tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65804641341938985962008-07-03T10:19:57.660-04:00SI.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11064809440508094608noreply@blogger.comBlogger80125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6580464134193898596.post-15955362807253667232008-04-08T10:18:00.011-04:002008-04-08T16:56:26.614-04:00

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images SAN ANTONIO -- The hoops world is not ready to move on from Mario's Miracle just yet. It's unlikely that anyone packing up and leaving Alamo-land this morning -- from the media to the Kansas and Memphis contingents -- can get Monday night's drama out of their heads. I'm just a greenhorn at this Final Four business (2008 was my fourth at SI), but I think this was a

Luke Winnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6580464134193898596.post-74166663605036648562008-04-08T03:16:00.027-04:002008-04-08T13:37:52.430-04:00

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images SAN ANTONIO -- Sherron Collins was slipping, losing control of the ball with no whistle to save him, in much the same way Kansas had nearly let the national championship game slip out of reach two minutes earlier, falling behind Memphis 60-51 with 2:12 to go. But this was the denouement of a miracle rescue, and just like his Jayhawks, who had whittled the Tigers' lead

Luke Winnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6580464134193898596.post-48386934435310720622008-04-08T03:10:00.001-04:002008-04-08T14:35:14.977-04:00

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images SAN ANTONIO -- All hail our Tourney Blog Pool champ, Karen Kraus, who roots for Missouri but rode Kansas to the top of our 5,490-bracket field. The main prize of our Facebook pool -- aside from the high-fashion Final Four belt buckle that was pictured yesterday -- is wordwide blog fame, so we reintroduce you to Karen below: 2008 Tourney Blog Winner Karen Kraus, 24,

Luke Winnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6580464134193898596.post-5877274030231080472008-04-07T19:28:00.004-04:002008-04-07T20:03:19.398-04:00

SAN ANTONIO -- A last look outside the Alamodome, 90 minutes before tipoff ... Luke Winn/SI Scalpers -- despite the strong market for tickets -- have gone mostly underground this week. The ducat below was an upper-level seat with a face value of $85; the seller, a Kansas fan, wanted $350. This clash of titans might just be worth that much. Luke Winn/SI Kansas -- mostly due to Bill Self's

Luke Winnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6580464134193898596.post-1461233613287901372008-04-07T11:39:00.004-04:002008-04-07T12:33:46.215-04:00

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images SAN ANTONIO -- The final day is finally upon us. We've broken down five reasons why Memphis will win (that's from me) and five reasons why Kansas will win (that's from Stew Mandel). Our cadre of anonymous assistant coaches have given you the "books" on Derrick Rose and Brandon Rush, as well as full scouting reports of the Tigers and the Jayhawks. What, then, is

Luke Winnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6580464134193898596.post-12496991263432467392008-04-07T08:53:00.004-04:002008-04-07T11:42:04.213-04:00

SAN ANTONIO -- And then there were two (poolsters left in the Third Annual Tourney Blog Pool, that is). Never mind what's at stake for Memphis and Kansas tonight at the Alamodome: The finalists in our 5,490-entrant competition have blog fame on the line. It doesn't get bigger than that. I like how this has turned out: If the Jayhawks win, a Missouri student is our champ, even if she may not be

Luke Winnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6580464134193898596.post-89442447662240973802008-04-06T12:11:00.012-04:002008-04-06T14:58:47.041-04:00

The Kansas defense pounced on loose balls all night against North Carolina.Icon SMI SAN ANTONIO -- Breaking down a title game between the bluebloods and the Blues Machine that just can't be a blowout ... (Right? Basketball gods, are you listening?) 10. If the score is something like 68-64 on Monday night, don't be shocked. As much as Kansas and Memphis are labeled up-tempo teams because of

Luke Winnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6580464134193898596.post-57217925743299993632008-04-05T23:31:00.006-04:002008-04-06T02:57:09.301-04:00

Chris Douglas-Roberts and Memphis proved too much for Kevin Love and Co. to handle. Streeter Lecka/Getty ImagesSAN ANTONIO -- Kevin Love was knocked backward, 271 pounds of UCLA All-American tumbling to the ground, as Chris Douglas-Roberts soared over him, 200 pounds of Memphis All-American throwing down a back-door, baseline slam in a Final Four duel that was getting out of hand. Awe-inspiring

