The fight was intense yet the Wolverines never felt like they were losing their grip on the game despite a less-than-stellar showing from their star attraction Trey Burke.

“We know Trey is our leader, and sometimes he’s not going to have a game like he’s had all season,” said Hardaway Jr. “That’s when our team stepped up.”

Wolverines coach John Beilein told ESPN that for Michigan it’s all about team.

“We’ve been a team all year,” said Beilein. “It was great.”

Mitch McGary added 10 points, 12 rebounds and six assists as the Wolverines fought back a Syracuse rally down the stretch.

The fourth-seeded Wolverines will now go on to face No. 1 Louisville in Monday’s title game.

The Cardinals defeated Wichita State 72-68 in Saturday’s first national semifinal.

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Russ Smith and Luke Hancock put together 41 points Saturday and No. 1 Louisville rallied for a 72-68 win over Wichita State.

“It was like, ‘Man,’” Smith told ESPN. “I was actually waiting for our run. And it happened. Luke exploded. That was actually what I was waiting for. Then Chane exploded. Then Peyton made a big layup. Then Tim Henderson. It just kept going and going.”

Smith scored 10 of his 21 points in the second half and Hancock added 11 of his 20 in the second half as well.

Hancock’s two late 3-pointers were especially lethal.

The Shockers had their foot on the Louisville’s collective throat before they came alive.

At  one point just as the second half was well underway, and Wichita State was milking a double-digit lead, you could feel the wheels churning on an epic upset.

But that was not to be.

The Cardinals were on the other side of an emotional boost from the inured Kevin Ware who laid out what it will take to win one last contest.

“We’ve got to bring our best game,” Ware said. “It’s the last game of the season. If we lose, everything we’ve worked for just goes down the drain. That’s the last thing we want right now.”

The Cardinals will now face the red-hot Michigan Wolverines who deposed of Syracuse in another highly contested game.

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Let’s see who gets there.

Louisville Cardinals vs. Wichita State Shockers (6:00 on CBS)

Parity, parity and more parity. We are consistently bombarded with the idea that anyone can beat anyone in this year’s tournament.

And yet the odds are very long that the Shockers will pull out a win against Louisville.

Louisville’s defense will be to rested and to stifling for a Shockers team that will see their miracle run come to an end.

Wichita State will have to play the perfect game to get it done and that starts with getting a few calls to go their way.

Louisville point guard Peyton Siva is prone to getting into foul trouble early.

Without the injured Kevin Ware, a limited Siva would force the Cardinals to back off their aggressive press that they weave in and out of their attack.

Even then, the Shockers would have to shoot at least 70-percent from the floor and dominate the transition game to have a chance.`

Every rebound would have to fall their way both on the offensive and defensive rims.

The Shockers are just asking to much of the basketball gods to move on.

They are a good team but the Cardinals are destined to play for it all.

Syracuse Orange vs. Michigan Wolverines (after Louisville vs. Wichita State on CBS)

This has the makings of being the best game of the tourney.

Can you say heavyweight brawl?

That is exactly what the Dirty South will be treated to when these two teams lock up.

Syracuse is bring their implementation of the 2-3 zone to the table that has frustrated each and every one of their opponents.

Michigan has the answer as they can shoot 3-pointers with ease.

But I believe that Syracuse’s w Michael Carter-Williams is the best player left in the chase.

As such, he will orchestrate the Orange’s close-cropped victory sinking Michigan’s hope yet again of a net-cutting ceremony.

Trey Burke will ball out-of-his mind for the Wolverines but that won’t stop the Orange from pulling some thing special off late in the game.

Championship Matchup: Syracuse Orange vs. Louisville Cardinals

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Instead he chose to tell his story and raise his profile as his team prepares to go for it all this weekend in Atlanta, Ga.

It was from his hotel in the Peach State that Ware shot an appearance on David Letterman’s late night talk show on Thursday.

His big moment was presenting the nightly top 10 list.

The evening’s subject was Ware himself.

Top 10 Thoughts Going Through Kevin Ware’s Mind

10. “What was that loud cracking sound?”

9. “I hope this doesn’t leave a bruise.”

8. “Hey look, my tibia!”

7. “Ouch.”

6. “Did it go in?”

5. “Oh boy, hospital food.”

4. “Tape it up, coach, I’m staying in.”

3. “They fired Leno?”

2. “Heat then ice? Or ice then heat?”

1. “At least my bracket’s not busted.”

Ware is having some fun with this whole thing.

That attitude will only serve him well as he moves forward into rehab after the big lights go down.

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Ware was hospitalized after he projected himself towards the sideline while contesting a 3-point shot against the Duke Blue Devils in the first half.

Ware was hospitalized and his teammates went on to sink Duke with confidence.

“I don’t think we could have gathered ourselves — I know I couldn’t have — if Kevin didn’t say over and over again, ‘Just go win the game,” Louisville coach Rick Pitino told ESPN. “I don’t think we could have gone in the locker room with a loss after seeing that. We had to gather ourselves. We couldn’t lose this game for him.

“We just couldn’t.”

And they didn’t.

Russ Smith drained 23 points Sunday for top-seeded Louisville, which used a second-half  run to best Duke  to move on to the NCAA Tournament Final Four.

Peyton Siva contributed 10 of his 16 points down the stretch.

Gorgui Dieng added 14 points and 11 rebounds and Luke Hancock came off the bench for 10 points for Louisville.

Louisville will now face Wichita State in Atlanta April 6.

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A streak was ended, the Miami Hurricanes failed to make the Elite 8, Florida Gulf Coast was dealt a lethal dose of reality and the Florida Gators were dismissed with ease on Sunday by the Michigan Wolverines.

The Wolverines enjoyed powerful play from freshman guard Nik Stauskas who drained six 3-pointers on his way to a 22 point showing.

“I can’t even explain the feeling. I was having so much fun,” Stauskas told ESPN. “I’ve been working and dreaming my whole life about something like this. To finally have it, I have a smile on my face and I’m enjoying the moment.”

Michigan fans have been waiting since Jalen Rose’s Fab Five unit to gain entry into the Final Four.

On Sunday they had a lot to be happy for form start to finish as Florida never looked confident in their execution on the court.

At one point, the Gators trailed 41-17 on what ended up being a not-so-happy Easter.

Stauskas  was not the only Wolverine that had a nice day.

Big Ten player of the year Trey Burke stepped up with 15 points.

Mitch McGary nearly double-doubled with 11 points and nine rebounds.

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Southerland drove in 16 points and Carter-Williams came through with 12 points and 10 rebounds in the Eastern Region final.

