Thinking out loud…while wondering if I run as fast as I can, why I still can't catch my breath…
Don't be sad it's over, be glad it happened.
Heard and saw that phrase used a lot in the past week after the Friars finished their NCAA Tournament run with a loss to Rock Chalk Jayhawk. And it's true.
What this team accomplished during the season is unprecedented – a regular season Big East championship that few ever saw coming, even with the change from the "old" Big East to the "new" Big East in 2013. Villanova's Jay Wright said it about his Final Four, blue blood program this week – without the current Big East, success might not have followed.
Success for this season (and beyond) also doesn't happen without GREAT attention paid to the newest, fertile recruiting ground in the sport – the Transfer Portal.
Al Durham? Justin Minaya? Difference-makers. It isn't certain that Ed Cooley and his staff even saw that level of success coming. But they sure hoped for it.
Expect Coach Cooley and his staff to hit the portal again for next season, even with some talented recruits coming into the program. If we learned one thing – it's that age and experience can overcome youth and inexperience almost every time.
Minaya and AJ Reeves have a year of eligibility remaining if they choose to pursue it. Both are likely to consider professional options, but I'd be surprised if they didn't keep a return to Friartown in their back pockets. May 17th is the potential return-to-school date to note.
Ed Croswell's return wasn't really in doubt, but CBS' Jon Rothstein tweeted this week Croswell plans to return next season. He stands to move in at center for much of Nate Watson's minutes in the PC lineup.
Wasn't that a fun ride? It's been a long time since we've seen Rhode Island pull together and head the same direction for much of anything…until the Friars' season changed that narrative.
The Dunk was electric. The students were off-the-hook. It was loud. Boisterous. Maybe a little rambunctious. And the team was 16-1 in the building, their best home mark since the '70's.
Loved every second of it. Let's do it again.
But will the Dunk be "the Dunk?" Dunkin' Donuts is seriously considering pulling out as the building namesake, with the naming rights contract up at the end of this month. With all that publicity and branding, respectfully…are they nuts?
Here's a Final Four "did ya' know" to consider: 40 years ago this week, 19-year-old freshman Michael Jordan hit the game-winner against Georgetown to win the 1982 NCAA Championship.
Forty. Years. Ago. We now return you to your regularly scheduled programming, and the realization that growing older stinks. Just sayin'.
What else stinks? Villanova's Justin Moore tearing his Achilles tendon and knocking himself out of the Final Four this weekend. Are the 'Cats chances to beat Kansas cooked?
Likely. But I'd never count Collin Gillespie out of anything.
Tweet of the Week, from @RandyScottESPN: "Purdue I know it hurts, but if you're going to be denied by St. Peter you want it to be in a basketball game."
Just as a reminder to those of you who think we'd all be better off if the big schools played the big schools, and the little guys were left to fend for themselves – St. Peter's success story doesn't happen this year if the "Football 5" breaks away.
And isn't that part of the fun behind the Madness? Giving the little guy a chance to slay Goliath?
Take away David's slingshot, or in this case the ability to compete, and Goliath will squash him like a bug.
Speaking of 'killing it,' the Peacocks aren't exactly. Their reaching the Elite Eight – the first time a 15-seed has ever made it that far – will be worth about $6 million in additional dollars to the MAAC over the next six years, but the league controls how the money is spread among its' membership.
Remember, this is a school that couldn't afford to send its cheerleaders to the tournament in the first place, before the streaming service PeacockTV stepped in two weeks ago. The basketball budget, not including salaries, is less than $250K per year.
And for anyone – anyone – who believes Shaheen Holloway was wrong for leaving St. Peter's to go to Seton Hall in the aftermath of their success?
1) Holloway is a Seton Hall grad. 2) Players can now leave for their 'dream' school if they wish. 3) (Checks notes) – Coaches have been leaving one job for a better job (and mo' money, mo' money, mo' money) for decades.
It's the American Way. Holloway made $266K at St. Peter's. He can make 10 times that (or thereabouts) at the Hall. Climb the ladder of success. Or, if you really want to keep your coach, pony up.
Xavier's win in the NIT title game over Texas A&M gave the Big East wins in both the men's and women's tournaments. Seton Hall's women won the WNIT. The Big East had (or still has) a team in each of the major Final Fours (NCAA, NCAAW, NIT, WNIT).
