Barry Tompkins: Dancin’ the Big Dance

Are you ready for the Madness?  I hope so, because its already started and that makes a Friday column that’s due on Thursday noon a very difficult one to write.

Undaunted, I will plunge into some thoughts about the NCAA Tournament circa 2024 despite the fact that while I’m spinning this yarn before the Thursday games, and you won’t see it until Friday.  So, I could be exposed as what I truly am:  an observer no smarter than Joe SixPack who knew all along that Stetson would beat UConn and blow up everybody’s brackets.

So, I feel safe in saying this: Stetson (despite having the coolest nickname: The Hatters) will not beat UConn, the overall No. 1 seed.

So, how did Baylor do? Going into this game I’m giving 14th seed Colgate at least a chance at upsetting the way more talented Bears. I also think New Mexico can handle No. 6 Clemson.

If I’m wrong about Thursday’s games, I’m sorry – I was just kidding.  If I’m right, I knew it all along.

Neither of us knows about Friday’s games, so let’s plunge in.  There are some truly interesting matchups on Friday and I’ll begin with No. 6 Wisconsin facing No. 12 James Madison.  This is my super-secret, no doubt about it, upset special of the weekend. The Dukes are good. Their 31-3 record this year was no fluke.

And, you’ve got to like their coach Mark Byington.  He’s a guy who was at Virginia studying for his doctorate in Sports Psychology when a voice in the back of his head said, “Try coaching, you’ll like it.”  He did, and he has his team in the NCAA Tournament for only the second time in 30 years.

I also like 13-seeded Vermont a little bit against Duke, but I don’t think they have quite enough to beat the Blue Devils.

James Madison and Duke would then hook up in the second round Sunday.  It’d be the Duke vs Duke.

As to our local teams, it’s all about Saint Mary’s. The Gaels are good, they’re well coached, and they’re one of the best defensive teams in the country. Nobody wants to play them.  But Grand Canyon will – and they’re not bad.

Randy Bennet’s name will once again surface in every coaching vacancy in the land, and Randy will restate that he’s happy in Moraga. Why not?  His team’s been in the postseason for the each of the past 15 years.

This game isn’t a gimme for the Gaels.  Grand Canyon – a for-profit university – has quietly won 30 games this year.  They, too, are well coached.  I’m not sure how far Saint Mary’s can go in this tournament. They’re really good but lost a major contributor in Joshua Jefferson mid-season with a knee injury.  Good, but not complete.  For the Gaels: Watch out next year.

And that brings me to Oregon.

I don’t know what it is, but Dana Altman’s team always seems to wallow in mediocrity until the last third of the season and then turns into Godzilla down the stretch.  The Ducks won the Pac12 tournament as the No. 4 seed, and come into this tournament overlooked as the No.11 seed.  They play number six South Carolina in their opener on Friday and I think they win – and easy.

From that point on the Ducks will continue to be underdogs, and I think they’ll continue to win.  They’re my outside choice to get to the Final Four. Caution: Do not take my suggestions to the bank.

The only downside to the Ducks’ success is that their mascot comes with them.  I believe I’ve blathered on in the past about my dislike for mascots – some more than others – but none more than the Oregon Duck. Inherently I’m prone to dislike anything with webbed feet that stands 6 feet tall, with the possible exception of the Creature from the Black Lagoon.

In fact, Oregon’s first opponent, South Carolina also has a 6-foot bird as its mascot. Maybe they can hook up and run off together.

If you are inclined to make your bracket selections by mascot, here are some options.

This year’s field consists of 5 Bulldogs, 4 Cougars, 3 Wildcats and 3 Tigers.  Birds are well represented too.  In addition to your Duck and Gamecock, you’ve got Blue Jays, Jayhawks, Peacocks, Seahawks and Golden Eagles.

If you lean toward bovines there are Buffaloes, Longhorns, Rams, and Bison.

You’ve got colors: The Blue Devils, Crimson Tide and Red Raiders. You have apparel:  The Hatters, the Blazers and the Zips. You’ve got Flyers, Cowboys, Volunteers, Boilermakers and Cornhuskers.  And if ursines and vulpines are your pleasure I give you the Grizzlies and the Bears, the Lobos and the Wolfpack. We’re chock full of heraldry too:  Two Dukes, The Cavaliers and the Lancers. And warriors: The Spartans and the Gaels.

There’s even a feel good story in this year’s tournament even though its hero will likely be checked out of his hotel and on his way somewhere else by the time you read this.  It’s about Long Beach State head coach Dan Monson.  Well, better put, Long Beach State’s ex-head coach.

Dan Monson was fired at the end of the regular season after 17 years on the job at The Beach.  Then his team proceeded to win the Big West Tournament and here he is – as he says – working for free.

I’ve known Dan since he was a young coach at Gonzaga where he led the team to its first ever Elite Eight. He left for greener pastures in Minnesota, because he said, “I’d have to work for ten years at Gonzaga to make what I make in two years at Minnesota.”

His assistant Mark Few took over the Bulldogs and in his 25 years, has made the NCAA tournament 25 times.  Gonzaga is now a national powerhouse.  And, oh by the way, Mark Few makes more than twice the salary of the Minnesota coach.

So, who wins it all?  It’s really hard to bet against the chalk this year.  I think Oregon gets to the Final Four, but UConn and Houston, in my opinion, are a cut above.

I like Houston.  Don’t ask me why.