Congrats again, Mr. Templeton

Fear the Deer disappoints. I neglect posting. The world is unfair. Get over it.

This weekend I travelled to Michigan to briefly visit the fam, taking advantage of a down cycle in plane ticket fluctuation. How they actually determine the costs of tickets, and why every single person on the aircraft pays a different rate is beyond me. Regardless, I snuck in at the right time and was fortunate enough to be able to visit the parents.

Coming back to a barrage of emails ranging from Tigers articles (Detroit not the golfer) to loan information, I also received a link to the prestigious Rapid City Journal. Who else could be in the news, but one Adam Templeton.

Tisk, Tisk. Just one year too late Temp

As if the kid hasn’t done enough. Recently married and within a few days of graduating from Drake, Templeton has also been named the 2010 Rapid City College Male Athlete of the Year for his hustle, hard-work, and determination displayed for the Drake men’s basketball team. Quite a busy close to a college career.

Something few people may know about Temp is that I constantly badger him. No, not in a negative way. But, he came one year late. He decided one year to late to transfer to Drake from UC Irvine. If he would have been one-year earlier he would have been an instrumental piece to our 2007-2008 Drake Bulldog puzzle. Such a talent. He missed by one year. He would have been a joy to play with. Too bad he had to redshirt and didn’t come the year before. Did I mention that I tease him about coming a year too late?

Anyway. Pile up the awards Mr. Templeton. They’re well-deserved.

And PS, For those unaware that Saginaw, MI can actually benefit society (ie fellow Michigander Brent Heemskerk), here’s a link to something positive from my hometown and former elementary school.

What. A. Game.

I know its been a couple days and I didn’t even come out with a national championship prediction. Well, guess what? It doesn’t matter because I would’ve picked Butler anyway (Honestly, Butler really could have won a national championship. I continue struggling to wrap my mind around that fact. It was THAT close.) That puts me at a stellar o-fer, an O for the Final Four. Fantastic.

In case you forgot, I was in Rapid City, South Dakota, attending the Finley-Templeton wedding (yes, I am using the wedding as an excuse not to update). The ceremony was beautiful. The families were great hosts. And both Adam and Kara looked insanely happy to be together. It was great to take part in the festivities with the happy couple. Congrats again to Adam and Kara!

Unable to watch most of the Saturday games, I did catch the last couple minutes of the Butler vs MSU contest. If the rest of the game was anything like the final minutes, then I missed a dandy. Despite being on the country’s biggest stage, the Butler Bulldogs made the necessary plays to escape with a win. I couldn’t believe Butler actually had a legitimate chance to win a national championship (did I say that already?). (Oh, and PS – Although Butler played Cinderella this tournament, they proved they belong among the nation’s elite. Move over Gonzaga. There’s a new and improved Bulldog team to be called the king of mid-majors.)

I would have picked Butler because I wanted them so badly to win. I’m not a big Duke fan. I’m not a big Coach K fan. And I’m especially not a big fan of either after the easy draw they received to get to the national championship game. Yes, they beat everyone they played. But were they ever really tested? I vote no.

Regardless, it couldn’t have been a better championship game. Well, I take that back. It could have. This could have went down as the best game of all time. Any sport. Any era. Ever.

Not only did Butler reach the Final Four, in their home city, as a big underdog, conquering storied-program after program, but they almost won. Twice. Two times the Bulldogs were within inches of winning the game.

The first – Gordon Hayward’s fall-away with just over six seconds left that proved just long. This would have put Butler ahead by one and in a great position to win the game.

The second – Hayward’s potential game-winning half-court shot as time expired that bounced off the glass before hitting front rim and out. Both shots were about an inch too long. Who said basketball wasn’t a game of inches?

If Hayward makes either, this is the best game of all-time. The underdog story. The home-town team. A highly difficult shot to win the game. All that against one of the most historic programs in college basketball history boasting one of the most hallowed-coaches in the sport.

The only thing that would’ve made this game better (other than Butler winning) would be someone making big plays in the end. Unlike 2008 Memphis vs Kansas, there was no Mario Chalmers three to force overtime. We didn’t see someone step up and savor the moment like Christian Laettner. Duke looked nervous. Butler’s shots just didn’t fall. It is still one of the greatest championship of all-time. But, like few other games can, this one had a shot to be the best-of-the-best.

Instead, it was more missed opportunities. Let’s look back. After Matt Howard’s layup with 1:43 to go:

With 1:18 to go, Duke’s Nolan Smith drives the lane with the Blue Devils up 60-57. He leaves it short. Miss #1.

