Lots of excitement in your Wednesday updates…
Buckeye Hoops 411
- Congrats are in order! Not only are the Buckeyes headed to the Final Four, but Jared Sullinger was named an All American this week, the first back-to-back honor of that kind since 2009. His booty was named Honorable Mention as well… nice work.
- This is the most Aaron Craft thing ever- It just is… trust me. #Swoon
- Revenge, of sorts- No, I’m not talking about the “payback” angle for this week’s Kansas game, I want to talk about officiating. Since Ohio State has made the final four, that means that officials from their region are disqualified from officiating those games. So, in other words, Ted Valentine and Ed Hightower are benched for Championship weekend. I’m sure they’ll join the BBN livechat for all the excitement, though.
- Bon Voyage- If you’re in Columbus, you’ve got no reason not to head down to High Street this afternoon to wish the Hoopsters well as they begin their journey to the National Title. If you don’t want to actually say “bon voyage”, signs and other stuff are appropriate; this alternate moment in French, though, is not.
Buckeye Football 411
- The Wait Is Over! As you’re reading this, the Ohio State football team is preparing for it’s first practice of the spring; and the coaches are as excited as the fans are, it seems. Be on the lookout for news and notes from today’s open practice, as well as a great preview from the Athletic Department later Wednesday. As happy as Buckeye fans are to see the new regime, I’d have to say Badger cheerleaders were even more excited.
- Tonight! We Dine In The WHAC!!!! Monday was the “Champion’s Dinner” as a reward for hard work during spring conditioning, and while details are still forthcoming we know that there was a relatively small number of Buckeyes who were honored for their efforts in the classroom, weightroom, and on the practice field. Sounds as if the “winners” were treated to filet and other goodies, while the rest of the team had “grilling” fare- hot dogs, burgers, etc. Please note that I said “grilling”…
Other NCAA News
- One chance to make a first impression- With new PSU coach Bill O’Brien taking the reigns this week, you’ve got to think that having a few guys potentially involved in recreational pharmaceuticals might not be the best way to get into his good graces. Ah well, someone’s got to clean the stadium.
- But, seriously- News Tuesday revealed that current Michigan coach Brady Hoke’s father passed away. John Hoke played for Woody Hayes at Miami, and was only guilty of not raising his son better. Thoughts and prayers to the Hoke family…
- How Trilling- Great take on the Elite Eight by former Buckeye Mark Titus, including arguing that Thomas should have been the regional MVP and not Sullinger, and amazing insights such as this-
Which is the better Findlay, Ohio, export — Aaron Craft or Domino’s Parmesan Bread Bites? Craft is the best perimeter defender in college basketball and plays an irreplaceable role on a Final Four team, which are two things that can’t be said about the Parmesan Bread Bites. But the Bread Bites have also never fouled out of the biggest game of the year like Craft did against Syracuse on Saturday, and since you can get 16 of them for $1 while Craft’s yearly scholarship is worth at least $20,000, the Bread Bites are a far better bargain. This is why I’m giving the slight edge to the Bread Bites for now, but this could easily change if Craft plays well in the Final Four or I actually try the Bread Bites only to find out that they taste like wet farts.
- Speaking of Dominoes- Rumors Tuesday were that Illinois was close to hiring Ohio University’s John Groce, although the folks who like to play amateur air traffic controller noticed that planes from Champaign to Athens were relatively quiet- perhaps a last minute snag? At any rate, this will matter to Buckeye Fans because the Bobcats’ short list has got to include Jeff Boals, an OU alumni and tBBC’s favorite assistant hoops coach. This will also matter to John Beilein, who will see another coach he can’t beat join the conference, and to Brady Hoke, as he will assume that Thad Matta is heading to the Illini
- In case you missed it, and judging by the attendance, you did- From some early numbers, it seems that the economy may also be impacting fans traveling to the NCAA tournament. We already saw a slide in bowl ticket purchases this “Bowl Season”; so either the prices are too high or people have better things to do with their finances. That being said, there’s still time to get tickets for Saturday’s games… check out TiqIQ.
- And now, great moments in Jayhawks Athletics History- When the KU official involved in addressing this situation called me when it happened, I thought he was kidding. But then… this– (no statute of limitations on stupid)
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) – A 270-pound University of Kansas football player got stuck in the drive-thru window of a Taco Bell when he tried to charge employees who left the chalupa out of his order, authorities said.
- Make that paper, son- Nick Saban gets a salary bump; of course the NCAA can’t afford stipends for student athletes. Earlier, he had the ability to say, with a straight face:
There’s nobody takin’ profits from what we make at Alabama or any of these schools here, and puttin’ in in their pocket. It’s not a business, it’s revenue producing, that’s all reinvested back in the university and the athletic department and the program. Nobody’s really making money – I mean we get paid salaries.”
- From another perspective- As noted on a BP forum,
Rick Pitino has earned $175,000 over the last 2 weeks (via contract bonuses), while the players that actually earned the victories through their athletic exploits on the court have earned $0.
And Finally– I’m excited to see this become a part of the BTN for future seasons:
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