Whiskey a little nervous to start (other than Frank)

Duke has lots of take 'em guys

Tyus Jones if he comes out? One of the Harrison twins or Deangelo Russel?

And where does Frank Kaminski go?

But don't see how we could compete with these huge teams

One of the refs.

Just had a really nice spot on Rollie and the 85 team. Man, we still get a ton of mileage out of that game!

Roxanne Chalifoux is still getting some mileage from her 15 minutes of fame. She has been forever immortalilzed in the 2015 edition of the Luther Vandross classic.

That we won't get much out of Mikal, Donte, and Tim.

Bridges has now had a full year on campus, knows the system,and will have 8 more months before the season starts to continue to get stronger. This was a top 100 recruit who, from all accounts can shoot and has athleticism and length.

I had assumed that Donte would redshirt before Ennis left, but that was merely due to the fact that there wasn't much room at the inn. From what I've seen he is athletic and can shoot it a little. Perhaps he picks up some of the slack from Ennis' departure.

Have not seen Tim much, but someone I know who knows hoops thinks he can play. If he can bang a little down low and make an open jumper, perhaps he gets in the rotation at the 4 and 5.

Not many thought Josh Hart was going to do much as a freshman --- not many thought Dwayne Anderson would make the sophomore-junior leap that he made--- maybe reynolds breaks out --- maybe Bridges can give us 20 solid mins a game instead of 10--- perhaps Donte or Tim assimilate quicker than expected.

I'm excited for next year --- it will be a completely different team than the one we've watched the last 3, but we have the potential to be very good.

Oregon.

After pouring over this site for a couple weeks, needed it as a group therapy being 3,000 miles away, I just wanted to share a few of my thoughts on the season, overall view, and going forward. I am going Voice style on the list, in no particular order. I am no way an expert on hoops, an insider, or anything of the sort, just a fan who needs to vent.

1. As much as I would love to look back on this season as one of the great seasons for the program, and it was, I can't get over the taint of going out in round 2 to an 8 seed. It happens. It happened. It shouldn't take away from the other accomplishments this great group of kids had, but I am human and it does. Our sports culture is postseason obsessed, and I would way rather have deep runs mixed in with missing the tournament, then consistent first weekend exits. Getting to that 2nd weekend is huge, in just the terms of media attention on individual stories, and I think we had great stories to tell, especially with our seniors, and I am bummed those didn't get to be told on a grander stage.

2. I have read alot about size, team structure, etc. The bottom line is that this team was a bit overrated. And I think that actually says alot about the kids on the team. This team played so amazingly consistent all year, which is not the norm in College hoops. It wasn't unfortunate they were overrated, they freaking earned it by answering the bell pretty much every night. The problem is when the tournament comes around, you will get a teams best effort, and that is a relative advantage to the teams that have talent but underachieved throughout the season. I saw some serious talent the 2nd weekend that I didn't see on this squad. What this squad had was few weaknesses and a more consistent effort. What we need to get to perennially be in the 2nd weekend, and truly competing that weekend, is more talent. Let's hope Brunson and Spellman can equal that.

3. I think Jay's best teams have a good stretch 4. 2006 was a bit of an aberration, but our guards were so good that year we got away with it. JVP was not a stretch 4. Easier to write that than to find one that can play defense with the versatility needed. Let's hope Hart can continue in that role.

4. I am in the middle on the Ennis transfer. I think it will really hurt us defensively, not that he was Kyle Lowry, but because we don't have an obvious replacement for him on the defensive end. Booth/Brunson both play smaller defensively, Jenkins and Arch don't have the speed or rebounding instincts or length or some combo of those, Bridges and Donte unproven. Hart may actually be the best fit, but he will be will be playing the 4 for the most part. All that being said, let's not overrate Dylan now that he is gone. Even though at times he would actually carry us offensively, I never felt comfortable with the ball in his hands. He had no conscience shooting, which is fine if you are a pure shooter, but he is not that. There is a reason he had a wide open look to take the lead at the end of the game. While his ball handling skills aren't bad, he is far from an effective breakdown player, which I think we will upgrade with the departure of Ennis, the arrival of Brunson, and further emergence from Booth. I always had a sneaking suspicion the Ennis would shoot us out of a game in the tourney. I guess that's one less worry for next year. I like Ennis, I do think it will hurt us initially. I think it could hurt us all year, but can also see it being a net positive for the team.

