Memphis Grizzlies assistant Jerry Stackhouse has been hired as the men's basketball coach at Vanderbilt, the school announced Friday.
Stackhouse and the Commodores agreed to a six-year contract, sources told ESPN.
"I am extremely excited to join the Vanderbilt family and build on the incredible accomplishments of its athletics program and men's basketball program," Stackhouse said in a statement. "I look forward to furthering Vanderbilt's unique approach to athletics -- blending a powerhouse competitive spirit with elite academics to holistically develop talented student-athletes and celebrate victories on and off the court.
"I would like to thank Malcolm Turner and Chancellor [Nicholas] Zeppos for giving me this fantastic opportunity to direct the Vanderbilt men's basketball program into its next great era."
Turner, Vanderbilt's new athletic director, had watched Stackhouse closely in Turner's previous job as the president of the NBA's G League.
Besides the six-year deal for Stackhouse, Vanderbilt has pledged to upgrade its financial commitment to the program, including increased assistant coaching salaries and budgets.
Stackhouse's intense coaching style won him significant respect in his two seasons as coach of Raptors 905 in the G League, where he won a title in 2017.
He is an interesting counter to in-state rival Memphis hiring Penny Hardaway, setting the stage for a fascinating regional recruiting battle.
An 18-year NBA veteran, Stackhouse was the G League Coach of the Year in 2017.
Stackhouse, 44, spent two years as an NBA assistant, including stops with Toronto and Memphis.
UPDATE (11:20 AM CT): Vanderbilt Athletics officially announced Jerry Stackhouse as the next Men’s Basketball head coach Friday morning.
“I am extremely excited to join the Vanderbilt family and build on the incredible accomplishments of its athletics program and men’s basketball program,” said Stackhouse in a press release. “I look forward to furthering Vanderbilt’s unique approach to athletics — blending a powerhouse competitive spirit with elite academics to holistically develop talented student-athletes and celebrate victories on and off the court.
“I would like to thank Malcolm Turner and Chancellor Zeppos for giving me this fantastic opportunity to direct the Vanderbilt men’s basketball program into its next great era.”
— Vanderbilt Men's Basketball (@VandyMBB) April 5, 2019
Vanderbilt will officially introduce Stackhouse as head coach at a press conference on Monday in Memorial Gym.
“The future is bright for the men’s basketball team with such an accomplished individual at the helm,” said AD Malcolm Turner. “Jerry brings a unique mix of experience as a legendary player and successful coach, and I fully expect he’ll take the program to new heights. I’ve spoken with people inside and outside both college and professional basketball, and there is unanimous agreement that Jerry’s competitiveness, grit and tireless focus on player development are a perfect fit to advance the ‘Vanderbilt Way’ in college athletics. This is an incredibly exciting moment for Vanderbilt.”
ORIGINAL STORY:
The Vanderbilt Men’s Basketball program has found its next leader, and he came straight from Athletic Director Malcolm Turner’s Rolodex.
Vanderbilt has hired former NBA All-Star Jerry Stackhouse as head coach of the Men’s Basketball team, The Vanderbilt Hustler has learned Friday morning.
Stackhouse, 44, worked most recently as an assistant coach for the Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA. Prior to that, he was the coach of the Toronto Raptors’ NBA G League affiliate, Raptors 905, for two seasons. He led Raptors 905 to a G League title in 2017 and was named G League Coach of the Year.
At that time, Turner was working as the president of the G League.
Before coaching Raptors 905, he was an assistant coach for the Raptors in the NBA for the 2015-16 season, helping coach Toronto to an Eastern Conference Finals appearance.
Prior to joining the coaching ranks, Stackhouse had a 18-year career in the NBA that saw him get selected to two NBA All-Star games and average 16.9 points per game. He started his career with the Philadelphia 76ers after being drafted third overall in the 1995 NBA Draft and played alongside Allen Iverson in Philadelphia. Stackhouse was named to the NBA All-Rookie team in 1996.
He went on to play for the Detroit Pistons, Washington Wizards, Dallas Mavericks, Milwaukee Bucks, Miami Heat, Atlanta Hawks and Brooklyn Nets. He made an appearance in the NBA Finals with the Mavericks in 2006, losing in six games to the Miami Heat.
