PARENTS

Oftentimes in youth sports, the parents get in the way. I am sure you have heard the horror stories. It’s been going on for many years.

Interview below with Danny Hurley’s approach to recruiting – must listen, especially for the parents. Here’s a few quotes:

“There’s measurable talents you have to have — the height, the speed, the skill set. But we spend a lot of time really focusing on the parents.”

(I once had a college coach tell me he wouldn’t recruit a kid because of the father.)

“Are they going to be fans of their son or are they going to be parents? Are they going to hold them accountable, have an expectation that when something goes wrong that it’s not the coach’s fault? That their son’s got to work harder, he’s got to do more, he’s got to earn his role.”

“We’ve got a real old-school culture here of accountability. I’m an old-school coach in terms of the tone that I take with my players in practice. The expectations I take with effort, the focus on winning and ‘we’ over ‘me.‘”

“Have they played on seven different travel teams? Have they transferred to four or five different high schools? When you talk to the parents in the recruiting process, are they constantly complaining about the coaches after a bad game or are you having a conversation where their son has got to do more, got to play harder, he’s got to work on his skills.”

“They tell on themselves. They drop hints. [If] you’ve got the wrong type of people around the inner circle of your players, they’ll sink your program.”

THE HURLEY’S

Bob, Danny and Bobby Hurley are amazing.

Outstanding coaches who have made a huge impact at the high school and college levels.

I watched Bobby and Danny play high school ball at St. Anthony’s of Jersey City. Running the point for their dad. Bobby went on to play at Duke. He’s the NCAA all-time leader in assists. Danny played at Seton Hall. After their playing days both followed in their dad’s footsteps and got into coaching.

Danny started at St. Benedict’s High School in Newark. He would then become the head coach at Wagner College bringing Bobby on as an assistant coach.

Danny would soon get the head job at Rhode Island, Bobby got the head job at the University of Buffalo.

After much success Danny left URI for UConn, Bobby went out west to Arizona State.

I have had the opportunity to get to know Bob. We have spent some time together talking hoops. Danny, while coaching at St. Benedict’s once told us about one of his players; he wanted us to have a look at him while I was an assistant coach at St. Peter’s College. We took him.

We need our young players to allow a coach to bring out the best in them. Take the coaching. Don’t be a baby. Get tough. Work hard. Give it all you have.

The Hurley’s “coach the right way.”

E-Mail: SteveFinamore@yahoo.com

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS…AGAIN

Congratulations to the Connecticut Huskies men’s basketball team. Their 75-60 victory over Purdue gives them back-to-back-titles. They are the first program to repeat since the Florida Gators in 2007. It’s their 6th title in school history.

Tristen Newton, named MOP led the way for UConn with 20 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists.

Danny Hurley has done a tremendous job with the Huskies. They play hard. Share the ball and defend.

Zach Edey led Purdue with 37 points and 10 rebounds.

The Boilermakers shot just 1-7 from downtown.

For the six games in the tournament Huskies shot 41-136 for 30% from deep. Boilermakers 43-114 for 37%. UConn won all six games by double-figures.

UConn had 18 assists with 6 turnovers.

One big difference in the game was offensive rebounds; Huskies crashed the boards for 14.

Connecticut finishes the season 37-3. Purdue 34-5.

Edey played his last college game. It’s going to be interesting to see how his professional career shakes out.

Always play the right way…

E-Mail: SteveFinamore@yahoo.com

DRIVE AND SPACE

Saturday was the men’s Final Four. What an awesome night. Two big-time college basketball games. It doesn’t get any better…

PURDUE-NORTH CAROLINA STATE

It was hyped up as Zach Edey against DJ Burns. But we all know basketball is a “team” sport. With that being said, Edey won the battle of the big men leading his squad to the 63-50 win. Edey scored 20 points on 9-14 shooting with 12 rebounds and 4 assists. The big fella from Toronto played all 40 minutes. This is the sixth NCAA tournament game in a row he has scored 20 or more points and has had 10 or more rebounds. Kareem Abdul-Jabber had 9 straight games with those numbers and David Robinson had 5 straight.

“Anytime your best player is unselfish, everybody just gets in line,” said Matt Painter following the game.

Edey was named Player – of – the – Year for the second straight season.

