Mike Anderson, Jimmer Fredette, Duke Basketball and Today's College Hoops Buzz
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Just one more day until the madness picks back up again. Your bracket may be busted, but honestly, who cares? Unless you've invested good money, and I'm talking more than $5 or $10, just enjoy the craziness that is the NCAA tournament.
So what's going on in the college hoops world today?
The remaining teams are getting ready for their third or fourth game and are hoping to advance to the Elite Eight. Also, there have been some coaching changes, and soon to be much more.
With that said, let's dive into a discussion of what's happening in college basketball.
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Will the Elite Eight be a Battle of Richmond Virginia's Best?
The city of Richmond Virginia has as many teams in the Sweet 16 as the entire Big East Conference. Virginia Commonwealth and Richmond have both made improbable runs to the Sweet 16 and have a chance to meet one another in the Elite Eight.
Will it actually happen? Chances are very slim, but stranger things have happened. Well actually, not really. It would be the first time ever two teams from the same city have played each other in the tournament.
While it would make for a great story it wouldn't be all that great of a game. It would most certainly destroy even more brackets, as Richmond has to beat Kansas.
The two teams played each other earlier this season and Richmond won 72-60. I'm afraid it would be a similar feat as Justin Harper and Kevin Anderson would control the game.
I could actually see both teams losing this weekend. We know how good Kansas is and Richmond will have a very tough time stopping the Morris twins. The Rams have been doubted this entire tournament, which leads me to believe that they'll still keep their win streak going. However, Florida State is one impressive defensive team and they could easily shut down Bradford Burgess and Jamie Skeen.
Although it would be kind of cool if they did meet up I don't think it's going to happen. I predicted Virginia Commonwealth to beat the Seminoles but I don't think Richmond has what it takes to knock off Kansas.
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Will Kyrie Irving Be the Difference Maker Against Arizona?
Duke has reached the Sweet 16 for the 20th time under Coach Krzyzewski. They dominated all season long and won the ACC Tournament the 13th time.
Duke did all this without star point guard Kyrie Irving for the majority of the season. He returned for the tournament and has been held to limited minutes, until now. Coach K said that Irving will play "significant minutes" against Arizona.
Irving has averaged only 20 minutes a game this tournament, but still he has managed to score an average of 12 points and get to the line an average of seven times. He is a special player than can create his own shots as well as for others.
Irving is sure to be a lottery pick and possibly the top overall pick in the NBA Draft this summer, but until then he has at least one more game to showcase his skills. With the news of him playing more in the Sweet 16 match-up against the Wildcats Duke's chances of reaching the Elite Eight for the 13th time under Coach K just got a lot better.
Irving will be the difference maker in this game. Before he was injured he was averaging near 17 points a game and at least 30 minutes per contest. His assists were down in his first two games back, but it was expected in his limited minutes. Now that he will see more time on the court Thursday night expect solid numbers all around.
Duke needs a solid game from every single one of their starters. Irving won't be starting, but he'll be getting the minutes of a starting player, and every shot he takes will be crucial.
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Is Mike Anderson to Arkansas a Smart Move?
Reports say that Mike Anderson will soon be named the new head basketball coach for the Arkansas Razorbacks. Anderson has yet to make anything public but sources are saying he's headed south to Fayetteville.
Anderson is debating on whether to sign a contract extension with the Missouri Tigers or have a change of scenery and start fresh with Arkansas. The Razorbacks fired John Pelphrey earlier this month and would love to have their former assistant be their coach.
Anderson was an assistant coach with the Razorbacks from 1985-2002. He then left to be head coach at UAB and has spent the last five years at Missouri. Anderson was expected to sign a contract extension, but now things are looking different. He received an extension in 2009 when Georgia tried to pull him away from the Tigers. Now it looks like another SEC has pried him away from Missouri.
The Razorbacks were mediocre last year with an 18-13 record and 7-9 in SEC play. Anderson has done well at Missouri going 111-57 and making it to the tournament the last three years.
This would be a great hire for the Razorbacks as they try to get back to their winning ways of old. They went to back-to-back National Championships in 94 and 95 beating Duke in 94 to cut down the nets but losing to UCLA in 95.
Anderson may have two of his nephews on the Tigers team, but I can't blame him for wanting to get back to the SEC. The conference is on the upswing, and in my eyes will soon be better than the ACC because it's really just Duke and North Carolina always dominating.
The SEC West is weaker than the East, but with the addition of Anderson the Razorbacks can get back on top of the conference.
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Does Jimmer Fredette Have to Score 50 Points to Beat Florida?
The second game that tips off tomorrow night will be a rematch of a first round match-up from last year's tournament. Jimmer Fredette and BYU beat the Florida Gators in double overtime in the first game of the 2010 NCAA Tournament.
Florida gets a chance at revenge Thursday night in New Orleans and they have quite an advantage over the Cougars. As most of you know, BYU is without Brandon Davies. However it appears to not have hurt them that much in the tournament, until now.
The Cougars handled Wofford and Gonzaga with ease to reach the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1981. Jimmer a the main reason they've gotten this far as he is averaging 33 points per game in the big dance. He'll need to have one of those types of games again if they expect to advance to the Elite Eight.
I don't see Jimmer scoring 50 points against the SEC regular season champ. I have however predicted he will score 40 and the Cougars will win the game. Jimmer is also leading the team in assists this tournament with six per game. He does a great job of getting his teammates involved, but tomorrow night it will be the Jimmer show.
With Gus Johnson on the call you know it's going to be an exciting game. The Law of Gus will prevail tomorrow night, and I can't wait.
Aside from the game tomorrow night, Buzz Bissinger, who writes for The Daily Beast recently wrote an article on Jimmer and how his race plays a factor in basketball. He says that a team will draft Jimmer because he is white and it will fill seats in the arena.
Bissinger writes, "It's about race. It always is in America."
And to that I say no, it doesn't have to be. The reason people think it is is because of people like Mr. Bissinger proclaiming that whites are the only ones who fill seats in stadiums.
Why can't it just be about basketball? We should look past the color one's skin and focus on just the game.
Jimmer is a great athlete, and calling out the stereotype of whites and basketball by saying “"He is the next great white hope, until the not-so-dirty secret is revealed that he is too short, can't play defense, and is not quick enough. Then he will ride the bench and the arenas won't be filled anymore" is just wrong Buzz.
Give this guy a chance.



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