What an incredible week thus far.  If you follow me on Twitter or are a fan of me on Facebook, you may already know that I coach golf for Metuchen High School and that we are in the midst of an incredible run that may never be surpassed.  So far this season, we have won are undefeated (our last loss was in 2010), ranked fourth in the state of NJ, won our third consecutive division crown, and won the school’s first ever state sectional title.  Consequently we now have the opportunity to play for the overall state title next Monday which we be an amazing accomplishment for such a small school like ourselves.  Because of all of this greatness, I want to extend my Brign a Friend FREE week offers until the end of the month of May.  So just to recap, you can bring a friend completely free of charge to any Elite Basketball Training or Elite Sports Performance workout thereby making you eligible for amazing savings for the month of June. 

Speaking of June, that is when the NBA Finals will be taking place and at this point I really question whether the Heat will make it there.  Having watched last night’s game two loss to the Indiana Pacers, it was nice to see that the Heat were up to their old tricks again.  It is truly fascinating how they have this incredible ability to not be successful in tight playoff games.  I understand that they are without Chris Bosch, and that the only reason that they were in the game was because of Lebron James and Dwayne Wade. I also understand that he is playing out of position defensively and getting banged around by guarding the bigs of the Pacers, but come on.  How does Lebron not even attempt a shot in the last 3:45 of the game? How does he miss all of his free throws in the late game situations? How does Wade blow that layup?  These things just do not add up.  I mean event he Miami Heat announcer was saying how they had the opportunity to take the lead and they came down the court and shot, “Brick, Brick, Brick.” Talk about brutal honesty.  Of course everyone is now being critical of Lebron and to some degree, I do not blame them.  Yes, the Heat were only in the game because of Lebron, but why didn’t he take shot in the last 3 minutes and 45 seconds of the game.  For someone who is as good as Lebron James, he is just too passive in late game situations for my liking.  I am not saying that he needs to shoot every chance that he gets but at least command the basketball, probe the defense and see what happens.  This past weekend, I explained exactly that to my players at my Elite Basketball Training skill development workout.  As I told them, great players, catch the basketball and probe the defense each and every time they touch the ball.  This is done not only to create an opportunity for themselves for also for their teammates.  Attacking, even it is for one or two dribbles, puts pressure on the defense and forces them to retreat.  In the end, putting pressure on the defense creates more good opportunities for easy baskets.  This is the responsibility of great players to do this, and they should not just defer to lesser players expecially in the closing minutes of games.  Michael Jordan never just deferred, Kobe Bryant never just deferred, they attacked, scored, or created opportunities for themselves to make big shots or for players like Steve Kerr or Robert Horry to hit open shots.  So really, what is Lebron thinking?  How many times does the same negative result have to happen before he learns and adjusts?  If he wants to be a champion he better figure it out quickly or it will be another MVP season without a title for him and the Miami Heat. 

I realize that this is a controversial topic and I am curious of your opinions so please let us know what you think by responding in the comments section below. 

Don’t forget to become the quickest most skilled player on your team by heading over to www.basketballspeedandagility.com and getting your copy of the hottest basketball product on the market and begin developing your speed, agility, and skillst today.

In the past few weeks, the topics of conversation on this blog have been directed mostly toward basketball skill development, but this week I thought that I would change it up on you a little bit.  We recently started putting an addition on our house and on the very first day when they began digging, they hit water about six feet down.  For those of you who watch HGTV, this is not a good thing and has now set us back a couple of weeks on this project.  Over this course of time, we had to bring in a soil drilling expert and a soil engineer to work alongside my architect and contractor.  Why? So that we know exactly what it takes to build the proper foundation to support the house because any wrong calculation on this could ultimately cause the foundation to crack, weaken in the long run and cost a ton of money to fix.  Sports performance training, just like the foundation to my addition is the foundation to developing your overall basketball game.  Despite its obvious importance,  it seems to be pretty low on many basketball players to do list and I cannot figure out why.  A well designed sports performance program will help you elevate your game to another level.  It will make you be able to perform all of the skills that you practice even better than you already do.  Proper sports performance training can help prevent injuries, improve your speed, agility, vertical jump, strength, conditioning, power, and flexibility, and ultimately make you a better basketball player on the court.  The negatives to sports performance training…ummmmmm…uhhhhhhhh…ummmmm, none.