Two things right at the start the men’s coverage did that that the women did not do Friday night in their Final Four was showing the player introductions. Have to introduce the players.

Purdue’s point guard Braden Smith was called for two over and back violations in the first half. I don’t think I have ever seen that before. Solid ball pressure by NC State.

At one point in the first half they went a little more than six minutes without a whistle. Good job by the officials of letting them play.

Lance Jones scored 14 points for Purdue on 5-12 from the field, 4-9 from 3.

Smith played all 40 minutes for Purdue and shot 1-9 from the field. 1-5 from 3, 8 rebounds, 6 assists and 5 turnovers.

DJ Horne led the Pack with 20 points.

Burns played 27 minutes, shot 4-10 from the field for 8 points. He grabbed just 1 rebound.

The Wolfpack were 9-11 in the ACC this year.

The announcing team of Ian Eagle, Grant Hill and Bill Raftery were not very good. Eagle has a metaphor every possession. Hill doesn’t explain how things happened. And Raftery just tells us what we just watched. They need better basketball analysts on the game. Jay Wright is being wasted doing pre and post game coverage.

The Big Ten has not won the National championship since 2000. Purdue has a chance to end that streak Monday night. The Boilermakers are making their first appearance in the National championship since 1969.

UCONN-ALABAMA

The Crimson Tide entered the game +11.5, no one gave them a chance against UConn but don’t you dare tell Nate Oats and his crew that nonsense. The Huskies prevailed after getting tested all night long pulling away for the 86-72 win and a date with Purdue Monday night in the championship. The Huskies are looking to go back to back.

Five Huskies scored in double figures led by Stephon Castle 21 points on 7-13 shooting. Donovan Clingan scored 18 points and had 4 blocks. The Clingan-Edey matchup is going to be good Monday night. Battle of the Bigs. I would love to see more teams and players utilize the low-post game.

“Our identity is to be relentless,” Danny Hurley said following the game.

Grant Hill called Hurley, “tough and demanding.”

Mark Sears led Alabama with 24 points.

The Huskies finished with 20 assists and 4 turnovers.

“They’re close to being bulletproof,” Oats said of UConn.

Tide had zero fast break points.

Grant Nelson had a vicious dunk on Clingan. Nelson reminds me a little of Mike Dunleavy Jr. He finished with 19 points and 15 rebounds. I love how he handles the ball at the top of the key.

Did you see Jay Wright’s breakdown of UConn’s offense? It was Gold. Coaches clinic-like. Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Clark Kellogg looked confused.

Oats and Hurley are two former high school coaches. I’m glad the network mentioned their history. Hurley helped Oats get into the college ranks.

It was nice to see Latrell Whitesell back for Bama after missing their last two games. He made 2 3’s.

Huskies led 44-40 at the half.

At one point during the game Raftery said the players looked a bit winded. Next play UConn ran a sweet ally-oop for Castle. Winded? Not exactly.

How about this dandy from Grant Hill: “It almost feels like a win when you play them this close and tough like Alabama has.”

Huh?

I hope you had a chance to listen to Kenny Smith and his “knocking at the door” analogy.

Monday night’s championship game is going to be big-time…

Always play the right way…

E-mail: SteveFinamore@yahoo.com

WALLING UP

The Connecticut Huskies are going back to the Final Four and are just two wins away from repeating as National Champs. This is the Huskies 7th trip to the Final Four. UNC has the most with 21.

The Huskies blew out Illinois 77-52 Saturday night behind Donvan Clingan’s 22 points, 19 rebounds and 5 blocks.

UConn’s defense was incredible. They held Terrence Shannon to 2-12 shooting from the floor. Fighting Illini shot 6-23 from distance.

A college coach texted me during the game and said UConn is treating Illinois like a buy game in November.

One minor concern is UConn’s 3-point shooting. They were 3-17 from deep but it didn’t seem to matter. In the four tournament games UConn is 25-89 from deep. Their pressure defense and transition offense was on all night.

Huskies jumped out to a 9-0 lead and never looked back.

UConn at one point in the game went on a 30-0 run.

In UConn’s last four NCAA tournament games they have won by 30, 30, 17 and 39. The win was UConn’s 10th straight by 13 points or more.

