So, as a tease, I was going to start today’s blog with something like: “Did you see the big game last night? How about Samoa’s boffo start against Fiji in the Rugby 7s Las Vegas consolation game?”

But I won’t for several reasons. One, I know less about rugby than cricket. Which exercise in somnambulism I kind of understand. Two . . . well . . . one is enough.

* * * * *

Actually I’d be commenting more on the NBA playoffs, were I able to stay awake to watch whole games.

Take the second battle of the Spurs/ Grizzlies series the other night. I turned it off and headed to bed when it seemed apparent that San Antonio had the game in hand. Entered slumber. Awoke the next day to discover that Memphis forced OT. Sounds like it was pretty exciting.

So, last night, I was determined to watch the entirety of the Miami/ Indiana opener. Especially after watching a bit and realizing it was destined to be close throughout.

So I did, save for a few clicks over to that rugby match during timeouts. (Teams get 5 points if they touch  it down in the endzone, or whatever they call it. Two more, it they kick it through the uprights afterward.)

Then I nodded out. You know those moments that come around 10:00, 10:30 when you try like hell to keep your eyes open so you can watch the game, but lose the ability to focus, then eventually kick back the recliner and give in to the Sandman? That’s what happened.

But I did awake with about 11 clicks to play in regulation, just before Paul George nailed that forty footer to send the tilt to extra time. (George matriculated at Fresno State, FYI. Remember back in the day, when we knew where all the pros played in college?) Then stayed with the game, in which George drained three FTs for a one point advantage with :02.2 left in OT.

You knew Miami was going to win, right? I did. (Here’s a thumbs up, for the great NBA rule, which makes these end of game situations so exciting. The Heat got the ball in side front court.)

(The down side, of course, is that, in this “player’s sport,” coaches call about 15 timeouts each when games are close in the last minute.)

Anyhow, LeBron James (St. Vincent – St. Mary HS) did what superstars do. Paul George overplayed him. LBJ took the pass, moving to his left in the key. One unimpeded step later — Pacer pivotman Roy Hibbert (Georgetown) was watching from the bench — the MVP laid it in, while subs Sam Young (Pittsburgh) and Tyler Hansbrough (North Carolina) got a great view of the winner, watching from the court.

To his credit, Indy coach Frank Vogel took the blame for the L, for calling timeout and taking Hibbert’s imposing presence in the paint out of the game, allowing James to soar in for the winning score.

* * * * *

It seems to me that the casual NBA fan, meaning any college hoops lover without a pro team to faithfully root for, would come to understand that San Antonio plays the “most collegiate” type game in the league.

The Spurs pass, cut, screen, move, the whole schmear. They are a joy to watch. Without ego. “Star” Tim Duncan (Wake Forest) was on the bench the other night — without pouting for a nanosecond — because Mastermind Greg Popovich had other plans.

Memphis has shown resilience in the playoffs this year. But I’d be surprised if the Grizzlies can come back from two down and make it to the Finals.

* * * * *

Turns out that Rugby 7s match was played in February. Who knew?

Samoa prevailed in OT.

* * * * *

I stand by my previous admonition to you, the sporting public, that far and away the biggest event of the week is this Saturday’s School Figure 8s at Jeffersonville Sportsdrome.

But there’s another intriguing scenario, I realized this morning.

Tonight is Gildan Underwear Night at Slugger Field. Be sure to get to the ballyard early to take advantage of the u-trou giveaway. There’s only a limited supply.

* * * * *

U of L’s top seeded Cardinal nine lost their Big East tourney opener to UConn in 12.

Not a good thing.

* * * * *

The Cleveland Indians’ Nick Swisher is on Paternity Leave.

Does MLB know something I don’t know?

* * * * *

You gotta feel bad for Rakeem Buckles. Kept getting hurt at U of L. Transferred close to home to Florida International to heal and play for Pitino the Younger.

Now what?

* * * * *

One of Kevin Stallings Vandy Commodore hoopsters wants to transfer to Pitt, so he can be closer to home. And, maybe he doesn’t like playing for Stallings. The coach is prohibiting that move.

Former Okie State QB Wes Lunt wants to transfer. Cowboy coach Mike Gundy listed about a hundred schools where he won’t allow a release.

Of all the idiotic NCAA rules, the one that allows a school to dictate where a “student athlete” can’t transfer without penalty (other than having to sit out a year) is among the most heinous.

Later.

– Seedy K

]]> http://score.leoweekly.com/2013/05/23/okay-lets-talk-nba-other-thursday-sports-stuff/feed/ 0 http://score.leoweekly.com/2013/05/21/sports-shorts-tuesday-t-will-titles-t-bone/ http://score.leoweekly.com/2013/05/21/sports-shorts-tuesday-t-will-titles-t-bone/#comments Tue, 21 May 2013 15:25:06 +0000 c d kaplan http://score.leoweekly.com/?p=8520 Branding is one thing.

Brandishing, another altogether.

Rick Pitino has used the former, advertising terminology, regarding his mission at U of L. As in “rebranding the program.” I hate such talk, but know what he means.

Brandishing is what former Cardinal baller Terrence Williams has been charged with. As in waving a gun about in a threatening manner toward the mother of his child.

The former might be a reprehensible concept as far as college athletics are concerned, but it’s accepted behavior, even the norm these days.

The latter is a crime.

T-Will’s pro career has been spotty at best. This development certainly can’t help his standing with the Celtics, who apparently can opt out of their contract with Williams anytime before Halloween.

The occurence, sadly, is not surprising. It was well known in and around the U of L community that Williams had a predilection for packing heat.