5. I think the Ennis departure is going to simplify things for Jay. You have 3 guards for 2 spots. I don't anticipate seeing alot of those 3 on the floor at the same time, but also don't seeing us play only one. Arch/Booth/Brunson split 80 mins. Forwards you have Hart/Jenkins/Bridges. And who guards the opposing 3 and 4 will depend on the types of matchups presented. Daniel/Reynolds at the 5. We have to hope that Reynolds is ready to be a true backup 5. Wildcard is Donte, and if he can provide effective minutes off the bench he can swing between guards and forwards, which we all know Jay loves to do. Otherwise, the 2 we really need to step up, and will have the biggest opportunities to do so, are Jenkins and Bridges. If those 2 can both be decent defensively while stretching the floor offensively, we won't miss a beat. Big If though. It would be nice if Donte is a pleasant surprise though. I just don't see Delaney getting much run this year.

6. My final point is about our general offensive philosophy that pretty much everyone has the green light at all times. I have actually always liked that philosophy. It's ultimate goal is to produce a bunch of fearless players. It's negatives are a lot of wasted possesions. I will always take my chances with a fearless team over an efficient team in a head to head setting. The rub is that this squad never got that fearless gene, at least not when the lights were brightest. Maybe it's just this particular group, maybe it's the second weekend drought adding additional pressure, or maybe it's a philosophy better used for professionals who are more immune to the pressure. Bottom line, if everyone can shoot whenever they want, no matter of situation, hot hand, etc., the result should be no butt puckering tourney time. I am hoping Brunson brings some of that fearlessness.



This post was edited on 4/6 4:26 PM by Perminator

Not sure if this was posted ....but JVP shot 6.... 3 pointers and made 3....50%....where did that come from.

Take the Badgers and lay the point. This will be a home game for Wisconsin. A sea of red in Indy. Football school that really travels well... Must be 10:1 in favor of the Badgers out here. Where are all the Dookies hiding?

Been running around Indy the past few days - what a great event. My first ever final four was up in Detroit...and that city really brought down the final four experience/environment. Indy is a fantastic sports town. Despite me hating the ncaa $$ grabbers for playing these games in football venues, Lucas Oil Stadium really doesn't have a bad seat in the house and the sitelines are bearable even in the corners. Obviously it would have been great to cheer on Nova this weekend but not having any real interest in the outcome (except some bets along the way) really lets u enjoy the games.

Game 1: as many of us saw, the first game was just a mismatch. State didn't really come to play and they let duke have their way with them all game. Heard that duke only managed to hit 2 jumpers in that game? The rest were All layups and FTs...wow. It would certainly have been nice to be playing in that game vs duke- I think we could have beaten them (3 out of 10 times). I think our guards would have been a wash and it would come down to how well we contained Winslow and okafor.i know a lot of u knocked their Defense this season but it was very good on Saturday night.

Game 2: Wow- what a game! These were clearly the best 2 teams in the country batting it out. Nba size rosters on both benches and a heavyweight battle on the court. Wisconsin played an unbelievable game and Bo dos a great job exploiting mismatches. Essentially anytime kaminsky, Hayes, or dekkar got the ball 15 ft from the hoop with a mismatch, they backed there guy down 1 on 1. Old school...love it! Duke may win the game tonight, but Wisconsin and Kentucky were clearly the 2 best teams. Plus Bo seems like a great guy and his players are likeable...go Badgers!