Fourth-seeded Syracuse also saw a key contribution from  C.J. Fair who added 13 points and five rebounds.

Syracuse’s defense was stifling as witnessed by the fact that Marquette did not even break 40 points.

The Golden Eagles appeared to have spent every thing that they had on overcoming the Miami Hurricanes on Thursday and it showed.

Marquette was sloppy turning the ball over 13 times despite a nice joint effort from Vander Blue and Davante Gardner.

Blue told ESPN that Syracuse’s taunted zone defense is as good as advertised.

“They cover ground really good. You’ve got to get the ball in the middle, you’ve got to play inside out, you’ve got to get to the free-throw line and wear them down with the 3-pointer when you can,” Blue said. “They’re really good at what they do in that zone.”

That zone will face  Sunday’s winner between Florida and Michigan.

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Malcolm Armstead put together 14 points and seven assists Saturday, sending No. 9 Wichita State into the NCAA Final Four with a 70-66 win over Ohio State.

Armstead may have led the way but it was a complete effort that got the job done.

Cleanthony Early chipped in 12 points and seven boards and  Fred Vanvleet came off the bench to score  12 more points.

Early told ESPN that the Shockers are elated.

“It’s crazy. I still can’t believe we’re here,” Early said. “You try to expect it, but you expect a lot of things that don’t happen. This really happened.”

Vanvleet highlighted the evening with  a game-clinching jumper with 1 minute left.

The Shockers move on to advance to NCAA Men’s Tournament national semifinals for the first time since 1965.

Deshaun Thomas scored 23 points and brought down six rebounds for second-seeded Ohio State who must be growing tired of falling just short of glory.

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 The kids from Dunk City spent the week tempting fate with bold proclamations and a student body prone to obscene pep rallies.

It was too much inspiration to feed a better Florida Gators team with stronger players and superior coaching.

So when the Sunshine State went over to Texas, everything was put back in its proper place.

At the tip of the first half, FGCU stormed out of the gate to take a 17-6 lead midway through the first.

That is when things got real.

The Gators were on the verge of running FGCU out of the gym on a few occasions but David managed to stay in the fight with Goliath down the stretch of the second half.

Will Yeguete had four of Florida’s 11 steals Friday in a defensive showing that defined the term pressure.

The Gators will now meet Michigan in the South Region title game for a spot in the Final Four.

Florida fighting for its third NCAA title under Coach Billy Donovan, who guided the Gators to the promised land  in 2006 and 2007.

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When two teams shoot under 41 percent from the floor in the NCAA tournament, you have to salute the boys that are bringing the pressure.

That’s not to say that the Duke Blue Devils did not have a player that was not am offensive dynamo.

Seth Curry did his thing.

Curry drove in 29 points to make it a thrilling 71-61 ride over Michigan State.

Duke’s legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski told ESPN  that Curry was indeed the man.

“Seth was just at a different level than anyone else on the court offensively tonight,” Krzyzewski said. “To get 29 points in a game like this against a good team is just incredible.”

If any game on Friday was worthy of being labeled as a fight, this was it.

Duke found their separation offensively at the foul line going 24-of-26 to get their Elite 8 payday.

Duke will face Louisville on Sunday with the winner moving on to the Final Four.

That one will be ugly.

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Trey Burke put the Michigan Wolverines on his back at the tail end of regulation to force their way into overtime to ultimately get the 87-85 win.

To think that the Wolverines were down by 14 points with less than seven minutes left in the second half, says a lot about how special Burke’s performance was on Friday night.

Several plays qualify as bookmarks for his electric play.

His busy lay-up that pulled Michigan to within three made it all possible.

It was his 3-point miracle that came 10 ticks later that bought Michigan extra life.

The Jayhawks almost forced a second overtime after losing their luster in the third period.

Elijah Johnson had every opportunity to take it there.

In his moment of truth, Johnson opted to skip the easy layup for the tie and  for whatever reason kicked the ball out to  Naadir Tharpe beyond the 3-point line.

Tharpe missed his shot and that was that.

After the game Burke told ESPN that Michigan kept the faith for the entire game.

“We never lost faith out there,” Burke said. “We stuck it out together.”

Afterwards, Kansas could do nothing but reflect on what just took place.

“Well, this will certainly go down as one of the toughest games that obviously we’ve been a part of and I’ve been a part of,” Kansas coach Bill Self said. “But props to Michigan for making all the plays late.”

That they did.

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A 31-point showing from Russ Smith helped Louisville get on top and stay on top on Friday night in their 77-69 victory.

The score is deceitful as it wants to tell you that the game was competitive when it was not.

Oregon pulled out a late flurry of points after the Cardinals had already secured their trip to the Elite 8 dance.

Louisville played every bit of the part of the No.1 seeded bully in a tournament that critics said is weighed down by its parity.

Despite Louisville’s Peyton Siva’s early foul trouble handcuffing his game, the Cardinals withstood each Oregon comeback attempt with ease.

After the game, Louisville coach Rick Pitino was gracious when speaking to ESPN about  Oregon’s ability to score while complementing his own players.

“We’ve been a great defensive team — not a good one, a great one — all season,” Pitino said. “Tonight, their quickness was so good, all it did was wear us out defensively. But we had Russ Smith and Kevin really bail us out of some situations that could have gone either way.”

Oregon’s Johnathan Loyd said that the Ducks poor start doomed them.

“If it wasn’t for the beginning, it would have been a completely different game,” Loyd said. “We just came out, we weren’t ready and we got smacked. If we were playing the way were playing in the second half the whole game, it’s a completely different story.”

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Despite the controversy that decorates their environment, the Orange continues to push on with confidence.

Michael Carter-Williams showed up once again and laced us all with a 24-point effort that was for the ages.

The kid is the truth and he is leading Syracuse with a quiet dignity that is brimming with confidence.

The story on Friday about this one however will be defense, defense and more defense as the Orange held the Hoosiers to just just five points in the contest’s first five minutes.

Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim was ecstatic after the game as he spoke with ESPN.

“Our perimeter defense was tremendous,” Boeheim said. “This is one of our best defensive teams ever. They play it well.”

When the Orange hook up with Marquette on Saturday, it will be a battle of wills.

And our money is on Syracuse to run them out of the gym.

This Syracuse team is on a mission to defy all of the odds and ridicule and make their mark before the NCAA makes their next move.

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The see-saw nature of the game’s second period only served to showcase how much of a fight this was.

Mark Lyons hit a layup for the Wildcats with 22 seconds remaining and was fouled on the play.

The ensuing free throw left the game tied at 70-70 and Ohio State then worked the clock down for the final shot.

That shot came from Ross, whose 3-pointer was deadly in it’s perfection.

