The Professor

South Carolina was just too tall for Iowa. They owned the boards and blocked or altered way too many shot attempts by the Hawkeyes. I sure hope Coach Brooks is able to bring in some talented size to the UK program. That’s something that has been lacking just about every year and it’s difficult to compete in the SEC without it.

Powell County has 649 students grades 9-12 Estill County has 646 grades 9-12. Almost identical enrollments. Perry Central and Letcher Central are both larger but not by a great amount. I agree, both these 56th district schools should be a competitive factor every year in basketball in the 14th region. They definitely have the numbers. They just need the player development, which starts in the lower grades.

Huge blocking foul on UConn with seconds remaining and them down 1 point.

Hazard is an easy pick as the region favorite next year. They return everyone from a 27-6 team. They probably had the best team from top to bottom this year but Breathitt was able to squeeze the Bulldogs for 2 of their 6 losses. The two teams were 2-2 in the games they played with Hazard’s 2 losses to the Bobcats both overtime games. They matched up pretty good with Hazard and basketball can be a game of matchups. Hazard beat eventual region winner Perry Central all three games they played. The Commodores lose Kizer Sloan but have all other players back. Breathitt graduates Isaac Bellamy and Jaxon Hamilton but return Sperry, Terry, and Gross. I had heard some rumblings that Sperry might transfer to a prep school but that as of late that may not occur.

UConn’s blood has become more blue than the celebrated Blue Bloods of the college game. They have joined the ranks. I don’t think anyone can beat them again this year. They will have 6 national titles, tying North Carolina.

Two traditional football powers playing for a trip to the Final Four. As Dylan said in his song, “the times they are a-changing.”

Sorry, I can’t ever hope that Duke goes far in men’s basketball. 😁 I’ll just take a chance on it not affecting Kentucky in any way.

I believe, and one will never know, that if Kentucky could have figured out Oakland’s zone and also kept their 25 year old accountant from having the game of his life, they would have gone deep into this tournament, maybe even won it. When I see some of the remaining teams that made the Sweet 16 they don’t look like they have any special advantages over UK when the Cats were at the top of their game. It’s sad it ended like it did.

Duke’s big guy Filipowski is allowed too much liberty with his game inside the paint. He made a basket last night by literally lowering his shoulder and pushing the defender backwards. The tv guys said, “Great move. He cleared a space for himself and scored. He’s putting the team on his shoulders.” No, he’s putting his “shoulders” into the defender to clear that space. That is an offensive foul every time. Or it is unless you have DUKE written on the front of your jersey. He does it all the time and gets by with it. The defensive player is put at a disadvantage.

It’s always a good day when the Tar Heels lose. They had the 2017 national championship gift wrapped and handed to them with some shady officiating in the UK, Arkansas, and Oregon games. I haven’t liked them since they held the ball on Kentucky in the regional finals in 1977. Overrated Dean Smith (two titles in 35 years with NBA talent every year) single handily led to the adoption of the shot clock in college basketball.

I don’t think anyone can defeat the Huskies in this tournament.

When East and West Carter consolidate in a couple years with an enrollment of over 1300 they will be the biggest school in the region. They are most definitely going to be a new power player in the 16th in all sports.

Dave Fraley did just that in the late 1960s until he left for Pulaski County in 1978. They were a regional contender every year and won the championship in 1974, defeating Breathitt County and Hazard in the semifinals at Breathitt.

Powell County is the 3rd largest high school enrollment in the 14th region, about 650 students. That’s a nice number from which to develop a good program for an energetic coach.

I felt bad for Newport this year. You could see they had an awesome team but without their best player in the lineup (he tried to play some but it was obvious he couldn’t cut it with his groin injury) they were fighting an uphill battle. If any one of Lyon County’s main players——Perry, Riddick or Shoulders, had been absent from their games they would not have been the champions. Most teams in the tournament could say the same thing—-take out their best player and they’re not going very far.