When you look at this, you really have to step back and ask,  why then is sports performance training not your first or second priority in the off-season?  Seriously, sports performance training along with basketball skill development is exactly what you should be doing this summer.  Your body is your foundation and it cannot be weak if you want to see success on the basketball court.  In the coming month, I will be highlighting different aspects of sports performance training for basketball as I prepare for my first ever Vertical Jump Transformation Contest beginning in June (information coming soon).  However, in the mean time please enjoy the videos below for examples of how we build our foundation at Elite Basketball Training.

If you like what you see, don’t wait any longer, contact me today to schedule your FREE sports performance evaluation.  With this evaluation, you will learn where the weaknesses are in your body and the steps you can take to fix them. 

Committed to making your game ELITE.

Rich Stoner

Elite Basketball Training, LLC

Ps. If you want to get a jump start on training your body and improving your skills than Elite Basketball Training’s Speed and Agility Drills and Skills is a must have for you.   Use the speed and agility drills that we use in the gym every week at home for a fraction of the cost.  Head over to www.bsketballspeedandagility.com and get your copy today. 

Pps.

 As you may or may not know, starting this Saturday, May 12 and running through May 19, I will be hosting Bring a Friend FREE week at my locations in Red Bank and Edison. During this eight day period all Elite Basketball Trainees are welcome to bring a friend to any one of their workouts for no cost at all to their friend. Then, if their friend decides to sign up for any package of Elite Basketball Training sessions both you and your friend will get that package at a discounted rate.

Personally, I like working out by myself, but I prefer working out with a good friend who is there helping me along the way and pushing me to reach my goals. It is this type of motivation along with the spirit of competition that develops between you and your friend that will help take your game to the next level. It will help you become ELITE. Elite basketball palyers aren’t born that way. They become ELITE by putting in the blood, sweat, and tears each and every day. When their opponents are home sitting on the couch resting the ELITE players are out working on their game…making themselves into a better player.

The off-season is upon us and now is the time to make yourself into an Elite Basketball Player and there is no better way to do that than with a friend working alongside of you. So starting this Saturday, bring a friend along to any one of your workouts and show them what they have been missing. Show them what it takes to become ELITE.

With the basketball off-season upon us, now is the time to make yourself into a player.  Not this summer, not this fall…NOW.  We have all heard the old adage, “Players are made in the off-season.”  So what are you waiting for?  Stop thinking about it and get out and do it.  We are going strong each week at Elite Basketball Training, and for your convenience we now have two locations to choose from (Edison and Red Bank).  There are currently many basketball players of all ages working with me right now, taking their game to the NEXT level and becoming ELITE.  That can be you too, just contact me to schedule your basketball skill development workout today.

Now on to my final installment of separating yourself from your defender.  In the two previous posts, Creating Separation and Pushing the Ball Out I broke this fundamental basketball skill down into two smaller parts and gave you drills that would work on the last two steps as you approach the rim and making a move and pushing the ball past your defender.  Today, we will bring the progressions back together and look at the whole approach to making an attacking move, separating yourself from the defender, and finishing at the rim. 

In the drill featured in the video below, you will see the players putting these progressions together into one drill. They will make their attacking move, push the ball out after the move, have low elongated steps, and finish high and away from the defender.  In the video, the chairs are set up above the three point line, but they can be set up closer or farther away depending on the player’s skill level. 

The basketball skill development drills that you have seen in the last three posts are just some of the main drills that our trainers use at Elite Basketball Training in order to create separation between you and the defender.  Creating separation is vital to your succes on the basketball court.  The better you become at separating yourself from your defender, the easier it will be for you to score or make a good pass.  Remeber, now is the time to make yourself into a player. So go out and practice separating yourself from your defender and who knows, you may even separate yourself from the entire pack.

Committed to taking your game to the NEXT level.  Become ELITE.

Rich Stoner

Elite Basketball Training, LLC

As new players come to work on the basketball skills at the Elite Basketball Training Academy it is inevitable that when we learn an attacking move, their first dribble after the move is right by their hip.  Consequently, their is very little space created between them and their defender. Furthermore, it now requires more dribbles to get to the tim making them a slower and less efficient basketball player.  The push out dribble is an essential skill to the process of creating separation and needs to worked on as such.  Below is a sample drill that we use to work on the first dribble after the move. 

Pound-Move-Pushout

Categories: Ballhandling / Dribbling  Offensive Moves  
Ages: All Ages  Youth  Middle School  High School+  

Purpose of the Drill:

The purpose of this drill is to work on your offensive moves and pushing out the first dribble after the move.