“It feels great, man,” Ross told ESPN. “I think this is what every player grows up looking at on TV, wanting to hit that big shot for an NCAA tournament team. It just feels great right now.”

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On Thursday, it was Marquette’s Jamil Wilson and his squad that were ready to seize the moment to advance one step closer to the Final Four.

Hurricane superstar Shane Larkin paced the Hurricanes with 14 points but like the rest of his team was off-his-game.

Flat is the perfect term to use to describe Miami’s performance as shot after shot clunk off the rim and into the hands of waiting Marquette players.

The Hurricanes fell into a double-digit hole early and failed to climb out of it.

Credit Marquette for taking advantage of Miami’s missteps.

“It’s fantastic. It feels good not to have to worry about, are you going to lose on a last-second shot or are you going to win on a last-second shot?” Wilson told ESPN. “To have a cushion like that, these guys played with tremendous heart, and we did it all game.”

Miami went as long as seven minutes without scoring in the first half.

Miami’s starting guards  Durand Scott and Trey McKinney-Jones combined to go 6-of-23 from the field.

Across the court, The Golden Eagles hit 54 percent of their shots and broke the Hurricanes spirit inside the paint.

Marqutte will face Syracuse  on Saturday with a spot in the Final Four hanging in the balance.

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According to the Miami Herald, Johnson has undergone a surgical procedure that will keep him off the court until the Final Four, if Miami advances to that point.

“Reggie injured himself in the Illinois game, had it evaluated on Monday, went to the doctors [Tuesday] and he will not be with us for the trip,” UM coach Jim Larrañaga said.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with Reggie, and we’re hoping he can recover from this quickly. Our players are preparing to play Marquette, and we have to play with the players we have. We’ve had to deal with these issues before, and our guys have handled it with class.”

“We’re all just going to have to step up,” sixth-year senior forward Julian Gamble said. “Hopefully, we get him back for the Final Four.”

Johnson’s big body would have been a differance maker against a Marquette team that prides itself on being physical under the basket.

One of Miami’s strong suits is that on any given day you never know which name is going to show up and steal the show.

Look for coach Larrañaga to have the Hurricanes ready to roll.

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According to the Syracuse Post Standard, the program has received a  letter of preliminary inquiry from the NCAA.

NCAA officials have held in-person queries with both current and former Syracuse employees over the past year.

The nature of the investigation reportedly centers around how the school dealt with center  Fab Melo’s academic eligibility and  the 2007 alleged sexual assault case involving three players.

Melo was a last second scratch from the 2012 NCAA Mens Basketball Tournament due to academic reasons.

He later declared for the NBA draft and is now a member of the Boston Celtics.

Meanwhile back at the ranch, point guard Michael Carter-Williams says his team will not let it get to them.

“I don’t have any idea what it’s about and I’m sure my teammates don’t know anything or I would have heard,” Carter-Williams said. “To be honest, we are going to avoid any distractions and just focus on our game. When you get to the tournament, no games will be easy.”

Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim chalked it up to being more of the same treatment that the program has grown used to.

“Same story they had last year at this time,” Jim Boeheim said Wednesday. “I guess that’s annual. I guess next year we’ll get it again.”

Considering the darker side of this investigation, Boeheim should have known better than to be publicly flippant with his remarks.

If and most likely when formal charges are brought against Syracuse, those words will be replayed over and over and over again.

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Check out this video where REESE’S  Joe Bland dives into the Kentucky Wildcats’ award-winning cheerleading program, the secret inner sanctum of the Duke Blue Devil’s mascot and their pep leader Mr. Stephen and the Florida Gator’s super-fan known as “The Moose” who shows off his green swim trunks that he uses to distract free-throw shooters with.

You can see more of this kind of stuff at Let’s Go Reeces and enter to win a trip to the Final Four.

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The number one seeds as expected are the Kansas Jayhawks, Gonzaga Bulldogs, Louisville Cardinals and Indiana Hoosiers.

Neither the Miami Hurricanes (ACC Champion) nor Ole Miss Rebels (SEC Champion) earned a number one seed despite heavy competition in their respective tourneys.

Players View has a series of forecasts forthcoming this week, but for now, print these out and get to work.

The completed bracket does most of the heavy lifting for you.

If you prefer a blank bracket, we have you covered there as well.

Completed Bracket

Blank Bracket

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As with anything, athletes are not immune to shaping the culture. These 10 videos represent a cross-section of the most relevant, imaginative and hilarious shakes available.

There are certainly more to come but in the meantime, this is the creme of the crop.

#10 Denver Nuggets

This effort was led by JaVale McGhee  and is one of the latest entries into the dance party.

It has all the elements of a classic Harlem Shake routine. It’s starts off with an ambivalent cast of characters and it quickly melts into a furious run of oddball movements and pop culture references.

While not very original, it was executed fairly well and for that it earns the 10 spot.

#9 NFL Draft Prospects

While preparing for the NFL Draft, this group of prospects got together to let it all hang out.

Watch out for Santa Claus and the soccer ball.

#8 Manchester City Soccer Team 

Wow. The champs know how to weave international and domestic pop culture references into one hot mess.  Whomever that is at the bottom of the rolling cart with the diaper on needs counseling.

#7 Kansas Jayhawks Basketball 

These kids got coach Bill Self to draw up the perfect intro play to their dance of the bizarre.

Shout out to the Roman gladiator.

#6 Ferris State Hockey 

There is only one thing that matters here. Gumby is in the house.

#5 Nebraska Cornhuskers Football

The first day of spring football yielded this one.

The setup was classic. A spurned player going off as the next play sets up was a smooth intro.

The first act was the best act.

#4 Toronto Raptors 

It’s all about the remix. The Raptors provided a 2-for-1 special that was longer and funnier than most.

#3 Oregon Ducks 

Watch for the pause and kudos for somebody finally thinking about the feelings of the Kool Aid Man.

#2 Miami Heat 

The attention to detail is why the Heat’s shake is easily the most popular on the internet.

LeBron James is in costume as King James. Mario Chalmers is Super Mario, the Bird Man behaves like a  bird.

Chris Bosh however failed to embrace his inner dinosaur.

It should have been number one. Except…

#1 UGA Swim Team 

The Bulldogs called up Captain Nemo and pulled the trigger on the most creative and most likely the hardest shake video to pull off yet.

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Perry, 22 surrendered to the authorities with the cooperation of the school after an ex-girlfriend went to a local hospital for treatment on Thursday afternoon.

Local police state that she was at Perry’s apartment when an argument broke out and he assaulted her.  Her injuries were visible and thus the arrest warrant was issued for Perry.

