At this point in basketball season, we’ve got to touch upon the NCAA Tournament and the annual madness, mayhem and delight that come along with it.
We’re an hour late with this post; the first two games are already underway.
Let the madness begin!
Villanova Wildcats: Five Facts for the NCAA Tourney
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The Villanova Wildcats rallied in the second half of the season to clinch their 33rd NCAA Tournament birth.
Here are five fast facts you should know about the Wildcats:
1. They started of 4-4 and finished 16-9.
2. Their two most impressive wins of the season came in the same week, when they beat No. 5 Louisville at home on and No. 3 Syracuse at the end of January.
3. Nova’s second leading scorer is also their freshman point guard, Ryan Arcidiacano, whom Jay Wright called “a senior” during the Big East Tournament because he grew up watching the Wildcats and understood the offense and the team mentality so well.
4. Jayvaughn Pinkston, a 6-7 former McDonald’s All-American, is their leading scorer and greatest interior presence. Mouphatou Yarou, their 7-foot center, is inconsistent as a scorer (9.7 ppg).
5. Villanova has made the Final Four five times, most recently under current head coach Jay Wright in 2009.
Sign up for the SheridanHoops/Sportsbook Bracket Challenge. $100,000 first prize.
[ NCAA TOURNAMENT FAST FACTS INDEX ]
Jeremy Bauman is an aspiring shooting coach and scout who writes columns and blogs for SheridanHoops.com. Follow him on Twitter.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish: Five Facts for the NCAA Tourney
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The Notre Dame Fighting Irish will make their 34th appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
Here are five fast facts you should know heading into March Madness:
1. As their shooting goes, they go. They’re in the top eighth in the country in terms of 3-point percentage, shooting 37.3% for the season.
2. Eric Atkins and Jerian Grant are their two best – and only reliable – playmakers. Atkins is a true point guard and Grant is more of a scoring guard who helps to carry the playmaking load. If they face pressure defense, these two better bring their A-game or the Irish will head home early.
3. At 70.7%, they rank 130th in the nation at the free throw line as a team.
4. Their go-to scoring in the paint comes from Jack Cooley, who is an expert at using his wide frame to gain position on opponents. He averaged 13.1 points (57% FG) and 10.1 rebounds this season.
5. Mike Brey has been the coach of Notre Dame for 12 seasons prior to this NCAA Tournament. He’s guided Notre Dame to the Sweet Sixteen just once, in 2002-03.
Sign up for the SheridanHoops/Sportsbook Bracket Challenge. $100,000 first prize.
[ NCAA TOURNAMENT FAST FACTS INDEX ]
Jeremy Bauman is an aspiring shooting coach and scout who writes columns and blogs for SheridanHoops.com. Follow him on Twitter.
Cincinnati Bearcats: Five Facts for the NCAA Tourney
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The Cincinnati Bearcats will make their 27th appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Will 27 be the lucky charm for Cincy to make a Final Four run?
Here are five facts you need to know about the Bearcats as we move toward March Madness:
1. Sean Kilpatrick (16.9 ppg), Cashmere Wright (12.6 ppg) and JaQuon Parker (11.3 ppg) are capable of going off in a big way if you don’t force them into difficult situations. They’re all solid scorers who can get hot in a hurry.
2. They’re experienced. The Bearcats only have one redshirt freshman on the team.
3. Speaking of their redshirt freshman, Shaq Thomas will be playing a bigger role in the NCAA Tournament for the Bearcats than he did during the regular season. Mick Cronin wants to play quicker and more uptempo because he feels that will be the best way to have success in the NCAA Tournament.
4. Cincy shoots 40% from the field, 31% from distance and 65% at the charity stripe.
5. Last year was Mick Cronin’s most successful year in the NCAA Tournament; they reached the Sweet 16.
Sign up for the SheridanHoops/Sportsbook Bracket Challenge. $100,000 first prize.
[ NCAA TOURNAMENT FAST FACTS INDEX ]
Jeremy Bauman is an aspiring shooting coach and scout who writes columns and blogs for SheridanHoops.com. Follow him on Twitter.
Pittsburgh Panthers: Five Facts for the NCAA Tourney
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The Pittsburgh Panthers will go dancing for the 24th time as an 8-seed in the West region.
Here are five fast facts about the Panthers to help you as you fill out your bracket:
1. Their best NBA prospect is a 7-foot freshman center named Steven Adams, who is a native of New Zealand. He’s averaging 7 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2 blocks per game as he adjusts to the collegiate game.
2. They have only two players averaging double figures in scoring; senior point guard Trayvon Woodall (11.8 ppg, 38.2% 3FG) and junior swingman Lamar Patterson (10 ppg, 47% FG). When Woodall gets hot from beyond the arc, he’s dangerous.
3. Their worst loss was a 67-62 game against Rutgers on the road on January 5th…
4. However, they bounced back with their best win of the season in the form of a 73-45 smack-down AT Georgetown on January 8th. Pretty impressive.
5. In his nine prior seasons as head coach of Pittsburgh, Jamie Dixon has never taken the Panthers to the Final Four. In fact, the only time Pittsburgh’s made the Final Four as a program is 1941. Try to tell me the Panthers haven’t busted your bracket during Dixon’s tenure… And I’ll quickly call your bluff.
Sign up for the SheridanHoops/Sportsbook Bracket Challenge. $100,000 first prize.
[ NCAA TOURNAMENT FAST FACTS INDEX ]
Jeremy Bauman is an aspiring shooting coach and scout who writes columns and blogs for SheridanHoops.com. Follow him on Twitter.
