Tag: ncaa tournament

Badger moments: Kirk Penney leads Big Dance win over Weber State

Kirk Penney goes off

The 2003 Wisconsin Badgers are remembered for making the Sweet 16, which solidified for many people the sense that the program was here to stay. Making the Sweet 16 represented a strong national statement from Bo Ryan’s bunch. The Badgers were not content to settle for No. 8 or No. 9 seeds and first-weekend NCAA Tournament exits. The program had bigger goals and dreams, even though it was certainly in a much better place compared to the early 1990s a decade earlier.

In order for the 2003 Badgers to reach the Sweet 16, they had to get out of the first round. Sent once again to the West Region — a frequent landing spot for the team in its earlier NCAA Tournaments over the past 30 years — Wisconsin was a No. 5 seed shipped to Spokane to play the Weber State Wildcats.

You might remember that Weber State had developed a reputation as an NCAA giant-killer at the time. Weber State was a 14 seed which knocked off third-seeded Michigan State in the first round of the 1996 NCAA Tournament. Three years later, in 1999, Weber State once again pulled off a 14-over-3 upset by beating North Carolina in the first round. Wisconsin had to avoid the dreaded 12-over-5 upset to make its way to the Sweet 16.

Kirk Penney said, “I got this.” (Not literally, but essentially.)

Penney played all 40 minutes, scoring 21 points with nine rebounds and five assists, as UW beat Weber, 81-74.

The background for this game was established the season before. Weber State upset UW, 73-69. Penney was just 1 of 10 from the field in that game. In this game, he was 9 of 17. He answered the bell and fueled a Wisconsin offense which hit 53.4 percent of its field goal attempts. Weber State finished just 40.8 percent from the field, a lot of that in the final minutes after UW had built a 17-point lead and cruised to the finish line. The final seven-point margin was deceptively close. The game was much more lopsided.

“It’s in the back of your mind that we lost to them last year,” Penney said. “We wanted to play them again. But when push comes to shove on the court you have to play well and not worry about that.”

Penney definitely played well… and the Badgers built part of their NCAA Tournament legacy in Spokane.

Badger moments: 1994 NCAA Tournament win vs Cincinnati

The 1994 NCAA Tournament

Before Dick Bennett, before Bo Ryan, before the Final Fours and top-four Big Ten finishes, before the golden age of Wisconsin basketball truly began, there was the 1994 season which marked the very beginning of a program’s escape from the college hoops wilderness.

Wisconsin had not appeared in the NCAA Tournament since 1947. The Badgers endured a lot of mediocre football in the next 47 years, but the basketball program was far worse by comparison. Not once from 1948 through 1993 did the Badgers reach the NCAA Tournament. Before Wisconsin could ever dream of becoming annually and nationally relevant in college basketball, it had to first end the long drought and park itself in the Big Dance.

That occurred in 1994 under Stu Jackson, before his move to the NBA in numerous capacities. Jackson didn’t stick around long enough to do what Bennett, Ryan, and Greg Gard have managed to achieve — making Wisconsin an NCAA Tournament machine which cranks out Big Dance appearances on a relentless annual basis — but he will always be remembered as the coach who brought the basketball program’s long dry spell to an end.

Wisconsin’s first NCAA Tournament game since 1947 was played on March 17, 1994 in Ogden, Utah. The Badgers were assigned to the West Region as the No. 9 seed. Their opponent was the No. 8 seed, the Cincinnati Bearcats, coached by Bob Huggins. Back then, Huggy Bear wore suits and ties, not the track suits he dons for West Virginia today. The Bearcats were two years removed from a Final Four appearance in 1992, one year removed from an Elite Eight in 1993. The central engine of those two Cincinnati teams was Nick Van Exel. He went to the pros before the 1994 season began, leaving UC with some members of the supporting cast Van Exel had in previous years. This team was good enough to make the NCAAs, but it was nowhere near the caliber of the 1992 team (a No. 4 seed) or the 1993 team (a No. 2 seed).

Nevertheless, Cincinnati had NCAA Tournament experience. The Badgers did not.

Wisconsin didn’t really care.