The 6’7 217 lb. senior was booked into the Pima County jail.

Perry or the school have yet to comment on the situation.

Last season, Perry accounted for 151 field goals, 271 rebounds and 439 points.

More on this story as it develops.

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Earlier this week, many of the players that he coached staged a “walk-out” during their end of the year banquet.

That was kind of a cool thing to do in a fight-the-power-I’m-college kind of way.  This generation of kids is always presented in an ugly manner that suggests they only care about their swagger

To experience s group of them exercise some sense of loyalty and unselfishness is something to be respected.

What’s coming now is taking these ideals to a whole new level.

The team is attempting to pull off a mass-exodus of transfers out of FIU to pursue scholarships elsewhere.

At post time, the FIU Athletic Director Pete Garcia is denying requests for transfers. This can get ugly if he does not oblige these requests and these are not kids that are not quick snap decisions. They are bringing very valid points to the table.

In a statement that can be viewed in its entirety at the Miami Herald, these young men are taking a very firm and hard stance against not only what has happened but why they will not participate in helping the situation prosper.

“We would like everyone to know that we came to FIU not only to gain an education and play basketball but also to be mentored by Coach Thomas. This is why we are extremely upset about his firing; we lost not a coach but a mentor. Maybe you are not knowledgeable of the many things that Coach Thomas has done in helping develop us as young men. These things don’t show up on the scoreboard at FIU but do show up on the scoreboard of life.”

The school has every right to let a coach go at their discretion. We’ve been over this. I doubt that FIU expected that firing Thomas could set their team back a couple of years either.

It’s a sticky situation but in the end a old corny cliché sums it up best. Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.

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In today’s Miami Herald, Thomas expressed his feelings on the subject.

“I am very disappointed that I won’t get a chance to finish the job I set out to do when I got here. I was told I’d have five years to build FIU, and I felt I was well on my way to doing it. Nobody told me I’d have two or three years. I was told five years.”

The FIU situation could have been one that was weighted down by unreachable expectations. The program went 26-65 under Thomas, but his explanation is that he was on the verge of turning it all around.

“I know what we had coming in and in two years we would be loaded up and would have set the foundation for a strong future,” Thomas said. “It takes time to build a program and I just wish I could have had the opportunity to finish.”

In that, Thomas does have a point as FIU’s 2013 recruiting class is it’s most favorable perhaps in its history.

As a player Isiah Thomas was good enough to make it to the Hall-of Fame. As a coach, Thomas has never at any level ran a successful program.

The days of coaches having half a decade to turn things around are over. Athletes run harder, jump higher, and understand their games deeper at earlier ages now.

It is certain that FIU banked on the pedigree that Isiah Thomas brought to the table would equal instant results.

A five-year plan makes sense in most businesses. In the business of athletics, even a two-year plan can be a luxury.

The writing could have been on the wall as recently as last week when Thomas met with FIU Athletic Director Pete Garcia who “expressed his disappointment” with the team’s current direction.

Thomas says that he was let go on Friday during workouts. That’s more than ironic seeing that one of his controversies during his stint with the New York Knicks controversies involved hosting rule-breaking workouts with college students.

The facts are nobody makes a coaching hire with the idea of losing in mind. Thomas’ plan is understandable, but after three years that group is not even approaching a .500 record.

Based on the incentives in his contract, it’s clear that FIU is looking for glory and not potential.

If another guy comes in and wins from day one does that mean he’s a better coach? I don’t think so, I think if anything it will only prove that the Isiah Thomas plan was on point.

It also points to the theory that Isiah Thomas has great ideas, poor execution and most likely bad luck.

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“FIU Executive Director of Sports and Entertainment Pete Garcia announced today that Isiah Thomas has been relieved of his duties as head coach of the FIU men’s basketball program.

“We want to thank Isiah Thomas for his three years here at FIU,” Garcia said. “However, we have decided to take the program in a different direction.”

Let’s start of by addressing the obvious elephant in the room. Is it possible that this is just a set-up to allow Thomas to return to the New York Knicks to replace interim coach Mike Woodson?

It’s possible, but it would be one of the stupidest situations in the history of sports.

It’s also doubtful seeing that Thomas only managed to scrape together a 26-65 record over three seasons at FIU.

For that conspiracy theory to have some merit, you would have to think that the Panthers wanted to hold onto him to begin with and um…moving on.

Think back to the stupid trades, the bad signings and that little sexual harassment melt-down.

Isiah’s administration was the dark ages for the Knicks franchise and I can’t see how they would even bump an interim coach that is having success for the guy that took them to the lowest of the lows.

Another reason he won’t be back. He was 56-108 over his two-year run as a coach with the Knicks.

The fans are feeling good and I’ve even seen Spike Lee smile twice in one calendar year.

So before it gets started, let’s go ahead cross Isiah’s name off the Knicks list.

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According to Nation of Orange, Melo has signed with agent Arn Tellem so that effectively kills the likely hood of his return.

Melo is without a doubt a star in the making. There is just one problem and that is his apparent lack of discipline.

Even if it’s a sham, I often wonder why during the collegiate process, guys sometimes treat their grades like a joke. Being young sometimes often affords you the luxury of not valuing knowledge I suppose.

The NCAA college basketball program has now been reduced to being a showcase circus for kids that are looking to show-out for NBA scouts.

It’s worse than free agency because in some cases, teams may only get to hold on to a kid for one year before he’s a ghost.

Thus a situation like Melos.  His actions at Syracuse from the outside looking in proves that he never cared about being a student-athlete.  He was there to be an athlete; academics be damned.

If as stated that his family needs financial help, then I can appreciate how this young man is stepping up to be a provider.

The reality of life is that sometimes, you have to do what you have to do to take care of your own.  The thing is that I doubt that he was ever torn between academics and going pro.

I would hope that at some point he will step back and realize the value of the education that he just passed on.

Often times, guys make millions, lose them and we say ‘how did he go broke?!’  He went broke because he didn’t know how to manage the figures that were in his face.  I’m not even going to go there. But there is a reason why guys who major in finance or business administration have a much lower “financial fail” rate than the guys that take classes like hip-hop basket weaving.

On the court, Syracuse almost pulled off a trip to the final four. It didn’t happen because they did not have Melo’s dominant frame in the middle.

We’re trained to say that one guy can’t make a difference; whatever.  I whole-heartedly disagree and again, I wonder if Melo understands the value of the championship experience that he just lost.

This was all in the name of forgetting the books and thinking ahead into the next level. Hopefully, when he gets there he can make it through the shark-infested waters of business managers, lawyers and agents that all have their hands out.

