N.C.A.A. Final Four Preview: Kentucky Heads a Familiar Four

Here's a thought about the 1 and done. It is a symbiotic move for both the athlete-student and the factory-college. Player needs an additional year of 'seasoning/coaching/maturity' and program wants his talent. Win-WIn!
However, the actual college/univ that this program is attached to gives up a admission slot AND tuition for any scholarship athlete. So if he is gone after one year, the class slot remains unfilled and tuition unpaid, and somewhere someone is going (or not) to a different school and paying tuition.
SO, how about a condition placed on ALL athletes that leave early, 1 and done, junior year, whatever. With their new found riches, they need to fund one student work of tuition for the remaining years they were expected to be there. I realize this 'claw-back' if you will is not going to make or break a school's budget, but at least it would be a visible and tangible way of recognizing the value of staying in school.
As for F42015 - My mouth says Duke, my eyes say UK.

Kentucky can be beaten, ND showed that blueprint. Wisconsin is deeper and bigger than the Irish so i expect another tremendous game. SH has a great article on beating Kentucky and how it can be done. Def worth the read: http://straighthoops.com/beating_kentucky.html

In all sports the role of an official and a critical call matter. I have officiated basketball and understand all the elements. That said, if the call on Harrison is a charge- streak over. That official was quick to call a block and reply showed how close it was. ND still had chance, but I was taught in 8th grade camp- don't dribble down the sideline into a corner- the lines become defenders. With two shooters up top- the 'babyfaced' kid and another- they never saw the ball.
Oh and I hate Kentucky and their coach, who has been skating since his days at UMass & Memphis.

I could care less about this baloney (which I watch nonetheless), but Tom Izzo deserves a lot of credit for coaching a so-so team into the Final Four. He certainly deserves recognition as one of the great coaches even though his "numbers" don't match Calipari's (totally corrupt) or Krzeszeweski's.

Not to take away from the record of 38-0 however

1. UK had a some very close calls (incl. OT wins at home and abroad against inferior opponents
2. UK plays in a nondescript conference w/o any serious contender unlike the ACC or Big10 where MSU, WIsconsin and Duke play, ie compiling a unbeaten record should not be that difficult for a bunch of talent as is
3. In case UK wins it all, sure 40-0 is impressive but it should be seen in relation to their conference and the close calls they had.

Any other team for that matter is more deserving

Yes money is the big driving factor in this sport that encourages extravagant salaries for coaches and players, who can, to take the one and onto the real money in NBA, but there is another side of the sport: the appreciation of watching players develop into a team over their four years in college. Yes it is a college sport and I'll take my appreciation for the arch of Frank Kaminsky's development over four years, along with the rest of the team. against cheering for a player who is just passing through.

Although factual, this article reinforces a somewhat misleading narrative that Kentucky only has one and done players. Yes, only two players for Kentucky played more than 10 minutes against Notre Dame and in last year's final. Yet, two juniors, Willie Cauley-Stien and Alex Poythress, undoubtedly would have played in both games if not for injuries. In addition to the Harrison twins, sophomores Dakari Johnson and Marcus Lee also played in both games, even if the latter two played less than 10 minutes on Saturday. These minutes should not be diminished, but rather Kentucky's depth most likely contributed to Notre Dame's lack of time outs before the last play - a potential game changer.

Yes, Kentucky has many players who go to the NBA after one year and who are exceedingly talented. Yet, the one and done narrative ignores the upperclassmen and role players who not only have worked tirelessly and shown deep commitment to this team and school, but also are crucial to their team's unprecedented success.

As an NC State alum and fan the last bit of enjoyment for this season is to know that we were the team that took out the only #1 seed that didn't make the Final Four.

Hey, it's something!

The one and done movement (Freshman in college one year and then off to Pros) is a convenient way to skirt around academic grade requirements. Some two semester courses may not list final grades until May or June. Therefore, a failing student could play for such teams as Kentucky and happily wave goodbye at end of his freshman year. NAAC should do some better investigating.

The "one and done"

Actually, Dakari Johnson played for UK last year in the championship game as well! Not just the Harrison twins! Just wanted to clarify! :)

If Wisconsin beats Kentucky, the ESPN crowd will be switching over en masse to baseball, at least until the NBA playoffs start, and they can have them.

I think Duke is the deserved favorite, based on its play thus far and based on the fact it draws MSU (and not UK or UW) in its semifinal. Strikingly, three of the four schools that gathered in December for a pre-conference, made-for-TV doubleheader in Indy have returned for April, KU being the lone exception. Duke handled MSU that night while UK made its big early statement against KU, a win that has lost some luster. MSU is better now, but Duke's defense, weaker in recent tournaments, is finally national championship-worthy. Coach K has his team focused and Winslow is becoming a star, capable of breaking open a tight game anytime.

Yes, UK escaped past ND and made its fourth Final Four in five years last week, but it definitely lost some of its swagger in Cleveland. Plenty of people have pointed out that ND was the best team UK has played all season (perhaps KU was better, maybe) and plenty more have noted that Bucky and, presumably, Duke, are better than the Irish. Fortunately for UK, it won't see UConn this time; unfortunately, it might draw MSU if Sparty pulls an upset--a team UK has had issues with in the Izzo era, including last season.

It's not particularly fair, but if UK doesn't beat UW on Saturday (at least) its marvelous season will be seen as the product of a middling SEC, which has surrendered unblemished champs in consecutive years. UF was rudely dismissed in the Final Four last year. Beating UW and Duke would put UK '15 on the top line of historic greatness.

I believe that Tom Izzo for all practical purposes qualifies as the equivalent of a #1 seed.