Michael Finley and Rashard Griffith both scored 22 points for the Badgers. Moreover, they scored their points efficiently: a combined 12 of 22 from the field, 4 of 8 on 3-pointers (all Finley), and 16 of 19 at the free throw line (Griffith going 12 of 14). Wisconsin got 34 points on 2-point shots, 24 on 3-pointers, and 22 more points at the foul line, developing a balanced offense Cincinnati couldn’t consistently stop. The Bearcats went on a 17-5 run midway through the second half to briefly take a lead with nearly 10 minutes left in the game. However, Wisconsin scored 26 points in those final 10 minutes to notch an enormously satisfying — and profoundly historic — victory.

The program hasn’t looked back since.

Hoops And Helmets: Ranking The Combination Of Football And Basketball Schools 1-130: 2019-2020

Which schools had the best and worst years in the two major sports? Ranked from 1 to 130, all college football and basketball combinations.

[jwplayer NpuheUjK]

Which schools had the best and worst years in the two major sports? Ranked from 1 to 130, all college football and basketball combinations. Who had the most fun? 

Contact @PeteFiutak

On the field and court – at least in the regular season – whose fans had the most fun?

When it comes to what athletic departments need, even though everyone has some other sport to brag about, it’s really all about college football and men’s basketball.

There are 130 schools that played Division I college basketball and FBS football. How do they all rank?

The biggest emphasis is on the schools whose football teams went bowling and with basketball teams that almost certainly would’ve gone to the NCAA Tournament. However, with the hoops post-season cancelled, the rankings skew heavily towards the stronger teams on the football side.

Do something massive in football this past year, and that’s worth almost everything. Be totally miserable on one side, and that’s reflected here. This isn’t about talent – it’s about the success in both sports.

There are a few huge exceptions, though, if a school was amazing in one sport and struggled in the other. Win or at least share a piece of a conference title, and you get ranked accordingly.

Broken down by categories – the schools that did the most in the two major sports, to the schools that did nothing – here we go with Hoops & Helmets 2019-2012.

2019-2020 Hoops & Helmets 
Losers in Both Sports | No Bowl, No Buckets
Bowls, No Buckets | Bowls, No Buckets, Part 2
Bowls & Buckets | Top Ten

Losers In Both Sports

These schools suffered the indignity of failing to come up with a winning season in either of the two major sports. The fans didn’t get to have any fun.

130. UMass Minutemen

2019 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 126
2018 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 122
Football: 1-11 overall, 6th among Independents
Basketball: 14-17 overall, 8-10 in conference, T8th in Atlantic 10

129. Northwestern Wildcats

2019 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 62
2018 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 64
Football: 3-9 overall, 1-8 in conference, 7th in Big Ten West
Basketball: 8-23 overall, 3-17 in conference, 13th in Big Ten

128. Vanderbilt

2019 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 91
2018 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 108
Football: 3-9 overall, 1-7 in conference, 7th in SEC East
Basketball: 11-21 overall, 3-15 in conference, 14th in SEC

127. Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders

2019 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 79
2018 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 47
Football: 4-8 overall, 3-5 in conference, T5th in C-USA East
Basketball: 8-23 overall, 4-14 in conference, 14th in C-USA

126. Old Dominion Monarchs

2019 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 74
2018 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 65
Football: 1-11 overall, 0-8 in conference, 7th in C-USA East
Basketball: 13-19 overall, 9-9 in conference, T6th in C-USA

125. San Jose State Spartans

2019 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 130
2018 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 128
Football: 5-7 overall, 2-6 in conference, T4th in MW West
Basketball: 7-24 overall, 3-15 in conference, 10th in MW

124. Nebraska Cornhuskers

2019 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 96
2018 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 101
Football: 5-7 overall, 3-6 in conference, 5th in Big Ten West
Basketball: 7-25 overall, 2-18 in conference, 14th in Big Ten

123. Troy Trojans

2019 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 71
2018 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 63
Football: 5-7 overall, 3-5 in conference, 4th in Sun Belt East
Basketball: 9-22 overall, 5-15 in conference, T11th in Sun Belt

122. ULM Warhawks

2019 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 94
2018 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 113
Football: 5-7 overall, 4-4 in conference, 3rd in Sun Belt West
Basketball: 9-20 overall, 5-15 in conference, T11th in Sun Belt