Gottleib: i managed to have a 10 minute chat with Gottleib before he went on his radio show Sunday. I know we all have our reasons for disliking him (I know I did) but he came across as friendly, personable, and knowledgable about the game. He thinks Wisconsin wins as long as they don't start flat after Saturday. I asked him what he thought about Ennis' transfer and whether we take a hit next year because of it. He said no, you're just clearing room for Brunson. I highlighted we'd then be relying on 3 6 foot 2 guards to play 30 minutes a game. "So what" and then he spoke very highly of arch, ochefu, Brunson, hart. Thinks we don't lose anything in hve graduating but "the kid sitting out" could be important for us this year.

Coaching staff: We were fortunate enough to sit next to Brooks Sales, Kyle Neptune, and Ashley Howard at dinner last night. Great ambassadors for our school...glad we have these guys working for our team every day!

Hypothetical from last week's Mark Titus Mailbag

Tom Izzo decides he's done enough at Michigan State and declares that he is leaving to become head coach at another school. Where does he land and how bad does the school sell out to get him? What teams wouldn't fire their current coach to hire Tom Izzo?
-Matt

----------------------
Titus:


This is such a diabolical question. I love it. But before we get to the good stuff, let's go over some ground rules. I'm not giving weight to any coaching change rumors, no matter how substantial. Also, I'm not taking into account contract buyouts or relationships between coaches and athletic directors. This is purely based on "Does it make sense for the direction of the program to fire the current coach and hire Izzo, and would the fan base be OK with the change?"
Hang up before you even finish the question: Duke, Kentucky, Louisville, and Florida.
Let you finish your pitch before politely declining: Kansas, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Ohio State, Michigan, Arizona, Gonzaga, Virginia, Iowa State, Villanova, West Virginia, UConn, and any school that hired a new coach in the last month.
Seriously consider it, but probably don't pull the trigger: Syracuse, Wichita State, San Diego State, Butler, and Utah.
Probably pull the trigger after varying amounts of thought: Everyone else.

This post was edited on 4/6 1:48 PM by RSTRICK30

http://grantland.com/the-triangle/ncaa-tournament-

Back in the day I was a huge fan of J.Crew shirts, you could walk in and buy 5 different ones and they would all fit great. You could literally wear these things for 10 years. Recently, J.Crew had the Thomas Mason collection which was good but there aren't many to choose from left, other than that, have been disappointed with the selection/fit recently at J.Crew and other places alike. Even the friggin' Gap you used to be able to walk into and grab a decent shirt.

Anyway, you guys were golden when it came to jeans. The lucky brand fit like a glove (although they are really broken in now and I am thinking I should have maybe gone with a slimmer fit). I am looking for button-down shirts that you can throw on untucked with a pair of jeans, roll up the sleeves, and you are good to go, but also shirts that you can tuck in to a pair of khakis for a more business casual look if need-be.

Also something that fits well. The old brooks brothers shirts literally had to have been designed with a guy who is 300 pounds in mind, but at the same time, I am not a European so I am not looking for something that is going to crack my ribs.

Anyway, any suggestions are appreciated.

Congrats!

patsox, I know you have seen Calvert Hall over the last couple years... Who do you think is better Donte D or Drew Edwards(going to Providence) What about compared to Nico Clareth(going to Siena)

Jay has always loved Dekkar...

Anyone see a lot of Sam Dekkar in Tim Delaney?

1. Winning a National Championship is hard, very very hard. Kentucky constantly trots out talent but as only won one during Calipari's tenure. Winning with freshmen is not easy, even if they have talent, it is hard to get a bunch of guys with the me first attitude to play 6 games together on the highest stage.

2. Frank Kaminsky, he is a 3 star recruit who did not play much at all his frosh and sophmore year. Sometimes you just never know, we lucked out in getting a great player like Darrun Hillard, again a 3 star recruit that got better each season. One thing in common is both players have tremendous coaches. When you have a coach like Jay and staff like ours you just never know when a player is going to make a huge jump. You need kids with the right personality who are willing to put in the work and make the sacrifices. These kids are not easy to find, saying that Jay does a wonderful job of this and it is the main reason we will continue to be a very good basketball program.

