The Whole Delivery

Look and weep (as UNC fans are understandably doing that right now): And the one made by yours truly:   The Whole Delivery, delivered by Kris Jenkins. 

The rebound stats was just the major difference on the evening, as expected.  Quite the accomplishment regardless of Auriemma's sometimes silly comments. But he gets the 40-0 record and 9th title.  The other versions of the thread, down below  Halftime: Notre Dame  38, Connecticut 47 32 points to 10 is the paint differential right now for the UConn women. Still, thanks to Notre Dame 3-point shooting, they stayed in the game.  Simply put, McGraw has to keep the zone and let the guards beat them instead of roughest inside combo in the nation to have a chance, while keeping up their 3-production. Even if Achonwa was available, UConn would be the slight favorite in this one. However, without her, it will take a total off night from the Big 4 for Geno's girls to give up perfection to McGraw's tenacious side. Notre Dame must somehow make the rebounding edge to the Huskies not be too wide, along with containing the second c...

Photo from USA Today  It would have been boring if they did go 39-0 and gone a whole season without any drama, any questions of inexperience, or severe tests of character before the title game. But John Calipari's 2013-14 Kentucky team wouldn't have given us the thrills of seeing their roller coaster development and create a masterpiece in maturation. It's ironic and fitting that this Kentucky team, heaped with the label of possibly being the first side since Bob Knight's 1976 Indiana team to go perfect, were the ones to end Wichita State's undefeated season. It's like they replaced the Shockers as the unblemished side trying to create history instead of the team who massively disappointed up until that first weekend of the tournament. Now two more weekends later, they are getting the results that most of us thought they would, but in a way that displays how the golden brick road isn't automatically given to high prized recruits, but so richly earn...

There have been few in the college basketball coaching ranks who have handled adversity better than Kevin Ollie. Coaches with longer resumes and years at the helm could take lessons from the 41-year-old, and that also includes those in the college football ranks who love to use their powers of leaving the kids they recruited behind as soon as the next big money, big job opportunity opens. When Ollie took over the reigns of the UConn program after Jim Calhoun retired and left him with sanctions two years ago, it could have lead to a slow but steady demise of one of NCAA basketball's prime institutions. The legacy of Geno Auriesma on the women's side of the program wasn't going to be of any significant aid to Ollie, who needed to find a way of stabling a program who had lost a legendary coach and seemed destined for the downward slope (the "demise" of the original Big East also was of no facilitation to Ollie's difficult challenge).   Shabazz Napier, R...

Iron Bowl Final: Auburn 34, Alabama 28  Even with maybe the greatest conclusion ever in NCAA football history, Auburn or Missouri may still not go to the BCS title game if Ohio State and Florida State win their respective conference title games next Saturday. It is something that is already simmering heavy in SEC waters, with a major fear of them being locked out of the main title game.  And it will be highly unfair for Ohio State to get jumped by Auburn or Missouri (because South Carolina won't jump anybody) after beating a tough Michigan State team with arguably the best defense in the nation.  But first, let's emphasize how Alabama's lack of a special teams coach haunted them again. It was the right decision for Nick Saban to try and kick the field goal with freshman Adam Griffith spelling a nightmare day for Caleb Foster. But how he didn't factor in Chris Davis great return ability there turned out to bite him in the you know what.  More a...

Photo From USATSI I have always felt that Jameis Winston's silence has been disturbing in this whole matter. With an allegation as acute as this one is from this young woman and now her family , an innocent person in my perspective would not hide from public like the prodigy redshirt freshman has done. This has the makings of another big NCAA sports school cover up, where Florida State and the Tallahassee police have a close relationship with each other and made certain to prevent this from blowing up. The school's lack of true public statements on this matter is even more egregious in my mind. If this woman is indeed a victim as it appears she maybe, I hope she gets the justice she deserves, as with all victims of sexual assault. There are more details that need to be unveiled, but for the moment, Jameis Winston, Florida State University, and the Tallahassee police look like they are hiding something. And when you are hiding something, it is not a good look for any...

Alabama is not the 2nd best team in the nation, Georgia certainly is not the 3rd best team in the nation, and for sure Florida is not the 4th best team in the nation (and that's even if they get fortunate to win in Tallahassee on Saturday, even though they should lose soundly to a more talented and versatile Florida State team). This just speaks to the larger and overinflated power of the Southeastern Conference and its continued cartel and ownership over the overall cartel that is college football in America. It kind of was an unexpected (and pleasant) shock of reality that South Carolina, top 10 the last several weeks despite having two defeats, is now suddenly out of it. Is there some direct reason why the two loss Gamecocks were still good enough to be in the top 10 until it struggled against Wofford while Florida remains at #4 (ahead of now one loss sides Oregon and Kansas State) after just barely surviving Louisiana Lafayette and being awful against Jacksonville...

