Storyline: The headline could very well read, “What Could Have Been”. Villanova and Duke aren’t playing in marquee-less Regional.
The ACC was considered losers this past weekend for its poor showing in the NCAA Tournament. Of nine teams only North Carolina advanced to the Sweet 16.
Villanova’s Kris Jenkins (photo, The Empire)
But the real loser is New York and Madison Square Garden, hosts for the NCAA’s East Regional, which starts Friday. The hope was that Duke would emerge and then play Villanova at The Garden.
Villanova’s absence really hurts! It was the team everyone here was banking on. It’s a shock they aren’t. This team has played well all year. The Wildcats shoot well. They defend. Kris Jenkins, Josh Hart, Jalen Brunson, Darryl Reynolds and Eric Paschall embody the spirit of the Villanova with rugged play and timely shooting.
The Wildcats have a fan base in the city, too, not to mention in the Delaware Valley–fans who would have made the trip to New York to watch them play. That’s why it was a disappointing development when Wisconsin beat Villanova last Saturday.
Courtesy: The Key Play
And not having Duke in town this weekend is another real loss. Fans either love or hate Duke. There’s no middle ground. Villains generate fan interest and Duke has villains. There’s Mike Krzyzewski bullying refs and Grayson Allen tripping opposing player. So it would have been better sports story for Duke to advance and then lose in either the Sweet 16 or Elite Eight.
But Villanova v. Duke won’t happen. Both teams were eliminated in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament.
No offense to South Carolina, Wisconsin, Florida, and Baylor–the four teams that made it to the Regional–but none has gravitas like Duke and Villanova. So good luck, NCAA and The Garden, in trying to get the city’s attention this weekend.
South Carolina: South Carolina is probably the biggest draw because the Gamecocks beat Duke. USC is a good storyline for other reasons, too. South Carolina hasn’t made the the NCAA Tournament since 2004, has only made the Tournament a total of seven times, and it took the team 44 years to make it to the Sweet 16.
Plus, who doesn’t like crazed coach Frank Martin? Credit Martin for not only recruiting guys to play in Columbia, but also for getting the most out of his players. Lincoln High’s Rakym Felder is one of those players. The South Carolina freshman scored 15 points off the bench in the Gamecocks’ 88-81 victory over Duke last Sunday. He’ll be a guy everyone locally will be watching.
Courtesy: Madison.com
Wisconsin: The Badgers are another team of note in the New York Regional because Wisconsin always overachieves. They’re not appreciated enough for what they accomplish year-in and -out. The program doesn’t rely on one-and-done players. The Badgers develop players from when they are freshmen to when they are seniors.
This is the third straight year the Badgers are in the Sweet 16 … and nobody expected them to go this far in ’17. But we should have known better because this team hasn’t missed a beat since Bo Ryan retired.
Seniors Bronson Koenig and Nigel Hayes are trying to complete careers by winning a national championship. But while that’s an intriguing storyline for Badger supporters, how many other people really care? They certainly don’t in New York.
Florida: The third team in the Regional is Florida. But what appeal does Florida have to this town? Yes, the Gators have played well the last few weeks. But the best compliment I can give the Gators is that it’s a team that’s greater than the sum of its parts. They don’t have star power and second-year coach, Mike White, doesn’t have pizzazz, like former head man, Billy Donovan.
Baylor: The same can be said about Baylor, the fourth team in the Regional. The Bears have have been good all year. They were expected to contend for a national championship and they have. Still, though, this team doesn’t generate excitement, like Kentucky and UCLA do, especially in New York.
So what the New York Regional doesn’t have is marquee programs to generate fan interest. That’s what Memphis has this weekend in UCLA, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Butler.
If only….
