and short of a title this season too; bank on it).
However, other than their title winning team of 2007-08, Kansas has suffered four particularly embarrassing tournament exits in the past seven seasons (including this seasons thrashing at the hands of VCU).
Below is a little taste from each of the other three sweet, embarrassing Kansas defeats from the past decade:
2004-05: #14 Bucknell over #3 Kansas (64-63)
2005-06: #13 Bradley over #4 Kansas (77-73)
2009-10: #9 Northern Iowa over #1 Kansas (69-67)
Duke Recruit Austin Rivers Pays Tribute To His Dad At McDonald's All-American Dunk Contest (Video)
By: Stephen Patterson
Austin Rivers, the son of Boston Celtic's head coach Doc Rivers, paid a little tribute to his father en route to winning the 2011 McDonald's All-American Dunk Contest.
Rivers, wearing his father's #25 Atlanta Hawks jersey, threw down a nasty windmill dunk from the baseline off a toss and picked up the only perfect score of the night (70 points).
The 6'3" senior in high school of Winter Park, Florida is considered to be the best player in the nation in his class and has committed to playing at Duke next season.
With the leaping ability and strength he displayed last night, it's easy to see why Blue Devil's fans are already foaming at the mouth as they await Rivers' arrival.
Do you think Rivers makes the Blue Devils the favorites to win the national championship next season?
Monday, March 28, 2011
UConn's Kemba Walker: Is He The Best Player In College Basketball?
By: Tyler Ward
Usually, there is always one player in each basketball season that is the best. However, this season, it has been a toss-up between two players: Jimmer Fredette of Brigham Young and Kemba Walker of Connecticut.
Both players helped their teams all season long to high seeded berths in the NCAA Tournament.
Now entering the Final Four, only one of those two players is currently standing.
Enter junior Kemba Walker.
Walker, perhaps the most electrifying player in all college hoops, has willed the Huskies to their fourth Final Four appearance, all since 1999.
But it's the manner that the Huskies, mostly Walker, did it in.
At the end of the regular season, the Huskies sat at 9-9 in the Big East, placing ninth in the entire conference. They had to practically win the conference tournament to advance to the actual championship tournament.
On March 8th, the Huskies matched up against DePaul, the worst team in the conference (1-17). They dominated DePaul throughout the game, eventually winning 97-71. Walker led the Huskies with 26 points, seven rebounds, and five assists.
The following day, Walker and Co. took on the Georgetown Hoyas in their second round match-up. Walker once again led the Huskies to victory, 79-62. Walker scored 28 points, six rebounds, and three assists.
On March 10th, UConn would take on Pittsburgh, the best team in the conference and eventual #1 seed in the championship tournament.
Walker carried the Huskies throughout the game, but the best part of the game came at the very end. With the game tied at 74, UConn called a timeout with roughly 18 seconds remaining.
The junior had the ball for the majority of the time remaining and just before the buzzer, Walker heaved up a shot after stepping back on a defender. The shot went in and the Huskies won the game, 76-74.
The guard led the Huskies with 24 points and five assists. This was their third win in three days.
In the fourth round, the Huskies took on the Syracuse Orange, one of the top teams in the NCAA throughout the year. And Walker had his best game of the Big East Tournament.
In their overtime thriller win, 76-71, Walker scored 33 points and brought down twelve rebounds. He also assisted on five baskets and had six steals.
With four wins in four days, the Huskies were finally matched up against Louisville for the conference crown.
Walker would leave no doubt that he was the MVP of the tournament, as he rallied the Huskies to a 69-66 win. Although he had his worst game of the tournament, no other player matched his abilities throughout the games.
Walker scored 19 points and added three assists and two rebounds.
For the tournament, the junior averaged 26 points and was given the Big East Tournament MVP Award.
The win gave UConn an astounding five wins in five days, as they advanced to the tournament.
Now, with wins over Bucknell, Cincinnati, San Diego State, and Arizona, the Huskies are in the Final Four for the first time since 2007. And it can be said that it is mostly in part to Walker.