Photo from AP's Michael Conroy Until 2021-2022 : The 33-year-old coach, who came within a buzzer-beating shot of winning the NCAA men's basketball championship, signed a 12-year deal Thursday that extends through the 2021-22 season. Team spokesman Jim McGrath declined to say how much the deal was worth, though Stevens had a total compensation package of $750,000 last season. Athletic director Barry Collier acknowledged Tuesday that Stevens was in line for a pay raise. The Bulldogs got the man they wanted to stay. "Brad has demonstrated that he's the right fit for Butler University," Collier said in a statement. "Our program has grown under his leadership, and we're excited about our future under his direction." Smart by Butler to solve this situation right there and there.

A classic that had to end the way most of America didn't want . But it still was a classic. And big credit to Brian Zoubek and his progression, because it really elevated Duke to that championship level. Oh, and Jennifer Hudson's One Shining Moment was just awful. AWFUL

Here are the simple keys.... Matt Howard vs Brian Zoubek : This is the key to the game in my mind. Can Matt Howard play his best game of the season and limit Brian Zoubek on the boards. Butler's zone has been outstanding this entire tournament, and they were more physical than Michigan State of all physical teams on Saturday. But Howard didn't play that much two nights ago, with only 15 minutes because of foul trouble. Howard has to be the inside presence and #3 scorer tonight for Butler to win their first title. Even more so, he must limit Zoubek's ability to get offensive rebound after offensive rebound to his gunning teammates putting their three point attempts in the basket. Shelvin Mack and Gordon Hayward have to play like all Americans : Simple as that. These terrific performers have to play up to their level for the upset to take place. And Hayward, who is the best pro prospects on the court and the entire weekend, will definitely need to do so with Kyle Sin...

Later today, the 2nd sports thread will have the live stream hopefully of Bayern Munich vs Manchester United today in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals. With last night's win....... The Nets are now good enough to potentially win in the Final Four. This one really annoyed me yesterday, but how do you chose Scottie Reynolds, who struggled at year's end as did his Villanova team as well, over Sherron Collins on 1st team All-America? Collins was not just the best player on the best team in the country, but he also came through in the clutch almost as much as Evan Turner did for Ohio State this year. Who the hell voted on Reynolds over Collins is beyond me? Oregon is really really desperate for Tom Izzo if that was true (which they are denying, while their interest in Tubby Smith seems very real ). But with how he has led this team to the Final Four this year is another reason why you can't quibble with him potentially being the highest paid coach in the NCAA. ...

Photo from Getty Images Duke and Michigan State had the Final Four pedigree that both Tennessee and Baylor wanted. Unfortunately for them, the two traditional powers didn't want to give that to them. And they didn't. In the second contest this afternoon, timely offensive rebounding and clutch three point shooting from gunners Nolan Smith and John Scheyer was the difference, as the Blue Devils advanced to the Final Four for the first time since 2004 by winning 78-71 win over the Bears. 2nd chance opportunities were front and center were unquestionably enormous in Reliant Stadium, as Baylor center Josh Bowers 4th foul back in the incipient stages of the second half tipped the balance for Duke to get crucial rebounds for devastating threes. The final result was even closer in the first game today, as Michigan State returns to the Final Four for another time with a thrilling 70-69 won over Tennessee. Despite not having the services of their best player, all-America point gu...

Photo from Getty Images The Big East, thine reputation will be redeemed it seems. Thanks to an inspired performance from Joe Mazzulla and their opponents shooting woes finally leading to their demise, West Virginia has knocked off Kentucky to win the East Region and advance to indianapolis next weekend. Quite frankly, Kentucky's chance at winning a national title didn't have to do to whether it's youthful exuberance would be able to handle the moment. Rather, it all came down to hitting the outside shot and their free throws consistently. And they couldn't. 4 for 32 was the final total that John Calipari and his team will remember for a long time, as West Virginia's nine three pointers was the difference in the Carrier Dome this evening. DaSean Butler proved once again that he is one of the nation's elite players, and Bob Huggins continued his mastery of his friend by improving to an 8-1 record over Calipari. Only one #1 seed remains in the tournamen...

Photo from Getty Images For some, Butler being placed in the preseason Top 10's raised eyebrows. Now those eyebrows shouldn't be raised by seeing what transpired just now. The Horizon League champions will be headed home, but unlike almost everyone else when they are lumped in with that phrase, they will return with a chance for a national championship. Led by the terrific coaching of rising star Brad Stevens coupled with the standout duo that is Shelvin Mack and Gordon Hayward, the Bulldogs have defeated Kansas State 63-56 in the thrilling conclusion of an exciting West Region for this year. Fatigued from their epic against Xavier two nights ago seemed to have plagued the Wildcats, but Butler showed terrific composure like they did against Syracuse, handling K-State's comeback and being the strongest at the finish. And just for that, they aren't finished. Full box score here .

