So, getting a late start on this today, but I promise we will finish strong, just like the Miami Hurricanes, who looked all but finished until they decided to lock-down their defense, and hace efficient offense led by Christian Laett, um, I mean, Jordan Miller, who finished 7-7 from the field and 13-13 from the free throw line as Miami stormed back to defeat Texas 88-81. And please note, if you think that today's history lesson is going to be about that Christian Laettner reference, then you don't know me at all. (To be fair, some of you literally do not know me at all!)
And the Miami win came on the wings of a San Diego State victory over Creighton in which the Aztecs' Darrion Trammell hit his second free throw - after missing his first free throw - with one second left to lift SDSU over Creighton 57-56. I am not going to get into the Ryan Nembhard foul with one second because - IT WAS A FOUL. I hate to see a game end that way, but it was the correct call. (See Chiefs, Kansas City).
Anyway, also foul is that we do not have that many collective chances to earn points in the pool. Only 9 entries have FAU, Miami or Connecticut in the final game, but, with 16 points per game available for the final four - and 28 for winning the final - if one of your teams win you will rocket up the standings. With only 9 entries, it will sure make my calculations quick and easy.
A side note, I will post after the semi-finals, but it will not be as exhausting as these daily reports have been, primarily because I will be in Houston and focusing my blogging efforts on our daily activities. Those entries will also be on this blog, so feel free to follow along.
Since nobody, and I mean nobody, had San Diego State in the Final Four (nor Creighton to be honest), the Miami win knocked all of the Texas choices - and there were many - out of the pool. That means we have some changes to our top 3! Drew Foster of Lake Worth Beach, Florida remains in first, and Rich Samuels 1 of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida remains in second place. I have recently learned that Rich will be joining his Miami Hurricanes in Houston for the festivities. I am sure that we will meet up at some point during the weekend. Now in third place is Steven Usma 2 of Miami, Florida who earned points with Miami making the Final Four. Steven Usma 2 is the highest ranked bracket that can still score points. Javier Rodriguez 2 of Coral Gables, Florida, lurking in fourth place is the highest ranked bracket with Miami winning it all. Stephanie Henderson of Ft. Worth, Texas is the highest ranked bracket with Connecticut winning the tournament, while Steven Usma 2 of Miami, Florida is the highest ranked bracket with Connecticut in the finals. As stated numerous times, Arlene Amo Hopps of Quincy, Massachusetts has Florida Atlantic winning the championship.
Stats of the Day
3. Jordan Miller of Miami's perfect game shooting (7-7 from the field; 13-13 from the free throw line)
2. This is the first time in the last 18 years that Connecticut's women will not be in the Elite 8.
1. This is the first time in the last 14 years that Connecticut's women will not be in the FINAL FOUR!
Players of the Day
6. Marcus Carr - Texas - 17 points/2 rebounds/6 assists
5. Ryan Kalkbrenner - Creighton - 17 points/6 rebounds/2 blocks
4. Wooga Poplar - Miami - 16 points/6 rebounds/4 assists/2 steals/1 name of Wooga
3. Lamont Butler - San Diego State - 18 points/2 rebounds
2. Darrion Trammell - San Diego State - 12 points/5 rebounds/1 assist
1. Guess? No, seriously, Jordan Miller - Miami - 27 points/2 rebounds/2 assists, 1 steal/1 block
And, speaking of Jordan Miller, let's turn to Miami. See, San Diego State and Miami won on Sunday, but I have already written about San Diego State's history in an earlier write-up. And, I refuse to reminisce about the Christian Laettner game, so Miami it is. And, I am just going to do something I don't think I have ever done in the history of this tournament pool. I am going to just introduce you to some of the best basketball players - or at least the most accomplished - in the history of Miami Hurricane basketball.
Honorable mention on this list is current player Isaiah Wong, who is 1st team All-ACC this year, after making the third-team All-Conference last year. He is currently the fifth-leading scorer in Miami history, 48 points behind fourth-place Darius Rice.