While he was one of the more popular U of L players of the Pitino Era, I found him to be a most disagreeable sort. Frankly, he’s my least favorite Cardinal of the Pitino Era, but that’s neither here nor there. I certainly don’t wish him ill. But do hope that justice is served. The charge against him is serious.

* * * * *

At the other end of the spectrum is Teddy Bridgewater.

Who, it is reported, has asked Charlie Strong and the U of L starmaker machinery to forgo any Heisman Trophy PR campaign.

* * * * *

An eagle-eyed reader sent me the latest Capital One Cup Standings.

Even that program’s web site doesn’t fully explain how the points are calculated. But the purpose is to measure the strength of the entire athletic programs of the nations’s colleges. Louisville’s male athletes rank 3d behind Michigan and Indiana, which are knotted at the top of the standings.

U of L’s female athletes rank 16th.

I know that national championships get you points. I’m not sure if how far a school advances in the post season is a factor? Or, if league titles count?

Whatever. Those lofty perches confirm what Louisville Cardinal fans have been saying to each other this entire school year: “It’s a great time to be a Cardinal fan.”

* * * * *

By the by, the U of L nine won the Big East regular season pennant with a sweep of Pitt last weekend.

* * * * *

Coming soon are some of the biggest events internationally in car racing.

Indy 500.

Monte Carlo Grand Prix.

Coca Cola 600.

And the grandest event of them all, coming up on the 25th of the month right across the river on the hallowed asphalt of the Jeffersonville Sportsdrome.

School Bus Figure 8s.

To paraphrase someone more eloquent than myself, about a far lesser event, “You ain’t been nowhere, or ever done nothin’ til you been to the School Bus Figure 8s.”

There is no exhilaration in the world of sport quite like seeing a couple of big yellows t-boning at the crossroads.

* * * * *

I would be remiss if I failed to mention that my Detroit Red Wings are up 2-1 on Chitown in the Western Division semis of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

The Black Hawks have been on cruise control all season after starting out unbeaten in something like their first 25 games. The boys from Hockeytown seem to have caught the Second City gang looking ahead.

* * * * *

While I’m on the subject of sports you could care less about, and to clear off the desk, did you notice what’s happened recently in the world of European soccer?

Of course not. Briefly . . .

Lowly Wigan upset Manchester City in the FA Cup Final.

Athletico Madrid beat crosstown rival Real Madrid for the first time in like a quarter century to capture the Copa del Rey.

And Dortmund Borussia will face Bayern Munchen in all-German Champions League Final on the 25th. (Don’t worry the game at Wembley will be over in time for you to make it across the river to the Sportsdrome.)

As I’m sure you’re aware, this matchup is also totally unexpected. An all-Spanish final would have been chalk. Dortmund bested Real Madrid by aggregate score in the semis, while Bayern bashed Messi-less Barcelona, 4-0 and 3-0. (Each match has two games, one on each team’s pitch. Total score advances. Away goals trump home goals.)

* * * * *

Brett Favre is still retired.

Later.

– Seedy K

Hope it got your attention, and you now realize after almost two weeks away that I’m baaaaaaaaaaack. Open for business.

One more caveat. I’m not totally on my game yet. And, apparently, Golden State didn’t have quite enough last night in San Antonio. I figured it was quite a game — and confirmed it this morning when I watched the highlights — when I was trying to sleep and my friend David kept texting me.

Which texts I ignored. I had an early wake up call this Tuesday morning — it’s movie review day — and was trying to get to sleep. Actually I think he was showing off, proving he could stay up late. Truth, probably, is that he fell asleep at 7:30 or so and woke up in time to relish the second half of the Western Division semi-final.

Nor did I see the OT of my Red Wings comeback against the Mighty Ducks in Game #4 of that first round Stanley Cup series. Same reason applies.

Buuuuuuut, I did watch the Bulls gutty W in Miami. And the Wings 3d period anschluss in Hockeytown to send that game into extra innings.

So, here comes some of the usual pithy blather from a pundit still in spring training mode.

* * * * *

For me, there’s no sporting “event” quite as inconsequential as the NFL draft. It all seems yet another World Wide Leader made for TV, made for Mel Kiper commercial op.

So, I was kind of dumbfounded when, last night, my first, relaxing with sports on the telly in almost two weeks, I kept clicking back to the 30 on 30 flick about the “famous” NFL draft with Elway & Marino & Kelly, etc. The back room machinations caught my attention, and proved interesting. Way more so than hour after hour after hour of bombast from Chris Berman and the aforementioned draft guru, Kiper.

Then again, maybe I’m just so off my feed, so in need of a sports fix, that my sense of what’s interesting and what’s not has been skewed and is in need of alignment.

I might have mentioned in my last blog how much I love that comedian’s pre-draft day impersonation of Kiper on coffee. Dead on. Hilarious.

* * * * *

The other moment that struck me recently was Magic Johnson’s reaction to LeBron’s MVP award.

He didn’t talk about the quality of his balling. Or his place the pantheon of previous winners.

Magic talked about how few TV endorsements James has. How he deserves more.

Huh?

Guess James hasn’t quite figured out how to take his talents to Toyota.

Bottom line is “King” LeBron’s misguided TV announcement of his move to Miami is still haunting him. Because the guy is as amazing a physical baller as has ever been. He’s a good and generous teammate. He’s articulate. He isn’t spotted with his homies on South Beach at 4:30 in the morning. He’s a champion.

Q Score doesn’t easily forget.

* * * * *

 No Kirk Hinrich.