Luke Winnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6580464134193898596.post-52818664803654779752008-04-05T20:17:00.007-04:002008-04-05T23:34:25.623-04:00

Derrick Rose helped the Tigers race to the NCAA title game for the first time since 1973. Jed Jacobsohn/Getty ImagesSAN ANTONIO -- Thoughts on Memphis' 78-63 win over UCLA before I run to the locker room ... • In the time it took me to write this, the Tigers' Derrick Rose could have run three laps around the Alamodome. It's clear by now that Rose is the most dangerous open-court guard in the

Luke Winnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6580464134193898596.post-36804651237031766132008-04-05T08:34:00.003-04:002008-04-05T15:05:49.440-04:00

Luke Winn/SI SAN ANTONIO -- Our 10-part countdown to the tipoff of the Final Four, gathered from locker rooms and practices, press conferences and back-hallway interviews at the Alamodome: Luke Winn/SI 10. Does a Final Four with four No. 1 seeds have a strong enough aura around it to make Kansas State's Michael Beasley think about staying in college for another year? Lil' Mike, who's in San

Luke Winnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6580464134193898596.post-55701337463607130332008-04-04T12:40:00.008-04:002008-04-04T15:51:40.925-04:00

Luke Winn/SI SAN ANTONIO -- We've made it sort of a tradition among the SI crew to hit up the Final Four Salute Presentation on Thursday night of game week. This is where various poobahs of the sport (selection committee members and assorted men in suits) as well as local business dignitaries get to see CBS' Jim Nantz introduce all of the players and have a sit-down panel interview with the four

Luke Winnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6580464134193898596.post-19435937466690239242008-04-04T12:31:00.001-04:002008-04-04T17:21:20.948-04:00

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images SAN ANTONIO -- Some stories are simply too long to be in a blog. Like this 2,000-word opus on Chris Douglas-Roberts that went up today on SI.com. For the purposes of archiving all of my tourney content here -- especially for those of you who subscribe via RSS -- I'll use this post as a jumping-off point: It was the summer of 1999 at Detroit's Condon Playground, just

Luke Winnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6580464134193898596.post-53323755744094077952008-04-03T10:29:00.007-04:002008-04-03T13:34:51.204-04:00

SAN ANTONIO -- Building up the body of the Final Four in eight parts (Andre Allen's vacant headspace not included): Derrick Rose's Bandaged Eyebrow Rose is human after all: He's "terrified of needles," or at least the ones needed to give stitches, which he avoided after opening a cut over his eye against Michigan State in the Sweet 16. Rose had it glued together -- and then explained that the

Luke Winnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6580464134193898596.post-48239937467125600292008-04-03T01:42:00.008-04:002008-04-03T13:25:16.130-04:00

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images SAN ANTONIO -- I just combed through all of the possible Tourney Blog Pool scenarios, and am saddened to announce that there is no way a tuba player in the championship-team's band can win it all. Or any team's band, for that matter. Out of 5,490 completed brackets in our Facebook pool, there's an elite pack of 11 entrants who still have a shot at the title of Blog Pool

Luke Winnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6580464134193898596.post-17946116387598339142008-04-02T02:46:00.008-04:002008-04-02T16:55:29.545-04:00

Bill Frakes/SI SI.com spoke with an assistant coach from a former Kansas opponent to get an anonymous scouting report on Brandon Rush, as well as a breakdown of a set the Jayhawks run for their junior swingman. Here's what the coach had to say: "Rush is a very skilled offensive player and excellent three-point shooter who can score in bunches. One out of his every two attempts is from beyond the

Luke Winnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6580464134193898596.post-46651513225520884782008-04-02T02:42:00.010-04:002008-04-02T13:59:15.290-04:00

David E. Klutho/SI SI.com spoke with an assistant coach from a former Memphis opponent to get an anonymous scouting report on Derrick Rose, as well as a breakdown of a set the Tigers run for their star freshman point guard. Here's what the coach had to say: "[Rose] is jet-quick, an explosive combo guard with size who pushes the ball in transition and is excellent in the open court. He's always

Luke Winnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6580464134193898596.post-34559879243192124682008-04-02T02:40:00.010-04:002008-04-02T15:05:58.960-04:00

John W. McDonough/SI SI.com spoke with an assistant coach from a former UCLA opponent to get an anonymous scouting report on Kevin Love, as well as a breakdown of a go-to play the Bruins run for their star freshman forward. Here's what the coach had to say: "[Love]'s a monster -- a very good offensive player both inside and out who loves to shot fake. Even when he catches it on the perimeter and