In his collegiate career at the University of North Carolina, Stackhouse led the Tar Heels to the Final Four in 1995 alongside future NBA players Rasheed Wallace, Jeff McInnis and Shammond Williams. He was named Sports Illustrated National Player of the Year in 1995 and also earned first-team All-America honors.
In addition to his NBA coaching responsibilities, Stackhouse is also the founder and executive director of the Stackhouse Elite AAU basketball program that has produced star players such as Brandon Ingram of the Los Angeles Lakers.
The decision to hire Stackhouse comes two weeks after Vanderbilt fired Bryce Drew after three seasons as head coach. Stackhouse will inherit a Vanderbilt team that went winless in conference play in 2019 and could see a few players transfer out, including Matt Ryan and Yanni Wetzell.
Memphis Grizzlies assistant Jerry Stackhouse has been hired as the men's basketball coach at Vanderbilt, the school announced Friday.
Stackhouse and the Commodores agreed to a six-year contract, sources told ESPN.
"I am extremely excited to join the Vanderbilt family and build on the incredible accomplishments of its athletics program and men's basketball program," Stackhouse said in a statement. "I look forward to furthering Vanderbilt's unique approach to athletics -- blending a powerhouse competitive spirit with elite academics to holistically develop talented student-athletes and celebrate victories on and off the court.
"I would like to thank Malcolm Turner and Chancellor [Nicholas] Zeppos for giving me this fantastic opportunity to direct the Vanderbilt men's basketball program into its next great era."
Turner, Vanderbilt's new athletic director, had watched Stackhouse closely in Turner's previous job as the president of the NBA's G League.
Besides the six-year deal for Stackhouse, Vanderbilt has pledged to upgrade its financial commitment to the program, including increased assistant coaching salaries and budgets.
Stackhouse's intense coaching style won him significant respect in his two seasons as coach of Raptors 905 in the G League, where he won a title in 2017.
He is an interesting counter to in-state rival Memphis hiring Penny Hardaway, setting the stage for a fascinating regional recruiting battle.
An 18-year NBA veteran, Stackhouse was the G League Coach of the Year in 2017.
Stackhouse, 44, spent two years as an NBA assistant, including stops with Toronto and Memphis.
Memphis Grizzlies assistant Jerry Stackhouse has been hired as the men's basketball coach at Vanderbilt, the school announced Friday.
Stackhouse and the Commodores agreed to a six-year contract, sources told ESPN.
"I am extremely excited to join the Vanderbilt family and build on the incredible accomplishments of its athletics program and men's basketball program," Stackhouse said in a statement. "I look forward to furthering Vanderbilt's unique approach to athletics -- blending a powerhouse competitive spirit with elite academics to holistically develop talented student-athletes and celebrate victories on and off the court.
"I would like to thank Malcolm Turner and Chancellor [Nicholas] Zeppos for giving me this fantastic opportunity to direct the Vanderbilt men's basketball program into its next great era."
Turner, Vanderbilt's new athletic director, had watched Stackhouse closely in Turner's previous job as the president of the NBA's G League.
Besides the six-year deal for Stackhouse, Vanderbilt has pledged to upgrade its financial commitment to the program, including increased assistant coaching salaries and budgets.
Stackhouse's intense coaching style won him significant respect in his two seasons as coach of Raptors 905 in the G League, where he won a title in 2017.
He is an interesting counter to in-state rival Memphis hiring Penny Hardaway, setting the stage for a fascinating regional recruiting battle.
An 18-year NBA veteran, Stackhouse was the G League Coach of the Year in 2017.
Stackhouse, 44, spent two years as an NBA assistant, including stops with Toronto and Memphis.
The veteran is set to sign a two-year contract with the Cleveland Browns, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reports. Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer first reported the news. The team later confirmed the signing along with announcing the signing of quarterback Garrett Gilbert, who most recently played with the Alliance of American Football's Orlando Apollos.
Burnett was cut by the Steelers on Monday, one year into a three-year pact. The Steelers attempted to trade the safety after he requested his release back in January, but came up empty.
The Browns, apparently, were waiting in the wings.
After being a poor fit in Pittsburgh -- who had a bigger need for a deep cover safety than a box-player -- Burnett hopes to recapture his form in Cleveland.
