Well, I know at least one bracket on which Louisville is eliminated in the first round. (I haven’t seen Digger’s, so there are probably two for sure.)
At a web site called theawl.com, they play the bracket out, school with highest tuition advances to the next round.
U of L’s $8930 was hardly a match for Jerry Falwell-founded Liberty with its tariff of $17, 806.
If only the Cards opening round tilt was with Morehead State. Sigh.
The Final Four: Duke ($40,665) vs. Notre Dame ($42,464) and Bucknell ($45,132) vs. Georgetown ($40,920).
Who says the mid majors don’t have a chance in the Big Dance? The Bison obviously have more going for them than pivot Mike Muscala, America’s leader in double doubles.
You can see that whole bracket here.
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Wait a second though, Cardinal fans, don’t be despondent. There is always redemption.
U of L’s top dog status isn’t only in the category of seeding.
Actually we’re still talkin’ money.
With the Cards, as any season ticket holder know, it’s mo’ money, mo’ money, mo’ money.
Forbes Magazine reports that U of L remains at the top of the heap when it comes to program worth. $38.5 million, a $2.4 million bump from a year ago.
According to the article you can read here, here’s why:
The team’s financial success is largely tied to the KFC Yum! Center, the waterfront arena that opened in 2010. The new arena had an immediate impact, driving ticket sales up 28% to $14.2 million and generating over $20 million in contributions to the team, an 84% increase from the prior year. Income from program sales, concessions, parking and other sources also increased by more than $2 million.
As if we didn’t already know.
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Yeah, I know you’d like a few nuggetoids of trivia that actually have to do with the games.
Alrighty then.
Lon Kruger is now the only coach to lead five teams into the tournament. Oklahoma, UNLV, Kansas State, Illinois and Florida. The Boomer Sooner mentor’s four former schools are all present and accounted for this season.
Iona’s Sean Armand and Mo Mo Jones are the highest scoring duo in the tourney (and in the entire land, for that matter), averaging 39.6 ppg between them. Armand has hit 43% of his threes over the last three seasons (248/578).
52 of the schools that made the dance owe their soul to Nike. Only 13, including the Zubaz-adorned Louisville Cardinals, bow before Adidas.
I’m sure you’ve read this one before, but Florida is a less than stellar 0-6 in games decided by single digits. Despite its disturbing propensity to meltdown, the Gators remain #1 in Ken Pomeroy’s respected computer rankings. But remember, your PC doesn’t have eyes.
A #13 seed has beaten a #4 seed in each of the last five seasons. The question, of course, is whether it will be Ole Miss over the Badgers, New Mexico State over St. Louis, Montana over Syracuse or South Dakota State over the Wolverines? The blogosphere is loving Nate Wolters and the Jackrabbits.
As loyal reader Bobby Bellarmine pointed out in a comment to another blog, Knight’s coach Scotty Davenport has done perhaps his best coaching yet this season. In a rebuilding year, the Norris Placers have made it to the Sweet Sixteen.
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Okay, kids, it’s past my bedtime.
Mo’ later.
And, I’ll be blogging from Lexington on Thursday and, B-ball Gods willing, Saturday.
LEO’s print March Madness issue hits stands Wednesday. It’ll be online also.
– Seedy K


10 Comments
I am trying hard not to be negative with my comments these days but anybody who would pay almost 18 grand to attend a shitpit like Liberty U. has to be board certifiable.
If I recall correctly Mo Mo Jones was being recruited by The Don and I believe he even gave us a verbal. Can’t recall what went wrong.
Without checking, I think Lon Kruger not only has led five teams to the NCAA but is probably the only coach that did not leave the other four on some type of probation.
Here’s a question:
Is Kentucky the first defending National Champion to not make it into the tournament since Louisville in 1986?
No. North Carolina didn’t make field in 2010 after winning in 2009.
MoMo went to AZ. Miller is pretty good at flipping kids. I actually saw him play against UCLA and USC when I was in Tucson. Strangely enough looking back on his performances I am getting images of Russ, at least offensively. D is a different matter. Must be that NY thing.
And UK will now go two years in a row without an NCAA loss. Gotta go back to the Gators to find someone else who can say that. Of course, Florida was actually in the tournament both years.
Obviously Wildcat hasn’t ever been outside his Lexington backyard. Liberty U is an absolutely beautiful campus in western Virginia. Whether it’s worth tuition costs is something I do not know. However his description is totally off the mark.
My best memory of the Lynchburg area was being in total dive outside of town called The Parkway. Jerry Lee Lewis was playing there. After he married his 13 year cousin his booking options were sort of limited.
A campus has to be more than beautiful. It has to have academic integity and academic freedom. Liberty may have flowers and shrubs…it clearly does not have the attributes that I mentioned nor, sadly, many others.
make that integrity..