And if you hadn't noticed, this year's NIT at Madison Square Garden was likely the last for at least awhile, ending an 84-year run. The NCAA owns and operates the tournament and has put it out to bid for other cities. Vegas, anyone?
Jonas Hayes, who led the Musketeers in their final four games as coach after Travis Steele's dismissal (following the first round NIT win over Cleveland State), is now looking for work with a nice bump to his resume. He could also remain at Xavier as Associate Head Coach under Sean Miller.
As we reported here two weeks back, the rumblings were loud in Amherst. Former South Carolina and Kansas State head coach Frank Martin has landed at UMass. Martin is a former Big 12 Coach of the Year at K-State, and a former assistant at Northeastern…in addition to his highly successful career as a high school coach in South Florida during the late '90's.
His career has had some volatility to it – and that might be just what the Minutemen need to wake up the echoes.
And the rumors of an impending conference move by Bryant came to fruition this week, with the America East Conference announcing the addition of the Bulldogs to their league beginning next season in 2022-23. Football will join the Big South as an associate member.
Bryant's addition to the Northeast Conference when they moved into Division I 15 years ago was the right place at the right time, and a smashing success. This move, for basketball and other sports, into America East should create stronger regional rivalries with the likes of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont.
America East is now back to nine member schools for next fall, after Stony Brook and Hartford depart this summer. Stony Brook is moving into the Colonial Athletic Association, and Hartford drops back into Division III.
Don't look now, but the collegiate free agent season is upon us. Bryant guard Mike Iuzzolino is hitting the transfer portal. And coach Jared Grasso appears to be picking up a transfer of his own, from Rhode Island, in Antwan Walker.
URI extended women's hoop coach Tammi Reiss 10 years? That's more commitment than most marriages these days, it seems. On the men's side, Archie Miller has Malik Martin and Ishmael Leggett returning from a brief stay in the transfer portal, but the Mitchell twins (and up to four others) departing. Martin and Leggett returning is a boost out of the gate for Miller.
Recently departed Rhody head coach David Cox landed on his feet quickly. He's now an assistant at Maryland for new head coach (and ex-Seton Hall coach) Kevin Willard.
Maybe it's just me. But is anyone else surprised at the allegations of improprieties levied at Penny Hardaway and Memphis? I mean, the guy did learn a little about the dark side of the sport from his starring role in the 1994 movie "Blue Chips," amiright?
Hey Paige, welcome back! UConn's Paige Bueckers, following her knee injury earlier this year, scored 27 points as the #2 seed Huskies beat top seeded NC State 91-87 in double OT in the women's NCAA Tournament.
In Bridgeport, CT. For their 14th straight Final Four.
Living. Pay your taxes. Dying. UConn women in the Final Four = four certainties in life.
Front Office Sports reported this week Bueckers has the highest earning potential per social media post ($62.9K) among all remaining March Madness athletes. Qualifies as both a 'wow' and a 'whoa' in my book.
UConn's men lost both Tyrese Martin and RJ Cole to the NBA Draft. Rahsool Diggins is in the portal, and Jalen Gaffney reportedly has joined him there. Adama Sanogo (1st team all-Big East), Jordan Hawkins (Big East all-Freshman) and Andre Jackson remain to form a talented nucleus for next year. Akok Akok is also returning…for now.
But the snake needs a head.
Patrick Ewing, we think, will still be the head coach next season at Georgetown. But the program had three more players (Tim Ighoefe, Tyler Beard, Jaliin Billingsley) leave for the transfer portal this week. Have the Hoyas yet reached a point of diminishing return?
Other departures this week – Aaron Wheeler will not use his final year of eligibility at St. John's, he'll turn pro. And 7-1 Ike Obiagu at Seton Hall will also forgo his fifth year with the Pirates.
Brown's Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year, Jaylan Gainey, tweeted this week he's moving onto Florida State. Now that's something you don't see every day – a Brown transfer to FSU.
My lady buddy Bobbi sez some days, she feels like running away from it all. Then she remembers how much she hates running.
What I love about the annual spring NFL meetings – something goofy always happens. What I don't love about the annual spring NFL meetings – something stupid always happens.
Don't like the new OT rules, even if it's changed just for the playoffs. Or for Josh Allen. But it's the owners' game, so…
It lessens and cheapens the importance of having a defense capable of making a stop. It's the pro football equivalent of "everybody gets a trophy." Everybody gets the ball.