The signing furthers the trend of Browns general manager John Dorsey bringing in players with whom he's familiar. Dorsey was the Director of College Scouting in Green Bay when the Packers made Burnett a third-round pick in 2010.
Dorsey continues to churn the safety position in Cleveland. After trading Jabrill Peppers to New York, he cut young safety Derrick Kindred, traded for Eric Murray from Kansas City (another of his former draft picks) and now signs Burnett.
Just 30-years-old entering his 10th NFL season, there is still tread on Burnett's tires despite fizzing out in Pittsburgh. It's likely the Browns have a better plan to utilize the veteran's skill set than the Steelers did a year ago.
As a box safety and potential dime linebacker, Burnett should pair well as a complement to Cleveland free safety Damarious Randall on the back end. If Burnett plays as well as he did during the end of his run in Green Bay, the Browns should have a stable back end rotation to lean on in 2019.
Gilbert led the AAF with 2,152 yards passing and was second in the league with 13 touchdowns as he quarterbacked Orlando to the league's best record. Previously, Gilbert played for the Carolina Panthers in 2018, playing in just one game and had previously been signed by the Rams, Patriots, Lions and Raiders.
The New York Jets unveiled their new uniforms Thursday night, Nike's latest disappointing collaboration with an NFL team seeking to modernize its image.
Anybody who's an Air Jordan aficionado — I'm one — will tell you, despite the footwear and apparel giant's many classics from years gone by, the new looks and reboots leave something to be desired with common frequency.
Jets brass bragged that their overhaul — if you can even call it that — was five years in the making. This vast planning and creative effort amounted to a slightly modified logo, different font for the numbers and a new shade of green — "Gotham Green" (whoa!!) — hitched to "Spotlight White" and "Stealth Black," which are pretentious names for ... white and black. Oh, "New York" has also been added to the jersey of a team that's headquartered and plays its home games ... in New Jersey.
Overall, rather unimaginative given the untapped potential of, say, fighter jets and worse still given the way the franchise breathlessly hyped this reveal. Legions of disappointed Jets fans on social media (fairly) deemed the new unis knockoffs of the Canadian Football League's Saskatchewan Roughriders — and those were among the more diplomatic opinions.
Thankfully, most of the NFL's teams have adhered to time-tested threads or signature designs that render most fairly to totally snappy.
Look sharp: 13 other NFL teams that should change uniforms
'It's unprofessional': AAF players recount confusion, disappointment in hours before league's shutdown
So with little else to write about with the draft still three weeks away, here are uniform power rankings you were just dying to argue about:
32. Washington Redskins: Products of a bygone era — much like many locals wish the current regime was a bygone era. This ranking would be helped immensely by simply mothballing the Indian head logo that obviously offends so many and resurfacing the Florida State colorway the team used in the late '60s and again in 2002. Or just scrap the entire brand and start fresh. Yeah, maybe that.
31. Cleveland Browns: I appreciate their fan base's affinity for the hideous orange and brown color combination and logo-less helmet, because most of the rest of America is upchucking ... especially after Nike somehow managed to worsen it in 2015. But fear not, the Browns have vowed to reach back for a more familiar look next year, co-owner Dee Haslam proclaiming last month, "I think we got it right this time." So long as it's less wrong, Mrs. H. ...
30. Arizona Cardinals: They've contracted Buffalo syndrome, dabbling way too much. Do yourself a favor, Cards, and go back to the Pat Tillman editions featuring the state flag on the shoulders.
29. Jacksonville Jaguars: Cleaner after removing the mustard stains and ditching the two-toned helmet. But the current feline sadly resembles Cheetos' Chester Cheetah — can't blame Blake Bortles for that.
28. Miami Dolphins: For the unwoke — and I've talked to many, many of you over the years — the aquatic mammal is jumping out of the water with the South Florida sun as a backdrop, not bullseyeing some SeaWorld hoop. With that said, I prefer the previous dolphin logo with the helmet and those softer aqua and orange tones.
27. Baltimore Ravens: They haven't existed for a quarter-century but have tinkered quite a bit, including those regrettable Dijon pants in 2015. But at the end of the day, black and purple suggests you were on the wrong end of the bar fight.
