Here are the updated scores through last night's games:
138 Joey W. #8 Lville
136 Sam D. #2 UNC
132 Joey W. #7 UCLA
132 RGT 3 UNC
130 Krista R. #2 UCLA
128 Eric J. #1 Kansas
126 TS #6 Texas
126 Joey W. #1 Lville
126 Joey W. #2 Lville
126 Eric J. #3 Memphis
124 Jon P. Kansas
124 Mike S. UNC
124 Sam D. #3 Memphis
124 Krista R. #1 UNC
122 Robert S. #5 Kansas
122 Kathy S. #1 WI
122 Sam D. #1 UNC
120 TS #1 WI
120 Robert S. #3 UCLA
120 Joe H. #2 UNC
120 Ken R. #1 Duke
118 TS #3 Kansas
118 TS #7 UNC
118 Bob S. #1 Kansas
118 Bob S. #2 Tenn
118 Daniel T. UCLA
116 TS #4 UCLA
116 Bob S. #8 Tenn
116 Robert S. #4 UNC
116 Donna K. Kansas
116 Eric J. #2 UNC
116 Connie R. #2 Duke
114 Joey W. #4 Lville
114 Ryan P. UCLA
114 Austin R. Kansas
112 TS #8 Kansas
112 Bob S. #4 UNC
112 Joey W. #6 Pitt
112 Jeremy N. #1 Memphis
110 Bob S. #3 Gtown
110 Steve P. Memphis
110 Ken R. #2 UCLA
106 TS #2 UNC
106 TS #5 Lville
106 Robert S. #1 UCLA
102 Joe H. #3 WI
102 Connie R. #1 UCLA
100 Bob S. #7 WI
100 Robert S. #2 UNC
98 Bob S. #6 UCLA
98 Joey W. #5 Kansas
98 Kathy S. #2 WI
98 Jeremy N. #2 WI
98 Brad S. UNC
92 Bob S. #5 UNC
90 Joey W. #3 UCLA
88 Kathy S. #4 UNC
88 Joe H. #1 UCLA
72 Erin H.* WI
68 Kathy S. #5 UCLA
18 Kathy S. #3* SD
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Friday, March 28, 2008
UW's Season Comes to an End
The Badgers struggled offensively and were not able to contain Stephen Curry, and the end result was a deflating 73-56 loss. While the loss was certainly a disappointing end for Badger fans, I'm trying to keep things in perspective - remember that few people picked UW to finish anywhere near the top in the Big Ten, yet the Badgers won the conference title and tournament. It's also good to keep in mind that until Bo Ryan arrived, just getting to the NCAA Tournament was considered to be a great achievement, and now the Badgers have completed back-to-back 30-win seasons.
Here are a few of my observations from tonight's loss:
-The Badgers were never able to establish a post game. They had an advantage inside and were never able to exploit it. Credit some of that to the quick and pesky defense that Davidson played all game. They fell in love with the three-point shot early, but those shots stopped falling when they needed them the most.
-The injury and limited playing time of Trevon Hughes hurt the Badgers. Early in the game he showed an ability to drive to the hoop with ease, which later in the game could have led to easy baskets or assists. Yet one more case to support the idea that point guards are the most important piece for any tournament team.
-Davidson shot lights out, and even when a UW player was there to contest the shot, the shooter was somehow able to make the basket. It was one of those games where it seemed like the other team was getting all the breaks.
Here are a few of my observations from tonight's loss:
-The Badgers were never able to establish a post game. They had an advantage inside and were never able to exploit it. Credit some of that to the quick and pesky defense that Davidson played all game. They fell in love with the three-point shot early, but those shots stopped falling when they needed them the most.
-The injury and limited playing time of Trevon Hughes hurt the Badgers. Early in the game he showed an ability to drive to the hoop with ease, which later in the game could have led to easy baskets or assists. Yet one more case to support the idea that point guards are the most important piece for any tournament team.
-Davidson shot lights out, and even when a UW player was there to contest the shot, the shooter was somehow able to make the basket. It was one of those games where it seemed like the other team was getting all the breaks.
Quick Links
A story from the New York Times on Wisconsin basketball.