• The player pounds the basketball in a stationary position 1-5 times.
• He then executes a move (inside out, crossover, between the legs, double crossover, etc.) and pushes the ball out after the move for one hard dribble and about two steps.
• The player then repeats the process the length of the court and back.

Points of Emphasis:

• Pound the basketball hard.
• Execute the move low and quick.
• Push out low, quick, and in a balanced position.
• Work on all moves going both right to left and left to right.

Everytime I use the Pound-Move-Pushout drill parents and players love it.  The fundamental nature of the drill allows players to develop multiple basketball skills that are necessary to creating space and separation off the dribble.  If you have any drills that serve a similar purpose feel free to share them in the comments section below.

Don’t forget, creating separation is also aided by being quick and agile.  If you are looking to increase your basketball skills while becoming the quickest and most agile player on the court then get yourself a copy of Elite Basketball Training’s Speed and Agility Drills and Skills at www.basketballspeedandagility.com and use it this off season to develop into the quickest, most skilled player on the basketball court.

Committed to taking your game to the NEXT level.

Rich Stoner

Elite Basketball Training, LLC

In recent weeks, at the Elite Basketball Training Academy, my athletes have been working on a series of basketball skill development drills that will help create separation off the dribble between them and their defender.  The concept of separating yourself from your defender is often overlooked and taken for granted by players.  However, it is a necessity when it comes to really developing a player’s ability to attack the basket off the dribble.  Creating separation, even if it is just a step, will enable the player to get into space and put pressure on the defense by scoring or drawing two defenders.  To develop this skill it takes practice and a series of progression drills that start from the most fundamental component, footwork.

In this video below, the player is working on his footwork with his last two finishing steps going toward the rim.

In this drill that I refer to as, “The Last Two Steps,” two cones are set up on either side of the basket, and the player works on their last two steps to the basket as if they have already pushed past the defender.  The player should make sure that the steps are long and low and that they finish up at the rim, in front of their body, and away from the defender.  The player should work from both sides of the floor, starting with their right leg forward on the left side and their left leg forward on the right side.  As the players progress and get better at this drill, the cones can gradually be moved back until you reach the three point line. 

Separating yourself from your defender off the dribble is an essential basketball skill that needs to be worked on consistently.  Begin developing this skill with the fundamentals of footwork, particularly your last two steps to the rim.  Focus on elongating those steps and elevating from a low to high position while finishing out in front of you.  Doing so will enable you to become much more efficient in your game after you have pushed past the defender. 

Stay tuned in the coming weeks for more drills on the progressions necessary to develop your ability as a player to create separation between you and your defender and don’t forget to get over to www.basketballspeedandagility.com to get your copy of Speed and Agility Drills and Skills and start becoming the dynamic basketball player you have always dreamed of becoming today.

Committed to taking your game to the NEXT level.

Rich Stoner

Elite Basketball Training, LLC

This past Monday as I was driving up to my team’s high school golf match, I was listening to the Mike Lupica show on ESPN radio.  I really enjoy Lupica’s show as it offers some interesting perspectives on all that is going on in the sports world.  Not to mention, his voice, which sounds a little like Krusty the Clown, is semi-amusing to me.  Nonetheless, it being Monday, the NCAA Championship game between Kentucky and Kansas was what was going on so Lupica had some extra special guests on his show.  One of those guests was Charles Barkley, who, love him or hate him, at the very least will give you an honest and most of the time comical perspective on whatever subject he is talking about.  In short, Charles says what is on his mind, and I like that…a lot. Obviously, with the NCAA Championship that evening the majority of the talk was about the game and the players in it.  At one point Lupica was asking Barkley about all of these top notch players coming to Kentucky and playing so well together.  He was making the point that many of today’s players now know each other so well no matter where they are from in the country because they play with and against each other the majority of the year on the AAU circuit.  Barkley”s  response, “AAU is the worst thing that ever happened to basketball.”  This quote is verbatim, not a misprint, and a point that I have alluded to on my site over the years, most recently in my article, “I’m Looking For a Team.“  However, Charles Barkley saying this on a national radio show is a pretty big deal, and it brought smile to my face when he did.  Why? It’s simple, it is very difficult for basketball players to improve when their constant focus is not on getting better, but on developing the business of AAU basketball.

