Matt & Mark give you the rundown of the basketball games from London, on a Special Edition of Nothing But Net, analyzing how the great players from around the globe stack up against a U.S. basketball squad that includes undoubtedly the best basketball player, currently, LeBron James, plus, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul, Kevin Love, Carmelo Anthony and a member of the UK National Men’s Basketball champions, and reigning college basketball player of the year, Anthony Davis. Plus, the man at the helm is Mike Krzyzewski, one of the greatest college basketball coaches of all time.

Please join Nothing But Net for our usual offbeat look at the game so many Kentuckians, and around the world, adore:  Basketball.  Let The Games Begin!

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Nothing But Net

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Joining Nothing But Net today are Kenny Colston, Kentucky Public Radio’s Frankfort Bureau Chief (and rabid UK fan) and Phillip Bailey, WFPL’s Political Correspondent (and unapologetic Cards fan) for some added aural salsa.

Later that night, the Kansas Jayhawks square off a resurgent Ohio State Buckeye team. It’s going to be one phenomenal night of college basketball. All teams are ranked in the top five in either offensive efficiency or defensive efficiency.

In short, basketball heaven. Matt & Mark break it down for you, eat a little crow (again) and help you get set for one of the greatest nights in NCAA history on Nothing But Net, the sports report that swings.

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Eric Crawford, the über talented Courier-Journal sports reporter said in today’s column: “Chane Behanan, in the second half against both Michigan State and Florida, was the best post player on the court. His willingness to take the big shot, and ability to get the big rebound, bodes very well.

Both of U of L’s national titles were won with freshmen playing key roles inside. Rodney McCray in 1980, and Pervis Ellison in 1986.”

Mr. Behanan was West Regional MVP.

Also, a fun quote from Coach Rick Pitino involving our fave prognosticator, CBSSports Seth Davis:

Again, Mr. Crawford from the Courier:  “Here’s a great thing Pitino said about predictions and national media types, and it involved Seth Davis of CBS:

“I was walking out and my wife said to me, isn’t Seth Davis a friend of yours?  I said, he’s a good friend of mine, I take him golfing.  Someone said he tweeted I guarantee you that Florida will win.  I said, honey, that is the greatest news, outside of Digger, that’s the greatest thing that can happen to us.  He’s never right. He’s the guy that goes to a racetrack for a week and goes 0 for 45.  It’s awesome.  I didn’t think we had a shot until that happened when I was walking out the door.”

We’ll have a new episode tomorrow, but for now, enjoy.

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Louisville surprised, no make that stunned many, myself included, by returning to the Sweet 16 on sheer grit and stalwart defensive play. A huge roadblock is ahead, when they face off against the Michigan State Spartans.

Indiana University once again is in the elite category of college hoops. Tom Crean was a serious contender for Coach of the Year. Their hard work earned them a re-match with UK, a team they upset in December. But the biggest story from last weekend was two number 15 seeds upsetting two number two seeds; the first time that’s happened since 2006.

Matt and Mark wrap up the NCAAs thus far, and look down the road the this weekend’s match-ups on Nothing But Net, the sports report that swings.

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The University of Kentucky (32-2) is the overall No. 1 seed in the 2012 NCAA tournament bracket announced Sunday evening.

The No. 1 seeds in order are Kentucky (South), Syracuse (East), North Carolina (Midwest) and Michigan State (West). The South will play the West and the East will play the Midwest in the national semifinals.

The University of Louisville Cardinals are the 4th seed in the West (meaning they were the last team to be rewarded the 4th seed). A disservice? Not really. That’s what happens when you go 1-4 after a 12-0 start that included just a single game away from the Bucket. No shame in losing at Kentucky on New Year’s Eve, but the home losses to Georgetown and Notre Dame — before either proved themselves as Top 25 teams — were cause for concern. Then the Cards got gobsmacked in Providence by 33. Redemption came in the Big East Tournament. Now the Cards face a hot shooting Davidson squad, who BEAT KANSAS in December, in the First, er, Second Round.

