Let the NCAA be an arm of higher education. Move the Final Four playoffs from Indiana.
2
The best that can be hoped for by the next opponent is Notra Dame showed them the line (golf metaphor).
The problem with final four theory is indeed the personal foul. Offensive and defensive. The rule says that you may not touch the player with the ball. Yet, if the referees observed that rule, then every player would foul out in the first five minutes of the game. I don't think America has defined what a basketball game actually consists of yet, nor how it should be played.
1
Irish had it in hand but that casual inbound pass killed them.
4
The Irish were doomed the moment they set foot on the court against the Wildcats.
Close counts only with horseshoes, shuffleboard, hand grenades and the point spread.
3
great effort, great game. couldda went either way
1
But it went the way of Kentucky. Go Cats!
There have been very few teams who have almost defeated Kentucky. ND outplayed the Wildcats for about the first 38 minutes of the game. They would have won easily if they could have figured out how to deprive Towns of the ball on the right side of the lane. Congratulations to the Irish for the best season in school history. All N D fans are proud of you. Kentucky is a great team and their players, if not their coach, were all very gracious winners.
4
I lived in Lexington for 20 years, attended the college and worked in the dental college. The love and devotion for the cats is still with my family. Yep, we still bleed blue. I love the excitement Kentucky ball brings. Great team and great coach. Time to party blue. Go UK we love you.
4
This is not "college" basketball. This is an MBA training camp. The one and done rule is ruining college basketball. I absolutely cannot get excited watching a bunch of pros biding their time for one year. Watching youngsters play and develop physically and mentally over a college career is much more interesting and fulfilling for fans.
15
I assume you're talking now about Kentucky, not Notre Dame? Because if you look, you'll see a very different approach by each program. And the *real* graduation rate at ND is higher, amazingly enough, than the very high graduation rate of ND students as a whole. No need to engage in the creative accounting of KY of not counting all the "one and dones," or anyone else who leaves before their 4 years are
up.
up.
2
Agree - Kentucky should have to play the winner of the NBA championship.
2
There is no way last night's game should have ended the way it did, at the foul line with an obvious biased call against the Irish. The last minutes of games like that should end or be decided by a call as last night. Let the teams play, period, By the way go back years ago to Seton Hall vs. Michigan decided by a foul call in the last 4 seconds of the game when the ref. called a foul on a Seton Hall player diving to the basket. Terrible call and terrible way to end the game. Also, why does it always seem that teams like Louisville; Dukee; Kentucky get those special calls that other teams do not. Now my favorite rant, in the tournament even the playing field out by having the # 1 seed start off by playing the # 9 seed.
5
If fouls should be eliminated at the end of games, why have any rules at all? Goal tending? Fine. Carrying the ball the length of the floor? Great. Seven players on the floor? Outstanding. Threatening the refs? They deserve it. Pushing a player into the goal stanchions when he dunks? That'll teach him, when he regains consciousness.
Notre Dame played a great game. They lost. Get over it.
Notre Dame played a great game. They lost. Get over it.
5
I understand your rant, but please, ND gets more than their share of favored calls in every sport.
5
It wasn't a bias call. Although it looked like it to us watching it on television, the replay showed the defender had clearly turned his body to put his shoulder into Harrison; if he would have held his ground, it would have been an offensive foul.
3
Great game all told, I really thought Notre Dame had the measure of them.
3
Does anyone at the NYT know that the WOMEN are playing too? I'm sick and tired of 'college basketball' simply being the boys...and then when you stoop to cover the women, it's changed to 'women's college basketball.' Or perhaps 'woman' is too strong a word and you'll soon call it 'lady's basketball' like too many teams do. Silly. Demeaning. Ridiculous.
6
what is silly and ridiculous is your idea that an inferior product played by inferior athletes with an inferior balance of talent should be treated as equal.
2
Its likely that the billions of dollars in hype and advertisement need to be focused on the boys. Women's sports have less of the money, and what is a network of tv and pre-NBA training going to do? We'd be aghast if colleges went back to being educators first and then having students who can play get together once in awhile for a game. Time to make those who are taking up educational spots while they play depart for some newly created league, and let colleges return to educating those who wish to be there for that purpose.
