Down go the Champs
Wisconsin came into the tournament with a lower end seed, the Badgers were only one of two teams in the Top 25 of Big 10 teams and yet they were still slated as an 8 seed. The seeding did not matter this past Saturday, as the Badgers downed the number one seed and defending national champion Villanova. The wildcats struggled in their first-round matchup against 16 seed Mount St. Mary 76-56, that score does not accurately show the struggle but it was anything but a good performance for the defending national champ.
The Badgers felt disrespected by the selection committee and took that out on the defending champs. With 11.4 seconds left, Nigel Hayes scored the winning layup. Josh Hart had a productive 19-point day for the Wildcats, but lost the ball to Vito Brown; Brown who would hit a free throw and miss the second one final score 65-62. Head coach of the Badgers had this to say when asked about seeding, “Seeds don't matter, I told these guys regardless we have to win six games let's start with two this weekend.” I' would say so far so good with that goal.
Parents just don't Understand
Lavar Ball is just like every other parent in America, my son/daughter is the best of all time, blah blah blah. The difference between most parents and Ball is that he has been given national spotlight due to his oldest son Lorenzo Ball staring at UCLA and youngest son scoring 92 points in a high school game as a sophomore. There is a lot of talent in the family, father Ball has even said he taught the best thing you can teach in basketball, “there is no such thing as a bad shot!” This coming from the man who said he could beat Michael Jordan one on one. Ball played one season in college during the 1987-88 season for Washington State, where he averaged 2.2 points per game and basically no other stats, I do not think I should remind you of Jordan’s greatness do I? Ask Patrick Ewing and the 1982 Georgetown Hoyas. This man is everything and I mean everything that is wrong with sports today. He has taught his sons to shoot from wherever they feel on the floor, from watching the three play none of them play defense, or give a damn about their teammates, the Ball brothers are out there for themselves and that's it. I will leave this topic with this, Golden State when asked about Ball’s comments had this to say, “I think it'd be better for them if they can just play and have fun and not have to hear that every day, but whatever. It's all part of him."
Press Virginia
Bob Huggins and the Mountaineers of West Virginia or “Press Virginia” as they have become known for this year never trailed on Saturday as they downed Notre Dame 83-71. The Mountaineers came out hot and continued that throughout the game. West Virginia’s full court press really threw a wrench into the Fighting Irish offense as the relentless pressure from WVU caused uncharacteristic mental mistakes from Notre Dame. The Mountaineers now turn their sights on No. 1 seed Gonzaga, who knocked off cinderella Northwestern amidst controversy over a block and technical that changed the course of the game. This game is going to come down to can Gonzaga play tight team defense for 40 minutes and for WVU can Bob Higgins get another complete 40-minute performance on both ends of the floor from his Mountaineers. West Virginia can rattle the best of them with their press and very active “in your face” defense, while Gonzaga has the advantage in size. For me I think you will see another WVU win in, this one in a close contest WVU 77-73, Mountaineers moving on.
For basketball fans, it is the greatest time of the year, basketball everyday teams leaving everything they have on the floor and the emotional rollercoaster that is the big dance. Lavar Ball-- sit down, shut up-- and let your kids play, it is not about you and the fact that every chance you get you make it about you is just sad, stop living vicariously through your children. Lastly, when watching the tournament and watching your bracket bust always remember they do not call it March Madness for no reason. The best part of the weekend had to be Duke and the immature Grayson Allen getting axed from the tournament by The fighting Gamecocks’ of South Carolina, the Gamecocks’ first sweet 16 since 1973. Expect the unexpected, embrace the effort of the student athletes, and realize why this is the best tournament in amateur sports!
Written by
Carlo Guadagnino
Edited by
Ethan Barnes
Daniel Bishop M.A.
References
https://www.google.com/amp/s/campusinsiders.com/news/gonzaga-vs-west-virginia-prediction-game-preview-03-18-2017/amp/
https://www.google.com/amp/ftw.usatoday.com/2017/03/lavar-ball-lonzo-liangelo-lamelo-stephen-curry-michael-jordan-craziest-comments-nba-ucla/amp
https://www.google.com/amp/ftw.usatoday.com/2017/03/lavar-ball-lonzo-liangelo-lamelo-stephen-curry-michael-jordan-craziest-comments-nba-ucla/amp
http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/18928205/steve-kerr-golden-state-warriors-lonzo-ball-dad
https://www.google.com/amp/www.foxsports.com/college-basketball/story/no-repeat-villanova-fails-down-stretch-while-carrying-crown-031917%3Famp%3Dtrue
http://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/lavar-ball-1.html
https://www.google.com/amp/www.smokingmusket.com/platform/amp/2017/3/18/14967832/west-virginia-advances-to-sweet-16-with-win-over-notre-dame-83-71
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