All the one-and-dones are done before the Final Four.
I’ve talked periodically through the season about how difficult it would be for freshman-laden teams to reach the Final Four and win the national championship. That’s because as they went deeper in the NCAA tournament, the talent almost meets its match against other highly ranked teams that also have greater experience.
So the Final Four at the end of a thrilling Big Dance will be missing the biggest names in college basketball along with high TV ratings. How many brackets you think were filled out with Carolina, Duke and Kentucky all missing the Final Four? Not many, for sure.
The one-and-done rule works great for the players, most of whom go on to be lottery picks and sign big NBA contracts and shoe deals. Zion Williamson will be worth five times whatever his rookie contract is when Nike, as early as today, contracts him to the richest endorsement deal in the company’s history.
Not to the same extent, but that is also true for RJ Barrett, a couple of kids from Kentucky and Coby White if he decides to go, plus some other freshmen ranked high in the mock drafts. They all get what they ultimately went to college for. But their schools, once again not so much. In this decade, Duke and Kentucky have each won one national championship when they were supposed to have the best, or among the best, teams in America.
Auburn and Texas Tech each have one freshman in their rotations; Michigan State and Virginia have one freshman starter, both role players. They make up among the most veteran Final Fours ever, and it’s no accident.
Carolina was bitten by the flu, yes, but more so a questionable game plan against a quicker, experienced Auburn team that got into the Tar Heels’ head. A double-teaming defense forced Coby, UNC’s only real ball handler, into traffic and Auburn hit a barrage of long bombs.
If Ol’ Roy had to do it over again, he might choose to play the Tigers’ three-point shooters tight and straight up and let them have two-point baskets, which the Heels could more easily offset on the other end. The long balls gave Auburn confidence and a big lead Carolina could not overcome.
And even stupendous Zion met his match against gang-defending Michigan State, with a superb senior guard. Zion led Duke with a double-double but barely touched the ball the last few minutes of the game. Another one-and-done team done early.
Carolina certainly had talent this year. But they didn’t seem ready for the big game(s). They often seemed surprised by what the other team did, and did not readily make adjustments. Sounds like a coaching issue once again.
MAN THE PLAYERS WAS SICK THEY DID GOOD TO BE OUT THERE TRYING IF YOU EVER HAD THE FLU YOU WOULD KNOW THAT WE JUST HAD A BAD DAY THAT’S IT THE ONLY THING ILL SAY ABOUT ROY IS I THINK HE SHOULD GET 4 STAR AND BUILD TEAMS FOR THE LONG HAUL HE’S GOOD AT THAT.
If you never coached, you only know what you hear. Our best shooter was sick. Nassir was sick. Roy’s philosophy has netted three national championships since he came back. You armchair coaches understand nothing about what it takes to win at this level. When you talk about adjustments during a game, easier said that done. These are just kids. So everyone shut up
yea poor Carolina, they had a bad cold as opposed to the knee and shoulder injuries Duke dealt with all year. How about losing your best player and still winning the regional? (see Auburn) Also Art, Zion didn’t touch the ball because Sparty’s bigs stole it on like three straight attempts to feed the post to him late so it was not for a lack of trying. You’re right though about the experience factor. Got to have strong veterans to go all the way. Heels about to have the most significant roster turnover in years. All those seniors gone, White and Little will be gone. (Little already announced) rebuilding job for Roy.
Carolina certainly had talent this year. But they didn’t seem ready for the big game(s). They often seemed surprised by what the other team did, and did not readily make adjustments. Sounds like a coaching issue once again.
Art, you know Roy would not change anything. Adjustments and use of timeouts are not a part of his coaching philosophy
MAN THE PLAYERS WAS SICK THEY DID GOOD TO BE OUT THERE TRYING IF YOU EVER HAD THE FLU YOU WOULD KNOW THAT WE JUST HAD A BAD DAY THAT’S IT THE ONLY THING ILL SAY ABOUT ROY IS I THINK HE SHOULD GET 4 STAR AND BUILD TEAMS FOR THE LONG HAUL HE’S GOOD AT THAT.
Sick or not,adjustments need to be made. Auburn lost Okeke and was still able to beat Kentucky.
Sick or not,adjustments have to be made.Auburn lost Okeke and they were still able to beat Kentucky.
If you never coached, you only know what you hear. Our best shooter was sick. Nassir was sick. Roy’s philosophy has netted three national championships since he came back. You armchair coaches understand nothing about what it takes to win at this level. When you talk about adjustments during a game, easier said that done. These are just kids. So everyone shut up
yea poor Carolina, they had a bad cold as opposed to the knee and shoulder injuries Duke dealt with all year. How about losing your best player and still winning the regional? (see Auburn) Also Art, Zion didn’t touch the ball because Sparty’s bigs stole it on like three straight attempts to feed the post to him late so it was not for a lack of trying. You’re right though about the experience factor. Got to have strong veterans to go all the way. Heels about to have the most significant roster turnover in years. All those seniors gone, White and Little will be gone. (Little already announced) rebuilding job for Roy.