Take the job, Calipari!
John Calipari should go to Kentucky. He's exactly the type for that position; he loves the big time spotlight, and can deal with the media, alumni, etc. in Lexington. Billy Gillespie just wasn't up to the task, and schools like Kentucky expect Final Fours every year so they won't hesitate to run somebody if there's so much a hint of decline in the quality of the program. Gillespie didn't make the tournament this year, and the only time tha'ts acceptable there is if the school is coming off some major sanctions, like when Rick Pitino arrived there. Gillespie took over a team that was making the tournament every year and winning at least a game or two, which wasn't enough to save Tubby Smith. To go rom that to not getting in at all was the kiss of death. Kentucky is one of five programs that have a blueblooded sense of entitlement (the others are UCLA, UNC, Indiana, and Kansas), requiring a big name who can handle big pressure to hold the job. John Calipari is such a name. He's managed to turn two middle of the road programs into Final Four teams, first at UMass then at Memphis, so just think about what he has the potential to do at Kentucky. Go for it Cal!
The Big East deserved a lot of bids, but the ACC was flat out awful
The ACC got seven bids to the tournament, and four of their teams were out in the first round! If you want to make an argument against any conference getting that many bids, you got it right there. I can guarantee you that Clemson, Florida State, and Boston College did not bring anything in terms of excitement or interest that we wouldn't have gotten from St. Mary's or San Diego State. Even the highly regarded Wake Forest, who some people (like me) had in the final Four, was proven to be a fraud. And if losing four teams in the first round wasn't bad enough, after the Sweet Sixteen they were down to one team. And the selection really thought they deserved seven bids? Puh-lease. The Big East on the other hand, proved their point. They came in with seven teams, and still had five left after two rounds. And now they have two of the Final Four. I swear I never want to hear any of these ACC coaches whine again the next time they only get four teams in.
Big up to Tom Izzo
Five Final Fours in eleven years! That means that over that period of time anyone who came to Michigan State and stayed for four years got there at least once. And with the exception of the Flintstones gang from 1999-2001, he's done it without a lot of NBA talent. He gets good college players, coaches them up, and they do the work. There are a lot of coaches who are just talent herders and don't win anything, but Izzo is just the opposite.
I like UNC to win
Not a big gamble of course, but it looks to me like they have the most complete team. I think it's them over UConn in the Finals. Enjoy, everyone!
Coach cal would be a fool to take that job