Delbert Mccray: Breakfast Buffet: Once-promising Villanova remains in free fall

Monday, March 7, 2011

Breakfast Buffet: Once-promising Villanova remains in free fall

1. Villanova is not in jeopardy of missing the NCAA tournament despite an eighth loss in 13 games on Monday night, but the Wildcats hardly look like a team capable of advancing to even the second weekend of the tournament. Not only did they surrender 20 3-pointers in a 93-72 shellacking at Notre Dame, they also trailed by as many as 25 points in the first half.

2. It's a sure sign the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame hasn't been around too long when it hasn't gotten around to inducting Bob Knight yet. The legendary Indiana coach will headline this year's class along with coach Eddie Sutton, players Ralph Sampson, James Worthy, Cazzie Russell and Chris Mullin, and contributors Joe Vancisin and Eddie Einhorn.

3. Kansas senior Tyrel Reed probably won't be remembered as a legendary Jayhawk, yet he's just six wins away from becoming the winningest player in the history of the storied program. "I mean, that would be really awesome, just considering everyone that's played here - all the great ones," the 6-foot-3 guard told the Lawrence Journal World. Kansas is 124-16 so far during Reed's four seasons.

4. Because Missouri State plays in the Missouri Valley conference and hasn't quite done enough to warrant at-large consideration, coach Cuonzo Martin's turnaround efforts there tend to get overlooked. This profile by Dan O'Neill of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch explains how Martin stepped into an awkward situation yet has led the Bears to a regular season title in just three seasons.

5. Tom Izzo could not hide his displeasure after senior Durrell Summers hinted that it was the coaching staff who was to blame for Michigan State's difficult season rather than the players. "I'll take all the blame for the way the season's gone, and that way I'll take it off (Summers') shoulders," Izzo said. "But when you are a star coach, you've got to coach to that level. When you're a star player, you've got to play to that level."

Ladies of California's Central Coast may be pleased to learn that UC Santa Barbara's mascot 'Ole' is officially on the market. Find out why he had to cut loose the girl he was previously dating in this clever promotional video for Saturday's regular season finale between the Gauchos and rival Cal Poly.

"This is probably a game that probably does it in for us." -- Minnesota coach Tubby Smith on his team's fading NCAA tournament hopes following Saturday's home loss to Michigan, the Gophers' seventh loss in eight games. (St. Paul Pioneer Press)