No Derrick Rose.

No Luol Deng, who it is said, had a spinal tap. (The mention of which allows me to play this video which has only the slightest connection to the subject matter of the previous sentence.)

No problem. Because the Bulls played like banshees and they did play well. Stealing, as we have come to say it, the first game of the Eastern semis in Miami in front of a stunned crowd, most wearing white because somebody told them to.

Joakim Noah is simply relentless. Nate Robinson had one of those games, you know the kind where a guy grabs the tilt by the short and curlies, makes it his, despite a  lip gash requiring ten halftime stitches. And Jimmy Butler . . . uh . . . Jimmy Who? Oh yeah, the 2d year kid out of Butler.

Was Miami “rusty?” Whatever that means? Maybe. I dunno. Who knows? What I do know is the Heat are down a game, making Game Deux a must win.

* * * * *

I’d love to break down San Antonio’s comeback from way down at home against Golden State.

But, I didn’t see it, and my sense of propriety disallows me from opinionating about something of which I haven’t any first hand knowledge.

* * * * *

I know you could care less about hockey. So I’ll refrain there also.

Other than to say the Red Wings attacked the whole 3d period — and I assume in the OT which I didn’t see. Detroit deserved the W, tying the series at 2-2.

* * * * *

Perfunctory Kentucky Derby mention.

Orb won.

Just as my cohort Bill Doolittle said he would. (It’s his second correct Derby prediction in a row.)

* * * * *

Did you think I’d get outtahere without mentioning that little Monday Night W by the Louisville Cardinals a month ago?

Silly you.

At one point last week when I was at the Lagniappe Stage in New Orleans at JazzFest, waiting for what proved to be a searing set by Joe Krown, Walter “Wolfman” Washington and Russell Batiste Jr., I was struck as if from nowhere with this thought: “My Louisville Cardinals won the national championship.”

A month after the fact, this one is still sinking in.

The first sports I watched upon my return to town from that 10 day holiday was . . . a replay of the hard fought semi-final W over feisty Wichita State. Twas a gutty victory.

The Cards were steely in their worst played game of the tourney. Luke Hancock’s three to put the Cards up 5 late was a stunner. No rebounding help. It’s the kind of shot that in the old days would have been extremely ill-advised. Frankly, it was ill advised against the Shockers.

But the Final Four MOP drained it, didn’t he?

Yes, he did.

– Seedy K

]]> http://score.leoweekly.com/2013/05/07/back-in-biz-sporting-scene-with-a-gangsta-lean/feed/ 2 http://score.leoweekly.com/2013/04/30/derby-week-sports-update-from-afar/ http://score.leoweekly.com/2013/04/30/derby-week-sports-update-from-afar/#comments Tue, 30 Apr 2013 14:40:04 +0000 c d kaplan http://score.leoweekly.com/?p=8504 At this moment, I’m not in Louisville, but in New Orleans. I think you knew that.

I’m drinking a Tuesday morning cup o’ joe, in a city that took its coffee seriously way before Seattle told us we must. Along with it, I’m enjoying a cinnamon scone, which contains significantly less than an ounce of cinnamon, much to my relief.

I would love to be reading the Times-Picayune to enhance the experience, and learn which local pol shook down which local contractor and in whose home was found stashed enough cash to save the economy of Greece.

But, no, it’s Tuesday. Apparently this is not one of the three days each week that absentee owner Advance Publications now allows the 175 year old newspaper to hit the stands. One would hope that the spirit of longtime T-P columnist Edgar Allen Poe would infest the Advance offices with some sort of pox or another.

So, I’ve decided to do what I do pretty well. Which is comment on affairs of sport without really knowing what’s going on.

* * * * *

As usual I have no tips on that little horse race coming up this weekend.

I refer you to my pals Bill Doolittle, Rick Cushing and Billy Reed for that.

My one observation of Derby is that, from the photos, there has been a maximization of millinery. The hats which ladies are sporting around the Downs now seem as large as beach umbrellas.

I doubt it will affect the performance of any of the contestants. Unless one blows off and tumbles across the track like sagebrush as the horses thunder down the stretch, thereby spooking a potential winner.

* * * * *

Just want to give a shout out to the two most beleaguered pro jocks of the moment.

Jason Collins. Good for you, dude. Long may you run. (Chris Broussard, find a deep hole, crawl down, cover yourself with dirt.)

Tim Tebow. Not sure what you’ve done to piss off so many people.

Sure, the guy’s a little too religious, wears it sometimes like a badge. But he’s never been anything but decent. And a winner. Denver couldn’t wait to get rid of him. The Jets just threw him under the bus.

Maybe he’s simply a tweener, with no defined spot to play in the NFL. He wouldn’t be the first.

But why all the hatin’?

* * * * *

I see where my Detroit Red Wings slipped into the Stanley Cup playoffs as a #7 seed.

Cool as Hockeytown ice. It’ll give me something to watch with a rooting interest when I get home from JazzFest.

* * * * *

If you haven’t been reading Eric Crawford’s most excellent profiles of each of the national champion Louisville Cardinals, shame on ya.

Here’s a link. Check them out.

* * * * *

Like most other Cardinal fans, I’m still glorying in the school’s third NCAA crown. I’ve been wearing colors around New Orleans, and receiving periodic “Go Cards” acknowledgments.

Yesterday, while listening to Los Po-Boy Citos at the Louisiana Music Factory, a guy was hanging next to me, wearing a Michigan cap.

“You go to school at Ann Arbor?”

“Hopefully, I’ve applied.”