(Thanks to BS for the link)
A free trip to Detroit for Davidson students.
What's unique about the games in Detroit and Houston this weekend?
What happened to Tennessee?
The Journal Sentinel looks at Bo Ryan's teachings and the even matchup tonight.
(Thanks to BS for the link)
A free trip to Detroit for Davidson students.
What's unique about the games in Detroit and Houston this weekend?
What happened to Tennessee?
The Journal Sentinel looks at Bo Ryan's teachings and the even matchup tonight.
tS' March Madness Pool - UPDATE!
Current scores after Thursday's games, plus the champion pick for each bracket:
120 Joey W. #8 Lville
118 Sam D. #2 UNC
114 Joey W. #1 Lville
114 Joey W. #7 UCLA
114 RGT 3 UNC
112 Mike S. UNC
112 Krista R. #2 UCLA
110 Eric J. #1 Kansas
108 TS #6 Texas
108 Robert S. #3 UCLA
108 Joey W. #2 Lville
108 Eric J. #3 Memphis
108 Ken R. #1 Duke
106 TS #3 Kansas
106 TS #7 UNC
106 Bob S. #1 Kansas
106 Jon P. Kansas
106 Sam D. #3 Memphis
106 Krista R. #1 UNC
104 Bob S. #3 Gtown
104 Bob S. #8 Tenn
104 Robert S. #4 UNC
104 Robert S. #5 Kansas
104 Kathy S. #1 WI
104 Sam D. #1 UNC
102 TS #1 WI
102 Joey W. #4 Lville
102 Joe H. #2 UNC
102 Austin R. Kansas
100 TS #8 Kansas
100 Bob S. #2 Tenn
100 Bob S. #4 UNC
100 Robert S. #1 UCLA
100 Joey W. #6 Pitt
100 Daniel T. UCLA
98 TS #4 UCLA
98 Kathy S. #2 WI
98 Donna K. Kansas
98 Eric J. #2 UNC
98 Connie R. #2 Duke
98 Ken R. #2 UCLA
96 Ryan P. UCLA
94 TS #2 UNC
94 TS #5 Lville
94 Jeremy N. #1 Memphis
92 Bob S. #6 UCLA
92 Steve P. Memphis
92 Brad S. UNC
90 Joe H. #3 WI
88 Bob S. #7 WI
88 Robert S. #2 UNC
88 Kathy S. #4 UNC
86 Bob S. #5 UNC
86 Joey W. #5 Kansas
86 Jeremy N. #2 WI
84 Joey W. #3 UCLA
84 Connie R. #1 UCLA
82 Joe H. #1 UCLA
68 Kathy S. #5 UCLA
66 Erin H. WI
18 Kathy S. #3* SD
120 Joey W. #8 Lville
118 Sam D. #2 UNC
114 Joey W. #1 Lville
114 Joey W. #7 UCLA
114 RGT 3 UNC
112 Mike S. UNC
112 Krista R. #2 UCLA
110 Eric J. #1 Kansas
108 TS #6 Texas
108 Robert S. #3 UCLA
108 Joey W. #2 Lville
108 Eric J. #3 Memphis
108 Ken R. #1 Duke
106 TS #3 Kansas
106 TS #7 UNC
106 Bob S. #1 Kansas
106 Jon P. Kansas
106 Sam D. #3 Memphis
106 Krista R. #1 UNC
104 Bob S. #3 Gtown
104 Bob S. #8 Tenn
104 Robert S. #4 UNC
104 Robert S. #5 Kansas
104 Kathy S. #1 WI
104 Sam D. #1 UNC
102 TS #1 WI
102 Joey W. #4 Lville
102 Joe H. #2 UNC
102 Austin R. Kansas
100 TS #8 Kansas
100 Bob S. #2 Tenn
100 Bob S. #4 UNC
100 Robert S. #1 UCLA
100 Joey W. #6 Pitt
100 Daniel T. UCLA
98 TS #4 UCLA
98 Kathy S. #2 WI
98 Donna K. Kansas
98 Eric J. #2 UNC
98 Connie R. #2 Duke
98 Ken R. #2 UCLA
96 Ryan P. UCLA
94 TS #2 UNC
94 TS #5 Lville
94 Jeremy N. #1 Memphis
92 Bob S. #6 UCLA
92 Steve P. Memphis
92 Brad S. UNC
90 Joe H. #3 WI
88 Bob S. #7 WI
88 Robert S. #2 UNC
88 Kathy S. #4 UNC
86 Bob S. #5 UNC
86 Joey W. #5 Kansas
86 Jeremy N. #2 WI
84 Joey W. #3 UCLA
84 Connie R. #1 UCLA
82 Joe H. #1 UCLA
68 Kathy S. #5 UCLA
66 Erin H. WI
18 Kathy S. #3* SD
Thursday, March 27, 2008
For The Record
Instead of picking who I think will win (which is obviously a futile exercise), I thought I'd share who I would like to win this weekend. Here are a few matchups I'd like to see later in the Tournament:
1. Final Four - Wisconsin vs. Washington St.
Two similar teams, a wealth of intriguing storylines, and a big "stick-it-to-'em" to all of the college basketball analysts that dump on these two teams.
2. Final Four - Wisconsin vs. Tennessee
Bruce Pearl vs. Bo Ryan, in a matchup of two former UW-Milwaukee head coaches.
3. Final Four - Texas vs. UCLA
I would love to watch the nation's two best point guards play against each other (D.J. Augustin vs. Darren Collison), especially because I missed the game back in December when Texas won by 2 points.
4. National Championship - Wisconsin vs. UCLA
What better way for the Badgers to win their first national title since 1941, than against the fabled program of UCLA? Not to mention the fact that this would be one of the greatest defensive matchups in recent history.
1. Final Four - Wisconsin vs. Washington St.
Two similar teams, a wealth of intriguing storylines, and a big "stick-it-to-'em" to all of the college basketball analysts that dump on these two teams.
2. Final Four - Wisconsin vs. Tennessee
Bruce Pearl vs. Bo Ryan, in a matchup of two former UW-Milwaukee head coaches.
3. Final Four - Texas vs. UCLA
I would love to watch the nation's two best point guards play against each other (D.J. Augustin vs. Darren Collison), especially because I missed the game back in December when Texas won by 2 points.
4. National Championship - Wisconsin vs. UCLA
What better way for the Badgers to win their first national title since 1941, than against the fabled program of UCLA? Not to mention the fact that this would be one of the greatest defensive matchups in recent history.
March Madness Continues Tonight
The third round of the Tournament kicks off tonight with four games. Friday will feature four more games, and Saturday and Sunday will both feature two regional finals.
March Madness is such a great time of the year, but there are still some things that I'm not looking forward to in the next few days (more commercials, shots of Stephen Curry's mother on TV, watching all of my brackets get busted). Hopefully all of the things that I am looking forward to will not disappoint:
1. Badgers, Badgers, Badgers
There's a very good chance that UW fans will get to watch the Badgers twice this weekend. They play Davidson on Friday, 6:10 pm, and should the Badgers advance they would meet the winner of Kansas/Villanova on Sunday. The last time UW was playing for a shot at the Final Four was in 2005 (a team featuring someone I recently interviewed). Badger fans are also lucky in that Gus Johnson will be announcing UW's games on TV for CBS.
2. Michael Flowers vs. Stephen Curry
In his four years at UW, Flowers has had the opportunity to guard some of the nation's best guards. He will no doubt be tested once again tomorrow night by Curry, who collected 70 points in Davidson's first two Tournament games. It will be interesting to see how Flowers and the rest of the Badgers do against Curry and how it will impact the result of the game. Even if Curry collects 30 or 40 points, he's going to need help from the rest of his teammates in order for Davidson to advance.
3. Offense vs. Defense
Whether it's fair or not, North Carolina and Washington St. are both teams that have been criticized for being too focused on one aspect of the game. Some analysts have called the defense of UNC uninspiring, and some analysts have said the same about Washington St.'s offense. Even though it's a cliche, this game will be one of tempo. If Washington St. is able to disrupt and disturb the UNC offense this game could be a lot closer than a lot of experts are predicting.