Rebound, to Butler’s Ronald Nored. He races up the floor for a fast break opportunity. Finds Shelvin Mack open for three and a chance to tie. Miss #2.

Offensive rebound Matt Howard. Now 1:09 to play. Butler holds possession. Pick-n-roll leaves Howard wide open for another layup with under 55 seconds on the clock.

Duke ball. Run a set. Wide-open Kyle Singler flashes to the middle in front of the free-throw line. Receives a pass for Jon Scheyer for an open 12-footer. Airball. (Ok. Maybe it grazed the front of the rim. For all intensive purposes, airball.) Miss #4. Hustle by big-man Brian Zoubek keeps the ball alive. But, the ball bounces off the seven-footer’s big right foot.

So far, we have two open layups by Matt Howard and a lot of missed opportunities. Timeout.

Butler possession. The whole time, Brent, the WebMaster, and I are screaming “Hayward. Get the ball to Hayward”. The Bulldogs almost lose the ball out of bounds. Timeout. Try to pass it in. Timeout. Finally, Hayward has the ball in his hands.

Starting with about 10 seconds to go, Hayward begins moving forward. First to his left. Cut off by Singler. Behind his back to his right hand. Hayward reaches the right elbow. 9 seconds to play. Howard fights for position and Zoubek moves to help. One more dribble toward the right block. Hayward jumpstops. Zoubek steps up. 7.3 seconds. Hayward falls away from two-feet outside the right block and releases a high-arching rainbow. 6 seconds to go. Ball hits long and bounces off the rim. Miss #5. Rebound Zoubek. Fouled with 3.6 seconds remaining.

Maybe the most clutch play of our finish was Zoubek’s first made free-throw. A 55% shooter, I didn’t think it was going in. But, can it be a clutch play if it didn’t really matter. Regardless of whether Zoubek made it or not, Butler would have shot a half-courter. Therefore, it doesn’t matter if Duke is up two or three. Is the free-throw clutch? I vote no.

Zoubek steps to the line for the second. Misses on purpose. Hayward skies for the rebound. Clock starts.

Hayward moves around Zoubek and pass 3/4 court. 2.2 seconds. Singler steps up. Hayward moves down the right sideline approaching half court. A big screen by Howard knocks Singler to the ground and clears a path for Hayward. 1.4 seconds. Hayward steps on the half court line to the right of the circle. 0.6 seconds. Hayward releases a two-handed shot with 0.4 seconds as Nolan Smith contests. Buzzer sounds. Ball floats toward the basket beginning its downward decent. Ball caroms off the backboard, bounces off front-rim and bounces out. Miss #6.

Elation for Duke. Heartbreak for Butler. It was that close. A game of inches.

Butler has been and should be commended for their efforts. They play great defense and have a knack for making timely baskets. The Bulldogs play great TEAM basketball. They didn’t win with one-and-dones. In fact, no Final Four team did. Butler’s run is great for college basketball. After this year’s tournament you’re telling me we need to change the NCAA basketball championships? The Bulldog’s success this year proved that March Madness is running like a well-oiled machine.

Final Four Predictions

First off, I want to make sure I extend a big congratulations to Adam Templeton and Kara Finley, who are soon to be married in South Dakota. Along with some former teammates, I am present in SD enjoying the festivities. I couldn’t be happier to see two of my friends, two great people, unite for eternity. I’m ecstatic to be able to share this day with them, and wish them nothing but joy and happiness down the road. Congrats to Adam and Kara! (But a wedding on the first day of the Final Four Temp? How’d you let that one sneak by?)

Back to business. (Well, sort of. Can it be called business if there is absolutely no financial activity? No? Ok then. I’ll try again.)

Here we go again, prediction time. Time for me to try to prove my basketball knowledge (or at least guess right). After a decent 8-4 record coming in, it will be interesting to see how the Final Four plays out.

Game 1 Butler vs Michigan State

To be honest, I’m disappointed that these two teams have to be on the same side of the bracket. I want both these teams to win for different reasons.

Butler is the mid-major team, representing a history of underdogs in the NCAA tournament and basketball players without the most size or talent. But more importantly, this team represents the common man. This is a hard-working team who represents everything that is good about the NCAA. A team filled with scholar-athletes and overachievers who, when put together, can produce a whole greater than the sum of their individual parts. As a basketball fan what more could you ask? Watching Butler play is like watching an instructional video. They are that well coached and they are that good.