26. Detroit Lions: Personal bias here as I'm more a Chevrolet guy — it's the Earnhardt fan in me — so the Ford crossover marketing doesn't help. Overall, nothing objectionable ... except maybe that silver Color Rush.
25. Atlanta Falcons: High time to sweep out the vestiges of the Michael Vick days for something new ... or the "current" throwbacks, which look so much better than the standard unis. Even better? The red helmet coupled with the black jersey, circa 1966.
24. New York Jets: Meh. The only real saving grace is the return of the green helmets, which should allow the J-E-T-S to finally throw back to their much cooler outfits from the New York Sack Exchange's salad days in the '80s.
23. Tennessee Titans: I'm still processing the 2018 update. Pretty sure I prefer the navy helmets. Pretty sure I like the shoulder flaps and hip "scabbard," evoking imagery of a Roman centurion. Nonetheless, overall panache lacking.
22. Carolina Panthers: The logo is fine. The colors are even nice, particularly the inclusion of the quasi-Tar Heel blue. My biggest qualm is their long-held insistence on going white-on-white at home early in the season rather than featuring their black-and-silver or (now) blue-and-silver options.
21. Cincinnati Bengals: I've always thought the tiger-striped helmets were slick. However the uniform itself has degraded since the team's two Super Bowl trips in the 1980s, the orange jerseys being exceptionally distasteful and far inferior to the white tiger Color Rush presentation.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: I loved the Creamsicles as a kid, though the Errol Flynn logo was dodgy, if unique. Yet I also fully endorsed the 1997 makeover, the cutlass and tattered pirate flag beautifully paired to replace Errol. But Nike most definitely blew it with the alarm clock jerseys introduced in 2014. Please, Bucs, turn back those digitized clocks ... as far as you need to.
19. Denver Broncos: Since Nike radically changed them in 1997 — the Swooshiness has long been a topic of the corporation's influence — the franchise has won three Super Bowls, so... Personally, I prefer the orange-heavy Color Rush with the "D" helmet logo from John Elway's prime.
18. New England Patriots: Not nearly as good as the "Pat the Patriot" forebearer, but the perennial powerhouse has a generally elegant appearance now linked to Lombardis.
17. Buffalo Bills: Reverting to white helmets and the 1970s-era look has helped a franchise that lost its way at the turn of the century, when ugly piping and multiple shades of blue mucked everything up.
16. New York Giants: Been nice to see the occasional return of the block GIANTS logo I grew up with and made famous by Lawrence Taylor. The resurrected '60s duds are fine, too, though the G-Men look better in white pants than gray.
15. Houston Texans: Always appreciated how simple and consistent they've kept it, the logo tidily embodying the Texas flag and the state's recognizable livestock.
14. San Francisco 49ers: Back on solid ground after questionable experiments over the years.
13. Chicago Bears: Old school. Pure. Love the retention of George Halas' initials on the left shoulder. Wouldn't mind seeing the white "C" logo from the Butkus and Sayers years now and again.
12. Minnesota Vikings: The gold helmet crescent confounded me as a child, but what a wonderful epiphany when I realized the horn was protruding from a golden Viking helmet. Some unfortunate tweaks have been ditched, and they're back on course with that discreet longboat silhouette on the shoulders.
11. Green Bay Packers: Stay away from the throwbacks, and they're in good shape. All-green Color Rush might be nice.
10. Indianapolis Colts: I'm partial because my dad raves about his old Johnny Unitas helmet. But the simplicity — rarely altered, notwithstanding that smattering of silver in the '80s — still resonates down to the horseshoe.
9. Kansas City Chiefs: Virtually unchanged for nearly six decades, no reason to fix what isn't broken. The arrowhead logo is a beauty.
8. Dallas Cowboys: Classics. Shoutout to original GM Tex Schramm, who had them wear white at home so his fans were regularly treated to a variety of colors as visiting team sported a cornucopia of revolving home jerseys. I've always thought Dallas' blue jerseys were highly underappreciated ... and their alternate looks with the ugly shoulder swatches on the opposite end of the spectrum.