I know, offense sells tickets and TV eyeballs. But call me a believer in a defense needing to stop someone every now and then to show true championship worth.
Detroit won something. They get the NFL Draft in 2024. Can they hang a banner for that?
Seven NFL first round draft picks in April were traded away in March. Wait, wut? So much for building and re-building through the draft.
I get the expanded "Rooney rule" to include women being interviewed, and the 32 offensive assistants that will be hired by all teams and required to be minorities. But the fact that ownership had to come up with these new "rules" in the first place should tell you a lot about where the sport really stands.
When success pays near immediate dividends: The Bills reached agreement with NY Governor Kathy Hochul this week on state and county governments chipping in $850 million toward the estimated $1.4 billion in new stadium costs. It's still one of the largest public subsidies ever given to an NFL stadium.
And casino revenue is being earmarked to drive the funding. Nah, no use for that sort of thing around here, huh?
The basketball gods giveth, then taketh away. The Celtics reached first place in the East this week, then promptly lost to the Miami Heat to drop back. It's an amazing run, really, for a team that played little-to-no defense earlier this season and had an offense that resembled one guy (Jayson Tatum) pushing a parked car.
Should Ime Udoka be in "coach of the year" consideration? Absolutely.
Wondering if Celtics' owner Steve Pagliuca is preoccupied with things other than hoops these days? ICYMI, he's in the bidding for Chelsea in the English Premiership, since the Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich who owns the team is bailing…for about $4 billion.
Did you know – that the distance between first and second base in major league baseball is NOT 90 feet? It was 88.5 feet. And It WAS, because it IS shrinking inward to 87 feet, to encourage more activity on the basepaths, if you will.
And cause catchers a ton of agita along the way. Minor league parks will likely see change this year, big league parks – not yet. But soon.
I keep looking at the Red Sox' lineup, especially with Trevor Story in it, and thinking…is there a weak link? Yeah, JBJ. But at the least, it should be improved defensively.
And with some decent pitching, this team should keep us engaged over the summer. Until football.
So sad to learn the news last weekend of Foo Fighters' drummer (and fellow Fort Worth, TX native) Taylor Hawkins' passing. His heroes in the industry included some of the best to ever wield the sticks, like Rush's Neil Peart, Queen's Roger Taylor and Stewart Copeland from The Police.
His talent and legend ranked right up there with that of his heroes. With Dave Grohl and the band announcing the cancellation of their planned summer shows, you certainly wonder if this is the last we'll see – and hear – of the Foos.
Maybe someone needs to 'get jiggy wit' Will Smith?
In all seriousness, taking a step back from the Oscar's fiasco/slap, it seemed like an absolute ploy to spice up diminishing TV ratings – which WERE higher than last year…and those were the lowest-rated Oscars ever.
Was Chris Rock wrong to poke fun? Hey, that's what comedians do – they poke fun at others' misfortunes. Where have you been? Under a rock (pun not intended)?
But Smith's rebuttal wasn't just shocking, it was shockingly out of character. The only takeaway I've got here is exactly that – take away his trophy.
We do that to children, take away their toys when they misbehave, don't we? Or at least we should. But the Academy won't do that.
Not for nuthin,' but ten years from now, no one will remember the movie he won Best Actor for…playing the role of Richard Williams (Venus and Serena's father) in "King Richard." But they'll remember the slap.
Not exactly advancing Hollywood's cause – good or bad, black, white, or green. Stupid is as stupid does.
And yet, somewhat disturbingly, I already can't wait for next years' Academy Awards…where the jokes and slapping innuendos will undoubtedly permeate the airwaves like the smell of dirty socks hanging heavy in a high school gym.
Besides, I'm on board with the idea it could have been staged. And the perpetrators may not have realized the level of stink they created. I love a good conspiracy.
It's April Fools. Believe nothing and trust no one. Which makes it just like any other day.
Interested in having your questions on local Rhode Island sports (and yes, that includes the Patriots, Red Sox, Bruins and Celtics) answered in a somewhat timely fashion? It's your chance to "think out loud," so send your questions, comments and local stories to jrbroadcaster@gmail.com. We'll share mailbag comments/Facebook posts/Tweets right here! Would appreciate the follow on Twitter, @JRbroadcaster…and join in on Facebook, www.facebook.com/john.rooke ...
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