4. Small vs. Big
Texas has been one of my favorite teams to watch this year, and it's mostly because of the stellar backcourt of D.J. Augustin and A.J. Abrams. Texas depends heavily on the play of these two, while Stanford will depend heavily on the inside game of the Lopez twins. Just like the Marquette/Stanford contest, this is a game that features many unique matchups. Hopefully when Texas and Stanford clash, it will be just as exciting.
5. UCLA
UCLA has not looked as dominant as UNC and Kansas have so far in the Tournament, and came close to an early exit against Texas A&M. It will be interesting to see how they respond against Western Kentucky, the Tournament's real Cinderella (a No. 12 seed). W. Kentucky has nothing to lose at this point, which could be dangerous for UCLA. The best case-scenario for UCLA would be to jump out to an early 20-point lead in the first half, which would allow them, their fans, and everyone who picked them to win it all, to breath a little easier.
6. Watching Memphis Shoot Free Throws
Do you remember a few years ago when Memphis guard Darius Washington missed a free throw to send the Tigers into the NCAA Tournament? That was a truly gut-wrenching scene. This year, Memphis' woes at the free throw line have been more comical. But as the stakes get higher and the opponents get tougher, someone from Memphis' team will likely be in that same situation as Washington was in a few years ago - except with the stakes a tad higher.
7. The Final Four
At the end of the weekend, the Sweet Sixteen will be whittled down to the Final Four. There are so many talented teams still alive right now that won't be playing next weekend, and it will be very interesting to see how it all shakes out. A lot of people think this could be the first year that all #1 seeds advance, but I don't see that happening, especially with the tough road ahead for Memphis. It will also be interesting to see what conferences are represented in the Final Four. I know a lot of people in this area of the country are hoping for two Big Ten teams to advance, which would be a nightmare for a lot of the so-called expert analysts.
March Madness is such a great time of the year, but there are still some things that I'm not looking forward to in the next few days (more commercials, shots of Stephen Curry's mother on TV, watching all of my brackets get busted). Hopefully all of the things that I am looking forward to will not disappoint:
1. Badgers, Badgers, Badgers
There's a very good chance that UW fans will get to watch the Badgers twice this weekend. They play Davidson on Friday, 6:10 pm, and should the Badgers advance they would meet the winner of Kansas/Villanova on Sunday. The last time UW was playing for a shot at the Final Four was in 2005 (a team featuring someone I recently interviewed). Badger fans are also lucky in that Gus Johnson will be announcing UW's games on TV for CBS.
2. Michael Flowers vs. Stephen Curry
In his four years at UW, Flowers has had the opportunity to guard some of the nation's best guards. He will no doubt be tested once again tomorrow night by Curry, who collected 70 points in Davidson's first two Tournament games. It will be interesting to see how Flowers and the rest of the Badgers do against Curry and how it will impact the result of the game. Even if Curry collects 30 or 40 points, he's going to need help from the rest of his teammates in order for Davidson to advance.
3. Offense vs. Defense
Whether it's fair or not, North Carolina and Washington St. are both teams that have been criticized for being too focused on one aspect of the game. Some analysts have called the defense of UNC uninspiring, and some analysts have said the same about Washington St.'s offense. Even though it's a cliche, this game will be one of tempo. If Washington St. is able to disrupt and disturb the UNC offense this game could be a lot closer than a lot of experts are predicting.
4. Small vs. Big
Texas has been one of my favorite teams to watch this year, and it's mostly because of the stellar backcourt of D.J. Augustin and A.J. Abrams. Texas depends heavily on the play of these two, while Stanford will depend heavily on the inside game of the Lopez twins. Just like the Marquette/Stanford contest, this is a game that features many unique matchups. Hopefully when Texas and Stanford clash, it will be just as exciting.
5. UCLA
UCLA has not looked as dominant as UNC and Kansas have so far in the Tournament, and came close to an early exit against Texas A&M. It will be interesting to see how they respond against Western Kentucky, the Tournament's real Cinderella (a No. 12 seed). W. Kentucky has nothing to lose at this point, which could be dangerous for UCLA. The best case-scenario for UCLA would be to jump out to an early 20-point lead in the first half, which would allow them, their fans, and everyone who picked them to win it all, to breath a little easier.