Dick Hickox, who played from 1958-1961 finished as a second team All-American in 1960. He has scored the 10th most points in Hurricanes history. Hickox came back as an assistant coach from 1967-1971, where he coached, among others ...
Don Curnutt, who played from 1967-1970, and finished as the second leading scorer in Miami history, and is currently third. He was a second team All-American in 1970.
Shane Larkin, who played from 2011-2013, was a first round draft pick in the NBA, taken 18th overall by the Atlanta Hawks. He has bounced around several NBA tams as well as a couple of European League teams, currently playing for Anadolu Efes in Turkey. He finished as a 2013 second team All-American and was a finalist for the Wooden Award - given to the best player in college basketball.
Tim James played from 1995-1999, and he was named first team All-Big East in 1998 AND 1999, and was the Big East Player of the Year in 1999, a season in which he was named third team All-American. He is currently the seventh-leading scorer in school history, the seventh-leading rebounder for Miami, and even the second highest total of blocks. James was drafted in the first round by the Miami Heat with the 25th pick. He played 3 seasons in the NBA, before galavanting around the globe playing professional ball for several additional seasons. Miami retired his number (40) in 1999.
And forgive me as I think out loud as I know there is one player that I am missing - oh yeah, the greatest Hurricane basketball player of all time - Constantin Popa. Popa, a 7'3" Romanian, played from 1991 through 1995 and has the most blocks in the history of Miami basketball. Ok, sorry, I can't even finish typing this with a straight face.
IT'S RICK BARRY!!!! Of course it's RICK BARRY!!! WHO ELSE COULD IT BE BUT RICK BARRY!!!
Barry played from 1962-1965, and was a first team All-American in 1965. He is the career scoring leader in school history, has the highest two scoring season for Miami, and the top 8 scoring games, with 59, 55, 54, 52, 51, 51, 50, and 50. He also led the NCAA in scoring in 1965. He has the most rebounds in Miami history, has the top two rebounding seasons for Miami - and also 5th - and he has the first and third highest rebounding games with 29 and 27, and 3 more of the top 11. He also shot free throws underhanded. His jersey number (24) ws retired in 1976.
The San Francisco Warriors drafted Barry second in the 1965 draft - behind Fred Hetzel, (who?) - He played in the NBA/ABA for fifteen season with 4 different franchises (although he played with the Warriors on two separate occasions). He won the ABA championship in 1969, and the NBA championship in 1975 - also winning the Finals MVP. He was an 4-time ABA All-Star and an 8-time NBA All-Star, winning the All-Star game MVP in 1967. He was a 9-time All-ABA or All-NBA first team, and a 1 time second teamer. He won NBA Rookie of the Year, and was the NBA scoring champion in 1967, and the NBA steals leader in 1975. He was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame and the Basketball Hall of Fame. So basically, he is THE standard of Miami Hurricanes basketball. Although he is just slightly better than Constantin Popa.
His five sons, Scooter (Kansas), Jon (Pacific/Georgia Tech), Brent (Oregon State), Drew (Georgia Tech) and Canyon (Florida) all played at least collegiate basketball, and Brent is the current Vice-President of Basketball Operations for the NBA.
Now, if you look at the best players in Miami history, you will see that they are all guards/wing players - excepting Popa. That is very on brand with the Hurricanes, as they currently start 7 guards, and 1 very large small forward playing center. Which leads us to the ...
Social Media Post of the Day
From Twitter:
Thanks for following the Tournament Pool posts, and good luck to everybody in the Final Four. Follow our travels right here at WeMakeItRain.blogspot.com
Remember, the semi-finals are worth 16 points per game, so if you have Florida Atlantic, Miami or Connecticut, you have the opportunity to rise dramatically in the standings should your prediction hold true. Now on to the standings. As always, double check my math, and let me know if you think I need to review your score.
