Watch Miami and Murray State
Posted: Saturday March 06, 1999 02:04 PM
Sports Illustrated college basketball writer Seth Davis chatted with CNN/SI senior correspondent Nick Charles about the upcoming NCAA Tournament during Saturday's edition of "Page One."
Nick Charles: On Sunday, we'll know the NCAA Tournament fields for the men and women. What are some of the more intriguing stories that will capture our attention?
Seth Davis: Well, as far as the teams are concerned, one thing that comes to mind is Miami. This is a school that has literally never won an NCAA Tournament game. In fact, from 1971 to 1985, Miami didn't even have a men's basketball program because the school thought that it was losing too much money. Five years ago they went 0-18 in the Big East. Right now, the Hurricanes are ranked 10th in the country and have a real shot at making the Final Four.
From an individual standpoint, I think one of the more intriguing stories, at least for the first week, is going to be Murray State coach Tevester Anderson. Anderson is 62 years old and this is his first year as a head coach. He's got to be the oldest rookie coach in the history of the NCAA Tournament. In fact, Anderson has already presided over maybe the most exciting moment of the postseason so far when his junior guard, Aubrey Reese, hit a running one-hander at the buzzer to win their conference tournament. Realistically, Murray State is probably not even going to get out of the first weekend, but I talked to Anderson this week, and believe you me, he's going to enjoy this.
NC: Duke is ranked No. 1 and Seth, hard facts don't always count, of course, in March, but they've only lost one game all season. Are we looking at a mortal lock of a champion? Are they playing this tournament to find out what we already know?
SD: I don't think so. Duke has certainly been the most dominant team so far, but Blue Devils coach Mike Krzyzewski knows as well as anyone that doesn't guarantee you anything at this time of the year. The last time a team came into the tournament looking this invincible was 1991 when UNLV was the defending national champion, hadn't lost a game all year, and lost in the Final Four to Coach K's own Blue Devils. Go back to 1985 with Georgetown, also defending national champs, also a dominant team. The Hoyas lost in the championship game to Villanova, and that still stands as one of the great upsets of all time. Yes, Duke is the best team in the country right now, but let's not mail them the trophy just yet. The Blue Devils still have six games to win.
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