3. Losing Ennis hurts and we will feel it November through mid January next year. Saying that, its hard to argue, no how much you love Dylan that the long term growth of Brunson/Booth helps the program. So yes, I will miss Dylann and I thank him for being part of my favorite teams, saying that lets just move on. Alot to be excited with Brunson and Booth manning the back court for a while, maybe one of our best back courts offensively.

4. I really think Bridges and Reynolds are going to surprise us next year. Call itn a whim, call it whatever. First Reynolds has had to guard JVP and Ochefu in practice for 2 years. He is learning and getting better, yes he didnt play this year but I think he can contribute. He wont be asked to score alot, he can work on the other parts of his game, I like his transition in getting those 9-12 minutes we need from. I think Bridges is going to come off our bench and give us instant energy, again he wont be asked to do whole lot but I think he helps in a way Booth and Hart did in the past. Come off give a 5-10 good minutes, shooting, and some toughness on D.

5. I am going to give a big shot out to Beefer. I watched the Wisconsin game and the Wisconsin players 3-5 were better rebounders, shooters and dribblers than Kentucky. That is why they won. Kaminsky, Dekker, Hayes are very versatile. Towns, Stein, Lyles are not. That was the difference. Love the Spellman pick up as he brings this, would love get either Durham or Big Nick as both can shoot and spread the floor. Jay really know what hes doing here. Also, a guy like Delaney, Donte, Bridges can bring you alot off the bench in reserve roles as shooters/passer/etc. Very excited. Also add a guy like Pascall who is 6-6 and this is a very good team. Would love to be in Phoenix for the Final Four, I have a free place to stay .

6. I am excited to see how next year plays out. We are going to take our bumps and bruises (mind you I said this last year as well). Good guards can do alot of things BUT we need Ochefu to truly have a special year for this all to work. I like Daniel's game, I think he needs to be a bit less tenative with the ball . We will struggle on D BUT I think Booth, Jenkins are going to get better and I think Reynolds and Bridges brings some nice length off the bench.

I think we get a lower seed (maybe a 3 or 4) and I think we make the Sweet 16/Elite 8 next year. I think this team will not be as good as last years but for some reason the brackets turn in our favor. Call it a gut feel or just being a homer either way, should be fun.

INDIANAPOLIS (March 31, 2015) – The National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) today announced rosters for the 2015 Reese’s Division I College All-Star game, which will be played as part of the 2015 NCAA® Division I Men’s Basketball Championship. The game is set for Final Four Friday®, April 3, at Lucas Oil Stadium. Reese’s brand is the official candy partner of the NCAA.

Reese’s brand is also the title sponsor of all-star games played at the NCAA Division III championships in Salem, Va., and at the NCAA Division II championships in Evansville, Ind.

The game features a pair of outstanding coaches, the University of Nebraska’s Tim Miles and Jim Crews of Saint Louis University. Miles will coach the East team while Crews will guide the West team.

The senior All-Star student-athletes were selected by member coaches of the NABC.

Here are the rosters for the 2015 Reese’s Division I College All-Star game:



Reese’s Division I EAST ALL-STARS

No., Name, Ht/Wt., Pos., College/University, Hometown
2, Julius Brown, G, 5-11, 170, Toledo/Markham, Ill.
4, Tyler Kalinoski, G, 6-4, 180, Davidson/Overland Park, Kan.
0, Will Cummings, G, 6-2, 185, Temple/Jacksonville, Fla.
12, Darrun Hilliard, G, 6-6, 215, Villanova/Bethlehem, Pa.
14, D’Angelo Harrison, G, 6-4, 202, St. John’s/Missouri City, Texas
22, Treveon Graham, F, 6-6, 220,VCU/Temple Hill, Md.
24, Jarvis Williams, PF, 6-8, 215, Murray State/Macon, Ga.
30, LaDontae Henton, F, 6-6, 215, Providence/Lansing, Mich.
32, JayVaughn Pinkston, F, 6-7, 235,Villanova/Brooklyn, N.Y.
34, Kameron Woods, PF, 6-9, 200, Butler/Louisville, Ky.
40, Matt Stainbrook, C, 6-10, 270, Xavier/Bay Village, Ohio