6. Watching Memphis Shoot Free Throws
Do you remember a few years ago when Memphis guard Darius Washington missed a free throw to send the Tigers into the NCAA Tournament? That was a truly gut-wrenching scene. This year, Memphis' woes at the free throw line have been more comical. But as the stakes get higher and the opponents get tougher, someone from Memphis' team will likely be in that same situation as Washington was in a few years ago - except with the stakes a tad higher.
7. The Final Four
At the end of the weekend, the Sweet Sixteen will be whittled down to the Final Four. There are so many talented teams still alive right now that won't be playing next weekend, and it will be very interesting to see how it all shakes out. A lot of people think this could be the first year that all #1 seeds advance, but I don't see that happening, especially with the tough road ahead for Memphis. It will also be interesting to see what conferences are represented in the Final Four. I know a lot of people in this area of the country are hoping for two Big Ten teams to advance, which would be a nightmare for a lot of the so-called expert analysts.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Quick Links - Badger Edition
UWBadgers.com has posted a few interesting videos, including some behind-the-scenes stuff.
ESPN1070.com has some audio from interviews with Kirk Penney, Jay Bilas, and Steve Lavin; plus Bo Ryan, Brian Butch, and Michael Flowers from Monday's press conference.
Mark Stewart on Michael Flowers.
ESPN.com has a story on UW.
Finally, if you haven't seen Bo Ryan's "soulja boy" yet, here that is; plus an old favorite.
ESPN1070.com has some audio from interviews with Kirk Penney, Jay Bilas, and Steve Lavin; plus Bo Ryan, Brian Butch, and Michael Flowers from Monday's press conference.
Mark Stewart on Michael Flowers.
ESPN.com has a story on UW.
Finally, if you haven't seen Bo Ryan's "soulja boy" yet, here that is; plus an old favorite.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
tS' March Madness Pool
Wondering how many people picked San Diego to win the National Championship? Well, it was one. Wondering how many people picked all of the other teams? If yes, then you're in luck. If not, then check out my interview with Sharif Chambliss!
Champion Picks (teams eliminated are in italics):
UNC – 15
UCLA – 13
Kansas – 9
Wisconsin – 7
Louisville – 5
Memphis – 4
Tennessee – 2
Duke – 2
Texas – 1
Georgetown – 1
Pittsburgh – 1
San Diego – 1
Champion Picks (teams eliminated are in italics):
UNC – 15
UCLA – 13
Kansas – 9
Wisconsin – 7
Louisville – 5
Memphis – 4
Tennessee – 2
Duke – 2
Texas – 1
Georgetown – 1
Pittsburgh – 1
San Diego – 1
Quick Links
UW playing the role of Goliath.
Mark Stewart looks at Davidson.
Haven't heard about Stephen Curry yet?
Andy Katz examines the 16 teams remaining.
Meet Joey Dorsey from Memphis.
Stewart Mandel also looks at the remaining contenders.
Mark Stewart looks at Davidson.
Haven't heard about Stephen Curry yet?
Andy Katz examines the 16 teams remaining.
Meet Joey Dorsey from Memphis.
Stewart Mandel also looks at the remaining contenders.
Monday, March 24, 2008
tS' March Madness Pool - UPDATE!