Michigan State is my home-town team, boasting mostly Michigan players, and representing the state’s blue-collar work ethic. If you don’t live there, it’s difficult to understand. The state of Michigan (the east side especially) is struggling more than people realize when looking at statistics (After all, who knows what it means to have a 15% unemployment rate statewide, rising above 20% in certain areas? Those are just numbers). But Tom Izzo’s teams show the state that it can succeed.

I often am annoyed with media members overblowing the relationship between team success and the attitude of their host city. But in this case its hard to ignore. Detroit and much of Michigan was built on the premise of assembly-line labor. Workers arrived, put on their hard hats, and got to work, earning each month’s paycheck through. Tom Izzo’s teams compete in much the same way. Izzo prides himself on defense, rebounding, and smart basketball. He doesn’t generally recruit the top-20 players in the country (although he’s gotten a few), he wants the lunch-pail guys. Guys with a chip on their shoulder who are going to work harder than the kid who’s been spoon-fed his whole life. That’s why Izzo recruits so often in Michigan and the surrounding areas; those kids understand the struggle and will do anything to put themselves in a position to succeed.

Now, in saying this, I don’t mean that this doesn’t happen elsewhere. Plenty of coaches recruit players from a disadvantaged upbringing. But Izzo doesn’t go after the bad boys, he recruits the hard-workers. Rarely do MSU athletes (I am referencing the basketball team, not football in this case obviously) find themselves in trouble. Izzo runs a tight ship and deserves all the respect in the world for the job he’s done.

Well, after my two cents on each team that really tells nothing about the game, I guess I better get into some content…

Game 1 represents coaches with similar philosophy. Both teams made it to the Final Four relying on the “ugly” parts of basketball to win (rebounding for MSU and defense for Butler). I’d be surprised, scratch that, I would be shocked if this game reaches 60 points, let alone 70. Neither team is offensive-minded, though they can both score and play very well together.

I think the key to the game will be Butler’s defensive rebounding. MSU is going to have trouble scoring on Butler’s defense despite superior athleticism. But, second chance points could be huge momentum swings in the Spartan’s direction. To get here, Butler had to thwart a similar Kansas State team’s efforts, and did an excellent job.

The most important player for Butler will be Matt Howard (Yes, this is the same Matt Howard that averaged 14 pts, 8 rebs, and 2 blocks in two games against Brent Heemskerk). As an undersized center, a lot of the rebounding will fall on Howard’s hustle, grit, and determination to outsmart the Spartan bigs to the ball. (Oh and remember how I mentioned Howards resemblance to one, Ron Burgundy. Thoughts?)

Howard

Hello San Diego

Burgundy

This face? It's me remembering the time I dunked on Brent Heemskerk. Nasty.

Offensively, Butler knows what they will get from Shelvin Mack and Gordon Hayward, two players who have been outstanding in this tournament. However, they need Howard to step up on this end as well. Howard will have to be that third scoring option, trying to get easy baskets whenever he can with offensive rebounds and low post feeds. (The game’s wildcard will be the location of one Mr. Heemskerk. If Howard can channel his inner self-confidence by feeling Brent’s presence MSU may be in trouble. If Brent’s location in South Dakota hidden amongst Mt. Rushmore is too difficult for Howard’s radar to detect, Howard could be in for a long day. Brent’s presence is key, not some of the time, all the time. And yes, Brent eagerly awaits the day when people we played against are no longer in the NCAA.)

For Michigan State, their keys remain much the same; find a way to share the ball and break down the opponents defense without your starting point guard and best player (Kalin Lucas). Durrell Summers has stepped up, averaging over 20 PPG and knocking down clutch baskets for the Spartans. But in this game, points in the paint become even more important. With their size advantage, look for MSU to establish Raymar Morgan, Draymond Green, and Delvon Roe posting up smaller players. If Butler is forced to double team, Korie Lucious, Chris Allen, and Summers will be able to get open looks.

This game will be a hotly-contested, low scoring affair that goes down to the wire. Neither team will be willing to give an inch and I’m looking forward to the physical play. Slight edge to MSU for their size and athleticism, but I can already tell the basketball gods (and the Indy fans) are going to be upset with me for this pick.

Final score: Butler 56 – MSU 58
Brent’s Prediction: MSU 1 – Butler 0 (Points don’t matter to the big fella. Just results.)

Game 2 West Virginia vs Duke

While the other side of the bracket predicates everything that is good about college basketball, this matchup shows something entirely different.

In West Virginia, you have an easy-to-hate coach (Bob Huggins) notorious for his thug and intimidation tactics. Huggins will beat his team up so they beat you up. He has a history of giving people second and third chances (not a bad thing) while his teams continually are in trouble with authorities (this is more of a reference back to his Cincy days as we haven’t heard much from the Mountaineer squad). West Virginia’s made it this far by defeating their opponents mentally and physically.