Pointing to my cap, I said, “The Wolverines just played a game against my team.”

“How’d we do,” he asked?

“Not bad. Maybe next year.”

There seems to be a buzz building about what mayy happen next campaign. I refuse to make conjecture about next season’s possibilities. It’ll play out one way or another.

This one just past is too sublime to let go of.

* * * * *

If you’re looking for some interesting reading, peripheral to the world of sports, I’ve got a recommendation.

“Over Time: My Life as a Sportswriter” by Frank Deford.

The guy can write. (One of his quirks is that he likes to end sentences with prepositions. Miss Walston would be aghast.)

And has a penchant for relaying the most fascinating of conversations from the past with athletes and cohorts.

* * * * *

For those who have inquired: No, I have not and do not intend to get a Louisville Cardinal tattoo.

– Seedy K

Let’s just say I’ve been savoring that sublime national championship and leave it at that.

And, this is a last report before I head down on my annual pilgrimage to New Orleans JazzFest. I shall be blogging pretty much daily from the Crescent City on the music, food and general all around bon homie. You can follow me at my web site, which is here.

Links to those blogs shall also be posted on my Facebook page.

So, hey, stop in at those spots.

Obviously if there’s some major development in the world of athletics that needs my opinionization, I shall endeavor to do so. Caveat emptor, the page is likely to be spotted with crawfish strudel drippings.

* * * * *

Though I’ll be in New Orleans, rest assured I shan’t weigh in on the Zurich Open, which is being contested there this weekend. Could. Care. Less.

Nor shall you read a syllable about the NFL draft, because, well, because . . . who is their right mind really gives a shit. Sorry, Mel.

* * * * *

Cardinal fans are obviously pleased as punch that Russ Smith is coming back for his senior year. I know I am.

I expected that’s what he’d do, given his waffling, but had no inside info, so I didn’t weigh in before the announcement.

It is clear that this championship squad was a special group off the court as well as on. They are a tight gang. Russ is staying. Chane isn’t even messing with the draft.

Neat.

* * * * *

Because I’m a hoopaholic, I’ve been watching some of the NBA playoffs. The games can get mighty tense this time of year.

I meant to write a piece about the Nuggets, after they captured Game #1 against Golden State, behind Andre Miller’s boffo performance. No superstars. Under the radar. But deep and well coached.

Then they went and were crushed in Game #2.

So, I’m simply going to sit back and enjoy. And try to remember where the guys who played in college actually played? Without googling it up.

Didn’t he ball for a year at Ohio State? I remember that guy, he played against U of L, but who was it for?

* * * * *

While few of you have been paying attention, there’s been a couple of stunning developments in European soccer.

Yesterday, in the first leg of the Champions League semis, Barcelona was throttled by Bayern Munich. 4 zed.

As if that wasn’t surprising enough, Dortmund drew and quartered Real Madrid today. 4-1. Robert Lewandowski scored the hat trick +1.

Fans in Germany: Happy.

Fans in Spain: Not so.

Okay, kids, I’m outta here.

– Seedy K

Then I’ll wonder, isn’t it like this with all champions? Especially in the amateur ranks?

Were there more stories here than usual, more heartbreak overcome, more obstacles hurdled, a more unusual and interesting gang than the usual title contingent?

It feels like it. Then again, I’ve lived and died with these guys, Several for a full matriculation, including Peyton Siva, who blossomed into the strongest team leader since Grif himself. A few more who have been here three years. And some sophs, a couple of whom figured when they enrolled they’d be one and done.

So, I ask — you and myself — was there more than baseline hoodoo voodoo with these champs? Was there mojo woikin’ OT?

Being a Cardinal Inveterate, I say “Hell yeah!”

There’s the Siva story. Of Samoan ancestry, a kid who at 13 turned his father’s life around. A baller, who had some segments of performance even late into this championship season that made one wonder if he’d learned anything at all since he sat on the bench behind Edgar Sosa as a freshman? But who, when it came time to win it or not, in the second half of the title game, took the game over, went carpe diem and squeezed the moment by the short and curlies and willed U of L to net cuttin’ time.

There’s Gorgui Dieng, from Senegal, who had to convince the NCAA he should be eligible, even though he speaks 5 languages. The afterthought of a recruit, solicited only afte Fab Melo jilted the Cards for Syracuse. The kid so naive he didn’t understand why Louisville didn’t play anymore his freshman season after an opening round loss in the tournament. But who led the Cards in assists in the title tilt.

There’s Chane Behanan, who started this season in the dog house, suspended, his lips zipped by his coach. A kid who appeared to give it his all only every once in awhile, whom many fans thought should have been benched in favor of Silent L. But who showed up on the last Monday of the season with the eye of the tiger, refusing to lose, outrebounding the entire Michigan team in the second half.

There’s Wayne Blackshear, the Golden Arches AA, who has never seemed to have gotten it together, especially on offense. The kid from the City of Broad Shoulders, whose shoulders may never have healed from injury. But who tallied 8 critical points in the championship game, grabbed perhaps the key rebound of the contest, and played defense until he couldn’t catch his breath. (Rick, have the kid checked for exercise induced asthma, please?)

There’s Russ Smith, who was hurt as a frosh, rarely played, almost transfered but stayed, and became the poster boy of this team. Feature in Sports Illustrated. Nickname of the season. Bill Clinton’s best buddy. Comfortable enough with is coach to give him devil’s horns on national TV. Absurd scoring average in the tournament. Too many important buckets during the season to list.