Head Coach: Tim Miles (University of Nebraska)
Assistant Coach: Ron Coleman


Reese’s Division I WEST ALL-STARS

No., Name, Ht./Wt., Pos., College/University, Hometown
1, Mikh McKinney, G, 6-1, 165, Sacramento State/Union City, Calif.
3, Lawrence Alexander, G, 6-3, 190, North Dakota State/Peoria, Ill.
5, Corey Hawkins, G, 6-3, 195, UC Davis/Goodyear, Ariz.
11, Ralston Turner. G, 6-5, 205, N.C. State/Muscle Shoals, Ala.
13, Pat Connaughton, G/F, 6-5, 218, Notre Dame/Arlington, Mass.
21, Jacob Parker, F, 6-6, 210, Stephen F. Austin/Bixby, Okla.
23, Seth Tuttle, PF, 6-8, 240, Northern Iowa/Sheffield, Iowa
25, Le’Bryan Nash, F, 6-7, 235, Oklahoma State/Dallas,Texas
33, Alan Williams, PF, 6-8, 265, UCSB/Goodyear, Ariz.

Head Coach: Jim Crews (Saint Louis University)
Assistant Coach: Chris Hollender

This post was edited on 3/31 7:46 PM by ericw

Bridges ability to earn minutes is vital to this team next year. Villanova is losing a lot of perimeter length with the loss of Hilliard and Ennis. Brunson looks to be in the six foot range; however, seeing him play last night he has very little length (short arms). Ryan Arch lacks athleticism and length. The same can be said about Jenkins. Booth is approximately 6'2". Bridges at 6'7" with his length better be ready to play significant minutes.

This post was edited on 4/2 4:25 PM by tab

I didn't watch game, and I didn't see post-game, but just read the NY post on harrison's comment....I am not going to repeat it here, because it is things like this that keep the race issues in this country alive.....
First I would like to say, on this beautiful Easter morning....( Happy Easter Nova Nation)....what a horrible thing to call a white player........
Second, I am glad this kid never came to VU because I don't know how any of us would have handled it if he said it as a Nova player.....
Third.....If the roles were reversed and Kaminsky called Harrison a white slang, Like ( F that Pollock), he would be character assassinated .........
This is the kind of thing that kills me in 2015........

Heading out to Scottsdale on Thursday for nearly a week. Hoping to get in a few rounds of golf. Looking to play one really nice course while I am out there. Being told Troon North or We-Ko-Pa is the play. Anybody have advice on either one? Any other courses you would recommend that are a little more affordable? Will be staying in old town Scottsdale.
Posted from Rivals Mobile

To all my fellow Villanovans on this most special day. May the good Lord be with you all , go cats!

Estimated $15mm in lost royalties from merchandising to UK.

I sucked it up and watched the game last night. It was incredible to see Wisconsin beat Kentucky and a TON of credit has to go to Bo Ryan. Amazing game plan and just solid fundamental basketball to beat Kentucky. Read a couple articles this week about how Bo Ryan emphasizes recruits with solid fundamentals coming out of HS. Doesnt recruit the AAU circuits. Ends up with a ton of midwestern white guys who come from areas without powerhouse AAU programs. The iso's for Kaminisky were perfect, the screening and rolling (mainly to 3 pt line) were excellent, their ball movement was superb (which is more impressive due to Kentucky's length), and the just the right mix of energy and composure down the stretch. It was so obvious that Kentucky had them beat talent wise at practically every position but basketball IQ and skills Wisconsin may have had them beat at every position. Really happy for Wisconsin.