That’s a stat category he doesn’t want to be in.

The post Fab Melo signs with agent, killing his return to Syracuse. appeared first on Players View.

Now, Robinson had no choice, but to play his sophomore year wrought by personal tragedy, after the All-American had lost his grandmother, his grandfather, and his mother all within three weeks of each other.

It would’ve come as no surprise if basketball was now irrelevant for Robinson.  But instead, defined by a personal tragedy, Robinson has become one of the best players in the nation, and will be the best player on the court Monday night.

Based on Robinson’s story, his is the kind of story that makes a lot of us love major-college sports.  This is the kind of story that makes us love all sports to see athletes shine during their darkest moments.   This is the kind of story that makes us realize that for some, sports is just a safe haven, but for others, it’s a distracting from life and a tribute to the one’s they loved; but were taken away too soon.

Just ask Brett Favre, Canadian Olympic figure skater Joannie Rochette, and Chicago Bears Brian Urlacher, whom also tragically lost a parent, but some way, somehow, managed to perform at their best during their toughest moment.  Not off the field, but on it.

We saw Favre pass for 399 yards and four touchdowns, a day after his father passed away.

After learning about the tragic news of her mother’s death after arriving in Vancouver, we saw Rochette continue to compete in her mother’s honor winning the bronze medal during the 2010 winter Olympic Games.

Al though it was an ordinary Sunday for the Bears, it was the first Sunday of his NFL career without his mother, as Urlacher started at middle linebacker against the New Orleans Saints 24 hours after burying his mother.

For those athletes, tragedy served as motivation for their memorable performances on sports biggest stage.

And for Robinson, there is no bigger stage that will conclude Monday night in New Orleans, where Robinson will be playing with a heavy heart.

There’s no question he understands a challenge, but what Robinson experienced this time a little more than a year ago, goes far beyond any challenge on the basketball court.  Goes far beyond any defense that has been thrown his way, and goes far beyond a forty-minute basketball game.

We cannot forget that ONLY two nights after the funeral in Washington, D.C Robinson was back in uniform, scoring 17 points and pulling down nine rebounds in an emotionally charged victory at home against Kansas State.

At that time, he wasn’t the Big 12 player of the year.  He wasn’t the Jayhawks team leader.  He wasn’t forty minutes from becoming a national champion.  He was coming off the Jayhawks’ bench playing just a little more than seven minutes a game as a freshman and served as KU’s sixth man in all but a couple of games as a sophomore.

The post Kansas Forward Thomas Robinson’s NCAA Title Quest Is In His Mother’s Honor. appeared first on Players View.

Saturday night against the Kansas Jayhawks, he gets his chance to inch one step closer. His freshman jaunt ended in defeat in the Sweet 16 to the Kentucky Wildcats, only one year ago.  

 As a team, the Ohio Buckeyes haven’t won a title since way back in 1960.  They came close in 2007, but the Florida Gators had something to say about that.

Not Evan Turner, not Herb Williams, not Michael Redd.

While everyone wondered why Sullinger returned for another year to play for head coach Thad Matta, this weekend is the reason people will finally understand.

This weekend people will see how great of a coach Matta really is. This weekend, the Buckeyes silence all of their critics and advance to the final game of the season, Monday night.

It won’t be easy though.

While these two teams met earlier this season, which resulted in an 11-point Buckeye loss at Allen Fieldhouse, Sullinger sat out with back spasms.

Unfortunately for the NCAA tournament’s leading scorer and Naismith finalist, Thomas Robinson, the Buckeyes won’t be lacking their superstar this time around.

And neither will the Jayhawks.

This game is more than Sullinger versus Robinson.  This game is more than two All-Americans opposing one another for 40 minutes, for opportunity to play for a national title.

Well, sort of.

It’s about seeing if Tyshawn Taylor, who scored 22-points in the Midwest Regional Final, can replicate his performance against the Big-Ten’s defensive player of the year and single-season steals leader (95), Aaron Craft.

It’s about seeing if William Buford, who will be guarded by Travis Releford will return to his elite status in their most crucial game of the season.

Because When Buford scored in single-digits during Big Ten play, the Buckeyes were 2-3. But despite going 8-for-33 from the field in the past three games, the Buckeyes still managed to reach their 11th Final Four.

And it’s also about seeing if big-man Jeff Withey, who will be matched up on Sullinger for parts of the game, will be able to contain him, after nearly setting the single-game record by blocking 10 shots against North Carolina State last weekend?

As we wait in anticipation for two storied programs to tip-off, I think it’s clear that we’re all just waiting to see Sullinger versus Robinson because we missed out last time around.

Sullinger, who leads Ohio State in scoring (17.6) and rebounding (9.3), is the first repeat All-American since Tyler Hansbrough of North Carolina in 2009.  He’s also the first player to repeat as a freshman and sophomore All-American choice since Chris Jackson of LSU in 1989 and 1990.

While Ohio State knew what it had in Sullinger when the season began, Robinson has developed into an All-American a little quicker than expected, after just averaging 7.6 points and 6.4 rebounds in 14.6 minutes per game last season.

Now, Robinson is averaging 17.9 points and 11.8 rebounds, en route to being named the Big 12 player of the year and the Most Outstanding Player of the Midwest Regional.

The post Final Four: Superstars Battle in Ohio State vs. Kansas appeared first on Players View.

It’s more than former Wildcats coach Rick Pitino versus current coach John Calipari.

It’s bigger than Rupp Arena versus a Louisville “white-out.”  It’s beyond freshman phenoms Anthony Davis and MKG versus a cast of virtual unknown that  have won eight straight and are looking to finish the season ten high.

It’s not just a civil war. It’s a chance to play for the National Championship.

For the fifth time in the NCAA tournament, the schools will meet.

Pitino holds a 4-0 record against Calipari. Who can forget Pitino victory over Calipari’s UMass Minutemen in the Final Four, en route to a National championship? That was the 1995-1996 season and 15 years later, the end result could be different; or will they?

No one is giving Louisville a shot. Not the odds makers, whom have the Wildcats as nine point favorites over the Cardinals. Not the media, and certainly, not the four-million Wildcat fans who hail from Kentucky.

Why would they?

For 10 weeks, the Kentucky Wildcats were the No. 1 team in the Nation, while the Cardinals finished the season No. 17 in the AP poll.

The Wildcats hold the advantage over the Cardinals in nearly all categories, averaging more points per game (78 vs. 68), rebounds per game (39 vs. 38), have a better field-goal percentage (49.2 vs. 42.5), have less turnovers (11 vs. 14), and record more blocks (9 vs. 5).