Perhaps Mr. Rhoden missed the West Virginia game. I don't think anyone connected to that program is saying "almost" unless it's "we almost lost by fifty."
8
I picked Kentucky in my bracket but as a viewer I'd rather watch Notre Dame play basketball over any other team in this tournament. The tenacity and determination they display is inspiring. The two best games to watch so far were Notre Dame/Butler and Notre Dame/Kentucky. I have become a fan.
10
I would humbly like to comment that there are other college championships going on that are largely ignored. There were excellent men and women's hockey championships, as well as track and field, among others. Oh but wait a minute, quite a few of these were Division III sports, and we all know the NCAA does not make billions off of these athletes.
It was a great game to watch, one of the few so far in the tournament that I have seen. Go Zags!
2
John Vincent Calipari is the most pompous person the American Sports. His post game interview was that of a 20 point winner, when he trailed for 39.5 minutes. He's only number one in winning with non-graduates. ON WISCONSIN!
10
As dissapionted with the outcome as I was I thought Calipari thoroughly outcoached his counterpart. He nursed Townes, playing with 4 fouls, through the last 5 minutes of the game by repeatedly substituting for him on defense and immediately reinserting him on offense. Mike Brey on the other hand I thought let his team lose focus and allowed individual play to trancend team play in the final minutes. What happened to Auguste who was such a force in the first half? Oh for a couple of missed free throws to fall.
11
Delicious irony to see those Notre Dame players, smirking and swaggering the whole game, then end up slack jawed losers. No class in the ND program
7
What game were you watching? The only smirk I saw belonged to the man in the garsh pin-striped suit.
5
Notre Dame is the classic example of how you can take a bunch of pretty talented but very smart kids and mold them into a dangerous team. Kentucky was much bigger and more talented, but Notre Dame proved that Kentucky is not invincible.
The Wildcats better beware of Wisconsin, a bigger and more talented version of Notre Dame.
Congratulations to the kids from Notre Dame and to Mike Brey, helluva of coach that he is.
The Wildcats better beware of Wisconsin, a bigger and more talented version of Notre Dame.
Congratulations to the kids from Notre Dame and to Mike Brey, helluva of coach that he is.
11
That was the Championship ! coaching failed ND in the final 2 mins
2
maybe. but kentucky was outcoached for the first 38 minutes, so let's not be too hard on brey.
It's been a life long pleasure to follow KY basketball. Occasional agony yes, but mostly just the thrill of good sport and suspense. As a 12 year old in Ky, I stood at that foul line on a dirt court, game tied, no time left on the clock and had to sink the two free throws. Last night's game against the Irish did not disappoint. Anyone who has played hoops knows that.
6
The officiating of any game is aways tainted with suspect calls. Haters will always bring up whatever whistles sunk their ship and claim that it was the refs who handed the victor the victory. However, Kentucky missed no shots the last ten minutes of the game and scored 24 points on their last 13 possessions.
The word we use for this in sports is: Clutch.
Ya'll keep hating,
we'll keep winning.
The word we use for this in sports is: Clutch.
Ya'll keep hating,
we'll keep winning.
7
Great game last night between Notre Dame and Kentucky; one of the greatest in the history of the entire NCAA tournament. The Wildcats showed true grit and determination; a will to win unseen in previous teams. Coach Calipari, as always, recruits the nation's most talented players and assembles them into a true team. Although some may be one and done after this year, several like Willy Cauley-Stein, have stuck around for awhile, and that's what gives the team the experience to triumph over adversity. I hope Kentucky goes all the way. The odds are in their favor, but who, other than God, knows what the future has in store between now and April 6 for the Wildcats of Kentucky.
1
VERY entertaining game..... But why wait to foul such that you only have SIX SECONDS to try to tie it after they make the easy two dorm the line...?