Here are the current scores for my pool:
Sam D. #2 100
TS #6 96
Joey W. #8 96
RGT 3 96
Eric J. #3 96
Ken R. #1 96
TS #7 94
Krista R. #2 94
Robert S. #4 92
Kathy S. #1 92
Kathy S. #2 92
Eric J. #1 92
Robert S. #3 90
Joey W. #1 90
Joey W. #7 90
Joe H. #2 90
TS #3 88
Bob S. #1 88
Bob S. #2 88
Daniel T. 88
Jon P. 88
Mike S. 88
Sam D. #3 88
Krista R. #1 88
Bob S. #3 86
Bob S. #8 86
Donna K. 86
Sam D. #1 86
Connie R. #2 86
TS #1 84
Joey W. #2 84
Joey W. #4 84
Ryan P. 84
TS #2 82
TS #5 82
TS #8 82
Bob S. #4 82
Bob S. #7 82
Robert S. #1 82
Robert S. #2 82
Joey W. #6 82
Jeremy N. #1 82
TS #4 80
Bob S. #6 80
Robert S. #5 80
Steve P. 80
Eric J. #2 80
Brad S. 80
Ken R. #2 80
Joe H. #3 78
Austin R. 78
Kathy S. #4 76
Bob S. #5 74
Joey W. #5 74
Jeremy N. #2 74
Joey W. #3 72
Connie R. #1 72
Joe H. #1 70
Erin H. 66
Kathy S. #5 62
Kathy S. #3* 18
*Indicates a finished bracket
Sam D. #2 100
TS #6 96
Joey W. #8 96
RGT 3 96
Eric J. #3 96
Ken R. #1 96
TS #7 94
Krista R. #2 94
Robert S. #4 92
Kathy S. #1 92
Kathy S. #2 92
Eric J. #1 92
Robert S. #3 90
Joey W. #1 90
Joey W. #7 90
Joe H. #2 90
TS #3 88
Bob S. #1 88
Bob S. #2 88
Daniel T. 88
Jon P. 88
Mike S. 88
Sam D. #3 88
Krista R. #1 88
Bob S. #3 86
Bob S. #8 86
Donna K. 86
Sam D. #1 86
Connie R. #2 86
TS #1 84
Joey W. #2 84
Joey W. #4 84
Ryan P. 84
TS #2 82
TS #5 82
TS #8 82
Bob S. #4 82
Bob S. #7 82
Robert S. #1 82
Robert S. #2 82
Joey W. #6 82
Jeremy N. #1 82
TS #4 80
Bob S. #6 80
Robert S. #5 80
Steve P. 80
Eric J. #2 80
Brad S. 80
Ken R. #2 80
Joe H. #3 78
Austin R. 78
Kathy S. #4 76
Bob S. #5 74
Joey W. #5 74
Jeremy N. #2 74
Joey W. #3 72
Connie R. #1 72
Joe H. #1 70
Erin H. 66
Kathy S. #5 62
Kathy S. #3* 18
*Indicates a finished bracket
Interview: SHARIF CHAMBLISS
Though he only played one season for the University of Wisconsin, Sharif Chambliss had a tremendous impact on the men’s basketball program. In the 2004-05 season, Chambliss averaged 7.5 points per game, and led the team with 95 assists. The senior team captain, who transferred from Penn State, helped lead the Badgers to a 25-9 overall record, 11-5 in the Big Ten. In the 2005 NCAA Tournament, he and the Badgers came within one game of the Final Four, losing 88-82 to the eventual national champions, North Carolina. Chambliss averaged 9 points in UW’s four tournament games, including a 15-point performance against Northern Iowa in the first round, hitting 5 three-pointers. I recently was able to ask Sharif some questions about the 2005 Tournament and his thoughts on this year’s UW team.
TS: What are your favorite memories from the 2005 NCAA Tournament?
Sharif Chambliss: The whole experience overall was just amazing. Having a chance to end my career the way I wanted, and leaving it all out on the floor was awesome. Also, being able to share it with my family and close friends was more than I could ask for.
TS: From a player’s perspective, what is the Tournament experience like? Is it hectic? Are you able to step back and enjoy it, or is it mostly business as usual?
SC: The Tournament is a lot of fun, but it always seems like you have something going on. Nothing wrong with it at all. We did a lot of media stuff with us being seniors. You are definitely able to enjoy it. You try hard and stay focused, because the goal is not just to get to the Tournament, but to win it all; and that goes game by game.
TS: What do you think are some of the important qualities a team must possess in order to make a run in the Tournament?
SC: I believe obviously you have to great team chemistry, know what your strengths and weaknesses are, and be able to feed positively off of each other. You need great guards and solid big men, and to top all of that off, a great leader that everyone believes in as a coach.
