Archive for March 2009
Better Know a Baller: Scottie Reynolds, Villanova
With apologies to Stephen Colbert, we present another in our 2,117-part series, “Better Know a Baller.”
Scottie Reynolds
Villanova University (bio — photos)
Junior guard • 6-2, 190 • Herndon, Va.
Season stats: 15.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.6 steals, .353 3pt%
– He provided the most memorable moment of the tournament so far, hitting a driving lay-in with 0.5 seconds left to beat Pittsburgh and send the Wildcats to their first Final Four since 1985.
– Adopted shortly after birth because his teenage mother could not provide for him, Reynolds values trust and dedication more than other virtues, and “bristles at the thought that [his adopted family] is anything but a regular family.” Has never met his biological mother, a woman from Huntsville, Alabama, and doubts that she is aware of the level of his success. He does plan on contacting her, however, and has researched her contact information.
From the Wire: Tuesday Links
Today’s best from college newspapers around the country:
Where does Scottie Reynolds’ game-winner rank among the all-time great buzzer-beaters?
– Sam Barker, The Daily Gamecock
Slow news day: North Carolina relives the Great Cookie Scandal
– David Ely, The Daily Tar Heel
Michigan State‘s freshmen are trying to soak up this Final Four run — Cash Kruth, The State News
ALSO: Online ticketing for MSU students was a mess
Dick Vitale is among millions afflicted with a virulent strain of so-called “March Madness” sweeping the nation — Eric Brach, The Daily Trojan
Billy Gillispie might still be coaching Kentucky if he had been as friendly as he was in his farewell press conference — Jon Hale, The Kentucky Kernel
ALSO: Gillispie’s tenure leaves his successor with a blueprint of what not to do
From the Wire: Monday Links
Today’s best from college newspapers around the country:
No Michigan State player pushed harder to reach the Final Four than Travis Walton — Alex Altman, The State News
ALSO: MSU clinched its fifth Final Four berth in 11 years; Thousands of fans welcomed them home
Pitt isn’t ready to think about whether DeJuan Blair will come back next season — Mike Gladysz, The Pitt News
ALSO: The Panthers are not accustomed to losing close games
Danny Green came up big for North Carolina with Tyler Hansbrough and Wayne Ellington struggling — David Ely, The Daily Tar Heel
ALSO: The Heels have bigger goals than reaching the Final Four
Upsets are great, but top-quality matchups are better — Jonah Braun, The Badger Herald
Oklahoma‘s guards just couldn’t match their UNC counterparts — Joey Helmer, The Oklahoma Daily
ALSO: Mistakes got the Sooners sent home early
Analysis: 2 Michigan State def. 1 Louisville
2 Michigan State 64
1 Louisville 52
Midwest Region final • Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis
By Jim Reedy
– The Spartans just generally worked harder, taking control in the second half and gradually squeezing the life out of the Cardinals. No shame for Louisville in falling short of Friday’s record output of 103 points against Arizona, but 52 points on 38-percent shooting just wasn’t going to get it done against a Michigan State that got contributions from all over the court.
Analysis: 1 North Carolina def. 2 Oklahoma
1 North Carolina 72
2 Oklahoma 60
South Region final • FedEx Forum, Memphis, Tenn.
By Jeff Greer
– Presumed player of the year Blake Griffin won what was billed as a colossal battle against last year’s top player, Tyler Hansbrough. But Hansbrough’s side won the war. Stocked with great offensive players, the Tar Heels turned to Danny Green (18 points) and Deon Thompson (10) to help star point guard Ty Lawson carry the team’s scoring load. Lawson had 19 points, five rebounds and five assists, showing no signs of the nagging toe injury that had slowed him in the earlier rounds.
From the Wire: Sunday Links
Today’s best from college newspapers around the country:
UConn freshman Kemba Walker had his best game of the year — Marc Gauthier, The Daily Campus
ALSO: The Huskies aren’t taking victory souvenirs just yet
Start salivating now: Tyler Hansbrough vs. Blake Griffin — Jesse Baumgartner, The Daily Tar Heel
ALSO: North Carolina‘s shooters are finding their strokes again
Michigan State‘s Raymar Morgan will play with a face mask against Louisville
– Cash Kruth, The State News
Louisville wants a Final Four berth after falling one step short last year
– Cash Kruth, The State News
Mike Anderson was proud Missouri went out “fighting, scratching and clawing“
– Lenny Goldman, The Maneater
Analysis: 3 Villanova def. 1 Pitt
3 Villanova 78
1 Pitt 76
East Region final • TD Banknorth Garden, Boston
By Jim Reedy
– Complain all you want that Cinderella went home early this year; thrilling, well-played games like this only happen when the best teams in the nation advance to the later rounds. Here, Scottie Reynolds was the last in a long line of heroes, saving Villanova from a last-minute collapse by driving from midcourt for a game-winning layup with 0.5 seconds left.
Analysis: 1 UConn def. 3 Missouri
1 UConn 82
3 Missouri 75
West Region final • University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Ariz.
By Wyndam Makowsky
– Ever since Jerome Dyson went down in February, Connecticut has been looking for someone to take his place as the team’s spark plug and most erstwhile contributor. Some nights, it’s A.J. Price, but his play can be sporadic. On other days, it’s Stanley Robinson, who explodes every week or so for a big game. Tonight, it was Kemba Walker, the freshman guard who may be the best professional prospect on the team. He had one of the best nights of any perimeter player in the tournament so far, drilling 7-of-9 shots and picking up five assists and rebounds. His field goal with just over two minutes remaining — and double zeros on the shot clock — to push the Huskies’ lead to five points and keep them in control.
Column: Arizona’s ouster ends last hope of underdog drama
By Michael Schwartz
They’ve played the role of David all season, but the Arizona Wildcats finally ran into a Goliath powerful enough to end their season in embarrassing fashion Friday night.
While the Wildcats packed a sling shot with three high-level players, the Louisville Cardinals brought waves of quality depth and an attacking full-court press that unraveled Arizona.
Really the Wildcats couldn’t have drawn a worse matchup than Louisville because of the pressure the Cardinals exerted on the Wildcats’ overmatched starters, causing fatigue while Louisville brings in a new wave of players.
Kentucky picks up the pieces
The Kentucky Kernel has full coverage of UK’s decision to fire Billy Gillispie after two contentious seasons, starting with reactions from fans and current and former players and a timeline of Gillispie’s 30-year journey to this point. They’ve also got video of Friday’s news conference with athletics director Mitch Barnhart and university president Lee Todd:
The chemistry just wasn’t right.
That was what UK Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart said about UK and former men’s basketball head coach Billy Gillispie, who will not be brought back after two years in Lexington.
“This is not a place I thought we would be in or where I want to be,” Barnhart said during a Friday news conference. “I’d like to thank Coach Gillispie and his staff for their two years here, but we have decided not to bring him back.”