Basketball suffers when referees ignore walking, or throwing elbows under the basket in an effort to clear space for a lay up. Kentucky's big man, Towns, was guilty of both all game. And just as Cy Young pitchers reliably get the benefit of hitting the corners by umpires, an undefeated team like Kentucky has similar mojo working with the refs. The Notre Dame player making the final shot last night with just seconds left was fouled hard just before he shot, a foul that was ignored. Bottom line: Notre Dame missed too many opportune shots.
5
How do you possibly defend when the big man is free to throw elbows and literall bang into your immobile body, with the only foul being called against you, guess for standing there to get slammed into? It wasn't just this game. That's how the college games are called now. The NCAA should look into it because it's starting to detract from the game.
2
The amount of travel allowed now, just because is is necessary to get those big runs and jumps (lacking trampolines that are used for other slam/dunk contests) is striking.
I'm not a ref, but it is obvious so often, and they are allowed to keep doing it. Maybe charges are a harder foul to differentiate between offensive and defensive, but it doesn't take a Harvard Grad to see walking and travelling all over the place, every game.
If these guys are so good, why do they commit that foul? Why are the refs bound together to not call it and let the game go on? If it is necessary to allow it for the game to have the dynamics it does, then change the rule rather than make everyone get by with it. Most fans watching college BB now sort of take it for granted.
I'm not a ref, but it is obvious so often, and they are allowed to keep doing it. Maybe charges are a harder foul to differentiate between offensive and defensive, but it doesn't take a Harvard Grad to see walking and travelling all over the place, every game.
If these guys are so good, why do they commit that foul? Why are the refs bound together to not call it and let the game go on? If it is necessary to allow it for the game to have the dynamics it does, then change the rule rather than make everyone get by with it. Most fans watching college BB now sort of take it for granted.
1
Re: Calipari's interview -
Calipari should not and did not give Notre Dame props for the best effort ever against Kentucky. He should have and did note that there were other games this year when Kentucky was pushed to the very end before winning.
Kentucky and Calipari have one or two games left in this Madness. It may be that we have seen the closest of the Kentucky games for this cycle. But, the outcome of the Final Four is still in doubt, and Calipari does his team best by not overemphasizing one now dispatched opponent and moving his team quickly from this win to the next opportunity.
Notre Dame played very well, amazingly well. But, there is one team moving forward from this game, and it is not ND.
Calipari should not and did not give Notre Dame props for the best effort ever against Kentucky. He should have and did note that there were other games this year when Kentucky was pushed to the very end before winning.
Kentucky and Calipari have one or two games left in this Madness. It may be that we have seen the closest of the Kentucky games for this cycle. But, the outcome of the Final Four is still in doubt, and Calipari does his team best by not overemphasizing one now dispatched opponent and moving his team quickly from this win to the next opportunity.
Notre Dame played very well, amazingly well. But, there is one team moving forward from this game, and it is not ND.
2
It's never wrong to compliment your valiant opponent and it always seems churlish when you don't.
1
Why is this team unpopular, Mr. Rhoden? They have played great basketball the entire year. They have played a difficult schedule. They won big and small — blow out games and nail bitters. They share the ball and minutes with each other. They play team basketball the way so many say it should be played. And the Kentucky program has been solid — no controversy what so ever.
I am routing for Kentucky. Why wouldn't I. Upsets happen all the time, but how often have we seen a perfect team? A team that faced down all comers and won. The last one in basketball was a generation ago. And if they do it, the next one may be another generation later.
So go Cats! And keep it 100…
I am routing for Kentucky. Why wouldn't I. Upsets happen all the time, but how often have we seen a perfect team? A team that faced down all comers and won. The last one in basketball was a generation ago. And if they do it, the next one may be another generation later.
So go Cats! And keep it 100…
25
It's not the team that's unpopular, it's the coach and Calipari's continual use of "one and done" recruiting which makes a mockery of college sports.
