I can still hear the final buzzer sounding as Gordon Hayward lofted a half-court shot in the championship game that almost became the Greatest Shot in Sports History. (Sorry for re-living the heartbreak, Bulldog fans.)
Even though it was a bit too strong, Butler and all the other three hundred-plus men's basketball teams will have a chance at climbing to the top of the mountain again in the brand spanking new season of 2010-2011.
Certainly, men's college basketball gets people's juices flowing for all sorts of reasons. Some may be alumni of the program, others FBPs (fans by proximity), and still others that just think the cheerleaders are hot. But there is no denying that whatever reason you look forward to madness of March and all the chaos leading up to it, your weekends just got a little more entertaining.
Here are the five things that I am dying to know leading up to this year's season:
1. Can the AP Player of the Year also lead his team to the promise land?
I know, I know, it's not your typical storyline for a new season, but I just want to see a player do what no player has done since Shane Battier in 2001. It takes chemistry and leadership, and a little luck to win a title. It also takes athleticism and dominance to win the AP Player of the Year Award.
I'd just like to see the two be put together in a "wow, that guy just took the nation by storm and won the big one all in the same five-month span" sandwich.
2. What unknown schools will make a mark on the tournament?
I met a woman at a party recently and we had seemingly nothing in common. Luckily, however, she went to Oral Roberts for undergrad. All I knew about Oral Roberts University is that they had made the tourney a few times since 2006. That was sufficient information to make polite conversation and keep the "awkward" levels set to low.
Even though ORU didn't win a game any of the three times they made the big dance between 2006 and 2008, it still got me thinking.
Who will be this year's George Mason? This year's St. Mary's? What no-name, unrecognizable team with a student body total of less than your local elementary school will come along and win over fans everywhere? It seems to be a new team every year and the anticipation is already killing me.
3. Will the Pac-10 get more than two teams in the tournament this year?
Yes, it's the West Coast bias taking over in me, but what the heck happened to this conference? Other than Washington, no one particularly stands out. UCLA is still licking its wounds. USC doesn't have O.J. Mayo raking in cash and putting up big numbers. I don't know what to say here. Please just get it together, guys.
4. Will there be any noticeable effect of expanding the tournament to 68 teams?
It is unlikely the Duke's of the world care about this in the slightest. However, do all those bubble teams that have seen their bubble burst on selection day suddenly have new found hope? I know teams like Virginia tech come in favored to place as high as second this year in the ACC, but last year they sure could have used an extra four slots.
5. What other big programs will suffer allegations of NCAA violations?
We've already seen teams like UConn and Kentucky get in to some treacherous waters before the first tip, but will other storied programs such as Syracuse or North Carolina come under scrutiny as well?
I think even the casual fan knows by now that these top-tier schools commit more infractions than Lindsey Lohan post-rehab, but let's also keep in mind that the NCAA Compliance Handbook is bigger than "War and Peace."
My thing is that there is no excuse for knowingly violating a rule. That's why Bruce Pearl deserves whatever hit he takes on his new contract. I just hope other coaches are taking note.
Here's to another great year of college basketball. May it ride the wave of the thrilling conclusion to last year's season.
Leave a Comment