121. UTSA Roadrunners

2019 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 109
2018 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 88
Football: 4-8 overall, 3-5 in conference, T4th in C-USA West
Basketball: 13-19 overall, 7-11 in conference, T11th in C-USA

120. East Carolina Pirates

2019 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 127
2018 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 126
Football: 4-8 overall, 1-7 in conference, 5th in AAC East
Basketball: 11-20 overall, 5-13 in conference, 13th in AAC

119. Fresno State Bulldogs

2019 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 34
2018 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 45
Football: 4-8 overall, 2-6 in conference, T4th in MW West
Basketball: 11-19 overall, 7-11 in conference, T7th in MW

118. Rice Owls

2019 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 128
2018 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 127
Football: 3-9 overall, 3-5 in conference, T4th in C-USA West
Basketball: 15-17 overall, 7-11 in conference, T11th in C-USA

117. USF Bulls

2019 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 47
2018 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 78
Football: 4-8 overall, 2-6 in conference, 4th in AAC East
Basketball: 14-17 overall, 7-11 in conference, 8th in AAC

116. Ole Miss Rebels

2019 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 93
2018 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 106
Football: 4-8 overall, 2-6 in conference, 6th in SEC West
Basketball: 15-17 overall, 6-12 in conference, 12th in SEC

115. Coastal Carolina Chanticleers

2019 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 113
2018 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 123
Football: 5-7 overall, 2-6 in conference, 5th in Sun Belt East
Basketball: 16-17 overall, 8-12 in conference, T8th in Sun Belt

114. Army Black Knights

2019 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 66
2018 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 72
Football: 5-8 overall, 4th among Independents
Basketball: 15-15 overall, 10-8 in conference, T4th in Patriot League

113. TCU Horned Frogs

2019 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 41
2018 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 10
Football: 5-7 overall, 3-6 in conference, T7th in Big 12
Basketball: 16-16 overall, 7-11 in conference, T7th in Big 12

NEXT UP: No Post-Season, But …

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5, Page 6

USA TODAY played out a mock NCAA Tournament and did not like Ohio State at all

USA TODAY played out a hypothetical NCAA Tournament and won’t make any friends anywhere in Buckeye Nation. Ohio State had an early exit.

Ever since the NCAA decided to cancel this year’s NCAA basketball tournament because of coronavirus concerns, we’ve seen projections and simulations on what would have transpired if we all got our dose of March Madness like every other year.

And while some of those what-if scenarios have been relatively kind to Ohio State like the sportsline simulation, others have not.

Case in point — USA TODAY decided to hypothetically play out this year’s tournament and had one shocking twist for the basketball Buckeyes. Yes, it’s true that almost every year a No. 12 seed disposes of a No. 5. And, if you caught the tournament projections at the end of the season, that’s exactly where most had Ohio State firmly planted.

You see where we’re going?

So, to stay in lockstep with what normally happens, our friends at USA TODAY felt obligated to pick at least one upset from the No. 5 vs. No. 12 matchup, and guess what team was on the chopping block?

Yep, your Ohio State Buckeyes.

USA TODAY’s Scott Gleeson had Ohio State as the No. 5 seed in the Midwest Region, matching up with No. 12 Northern Iowa. And wouldn’t you know it, that’s as far as the Buckeyes’ made it, falling prey to the upset bugaboo as one of the major upsets of the tournament.

That’s a far stretch, but one we’ve seen before so I guess we can’t get too upset. Still, I would have definitely liked the chances of some scarlet and gray making it to the second round if not further this year.

So who did USA TODAY put through to the Final Four and beyond? It had Dayton playing Oregon, and Kansas matching up with Florida State in the semifinal, with the Jayhawks getting the best of the Flyers to cut down the hypothetical nets.

Good thing this was just make-believe, eh Buckeye fans?

Big 12 Football Basketball School Rankings: Hoops and Helmets 2019-2020

Which Big 12 schools had the best and worst years in the two major sports – football and men’s basketball?

[jwplayer eniJo7Qb]

Which Big 12 schools had the best and worst years in the two major sports – football and men’s basketball? Which fan bases got the glory, and which ones didn’t have any fun?

Contact @PeteFiutak

On the field and court – whose fans had the most fun?