There’s Luke Hancock, the transfer from George Mason who, for half a season, had fans wondering what the fuss was about? The team captain before he played a minute, who kept getting beat on D, but who made up for it many times over with his important and stellar play down the stretch. The kid who sapped Michigan’s swagger, with a 14 point 1st half surge unlike any other in the history of the program.

There’s Kevin Ware, who only started to play after being suspended indefinitely at mid-season. Who became a key, nay essential cog in the team’s late success, then went down with an injury that became a national thing, and the rallying point for the title.

There’s Tim Henderson, a walk on, whose one shining career moment, came when it was needed the most, in the national semi-final when his team was down a dozen, so he drained two consecutive treys.

There’s late comer Silent L Montrezl Harrell, whose raw potential seemed awfully polished when he energized that monumental resurgence in the Big East tourney final, Louisville’s confidence-builder heading to the Dance.

There’s SVT, who The Rick finally realized could spell Gorgui without any loss of prowess on the court. The kid who wanted to stay on the team, but was told to leave, then to come back. Which he did.

There’s Mike Marra, who had a career ending injury, but whose brother is going to tattoo the coach to commemorate the title.

There’s the resurrection of Rick Pitino, now a Hall of Fame coach, the first coach to take two different schools to a title, a fellow whose team was jolted in the first round two years in a row, a man who just a couple of years ago was a national joke because of the Karen Sypher imbroglio.

This was a championship team, whose signature regular season game was a 5 OT meltdown in South Bend.

This was a championship team, which was challenged to win out after that Saturday Night massacre. And did, one game at a time, sixteen games in a row.

This was a championship team, which found itself down big to a Final Four school in the Big East Final, then ended up outscoring Syracuse by 30 in the second half. This was a championship that eviscerated Duke in the regional final, while suffering over the loss of Kevin Ware.

This was a championship team that overcame a 12 point deficit in the national semi-final. Then did it again on the last Monday of the season.

Heartache, heartbreak, adversity. These Cards suffered them all and prevailed.

Losses, doubts, flaws. These Cards experienced them all and prevailed.

It was a magic ride to the title. Was it the first? Of course not. But it’s the latest.

* * * * *

I watched the game again last night. (Third time. Once in real time. Twice in more relaxed replay.)

I was looking for two things. 1) Whether the referees affected the outcome of the game, 2) Which coach got the better of the other?

Louisville was whistled for 22 fouls, 7 more than Michigan. But that was really of no consequence. Michigan did get the short end of the stick on a couple of key plays. Trey Burke cleanly blocked Peyton Siva during crunch time, but was called for a foul. Gorgui Dieng was credited for a block, but actually goal tended. There were a couple of others. Both ways. But, truth be told, the Cards got the better end of the deal on the missed calls.

But, being as objective as I can be — difficult for sure — Louisville still made more plays when it mattered. The Cardinals kept the Wolverines measured when it was back and forth at crunch time, grabbing the lead and not relinquishing it.

Bottom line: U of L won the game. Michigan did not. The victory was earned and deserved.

As Greg, Kenny and Chuck indicated after the game, Pitino’s coaching was masterful. Beilein, nice guy he may be, was in over his head.

Two Pitino moves stick out for me.

After Luke Hancock hit two FTs and the first of those monumental treys in that 1:58 segment of the 1st half, he committed his 2d foul. Pitino left him in the game. LH proceeded to hit three more in a row from downtown.

In the second half, McGary scored an easy, relatively unguarded bucket. Pitino immediately called a timeout. Whatever he told his troops, this is the deal. McGary was no factor the rest of the game.

Meanwhile, Beilein became enamored with Spike Albrecht, who did little if anything the last 2/3s of the game, and let the national POY sit for most of a half. He also left McGary on the bench way too long when he was saddled with fouls.

And, at the end, when Michigan should have been fouling immediately to lengthen the game, Beilein’s instructions were to let too much time run off the clock.

* * * * *

The C-J’s Kyle Tucker posted a somewhat controversial blog, especially for Cardinal fans, in which he posited the query, how hard was U of L’s journey to the title?

 He used a reasonably simplistic formula, by adding the the total of seedings of foes beaten.

U of L’s “score” was 51, the largest — lower is better — since Vegas tallied 54 in ’90.

While this is certainly dialog-inducing, it is of little consequence, because, all together now: Rule #2. You only play who(m) you play.

It’s the nature of the tourney. Teams are going to be upset. Higher seeded teams are going to advance. Deservedly so. They survived and advanced. The Cards got a break in ’82. UAB upset UVa in the regional semis, giving Louisville an easier path to the Final Four.

It happens.

The lowest total a #1 seed that makes it to the title game can have is 32 (16+8+4+2+1+1).

The lowest total by any school since ’85 is 20 by #8 Villanova ((9+1+5+2+2+1). Of course, a #1 seed is always going to start out with at least 24 points (16+8).

Anyway, this argument is of little significance, except, of course to UK fans, who wish to denigrate the Cardinals’ accomplishment. The Cats total last year was 37.

Louisville beat the teams it faced. Six times in a row. That’s all you can ask.

– Seedy K

I’ve perused the box score.

I’m not sure I’ve got much more to offer viz a viz the game itself, beyond what I’ve already observed and what you’ve read in many different places.

But a couple of things.

Michigan hit 55% from the field in the 2d half (11/20). But was outscored by 7, because the Wolverines took 15 less shots than U of L, which made 16 FGs after the break. The Cards outrebounded Michigan 20-10 in the 2d. I remain astonished that Chane Behanan’s 11 were more than than the whole maize team.

Louisville won, despite forcing only 12 turnovers. The teams hit the same number of threes (8) and FTs (18).