AP's Paul Sakuma Tonight was the night where Syracuse definitely missed Arinze Onuaku, as Rick jackson made costly turnovers. And just overall, Butler played a much smarter game to win tonight. They showed terrific composure when it seemed Syracuse was going to take over the game after getting the lead for the first time at 51-50, with Andy Rautins making it then 54-50 after his three. It was great team effort by the Horizon League champions, as the three stars of Mack, Haywood, and Howard were facilitated by terrific bench play at key teams. The full box score is here .

Jardins looks to help lead Syracuse to the Elite 8 ( With the preview of this contest tonight, here is the return of the Sheed one ) West Region #1 Syracuse Orangemen vs #5 Butler Bulldogs Thurs 7:07 #1 Syracuse- How Syracuse got here- Rd 1 beat #16 Vermont Cantamounts 79-56, Rd 2 beat #9 Gonzaga Zags 87-65 Despite being without the services of starting pivot Arinze Onauku and using a 6 man rotation the Orangemen haven’t missed a step cremating their first two opponents by an average of 22.5 points per game. Coach Jim Boeheim’s squad had a very impressive thrashing of a very good Gonzaga team which was ranked throughout the year. Cuse rangy 2-3 zone has been a conundrum neither Vermont nor Gonzaga could solve. The Orangemen blanketed both teams like a mattress, holding them to a dismal 38.3 percent shooting overall and 18.7 percent from treyland. The Cuse is led by Big East Player of the Year nm National POY candidate Wesley Johnson. The 6’7 swingman possesses stupid athleticis...

This story of 17 year old autistic teenager Alex Hermann has him being the one person across America with a perfect bracket. Seems true, right? View more news videos at: http://www.nbcchicago.com/video . Well, those that have commented over at this article have stated that this just isn't true, as the CBS Sports site he filled his bracket doesn't have a perfect bracket indicated on its site. Hmmmmmmmm. Would be nice if it were true, but I don't know right now. More to come in this sports thread.

Photo from NY Daily News Simmons Oy A drugged-up Doc Gooden, whose substance abuse crippled his shot at baseball immortality, was arrested after a morning rush hour accident with his son in the car, police said Wednesday. Gooden - a former Cy Young winner with the Mets who threw a no-hitter for the Yankees - was taken into custody after the 8:50 a.m. accident Tuesday in Franklin Lakes, N.J., police said. Cops in the tony New Jersey suburb responded after receiving a 911 call, and arrested Gooden after the ex-major leaguer left the scene of the two-car crash on Old Mill Rd. Gooden, 45, was charged with driving while under the influence of drugs, endangering the welfare of a child, leaving the scene, reckless driving and DWI with a child passenger. He has a 5-year-old son, Dylan. A sad story continues to get sadder by the day. MLB needed to get rid of this. And they did. Good. Andy Reid and Eagles organization, for the sake of us all please settle on your quarterback plan f...

Photo from AP's Winslow Townsow Behind the terrific inside-outside duo of Omar Samhan and Mickey McConnell, St.Mary's has become the first to punch their ticket to a Regional Semifinals with a 75-68 win over a Villanova team who never should have been a #2. The game signified Scottie Reynolds massive struggles in the tail end of his great Wildcat career, as the Gals will now await for the winner of Baylor/Old Dominion in Houston on Thursday. It's amazing how things can change so fast in sports, especially in college basketball. Last year, St. Mary's was probably watching Reynolds lead Jay Wright's club to the Final Four, as the Gals were on the direct outside looking in for the 2009 tournament. Now they have sent the Wildcats home, hoping to at least reached the road that their dispatched opponents did just a little under 12 months ago.

Picks for the first wave of games: BYU over Florida Notre Dame over Old Dominion Villanova over Robert Morris Session 2: Murray State over Vanderbuilt Baylor over Sam Houston State Update : Old Dominion has become the first to advance, winning an ugly 49-48 contest against a Notre Dame team who somehow forgot that Luke Harangody was their number one player. Instead, they were suck into the Old Dominion 2-3 zone, and took way too many threes to allow the Colonial champs the passage into Round 2. Update 2 : BYU, doing the opposite of what Notre Dame did today by giving the ball to their key man, Jim Ferdette, beat Florida in a two overtime thriller 99-92. The Gators showed how next season they will be a strong team in the SEC, but their overall lack of experience cost them today, as they had nothing left in overtime for Ferdette and Lloyd Jr off the bench were outstanding. Update 3 : Villanova survives, as they overcome a valiant Robert Morris team 73-70. Update 4 : And th...