Of course every school has sports outside of the big two that matter and generate revenue, but when it comes to what athletic departments need, it’s really all about college football and men’s basketball.

Which Big 12 schools had the best and worst seasons?

Here’s how these rankings work.

1) The top-ranked schools with teams that went to a bowl game and would’ve played in the NCAA Tournament.

2) The next group had stronger football seasons and were okay in basketball. The superstar basketball schools get credit, but football is the bigger revenue generator.

3) One or the other. Usually there’s a disparity with one good season in one sport an a clunker in the other. It’s sort of a catch-all before …

4) The disasters. No bowl game, there wouldn’t have been a trip to the NCAA Tournament, no fun.

The worst-to-best Big 12 schools in 2019-2020 in college football and college basketball …

Big 12 Hoops and Helmets: Losers In Both Sports

These schools suffered the indignity of failing to come up a spot in the post-season – most likely for the NCAA Tournament – in the two major sports. The fans didn’t get to have any fun.

10. TCU Horned Frogs

2019 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 41
2018 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 10
Football: 5-7 overall, 3-6 in conference, T7th in Big 12
Basketball: 16-16 overall, 7-11 in conference, T7th in Big 12

9. Texas Tech Red Raiders

2019 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 32
2018 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 22
Football: 4-8 overall, 2-7 in conference, 9th in Big 12
Basketball: 18-13 overall, 9-9 in conference, T3rd in Big 12

Big 12 Hoops and Helmets: Good In One Sport, Not The Other

8. Iowa State Cyclones

2019 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 19
2018 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 73
Football: 7-5 overall, 5-4 in conference, T3rd in Big 12
Basketball: 12-20 overall, 5-13 in conference, 9th in Big 12

7. West Virginia Mountaineers

2019 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 84
2018 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 9
Football: 5-7 overall, 3-6 in conference, T7th in Big 12
Basketball: 21-10 overall, 9-9 in conference, T3rd in Big 12

6. Kansas State Wildcats

2019 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 59
2018 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 13
Football: 8-5 overall, 5-4 in conference, T3rd in Big 12
Basketball: 11-21 overall, 3-15 in conference, 10th in Big 12

5. Oklahoma State Cowboys

2019 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 76
2018 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 35
Football: 8-5 overall, 5-4 in conference, T3rd in Big 12
Basketball: 18-14 overall, 7-11 in conference, T7th in Big 12

4. Texas Longhorns

2019 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 33
2018 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 26
Football: 8-5 overall, 5-4 in conference, T3rd in Big 12
Basketball: 19-12 overall, 9-9 in conference, T3rd in Big 12

3. Kansas Jayhawks

2019 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 72
2018 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 62
Football: 3-9 overall, 1-8 in conference, 10th in Big 12
Basketball: 28-3 overall, 17-1 in conference, 1st in Big 12

Big 12 Hoops and Helmets: Bowl and probably would’ve made the NCAA Tournament

2. Oklahoma Sooners

2019 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 2
2018 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 7
Football: 12-2 overall, 8-1 in conference, 1st in Big 12
Basketball: 19-12 overall, 9-9 in conference, T3rd in Big 12

1. Baylor Bears

2019 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 28
2018 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 105
Football: 26-4 overall, 15-3 in conference, 2nd in Big 12
Basketball: 11-3 overall, 8-1 in conference, T1st in Big 12

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Missing March Madness: Carsen Edwards, Timelord win in the first round

With no NBA or NCAA basketball, we’re looking back at how current Boston Celtics did in the big dance on the anniversary of the games.

As part of our efforts at the Celtics Wire to keep ourselves busy without any NBA or NCAA basketball, we’re taking a look back at the performance of current Boston Celtics during their college days.

While not everyone on Boston’s roster made it into the big dance due to back luck, injuries, or getting started on another continent, 12 of the team’s 17 players have had at least some experience with the collegiate game’s biggest event.

So we’re looking back on those games on their anniversaries, and March 16th has three games played in the big dance by current Celtics — a pair for guard Carsen Edwards and another for center Robert Williams III.

Let’s start with the Timelord, who saw his Texas A&M Aggies advance against the Providence Friars, who fell 73-69 to the Aggies.

Williams’ 13 points, 14 rebounds and 2 blocks helped make it happen on this day in 2018.