From their NBA-like size, to their superior talent, from their impressive statistics, to their overall strength, in four games during the NCAA tournament the Wildcats haven’t been tested.

They have been playing like a team destined for a championship. Would one think heading into Saturday night that they can already punch their ticket to a spot in the National championship game on Monday night?

But just because the clock hasn’t struck midnight on the Cinderella Cardinals just yet, don’t expect for their season to end Saturday night in New Orleans.

If there’s a coach who not only can, but will pull the upset against the No. 1 seeded Wildcats, it will be Pitino. The Cardinals defense, who is holding opponents to 38.4% from the floor, will wreak havoc on the Wildcats offense, whom are averaging 78 points per game.

Although Kyle Kuric hasn’t heated up during the tournament, the sharpshooter, whose averaged 12.7 points per game during the regular season, will not stay cool for much longer.

Cardinal fans can expect Peyton Siva to continue his impressive play, but the two pivotal players for Louisville will be Chane Behanana, who has awoke during the tournament, and Gorgui Deng, who’s averaged nine rebounds a game during the regular season and 3.2 blocks, will be counted on for his defensive presence to contain Anthony Davis, who’s averaging 14.3 points per game, 10.1 rebounds, and 4.6 blocks per game.

From Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, to Terrance Jones, to Darius Miller to Doron Lamb, Kentucky has so many players and has displayed so many ways to beat their opponent. Just ask Western Kentucky, Iowa state, Indiana and Baylor.

While the entire nation expected Kentucky to be here, no one expected the Cardinals to be the team to represent the Big East in the Final Four.

Then again, they weren’t the No. 1 seed in the East region. They weren’t the Big East regular season champions, finishing with a conference record of 17-1. They didn’t win a school-record 34 games.

There was no doubt, the Cardinals were going to earn an automatic bid to the Big Dance, but it was four days in early March that has sparked this run.

It was four days in the Big Apple that has catapulted Pitino and the Cardinals to his second Final Four in 11 seasons with the Cardinals.

Last time he was there, his season ended with a loss 72-57 loss to the overall top-seeded Illinois Fighting Illini in the 2005 National semifinals.

This time around, it might not end with the Cardinals cutting down the nets on Monday night, but at least they’ll get their chance to play for a National championship.

Let’s see what happens.

The post NCAA Final Four: Kentucky Wildcats vs Louisville Cardinals; bigger than a rivalry. appeared first on Players View.

Ward spent the day yesterday working with the coaching staff at his former college Alma matter, The University of Georgia according to a local newspaper report.

During spring practice sessions, OC Mike Bobo told the Athens Banner Herald,   “He’s going to spend some time over here, a couple of days to see what all we do. Not just out there in practice, but to see, hey, what do you do out there in recruiting, kind of see if that’s something he wants to do, kind of like when coaches come and visit.”

As much as he loves the Bulldogs, it would certainly fit in with program’s long-standing tradition of finding ways to embrace alumni.

Georgia has a deep tradition of placing wideouts onto NFL rosters and Wards experiences and attitude would certainly be a benefit to that staff.

Ward is a team first guy. His ability to teach these kids how to run strong routes, compete fiercely and be dominate blockers in the running game is nothing but an asset.

If the past, Ward has said that coaching a Georgia would be his “ultimate dream job.” Looks like dreams do come true.

The post Georgia’s new coach is Hines Ward? It certainly looks like it. appeared first on Players View.

All four games were worth of their prime-time slots. Here’s what went down.

Baylor 75, Xavier 70

ATLANTA, March 24—Baylor stayed on a roll on the back of Quincy Acy’s double-double.

Kentucky 102, Indiana 90

ATLANTA, March 24 – Kentucky’s players and coaches were cordial in their post game comments, but they were simply too much for Indiana.

North Carolina 73, Ohio 65 (OT)

ST. LOUIS, March 24 – In what was their wake-up call, the Tarheels didn’t get real with Ohio until they went on a dominant run in OT. Harrison Barnes needs to catch fire earlier if they are to win out.

Kansas 60, North Carolina St 57

ST. LOUIS, March 24 –If you wanted pure thrills, this was the game of the night. NC St. put Kansas on their heels early and often and came up just a little short in defeat.

The post NCAA Men’s Basketball Scorecard & Headlines: March 23rd appeared first on Players View.

There was always doubt. There was always doubt how good this Syracuse team really was.

Maybe it was their 10-0 record versus non-conference opponents, which included , Tulane, Colgate and Manhattan, yielding strength of schedule of 88.

Maybe it was because two days before the top-seeded Orange were to debut in the NCAA tournament, the university announced that Fab Melo had again been ruled ineligible and would not be available for Syracuse’s NCAA title run.

In the three games without him, the Orange’s numbers dropped from 35.4 points in the paint to 28.7 and from 13.5 second-chance points to 6.3, but even more important than Melo’s offense, would be losing his presence in the middle of the 2-3 zone defense.

Maybe it was because Syracuse almost became the first No. 1 seed to lose to a No. 16 seed since the field went to 64 in 1985, but after their seven point victory over UNC-Ashville, the Orange made it 109-0 against a sixteen-seed.

Maybe it’s because they don’t have an Anthony Davis or a Thomas Robinson – both Naismith Award finalists. A Carmelo, a Gerry or a Pace. Maybe it’s because their leading scorer, Kris Joseph, who only averages 13.5 PPG, which doesn’t even qualify for being in the top 100 in NCAA postseason play, disappears at-times during the most crucial parts of the game.

For whatever reason, I always wondered if the Orange were really the second ranked team in the Nation.  I wondered if they had the talent to compete for a National championship.  All season long, I simply watched and wondered.

But amidst all the controversy that has followed and plagued the Orange all season long, from the firing of long time assistant coach Bernie Fine, to the regular and postseason suspension of Melo, to the Yahoo! Sports report that at least 10 players participated in games over the past 10 years despite repeated failed drug test, through all of that, all that stands in their way of a trip to the Final Four are themselves.

They have the talent.  They have the players.  And they certainly have the coach.

Because for the first time since 2003, the Orange is one win away from heading back to a place they are much familiar with, New Orleans, the home of this year’s Final Four.

We all remember the block. We all remember an 18-year old freshman from Oak Hill

Academy donning a white headband, with his corn rows perfectly tight holding a basketball in his hands jumping up and down as time expired, celebrating like he just won a National title.

Oh wait, he did.

That’s what happened during that trip to the Bayou, and look out for history to repeat itself this time around.

After the Orange’s one point win over the fourth-seeded Wisconsin Badgers, for the first time all season, I believe.

