Final 4 Set, Many Brackets BustedIt looked like we were well on our way to once again having all four #1 seeds qualify in the Final 4. But, then Nova stunned Pitt and Michigan State outlasted Louisville. The two most popular championship picks are now eliminated. Personally I have one Final 4 team, but it is my champ, North Carolina. These guys continue to look like the best team, especially with Pitt and Louisville headed home. Ty Lawson is the most important piece because he runs the offense a! nd defense. He looks as healthy as ever and the Tar Heels look poised to complete their quest for a national title. They meet the most improved team over the past month, the Villanova Wildcats. Jay Wright has helped his team peak at the perfect time and they have proven they can play with the best. The past two seasons they have lost to the champions in the tournament. On the other side, the quiet giant Uconn meets Tom Izzo's Michigan State Spartans. Uconn can play the disrespect card because many (including me) called them dead in the Elite 8 without their sharpshooter Jerome Dyson. But, the Huskies are playing as good as anyone. Now they meet Michigan State who beat a Louiville team that has looked unstoppable the last two months. I think Uconn knocks off MSU and UNC beats Nova. In the finals, I'm sticking with the Tar Heels to cut down the nets.
Calipari-Kentucky Have Mutual Interest
The hottest pressure spot in college hoops is once again looking for another brave man to take the reins. Billy Gillispie is out after just two seasons after UK missed the tournament for the first time in well over a decade. This Kentucky job can be compared to the Yankees, Cowboys, and Michigan football jobs pressure wise. Expectation are high and the Wildcats are looking for another Rick Pitino-type guy. Tubby Smith won a title and that wasn't good enough. That lead to Gillispie's hiring, which did not work out. Gillispie should not have been fired, a head coach should be allowed to have his first recruiting class graduate (4 years) b! efore he gets the axe.
John Calipari has turned the Memphis Tigers into a basketball giant and his name is the hot ticket to replace Gillispie. Calipari was reportedly not interested initially, but now there are reports saying he is intrigued. Calipari has the tough coach makeup needed at this job. He has proved that at Memphis. I do not think he will take this job.
Calipari has built a great program at Memphis, and in Conference-USA he has a shot at a #1 seed every year. Other names being floated around are Florida's Billy Don! ovan, who has already said he is not interested. This leaves O! klahoma State's Travis Ford and John Pelphrey of Arkansas as leading candidates. Ford left Umass after one year for Oklahoma State. This makes me think he would leave in a heartbeat for Kentucky. If I had to pick someone, it would be Travis Ford.