AAU basketball first and foremost is a business.  It’s primary focus is on making money, not on getting players better.  For this reason, there are roughly a million and five AAU teams in the country (this might be a slightly exagerated estimation, but you get my point).  When I was in high school, and before that, there was about one AAU team per county, if that.  Now, when players do not make an AAU team they either try to find another one or just create their own so they can play.  This kind of subscribes to the, “Everybody gets a trophy mentality,” as everyone needs to belong on a team so they do not get left out.  What ever happened to getting cut from a team (something I experienced on multiple occasions) and going out and working hard on your skills and athleticism in an attempt to make the team the next time tryouts rolled around?  Call me crazy (you wouldn’t be the first) but isn’t this how players get better? Isn’t this how they learn?  Players ask the coach about their weaknesses, learn why they did not make the team, and then work on those skills in order to become better basketball players. 

The ability to create your own AAU team has actually watered down the AAU circuit.  There just are not enough good basketball players out there to fill the roster spots on these teams.  Consequently, when these teams go to tournaments blow outs seem to be the norm.  Unless they are playing against another team who is equally as bad, in which case the game is competitive but the level of play is very low.  It just does not make sense.  Why not take the off season and work on your basketball skills, develop athletically, and become a better basketball player?  It’s okay to say that you are NOT on an AAU team, especially when you are out working on your game daily and improving.  And, if you must create your own team, try making skill and athletic development your focus and tournament/game play supplemental.  In the end, you will find your players will be much better for it. 

Furthermore, from a business perspective, AAU is about being able to say that you have the next big thing on your team.  It is about being able to say that this kid got a scholarship for Kentucky and that kid got a scholarship at Michigan and they both played on my team.  They lead parents to believe that they actually had something to do with the development of this player and why they were so good.  When in actuality, the player was good in the first place before they even started playing on that team.  The top level teams are in constant competition for these high profile players, not because they care about developing the player but so that they can say they have them on their team, even if it is just for one tournament.  Yes, one tournament.  Often times these top notch players play with one team one weekend and then jump ship to another team for another weekend because the new team promised them more.  As that happens, these teams can say that the next big thing played for them and ultimately use them as a selling point to get more of the upper echelon players.  Yes, ultimately the kids are being used for the benefit of the AAU program.  Granted, they aren’t paying to play on the team but there is still something wrong with a kid being used to essentially sell your program.  Not to mention that there is also something wrong with a couple kids not paying for anything while the bill is funded by the other players or one rich parent.  It is totally bazaar and not right for the players, which I thought was supposed to be the primary focus.

AAU basketball has taken the focus away from developing basketball players and turned basketball at the high school and middle school level into a business.  Players at the lower levels are getting cut from one team and going out and creating their own team just so they can have a team to play for and say they play AAU.  This waters down the market and limits the overall development of these players.  The problem at the higher levels is even worse.  Players are essentially being pimped out from tournament to tournament for the good of the program they are in.  And, why not? Doing so aids in the true focus of AAU, building a business around naive teenage basketball players who see the promise of bright lights and a new pair of Nikes.  The focus of basketball should be about the player, it should be about developing that player, and helping them improve not on laying claim to a the skills of a player which you had no responsibilty for creating.  So did it surprise me that Charles Barkley referred to AAU as, “the worst thing that ever happened to basketball?” Not at all, because quite frankly I agree.

Committed to taking your game to the NEXT level.

Rich Stoner

Elite Basketball Training, LLC

Ps. If you are coaching AAU please take the blue tooth out of your ear while you are coaching the game.  It is not a piece of jewelry and I cannot imagine what is so important that you need to have that blue tooth in your ear for during a game.  Just in case someone decides to call you it is okay if you miss that call, you can return it after the game.

Vertical jump training often times is what drives basketball players to work out. Every young basketball players dreams of one day soaring through the air and dunking like Blake Griffin. In fact, vertical jump training is the basis for one the questions that I am most frequently asked.  I get it all the time, ”Coach, how do I increase my vertical jump?”  The short answer is through hard work but there are certain keys to the vertical jump training.  First and foremost a basketball player must have a solid strength training base.  Depending on what level athlete you are, this could take from 8-12 weeks.  During this time the player will learn proper form on all of their lifts (a necessity for improved sports performance and injury prevention) and build up the muscles necessary to ensure that they are ready to add higher level exercises to their program like plyometrics. 