Bill Murray and Larry David were at the game. Murray’s son Luke is an assistant coach with UConn. An athletic director with a head coach opening should look at Luke.

After the game Jay Wright said UConn has the best back-court in the country and the second best big man.

Always play the right way…

E-mail: SteveFinamore@yahoo.com

BY THE WAY

What a night of basketball! Four games, first one started at 7:09 and ended at 12:37 am. Can’t beat 5 hours of ball. Some clown on TV was complaining about how late the last game would end. So what man, shut up and enjoy it.

First up was Arizona – Clemson. Kudos to Brad Brownell and the Tigers. The 5th place team from the ACC took out Arizona 77-72. Brownell is a terrific coach. Did you know he went to the same college as Brad Stevens? (DePauw). Tigers shot 8-25 from 3. Joe Girard of Clemson is a lot of fun to watch. (6 assists, 1-5 FG) He runs the show and gets it done. Love their bigs too. Girard is New York State’s high school all-time leading scorer. He played four years at Syracuse before transferring to Clemson. Brian Anderson and Jim Jackson were on the call. Anderson is good, Jackson, as usual talks way too much. Anderson mentioned “nerves” in the beginning of the game. Nah man, no such thing. Wildcats are moving to the Big 12 next season. Their coach Tommie Lloyd does a good job; he’s 88-20 in two years. He’s never lost two games in a row. Tigers are solid in the half court offense and defense. Caleb Love shot 5-18 for Zona, 0-9 from deep. In the 3 tournament games Love shot a combined 6-29 from 3.

In Boston UConn crushed San Diego State by 30, 82-52. SMH. Not much to say about this one, only good thing about this game was Stan Van Gundy on the call. But…play-by-play was Kevin Harlan. UConn entered the game with the least amount of 3’s made in the first two rounds (12). Last night they made 10. They’ve won all 3 games In the tournament by double-digits. Huskies are rolling. Ran across a good article from Forbes on UConn. https://www.forbes.com/sites/timcasey/2024/03/29/dan-hurley-models-uconns-program-after-jay-wrights-villanova-teams/?sh=5b83e8e84350

The Huskies’ coaches credit some of their success to getting to know people close to their players, especially their parents, before offering scholarships.

“The kind of old school people, there’s enough out there still that want to be in a program that holds their sons accountable for the highest level work ethic,” Hurley said earlier this month at Madison Square Garden after UConn won the Big East tournament title. “They’re the type of people when things are going bad, I’m not getting text messages blaming me. They’re text messaging their sons or me saying they’ve got to get better. Those are the type of people we attract because our culture is just different. It’s a Jay Wright culture. It’s a group functioning as one.”

Best game of the night was Alabama and North Carolina. Crimson Tide came out on top 89-87. Nate Oats is one of the best in the country; his guys play hard, they share the ball and just ball out. I thought UNC was a little soft. Bama flexed their muscles all night. Couple of weeks ago there was talk of the men’s game not having any big time players; one thing about the NCAA tournament is someone always pops up and the country falls in love with. Grant Nelson of Bama was that guy. In the first two rounds Nelson scored a total of 6 points on 1-7 shooting in 32 minutes. Last night the North Dakota State transfer exploded for 24 points on 6-9 shooting, 10-13 from the free-throw line. Nelson also had 12 rebounds and 5 assists. Bama played without Latrell Wrightsell who was out with a head injury. Carolina made 12 3’s but RJ Davis was off. He shot 4-20 and was 0-9 from deep. Michael Jordan’s alma mater shot 10-16 from 3 in the first half; second half they were 2-15.

In the nightcap Illinois beat Iowa State 72-69. Terrence Shannon scored 29 points for the Fighting Illini. Iowa State’s coach has some big biceps.

Nice to see Carolina’s Cormac Ryan come to his teammate’s defense, “You guys can write whatever you want about the game. You could talk about RJ, you could talk about the stats. We would not be in this position without RJ Davis.”

If I had a son playing high school ball and he was good enough I would want him to play for Nate Oats, Danny Hurley, Greg Kampe, or Kelvin Sampson.

Clemson will face Alabama and Illinois will play UConn in the Elite 8 on Saturday.

I was 3-1 last night with my picks.

Another four games tonight beginning at 7:09.