TS: What are your thoughts on this year’s Badger team? How do they compare to the team you played on at UW?
SC: The team this year has defied the media’s odds and a lot of people’s thoughts on them. They go out and win the Big Ten outright, and take the Big Ten Tournament…and now are on their way to the Sweet Sixteen by beating a good Kansas State team, with arguably the most dominate player in Michael Beasley. What more do you want?
TS: A common criticism that a lot of basketball analysts direct at UW teams, is that they play “ugly.” What are your thoughts on this?
SC: If winning is ugly, let me sign up for it! Call it what you want to call it, but I have never played on a team that has won and we call that win ugly.
TS: What makes Bo Ryan such a successful coach? What were the most important lessons you learned from your time at UW?
SC: Coach Ryan is a great communicator and he knows the game of basketball. A lot of his coaching theories are based around the early fundamentals of the game, and keeping the game simple. He is a great leader and coach, but an even better person.
TS: What are you doing now at UWM? Do you think coaching at any level will be in your future?
SC: I am now working at UWM as an Academic Mentor for mainly the men’s basketball team, and would like to start working my way into coaching.
TS: Who do you like in the Tournament this year? What are your Final Four picks? Who do you think will win the championship?
SC: After this first weekend of the Tournament, I like the Badgers obviously, because they are fundamentally solid. They have a LOT of size and guards with tournament experience. I am not quite sure what to think as far as the Final Four is concerned, but I am excited to follow the rest of the Tournament as it goes on.
TS: What are your favorite memories from the 2005 NCAA Tournament?
Sharif Chambliss: The whole experience overall was just amazing. Having a chance to end my career the way I wanted, and leaving it all out on the floor was awesome. Also, being able to share it with my family and close friends was more than I could ask for.
TS: From a player’s perspective, what is the Tournament experience like? Is it hectic? Are you able to step back and enjoy it, or is it mostly business as usual?
SC: The Tournament is a lot of fun, but it always seems like you have something going on. Nothing wrong with it at all. We did a lot of media stuff with us being seniors. You are definitely able to enjoy it. You try hard and stay focused, because the goal is not just to get to the Tournament, but to win it all; and that goes game by game.
TS: What do you think are some of the important qualities a team must possess in order to make a run in the Tournament?
SC: I believe obviously you have to great team chemistry, know what your strengths and weaknesses are, and be able to feed positively off of each other. You need great guards and solid big men, and to top all of that off, a great leader that everyone believes in as a coach.
TS: What are your thoughts on this year’s Badger team? How do they compare to the team you played on at UW?
SC: The team this year has defied the media’s odds and a lot of people’s thoughts on them. They go out and win the Big Ten outright, and take the Big Ten Tournament…and now are on their way to the Sweet Sixteen by beating a good Kansas State team, with arguably the most dominate player in Michael Beasley. What more do you want?
TS: A common criticism that a lot of basketball analysts direct at UW teams, is that they play “ugly.” What are your thoughts on this?
SC: If winning is ugly, let me sign up for it! Call it what you want to call it, but I have never played on a team that has won and we call that win ugly.
TS: What makes Bo Ryan such a successful coach? What were the most important lessons you learned from your time at UW?
SC: Coach Ryan is a great communicator and he knows the game of basketball. A lot of his coaching theories are based around the early fundamentals of the game, and keeping the game simple. He is a great leader and coach, but an even better person.
TS: What are you doing now at UWM? Do you think coaching at any level will be in your future?
SC: I am now working at UWM as an Academic Mentor for mainly the men’s basketball team, and would like to start working my way into coaching.
TS: Who do you like in the Tournament this year? What are your Final Four picks? Who do you think will win the championship?
SC: After this first weekend of the Tournament, I like the Badgers obviously, because they are fundamentally solid. They have a LOT of size and guards with tournament experience. I am not quite sure what to think as far as the Final Four is concerned, but I am excited to follow the rest of the Tournament as it goes on.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Exclusive Interview
Tomorrow I will be posting an interview with former UW basketball star Sharif Chambliss, who was kind enough to answer some questions. So be sure to check back tomorrow for his thoughts on the Tournament and this year's Badgers!
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