He has truly been the best player this season, in my opinion. Although Fredette scored more points than Walker, the Huskies star meant more to his team than Fredette to BYU.
All it takes is looking at BYU's loss to Billy Donovan's Florida Gators. Fredette spent all game throwing up shots, hoping that they would fall in. That's not how you win games. One player cannot do it all by themselves, but Fredette sure thought he could.
Yes, the guard did score 32 points, but it took him 29 shots to achieve that number. He only went 11-for-29 from the field, including 3-for-15 from three-point range. Not so good, especially since it was his last collegiate game.
So when it comes down to it, the last man standing is the NCAA's best player. Walker kept his team in games, despite boasting just a 22-9 regular season record.
He worked a lot of magic to get to where they are right now. With the performances he has given, there is no doubt in my mind that Walker should receive the Naismith Award.
He's been the best player and if anything, he's showed that since the Big East Tournament began.
Walker's shot against Pittsburgh:
Usually, there is always one player in each basketball season that is the best. However, this season, it has been a toss-up between two players: Jimmer Fredette of Brigham Young and Kemba Walker of Connecticut.
Both players helped their teams all season long to high seeded berths in the NCAA Tournament.
Now entering the Final Four, only one of those two players is currently standing.
Enter junior Kemba Walker.
Walker, perhaps the most electrifying player in all college hoops, has willed the Huskies to their fourth Final Four appearance, all since 1999.
But it's the manner that the Huskies, mostly Walker, did it in.
On March 8th, the Huskies matched up against DePaul, the worst team in the conference (1-17). They dominated DePaul throughout the game, eventually winning 97-71. Walker led the Huskies with 26 points, seven rebounds, and five assists.
The following day, Walker and Co. took on the Georgetown Hoyas in their second round match-up. Walker once again led the Huskies to victory, 79-62. Walker scored 28 points, six rebounds, and three assists.
On March 10th, UConn would take on Pittsburgh, the best team in the conference and eventual #1 seed in the championship tournament.
Walker carried the Huskies throughout the game, but the best part of the game came at the very end. With the game tied at 74, UConn called a timeout with roughly 18 seconds remaining.
The junior had the ball for the majority of the time remaining and just before the buzzer, Walker heaved up a shot after stepping back on a defender. The shot went in and the Huskies won the game, 76-74.
The guard led the Huskies with 24 points and five assists. This was their third win in three days.
In the fourth round, the Huskies took on the Syracuse Orange, one of the top teams in the NCAA throughout the year. And Walker had his best game of the Big East Tournament.
In their overtime thriller win, 76-71, Walker scored 33 points and brought down twelve rebounds. He also assisted on five baskets and had six steals.
With four wins in four days, the Huskies were finally matched up against Louisville for the conference crown.
Walker scored 19 points and added three assists and two rebounds.
For the tournament, the junior averaged 26 points and was given the Big East Tournament MVP Award.
The win gave UConn an astounding five wins in five days, as they advanced to the tournament.
Now, with wins over Bucknell, Cincinnati, San Diego State, and Arizona, the Huskies are in the Final Four for the first time since 2007. And it can be said that it is mostly in part to Walker.
He has truly been the best player this season, in my opinion. Although Fredette scored more points than Walker, the Huskies star meant more to his team than Fredette to BYU.
All it takes is looking at BYU's loss to Billy Donovan's Florida Gators. Fredette spent all game throwing up shots, hoping that they would fall in. That's not how you win games. One player cannot do it all by themselves, but Fredette sure thought he could.
Yes, the guard did score 32 points, but it took him 29 shots to achieve that number. He only went 11-for-29 from the field, including 3-for-15 from three-point range. Not so good, especially since it was his last collegiate game.
So when it comes down to it, the last man standing is the NCAA's best player. Walker kept his team in games, despite boasting just a 22-9 regular season record.
