Day 6

This Arkansas season gave his new fan base the whole Calipari experience. I'm not here to crush the man. John Wall, Anthony Davis, Fox/Monk/Bam, Ulis/Murray, the 2015 team. I loved it all. Calipari said all along that the Kentucky job ages you. He's right. Even with his level of success, a decade dealing with the Kentucky crazies is more than enough. That said, the frustrating aspects about his coaching were on display on Thursday. Build a lead then sit on the ball, sapping momentum. And Cal definitely plays favorites, none more than sophomore DJ Wagner (son of Dajuan Wagner, who also was a star for Calipari). Wagner genuinely seems like a good kid, but he didn't end up being the superstar he was at the prep level. Wagner had the ball on the last play in both regulation and overtime. No thought to calling time and designing a play to get the ball to the hot hand, Johnell Davis who had 30. Wagner at the rim isn't the worst idea. But he chose to drive (vs a defender a half foot shorter) and then fade away from 15 feet. His shot had no shot.

I was going to ignore this, but it's impossible at this point. After the Illinois game, Kentucky coach Mark Pope credited the performance of his center, Amari Williams, to a change in breakfast routine. Specifically, they got their hands on a box of Weetabix cereal, which is apparently popular in Williams' home country, England. Pope tried to turn it into a funny story saying Williams should get a NIL deal from the company. Put it this way, these two aren't exactly Key and Peele (who are like Abbot and Costello, Boomers).

To me, Weetabix didn't seem that exotic. Like, England's version of Shredded Wheat, right? My Mom ate that stuff back in the day. I did too, on occasion. Put enough sugar on it and it was fine. It's not like vegamite, which no one eats outside of Australia (for good reason). 

Naturally, Kentucky fans went completely overboard. They all had to try it. By the next morning, Weetabix soared to the top selling cold cereal in the US, with sales increasing 6,000% on Amazon. Big Blue Nation is insane. The reviews have been mixed. According to WIlliams, it should be eaten with warm milk. And, unlike Shredded Wheat, the Weetabix biscuits turn into something resembling lumpy wallpaper paste when they get wet. There isn't enough sugar in my house to make that appealing. Hard pass.

The whole Kentucky team had Weetabix for breakfast this morning. After a week of social media prodding, the Weetabix company finally acknowledged the whole phenomenon. They have not, however, signed a NIL deal with Williams. 

By the way, prior to Kentucky Williams played four seasons for Philly's Drexel University.

This game was played at Lucas Oil stadium, home of the Colts. This was the only football stadium used in the Sweet 16. Indy hosts the Final Four next season and this is their test run. I wish it weren't. Basketball should not be played in a cavern. It's lucrative: Lucas Oil was configured to seat 35,000. The sight lines, as usual in a space that large, are terrible. The NBA playoffs are in basketball arenas. I wish the NCAA did the same.

Shockingly, the game started and neither team could find the bottom of the bucket. The Vols adjusted, my team did not. UK got crushed on the glass (22-13 rebound differential at the break). Tennesse was superior in every aspect of the game. We were lucky to only be down 15 at the half. 

The second half was played to a draw but the damage was done. Kentucky could never get the lead below double digits. Every time the Cats did something right, the Vols had an answer. 78-65 Tennessee. The Vols diminutive point guard, Zakai Zeigler, was in full control with 18 points and 10 assists.

242nd meeting between these border (!) rivals but the first in the Sweet 16. This is only the third Elite 8 for the Vols; they have never been to a Final Four.

Peyton Manning (University of Tennessee, 1994-96) was in the house that he built.

This is also the anniversary of the Laettner game, 33 years ago today. Just. Shoot. Me.

Our sharphooter, Koby Brea, had an off night. We had no chance without him. Readers of a certain age will remember Felipe López, the New York schoolyard legend. He and Allen Iverson were both high school seniors in 1994. Most considered López the better prospect. He appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated before he played a college game for St Johns. López, the pride of the Washington Heights Dominican community, was a great college player and played four seasons in the pros. What's with this tangent? Felipe López is Koby Brea's godfather.

MSU freshman Jeremy Fears is the older brother of Oklahoma star Jeremiah Fears. They are both freshmen. Jeremiah reclassified after his junior year of high school and starred this season for Oklahoma (averaging 17 points per game). Jeremiah has a vicious first step and can finish through contact. His outside shot needs work, but Jeremiah is projected to be drafted at #9 by the Spurs this summer. Jeremy, a McDonald's All-American in 2023, is not as tall as his brother and not as explosive. He averaged 3 points and 3 assists this season for MSU. Jeremy has played himself into the rotation and appears to be a the kind of mult-year project that Izzo loves to coach.

Sparty could not stay in from of the Ole Miss guards, who were getting whatever they wanted early on. Shockingly, Ole Miss also out-toughed MSU down low. The Rebs built an 8 point lead mid-way through the first. MSU seemed outclassed but they didn't quit, closing to within a bucket at the half. This set the stage for the best half of the tournament. Very high level basketball on both sides. Punch and counterpunch with neither team able to build a lead. A missed tip-in by Ole Miss with seconds remaining allowed MSU to finally take a three point lead. It was that close. The Spartans hit their free throws and Ole Miss ended the game with a meaningless 3 to set the final score: 73-70.

Jase Richarson with 20 for MSU. Sean Pedulla had 24 for Ole Miss. (Jeremy Fears: 4 points and 6 assists).

Entertaining first half by two evenly matched teams. Auburn All-American Johni Broome with a double-double at the break (10 points, 11 boards). Michigan big Danny Wolf also came to play, with 11 in the opening stanza. The game was not exactly played at a high level. Neither team shot well and their was a lot of wrestling inside. Still, entertaining. Michigan up 2 at the half. 

Michigan opened up a 9-point lead mid-way through the second. Time out, Auburn. The Tigers came out of the TO fired up, ripping off a 20-2 run. It was all over after that, with Auburn cruising to a 13-point win. Johni Broome was magnificent with 22 and 16. Reserve Tahaad Pettiford went wild during the Auburn second half blitz; he finished with 20 (as did Denver Jones).

This game tipped off at 10:30, very much fueling a desire to curse but I am supposed to behave myself. Hope you are enjoying the PG13 version of the Notes!

Close, defense-first game. Purdue's Camden Heide hit a clutch corner 3 with 35 seconds remaining to knot the score at 60. Houston coach Kelvin Sampson drew up a sweet play that Purdue defended poorly. Easy layup. Game Cougars.