7. Philadelphia Eagles: This model will always be associated with the long-awaited Super Bowl breakthrough. And who doesn't love those helmet wings? Still, on a visceral level, feels like they should be in Kelly Green rather than "Midnight Green," right?
6. Los Angeles Rams: Been nice seeing them retrograde to both white and yellow horns from their previous L.A. stint. For you uniform neophytes, it was the Rams who first gave us helmet logos, courtesy of former player Fred Gehrke in 1948. Let's hope the franchise doesn't overthink it with a change scheduled for 2020, when the new stadium opens.
5. New Orleans Saints: Highly underrated. The gold and black provide a perfect contrast while the fleur-de-lis incorporates optimal tie-in to the civic persona.
4. Seattle Seahawks: Purists will doubtless disagree, but they've enjoyed Nike's best redesign. The basic feathers, linkage to the fan base of "12s" (including the 12 inside the collar), distinctive navy and "Action Green" and revised Seahawk totem all integrate seamlessly with the Pacific Northwest ethos.
3. Los Angeles Chargers: The lightning bolt helmets rule. And sweet variety, the all-royal Color Rush arguably the NFL's best. Still, I miss the helmet numbers when they wear the famous powder blue. And the shoulder and leg bolts were far sleeker before the 2007 alteration — and, frankly, I preferred the navy helmet and white bolts of the LaDainian Tomlinson days with the powder blues a welcome treat.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers: Great colors (which, like Seattle, mirror the city), great logo — the trio of hypocycloids hearken back to the Steelmark symbol used by the American Iron and Steel Institute — and gotta love that the left side of the helmet is empty. I even adore the new all-black Color Rush version that mercifully replaced those bumblebee throwbacks.
1. Oakland Raiders: The uniform gold standard since the Silver & Black's trademark look locked in with the blackened shield in 1964. Even when they play poorly, they look spectacular. Lone suggestion: Black-on-black Color Rush.
The Final Four is here, and Michigan State, Virginia, Texas Tech and Auburn will vie for a spot in the national title game. We asked ESPN.com's panel of basketball writers to talk about what they're expecting from Saturday's games.
Virginia, Michigan State, Texas Tech and Auburn -- while there was reason to recommend all these teams, essentially no one had them in this combination. Which member of this group do you feel most differently about than you did when the tournament started?
Myron Medcalf, senior college basketball writer:Auburn. I was impressed by its run to the NCAA tournament. That 20-point win over Tennessee in the SEC tournament title game, the Tigers' second win over the Vols in 10 days, solidified them as a real threat. But I questioned if they could sustain the momentum, especially after they squeezed by New Mexico State in the opening round. Even when they beat Kansas in the second round, I figured that had more to do with the shaky, short-handed Jayhawks than anything Auburn had done.
But when the Tigers held off North Carolina in a lopsided win in the Sweet 16, despite losing Chuma Okeke with eight minutes to play, I knew this team was for real. And then the win over Kentucky without Okeke in the Elite Eight proved that point again. In the Final Four, the Tigers shouldn't beat Virginia, a team with talent and a defensive style that should minimize Jared Harper's impact. But they continue to prove doubters wrong. I won't be surprised if Auburn wins it all in a pair of impressive performances.
Jeff Borzello, college basketball Insider:Michigan State. I had Virginia and Texas Tech in the Final Four, and Auburn is just shooting lights-out and playing terrifically. But Michigan State just wins, man. I've doubted the Spartans for most of the latter portion of the season, mostly because I don't see how they can keep scoring so efficiently on the offensive end without Joshua Langford, without Kyle Ahrens and with a limited Nick Ward. But the answer to any question about Michigan State begins and ends with Cassius Winston (and Tom Izzo). Winston is arguably the best point guard in the country and he has consistently come up with big plays and big shots throughout the tournament.
John Gasaway, college basketball writer: Auburn. I picked Virginia and Michigan State to get this far, and I knew I was living dangerously when I included Texas Tech as one of the "345 teams that won't win the title." (That's not looking so smart.) But the Tigers really showed me something with that win over Kentucky. After just burying Kansas and North Carolina with speed and made 3s, Bruce Pearl's guys won an absolute rock fight on an afternoon when they made just seven 3s in 45 minutes. Bryce Brown was his usual amazing self in that game (4-of-7 outside the arc) and he's had arguably the best tournament on offense of any player at the Final Four. It's been an outstanding run by Brown and Auburn, one that has changed my thinking.
