In an effort to talk about something college basketball-related other than scandals in the summer, let's talk best current coaches. We'll attempt to order the top 25 current coaches in the nation. This is about the present and the future, not the distant past. What a guy did in the mid-90s doesn't matter near as much as the direction his program is currently headed. Past pedigree also matters, to an extent. For the perfect mix of past accomplishments with present achievement and a paved road for future success, look no further than the man atop the list.
There was not going to be an answer for Blake Griffin. Rick Jackson and Arinze Onuaku did everything they could. Jackson in particular player a very tough first half, but Griffin was just too much, as he has been for everybody all year, and Jim Boeheim doubtless knew he would be before the game ever began.
Thing is, Syracuse could have survived an unstoppable Griffin if it had been able to do something else exceptionally well. Something they'd done all year. Something that takes place far away from the spot on the court where Griffin spends most of his time. Yeah, that's right. We're talking about 3-point shooting.
NEW YORK – Terrence Williams curled his body into a crouch, half walking on his tiptoes, half stalking the prey. He was heading toward the Louisville bench, but on the way he made sure to jump-and-bump any Cardinals in sight, to yank on their jerseys and double slap their chests.
"We're getting used to it, yeah," Jonny Flynn, Syracuse's precocious sophomore guard was saying as he bounced off the Madison Square Garden parquet early Saturday morning, destined for another late-night dinner of fast food and an evening date in the Big East championship. His legs were rubber, his energy indefatigable, his smile glowing like a neon light. They don't know for sure, but Flynn's teammates swear he grins in his sleep. And really, who can blame him?
In case you didn't hear, the No. 1 team in college basketball won again Wednesday night, taking on a ranked conference rival, putting together a tremendous second-half performance, and walking off the floor having won by 14 points.
And no, I'm not talking about North Carolina beating Duke.
The No. 1 UConn Huskies whipped Syracuse, 63-49, but there's a fair chance you haven't heard anything about it. ESPN is all Duke-Carolina this morning, and so are most of the major sports sites. And that's a shame, because Connecticut is a team everyone should be watching.
If you live in a hole with absolutely zero sports coverage, I will let you off the hook for not seeing the incredible half-court shot yesterday by Cleveland State to beat No. 11 Syracuse in the Carrier Dome.
After the game, head coach Jim Boeheim, who looked as confused as Romeo Crennel did against the Eagles last night, was fielding questions when his mic started to malfunction. A few nasty stares at this horribly made device (I'm assuming American) wasn't enough, so Boeheim took a swipe at the thing. No, seriously.
Things you do not want to be right now in Syracuse, New York -- a bathing suit, a bagged ice salesman or a broken microphone.
North Carolina and Duke will battle for the ACC Championship on Saturday night. The last time the ACC regular season title came down to a final game between the two hopefuls was way back in 1991. Again, it was North Carolina and Duke.
Duke won the game and the conference that year. That was the ol' Laettner-Hurley-Hill Duke team beating the Fox-Rice-Chilcutt Tar Heels' squad.
A week later, North Carolina tore into the Blue Devils, 96-74, to win the ACC Tournament in Charlotte. That win gave the Tar Heels the top seed in the East Region ... which was played in East Rutherford. Dean Smith was joined by Jim Boeheim, Rollie Massimino, John Chaney, Eddie Sutton, Gene Keady, Pete Carril and ... gulp ... Dave Bliss.
Duke was the #2 in the Midwest Region (Pontiac, MI) that featured these coaches: Lou Carnesecca, Tom Penders, Dale Brown, Tom Davis, Bobby Cremins, Jim Calhoun and Pete Gillen.
Both teams would win their regions. UNC breezed through due to upsets elsewhere in the bracket (they faced a 16, 12, 10 and 9 seed on the way to the Final Four) while Duke crushed everyone in their path.
All of the games have been with Syracuse -- his alma mater -- for now 31 years and his record stands at 741-258 (.742). Only 4 active coaches have more games coached then him:
Bob Knight, Texas Tech -- 1,239
Jim Calhoun, UConn -- 1,066
Lute Olson, Arizona -- 1,048
Mike Krzyzewski, Duke -- 1,022
The thing about Boeheim is that he doesn't look like he's changed in ages (the picture is from 1994). A little less hair, better glasses, and maybe some more wrinkles; but not that different looking.
Since Carmelo Anthony was selected in the 2003 NBA draft, he regularly has been compared to LeBron James.
There was not going to be an answer for Blake Griffin. Rick Jackson and Arinze Onuaku did everything they could. Jackson in particular player a very tough first half, but Griffin was just too much, as he has been for everybody all year, and Jim Boeheim doubtless knew he would be before the game ever began.
NEW YORK – Terrence Williams curled his body into a crouch, half walking on his tiptoes, half stalking the prey. He was heading toward the Louisville bench, but on the way he made sure to jump-and-bump any Cardinals in sight, to yank on their jerseys and double slap their chests.
NEW YORK -- What a breeze, overtime. 
In case you didn't hear, the No. 1 team in college basketball won again Wednesday night, taking on a ranked conference rival, putting together a tremendous second-half performance, and walking off the floor having won by 14 points.
North Carolina and Duke will battle for the ACC Championship on Saturday night. The last time the ACC regular season title came down to a final game between the two hopefuls was way back in 1991. Again, it was North Carolina and Duke.
It's hard to believe that Jim Boeheim will be coaching his 1,000th game this weekend. I thought he did that years ago. 
