Final Four now set

[Bravesfan]

So Kentucky rounds out the Final Four, beating North Carolina 76-69. Darn it!

I hope UConn, or better yet Butler/VCU takes out these cheaters in quick order!

Boy how I hate John Calipari!

[patrick_o'brian]

Kinda stinks that the Mid-Majors have to play each other, but it is amazing what Shaka Smart and even more amazing is the job that Brad Stevens has done with back to back Final Fours coming out of the Horizon League! Been a fun tournament! It's always good to see Kansas go down too!

[Da Coach]

Las Vegas oddsmakers have made Kentucky the favorite-

http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/sports/sns-ap-bkc-final-four-odds,0,3604882.story

[Bravesfan]

Las Vegas oddsmakers have made Kentucky the favorite-
http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com...,3604882.story

Now who would have thought that?!

[electricmayhem]

Kentucky is the best team left, but how has that worked out for teams so far?

[SFP]

So Kentucky rounds out the Final Four, beating North Carolina 76-69. Darn it!

I hope UConn, or better yet Butler/VCU takes out these cheaters in quick order!

Boy how I hate John Calipari!

Calhoun is a cheater also! It's sad to see two coaches that cheat make it this far. I'll be rooting for the VCU - BU winner regardless.

[tornado]

Yes...the Final Four consists of

Kentucky -- Calipari is a proven cheater, has recruited and used ineligible players (Kanter, DRose, Camby...etc), holds the record for forfeited games and Final Fours, and has gobs of sleazy connections (Worldwide Wes)

UConn -- what can you say except Jim Calhoun is one of only a couple head coaches in the universe whose sleaziness can trump Calipari's...
..and they've even admitted gobs and gobs of serious violations.....as far back as last year...in an NCAA investigation that stretches all the way back to 2005
and still drags on and on ...giving UConn endless time to enjor without being fairly and properly punished for their cheating!!!!!!!
and nobody in the known universe can explain why, if the NCAA has overwhelming evidence and proof of hundreds of violations, illegal phone calles, and other rules being broken, that UConn is being given a completely free pass so they can enjoy their run to the Final Four...
their NCAA hearing has been delayed so many times that I may be the only one who actually recalls that it was originally set for last fall!

Butler -- squeaky clean and refreshing to see these guys in another Final Four

VCU -- squeaky clean and a team built from juco kids, unheralded kids, and a couple DI transfers...

guess which two schools I am rooting for......

[BradleyJD]

T, not disagreeing with you on your assessment.

But a question about Coach Cal. Has he (personally) ever been found guilty on NCAA violations? I thought I read the schools were, but not him. I could be way off on this.

[tornado]

neither has Calhoun but we all know he's a cheater

[BradleyJD]

neither has Calhoun but we all know he's a cheater

My bad...I thought Calhoun had been sanctioned.

[tornado]

Officially, they have but Cal hasn't felt the effect of even one sanction yet...NCAA is giving him an endless respite....

NCAA Committe on Infractions had a hearing in Oct. 2010 and set 4-6 wks (mid-December) as the timetable to announce findings and penalties..
"The NCAA's final ruling, which is likely to include additional penalties, isn't expected until December"

http://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Calhoun-UConn-at-NCAA-hearing-for-about-12-hours-707839.php

recall -- the cheating was going on as far back as 2005, 2006, 2007, and just about everyone knew it...and ONLY after a March 2009 YahooSports! investigative story uncovered tons of sleaze...did NCAA finally get NATIONALLY embarrassed into action...

But -- December came and went...and NCAA stayed silent...ultimately announcing penalties in Feb. 2011, but allowing Calhoun to appeal thus pushing all the penalties back to at least next year...2011-2012...
Even then just about the only punishment was they will suspend him from 3 games next year (he's already missed more than that on his own due to his prostate problems!)

[tornado]

not yet...NCAA is giving him an endless respite....

NCAA Committe on Infractions had a hearing in Oct. 2010 and set 4-6 wks (mid-December) as the timetable to announce findings and penalties..
"The NCAA's final ruling, which is likely to include additional penalties, isn't expected until December"

http://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Calhoun-UConn-at-NCAA-hearing-for-about-12-hours-707839.php

recall -- the cheating was going on as far back as 2005, 2006, 2007, and just about everyone knew it...and ONLY after a March 2009 YahooSports! investigative story uncovered tons of sleaze...did NCAA finally get NATIONALLY embarrassed into action...

But -- December came and went...and NCAA stayed silent...ultimately announcing penalties in Feb. 2011, but allowing Calhoun to appeal thus pushing all the penalties back to at least next year...2011-2012...
Even then just about the only punishment was they will suspend him from 3 games next year (he's already missed more than that on his own due to his prostate problems!)

then AFTER the season was over and UConn was assured getting into the NCAA Tourney -- Calhoun declined to appeal further...
in other words...the NCAA has derlayed so long and given such soft penalties, that in effect Calhoun had gotten nearly completely off -- exactly what he wanted...

http://blogs.courant.com/uconn_mens_basketball/2011/03/jim-calhoun-will-not-appeal-nc.html

[SFP]

Calhoun has been cheating for a long time. Gary Williams even said something off handed regarding the recruiting of Rudy Gay. There is a ton a sleaze in the AAU leagues and some coaches have no problem playing in the mud to get what they want.

[TexasHammer]

Calhoun has been cheating for a long time. Gary Williams even said something off handed regarding the recruiting of Rudy Gay. There is a ton a sleaze in the AAU leagues and some coaches have no problem playing in the mud to get what they want.

Connecticut paid Rudy Gay's handlers five figures (at least $25k, maybe more) and they put together a "team" to play Connecticut in the preseason. The NCAA has now made that illegal.

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/story/9014921

Definitely rooting for Butler and VCU. Kentucky is so dirty that I was rooting for North Carolina, which is very tough for someone from Maryland.