Jordan Schultz, Insider/analyst: Auburn has been somewhat of an enigma this season. The key for the Tigers is the 3-pointer, and the offense seems to click no matter how stingy the opponent is defensively. Auburn, which has defeated three blue-blood programs already, ranks third in the nation with 11.5 made 3-pointers per game and has upped its average to 12.8 on 40 percent shooting since the start of the SEC tournament. Bruce Pearl would probably prefer a few more possessions -- his team is averaging a modest 70.4 during the NCAA tournament -- but it's a testament to how efficient the Tigers have been, especially against both Carolina and Kentucky.
If Auburn can keep this game close, the pressure will shift back onto Virginia; we all know that. But if the Tigers can open up any type of lead, they have proved they can hold on to it with a defense predicated on quickness, even without defensive ace Chuma Okeke.
Courtney Cronin, college basketball/NFL reporter: Texas Tech. The Red Raiders dismantled Michigan by holding the Wolverines to their fewest points in NCAA tournament history and then followed up on that performance by stifling Gonzaga's high-tempo offense and dominant front court. We knew this defense would present a challenge for any team it encountered in March and it is a major reason why Tech is embarking on its first Final Four. It's intriguing to think about how some of the smaller lineups Chris Beard has employed might be able to limit the explosiveness of Michigan State's guards.
Auburn and Texas Tech are here for the first time. When we look back on this Final Four in 10 years, will their presence look like a strange anomaly, or the start of something bigger?
Medcalf: Anomalies, and for different reasons. The SEC will keep growing, especially after adding Buzz Williams at Texas A&M and Nate Oats at Alabama, so a team like Auburn will continue to fight for the quality wins that will lead to a favorable seed in the NCAA tournament. Everything kind of worked out for Auburn this year, in terms of its path to the Final Four. That won't be the case in the coming years. As for Texas Tech, this will be an anomaly because Chris Beard will be gone. And it's hard to bet on a team that has advanced to the second round just five times since 1976. Ten years from now, I think we'll look back, win or lose, and say, for both teams, "That was their chance."
Borzello: Little bit of both? I don't know if either team will make a Final Four again in the next decade, but I think much of it depends on whether both teams can keep their respective coaches for an extended period of time. Texas Tech's Chris Beard has been the best coach in the country this season, and he's now led the Red Raiders to an Elite Eight and Final Four in back-to-back seasons. But Beard is going to be connected to a number of jobs on the coaching carousel until he either signs a huge-money extension or leaves for an elite, elite job. As for Bruce Pearl and Auburn, I think he's less likely to leave -- but I also think Auburn caught a little bit of lightning in a bottle this season, and it could be hard to replicate.
Gasaway: I'll second a portion of what Borzello said: Beard staying in Lubbock could well mean this is just the beginning of great things for Texas Tech as a program. Conversely, if he leaves, then you may be looking at more of a "Calipari at Memphis" kind of moment where the coach stays successful but his former program is less so.
As for Auburn, don't tell Charles Barkley, but getting to the Final Four can be something of an anomaly even for really strong programs (which is what Pearl is building). Just look at Virginia. The Cavaliers were at the top of the ACC for years with zero Final Fours to show for it until now. If Pearl stays with the Tigers, we will look back on this in 10 years in about the same way that we now look at West Virginia getting to the 2010 Final Four, as the best year for a good program and a good coach.
Schultz: Since 1985, 14 teams have made first-time appearances in the Final Four. And of those 14, eight were power conference schools (South Carolina in 2017, Maryland in 2001, UConn in 1999, Minnesota in 1997, Mississippi State in 1996, Florida in 1994, Georgia Tech in 1990 and Arizona in 1988). Maryland, UConn and Arizona are the only schools to have sustained national success, all of them having won championships.
While predicting future tournament success is an exercise in futility, I think Texas Tech probably has the best model to push forward. Chris Beard has created a formula centered on elite defense with both players and personnel. This is not to discredit Pearl: He helped rebuild Tennessee, and he has quickly built Auburn into a national power. But Beard seems to have the upper hand because of his defense. As he lands better recruits in Lubbock, we can expect the Red Raiders to challenge Kansas in the Big 12 -- and enjoy deep runs in March.
