By Mark Buckets
....with the help of Coppin State coach Ron "Fang" Mitchell, who makes his third NCAA Tournament appearance tonight. In 1997, Coppin State pulled off - at the time - only the third 15 over 2 upset when the Eagles defeated a B.J. McKie-led South Carolina team.
We'll give the Gamecocks a pass there - they also lost the following year to 14th seeded Richmond - since it was coached by perennial underachiever, Eddie Fogler.
No matter, this is about the play-in game and it's historical significance (or lack there of) and the opportunity presented to the athletes at Mt.St.Mary's and Coppin State.
Opinions vary greatly when discussing the NCAA-deemed "Opening Round Game." To mainstream fans and most of the electronic/print media, this pairing is better known as the "Play-in Game." Fans and media alike find it difficult to believe that this game even exists. Matching two schools - one of which, without fail, is a historically black school - knowing that one will miss out on the bright lights of a full-fledged NCAA Tournament site, is a great shame.
To those who have a vested interest in the money generated from the NCAA Tournament - the school presidents, AD's, coaches and CBS's Corporate Champions - this is just another notch on their gold-plated belts.
These schools - the MEAC and SWAC are prime examples of this - lack the simplest luxuries a middling team from the Big 10 would take for granted. Three assistant coaches with a director of basketball operations (basically a fourth full time assistant)?
Most programs from historically black colleges lack even two paid assistants.
Fully-stocked training tables for Coppin State? Try dinner at McDonald's, day after day....after day...
Charter flights for Mt.St.Mary's? Not in the budget.
This is an argument for a different time, and I am obliged to bring you analysis of the "Opening Round" game tonight at the University of Dayton Arena.
Brent Musberger teams with Steve Lavin as ESPN televises this game for the seventh time - TNN presented the inaugural gathering in 2001 - which tips off at 6:30PM Central Time.
And so, Mark Buckets breaks down Coppin State/Mt.St.Mary's:
This should be a track meet, as both of these teams love to run. Midway through the season, Mt.St.Mary's coach Milan Brown decided to employ an up-tempo game, feeling that his team needed a philosophical change.
After slowing games to a crawl early in conference play, The Mount dramatically altered their pace, garnering a modest amount success.
Coppin State also struggled mightily early in the season losing 11 straight at one point.
Now don't get me wrong - these teams aren't exactly Circ du Soleil- with the basketball - both teams are incredibly sloppy at times.
In the end - and usually in games of this variety - go with the team that has the player who can change the complexion a game in the matter of two or three minutes.
Coppin State's Tywain McKee - who is as quick as most division 1 lead guards - is an explosive scorer who enjoys taking over games, to say the least. His last second shot defeated Morgan State (coached by Todd Bozeman) in the MEAC Tournament Final.
The Eagles are also senior-laden, led by five four-year players who understand what Fang Mitchell expects in them. This general understanding and the sheer athleticism of McKee - and I think that Coppin State will emerge victorious.
There's only one thing to ask now:
First class or coach?
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
7 comments:
Them be some good schools. Butler be ripped off with a 7 seed, because they play d-fence. They dont primp for them cams and dont showboat like them ESPN praisin wacky tobaccy programs full of sin. The good news for Butler, there be plenty of high steppin showboating wacky tobaccy programs in the East bracket. We be bringing them down 1 by 1.
gggggggggrrrrrrrroooooooo
gggggggggrrrrrrrroooooooo
Crank up that diesel ...
gggggggggrrrrrrrroooooooo
The train be a comin
Uh huh. Uh huh.
Then we gonna to take down the alamo.
Then we gonna be cuttin down them nets!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You say "College Basketball is Life," but you are missing on the women's game. You never comment on teams that play for the love of the game. Why is that? Shouldn't a college basketball blog cover the entire sport. btw, Butler Bob are you single?
well written post dude, I'm linking it on my blog.
Oh Sonny Girl, you be thinkin what many ladies be thinkin. Ethel no be liking me smoochin with other daisies. She always gettin on me for recording them Shelley Smith segments on ESPN. When Butler be playing in San Antonio for them Final 4, I be greetin Shelley Smith when Ehtel be powderin her fanny.
When Butler be winnin, I be givin them ladies lots of smooches. Tila I recommend you going to church and finding a good praying jacks playing young decon who may take you out for Malt and Milk. He may not attack the disco halls like me but he´ll show you a nice time.
Toki I be seein you last week at Gunters clam making evenin. How do you do?
Me be watchin Butler knocking out them sinnin wacky tobaccy programs to the Final Four. Uh huh. Uh huh. We be cuttin down them nets!
I saw most of Mt. St. Mary's win over Sacred Heart. Mt. St. Marys' guard play was pretty bad. Their decision making left much to be desired. Illinois' offense/decision making challenged point guard, Chester Frazier, would probably be the best guard on that team, if he were to play for them.
In all honesty and with all due respect to Mt. St. Mary's, I'm pretty confident that I could start at guard for them right now. And I was a marginal Division III walk on guard a decade ago (although, in fairness, I've probably gotten better over the years ... not that it matters).
Also, I call B.S. on the alleged Tila Tequila comment. It's too concise and well written to have been written by the actual Ms. Tequila (although it does indicate an affinity for both women and men, and it is poorly punctuated).
Back in December, a commenter claiming to be Tila Tequila left the following comment on a post about Eddie Sutton:
"tila tequila said...
soooo, just looking at the pics of coach sutton..... i'd party with him. hes got a reputation as quite the partier, and hes definately been around the block .... (just) like me!! LOL!! so, i mean, i'd like probly hang out with him. he looks like he likes to have fun, and im a party gurrl!?!, soooo, ya know, i like to have fun!
yay fun!!"
The full post is here:
driveanddish.blogspot.com/2007/12/eddie-sutton-back-in-saddle.
html
While I can't verify whether either comment was written by the actual Tila Tequila, I'd have to say that the one from December is dumb enough and scatter-brained enough that it could be authentic.
Your post is titled "Biting in to the Tournament."
I like to bite. Ask my ex girlfriend. Ask any of my one night stands. Ask the jury that heard my sexual assault charge ten years ago.
I get off on biting. Oh yeaaaaah!
Nothing turns me on more than biting into the soft flesh of a hot, slutty young woman.
But, as those who followed my sexual assault trial may recall, I've also experimented with biting sexy young men in an erotically stimulating manner.
Yes!
I am a freakazoid.
And I'm wearing women's lingerie.
Right now.
Oh yeeeeeeaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh!!
I like biting too.
Post a Comment