From wondering to believing, from doubting to certainty, from a wake-up call in round one to a match up against the second-seeded Ohio State Buckeye’s in the Elite-Eight on Saturday, if you’ve been doubting this team all season long, its time.  It’s time to start believing.

This team doesn’t need a Davis or a Robinson. An Anthony, a McNamara or a Pace.

The 2011-2012 Orange are forming their own legacy.  They are creating their own path to greatness.

The post Syracuse Orange: Is There Even A Doubt? appeared first on Players View.

#1 Harrison Barnes- North Carolina

Before the tournament began, if there was one player that could lead his team to a National Championship that player was Harrison Barnes.

PG Kendall Marshall is sidelined with a fractured wrist. Marshall is the one guy that everyone in Tarheels Nation has declared as the most important player on the team.

Now Barnes, who is averaging 17 ppg this season, must step up.

The 2010 ACC Rookie of the Year returned to North Carolina for his sophomore season to a team that should’ve had all five of its starters on the court during this time of year.

But injuries to Dexter Strickland, and now Marshall, leave the Tar Heels wondering if they are still a national championship team.

Barnes is a can’t miss NBA prospect that will be a top five lottery pick in June. He just has business to take care of before the upcoming NBA draft.  He returned to Chapel Hill for a national championship.

As the team’s most important player will be in street clothes the rest of the way, the team’s best player will be wearing No. 40.

The Tar Heels title hopes did fall on the shoulders of Marshall, but now, the attention has turned to Barnes.  He has the talent to lead his team to a championship.  On Friday, his quest continues.

#2 Draymond Green- Michigan State University

It’s no secret that Michigan State senior forward Draymond Green has proven that he’s one of the most valuable players in college basketball.

The Big Ten Player of the Year is having a monstrous 2012 NCAA Tournament, evident by recording his second career NCAA tournament triple-double; the first player to do it since Magic Johnson.

He did it in round one and followed it up with a 16-point, 13-rebound and six-assist performance in their win over the ninth-seeded St. Louis Billikens during the round of 32.

As the Spartans prepare for their Sweet 16 matchup, their 10^th appearance in school history, Green has the Spartans two victories away from a trip to the Bayou for an appearance in the Final Four.

Green is the first player since former Wake Forest star Tim Duncan to average 15 points, 10 rebounds and three assists per game.

He is widely considered one of the most versatile players in the nation. He’s certainly worthy of the Naismith Award which is given annually to college hoops’ top player.

So from Mateen Cleeves to Green, head coach Tom Izzo has two national championships on his resume, but if he’s going to add number three to an already Hall of Fame career, Green must continue to dominate the tournament as he’s been doing thus far.

#3  Rakim Christmas-Syracuse

When center Fab Melo was ruled ineligible for the NCAA tournament, many thought, including myself that a major void was going to be missing in the middle of Jim Boeheim 2-3 zone defense.

But called upon to replace the Brazilian, who was also suspended three games during the regular season for academic reasons, freshman Rakim Christmas has thrived in the spotlight as the new man in the middle and has been nothing short of tremendous during the first two rounds of the tournament.

After his breakout performance (eight points, a season-high 11 rebounds and three blocks in 34 minutes) during their victory over Kansas State,  Christmas now has the Orange believing the really are contenders for a national title as they prepare to face the fourth-seeded Wisconsin Badgers (26-9) on Thursday in Boston in the East semifinals.

Despite being a freshman, Christmas, who stands at 6-foot-9, 222-pounds is growing up in front of our very eyes.  The Orange will need him to continue to be a force down-low; otherwise their titles hopes will be shattered.

After being inserted into the starting lineup at the start of the season as the replacement for forward Rick Jackson, Big East defensive player of the year in 2010-11, Christmas did exhibit some talent on occasion.

Now, he’s the man in the middle as the Orange are four wins away from a National title.  It’s never too early for the holidays, especially if the Orange were planning on celebrating Christmas in March.

#4 Thomas Robinson-Kansas

Arguably the most talented player in the country, Thomas Robinson, who is averaging about 15 points and 11 rebounds per game is the heart and soul of the Kansas Jayhawks.  Barely squeaking by the Purdue Boilermakers in the round of 32, head coach Bill Self was having flashbacks of last season as he almost saw another talented Jayhawks team fall short of the Final Four.

The Big 12 Player of the Year leads the nation with 25 double-doubles, which ties for the Kansas single-season record set by Drew Gooden in 2002. Robinson, who was struck by tragedy roughly one year ago with the passing of his grandparents, and losing his mother to a heart attack, has emerged a better and stronger player.  He’s the only player in the Big 12 to average a double-double with 17.7 points and 11.8 rebounds. A All-American first-team selection and a four-time Big 12 Player of the Week this season, Robinson’s 11.8 boards per game are second nationally.  He has the talent, skill, and stats to prove how valuable he is.  Now, he just needs his play on the court to back it all up.

#5 Anthony Davis-Kentucky

In this slot, I wanted to go with Ohio State senior William Buford, but I’d be kidding myself if freshman phenom and soon-to-be the first overall pick in this year’s NBA draft wasn’t on this list.

Davis is averaging about 15 points, 10 rebounds and 4.5 blocks per game in the tournament. Davis, who has an astonishing 166 blocks this season, is a menace in the paint. The 6-foot-10 freshman is almost impossible to contain and is a nightmare to match up with.

And if you have seen Davis play, you know how dominant he is.  But despite being last on this list, although in my opinion, he’s the not the most important player to his team, there’s no denying he’s most dominant player in the game by far.

While at Memphis, head coach John Calipari failed to win a National Championship was freshman superstar Derrick Rose.  Then after accepting the job at Kentucky, Calipari saw freshmen John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins fall short of a national title as well.

But with Davis in the middle, this might be the year a freshman gets Calipari his first National championship.  I think Kentucky falls short again, but I’ve certainly been wrong before.

The post Power Rankings: The 5 Most Valuable Players In The Sweet 16. appeared first on Players View.

Late Games:

Game: (10) West Virginia vs. (7) Gonzaga

Prediction:  In a nasty one, Gonzaga begins another run for tournament respect.

Notes: Gonzaga has the ability to run West Virginia into the ground and they probably will do that to some extent. West Virginia’s guard Darryl Bryant is averaging just over 17 pts. A game so he by himself can keep it close, but Gonzaga has the depth to get this one done.

Predicted Score: 69-66 in favor of Gonzaga.

Game: (14) South Dakota State vs. (3) Baylor

Prediction: UPSET SPECIAL.  South Dakota in a buzzer beater.

