Let the NCAA Tournament Games Begin

The field of sixty-four teams is set. On a day when it was all blue, Duke dumped Carolina and both Kansas and Kentucky win their conference tournaments. The top four teams for this year's NCAA Tournament are Ohio State, Pittsburgh, Duke and Kansas. Among the sixty-four teams selected, eleven were Big East. That's a new NCAA record.

The top first round games that I predict will have upsets are the following:

• Wisconsin vs. Delmont
• UCLA vs. Michigan State
• George Mason vs. Villanova
• St. John's vs. Gonzaga
• Texas vs. Oakland
• UConn vs. Bucknell
• Cincinnati vs. Memphis

Players to watch are:

• University of Washington - Isiah Thomas, Jr.
• UConn - Kendall Walker
• Kentucky - Brandon Knight
• Ohio State - Jared Sullinger
• BYU - Jimmy Freditte
• Kansas - Tyshawn Taylor
• Duke - Noland Smith
• Florida - Kenny Boykin
• Georgia - Trey Thomson
• North Carolina - Harrison Barnes

In my opinion, the toughest road to the Final Four will be winning against the Ohio State Buckeyes. They will have to beat North Carolina, Syracuse, Washington and George Mason.

One team that surprisingly did not make the cut for this year's tournament was Virginia Tech. Virginia beat Duke, Penn State and Florida State twice. Ironically, all of the teams they beat were all selected for the tournament. Go figure!

Atlanta Hawks Josh Powell Arrested

Atlanta Hawks reserve forward Josh Powell was arrested before Saturday night’s game at Philips Arena after police say he repeatedly refused to move his car that was blocking an ambulance. The Riverdale High School graduate was charged with failure to obey an authorized officer directing traffic, failure to yield to emergency equipment and obstruction, Atlanta Police spokesman Curtis Davenport told the AJC.

According to police, Powell was attempting to turn onto Park Avenue West from Marietta Street late Saturday afternoon but was unable to do so because of heavy traffic caused by this weekend’s SEC basketball tournament. Powell’s car was blocking the clogged intersection, making it impossible for the ambulance to proceed, Davenport said.

“The officer approached Mr. Powell’s vehicle and told him numerous times to go straight through the intersection … [he] refused and was placed under arrest,” Davenport said.

Powell, 28, was not in uniform as the Hawks took the court early Saturday evening against the Portland Trail Blazers . The seven-year NBA veteran signed with Atlanta last summer after winning two championship rings as a back-up forward/center for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Hawks spokesman Arthur Triche said the organization was made aware charges had been filed against Powell but declined additional comment.

What's Wrong?

These are examples of when things go wrong in Sports:

• What's so wrong with Miami Heat players crying after an emotional loss?  Michael Jordan did it when he won a championship one year.  The game gets deep for players sometimes.
• What's wrong with practicing after a loss like Kobe Bryant did when the Lakers lost to the Heat?  After all didn't Iverson skip practice and cost his team a victory?
• What's wrong with the NY Jets charging more for their season tickets than the NY Giants?  The Jets haven't won a Superbowl in thirty years but the Giants have won three times.
• What's wrong with the NJ Nets moving to Brooklyn?  If all your fans are in NJ, how is it fair to make them travel to another state for "home" game?

2011 CIAA Tournament Championship Game Goes Down to the Wire

Shaw University, where I received my first collegiate coaching opportunity, held on to beat out Livingston College with a score of 82-79 in the 2011 CIAA Tournament Championship game.  The Shaw University Bears won it in glorious fashion before a sell-out crowd at the arena of Michael Jordan's Charlotte Bobcats.

All You College Ball Fans - Enjoy Your March Madness

Here are my picks for the Final Four:  Duke, North Carolina, Kentucky and Kansas.  It just so happens that they are all men of blue - one of my favorite colors.

Here's my logic for the picks:

1. DUKE could return to the Final Four because they have added two hot new players - Irving and Curry.
2. NORTH CAROLINA's Freshman Harrison Barnes set the ACC scoring record with 40 points in a semi-final overtime win against pesky Clemson.
3. KENTUCKY is led by two possible first round picks for the 2011 NBA draft.
4. KANSAS is led by two powerhouse upperclassmen.

Who are your picks?  Leave a comment and tell me whether you agree or not with mine and why.  Either way, enjoy the tournament on the road to the Final Four in Houston, TX.