Shawn Bradley's Thursday News And Views

There's a place for everyone in this world and for those of us who stare down a face wearing the signs of lost youth and wasted potential in the mirror every morning, there's KSR.  And that's why it's important that we take the time whenever we can to appreciate those that have wasted their potential before us.  So, with that in mind, today we salute you, Shawn Bradley.  You came out of Brigham Young in 1993 and were chosen with the second overall pick, somehow convincing the Philadelphia 76ers that you were a better NBA prospect than Penny Hardaway and Jamal Mashburn despite having played only one year of college basketball - two years before you entered the draft.  But anyone can fool just one team with their skills and you sir took that deception to legendary heights, also convincing the New Jersey Nets and Dallas Mavericks that you were worth mortgaging their future for.  When it was all said and done, you lasted twelve seasons in the NBA, made $70 million, and provided us with our one shining image of Tracy McGrady, leaving us all to wonder why the Monstars never gave you your talent back.  You're a legend to everyone that's every tried to slide by on nothing but potential and, for that, we wish you nothing but the happiest 40th birthday a 7'6" cattle rancher and avid horseback rider can have. Some stuff somewhat relative to UK.... - As of early this evening, the Kentucky basketball team arrived in Atlanta for a pair of weekend games with Indiana and (knock on wood) the winner of Baylor/Xavier.  John Calipari spent a lot of his time this week talking about how revenge is not going to be a factor in this game and that his team is not worried about the game in December.  That, of course, is easier said than done for a group of college kids who most likely have a chip on their shoulder about the loss, but the "worry about Kentucky and no one else" motto still appears to be paramount with this group.  Indiana beat Kentucky with a perfect storm in December.  They had an incredible home court advantage, they were hitting shots they had no business making and Kentucky made mistakes that are not typical of this team.  If the Cats can simply focus on being the best they can be Friday, they should be fine.  They're just that good. - The Sweet 16 will, of course, kick off Thursday with the West and East regions sorting out who will advance to the Elite Eight.  The Wisconsin-Syracuse game should be absolutely miserable to watch and the Cincinnati-Ohio State game only slightly better.  However, the two games in the West, Louisville-Michigan State and Wisconsin-Florida should be outstanding.  Here are a couple of thoughts on those games:

Syracuse - Wisconsin:  I think Wisconsin is in a good spot to knock off Syracuse because they'll not only be comfortable with the tempo of the game, but they have the only real game-changer on their side.  Syracuse entered the tournament with a gaudy record because of their depth - a trait fairly useless in the NCAA Tournament - and though they had a roster full of very good players, only one could really be considered a game-changer.  Fab Melo.  Melo is out, of course, and I think both teams are evenly matched.  Wisconsin's Jordan Taylor is the only player left capable of single-handedly changing the game and after shooting 5-15 against Vanderbilt, he's due to bounce back.

Ohio State - Cincinnati:  I like Ohio State to run away in this game, though I certainly have reservations due to the heightened emotions both teams will play with.  Cincinnati has made a run the last two weeks thanks to a renewed toughness on the defensive end of the floor and scoring just enough points to get by.  Ohio State, meanwhile, has found a groove and looks maybe as good as they did last year when they were the top overall seed.  DeShaun Thomas is averaging 25 points per game in the Tournament, which gives the Buckeyes the scoring wing they need to be the bridge between an outstanding point guard (Aaron Craft) and a dominant big man (Jared Sullinger).  In addition, even for their success the last few weeks, Cincinati's 2-3 zone they've flashed has been horribly soft around the free throw line.  Ohio State is going to kill them there with penetration and Sullinger passing out of it.

Marquette - Florida:  We've talked a lot about how good Kentucky looked in their first two games, but there might not be anyone who looked more impressive the first weekend than Florida and Marquette.  The Gators busted up on Virginia and Norfolk State, while the Golden Eagles ran away from a tired BYU team and Murray State.  Jae Crowder and Darius Johnson-Odom have been as good as anyone in the tournament, but I think Florida matches up well with them both, as well as the whole team.  Patric Young is a player that UK fans didn't see the best of this season, but he's a force down low and can go toe-to-toe with Crowder.  If Florida's guards start knocking down the three ball (they are 6-26 in the tournament), they should be in good shape.

Michigan State - Louisville:  This might just be the best game of the night, although it's bound to get very ugly at points.  Michigan State has the better body of work this season, but they're far from being a vastly superior team in terms of talent.  On paper, Louisville appears to match up very well with the Spartans - assuming Louisville is as good as we're being led to believe in the last two weeks.  Gorgui Dieng and Chane Behanan are almost clones of Adreian Payne and Draymond Green physically, but they'll need to be productive on a different level.  The entire Michigan State offense revolves around Green, who is averaging 25 points, 12.5 rebounds and 8 assists in the tournament, and his ability to pass out of double teams have allowed his guards - a group that doesn't shoot well from outside overall - to knock down wide open looks in the first two games.  To me, this is where Rick Pitino earns his paycheck.  You have a week to draw up a plan to cut off Green or at least make his life miserable and put pressure on the other players around him.  It's probably not as simple as it sounds, but the Cards are completely capable of pulling an upset.  Of course, they'll need Peyton Siva playing at a Big East Tournament level.  And if they get that.....

- Could we possibly see a matchup of Kentucky and Louisville in the Final Four?  Because the Cats look so dominant right now and the West bracket is so wide open, that possibility is more real than any of us would have thought a month ago.  A matchup between the two teams in the Final Four - their first in the tournament since 1984 - would make next week one of the most special seven day stretches this state has ever seen.  Plus, it would make this storybook season that much sweeter if the Cats were to cut down the nets.  However, if they were to lose in the Final Four to Louisville.....nevermind.  That won't happen.  Not a shot. - On a completely different note, there was an interesting headline in the world of college basketball when UConn's Alex Oriakhi announced he would transfer and play his final season outside of Storrs.  The former McDonald's All-American, who has started since his freshman year, has one year of eligibility remaining and would not have to sit out a year due to UConn's NCAA sanctions.  The 6'9" forward's numbers were down a bit this season, but is a powerful post presence and the type of physical body that can be a difference maker for a talented team.  I have no idea if John Calipari is interested or if Oriakhi would consider Kentucky, but adding a one-and-done player with three years experience and a national title under his belt sure is appealing.  And from Oriakhi's end, if you have one year left of school to try to get yourself into a great position in the NBA, you can do far worse than playing for John Calipari.  I'll be watching this one with hopeful eyes. - Finally, rumors surfaced Wednesday that Tubby Smith is a candidate for the Tulsa head coaching job, a position he held from 1991-1995.  Tubby denied that he was interested in the job after his Minnesota team beat Middle Tennessee State Wednesday evening, but it's the latest rumor in a strange turn around the coaching carousel.  Murray State's athletic director came out and blasted Mississippi State for contacting Steve Prohm without asking permission during the NCAA Tournament for their head coaching job.  Prohm turned down the feelers and said that he's committed to being at Murray next year.  Meanwhile, Anthony Grant's name has surfaced as a candidate at Illinois.  Prohm and Grant are two of my favorite coaches not only for their style of play, but also for their character and the values they instill in the young men they coach.  Prohm can certainly do better than Mississippi State, which still needs to be proven as something other than a dead-end job, though Anthony Grant at Illinois could be an intriguing pairing.  There's plenty of talent in the state and a program that has gone through some serious PR issues the last few years could do far worse than Grant. That's it for now.  We'll be back all day with all kinds of fun and reports from UK's open practice and media sessions in Atlanta.  Until then, here's Shawn Bradley and his wife...