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Chat Reel: SI's Tim Crothers
Maryland is still the pick to win it all
Posted: Monday March 19, 2001 2:23 PM
Sports Illustrated senior writer Tim Crothers joined users after the opening weekend of the NCAA tournament to talk about what happened in the first two rounds and what might happen the rest of the way. A transcript follows. Crothers will return Monday, March 26, at 1 p.m. ET after the field has been reduced to four.
CNNSI Host: Welcome to our NCAA tournament chat with Sports Illustrated's Tim Crothers. Thanks for joining us, Tim.
Tim Crothers: Thank you. I've survived and advanced. Looking forward to the next round.
From dtime: Any feelings about the complete fold North Carolina had at the end of the season? I've never seen a Carolina team collapse like that. It seems like the Tar Heels didn't really respond to the rah-rah style of Matt Doherty. Also, any idea about the coaching situation at Wisconsin?
Tim Crothers: I have two feelings on North Carolina. One is about revisionist history; we have to remember that at the beginning of this season, UNC was picked to finish third in the ACC and had moderate goals considering it had no point guard with experience. That said, the loss to Penn State was still disappointing and underachieving because the Tar Heels were able to raise expectations by rising as high as No. 1 in the polls. The Heels fell victim to their poor ballhandling, which scared me all season but was overcome for most of the year by Joseph Forte's fine shooting. When Forte struggles, Carolina struggles. As far as the smooth segue into Wisconsin, obviously the loss to Georgia State was dismaying for Badgers fans after last year's Final Four run. But I think the administration should give Brad Soderberg a year to run his program. And then let's look at the results.
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From Spider73: What team, player and coach have had the biggest impact on the tourney so far?
Tim Crothers: Coach: John Chaney, because this Temple team was down and out in midseason, with injuries and transfers decimating the roster. Chaney somehow held the squad together and tuned it up for the run through the Atlantic 10 tournament and into the Sweet 16. Team: Gonzaga. As I stated before the tournament started, I just don't understand why the Zags were seeded so low. I was fairly certain they'd reach the Sweet 16, and I think they have a legitimate chance to upset Michigan State. Player: Jason Williams, because he entered the tournament on a bum ankle that made us wonder how effective he might be. And without him, there's a reasonable chance that Missouri may have upset Duke. Shane Battier may be the player of the year, but Williams is the heart of that team.
From torpg20: Does Kentucky have a serious shot at making the Final Four? What do the Wildcats have to do to beat Duke, if they meet as expected in the Elite Eight?
Tim Crothers: I think Kentucky definitely has a chance. Obviously, the ability to handle the ball against Duke's pressure defense is critical, and Kentucky needs to be able to answer Duke's offensive runs with spurts of its own. I think Kentucky has enough quickness on the perimeter to defend Duke's 3s, but the Wildcats will need Tayshaun Prince and his extraordinary work from behind the arc to hang in against the Devils' barrage.
From Does: At what strength will Carlos Boozer be in his return? And do you think it will help or hurt the Blue Devils?
Tim Crothers: I was in Greensboro last week and Mike Krzyzewski said that any major roster move made during the tournament is unsettling, especially for a team that is peaking as Duke is now. My feeling is that Duke has learned how to play without Boozer, which has actually added a new element to its attack that opposing coaches have to deal with. The return of Boozer will only help the Devils, and I expect him back in a limited role in the regionals.
From This: With the success of Gonzaga, Hampton, Indiana State, etc., and the poor showing by some of the larger-conference schools, do you see the selection committee offering more at-large bids to mid-majors in the future?
Tim Crothers: I discussed that very matter with N.C. State athletic director Lee Fowler, who will be chairman of the selection committee next season. Fowler has a mid-major background, having been the AD at Middle Tennessee State for six years. He admitted that his thinking could be influenced by the success of the mid-majors in this tournament. He says that the committee will look at the mid-majors in a new light as it chooses the field next season. Whether that is lip service or not is to be determined.
From rilkepoet: I keep on hearing about Temple's "vaunted matchup zone." Can you explain exactly what a matchup zone is?
Tim Crothers: Without making it too complicated, a matchup zone allows players to guard certain areas on the court, and when an offensive player roams into that area, he will be defended with man-to-man principles until he leaves the area, at which point he will be picked up by another defender. That's simplistic, and a lot of coaches would like to be able to figure it out offensively as they prepare to attack the Owls. Billy Donovan and Rick Barnes had no luck solving it last weekend. And I like John Chaney's crew to confound Penn State as well.
