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The Villanova "Narrative"

I need to watch the replays to verify, but can someone tell me if it was mentioned that Kansas flamed out as a high seed the past two seasons in the first weekend of the NCAA tournament? EVERY game, it has been mentioned that we endured such disappointing early exit performances since our last Final Four. Like no other program has had that.

For the UNC games, did they talk about the early tournament exits for them the past 3 years?

Maybe I'm just being oversensitive. But, to me it casts a proverbial shadow over our success. Like it's a habitual thing - which it isn't. Prior to 2009, we went to 2 sweet 16s and and Elite Eight under Jay. This success is not new.

Guess we just have to get to Phoenix next year to really shut this narrative off. (How great would a Phoenix Final Four be, btw?)
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My 5 year old daughter's bracket...

So at work in addition to my bracket I had my daughter fill one out. I read her the 2 teams and told her to pick the winner. I didn't help her at all unless she asked me who I thought - she only asked twice). I knew she would pick Villanova all the way but I wanted to see how much she picked up from me hearing me talk about other teams. I swear this was her bracket:

Final Four:

Villanova
Oklahoma
Xavier
Syracuse

Championship Game:
Villanova
Syracuse

Champion:
Villanova

If it plays out that way she will win the office pool. She obviously picked up on Xavier because she heard me constantly talking about how they were the best team in the conference after us. I even tried talking her out of Syracuse. I said "Are you sure? They're really not that good." She stood her ground and said "No, the orange guy-he's silly".

I'm a proud father today & I hope her predictions are right!!!

Dylan Painter in Germany

Dylan is currently in Germany playing for a USA Select team in an international U-18 type event (Albert Schweitzer tournament). One of the USA assistants is the Blair Academy coach, Joe Mantegna, so that may have been one possible connection. I know Tim Delaney played at Blair for him last year.

Looks like the USA team has lost atleast two games, but did have a W over China. Hopefully Painter can put in a good word with Hameir Wright - who is also on the team/trip.

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Slight OT: Syracuse game thread Nova/KU

Pretty interesting read. Lots of rooting for Nova, though with numerous occasional negative remarks...

http://syracusefan.com/threads/nova-kansas-thread-who-do-you-like-want.102812/

Here is the cliff notes version:

1) Syracuse fans thought we (Nova) got a crap whistle (which we did)
2) Syracuse fans like when Kansas fans cry (like in 2003)
3) They don't like Arcidiacono
4) They want an old Big East rematch
5) They understand why they left the BE, but that doesn't mean they have to like it
6) Thought that Raf was openly cheering for Nova and Hill cheering for Kansas
7) Game gave them hope that you could win with good defense
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Changes...

...definitely feel like the rule change to 30 seconds has helped us this year...the half-court press/trapping especially with Bridges has relegated teams to setting up at about the 20 second mark...big, imho...also have noticed a couple of subtle changes in the tourney...running when we can but slowly walking the ball up the rest of the time and then setting up our half-court offense at almost the half-court line...at this point if you watch the replays of our NCAA games you will see that our offensive spacing is just perfect....

Ticket info ...

I was told the following late this afternoon:

Aside from the student tickets, which I'm assuming will all be behind one of the baskets, all tickets sold through/distributed by Villanova will be somewhere in sections 108 to 115. A significant part of those sections are made up of risers, so, depending on the exact allotment 'Nova got, the seats each person gets could be anywhere from close to the floor to up in the top of the 100 level of the stadium.

Tickets will be available for pickup at the Royal Sonesta sometime TBD on Friday.

From what I was told, the school was allocated about 3,000 tickets, and as of late this afternoon, only about 400 remained. Although the e-mail said you have until tomorrow to put your order in, they could sell out in the meantime. The limit for each account holder is eight tickets. However, the more tickets you buy, the more likely it is that your seats will be worse.

If you've already ordered and would like to add to your order, send an e-mail to tickets@villanova.edu.

The demand for these tickets is considerably higher than it was for the Final Four in Detroit in '09.

Bottom line: the 'Nova Nation will be in full force in Houston!

So pumped! Let's go, 'Cats!