Cronin: Probably the latter. Chris Beard got Texas Tech close a year ago. Despite a roller-coaster regular season, it felt like Auburn had been poised for a deep tournament run under Bruce Pearl for a while. Sure, both Texas Tech and Auburn ran into teams that stumbled (Gonzaga, Kansas) more than usual in the tournament, and their biggest test will be performing the way they have throughout March on a consistent basis. Neither team feels like a complete outlier despite never having reached this stage of the game. And of course that has to do, in large part, with coaching. While Beard and Pearl may draw bigger job offers beyond this season given the success they've achieved with their respective programs, no matter what happens to these teams beyond 2019, we won't be looking back on either group as an anomaly 10 years from now.
Which team are you most shocked NOT to see in Minneapolis, and can you make a case for it reaching the 2020 Final Four in Atlanta?
Medcalf: Kentucky. In the Elite Eight, the Wildcats were facing the same Auburn team that they'd defeated 80-53 just last month. Yes, this Auburn squad just rattled off a series of impressive wins to reach this point, but when you beat a squad by that margin (and in the first matchup, too), you assume one team has a significant edge over the other, especially after Chuma Okeke's injury and the Wildcats' double-digit lead in the first half. It was right there. But Kentucky can make another run next season with Ashton Hagans most likely returning and five-star recruits Tyrese Maxey and Kahlil Whitney entering the mix. Plus, Nick Richards, EJ Montgomery, Jemarl Baker and Immanuel Quickley could all blossom in new roles next season. With Calipari and a top-rated recruiting class on the way, the Final Four will be an attainable goal.
Borzello: It has to be Duke, right? The Blue Devils were the overall 1-seed in the NCAA tournament, the biggest story in college basketball this season and will have three of the top five or six picks in June's NBA draft. So yes, I'm shocked not to see Duke in Minneapolis. And I think it could be hard for Mike Krzyzewski to reload quickly enough to get the Blue Devils back to the Final Four next season. He doesn't have a Zion Williamson or RJ Barrett coming in, and he's going to lose both of them, plus at least Cam Reddish.
The recruiting class coming in is great, but there might not be an immediate All-American in the group. Vernon Carey should be a dominant back-to-the-basket player, while Wendell Moore brings toughness and scoring and Boogie Ellis can score. I think the key will be the maturation of Tre Jones as an offensive threat, assuming he stays in school, and whether Duke can land five-star recruit Matthew Hurt.
Gasaway: Gonzaga. The Bulldogs had it all this season, up to and including quite possibly the best frontcourt in the nation. Not to mention the Zags were blessed with ample helpings of the experience that everyone's fallen in love with after Kentucky and Duke lost Sunday. Depth, balance on both offense and defense, you name it: Mark Few's guys had it. But they ran into one of the best teams in the country in Texas Tech, and, six Brandon Clarke turnovers later, here we are. Give credit to the Red Raiders; they were the superior team.
Schultz: Gonzaga, my preseason pick to win its first national title. Much of the Zags' 2020 success will depend on the status of Brandon Clarke, Killian Tillie and Zach Norvell Jr., all of whom could become first-round picks this summer. The losses of Rui Hachimura and Josh Perkins -- the school's all-time leader in assists -- will hurt, but Few is a model of consistency. During the previous seven seasons, the Bulldogs have won 32 games or more five times, earning a No. 1 seed three times.
Perhaps most impressive has been Few's ability to lure elite prospects from all over the globe: Tillie, Kelly Olynyk, Domantas Sabonis and Ronny Turiaf to name a few. Hachimura will soon become the first Japanese-born player drafted into the NBA. This year's recruiting class ranks 19th nationally, per ESPN, and features three top-100 recruits. Don't sleep on 2018 center Filip Petrusev of Serbia, a multidimensional threat with tangible NBA upside. Make no mistake: The Zags will once again contend for their first national championship in 2020.