From Guest: Does UCLA have a shot against Duke? Which No. 1 seed do you see losing first?
Tim Crothers: I'll be in Philadelphia, and I can't wait for the first five minutes of the Duke-UCLA game. The Bruins are hell bent on pressing the Blue Devils, though Duke's great ballhandling would seem to be a difficult matchup for the press. Those two elements make for a great heavyweight fight. UCLA coach Steve Lavin told me that the Bruins will continue to press no matter what happens in that game. I think it will end up working against them enough for the Blue Devils to get the win. Switching gears, the first No. 1 seed to go will likely be Illinois. Kansas is playing as well as it has all season and has a chance to upset the Illini. If the Jayhawks don't get Illinois, then Arizona will.
From dtime: I'm a little worried about Kansas. I usually expect the Jayhawks to fold in the tourney, and they never fail to deliver. They look good this year, and it could destroy my chances in my pool. What do you see in their future?
Tim Crothers: Usually, picking an early Kansas exit guarantees success in any office pool. But I think as we diagnosed Kansas' chances we may have overlooked the fact that Drew Gooden, the Jayhawks' best player, missed much of February with an injury. And Kansas has looked like a new team since he returned. The Jayhawks obviously have a very solid front line with Nick Collison and Gooden, and I think Kirk Hinrich is steady at the point. The ability of Jeff Boschee to hit some 3s may determine Kansas' fate against Illinois.
From Guest: Do you think Maryland's near disaster in the opening round has strengthened the team? I feel it served as a wakeup call and will help in the long run.
Tim Crothers: Anybody who's looked at my bracket knows that I chose Maryland to win the national title. And I'd be lying if I didn't say that first game scared me. But Maryland is the kind of team that plays its worst in games it is supposed to win and its best in games it is supposed to lose. So I felt the Terps would get stronger as the tournament progressed. I do think teams benefit from being tested in the early rounds, and I like the way Maryland matches up against Georgetown. Stanford will obviously be the most massive hurdle as the Terps try to reach the first Final Four in the history of the program.
From Guest: Are Rick Pitino-to-Louisville and Bobby Knight-to-Texas Tech done deals?
Tim Crothers: No, I don't think either is a done deal. If I had to handicap it, I'd say Knight is more likely than Pitino at this time, although both could happen.
From What: What is it about the tournament that causes so many close games? I think if Iowa State plays Hampton 100 times, the Cyclones win 99.
Tim Crothers: I think you're right, but it has something to do with what I was talking about with Maryland. Heavily favored teams in the opening round play not to lose; I think they come out tight, and the longer an upstart with nothing to lose hangs in the game, the tighter the favorite becomes. We saw that in every region last week, but especially in the Iowa State-Hampton game.
From Guest: Is Mike Davis getting shafted at Indiana? Will Steve Alford end up coaching the Hoosiers next season?
Tim Crothers: Obviously, the Davis situation is fascinating. Alford could not have made any more public a statement than when he said after winning the Big Ten tournament that Iowa was his team -- which could lead cynics to believe that he will be the next Indiana coach. I personally feel that the strong finish for the Hoosiers before the opening-round loss in the NCAAs should be enough for Davis to keep his job. I just can't see Alford leaving Iowa, and I don't see a logical candidate better than Davis.
From Guest: I'm still not hearing much about Michigan State. The defending champs don't seem to be given much of a chance by the experts, but they are playing very well right now. Would you be surprised to see the Spartans win it all?
Tim Crothers: Those of you who follow the chat know that for most of the last two months, I believed that Michigan State was the favorite to win the national title. But I lost a little faith in the Spartans when they dropped a game in the Big Ten tournament and when Charlie Bell still hasn't been able to shake the shooting funk he's endured much of the season. My concern with the Spartans is that there simply is no 3-point threat, in a tournament dominated by 3-point shooting. If somebody like Bell, Jason Richardson or Marcus Taylor gets hot from beyond the arc, I think Michigan State can win it all.
CNNSI Host: That's all the time we have for today. Thanks again, Tim.
Tim Crothers: OK, thanks, guys.
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