*The USF women’s basketball team made history this season by hosting an NCAA tournament game–and then embellished it with a win over LSU behind a raucous Sun Belt home crowd. Alas, the Bulls came up short of more history–a Sweet 16 berth–Monday night by losing a close one to Louisville.
Regardless, it was a great season for Jose Fernandez’s nationally-ranked Bulls. And with virtually the entire team returning next season, more history could loom.
*Tough year for men’s college basketball in the Sunshine State. The only school to make the NCAA tournament was the University of North Florida.
* Louisville coach Rick Pitino took a less-than-subtle swipe at Kentucky coach John “One and Done” Calipari. Pitino said he favors high school prospects going directly to the NBA or an NBA development league if they choose–if college, per se, was not for them. “The six-, seven-month education, online classes second semester. I don’t know what that does for a young person,” noted Pitino.
But this is also true. If the bluest of those “one-and-done” blue-chippers were to come to Louisville–not Lexington–to pose as “student-athletes” for a semester and a half, he would take them in a heartbeat.
* Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim’s reaction to major NCAA penalties raining down on his program surprised no one. He did what he always does when things don’t go his way. He whines.
* What’s with all the “everybody-loves-to-hate-Christian Laettner” ballyhoo? Here’s one theory of the legacy of the former Duke All-American and 13-year, NBA player. He was the perfect, politically correct, safe target. He played for an elite school that won big without cannibalizing standards–and wasn’t averse to reminding everyone about it. He was very good, very high profile, very demonstrative, very preppy looking and very white.
* Former NFL quarterback and veteran ESPN football analyst Ron Jaworski had a sobering take on Jameis Winston, the likely overall No. 1 pick of the Bucs in April’s NFL draft. And it has nothing to do with Winston’s questionable character. “I’ve studied a lot of him … there are some real flaws to his game,” said Jaworski. “Quite honestly, I would not take him at that No. 1 pick.”
* Imagine, next season the New York Giants could very well field a defensive line where BOTH starting ends are USF alums: Jason Pierre-Paul and George Selvie.
* We’re used to Steinbrenner Field around here. The mini-Yankee Stadium is cool for spring training and minor league games. But a recent New York Times piece noted that lighting–in a 20-year-old facility–was now a bit of an issue. The Yankees play more (seven) spring-training games at night than most MLB teams (the Rays play none) to better accommodate vacationing fans who can hit the beach and also see a game. Thus they’re more impacted by relatively “weak” lighting that is quite typical of minor league facilities.
Perhaps it wouldn’t have come to light had Alex Rodriguez not started 0 for 10 with three strikeouts at night at Steinbrenner but 7 for 16 with two home runs and a double in day games.