U of L’s 9 steals obviously were a factor.

I thought playing Hancock and Blackshear at the same time was a key move on Pitino’s part. Russ Smith was obviously off. Tim Henderson, overmatched.

What Luke did is obvious. He was named Final Four MOP.

What Wayne did, less so. He was a monster on defense, one of the key components of the victory.

* * * * *

I’ve got a little colloquy going with a former boss of mine, who has resided in Ann Arbor for years and become a big Michigan fan. He’s an astute hoops observer.

The give and take has reminded me yet again, that no matter how objective we might attempt to be, when we’re considering our favorite team’s performances, we view them through school colored lenses.

Bergie, and some of his Wolverine buddies who have joined the fray, feel that Michigan was jobbed on a number of official calls. Which errors by the zebras, they say, greatly affected the game in the Cards’s favor. I said I thought the calls evened out.

Their response to that was: That’s what winners say to justify their W. To which I said, well, blaming the officials for an L smacks of sour grapes.

Etc, etc. Which I pass along just to confirm yet again that winners and losers most always have a different perspective of the action, and how it affected the outcome.

I did agree it made no sense, and was truly surprising, when three zebras who call a lot of Big East games were assigned the title tilt. They made some bad calls. Seems an epidemic these days. More may have helped U of L than Michigan. I still think the best and most stalwart team won. And that none of the calls affected the outcome of the game.

* * * * *

It took an email from a reader to remind me I’d picked the Cardinals to win the national championship in LEO’s preseason basketball issue in early November.

“Just some wishful thinking on my part, ” I replied.

Actually, the paper also ran pieces, in which Bill Doolittle, inveterate Hoosier, picked IU to prevail. And Evan Hilbert projected UK to repeat. (He in now, as I understand it, in the federal witness protection program. His new name is not, I’m also advised, Robert Morris.)

Anyhow, if you’re interested in reading my “prediction,” here’s the link.

* * * * *

I started to put Tuesday morning’s C-J in the recycle bin. Then I realized I wanted to save the sports section to put with my collection of writing about ’80 and ’86 titles.

Unlike those pre-internet, pre-blogosphere, pre-dot com era Ws, there’s a lot more content and perspective this time around. I’ve also saved hard copies of some of my favorite stories from those forums also.

So I’ll have the reminders to refresh my memory when the details have been forgotten in the distant future. Like, you know, in three months or so.

* * * * *

My favorite homage to U of L’s third national title — so far — is the red Louisville hoodie now adorning the statue of General Keepright a/k/a General Castleman at the corner of Cherokee Road and Cherokee Parkway.

* * * * *

Another long time reader wrote and offered that his new second favorite school is The U. As in Miami (Fla.)

“And I decided my new #2 school is the U.  They fire Shannon and we get Teddy.  They hire Larranaga and we get Luke.  Wonder who they are going to give us next?”

* * * * *

The final AP men’s basketball poll was released.

Guess who is #1?

And #2?

And the schools in the 3 and 4 slot?

If all those bracketological predictions lose their half life at 7:00 pm on Selection Sunday, so too does the AP (and any other) Poll when the NCAA tournament tips off.

Margin of victory. Style points. Strength of schedule. Computer algorithms. Idiotic “experts.” Nothing matters after the tourney starts except score more points than the other team on the court. One team wins six. That school is the champion.

To have a poll after the tournament has been played, and the champion crowned, is, well, stupid.

– Seedy K

]]> http://score.leoweekly.com/2013/04/10/final-thoughts-probably-mostly-peripheral-re-u-of-l-cardinals-w-over-michigan/feed/ 6 http://score.leoweekly.com/2013/04/09/cardinals-championship-considerations-part-ii/ http://score.leoweekly.com/2013/04/09/cardinals-championship-considerations-part-ii/#comments Tue, 09 Apr 2013 22:43:13 +0000 c d kaplan http://score.leoweekly.com/?p=8476 I guess I didn’t know the whole story of how MOP Luke Hancock landed at U of L, though I allude to it in my championship story which comes out tomorrow in print and online.

Apparently, when Jim Larranaga left George Mason, Luke wanted to follow him to Miami. GM wouldn’t allow a release to that school. So, looking around for a place to land, he came down to two schools, which he presented to Larranaga for an opinion.

“Louisville or Michigan?”

Thank you Jim. Thank you Luke.

* * * * *

The general consensus among those far more objective than myself is that last night’s title tilt was among the very best ever contested, perhaps the best.

“Stupendous.” “A++” “Highest quality.’

Who am I to disagree?

Watched it again today at noon with a pal. We realized we weren’t comfortable about the outcome until less than a minute was left to play.

* * * * *

The general consensus among those far more objective than myself is that Jim Beilein was seriously outcoached last night, especially at crunch time. With fouls to give, he allowed his team to let way too much clock time to dwindle down before finally fouling.

I’d also say he failed to make any significant tweaks during the game.

Listening to his pre-game and halftime speeches to his team — at least the parts that were televised — he seemed overwhelmed and underprepared for prime time on the last Monday of the year.

* * * * *

I have to admit I’m somewhat surprised by the tweet from Russ Smith’s dad that #2 is definitely gone next season. He’ll certainly land somewhere, though it’s far from a certainty, to say the least, that it will be the NBA.

That said, if he wants to go, he leaves with my blessings and well wishes. Despite an off night last night, U of L never would have gotten to the title game without his stupendous play during the season and the games leading up to Championship Monday.

* * * * *

After watching the replay, I’m more convinced than before of the unsung effort and performance of Wayne Blackshear.