10
I can't speak for the reporter, but Kentucky is unpopular for me because it chooses to still venerate Adolph Rupp, whose most charitable defenders can only say he was no more racist than any other white male in the South. Likewise, modern Kentucky fans haven't seemed to move much past that; Kentucky coach Tubby Smith, who is black, received death threats shortly after leading the Cats to a National Championship. What's that about? And from my personal experience at the Final Four last year in Dallas, my sense is the Connecticut and Wisconsin fans were very nice and well mannered. The Kentucky fans were just boors. So, yes, y'all are unpopular outside the Big Blue mob. Own it.
3
When you played the race card, you failed to note the irony in your attack of Rupp and Kentucky in general that Tubby Smith became the coach of Kentucky. Do you fail to see the progress embodied in Mr. Smith's tenure at Kentucky? Do you fail to see the progress embodied in the starting lineups for both teams last night? Look in the mirror before you smear others.
1
Great game..my bracket is now over having picked ND to win, Go Badgers!
6
ND's last 3 possessions were basically one on one ball - Grant looking to be the hero, and not including his team. ND played well - KY won - but these last 3 possessions were the game. Was that coaching? ND got that close to winning by executing extremely beautiful team play - why did they change?
13
Peter -Hard to play team ball when you get the ball with one second on the shot clock and the next time with six seconds on the clock.
1
What I question is why Mike Bray did not double team Townes who was clearly not going to be stopped by a single ND defender.
2
1). Notre Dame had no timeouts left therefore Brey couldn't 'draw one up'
2). The psychology and mentality drastically changes when the clock goes under 2 minutes. Possessions become 'musts' therefore players often shrink in the face of that pressure.
3). ND knew the weight of the moment. As much pressure as it seems to be on the undefeated team many people overlook and underestimate the pressure on the team to 'knock off' the undefeated team. It becomes real in the last two minutes.
4). Kentucky completely locked down the last three defensive possessions. I can't explain the how but the why is obvious. KY at it's ultimate best defensively verses a team desperately trying to knock them off needing that last bit of magic/execution ~ scales tip to the battle tested and physically superior Wildcats.
Hats off to ND and KY in a classic.
2). The psychology and mentality drastically changes when the clock goes under 2 minutes. Possessions become 'musts' therefore players often shrink in the face of that pressure.
3). ND knew the weight of the moment. As much pressure as it seems to be on the undefeated team many people overlook and underestimate the pressure on the team to 'knock off' the undefeated team. It becomes real in the last two minutes.
4). Kentucky completely locked down the last three defensive possessions. I can't explain the how but the why is obvious. KY at it's ultimate best defensively verses a team desperately trying to knock them off needing that last bit of magic/execution ~ scales tip to the battle tested and physically superior Wildcats.
Hats off to ND and KY in a classic.
2
While a loss is a loss, Notre Dame demonstrated it can play the game at the highest level. An important message to top recruits around the country: The Fighting Irish are for real and, in that sense, Notre Dame has come out a winner in the long term.
10
Last night's game was one of the best of the tournament; Notre Dame played great, the competition was superb, but in the end I was left with the bad taste of 1960's "wilt chamberlain" style offense from Kentucky...pass it to the paint, and then back in and set it in the basket... nostalgic but not electrifying. Great game but a bit disappointing with two skilled athletic teams... that was the championship game.
5
"Pass it to the paint, and then back in and set it in the basket." That appears to have been a good strategy, sorry if it wasn't electrifying. What's wrong with a Wilt Chamberlain offense? The man scored 100 points in a game.
1
you are not serious are you? back to the basket low post pivot play is an essential part of the game- what about the man mountain from Gonzaga?
The Alabamas and Kentuckys of the world are so packed with talent, tradition, and raw confidence that they almost always win the close games against ordinary mortals who've played above their heads almost to the end. They usually have little trouble keeping their heads when all about them are losing theirs in the clutch. What a shock.
1
I am a Kentucky fan and have watched all their televised games (a lot of them have been televised). They are beatable and Notre Dame had as good a chance as anyone. I watched them beat Duke so was not surprised with the game going right down to the wire. Duke has the best chance of beating UK in the Final Four. Wisconsin can be prepared for and Kaminski will not be the challenge he was for other teams. I'd bet on UK.