Cronin: I struggle with where to place Duke in this argument. In spite of as loaded a roster as the Blue Devils had and near lock-type expectations for making it to Minneapolis, it's difficult to expect that a freshman-laden team would win a championship no matter how good its players were. We were treated to a once-in-a-generation talent this year in Zion Williamson. No matter how good at recruiting Coach K and the program itself are, players like that don't come along every recruiting cycle. Even if Duke is able to pull in another historic recruiting class, it's now difficult to envision a class of one-and-done talent being able to carry a team in March. The way Duke played in several nail-biters and its eventual loss to Michigan State was sort of a microcosm for what it went through most of the season.
Which one individual matchup are you most looking forward to on Saturday night?
Medcalf:Jarrett Culver versus Michigan State, a team full of 6-foot-6ish athletes to throw at the projected top-10 pick. Culver finished 5-for-19 against Gonzaga in the Elite Eight. He has 30 turnovers in six games this season. Can Matt McQuaid, an All-Big Ten Defensive Team member, and young Aaron Henry disrupt Culver? Culver is the best player in Minneapolis, and he has led a revitalized offense in the NCAA tournament. Michigan State has to force him into difficult shots in the national semifinals.
Borzello:Ty Jerome and Kyle Guy vs. Jared Harper and Bryce Brown. In general, I think the key will be how the perimeters of Auburn and Virginia match up. Kihei Clark took a lot of the responsibility of guarding Carsen Edwards last weekend, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see him guarding Harper. That said, Harper's defensive aggressiveness will be an asset against Jerome at the other end. Auburn's guards will also have to be disciplined on the defensive end, chasing Guy and Jerome around screens and pin-downs for 30 seconds every possession. Harper and Brown do have a foot speed advantage on Guy and Jerome, though, and will look to put pressure on them at every opportunity.
Gasaway:Cassius Winston versus ... does the Texas Tech defense count as one individual unit? The Red Raiders have been known to switch on occasion, so let's just say that, regardless of which player picks up Winston initially on the first possession, I can't wait to see the whole 40 minutes. Texas Tech was outstanding on D against the Gonzaga backcourt, and, while I think the world of Josh Perkins and Zach Norvell, facing Winston is a step up in degree of difficulty. He will simply take what you give him, and, unlike most prominent scoring guards, he has zero prior commitment to just one plan of action. Winston will drive and dish, drive and score, shoot the 3, whatever's available. Meantime, the Raiders excel at making nothing available. It will be strength on strength.
Schultz: I can't help but fixate on Big Ten Player of the Year Cassius Winston. How will Chris Beard and Texas Tech's No. 1-ranked defense counter the Wooden Award finalist, who Tom Izzo made clear on my podcast Pull Up with CJ McCollum was his team's most important player? Matt Mooney is a tough on-ball defender, but I think Jarrett Culver has to assume some of the responsibilities as well. He is arguably the most complete perimeter defender in the country, deft at deploying his length and quickness on smaller players.
I spoke with a former NBA head coach recently about Winston, and while he was complimentary, he worried about Winston's quickness getting to his spots. As both collegiate coaches and players have told me, Tech does not break down defensively: The Raiders are too solid and too well coached. Look for them to trap Winston in the half court to try to force sudden and potentially errant decisions, while turning the ancillary players into focal points. Then again, Winston averages a stellar 7.6 APG to go along with 2.9 turnovers, a low number considering his high usage and playmaking responsibilities. In other words, something has to give.
Cronin: I'm excited to see the Tariq Owens-Xavier Tillman showdown. Owens' tremendous shot-blocking and ability to guard multiple positions helped Texas Tech limit Michigan's half-court sets in the Sweet 16 and should be a big factor against the shooting ability of MSU's guards. Tillman has been a major part of the Spartans' rotation of bigs, and if he can replicate what he did against Zion Williamson, Michigan State could be poised to advance to the national championship. These players are the spark plug for their respective teams, and I'm excited to see who holds his own the best in this matchup.
Score predictions for Auburn/Virginia, 6:09 p.m. ET, CBS (Virginia -5.5)
Medcalf: Virginia, 69, Auburn 64
Borzello: Virginia 72, Auburn 63
Gasaway: Virginia 75, Auburn 68
Schultz: Virginia 69, Auburn 59
Cronin: Auburn 76, Virginia 69
Score predictions for Michigan State/Texas Tech, CBS (Michigan State -2.5)
