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Before I take a look at the Final Four, there were a couple of stories that captured my interest long before we got to March Madness:
Remember the Ball brothers, Lonzo, LiAngelo and LaMelo. Lonzo was drafted by the Lakers and the other two brothers went to Lithuania to play after LiAngelo was suspended by UCLA for shoplifting in China. Their controversial father, LaVar, pulled LaMelo out of high school and took him and LiAngelo to Lithuania to play. They are expected to put in the minimum time in order to be eligible for the NBA draft. LiAngelo is doing well overseas, but LaMelo has been hampered by injuries. Over the weekend, their high school, Chino Hills, won their second state title in three years. I guess they didn’t need LaMelo.
One of the more interesting occurrences early in the season came when the Alabama bench was ejected for an altercation against Minnesota. That left Alabama with just five players for the final nine minutes or so. Then one of the players fouled out and another was injured. With only three players, Alabama outscored Minnesota 20-16, but lost 89-84.
Now some thoughts about the championship weekend:
- Can Sister Jean, the 98-year-old fan of Loyola-Chicago, bring divine guidance to the Ramblers and garner a national Championship? She leads them in a pre-game prayer and it seems to be working. They were a #11 seed, but now they are in the Final Four. A #11 seed has never won the championship, but this team can shoot and, without any superstars, they are a true team. Cinderella is in.
- Did you know that Michigan lost to Louisville in the championship game in 2013? But they also won! The NCAA forced Louisville to vacate that title due to a scandal. Michigan said they would not accept that championship. Michigan has a great defense and an inconsistent offense (99 points one game; 58 the next). Can this defense win a championship? I know they would accept this one!
- Kansas plays very smart basketball because they have very smart guards, but their terrific big man, Udoka Azubuike, tends to spend a great deal of time on the bench because of foul trouble. He fouled out against Duke on Sunday. Kansas will need him against Villanova to get to the Championship.
- Villanova has the best balance – their offense is, perhaps, the best in college basketball and, to me, their defense is highly underrated. Jalen Brunson is the ultimate team leader and makes the best use of his supporting cast. They are a three-point machine when they are making their shots.NO WAVERING FOR ME – VILLANOVA WINS THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!!
ABOVE THE EARS
- Just like the teams earn their way through the brackets in the NCAA Tournament, so do the officials. John Higgins is considered one of the best officials in college basketball. He is so well-respected that he worked the last three Final Fours and seven in total. He will not work this year. He was part of a crew that put the wrong player on the foul line in the Auburn-College of Charleston first round game. He was the alternate for that one and was not on the floor. But in the waning moments, the officials put the wrong player, a much better foul shooter, on the line, who then sealed a very close game.
- By now you know that I picked Villanova to win the National Championship, so I am still alive, since they are, too. Their win over West Virginia was a war, but they persevered. Go, Wildcats…
- Although I will certainly be torn if Michigan beats Loyola-Chicago (a team I love to watch, by the way), because that would mean Muhammad Ali Abdul-Rahkman, the Central Catholic grad, would be in the championship final, also. And, if it is Villanova vs Michigan, I think I would just sit back then and enjoy the game, no matter the outcome.
- The Bethlehem Catholic girls’ basketball coach was very active on Palm Sunday. Jose Medina played the role of Jesus for his church and reenacted Jesus’s entry into Jerusalem by leading a procession down Main Street in Bethlehem.
- It has certainly been hard to think of playing golf with the weather we have been having. It is NOT hard to watch golf, however, and I am really looking forward to the Masters in two weeks. The field is loaded with talent and Tiger Woods is back in the picture. He seems to be playing well enough to make a run at the championship. Now if the snow would just melt around here and the temperatures would rise… Where are my sticks?