He worked a lot of magic to get to where they are right now. With the performances he has given, there is no doubt in my mind that Walker should receive the Naismith Award.
He's been the best player and if anything, he's showed that since the Big East Tournament began.
Walker's shot against Pittsburgh:
NCAA Basketball: All-American Teams Announced; Fredette, Walker Lead First Team
By: Tyler Ward
Just one day after Kentucky and VCU advanced to the Final Four, the Associated Press announced the players elected to the AP All-America Team.
Three seniors were elected to the team - Jimmer Fredette of BYU, Nolan Smith of Duke, and JaJuan Johnson of Purdue. UConn junior Kemba Walker and Ohio State freshman Jared Sullinger were the other two players chosen.
It's the most seniors elected to the team since four were chosen in 2006.
Duke point guard Nolan Smith received 61 of the possible 65 votes. For the season, Smith averaged 21.3 points, 5.2 assists, and 4.6 rebounds per game. He helped lead the Blue Devils to the top of the polls throughout the season.
He became the seventh freshman All-American in the last five years.
Sullinger received 58 of the 65 possible votes.
UConn's Walker, one of the most electrifying players in the NCAA, has led the Huskies to yet another Final Four appearance.
Walker had a stellar start to the season, but as the season went on, he and the rest of the team faded into mediocrity.
Coach Jim Calhoun called Walker "the most important person on the team this year".
The last selection, Purdue's JaJuan Johnson, averaged 20.5 points and 8.2 rebounds per game for the Boilermakers. He also became the first Boilermaker to be selected to the All-American Team since Glenn Robinson in 1994.
Johnson returned to school this season after considering leaving for the NBA last year.
Fredette and Johnson were on the preseason All-American Team. Duke's Kyle Singler, Kansas State's Jacob Pullen, and North Carolina's Harrison Barnes were the others nominated before the season.
The second All-American Team was also announced Monday.
Arizona's Derrick Williams led the team, along with Kansas' Marcus Morris. Notre Dame's Ben Hansbrough, Wisconsin's Jordan Taylor, and San Diego State's Kawhi Leonard were the other players elected to the team.
Just one day after Kentucky and VCU advanced to the Final Four, the Associated Press announced the players elected to the AP All-America Team.
Three seniors were elected to the team - Jimmer Fredette of BYU, Nolan Smith of Duke, and JaJuan Johnson of Purdue. UConn junior Kemba Walker and Ohio State freshman Jared Sullinger were the other two players chosen.
It's the most seniors elected to the team since four were chosen in 2006.
Fredette led the nation with 28.5 points per game and became one of the most popular players in the NCAA. He also became the first Cougar to be chosen since Danny Ainge in 1981.
Fredette, happy with the selection, said, "If you go out and play your game and have confidence in yourself, you can accomplish great things. That's what I've always said in my head, and it's worked out."
Duke point guard Nolan Smith received 61 of the possible 65 votes. For the season, Smith averaged 21.3 points, 5.2 assists, and 4.6 rebounds per game. He helped lead the Blue Devils to the top of the polls throughout the season. Sullinger, a freshman, averaged 17.2 points and 10.1 rebounds for the Buckeyes this season. After their defeat in the tournament, Sullinger announced that he would return to the school for his sophomore season.
He became the seventh freshman All-American in the last five years.
Sullinger received 58 of the 65 possible votes.
UConn's Walker, one of the most electrifying players in the NCAA, has led the Huskies to yet another Final Four appearance.
Throughout the season, Walker has been one of the best players in college and he proved that with his level of play in his junior season.
Walker had a stellar start to the season, but as the season went on, he and the rest of the team faded into mediocrity.
However, they got hot at the right time as Walker led the Huskies to five wins in as many days to win the Big East Tournament. The guard averaged 23.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.6 assists for the Huskies this season.
Coach Jim Calhoun called Walker "the most important person on the team this year".