Plyometrics are exercises that characteristically include jumping and require an athlete to have an action and then a quick reaction.  For example, jumping up for a rebound, tipping the ball, landing and jumping right back up to get the basketball would be plyometric in nature.  At the Elite Sports Performance Academy of Elite Basketball Training we characteristically complete our plyometrics in the beginning of each of our sports performance workouts.  Reason being, is that the explosive nature of the exercises require an athlete to be fresh to perform at their maximum capacity.  Plyometrics, just like with any other exercise, are taught throughproper progressions.  Since all levels of plyometrics require the athlete to land all of our athletes are always taught how to do so properly first.  Landing properly will put the player in a balanced athletic position to ensure that they can explode back up quicker and as high as first jump.  Furthermore, landing properly will prevent injuries that could occur from an off balance landing. 

Once landing properly has been taught and accomplished, basic plyometric exercises can be added to the workout.  Arguably the best low level plyometric and a great starting point for any beginning athlete is jumping rope.  Beyond that, other beginning level plyos include squat jumps, star jumps, and ladder hops. As the athlete advances to a more intermediate level, including box jumps, broad jumps, and hurdle jumps will increase the level of difficulty for the player.  Finally, more advanced level plyometrics could include multiple hurdle hops and finishing jump on a box, lateral continuous rope jumps, and single leg box jumps. 

For examples of lateral rope jumps and basketball specific plyometrics using a pivot see the videos below.

 With the off season underway for pretty much every basketball player, now is the time to develop your game and become a better player.  One of the fundamental keys to a solid off season training program is sports performance training.  Many basketball players are motivated to train by the prospect of increasing their vertical jump and someday dunking a basketball.  Doing so will require an immense amount of hard work but also a solid strength training foundation.  The addition of plyometrics to your program should come after this and through progressions from basic to advanced.  Doing so will help you achieve the explosive hops you are looking for and have you dunking like Blake Griffin in no time.

Elite Basketball Training now offers its Elite Sports Performance training in two convenient locations: East Coast Conditioning in Edison, NJ and The Fit Factory in Red Bank, NJ.  If you are interested in finding out more about our sports performance training programs and increasing your vertical jump this off season contact me directly at rstoner42@gmail.com.

Committed to taking making your game ELITE.

Rich Stoner

Elite Basketball Training, LLC

I asked him if he had watched any of the NCAA tournament this past weekend, knowing full well that he did.  Of course he answered, “yes.” To which I asked, “In all of the games that were decided late in the game where teams had to execute, how many were won with a dunk?” 

“ Um, Uhhhhh, Ummmmmm. Going out on a limb I’d say a bunch.” 

EHHHHHHHHH! Wrong!  I watched pretty much all of them and I could only think of one that ended with a dunk, Purdue vs. Kansas because Kansas stole the ball at the end and raced full court uncontested for a dunk.  The fact is, the majority of the basketball games this weekend were won or lost on a jump shot or a foul shot, not a dunk.  Late game situations were decided by the players’ ability to shoot the basketball.  Yet despite the fact that the jump shot plays such a tremendous role in the winning and losing basketball games, we as a whole do not practice jump shooting enough. 

The off season is upon us and with it comes the time to develop your basketball skills, in particular, your jump shot.  Jump shooting is an art.  Take a look at some of the great jump shooters at the college and pro levels.  Names like, Dirk Nowitski, Jimmer Fredette, Steph Curry, Steve Novak (he has been unbelievable recently), Kobe Bryant come to mind.  These players are knock down shooters and that did not happen by accident.  It happened because they are committed to developing their basketball skills…they are committed to developing their jump shot.  Jump shooting, like any other basketball skill needs to be practiced often and it needs to be practiced correctly.  Watch these players and their form.  They all shoot the basketball a little differently, but the fundamentals of the jump shot are there.  Their footwork is excellent, consequently they have great balance and their release from top to bottom is flawless.  These are fundamentals worth noting and worth copying.  To do so, you must work on proper form shooting drills daily to ensure that you are getting the repetitions necessary for your jump shot.  Then set out to taking game shots, from game spots, at game speed.  In order to become a good jump shooter, players not only need to shoot hundreds of jumpers a day, they need to shoot hundreds of jumpers a day correctly.  They need to shoot off the dribble, off the catch, using different footwork based on how you approach the basketball all while keeping the proper form.  Furthermore, players should be watching each and every jump shot and learning how to make corrections based on feel and how the ball goes in, where it goes in, if it misses, where it misses.  All of which will help you become a much better shooter. 

