Requiem for Wichita State (And Other March Madness thoughts)

Wichita State finally lost their first game of the year, as most expected.  There have been some voices who feel vindicated because WSU didn't survive the first weekend. I'll politely say that those folks are idiots who want to feel smart because this plucky mid-major didn't deserve the attention they got.

So Wichita State didn't play a tough schedule. Do folks realize how hard it is for teams to win every single game? Only two teams in my lifetime have gone perfect through the regular season (1991 UNLV, 2004 St Joseph's before the conference tournament).

2008 Memphis - maybe the best team I've witnessed since 1999 Duke - lost one game prior to the national title game. 2012 Kentucky lost one before they lost again in the SEC title game. I don't care who you are, to win every game is not easy regardless of schedule. One bad game and that's a wrap.

I compare it to watching the No. 1 high school team in California this weekend. Mater Dei is 34-0 and heading to their fourth straight state final appearance. They've played through a tough nonleague schedule, a league that included a fellow state finalist in St. John Bosco and one of the toughest playoff roads in the nation.

Andrew Wiggins: Hype and Patience

The story of college basketball this year? A kid who has yet to play his first game. The latest in the line of freshmen blessed to have the spotlight on him and given all the praise. Andrew Wiggins. The Golden Child who makes his debut tonight for Kansas.

He's also set up to be the latest in the Hype Machine. You know that machine right? Where 24/7 media can amplify the noise and shape the conversation whether it's fair or not. Where legend transcends fact and facts become enhanced like plastic surgery. Where patience is sacrificed for the right now.

I knew about Wiggins last year but you know who I knew about more? Jabari Parker. In case you forgot, Parker was the SI cover boy about 18 months ago as the clear cut best basketball player in his class. He was the latest Chicago product following the line of greats like Derrick Rose, Nick Anderson, Ronnie Fields, Ben Wilson and others.

All a sudden, he became an afterthought due to him getting hurt his senior year. But to me, he's every bit as good as Wiggins. I've also spoken to colleagues who also say Julius Randle, the best freshman in Kentucky's new stable, is just as good as both too. And don't sleep on Arizona's Aaron Gordon either, who I've seen tear up Cali since he was a sophomore. Case in point, we have a very good freshman class where Wiggins is the star.

Johnny Manziel and the NCAA's Crumbling Empire

How many of these and other signed memorabilia are floating around for crazy loot.

I’ve been quiet on this Johnny Manziel autograph story because I needed to gather my thoughts. Not about him, but on the NCAA and their current state.

If Manziel accepted money for those autographs, so be it. I don’t care either way. What I care about is why this is a crime when colleges use player autographs for promotions and such? When autograph seekers can take gear signed and get crazy money for it while the athletes get punished for pennies.

When AJ Green sells his own gear, he was suspended several games. When Terrelle Pryor and his teammates traded their trinkets for tattoos –  currency – and got forced into playing in the Sugar Bowl, they barely got sympathy. Pryor’s name was dragged through the mud during his eventual suspension and I barely heard folks share any sympathy for him.

But let the school make far more money off their jerseys and those programs? It’s for the good of the institution. That's same lie that Wal-Mart sells when they ask you to overlook their unfair labor practices to spend their money.

Likewise, the NCAA cares less about protecting their players (workers) and more about witch-hunts and their own pockets. Why else do you explain Jay Bilas’ brilliant takedown of that site where the NCAA sold player jerseys? And their apology means they know their time is coming soon.

Thank you Michigan and Louisville: A Fitting Finale

There's only two words I can say after Monday night's national championship. Thank you.

Thank you Michigan and Louisville for giving us the best national title game in five years and one of the most thrilling games of this lackluster college season. It's what the game should be - letting guys play, heart and hustle all over, and guys stepping up in great ways.

Thank you Spike Albrecht for a great 1st half performance. 17 points and doing what players train to do: Be ready when your number's called.

Thank you to Florida Gulf Coast being a shot of adrenaline in this tournament with one of the best Cinderella runs ever.

The Cost of Leadership (Louisville Inspires, Rutgers Deflates)

Louisville guard Kevin Ware's leg injury remains one of the most horrifying thing I've never seen. I enjoyed hearing his interview on ESPN Wednesday as he described his emotions as well as how he felt the love from all over the country.

Former Rutgers head coach Mike Rice was shown on camera showing some of the worst abuse I've seen on camera. The language didn't bother me as much because I find it part of a bigger problem with coaches in general, but the kicking, grabbing and throwing balls? That should've cost him his job right away.

One case is a freak incident. The other case is a freakout of ridiculous and terrible nature. Both symbolize where leadership can elevate a situation or make it worse.

Welcome to L.A. - Steve Alford/Andy Enfield Have Work to Do

I have a message for new UCLA coach Steve Alford and USC coach Andy Enfield. If you want to last here in Southern California, you need to work hard to keep the best players here. Be a presence and make your program attractive to the players first - then the fans will come. But I'm torn on them both.

Alford's a good hire because he wins in the regular season. Alford's a bad hire because he's flopped in the tournament with his best teams (3 No. 3 seeds bounced early). Enfield's a good hire because his style of play is fun to watch and lets guys plays. Enfield's a bad hire because he's inexperienced as a head coach despite his experience as an assistant in the NBA.

So time will tell. Let's see what happens in 2-3 years when their recruiting pays off. In the meantime, my friend and colleague Rahshaun Haylock reports on Steve Alford's opening presser over at Fox Sports West.

Oh and Reggie Theus might be the most sleeper hire a team can make this year. Cal State Northridge did a fantastic job taking a chance on a coach who knows the LA prep scene and can definitely recruit solid kids to a solid program. 

Here's a fine feature on Theus from Jason Lewis, my successor as Los Angeles Sentinel Sports Editor.

An Open Letter to Brittney Griner: The Most Dominant Player in College Hoops

Dear Brittney,

After watching you work last night in your final home game at Baylor to advance to the Sweet Sixteen, I only have one thing to say. I'm sorry I doubted you four years ago coming out of high school and I'm glad that I've come around to appreciating your growth as a senior.

See back then, I saw footage of you dunking. A tall girl with long arms that folks had high praise. Having been used to seeing Candace Parker, Diana Taurasi and other great players, I was amazed at your height but I wondered about your strength. I didn't think you'd get the chance to develop into more than just a young lady who could dunk.

Forgive me for my bias though. I've seen tall kids dominate in high school only to see them struggle in college because height can only go so far. So I was skeptical. But you began to prove me wrong as a freshman.

You set the single-season record for blocks in a season that year. Nobody had an answer for you and it was clear you'd be a defensive stalwart while your offensive game came around. Sadly, most folks remember you throwing a punch that broke Jordan Barncastle's nose and they denigrated you as a thug or a wild player. Nevermind that it was a great teaching moment that you grew from thanks to your excellent coach Kim Mulkey.