The last selection, Purdue's JaJuan Johnson, averaged 20.5 points and 8.2 rebounds per game for the Boilermakers. He also became the first Boilermaker to be selected to the All-American Team since Glenn Robinson in 1994.
Johnson returned to school this season after considering leaving for the NBA last year.
Fredette and Johnson were on the preseason All-American Team. Duke's Kyle Singler, Kansas State's Jacob Pullen, and North Carolina's Harrison Barnes were the others nominated before the season.
The second All-American Team was also announced Monday.
Arizona's Derrick Williams led the team, along with Kansas' Marcus Morris. Notre Dame's Ben Hansbrough, Wisconsin's Jordan Taylor, and San Diego State's Kawhi Leonard were the other players elected to the team.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
JaMychal Green Will Return To Alabama For Senior Season
By: Tyler Ward
NBA Prospect JaMychal Green is reportedly returning to Alabama for his senior season. The forward made the decision last week, much to the surprise of head coach Anthony Grant.
The most surprising thing is that Green made his decision with no press conference. The news never left the locker room until just recently.
Grant, happy with Green's decision, said, "He had a big smile on his face. He gave me a hug and told me he loved me."
Playing in the NIT Tournament, the Crimson Tide beat the Miami Hurricanes 79-64 in the quarterfinals.
The Tide will now play on Tuesday when they face off against Colorado in Madison Square Garden.
Green has sure helped the Tide get to this point.
In November, the Tide had lost three games with Green growing ever more frustrated. At practice, Green snapped, completely blowing up at the team's lack of consistency.
With the blow-up, Grant handed down an indefinite suspension to Green, which lasted just three games, spanning two weeks.
Alabama was 4-5 when Green finally returned. Since then, the Tide is 20-6. Quite of a turnaround, huh?
Green has played exceedingly well since returning to the lineup, while being named a first-team selection to the All-SEC Team.
For the season, Green is averaging 15.4 points and 7.7 rebounds per game.
What A Shaka! VCU Advances To Final Four With Upset of Kansas
By: Tyler Ward
Well, ya know how there always seems to be a Cinderella of the annual NCAA Tournament? It happened again this year and they go by the name of the Rams.
The Virginia Commonwealth Rams.
Somehow, someway, VCU managed to upset the No. 1 seeded Kansas Jayhawks on Sunday to advance to their first Final Four in school history.
VCU used many different defenses to confuse the Jayhawks, most of them making the Kansas players shoot from long distance. Brady Morningstar, Tyrel Reed, and the others could not connect as they dug themselves deeper and deeper and deeper.
The Rams, a #11 seed, are now just the third team in NCAA history to advance to the Final Four after being a double-digit seed (LSU, 1986 & George Mason, 2006).
Jamie Skeen led the Rams with 26 points, but his most impressive statistics didn't appear on the scoreboard. Skeen was all over the place on Sunday, diving for loose balls, contesting shots, and anything else you can think of. His style of play possibly led the Rams to the win.
Skeen, a senior, averaged 15.1 points and 7.3 rebounds per game over the regular season. In the tournament, he has helped the Rams to wins over five different major conference teams. In their five impressive wins of the tournament, Skeen is averaging 15.6 points and 6.6 rebounds per game.
Brandon Rozell added 12 points for the Rams, while going 4-for-7 from three-point land. Point guard Joey Rodriguez also added 9 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists.
Head coach Shaka Smart said after the game, Those people (the doubters) don't matter. The only people that matter is the 14 guys on our team, and they never stopped believing."
And apparently, they didn't stop believing.
Now VCU will be taking on last year's Cinderella, the Butler Bulldogs. The Bulldogs, perhaps the scrappiest team in the NCAA, is looking to advance to the championship for the second consecutive year.
Kansas had a relatively easy path to the Elite 8, as they ran over teams such as Boston (No. 16), Illinois (No. 9), and Richmond (No. 12).
But on Sunday, they were the ones that got pushed around. The Jayhawks (36-3) hadn't trailed by more than two points in any game of the tournament before Sunday.