Notes: Nate Wolters! Nate Wolters! Nate Wolters!  The 6’4 junior can score and although this has been a magical year for Baylor sports, Nate Wolters will make the South Dakota team seem special. Some nitpick this kid half to death, but when he turns it on he looks like a NBA player.

Predicted Score: 80-72 in favor of South Dakota

Game: (9) Connecticut vs. (8) Iowa State

Prediction:  Iowa State dukes it out for the win.

Notes: Iowa State did not get punked playing against Big 12 competition. They will need that resiliency obviously playing against UCONN.  Cyclone Royce White really intrigues me. He’s a smart player on the court but off-the-court he’s made some classic boneheaded moves.

He does have championship pedigree and it must be noted that any anxiety that people keep whispering about totally disappears when he starts to ball. Look for him to have a big game.

Predicted Score: 84-79 in favor of Iowa State.

Game:  (13) New Mexico State vs. (4) Indiana    

Prediction:  Indiana makes a big statement.

Notes: Indiana’s freshman center Cody Zeller is already dominant and he will bang New Mexico State’s best inside the paint for the entire contest.  It won’t be a blow out, the teams are matched closely enough for it to be respectable, but I do see the Hoosiers not giving up a single inch.

Predicted Score: 80-68

Game:  (15) Loyola (MD) vs. (2) Ohio State                                                                              

Prediction:  Ohio State is going to put it down.

Notes: Jared Sullinger is one of the best players in the NCAA. His game is brisk and at times on a completely other level than anybody else on the floor.  He’s Ohio State’s biggest weapon and the truth is Loyola does not have an answer for him. Period

Predicted Score: 78-59 in favor of Ohio State.

Game: (11) Colorado vs. (6) UNLV

Prediction: UNLV does it big.

Notes: I don’t always buy into the idea that the coaches are the stars of college basketball, but you have to give credit to UNLV’s Dave Rice. He’s got these kids playing really good basketball and I think they could go three rounds or more deep depending on the match-ups.

Colorado? They have some tools bit they are not playing with the enthusiasm that UNLV is bringing to the table.

Predicted Score: 86-74

The post Bracket Busters: The March 15 Late Games appeared first on Players View.

Welcome to Bracket Busters where Players View will run down each of today’s NCAA Men’s Tournament Games.

Thursday March 15: Early Games

Game: (11) Murray State vs. (6) Colorado State

Prediction: Murray State in Dramatic Fashion

Notes: It’s always good to go for the guy with a personal vendetta.  Murray State’s Dante Pool’s first choice was Colorado State but by his own hand that didn’t happen.

Still, he we hustle , he will grind and he will do whatever it takes to show the Rams what they almost had and continue to make a name for himself.

The world is looking at Isaiah Canaan right now and his 12.9 points a game has the bulls-eye on his back and with Pool on his side, Murray State has the fight in them to get this one done.

Jesse Carr and the rest of the Rams will take issue with this but hey, that’s how I see it and I’m sticking to it.

Predicted Score: 74-70 in favor of Murray State

Game: (9) Southern Miss vs. (8) Kansas State

Prediction: Kansas State dominates the fourth quarter to close it out.

Notes:  My heart says go with Southern Miss because their three point game is incredible. But my head knows better.

Kansas State has a lot of veterans that have been to this party before and freshman guard Angel Rodriguez plays a big game. KS is an aggressive team that does not stop fighting.

Southern Miss has that same toughness but I’ve yet to see them knuckle up with a group that can block the way that KS can.

This will be one of the most physical games of the day and perhaps of the week. KS should beat them with their stamina going into the fourth.

Predicted Score: 86-78 in favor of Kansas City

Game: (13) Davidson vs. (4) Louisville

Prediction: Louisville shows why they are the fourth seed.

Notes: I’m basing my prediction on the strength of Louisville’s Kyle Kuric’s game. He is their guy that can take over the game and lead them offensively. Louisville won’t allow Davidson to run up the score. Their defense is a prime one. If Kuric’s numbers are low, that will give Davidson the advantage.

Predicted Score: 76-84 in favor of Louisville

Game: (13) Montana vs. (4) Wisconsin

Prediction: Montana dismantles Wisconsin’s strength.

Notes:  The big man Derek Selvig is going to lead Montana in an offensive charge that knock Wisconsin in the mouth.

Wisconsin has perhaps the best defense in the country but they cannot score. They panic when teams find a way to put points on them and that is exactly what is going to happen today.

I love the Wisconsin team but until they can generate points they seemingly won’t get very far in this tournament.

Predicted Score: 68-62 in favor of Montana

The post Bracket Busters: Predicting Today’s NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Games appeared first on Players View.

The Syracuse website just confirmed the news which will rock their chances of cutting the net at the end of the tournament in New Orleans.

“Syracuse University sophomore men’s basketball center Fab Melo did not travel with the team to Pittsburgh, and will not take part in the NCAA Tournament due to an eligibility issue. Given University policy and federal student privacy laws, no further details can be provided at this time.”

 Melo is the Big East Defensive Player of the Year and has had academic issues in the past.

You can’t deny that this will either be a deathblow or a rallying cry for the team. Melo is averaging 7.8 points 5.8 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game coming into the tournament.

As more details come in, Players View will update this story.

The post BREAKING: Syracuse Center Fab Melo OUT of NCAA Tournament Due To ” Eligibility Issue.” appeared first on Players View.

I really like Missouri.  So much so that I am almost ready to predict at the very least a trip to the regional finals.

But this thing gets out of control fast, so I’ll say at the very least that the Tigers are an incredibly quick team that knows how to take over games. Their number two seed could be a blessing for them in the big picture.

I like the Tigers for the pace that they maintain but I also love Vanderbilt for their experience level. This environment is incredibly scary for a lot of kids that buckle under the pressure.

Because they have so many seniors on the court of they don’t do it now, it may be a couple of years before they get back. Yes, they beat Kentucky.  But this not the eye opener; the eye opener is that at times they look like grown men playing with a bunch of boys.

The world loves Syracuse right now but Vandy will dismantle them if and when their paths collide.

For all of the “play-in” teams, I favor South Florida, Vermont, Iona and Mississippi Val. South Florida and Iona possesses the most potential to go deep into this thing and hurt some feelings.

South Florida can run with a team like North Carolina and Iona can handle a few teams out of the West but again I don’t see anybody get past those Tigers.

Out of the South, I do believe that Duke and Kentucky are on a collision course set to meet in Atlanta.

This event by far is the trickiest thing in the world to pick. The element of surprise is the only fact with this situation. So that’s what “should” happen but what does happen on our way to April 2, 2012.

Download our official bracket below and try it for yourself.

The post Road To The Final Four: Download our bracket as we make a few predictions. appeared first on Players View.