4
Yeah, but the real contest will come later when we measure how many of the Wisconsin players graduate with degrees and how many Kentucky players graduate with degrees. Yeah, they may send one or two of the tallest men in the world to the pros - where they will bore us to death with the most awful game in the world today - but the rest will return to where they came from, uneducated and exploited for their jumping ability, but only for entertainment of the masses. Bah.
2
actually, the real contest will be when we see how much money is earned by the kentucky players versus the wisconsin players. that's how we keep score in a capitalist soceity. notwithstanding your opinion of the pro game, the best kentucky players will earn tens of millions in the nba while others will have lucrative opportunities overseas, in coaching, or through leveraging their local fame into decent jobs.
moreover victor, you don't seem to understand that virtually all labor is "exploited." that is simply the nature of labor. this includes the labor of the wisconsin players who earn their degrees. it is unclear why you denigrate the value of basketball players in comparison with other laborers. envy? racism? i can only guess. what i need not guess at is your lack of real education and understanding of how the world works.
moreover victor, you don't seem to understand that virtually all labor is "exploited." that is simply the nature of labor. this includes the labor of the wisconsin players who earn their degrees. it is unclear why you denigrate the value of basketball players in comparison with other laborers. envy? racism? i can only guess. what i need not guess at is your lack of real education and understanding of how the world works.
1
Notre Dame went out of their offense in the last three minutes or so and the Grant kid tried unnecessarily to take over the game - goodbye Notre Dame.
8
Against a towering height advantage the fighting Irish played with great courage, capability and teamwork, but the obvious partiality of the refs gave Goliath a sixth man on the court -- and that sixth man produced the winning margin. Now another official intervention is required, a fair one by the NCAA who should order the game replayed. To quote my fellow subway alumni, "We was robbed!"
7
What are you referencing? The officials had zero impact on the outcome of this game.
1
Are there no subways in Ohio?
March Madness is about the only sporting event I still watch. And last night was the first time Kentucky was playing early enough for me to see them play. What impressed me the most was the incredible poise of this, largely freshman, team under the relentless pressure of an outstanding, veteran Notre Dame team that had just swept away both Duke and North Carolina to win the ACC tournament. My only criticism is the incredible number of TV timeouts, especially in the last 5 minutes, that favor teams like Notre Dame and Wisconsin that do not have the deep bench that Kentucky has.
18
You are so right. I went to a movie and watched the game afterwards thanks to dvr. I didn't know the score and it was so exciting to watch and with no advertisements and no half time break the game went very quickly.
2
Great, great college basketball game, NBA-level spacing and cutting nearly trumped NBA-level size and length. If UK was going to lose, I wanted the 'Cats to go down because a team had beaten their remarkable defense, not because of a terrible shooting night, or bizarre foul trouble, or some other weird thing. I don't have any reason to believe if they played in two or three days ND wouldn't be able to do the exact same thing. Perhaps, as Calipari said, UK could have made more 1-foot shots, but with one or two exceptions the 'Cats are just not that skilled offensively around the basket.
So, can Wisconsin cut them to pieces as well? I don't doubt it, especially now. Notre Dame was disrespected by the odds makers; the Badgers have even better top-line players, if perhaps not quite the same kind of penetrating guards. As a UK alum, 40-0 appears tantalizingly close, but given how UK was exposed both offensively and defensively, it's really far away. Simple formula: draw the Kentucky bigs away from the basket and don't let them get buckets in transition. UK will have to play well Saturday... to avoid being blown out.
So, can Wisconsin cut them to pieces as well? I don't doubt it, especially now. Notre Dame was disrespected by the odds makers; the Badgers have even better top-line players, if perhaps not quite the same kind of penetrating guards. As a UK alum, 40-0 appears tantalizingly close, but given how UK was exposed both offensively and defensively, it's really far away. Simple formula: draw the Kentucky bigs away from the basket and don't let them get buckets in transition. UK will have to play well Saturday... to avoid being blown out.
