Mixed emotions
With its bid, Purdue feeling fortunate -- and worthy
Posted: Thursday March 11, 1999 08:10 PM
We feel very fortunate to be in the NCAAs considering the way we finished the season, although I think we deserved to go because of the strength of the league we're in, our RPI ranking and our ranking within the Top 25 for most of the year. Still, if we hadn't been included, we would of understood because of our poor finish. But, I think we're just as deserving as anyone else in the latter 30 of the picks. So, we're going to try and take advantage of the opportunity because we're very, very happy to have it.
Looking at the brackets, I think the No. 1 seeds are fairly placed and the right ones were picked. It was unfortunate that Stanford got beat on the last night against Oregon State, but those things happen.
I don't think there are any easy brackets, but the "least difficult" seems to be the West because there are no league champions out there. But that still doesn't mean that there can't be a national champion come out of there because of the parity in the country right now.
The East is really tough, as is the Midwest. The Midwest would probably be my pick as the toughest bracket because Kentucky and Michigan State are placed there. Also in that region is Arizona and Kansas.
South seems upsetting
In the South, people better watch out for George Washington, Murray State, Oklahoma State, Detroit and certainly Valparasio and Creighton. There are a lot of teams in that regional that can knock teams off and can be considered an upset. In the West, you better watch Gonzaga because they are very good. Playing close to home, Gonzaga will have a lot of fan support and they will be my pick to go a long way.
In the East, I think the team we play -- Texas -- can go a long way if we don't get them. Texas has been very good down the stretch, as has College of Charleston. You know Wisconsin can beat anyone in the country on a consistent basis because of the Badgers' defense. And I really like Lafayette because when we played them earlier in the year the Leopards played very hard and are well coached. Lafayette's first-round opponent, the Miami Hurricanes, are another good looking team right now, however.
In the Midwest, UNC-Charlotte is hot right now. Rhode Island has a great player in Lamar Odom. Evansville is always well coached. But Miami or Ohio might be my pick in that bracket to go further with a player like Wally Szczerbiak and a good supporting cast.
Big Ten, seven bids
Our conference sent seven teams to the tournament this year. I could not be any happier. I honestly think we were well awarded. It even could have been eight had Illinois won the Big Ten Tournament. This has been a magical year for all of us as far as the number of teams in.
As for bold predictions, I don't have any. But let me add that whoever knocks off Duke, if they do, better be well prepared, hard-nosed and get back on defense because those guys can run and shoot and they get after you with great intensity for 40 minutes. Of all the teams that I have watched this year, the Blue Devils are the team that plays 40 minutes all out. They are the best team in the country with great talent and great coaching.
Let me also add that I hope everybody has a great tournament and I wish everybody a lot of luck. We are really looking forward to traveling to Boston and playing in the NCAAs. Texas is led by a good young coach and we are anticipating a very difficult game, an exciting game and we hope we come out and play well.
From the season's first tip-off to its final buzzer, Purdue coach Gene Keady files a weekly column with CNNSI.com. In his 19th year as head coach of the Boilermakers, Keady provides an exclusive peek into the highlights, lowlights and sidelights of a full college basketball season. Follow one of the nation's top coaches within one of the nation's top conferences this season "From Midnight to March."
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