The Weekend Ahead

NIT Over, Final Four up next

Dayton’s flyers pulled off a 79-68 win over last years NCAA Champions North Carolina in the final of the 2010 NIT tourney this week. The win helped to soften the blow for the Flyers who missed the NCAA tourney and finished their season with a 25-12 record. The Tarheels concluded their dismal season with a 20-17 ledger.

Final Four Predictions

Michigan State (32-4) – Butler (28-8):

The Bulldogs of Butler will attempt to gain their first berth in the Championship game in their own backyard against Michigan State who are looking to go one better than last years championship loss to North Carolina.

I will go with the locals and pick Butler to advance by 7.

West Virginia (31-6) – Duke (33-5):

This one pits the ACC against the Big East in a battle for the second berth in the Championship game. Duke seems to be the logical choice but the Mountaineers have been on a mission throughout the tourney.

I think Duke’s outside punch may prove to be the difference, Duke by 3, possibly in overtime.

College Hoops Roundup

Other Tourney News

Other than the NCAA Men’s Championship, we are also down to the Final Four of the NCAA Women’s Tournament. Recently in Regional Finals, the Connecticut Huskies routed Florida State 90-50, Baylor’s ladies avenged the loss by their male counterparts by beating Duke 51-48, Stanford escaped 55-53 over Xavier, and Oklahoma routed Kentucky 88-68. Final Four Matches will see undefeated Connecticut (37-0) face Baylor (27-9) and Stanford (35-1) square off against Oklahoma (27-10) on Sunday US time with the winners meeting for the national title on Tuesday night.

NCAA Division 2

In the Division 2 Championship matches, Cal Poly Pomona defeated Indiana, Pa 65-53 for the Men’s title while Emporia State stopped Fort Lewis by an identical 65-53 score for the Women’s crown.

NCAA Division 3

In Division 3, Wisconsin-Stephens Point took the title with a 78-73 victory over Williams and Washington-St. Louis topped Hope 65-59 for the Women’s crown.

Also in the NAIA, Oklahoma Baptist won a thriller over Azusa Pacific 84-83 for the title. Unfortunately for Azusa Pacific, their ladies team also went down in the final losing to Union-Tennessee 73-65 in the title match. The win was Union’s second consecutive NAIA crown.

Elsewhere, in the CollegeInsider.com tournament, Missouri State topped Pacific 78-65. Virginia Commonwealth University won the two out of three series over Saint Louis University to claim the College Basketball Invitational tourney crown.

The Four Best Step to the Fore

We now have the Final four set for the 2010 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. Over the weekend we saw Michigan state squeeze out Tennessee 70-69 to take the Midwest Region title, Butler earn a trip back home to Indiana by beating Kansas State 63-56 in the West Region, West Virginia end the dream for Kentucky’s young Wildcats 73-66 in the East Region and Duke end Baylor’s run to glory 78-71 in the South Region.

This weekend sees West Virginia face off against Duke and Michigan State match up against Butler in the Final Four.

I went 1 right three wrong, leaving me no chance to break even prediction wise this year for the tourney as I stand at 28 right, 32 wrong…ugh!!!! My year was as bad as the beloved Tarheels!!

Later in the week I will look into the shattered pieces of the Crystal Ball and soldier on with picks!! LOL!!

Moose will be new Sydney coach

from the NBL


ROBILLIARD TO LEAD SYDNEY KINGS

The newly resurrected Sydney Kings today announced that they have appointed former Australian Boomers and Sydney Kings player Ian ‘Moose’ Robilliard as their Head Coach to take them into the 2010/11 NBL season. 

In a playing career that spanned 11 NBL seasons, Robilliard started his NBL playing career for the City of Sydney Astronauts in the inaugural NBL season back in 1979.   He then joined Newcastle in 1981 to play with the Newcastle Falcons.  ‘Moose’ became a household name in the Newcastle district during his six years with the Falcons due to his tenacity and intensity on the court. 
In 1989 then Kings Head Coach and current Kings General Manager Bob Turner enticed Robilliard back to Sydney to join him in his first season at the helm of the Kings.  Robilliard played three seasons with the Kings and then joined Turner as assistant coach for two seasons.

After his retirement, Robilliard spent over a decade working with the Australian PGA before starting the highly successful Central Coast Academy of Sport, where he has been the Managing Director since 2004. 

“The consortium was looking for someone who could establish a solid and respected culture from the start,” stated Turner.  “The key attributes the consortium was seeking were competiveness, a motivator, a leader of men and someone with great people and media skills to handle the pressure of Sydney.  We also wanted a person affiliated with the Kings and Sydney, as well as a coach committed to the development program and who understands and supports the business of sport,” added Turner.

“His basketball and rugby background, affiliation with the Kings, experience with the PGA over ten years and ability demonstrated in the creation of the Central Coast Academy of Sport from scratch are all attributes that have provided valuable experience for Ian that will now benefit the Kings,” added Turner.

Robilliard said he was excited at the opportunity that the Kings head coaching role now presented to him with. 

“To be appointed to the role as Head Coach of the Sydney Kings is an absolute honour,” said Robilliard.  “it is a role that I will undertake being mindful of the history of the club and with a keen eye to our future.  The Sydney Kings is an iconic sporting brand in Australia and I will ensure the team to be assembled will represent Sydney with the passion and commitment we would all expect.”

“The investor group that has been assembled are basketball enthusiasts; they each have a true passion for the sport, and I must admit that I am humbled to be working with them to make sure the Kings are again competitive, that we play an attractive brand of basketball and we establish a footprint in Sydney that will be here for years and years to come.  I accept that I have been charged with an incredible responsibility, to which I will invest all my time to give the venture every possible chance of success,” Robilliard added.

Brian Goorjian, the three-time Sydney Kings NBL Championship Coach, endorsed Robilliard’s appointment and also threw his support behind the resurrected team.  Currently committed to Chinese club the Dongguan Leopards, Goorjian will add support for both Robilliard and the Kings in a newly-established role of Ambassador.

“I know as well as anyone what it takes to be successful in the NBL and in the difficult Sydney marketplace,” said Goorjian.  “The outstanding qualities Ian possesses and the philosophy and work ethic he has always displayed are the hallmarks of great NBL coaches and I have every confidence he is the right man for the job.  I will be doing everything in my power from China to help him re-establish the Kings as one of the great Australian sporting teams.”

Since the press conference last week to announce the Kings’ return over 400 individuals have registered their interest to sign up for season tickets.  The Sydney Kings have also announced that their website will be launched shortly at www.sydneykings.com.

Sydney Kings games will appear on free-to-air television on Network Ten and its digital sports channel ONE this season following the announcement of a new five-year with the NBL announced on Friday.