Marquette – North Carolina State. Going with Shaka Smart’s crew in Dallas.

7:39 Purdue – Gonzaga in Detroit. Zach Edey and company move on. Did you see what that politician from Michigan said about the 4 buses on the tarmac at Detroit airport? SMH.

9:39 Houston – Duke, going with the Cougars in the second game in Dallas.

9:59 Tennessee – Creighton. I love the Jays in the D.

R.I.P. Lou Gossett Jr. – back in the day when I worked the door at Planet Hollywood in NYC Gossett walked by. “Yo Lou, Lincoln High baby!” I shouted. He looked at me, raised his fist in the air and said, “You know it my man…” Gossett attended Lincoln High School in Brooklyn. Same school that produced Stephon Marbury, Sebastian Telfair, Lee Mazzilli, Marv Albert, Harvey Keitel, and Lance Stephenson.

My man Tari Eason from the Houston Rockets posted a video on Tik Tok (no, I don’t have an account) He called out the Warriors using the line “WARRIORS, COME OUT TO PLAY.” He imitated David Patrick Kelly very well. “The Warriors’ is a movie from 1979 about street gangs in NYC.

Happy birthday Walt Frazier. Clyde is 79.

Enjoy the games and always play the right way…

E-Mail: SteveFinamore@yahoo.com

THEN CAME YOU

Shout out to Charles Barkley and Danny Hurley.

Yesterday both guys said something on air that was wonderful and refreshing.

Let’s start with the head coach of the Connecticut Huskies:

UConn was up 52-19 on Stetson at the half and Hurley didn’t seem too happy during his interview with the sideline reporter.

“We gotta grow up a little, the last couple of minutes I didn’t like.”

To fill you in, Hurley wasn’t happy with his team and the way they played to close out the half. They have a high standard at UConn. Now there are some people in society who will criticize Hurley and say, “oh come on Dan, you’re up 33, relax.”

NO, NO, NO…You have an obligation to coach your guys up and hold them to the expectations of the program. That’s why they’re the champions and may just win back-to-back titles.

Which leads me to what Barkley said in studio, “you gotta wanna be coached.”

We have too many players who don’t want to be pushed to give their best.

Just relax, let the coaches coach you. Parents, stay out of it.

QUICK HITTERS:

I said it yesterday, I’ll say it today – the University of Michigan should reach out to Greg Kampe at Oakland and offer him the men’s head basketball coaching position. He’ll turn it around in Ann Arbor. Golden Grizzlies take on NC State at 7:10.

Saw a gambling commercial yesterday, “don’t regret the bet,” was their slogan. In all my life, all the bets I made, I regret them all.”

I have been tracking 3’s in the tournament. Winning teams made more 3’s in 23 of the 32 games.

I like seeing the college coaches wearing pullovers and sneakers on the sidelines. Not feeling the suit and tie look.

Why can’t basketball coaches talk more to the officials like they do in baseball and football?

After going 11-5 with my picks on the first day I went 10-6 yesterday. Here’s my picks for today:

Arizona over Dayton, Kansas over Gonzaga but this one will go down to the wire. Michigan State over North Carolina. Iowa State over Washington State, Oakland over North Carolina State, Tennessee over Texas, Illinois over Duquesne, and Creighton over Oregon.

Caitlin Clark in action today on ABC at 3:00. She takes on the Crusaders of Holy Cross. Shout out to the late Togo Palazzi.

Enjoy the games and always play the right way…

E-Mail: SteveFinamore@yahoo.com

TOUGH SLEDDING

What in the world is going on in the game of basketball?

Players, coaches, fans and of course the media; people have lost their minds.

Let’s start with Rick Pitino going off on his team and than a couple of days later apologizing? I don’t get it. Seems weird to me. An apology for ripping his own players?

Phil Martelli, assistant coach at Michigan recently talked about the situation in Ann Arbor.

Do you think ball players walk into a schoolyard and say, “WHO GOT NEXT?”

The Wolverines went out Thursday night and lost to Northwestern, 76-62. They’re now 8-19 on the year, 3-13 in the Big Ten. And will miss the NCAA tournament for a second straight season. Chris Collins has done a good job in Evanston. The Wildcats are 19-8, 10-6 in league play.