Again, he scored the Cards’ first five of the game. And opened the 2d half with a trey.

The box score shows him with only one rebound, but it was a biggie down that glorious stretch at the turn for home when the teams were trading hoops. He mixed it up the whole second half, playing himself to exhaustion at one point, to where he looked like a punch drunk fighter coming down on D to check Trey Burke.

* * * * *

Shout outs are in order for at least two assistants.

Ralph Willard, who was responsible for Russ Smith and Tim Henderson.

Kevin Keatts, without whose presence, we wouldn’t have Luke Hancock or Montrezl Harrell.

* * * * *

I love that the Wolverines tallied the last two points of the first half. (Though I’m even more glad the margin was only one.)

For some reason that is totally inexplicable, I’ve always liked being down a digit at halftime better than being up a point.

Go figure.

That said, there is no way to discount the importance of that 14-1 run before the break. From 12 up to one down, Michigan was shell shocked when they headed to the locker room for Beilein’s less than inspiring chalk talk.

* * * * *

U of L overcame a 12 point deficit last night, just like it did against Wichita State in the semis.

* * * * *

Trey Burke is the deal. Despite his fouls, did the deal.

24 points on 7/11 shooting, 3/5 from downtown. 7/9 at the line.

Worthy POY recipient. And national runner up.

* * * * *

Not many schools have had a Hall of Fame national championship coach directly succeed a national championship Hall of Fame coach.

U of L got Crum. U of L got Pitino.

– Seedy K

I was not out among the tear gassed and paint balled celebrants last night, though, on the way home from the HummelDome where I watched the game, I did dodge more than a few somewhat out of control vehicles, whose drivers, obviously under the influence were talking and texting and making left turns simultaneously.

I was up until 1:30, watching recaps and generally decompressing before I could sleep.

I was up at 5:00 am to pen a championship story which will appear online and in the print edition of LEO tomorrow (Wednesday). There will be links. Stay tuned.

I have not had a chance yet to watch the game again.

Thus, these are a few scattered thoughts with more to come.

* * * * *

During Spike Albrecht’s breakout in the first half, I jotted this note: Pittsnogle.

Kevin Pittsnogle, I’m sure you recall, was Jim Beilein’s three baller at West Virginia. He went off against Louisville in the first half of the regional final in ’05. The Cards overcame a serious deficit to win that game. Pittsnogle cooled considerably when it mattered.

Albrecht was en fuego last night. His team had a 12 point lead, generated after the sub who came in for Trey Burke, who had committed two fouls. Spike hit about 29 threes.

Actually he had 17 at the break for the final media timeout of the opening half. Pittsnogle.

He didn’t score another point. Pittsnoglish.

* * * * *

Before the game I had a bit of give and take with an old boss of mine, Bergie, who has resided in Ann Arbor for decades.

Bergie’s an astute observer of the hoops scene. In Louisville several months back, he correctly projected a Louisville vs. Michigan title game. So, yesterday, I gave him his props in a group email to him and a bunch of the old gang.

His response: “I think Michigan wins thanks to superior coaching, even though U of L appears to be more talented.”

When I pointed out how Beilein had been seriously bested on the bench during that Pittsnogle game, Bergie opined, “That was 8 years ago.He has matured & learned in the intervening years. I was scared of the VCU havoc defense, 40 min.of all out full court pressure, & Mich. had no probs w/it. I think Pitino uses the same sort of defense & the game may be decided on the basis of how Beilein deals w/it.”

So, Bergie, how’d that coaching matchup work for your Wolverines?

Two things: 1) I know VCU’s defense. And it is no Louisville defense. 2) Beilein did not deal with it very well at all. His more talented team was outplayed.

And he was outcoached.

* * * * *

It is often said, usually of warring factions with high emotional hatred, that one side or the other — depending on the talker’s prejudice — rarely misses a chance to do the wrong thing.

That can be said, yet again for about the gazillionth time, of the NCAA.

U of L’s players hoped to fly to New Orleans to root on the women, who play UConn tonight for the women’s crown.

But noooooooooooooooooo, nixed Mark Emmert. Impermissible benefit, or something like that.

What a crock of shit. What a missed opportunity for some really neat pub for the rising women’s game.

* * * * *

I’m still too sleep deprived to fully analyze the stats from last night’s game. Not that they mean a damn thing, frankly.

But here’s the first one that jumps off the page.

Second half rebounding totals. Chane Behanan, 11. Michigan, 10.

I remember it happening only once before. When Wes Unseld, saddled with three fouls at the half, outrebounded the entire Jim Ard/ Rick Roberson Cincy Bearcats after the break.

As Doug Gottleib so eloquently put it, “U of L beasted Michigan.” And Chane was the baddest beast on the backboard.

* * * * *

Before the game I became worried for the first time when Digger picked the Cards to win.

But felt better when I saw the officiating crew, all of whom had called Big East games.

* * * * *

I’m just not sure I understand the enmity today against Charles Barkley? Or the rest of his gang? Hey, they tell it the way they see it. Not everybody is as enamored with U of L as most who read this blog.

* * * * *

After reading a column on this morning’s Ann Arbor sports page, which called the Cardinals more talented, but Michigan the better story, I felt compelled to write the fellow.

Without being dismissive, I know his pain all too well, I did correct him. This guy’s opinion: The Wolverines are more talented. The Cards, the better team. And the Cards, the far better story.

That Fab Five bunk is nothing compared to the tales of Peyton’s youth, Luke’s present and the whole Ware thing.

