MARCH MADNESS is finally here and that means College Basketball at it’s best. This tournament is about as good as it gets in sports and thank goodness it’s finally here. UCONN got the # 1 seeding it wanted and even better, what looks like an easy draw in the West Regional. The first two games look like gifts and Memphis, a #2 seed and a team many think is overrated, should be the team we have to beat to reach the final 4. After that,  it could very well be a rematch with Big East rival Louisville, a team we beat during the regular season. Now, that was without Jerome Dyson and before the Cardinals got on a roll . They are the Big East regular season/tournament champs and they won’t be easy to beat. Chattanooga is this Thursday, at 3pm and in Philly. I can’t wait to see how high that line is going to be. To say this tournament is wide open is an understatement. Just look at the individual league tournaments and tell me this isn’t going to be fun.

As for UCONN, we have to get smart and in a hurry. In the paper today, it says that “Jimbo” Calhoun has yet to look at the Syracuse tape. Well, he better do that soon and because, as I said after the game, that tape is full of just about everything this team has done wrong this season. Again, here are the weak spots and how to correct them  must be drilled into the minds of these players for us to have a chance of reaching the big dance in Detroit.

1. Outside Shooting - Price needs to be the constant and someone else needs to give him some help. Hopefully, Austrie, Walker or Haralson will find the stroke. If not, stick to two point shots.

2. Foul Shooting - This continues to be a real weak spot and somehow, it has to get better. If not, leads will evaporate quickly (ie Syracuse) and hot teams will easily pull away once they get on top.

3. Easy Buckets. This is one place the team has actually gotten better. That said, they need to get the ball into Thabeet and for no other reason then to get the oppositions big men out of the game. Thabeet and Adrien also need to work together and get each other get some easy buckets. That means start setting hard picks down low.

3. Variety and a good plan on offense - Do something different and stop looking like you don’t know what you want to do when you are in the half court offense. Hey, how about having  someone else coming to the foul line, like Harelson did in OT against Syracuse, and not just Jeff Adrien. That move is so predictable and Jeff, when covered closely, is a nightmare when he puts the ball on the floor. Same thing goes for Thabeet. Don’t put the ball on the floor.

4.  Turnovers -  Kemba Walker , because of Dyson’s injury and Austrie’s continued ineffectiveness, is now a big part of this team. Well, he’s got a season and plenty of minutes under his belt and so the freshman label is no longer a good excuse for his foolish and even stupid play. Kemba, get it under control and know when to pass the ball. Johnny Flynn (Chris Tucker look alike) showed you how to do it and so, just look at the tape of the Syracuse game and you’ll see how it’s done.

In closing , if Stanley Robinson can stick to what he does best (Rebound and score from close range) and just play a little defense, this team should do well in their region.  After all, we have the monster in the middle and that alone, will take us most of the way.

I’m out of here! Sic Rick