Luke Winnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6580464134193898596.post-26263353986160424932008-04-02T02:34:00.012-04:002008-04-02T19:45:19.072-04:00

Bob Rosato/SI SI.com spoke with an assistant coach from a former North Carolina opponent to get an anonymous scouting report on Tywon Lawson, as well as a breakdown of a set the Tar Heels run for their sophomore point guard. Here's what the coach had to say: "The main thing for us with Lawson was to square him off and keep him in front of our defenders. He's going to get you with a lot of

Luke Winnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6580464134193898596.post-85327841921631152012008-04-01T12:11:00.005-04:002008-04-01T13:38:06.540-04:00

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images NEW YORK -- There was only one rule when I chose the All-First-Weekend Team: all of the players had to still be alive in the tournament. For the Second-Weekend Team I was willing to make one exception, for no all-star squad from this dance would be complete without Davidson's Stephen Curry. His script lacked a fairy-tale ending -- or even a chance to take the game's

Luke Winnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6580464134193898596.post-20820356505311826122008-04-01T10:47:00.007-04:002008-04-01T13:10:31.708-04:00

Chris Chambers/Getty Images NEW YORK -- Covering the NCAA tournament sometimes feels like a full-time air-traveling job with basketball games mixed in between. The real junkies try to double up on sites over the first two weekends, and I did it for the first and second rounds, jumping from the games in Omaha to the games in North Little Rock on a series of 6 a.m. flights. An itinerary like that

Luke Winnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6580464134193898596.post-11184635507415391372008-03-30T22:55:00.015-04:002008-03-31T10:23:55.292-04:00

Joey Dorsey and the Tigers cut down the nets after beating Texas. But are they still the underdogs?APHOUSTON -- When Memphis, the team that had overwhelmed Texas with a show of defensive athleticism unlike anything seen thus far in the NCAA tournament, went to cut down the nets for its trip across the Lone Star State to the Final Four, the process was was surprisingly ... businesslike. The Tigers

Luke Winnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6580464134193898596.post-90920352718427935752008-03-30T19:53:00.008-04:002008-03-31T01:05:01.457-04:00

Not even a glued-up welt slowed Derrick Rose against D.J. Augustin and the Longhorns on Sunday.Ronald Martinez/Getty ImagesHOUSTON -- Derrick Rose was doubled over, wincing, the bandage over his eye having come unstuck in a collision just one minute and 23 seconds into his first -- and probably, last -- appearance in an Elite Eight. Rose was sporting a glued-up welt against Texas, and the reason

Luke Winnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6580464134193898596.post-40946257333474803422008-03-30T10:38:00.004-04:002008-03-30T13:04:52.493-04:00

(Editor's note: In the interest of giving you a coach's angle on the NCAA tournament, we've enlisted Bruno Chu of the blog The X's and O's of Basketball to provide a series of guest posts during the dance. Today's topic is a tactic that's been a key part of Ben Howland's defense at UCLA. Bruno takes it over from here.) One of UCLA's best defensive traits is its ability to defend ball screens.

Luke Winnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6580464134193898596.post-39532297943270548002008-03-30T00:14:00.005-04:002008-03-30T01:10:07.405-04:00

Luke Winn/SI HOUSTON -- The blog went two-for-two in its Saturday Elite Eight picks ... without going out on a limb. Our number-cruncher at Vegas Watch says there's now a 48 percent chance that all No. 1 seeds will be headed to San Antonio, and our breakdowns below side with the other 52 percent ...South Regional Final: No. 1 Memphis vs. No. 2 TexasWhat you should care about: • As tough as

Luke Winnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6580464134193898596.post-55809635861135139062008-03-29T18:27:00.005-04:002008-03-29T18:54:00.255-04:00

Pierre Niles averages 0.8 points per game off the bench for top-seeded Memphis.APHOUSTON -- The blog's Q&A routine has changed for the NCAA tournament. After running through a series of stars over the past two seasons -- everyone from Texas A&M's Acie Law IV to to Vandy's Shan Foster -- the focus has turned to the reserves. On Friday we ran our first-ever walk-on Q&A, with Texas' Ian Mooney, and

Luke Winnnoreply@blogger.com