How about the Brooklyn Nets GM Sean Marks talking about his current team? “My expectations should be to hold each other accountable to do little things. The effort plays, the looses balls, the contested shots and so forth, diving on the floor.”

Wait a minute. Hold up. Now we have to tell grown men making millions of dollars to play a game to play with effort? What a joke.

“The level of effort and the level to compete has not always been there,” Marks added.

Could you imagine going to work and not putting in the effort. You’d be fired.

Nets went out with a new head coach, Kevin Ollie and got smoked by the Raptors, 121-93.

Someone mentioned to get rid of the 3-point line in the NBA all-star game. Not a bad idea. How about getting rid of the 3-point shot completely? Which brings me to Caitlin Clark of Iowa. You can talk about her all you want but please don’t put her in the same sentence as “Pistol” Pete Maravich. There wasn’t a 3-point shot in college basketball when Pistol played. As of this entry, Clark has played 127 games and scored 3,593 points. Maravich played 83 games and scored 3,667 points.

How about the Creighton fans going after Danny Hurley? And Hurley not backing down.

I’m sitting in Starbucks Friday night enjoying an Iced Shaken Espresso and the Baristas are chopping it up with each other talking about their personal lives. I don’t get how they can air out their dirty laundry in front of other people. All the while they are on their phones acting the fool. We need more professionalism in this world.

Happy National Banana Bread Day…

Always play the right way.

FOR ALL THE MARBLES

Watched the Super Bowl Sunday night. Congratulations to the Kansas City Chiefs. 

Usher was awesome at half-time.

The NBA should do what the NFL and the NCAA does; one game to decide the championship. No more best of 7 crap. 

Steve Lappas worked the Michigan State-Illinois game Saturday. He did an outstanding job. After a questionable call by a ref, Lappas shouted, “that was a horrendous call.”

Speaking of announcers, Tony Romo is awesome.

I like “In the Huddle” brought to you by Fox Network. Danny Hurley is one of the best. This past weekend cameras and microphones focused in on UConn’s huddle; ”Don’t make the game look so difficult.” Huskies crushed Georgetown by 25. 

Idea for the networks; cut down on how much the announcers talk and let’s hear the coach, players and officials. 

Gonzaga beat Kentucky over the weekend 89-85. Zags were in a “foul or defend,” elected to give the foul. Strategy worked. Wildcats have lost 3 straight home games. 

Love Marquette guard Tyler Kolek. 

Wisconsin lost at Rutgers, 78-56 That’s 4 straight L’s for the Badgers. 

Michigan lost at Nebraska 79-59. 

USC lost to Stanford by 31. Trojans are 9-15. 

Purdue crushed Indiana by 20, 79-59. Zach Edey with 26 and 13. Hoosiers shot 4-16 from distance. As a team they are shooting 32% from distance on the season. 

Purdue, Kentucky and Samford lead the country in 3-point shooting percentage at 40%. 

Eli Manning with some advice to his nephew. https://www.foxnews.com/sports/eli-manning-nephew-arch-should-not-transfer-texas-thats-where-he-wants-to-play-football

“He’s gotta be ready. If not, then he gets some playing time here and there, and he’s got three more years of eligibility at a great school, at a great football program on the rise. The fact that you can transfer so easily now doesn’t mean you should do it, just because you’re not playing right away..” 

Good story on Kenny Anderson.  https://www.wkrn.com/sports/fisk-mens-basketball-coach-kenny-anderson-reflects-on-career-impact-on-his-players/

My guy Obi Toppin with a missed dunk. Just go up and put the ball in. Video below. 

THE REAL BIG EAST

Saturday afternoon, St. John’s-UConn from Madison Square Garden. 12 noon.

MSG packed. Sold out. SRO. Scalpers dream. The late Rodney Parker used to make a killing. 

Felt like an old school, 1980’s Big East Game. Boy do I miss those days. Butler, Creighton, Marquette, Xavier, and DePaul do not belong in the Big East. Bring back Syracuse, Pitt and Boston College. 

Huskies entered the day 19-2, 9-1. Johnnies, 13-8, 5-5. 

It’s the second time the schools are meeting this year, Huskies won at home on December 23, 69-65. 

UConn favorite today by 3.5.