However, with roughly five minutes to go in the first half, the Jayhawks were somehow down by a remarkable 17 points.
With the loss, it ensures that no #1 seed will be in the Final Four, only the second time in the tournament's history.
Marcus Morris tried to keep Kansas in the game, as he put up a double-double with 20 points and 16 rebounds. His brother, Markieff, also had a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds.
Tyshawn Taylor was the only other Jayhawk in double-digits, as he added 14 points.
The statistic that may be most surprising is that Kansas' bench scored just three points. Not only that, but the Jayhawks shot 2-for-21 from three-point range (9.5%).
Will Arizona's Derrick Williams Be The #1 Draft Pick This Year? (Video)
By: Stephen Patterson
After the way he played in Arizona's run to the Elite Eight, Derrick Williams may have moved up on a lot of team's draft boards in the NBA.
However, was his performance good enough to catapult him ahead of Duke's Kyrie Irving to potentially be the first overall selection?
Check out this highlight video of Williams and you be the judge. Let us know your verdict on whether or not Williams should go #1 overall.
Post-Game Reactions To Butler's Win & Return To The Final Four (Video)
By: Stephen Patterson
Butler has shocked the world during the past two NCAA tournaments, and the Florida Gators became just their latest victims as they met in the Elite Eight.
Check out post-game reactions and comments by Brad Stevens, Billy Donovan, and Chandler Parsons on Butler's stunning overtime victory over the Gators.
(If you have trouble loading the video, you can also view it here.)
Friday, March 25, 2011
The Future Of The NBA Dunk Contest?
By: Stephen Patterson
Take a look at some of the most talented high-fliers in college in this highlight. Who do you think will be winning future NBA dunk contests out of this group?
Bye, Bye, Birdie: BYU's Jimmer Fredette Highlights (Video)
By: Tyler Ward
With No. 3 BYU's 83-74 loss to the No. 2 seed Florida Gators, it means that star Jimmer Fredette's collegiate career is over.
Fredette, one of the most exciting players in the nation this season, took the fans by storm as he became one of the most prolific scorers in the NCAA.
Fredette averaged 28.9 points per game this season, the most in the entire nation. Along with the almost 29 points per game, he also dished out 4.3 assists.
The Cougars ended the season with a 32-5 record, but advanced to the Sweet 16 despite not having forward Brandon Davies, who was kicked off the team not too long ago.
With his collegiate career finally over, Fredette can be considered one of the best pure shooters in NCAA history.
He would astound fans with his deep range, hitting a good amount of three-pointers while a couple of feet behind the three-point line.
Now hoping to take his skills to the NBA, Fredette can only hope that he doesn't end up like another former pure shooter, Adam Morrison. Or, could he end up like someone else such as a mix between Steve Nash and Chris Mullin?
Only time will tell, but for now, we'll just watch his highlights.
..And just for kicks and giggles - Adam Morrison crying after Gonzaga's loss to UCLA:
With No. 3 BYU's 83-74 loss to the No. 2 seed Florida Gators, it means that star Jimmer Fredette's collegiate career is over.
Fredette, one of the most exciting players in the nation this season, took the fans by storm as he became one of the most prolific scorers in the NCAA.
Fredette averaged 28.9 points per game this season, the most in the entire nation. Along with the almost 29 points per game, he also dished out 4.3 assists.
The Cougars ended the season with a 32-5 record, but advanced to the Sweet 16 despite not having forward Brandon Davies, who was kicked off the team not too long ago.
With his collegiate career finally over, Fredette can be considered one of the best pure shooters in NCAA history.
He would astound fans with his deep range, hitting a good amount of three-pointers while a couple of feet behind the three-point line.
Now hoping to take his skills to the NBA, Fredette can only hope that he doesn't end up like another former pure shooter, Adam Morrison. Or, could he end up like someone else such as a mix between Steve Nash and Chris Mullin?
Only time will tell, but for now, we'll just watch his highlights.