1
Matt Guest, it's easy to prognosticate with no skin in the game. I'd be willing to bet you whatever you think you're worth that UK will not be blown out. You talk as if no other team had come close to beating UK before last night and ND "exposed" UK's Achilles heel. Yet, this is their 4th game that was decided on the final shot and UK is still undefeated. I don't think either Wisconsin or Duke (if they should reach) will be able to derail the UK train! Move over Indiana, Kentucky is getting ready to join the ranks of unbeaten champs!
I understand what you're saying, but no team, until last night, struck at the core of Kentucky's defense the way Notre Dame did. UK had not played an offense like that all season. Sure, they've been challenged several times, but those were less-focused teams playing below par. Or to put it another way, if I would have told you ND would shoot 4/14 from beyond the arc, would you have believed it would only have lost by two?
Yes, they're still undefeated, and it was great to see their composure and execution over the last three minutes. Still, this was a very focused team, competing its heart out on defense and unable to stop Notre Dame for 37 minutes. When UK took a five point lead early in the second half, the Irish wiped it away almost immediately. Absent Towns, the other big guys are not gifted around the basket to compel double-teams to free up shooters. Dakari Johnson might be a year away, but he still doesn't move decisively and expertly around the goal most of the time.
Who on UK will guard Sam Dekker, especially if WCS has to watch over Kaminsky much of the night? The freshmen couldn't guard much at all last night; Bo Ryan's offense is every bit as efficient as Brey's. I never said UK *will* get blown out, only that Bucky can really hurt the Wildcats if they don't play well. As can Duke and perhaps an in-form Gonzaga team. I do expect Kentucky to play well, but I can't say its "B" game (probably what it played tonight, A for offense, C for defense) will suffice.
Yes, they're still undefeated, and it was great to see their composure and execution over the last three minutes. Still, this was a very focused team, competing its heart out on defense and unable to stop Notre Dame for 37 minutes. When UK took a five point lead early in the second half, the Irish wiped it away almost immediately. Absent Towns, the other big guys are not gifted around the basket to compel double-teams to free up shooters. Dakari Johnson might be a year away, but he still doesn't move decisively and expertly around the goal most of the time.
Who on UK will guard Sam Dekker, especially if WCS has to watch over Kaminsky much of the night? The freshmen couldn't guard much at all last night; Bo Ryan's offense is every bit as efficient as Brey's. I never said UK *will* get blown out, only that Bucky can really hurt the Wildcats if they don't play well. As can Duke and perhaps an in-form Gonzaga team. I do expect Kentucky to play well, but I can't say its "B" game (probably what it played tonight, A for offense, C for defense) will suffice.
1
It was an excellent game. How about that Notre Dame guard that played every minute of the tournament? Impressive.
18
And as a result of this tourney, to speaking nothing of the entire season, the money by the Billions pours into the coffers of the Universities and the concomitant coaching wallets. None of it, NONE OF IT, is going to the players - effectively employees - who make it possible. All under the guise of "higher education." Higher education; don't make me laugh.
John~
American Net'Zen
John~
American Net'Zen
41
It's a perfect education in capitalism the Republican way.
24
In addition to the depth of the Kentucky team and the players' talents, it is their last loss that is the key factor and driving for motivating this team.
Now with the addition of the big KAT, who do opponents focus on to stop?
Now with the addition of the big KAT, who do opponents focus on to stop?
1
West Virginia 'almost' beat Kentucky?
17
"Almost" and "if" are words for solace purposes only....
1
They were doing great until the final 40 minutes.
2
The tenor of your headline is a bit silly. With a much shorter bench, and shorter starting lineup, Notre Dame gave Kentucky a much harder game than anyone else has in a long time. In a game that could have gone either way, Notre Dame did everything but win and should be very proud today.
33
RJK, your summation and the headline are, to my mind, one and the same.... If a team like ND plays its heart out, and does well, and holds a lead for much of the game, well.... the most consistent refrain of such teams is: "almost beat'em."
3
As well as Notre Dame played and was coached they made a huge mistake on their last possession. They could have easily had a two for one and should have shot at about the 45 to 50 second mark to ensure having the ball with more time in case they fell behind. It was a glaring error for a team that played so well the whole game.
