Wearing the black hat will be Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun, a grumpy old man who has been labeled an NCAA rules-violating villain. Honest and humble he’s not.
Sports Columns
HOUSTON — The parade of awards began early here this week for Jimmer Fredette, who better have arrived with an extra suitcase. If the Timmy Chan’s restaurant near Reliant Stadium was handing out Player of the Year honors in college basketball, my guess is the Brigham Young senior would have been there to smile, say a few words of thanks, hoist another plaque and enjoy some chicken and rice.
HOUSTON — The lobby at the downtown Hilton here Saturday afternoon was full of what college basketball coaches refer to as lounge lizards. They’re not talking about John Calipari and Jim Calhoun.
HOUSTON — The dog is the ironic part in all this. Blue 2. That slobbery, lovable canine with the thick folds of skin and 5,000 followers on Twitter, an English bulldog with wide shoulders and matching head and, as typical for its breed, suspect intelligence.
The open practice was about to end, and Virginia Commonwealth basketball coach Shaka Smart jumped into his team’s final drill.
The first part everyone needs to get over is the denial, the pledges to remain in Las Vegas, to finish his coaching career at UNLV.
When a double-digit favorite such as Kansas bites the dust, the common reaction is shock and awe. Bill Self had a loaded team and a clear path to the championship. The odds were in his favor.