Duke and Coach K have the pretty-boy image of college basketball. Though seemingly cool on the court, Coach K has a reputation for belittling players behind closed doors, often barraging them with a shouldn’t-be-made-public vocabulary. His players either love him or hate him. Just like a lot of fans either love Duke, or hate Duke.

If nothing else, West Virginia vs Duke is intriguing. Duke has shown they can play any style, but matching-up with the forward trio of bully Da’Sean Butler, “Stretch-Armstrong” Devin Ebanks, and increasing steady Kevin Jones, is something the Blue Devils haven’t had to do this year. What makes the Moutaineers so intriguing is that their best players can basically all play the same position. They have size, they have strength, and they have heart.

For Duke to win, they are going to have to shoot well. Jon Scheyer (one of the least favorite players of my former teammate Jonathan Cox), Kyle Singler, and Nolan Smith will have to shoot the ball well. Against Baylor, The Dukies were fortunate that despite Singler’s nightmare performance, Smith stepped up and had a career game. Duke’s big three will have to combine for 60 points to keep up with West Virginia’s attack, while their role players must continue to do the dirty work.

West Virginia must defend the three-point line in their zone and not allow Duke to get many open looks. The length of the zone is going to have to bother the Blue Devils, otherwise, we could be looking at a high-scoring matchup.

I like West Virginia and their three forwards to carry them to victory

Final: West Virginia 70 – Duke 64
Brent: Duke 1 – WVU 0

Catch me in the Galleria, Plaza, Chesterfield

Congrats to the Drake seniors – Bill Eaddy, Craig Stanley, Adam Templeton, and Josh Young for completing their Drake careers. Despite an up-and-down senior season, I’m proud of each of these guys for their hard work, determination, leadership, and career success. Each brought valuable qualities to the team and will be missed next year. I was especially happy about the gritty performance they showed against Southern Illinois Thursday night, ensuring that the team did not go quietly. Congrats on your careers fellas!

I was fortunate enough to view this victory first hand. For the first time, I attended the MVC tournament as a fan – well, kind of. After four years wearing P (Participant) credentials I flipped to the “dark side” (a term a lot of my “peers” used this weekend when asking about my experience) and wore an M (Media). To be honest, it was an amazing experience.

Traveling with KXNO’s Matt Perrault and Ken Miller, I sat in press row and assisted on Thursday and Friday during their sports talk program. Both guys made me feel very comfortable and led me around, both on and off air until I could figure things out for myself. I reunited myself with Dick Enberg and even got to meet a man with a cult-following, Bill Raftery (Note: Klayton Everett Korver was justifiably insanely jealous. Maybe he should have listened to me when I told him to go to St. Louis!)

The weather was great and the tournament was equally impressive. I’ve never been able to enjoy how well both St. Louis and the ScottTrade Center cater to Valley fans. The entire downtown area is adorned with Valley paraphernalia making for a very festive atmosphere. Different areas and hotels represent different teams, with common areas for all to enjoy. In the arena, the excitement and entertainment was geared toward all – getting fans excited with various questions, contests, and rallying cries. Someone even won four Cardinal tickets for spelling my name correctly. Sadly, they did not ask me this question. However, on the videoboard, the question clearly asked “How do you spell the last name of Drake University’s former MVC MVP and conference tournament MOP Adam Emmenecker?” (One kinda fun thing about the tournament is the questions were almost rudely obvious to ensure no wrong answers. Help was encouraged.) Maybe that wasn’t the exact question, but it was something to that effect. Needless to say, a female Drake fan answered the question correctly and has yet to ask me to attend the Cardinals game with her. I’m still hopeful.

Wichita State fans seemed the most abundant, but most schools were well represented. Sadly, the two schools with the least fans were Drake and Evansville. After such great support two years ago, it seems many Drake fans were not willing to make the trip. I was very happy with those who attended, however. Despite smaller numbers than Southern Illinois, Drake fans were loud and supportive, making their presence felt.

As they did through most of the regular season, UNI dominated the tournament. It was one of the more impressive basketball displays I’ve seen in person. Their defense as phenomenal and they had 10 guys make big plays over the course of the weekend. They seem to be getting stronger and stronger in preparation of the NCAA Tournament. Right now, I see them as a 6 or 7 seed, with the potential to make a splash against some powerhouses. I wish them the best of luck, as many Panther fans did for us two years ago. Make the conference proud!