Ps I felt Caliparis whining was deplorable last night. He will likely move to the Nba again and leave Kentucky on probation ala UMass and Memphis before it is all over.
Ps I felt Caliparis whining was deplorable last night. He will likely move to the Nba again and leave Kentucky on probation ala UMass and Memphis before it is all over.
17
Notre Dame's last two possessions ended in desperation step back threes. Poor time management and execution. Ran out of time outs. Kentucky is beatable, but it will require near flawless play down to the wire to do it. It was a great game, and I thought NDs performance overall was inspiring.
8
But you know, the kids on the court have to make the plays. What a great team in Notre Dame! How beautifully they played. One line in another article called Kentucky "the Kentucky machine," but nope: Karl, Willie, Aaron, Andrew, Tyler, Trey: good kids all. Have you heard something about John Wall, who was an excellent student at UK? Or any whiff of controversy? Did you know that John Calipari asked the NCAA specifically about Derrick Rose, and they cleared him to play, or that the opinion aired on these pages said Calipari should have known the difference between cubic zirconium and diamonds. Do you? Do you think a terrible human beings could coach these talented kids into a team who can sublimate their egos and call each other "brothers"? Calipari likely made mistakes. He's ambitious. He wants to win. But I am so tired of this same old re-hash. The players play for him because he tells them to put team first, he puts them first: their dreams and goals. Is there something shameful about working one's entire life toward success and going when one is ready?
5
Whining--really? I didn't hear any. Calipari certainly said nothing about the officiating, and he had plenty of praise for Notre Dame.
Also, neither UMass nor Memphis was placed on probation. All that happened was that some games were vacated, and the NCAA specifically said that Calipari himself was not responsible. Your bias is showing.
Also, neither UMass nor Memphis was placed on probation. All that happened was that some games were vacated, and the NCAA specifically said that Calipari himself was not responsible. Your bias is showing.
So, a good way into the second half, and Notre Dame has built a six-point lead, I tell my wife they don't have any fouls yet this half, and Kentucky already has three.
No sooner than the words left my mouth I hear the ref's whistle blow the first second half foul against the Fighting Irish. And then I hear another and another and another. And then another. All going against Notre Dame.
While all this officiating is happening, Notre Dame's lead vanishes, and is finally eclipsed.
Kentuckians ought to be sending gift baskets to those officials' hotel rooms this morning because without their intervention the mythical perfect season would have been over.
No sooner than the words left my mouth I hear the ref's whistle blow the first second half foul against the Fighting Irish. And then I hear another and another and another. And then another. All going against Notre Dame.
While all this officiating is happening, Notre Dame's lead vanishes, and is finally eclipsed.
Kentuckians ought to be sending gift baskets to those officials' hotel rooms this morning because without their intervention the mythical perfect season would have been over.
29
Someone had sour grapes for breakfast...
8
Some Kentuckians are with you so please don't lump us all in with the KY fans! We have another team here to root for. i.e., Louisville. Go Cards!
5
Been there done that. Blame the officials, Imply some kind of conspiracy. I know how it feels. Your team lost but they should have won. The only explanation that gives solace is "foul" play.
1
If Kentucky continues to wait until crunch time to play defense, it will be playing with fire in the Final Four.
2
But earlier in South Bend there was a thrilling win by the second-ranked Irish over top-ranked Syracuse in lacrosse. The Irish had a 9-3 lead in the third quarter but SU stormed back to take a 12-11 lead with about one minute left. Then, right off the ensuing faceoff, the ND faceoff man, who hadn't scored a goal all season, pushed the ball forward, took control of it and zooomed to the SU cage and scored, tying the game, 12-12, only seven seconds after SU went ahead. The Irish went on to get the winner in the second sudden-death OT.
For those who recall that nonsense that took apart the Duke lacrosse program in 2006, four years later Duke finally won the national championship with an overtime win right off the faceoff over a team making its first title-game appearance.
The team? Notre Dame.