Mo’ later.

By the by, if you find any typos, misspellings or errors above, feel free to write me with corrections. Like I said, I need some sleep.

– Seedy K

Of course, Rule #2 still matters, but, since there is not conjecture at this juncture about an opponent in the next round, it is moot. The who(m) Louisville plays is Michigan.

Rule #3: Close the deal.

On Monday, the decision is rendered. There shall be no tomorrow.

Actually, it’s whether there will be a tomorrow after tomorrow after tomorrow of celebrating Title #3? Or a coulda woulda shoulda Tuesday of sorrow?

* * * * *

So, you might ask why am I thinking at this moment of Wesley Snipes, who coincidentally was released just yesterday, after three years in the hoosegow up the river for tax evasion?

Legit query.

Here’s why.

In a 1992 b-ball flick, his character, Sidney Deane, uttered a truism to Woody Harrelson’s Billy Hoyle. It remains mostly un-uttered in public for reasons of political correctness. (If you’re not ready for the upcoming impertinence, move on to the next paragraph.)

“Billy, listen to me. White men can’t jump.”

Well, Sid, maybe so, but sometime they give you just what you need.

Like Tim Henderson did. Walk on Tim Henderson, walk on Tim Henderson who balled in high school for Christian Academy of Louisville, that Tim Henderson. He drained two treys that were the catalyst of the Cards comeback last night in the Georgia Dome.

He subbed into the game with 13:15 to play, when the Cardinals were down (and seemingly out), by a dozen. Fifteen seconds later, he drained a three from the corner on an assist by Luke Hancock. (Which was an exact replay of his exclamation point threeball against Duke last Sunday, also on an assist by Luke.)

Forty two seconds later, he went instant replay. Thus the Shockers lead was cut in half, 47-41.

Then it was the Luke Hancock Show. Yes, I’ll fall into the trap and say it. The Cool Hand Luke Hancock Show. Luke Hancock, the Luke Hancock about whom Cardinal fans were saying earlier this season: “He’s a nice mid major player, but that’s it.” Or, “He should have stayed at George Mason.” Or, “I know Pitino loves him, but I don’t get it.”

Of course, The Rick was right. His teammates who wanted him as captain were right.

Last night, all he did was become the first sub in 38 years to tally 20 in a Final Four game.

At 41 Cardinals, 49 Shockers, playing the point, he drove for a deuce. 43-49.

So nice, he did it twice. 45-49.

Then, some back and forth, during which the underdog Shockers appeared as if they weren’t going to wilt. This is when Chane Behanan was HUGE with four straight FTs and sweet short jumper, and Peyton Siva scored his only deuce of the game. Marshall’s marauders still led by two.

But Luke Hancock was ICE.

Peyton Siva stole the ball, got it ahead to Hancock, who was open behind the arc.

Nobody to rebound. No problem.

Threeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, Luke. 56-55, Cardinals.

He made another daring layup for a 67-62 advantage at 1:16. Later he gave the Cards a three point lead with seconds to play.

Then made the heady play of the game, tying up Ron Baker who grabbed Hancock’s errant 2d FT attempt. Louisville had the arrow, because of the double foul called at 3:50 on SVT and Baker. (Interesting, several pundits of the national media jumped on the jumpball call, as being wrong and ill-advised. So too the TV guys. The scribes from Wichita were far less incensed.)

Which is to say, Henderson and Hancock were the difference last night.

* * * * *

Russ Smith was 5/12 at the FT line. He missed his first four, which was a sure sign the Cardinals had come out tight. I mean, really, they fell behind 0-8.

Despite his 5 turnovers and 6/17 shooting, he drained 4 monster treys, leading the Cardinals with 21 points.

And, despite his woes at the charity stripe, if you were like me, you loooooooved that Wichita State fouled him twice at the end, instead of, well, any other Cardinal. He was 3/4 in the last :30, including the clincher at :05.

* * * * *

Chane Behanan had the eye of the tiger in the 2d half, scoring all 10 of his points, and snaring 6 of his 9 caroms.

Silent L had the eye of the tiger in the 1st half, with 6 points and 3 boards.

* * * * *

It was just one of those nights for Peyton Siva. And for Gorgui Dieng. And for Wayne Blackshear.

That Louisville prevailed without anything approaching normal output from those starters is why, one guy’s opinion, it was Louisville’s most meaningful W of the tournament. Prevailing over a really good team — which, make no mistake, Wichita State is — when playing a mediocre game at best, is the stuff from which championships are constructed.

Here’s what U of L got from its bench (SVT, Silent L, Luke & Tim): 34 points. 13 rebounds. 3 assists. 3 steals. A block.

And . . . only . . . one . . . wafer thin turnover.

* * * * *

I will admit I did not have a good feeling about the game all day yesterday. (Or, until the Cardinals went up 5 with 2:06 to play, which, given my dizziness (or is that ditziness?), I didn’t realize until the subsequent timeout, when I said, “Oh, there’s only 1:58 to play.”)

There wasn’t a doubt in my mind at that point that this gutty U of L team wouldn’t breach Rule #8 and relinquish the lead.

My queasy pre-game stomach wasn’t helped a bit when a friend advised that Karl Hess would be calling the game. The guy is a loose cannon. He’s the one who tossed former star Chris Corchiani out of the building during a game at NC State. He’s the guy who teed up Pitino for no reason last season.

He’s also the guy, thank you very much, who called that pivotal jumpball with :05 to play.

* * * * *

Next up, the last game of the season.

Louisville Cardinals vs. Michigan Wolverines.

– Seedy K

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