Danny Hurley has done an amazing job at UConn. Pitino has people believing St. John’s is about to turn the corner. They haven’t won an NCAA tournament game since 2000. (61-56 win over Northern Arizona).

The pre-game handshake between Hurley and Pitino was lukewarm.

Fox had the game covered. Tim Brando and Jimmy Jackson. Brando is bad. Jackson has improved.

Alex Karaban out for UConn with a sprained ankle. 31 minutes per game, 14.5 points, 5 rebounds per game.

Brando called UConn and SJU’s previous games this past week, “rock fights.” Then later on he called their game vs Providence, “A root canal game.” 

Bob Hurley sitting in the first row behind UConn’s bench. 

Rick Pitino asked a student manager for a towel. He did the Jack Ramsey kneel-down. 

Brando said, “One and done,” after St. John’s missed a shot. Isn’t it a one and done when a team comes down and makes a shot? Same difference, no?

After the first media TO UConn led 14-7. 

We did not hear, “the early start could be a problem,” from any of the announcers. I laugh when I hear that. 

Zero fouls called on St. John’s in the first 8 minutes. 

Under 12 media TO St. John’s has the lead 17-16. 

Under 8, SJU up 21-20. 

I love RJ Luis Jr. of St. John’s. He has a little John Drew in his game. 

Brando after a made basket, “HELLO. HOW DO YOU DO.” Word vomit at its best. 

Under 4, 29 up.

Stephon Castle of UConn with a sweet jump-stop in the lane. Pivot, spin for the bucket. Nice footwork. Very fundamentally sound. Dan Hurley teaches fundamentals. 

SJU up at the half 37-36. 

Everything seemed even except for the free-throws: SJU 7-12. UConn 4-4. 

“A punch taken by St. John’s,” said Brando. Why must these announcers use violent vocab? 

In the UConn huddle Hurley used the term, “a road whistle.” 

Under 16 TO UConn on top 43-40. 

SJU ran a nice BLOB. I’m going to borrow it and use it with my team next season. 

UConn up under 12 media TO, 53-48.

Ready for this from Brando? ”We’ve got ourselves a knockdown, drag out battle.” No one’s been knocked down all game. 

Welcome to the “Cam Spencer Show.”  How does SJU leave him open? Spencer is with his third school. He previously attended Rutgers and Loyola of Maryland. 

Huskies up 11 with 9:00 left in the game.

Under 8 media UConn up 8.

UConn opens it up, lead by 15 with 6:31 left, Brando says there’s plenty of time left. No there’s not, this one is over.

Here’s one Brando must’ve learned in his Psychology class in college, “he lost his confidence.” This coming after a SJU player missed an outside shot. I always laugh when someone says someone “lost their confidence.” 

2:00 left Huskies up 10. Fans heading for the exits. 

Final score: UConn 77-64. Huskies cover. Big East needs to keep this game at the Garden. The joint was jumpin’.

Spencer finsihes with 23 points on 5-7 from distance. (Do the SJU players read the scouting report?)

Daniss Jenkins leads SJU with 19. ”I think Daniss [Jenkins] is playing at a high level. Unfortunately, nobody else is and that’s one of the reasons why we are not playing great against great teams,” said Pitino. 

SJU big man Joel Soriano with only 6 points. He entered the game averaging 16 per game.

SJU shot 4-14 from distance. UConn 7-15.  Pitino’s guys need to be in the practice facility later tonight on the shooting guns. Bring in Pop Lewis to teach shooting. 

“We’re not a great shooting team and we are not a great defensive team,” said Pitino.

UConn 20-22 from the free-throw line. St. John’s 14-21. 

Johnnies have lost 5 of 6. UConn’s winning streak now at 10. 

“This is the BIG EAST. I’ve been through it in my first year at Providence, it’s going to take time. We have to get five or six Daniss Jenkins. Guys who can do multiple things and play great defense. They are going to continue to play hard, just have to play better. We have to improve as a basketball team defensively, improve with our offensive rebounding. We have to improve with not making turnovers at crucial times that make the lead go from three to six, six to eight, even though we didn’t turn it over a whole lot,” said Pitino. 

St. John’s home Tuesday vs DePaul. UConn home vs Butler on Tuesday.