Ochefu using the left hand

All season long, every time the opportunity to get a easier finish using the left hand, my son would be screaming for him to use his left hand. We came to the conclusion that he just wasn't comfortable using it, regardless of the fact that often it would lead to a blocked shot, or a missed one.
Versus Kansas, what does Ochefu do? He scores twice using his left hand.
In the Fransessa interview, even JW points out that he went to his left hand. He elaborated that they surely scouted that tendency with the idea that it would help to stop his ability to score from the low box.
Hopefully that versatility will continue.
The up and under move was also a thing of beauty, and something not seen before that I recall.
The face up game didn't look pretty though.
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UNC Fan at lunch today

So I am sitting alone eating my sub at Pot Belly's in Alexandria VA.....

Guy yells over to me..... So you bought that last night. I look over and am like what are you talking about. I see he has a real colored pull over and he points to my vest that reads "Villanova Basketball" with the multi-colored V.

We both laughed and I thought to myself..... Are the UNC fans always so nice? He was cool about it and did not talk bad about us but thought it was a clever comment.

Discuss.......

OT: Windsor Suites hotel in Downtown Philly

My wife, 3 year old daughter, and I are going to be in Philly overnight this Sunday and I was curious if anyone is familiar with this hotel. When traveling with the little one I am more particular about where we stay and was hoping if someone can confirm if this this hotel is clean, of quality, and in a good location. We always try to get a suite with an extra bedroom as my daughter goes to bed early.

Would appreciate any other recommendations as well.

Thanks !

full NABC All-American Teams (Hart 3rd)

NABC ANNOUNCES
2016 COACHES' DIVISION I ALL-AMERICA TEAMS

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (March 28, 2016) -- The National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) announced today the 2016 NABC Coaches’ Division II All-America teams. Selected and voted on by member coaches of the NABC in NCAA Division I, these student-athletes represent the finest basketball players across America.

2016 NABC Coaches’ Division I All-America First Team

Malcolm Brogdon, Virginia, 6-5, 215, Senior, Guard, Atlanta, Ga.
Buddy Hield, Oklahoma, 6-4, 214, Senior, Guard, Freeport, Bahamas
Brice Johnson, North Carolina, 6-9, 228, Senior, Forward, Orangeburg, S.C.
Ben Simmons, LSU, 6-10, 240, Freshman, Forward, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Denzel Valentine, Michigan State, 6-5, 220, Senior, Guard, Lansing, Mich.


2016 NABC Coaches’ Division I All-America Second Team

Kris Dunn, Providence, 6-4, 220, Junior, Guard, New London, Conn.
Perry Ellis, Kansas, 6-8, 225, Senior, Forward, Wichita Heights, Kan.
Georges Niang, Iowa State, 6-8, 230, Senior, Methuen, Mass.
Jakob Poeltl, Utah, 7-0, 248, Sophomore, Forward, Vienna, Austria
Tyler Ulis, Kentucky, 5-9, 160, Sophomore, Guard, Chicago, Ill.


2016 NABC Coaches’ Division I All-America Third Team

Grayson Allen, Duke, 6-5, 205, Sophomore, Guard, Jacksonville, Fla.
Kay Felder, Oakland, 5-9, 176, Junior, Guard, Detroit, Mich.
Yogi Ferrell, Indiana, 6-0, 180, Senior, Guard, Indianapolis, Ind.
Josh Hart, Villanova, 6-0, 205, Junior, Guard, Silver Spring, Md.
Jarrod Uthoff, Iowa, 6-9, 221, Senior, Forward, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

About the National Association of Basketball Coaches
Located in Kansas City, MO, the NABC was founded in 1927 by Phog Allen, the legendary basketball coach at the University of Kansas. Allen, a student of James Naismith, the inventor of basketball, organized coaches into this collective group to serve as Guardians of the Game. The NABC currently has nearly 5,000 members consisting primarily of university and college men’s basketball coaches. All members of the NABC are expected to uphold the core values of being a Guardian of the Game by bringing attention to the positive aspects of the sport of basketball and the role coaches play in the academic and athletic lives of today’s student-athletes. The four core values of being a Guardian of the Game are advocacy, leadership, service and education. Additional information about the NABC, its programs and membership, can be found at www.nabc.org.
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