March Madness Crib Notes
You guys have jobs. You have families. You don’t have the time to spend six nights a week watching college hoops. I do. So, here are my crib notes for your tournament viewing and bracket enjoyment.
My Final Team Rankings:
1. Florida
2. Louisville
3. Michigan State
4. Virginia
5. Arizona
6. Kansas
7. Wichita State
8. New Mexico
9. Wisconsin
10. Villanova
For your bracket picks, here are top 10 ranking on stats that are usually key for teams that have success in the tournament.
Defensive Measure (Effective Field Goal % Against)
1. Arizona
2. San Diego State Univ.
3. St. Louis
4. Louisville
5. New Mexico State
6. Virginia
7. UConn
8. Gonzaga
9. Cincinnati
10. Wichita State
Rebounding:
1. Kentucky
2. Arizona
3. Wichita State
4. Kansas
5. Iowa
6. Baylor
7. Virginia
8. Pittsburgh
9. Texas
10. Colorado
Strength of Schedule (according to ESPN)
1. Kansas
2. Kentucky
3. Wisconsin
4. Arizona
5. Duke
6. Michigan
7. Baylor
8. Colorado
9. Ohio State University
10. North Carolina
3pt %
1. Creighton
2. Michigan
3. Michigan Sttae
4. Gonzaga
5. Oregon
6. UCLA
7. Duke
8. Baylor
9. UConn
10. Harvard
FT%
1. Providence
2. Oregon
3. UConn
4. Michigan
5. Creighton
6. Oklahoma
7. UCLA
8. Albany
9. North Dakota State
10. Wisconsin
Must Watch TV
COACHES TO WATCH:
Mick Cronin – University of Cincinnati
This guy is a 5’7″ rageaholic. Watching him is like watching an angry leprechaun chew out his players and referees. He even pushes his own assistant coaches that try to calm him down.
Craig Neal – New Mexico
I wanna have a beer with Craig Neal, but it looks like he is strictly a whiskey and no filter cigarette kind of guy. He’s also got rockstar hair. If I didn’t know he was a great hoops coach, I might think he was a copier salesman.
Danny Manning – Tulsa
It’s Danny Manning. Dude strapped a Kansas team on his back on won the tourney as a player. Just respect right now….and he’s got Tulsa in the tourney in his second year as their coach.
Shaka Smart – VCU
He’s one of the best, youngest coaches in the game. Always a pleasure to watch him pace the sideline.
St. Joseph’s/UConn Game
Kevin Ollie played fifteen years as a pro, five of which were as a 76er.
Phil Martelli’s grandson Philip is must-see tourney TV. This four year old wears a suit better than his grandfather and watches with arms crossed as play goes on.
PLAYERS TO WATCH WHO AREN’T NAMED PARKER, EMBIID, WIGGINS, RANDLE or SMART
Deandre Kane – Iowa State
Marshall transfer from the Hill District of Pittsburgh. This guy averages 17 points, 6.7 rebounds and 5.8 assists.
Cameron Bairstow – New Mexico
Must be something in the water Albuquerque. This guy has rockstar hair too. Unlike his coach, he sports a headband to hold it back. He averages 20.3 points and 7 rebounds a game.
Sean Kilpatrick – Cincinnati
This guy is 6-4 but looks and plays bigger. He’s built like a 30 year old man. He is THE offensive threat for Cincy. Other teams focus on him, yet he still puts up 20.7 points a game and shoots almost 85% from the line.
Shabazz Napier – Connecticut
He can go off at any time for 30 points. One of the better guards in the country. He put up 34 against Memphis and averages 17.4 a game.
T.J. Warren – North Carolina State
NC State may not be around look and if you haven’t seen this guy play, set your DVR. He has put up forty points in back-to-back games. 42 against Boston College and 41 against Pittsburgh. He scores 24.8 a game and also leads his team in rebounds and steals.