The Halfcourt Trap

Championship Week is in full gear and Selection Sunday is close at hand. It’s the hoops fan’s version of Christmas, New Year’s, and Mardi Gras all rolled into one. With bursting bubbles and punched dance tickets permeating the basketball landscape, here’s this week’s Trap.

1. Dancing Again. Cleveland State made the most of their first trip to the NCAA Tournament. Kevin Mackey’s Vikings shocked Indiana, beat Saint Joseph’s, and scared David Robinson’s Navy team silly before falling in the Sweet 16. It appeared a mid major power was born. Then, Mackey’s life spun out of control, taking the program with him. The program fell into college basketball’s nether regions for more than 20 years. Now, Gary Waters leads a veteran team good enough to win at Syracuse and beat Butler in Hinkle Fieldhouse back to college basketball’s signature event. Whoever draws them in the first round will have a streetfight on their hands.

2. A For Effort. I’ve always thought a good way to judge a coach is how hard their players compete when things are going poorly. By that measure, two coaches deserve kudos for their team’s effort this week. First, it gets no worse than going 0-18 in your league. DePaul accomplished that dubious feat. However, Jerry Wainwright’s team refused to pack it in and went to Madison Square Garden and defeated Cincinnati, then fought Providence toe to toe. In the Big Twelve, Texas Tech trailed Texas A&M 50-29 and it appeared to be time to gather up the equipment and start the offseason. Then, led by an unconscious effort by Mike Singletary, the Red Raiders stormed back to win. That victory, coupled with a late season beatdown of Kansas in Lubbock, make a tough year for Pat Knight a little more palatable.

3. Big Red Return. Cornell captured the Ivy League title, and the automatic NCAA berth that comes therewith, for the second consecutive season. Ithaca’s favorite sons should be better prepared this time. Steve Donahue scheduled his veteran squad a number of preconference games against high major competition with an eye to being ready for March. If Big Red doesn’t draw an initial opponent with exceptional athleticism, they will have a shot to add a Tournament win to their resume. Veteran teams from non BCS leagues almost always perform better their second time around in March Madness.

4. When To Jump? A dilemma that faces ambitious coaches from successful mid major programs each offseason is deciding when it’s time to attempt a move up the ladder. A coach who stays too long runs the risk of having his program stagnate and his personal star dim.  A coach who jumps too soon runs the risk of ending up taking on a rebuilding job at a school ill suited for success. Anthony Grant is the most visable coach who faces that decision this year. Does he pursue the openings at Alabama and/or Georgia, both of which he would be a major contender for? Does he hold on at VCU in the hopes of remaining successful there and attracting interest from a BCS program where basketball is a priority? His choice will define his career.

5. Pittsburgh=Hoops Town? There may be no place in America enjoying college hoops more this season than the Steel City. Jamie Dixon has Pitt, with favorite son Dejuan Blair front and center, poised for a run to Detroit. Ron Everhart is leading a resurgence at Duquesne that has the Dukes a year away from serious contention in the A-10. To top it off, Mike Rice’s Robert Morris Colonials won a thrilling NEC final on their home floor to gain an invitation to the Big Dance. At this rate, Pittsburghers will have something to crow about besides the Steelers.

6. America East=Bush League. I try to be relatively objective in this space. However, objectivity isn’t always the best policy. With that foundation laid, I now heartily admit I will be rooting for Binghamton to disembowel Maryland-Baltimore County in the America East final on Saturday. First, the pointy headed academicians at the SUNY campus cry loud enough about Kevin Broadus giving some guys a chance at redeeming their careers that the New York Times sends one of their pinhead writers there to do a hatchet job on the program. Then, in an act even more worthy of utter contempt, the A-East coaches blackball DJ Rivera, the league’s best player, from their all conference selections because they were upset at the NCAA’s decision to allow him immediate eligibility upon his transfer from St. Joe’s. When ivory tower academics, muckraking writers, and whiny coaches are rooting against a team, you can be certain I’m on the other side. GO BEARCATS.

Until next week, stay classy, Volnation.