Matt and Mark run it down in this edition of Nothing But Net, the sports report that swings.

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Coach Rick Pitino and the Louisville Cardinals,

Congratulations Cards. Matt and Mark will be back tomorrow with a wrap-up, and an NCAA bracket rundown. For now? Enjoy!

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Chane Behanan’s

UK’s Wildcats continue to trend in the opposite direction. Freshman Anthony Davis improves each game, and is listed as one of the two players involved in the player of the year race (the other being Kansas’ Thomas Robinson.) Coach John Calipari, long considered merely a recruiter, is showing he’s also a very good coach, capable of motivating his players at the right time, and having the personnel to execute properly. They will likely run the SEC table, and possibly achieve the same in the NCAAs.

Down the road in Bloomington, Indiana, the IU Hoosiers continue to play David to some of the Goliaths in college basketball. Coach Tom Crean has to be a shoo-in for Big Ten Coach of the Year. Join Matt & Mark as they survey the local hoops landscape, and looks at trends nationwide. Plus, the first Nothing But Net All Net Team will be revealed. Join us for Nothing But Net, the sports report that swings.

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Now? We’re both sick. Louisville squandered a perfect opportunity for the taking to knock off the number two team in the land, Syracuse, and climb up the Big East standings. Instead, the team was plagued by a litany of poor free throw shooting, poor offensive execution, and ONE REALLY REALLY REALLY STUPID FOUL (PEYTON!!!) Not to mention aimless drives into a grove of Orange Uniforms and missing outside wing shooters, including a potential game winner from the Orange Slayer Himself, Kyle Kuric. From The King’s Corner, no less. This one hurts.

UK has no such heartbreak in The Big Blue Nation. The SU v. U of L tilt reaffirmed my belief that Cats’ Fans need to make their reservations in New Orleans now. It’s gonna be a party.

Elsewhere, Michigan State, Kansas and Duke all are flexing their talent, smarts, toughness and muscle at the right time. Missouri is a real threat; Baylor is not. And Bellarmine is riding a 17 game win streak that propels them to a very realistic chance of repeating as Division Two champs. Hear what we have to say on this week’s edition of Nothing But Net; the sports report that swings!

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Louisville

UK is back on top, with Anthony Davis emerging as perhaps college basketball’s most dominant player, or at least the one most fun to watch. Can anyone stop the ‘Cats? What about Murray State? Are they destined to become college basketball’s first undefeated team in over 3 decades? And what are Bellarmine’s chances of repeating as Division II Champs?

Special guest, c.d. kaplan, joins Matt and Mark with the answers and insights into these questions, and more, on this week’s Nothing But Net, the hoops podcast with a beat.

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If it wasn’t for bad luck…

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The last two days’ worth of discussions on the state of Rick Pitino’s Cardinals has centered around what’s wrong, how low can they go and can the slide be stopped? Nor does talk of the slump seems like an over-reaction; 1-4 in the last five games is cause for alarm. 1-3 in the Big East is a hard hole to climb out of, too. C.L. Brown, Rick Bozich (both with the erstwhile C-J), Mike Rutherford of CardChronicle and NBN’s contributing pundit, c d kaplan, have all penned insightful columns asking the right questions about the red bird nosedive. Is the NIT the best we can hope for in the post-season? Is there a “cancer” on the team, as some suggest? And where does responsibility lie?

We’ll also push away from the Card Criticism Buffet and look at the third team in the Division One community who might be be one win away from punching their ticket to the Final Four. Please join Matt and Mark in this edition of Nothing But Net, while watching the snow float by your window; we have the insights and the beat.

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And I’d be dishonest if I stated I knew what THAT is. I’m not in the practices and locker room. So, I turn to music to salve my discontent. And pray I’m wrong… Take it away, Keef!!

http://youtu.be/KQXl5KCqWAk

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