..And just for kicks and giggles - Adam Morrison crying after Gonzaga's loss to UCLA:
Arizona Star: Derrick Williams' 2010 Basketball Highlights (Video)
By: Tyler Ward
With Arizona's 93-77 thrashing of Duke in the Sweet Sixteen, the Arizona Wildcats are moving onto the Elite Eight.
But what is the biggest reason they have gotten this far? Derrick Williams.
After barely surviving games against Memphis and Texas, the Wildcats set to face the defending champion Duke Blue Devils on Thursday night. Williams scored 25 in the first half, but the 'Cats were still behind 44-38.
Williams led a surge in the second half as the 'Cats rallied to a 55-point second half, outscoring Duke by 22. They would end up winning the game by an overwhelming sixteen points.
Williams finished the game with a career-high 32 points, along with 13 rebounds.
With a couple of nice plays in the game, Williams has just added more hype to his draft stock.
The sophomore has been a human highlight reel since the beginning of the season and if he chooses to enter this year's draft, he will more than likely be a top-three selection.
Williams, standing tall at 6'8", has been one of the best players this season and could be the winner of the annual Naismith Trophy, annually given to the nation's top player.
With that being said, here is a highlight reel of Williams' top plays of his amazing sophomore season.
With Arizona's 93-77 thrashing of Duke in the Sweet Sixteen, the Arizona Wildcats are moving onto the Elite Eight.
But what is the biggest reason they have gotten this far? Derrick Williams.
After barely surviving games against Memphis and Texas, the Wildcats set to face the defending champion Duke Blue Devils on Thursday night. Williams scored 25 in the first half, but the 'Cats were still behind 44-38.
Williams led a surge in the second half as the 'Cats rallied to a 55-point second half, outscoring Duke by 22. They would end up winning the game by an overwhelming sixteen points.
Williams finished the game with a career-high 32 points, along with 13 rebounds.
With a couple of nice plays in the game, Williams has just added more hype to his draft stock.
The sophomore has been a human highlight reel since the beginning of the season and if he chooses to enter this year's draft, he will more than likely be a top-three selection.
Williams, standing tall at 6'8", has been one of the best players this season and could be the winner of the annual Naismith Trophy, annually given to the nation's top player.
With that being said, here is a highlight reel of Williams' top plays of his amazing sophomore season.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Adam Morrison's Legacy
By: Stephen Patterson
This video is a personal favorite here at the site, something we go to in our darkest moments to feel just a little bit better. Morrison will forever live on in my memory as the trash-stache bearing, goofy looking player at Gonzaga that realized in this video that perhaps the only thing dropping faster than his tears was his basketball career. As seen on the previous post (T-Ward's Top Draft Busts), Morrison was his 5th worst bust of all time and he is definitely Top 5 in my books as well. Morrison was never destined for stardom on the NBA stage and I think he realized this while on the floor after this shocking loss. Some people may remember Morrison for riding the Laker's pine for two championships in his Walmart suits and his cheerleading abilities, but I will always remember Adam for his breakdown upon realizing the end of his meaningful basketball career. We hope you enjoy the video, and that it brings a smile to everyone's face in their dark moments too:
This video is a personal favorite here at the site, something we go to in our darkest moments to feel just a little bit better. Morrison will forever live on in my memory as the trash-stache bearing, goofy looking player at Gonzaga that realized in this video that perhaps the only thing dropping faster than his tears was his basketball career. As seen on the previous post (T-Ward's Top Draft Busts), Morrison was his 5th worst bust of all time and he is definitely Top 5 in my books as well. Morrison was never destined for stardom on the NBA stage and I think he realized this while on the floor after this shocking loss. Some people may remember Morrison for riding the Laker's pine for two championships in his Walmart suits and his cheerleading abilities, but I will always remember Adam for his breakdown upon realizing the end of his meaningful basketball career. We hope you enjoy the video, and that it brings a smile to everyone's face in their dark moments too:
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