Now is the time to put in the work to become a better jump shooter.  In all seriousness, many of you out there will never ever dunk a basketball…EVER….period.  However, you will definitely take a jump shot or two in your basketball lifetime.  With this in mind, working to become a better jump shooter should be one of your skill development priorities this basketball off season.  First and foremost, work to achieve proper form.  Then take game shots at game spots at game speed.  Finally, be sure to learn your jumper by watching your jump shot to understand how you make or miss a shot and correct it.  Developing a good jump shot will take hundreds of shots daily but I guarantee that it will be worth it when your teamates are carrying you off the court becuase you just won the game for your team with a jump shot…not a dunk. 

If you are interested in learning more about how you can become a great jump shooter contact me by email and find out how Elite Basketball Training can help you.

Committed to taking your game to the NEXT level.

Rich Stoner

Elite Basketball Training, LLC

What a great start to the NCAA tournament last night.  I have to say that I did not have much interest in the Western Kentucky, Mississippi Valley St. game, and when M.V. St. grabbed a 16 point lead it seemed that my disinterest was warranted.  Boy did that change in the last four minutes of the game as Mississippi Valley St. found out just how hard it is to play with a lead and wound up losing to WKU.  And speaking of playing with a lead, way to go Iona for not scoring for nine minutes in the second half and blowing your 27 point lead.  This had to be extremely disappointing for an Iona team who was looking to prove that they belonged in the field.  Kudos to BYU though for figuring out how to slow down the Gaels who were running them out of the gym early on.  Either way, these were two great games and an excellent way to start one of the most exciting sporting weekends of the year. 

The parity throughout college basketball this season has created some intriguing first round matchups and it should lead to a very exhilarating next three weeks of basketball.  So, With Tuesday’s games fresh in the books, lets take a look at my picks that are sure to go wrong.

South

Kentucky vs. WKU: Sorry WKU your great comeback was exciting but you are in no way a match for arguably the best team in the country.  Kentucky in a rout.

Iowa St. vs. UConn: A tough one to choose.  The cyclones played in a very challenging Big 12 but UConn, although underachieving slightly this season, played one of the toughest schedules in the country and has the talent to beat anyone.  They also seem to be playing much better now that Jim Calhoun is back so UConn will win this one.

Wichita St. vs. VCU: I have seen VCU three times this season and they are tough. Wichita St., though, is very good as well.  Although it pains me to say it, the match up of mid majors will end with Shaka getting out smarted by the Shockers.  Wichita St. wins.

New Mexico St. vs. Indiana: No brainer. Indiana is back an proved it this season with wins over Ohio St. and Kentucky when both were 1 in the polls.  Indiana advances.

UNLV vs. Colorado: Vegas has a win over North Carolina and Colorado is only in the tournament because they won the PAC 12 tournament. Enough said. Vegas wins.

Baylor vs. South Dakota St: Baylor finally got a big time win last weekend over Kansas and South Dakota St. is no match for their athleticism.  Baylor moves on.

Notre Dame vs Xavier: With St. Patrick’s Day looming is the luck of the Irish enough to push them past Xavier? After all, Xavier has ganstas in their locker room, or so they say.  The luck runs out Irish it’s the X-men on to the second round.

Duke vs. Lehigh: I hate Duke…but they win.

Kentucky, Indiana, Baylor, and Duke advance to the Sweet Sixteen, with Kentucky over Baylor to advance to the Final Four.

West

Michigan St. vs. LIU: Most notable basketball alumni for each school Magic Johnson or Charlie Parker.  Sparty marches on.

Memphis vs. St. Luis: I love St. Louis coach Rick Majerus and he is on my list of people that I most want to eat with but his Billikens will struggle with this very underated Memphis squad. Memphis moves on.

New Mexico vs. Long Beach St: Another tough Mid Major game.  I love it and I also love New Mexico in this one.  The Lobos are onto the second round.

Louisville vs. Davidson: Louisville is brutal to watch because they have a hard time scoring but are hands down one of the best defensive teams that I have seen.  Davidson is not match for the Big East tournament champs. Cardinals advance.

Murray St. vs. Colorado St: In a winter where the skiing was weak in Colorado, Murray St. is far from it.  They can flat out shoot the basketball and will win this one over the Rams.

 BYU vs. Marquette: Marquette is many people’s sleeper for a Final Four Run.  I at least like them over this BYU team who should be spent from having already played a barn burner.  Marquette wins.

