The e-newsletter of the North Texas Final Four Local Organizing Committee | Issue 5 | March 21, 2013
SOUTH REGIONAL PREVIEW
With the South Regional tipping off today, we take a look at which teams might be playing in Cowboys Stadium next weekend BY JAN HUBBARD
W
hen Kansas coach Bill Self was reflecting on a February loss to TCU, he invoked the name of James Naismith, basketball’s creator… who also happened to be the first head coach in Kansas history. As everyone knows, Dr. Naismith invented a fabulous game, but either he did not quickly master recruiting or he was better at inventing than RETURN TRIP: Kansas hopes to make its second-straight he was at coaching. One of the great trivia answers Final Four appearance. in basketball history is to he lost to Topeka YMCA in the first the question: Who is the couple years.” only head coach in University of Kansas As it turns out, low points of the history who had a losing record. And it season should not be confused with was, in fact, James Naismith (55-60). the big picture. After the loss to the Frogs, Kansas went on to win 10 of its last 12 games, which is only part of the story. In their three games in the Big 12 Championship, the Jayhawks won by an average of 19.7 points. And two of their victims — Iowa State and Kansas State — also made the tournament. Perhaps only Louisville After the loss to the Horned Frogs, can match the Jayhawks for momentum Self told reporters: “It was the worst as March Madness® begins. team that Kansas has put on the floor “We’re the No. 2 overall seed,” Self since Dr. [James] Naismith was there. said after the tournament teams were I think he had some bad teams when
“We’re the No. 2 overall seed… who would have thought that would be the case with this team?”
www.ncaa.com/finalfour
WE WANT YOU!
Want to volunteer for the North Texas Final Four Local Organizing Committee? We want to hear from you. For more information, visit www.Big12Sports.com/ Volunteer.
TICKETS ON SALE FOR 2014 FINAL FOUR® AT COWBOYS STADIUM
Applications to buy tickets to the 2014 Final Four at Cowboys Stadium are being accepted now at NCAA.com/mbbtickets. Entries to the random selection process will be accepted until May 31. Tickets are sold in “books” that include admission to both Final Four games on April 5, 2014 and the National Championship game on April 7. All games will be played at Cowboys Stadium. Price per book is $190 — very reasonable, considering you’re getting three of the biggest games of the year. You can apply to buy up to four books. The winners will be selected in a computerized random drawing in July and notified in August. Your credit card will be charged when you submit your application. All completed applications will include a $20 non-refundable application fee which includes an official NCAA® Final Four game program and shipping/handling. IF NOT SELECTED FOR TICKETS YOU WILL BE REFUNDED THE ENTIRETY OF YOUR TRANSACTION, LESS THE $20 APPLICATION FEE.
SOUTH REGIONAL PREVIEW, CONT. announced. “Who would have thought the South regional final at Cowboys that would be the case with this team?” Stadium would match the Jayhawks and With Big 12 Defensive Player of the Hoyas, who are led by player of the year Year Jeff Withey, one of four seniors candidate Otto Porter. Porter averaged in the starting lineup, 16.3 points during the leading a defensive effort season, but he had 33 of that limits opponents to Georgetown’s 57 points 36 percent from the field in a Feb. 23 victory over (best in the country), the Syracuse. Jayhawks are the top seed But KU-GU is far from in the South Region and a given — not with SEC in great shape to make a regular season champ return trip to the Final Four Florida as the third (they fell to Kentucky in seed and a dangerous last year’s title game). Michigan team, once But it won’t be easy. ranked No. 1 during the As Self said after the season, led by Big Ten selection committee player of the year Trey released the brackets: Burke. Plus there is “Everybody will say Virginia Commonwealth, this, but I don’t think a former Cinderella team (the committee) did us that has transformed into KANSAS’ any favors. Because, a major program. JEFF WITHEY obviously, it’s a tough Kansas will be tested bracket. And I would think quickly. The Jayhawks the so-called experts are heavily favored to would probably think this is probably as win their first round game against 16th tough a bracket as there is.” seeded Western Kentucky. But that A Georgetown team that has defeated could mean a matchup with North Louisville, Marquette and Syracuse is Carolina and former Kansas coach Roy the second seed and if the chalk holds, Williams in the second round.
BIG 12 HOSTS FREE NCAA REGIONAL OPEN PRACTICE DAY FOUR NCAA REGIONAL PARTICIPANTS PRACTICE AT COWBOYS STADIUM ON MARCH 28
T
he NCAA and Big 12 will host a free open practice on Thursday, March 28, at Cowboys Stadium as part of the South Regional of the 2013 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. The four participants Regionals will practice in one-hour blocks from noon to 4 p.m. CT. Doors to Cowboys Stadium open at 11 a.m. No ticket is required for entry and merchandise and concessions stands will be open. Parking is Free. Open Practice Day offers a great chance to see four of the 16 remaining teams in the NCAA tournament up close.
www.ncaa.com/finalfour
The Tar Heels were a preseason top 10 pick and struggled to replace four starters, but they made it to the ACC tournament final before losing to Miami. There seems to be little doubt that they are the best eight-seed in the tournament. VCU and North Carolina are the primary major threats to the top seeds. Sixth-seeded UCLA lost Jordan Adams, its second leading scorer, in the Pac12 tournament and will have a difficult time with 11th-seeded Minnesota, coached by Tubby Smith, who won a national championship at Kentucky. Seventh-seeded San Diego State was the Mountain West favorite and had an inconsistent season, but the Aztecs are experienced and have been in the tournament for four consecutive years. They face a tough Oklahoma squad that starts three seniors and defeated KU earlier this season. Still, this is a region with the power at the top. The only way a long shot can break through this year in the South is if during the first two rounds, it hits a lot of long shots. NCAA, Final Four and March Madness are trademarks of the National Collegiate Athletic Association.