Florida vs. Virginia: Virginia boasts one of the best defenses in the nation and Florida boasts a loss to Rutgers…Ouch. Sorry Florida you get shut down by a stingy Cavaliers defense.  UVA moves on.

Missouri vs. Norfolk St.: Norforlk St…Seriously.  Mizzou in a rout.  They are for real.

Michigan St., New Mexico, Marquette, and Missouri battle it out in the Sweet Sixteen with Tom Izzo and Michigan St. moving on to the Final Four once again. 

East

Syracuse vs. UNC-Asheville: UNC! UNC! UNC! oh wait I thought we were in Chapel Hill. Even though Syracuse’s big man can’t pass a test, the team will pass this one with flying colors and move on to the second round.

Kansas St. vs. Southern Miss: I’m watching this one just to see how many Frank Martin expletives CBS will accidentally show on tv.  Beyond that, this could be a good one as Kansas State has been inconsistent enough all season and Southern Miss is good enough to keep it tight.  In the end its K-State moving on.

Harvard vs. Vanderbilt:  Is Jeremy Lin starting for Harvard these days? Nope. Is Vandy really everyone’s sexy pick for the Final Four? Yup, but they are definitely not mine.  Bye bye Commodores the Crimson are sending you home early.

Wisconsin vs. Montana: This one is easy.  Wisconsin wins.

Cincinnati vs. Texas: Can’t wait for this one. Texas is young but highly talented at the guard spot. Cincinnati is athletic and big.  This should be an exciting back and forth contest with Cincy edging Texas out.

Florida St. vs. St. Bonaventure: Florida St. is senior laden, huge, athletic, and talented. Need I say more. Florida St wins easily.

West Virginia vs. Gonzaga: This should also be a close game. The difference? Kevin Jones and Truck Bryant. Jones might be the best player in the country and how do you pick against a guy whose nickname is Truck.  WVU wins in a close one.

Ohio St. vs. Loyola:  This isn’t Loyola Marymount, it’s Loyola Maryland and Ohio St. could end up in the final four. Good luck this lacrosse season Loyola. Ohio St. moves on.

Syracuse, Wisconsin, Florida St., and Ohio St. move on and Ohio St is coming out of this bracket. 

Midwest

UNC vs Lamar or Vermont: I had a player named Lamar once and I also had a player play for Vermont.  Either way, the Tarheels win.

Creighton vs. Alabama:  I like Doug McDermott and you should watch this game just for him, but Alabama is tough coming out of the SEC. But the SEC doesn’t reign supreme like it does in football and Creighton wins one for the little guys.

Temple vs. Cal/South Florida: Temple after losing in the conference tournament will defeat either one of these weaklings from the big boy conferences. Go Owls.

Michigan vs. Ohio: This game will definitely be closer than everyone thinks.  Michigan won the Big Ten, kind of.  But Ohio can play and will give them all they can handle.

NC State vs. San Diego St: I love the fact that Steve Fisher was able to reload after such a great season last year, but NC State is playing with a chip on their shoulder and will move past the Aztecs in this one.

Georgetown vs. Belmont: Georgetown is young and talented. Belmont is the best 14 seed in the tournament.  There style of play will make Georgetown have to work for this one.  Hoyas in a close one.

Purdue vs. St. Mary’s: It was nice to see St. Mary’s finally dethrown Gonzaga but the oddsmakers favor the Boilermakers in this one and so do I. 9th year senior Robbie Hummel and company move on.

Kansas vs. Detroit: Detroit point guard Ray McCallum is as good as they come at that position and will pose a small problem for this Kansas team.  However, the problem will only be a small one and the Jayhawks move on.  

 UNC, Michigan, Georgetown, and Kansas move on and its the Tarheels whose talent proves to be too much for this bracket taking them to the Final Four.

In the end, its the blue bloods squaring off in the championship in a rematch of the early season game that went down to the wire between the Kentucky Wildcats and the North Carolina Tarheels.  I have said it all season that there are only two teams in the country that can beat Kentucky.  One eliminated themselves when their center decided not to pass a class or five.  The other is the North Carolina Tarheels, and yes, its the Tarheels avenging their last two losses to the Wildcats and cutting down the nets in 2012.

Take it these picks for what they are worth but in all honesty I hope you enjoy the madness and use it as motivation to take your game to the next level.