Rookie guard Carsen Edwards played in the NCAA tournament twice on this date, both victories for his Purdue Boilermakers.

The first of the two games was a win over the Vermont Catamounts in the round of 64 in 2017.

The Catamounts conducted themselves well as a 13-seed against 4-seed Purdue, but fell 80-70 as they were outclassed with the Boilermakers’ deep reserve of talent — and Edwards’ 12 points off the bench.

The second of the Texan guard’s March 16th Tournament games was against the Cal State Fullerton Titans in 2018, and by then Edwards was elevated to a starter.

Scoring 15 points for the Boilermakers, Purdue would crush the Titans 74-48 in the first-round win.

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The Wisconsin Basketball March Madness guide to hand-washing

Our friends at Auburn Wire realized that the CDC is not thinking of college sports fans in their hand-washing recommendations. Sure, we could all sing our favorite song for 20 seconds as we vigorously apply soap, but Auburn Wire had a better …

Our friends at Auburn Wire realized that the CDC is not thinking of college sports fans in their hand-washing recommendations. Sure, we could all sing our favorite song for 20 seconds as we vigorously apply soap, but Auburn Wire had a better suggestion for Tiger fans: spend your CDC-recommended 20-second hand-wash listening to the radio call of Auburn’s miracle return for the win against Alabama:

I have to admit, even as a non-Auburn fan, that is one of the greatest ways any sports fan can spend 20 seconds. I have to add that if you are going to choose any song, there is only one choice to be made for premium March hand-washing:

But how about Badger fans? This is still March, ladies and gentlemen. The madness of our constant hand-washing, which a few weeks ago may have seemed like madness but now should be every American’s common practice, needs some Wisconsin flavor. Let’s start with a Bronson Koenig classic:

The game-winner that sent the Badgers to the 2016 Sweet Sixteen is still one of the sweetest shots in Wisconsin basketball history. There are many reasons why it is perfect, 20-second material. You see not only the corner-fadeaway shot and all of the reaction that follows, but the Milwaukee Brewers’ own Brian Anderson gives you an electric call of the action.

An alternative? How about a nearly-perfectly timed clip from the Big Ten Network of the dagger three by Sam Dekker in 2015 that sent the Badgers to the Final Four for the second straight season. Shoutout to Zach Heilprin for delivering a ton of throwback Badger clips on his Twitter timeline over the last few days:

There’s no shortage of Badger basketball memories, and no better time to stay at home and enjoy some classics while keeping yourself healthy.

ACC Football Basketball School Rankings: Hoops and Helmets 2019-2020

Which ACC schools had the best and worst years in the two major sports – football and men’s basketball?

[jwplayer eniJo7Qb]

Which ACC schools had the best and worst years in the two major sports – football and men’s basketball? Which fan bases got the glory, and which ones didn’t have any fun?

Contact @PeteFiutak

On the field and court – whose fans had the most fun?

Of course every school has sports outside of the big two that matter and generate revenue, but when it comes to what athletic departments need, it’s really all about college football and men’s basketball.

Which ACC schools had the best and worst seasons?

Here’s how these rankings work.

1) The top-ranked schools with teams that went to a bowl game and would’ve played in the NCAA Tournament.

2) The next group had stronger football seasons and were okay in basketball. The superstar basketball schools get credit – that’s obviously a huge deal in the ACC – but football is the bigger revenue generator.

3) One or the other. Usually there’s a disparity with one good season in one sport an a clunker in the other. It’s sort of a catch-all before …

4) The disasters. No bowl game, there wouldn’t have been a trip to the NCAA Tournament, no fun.

The worst-to-best ACC schools in 2019-2020 in college football and college basketball …

ACC Hoops and Helmets: Losers In Both Sports

These schools suffered the indignity of failing to come up with a winning season in either of the two major sports. The fans didn’t get to have any fun.

14. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

2019 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 85
2018 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 114
Football: 3-9 overall, 2-6 in conference, 7th in ACC Coastal
Basketball: 17-14 overall, 11-9 in conference, 5th in ACC

13. Syracuse Orange

2019 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 21
2018 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 75
Football: 5-7 overall, 2-6 in conference, 6th in ACC Atlantic
Basketball: 16-15 overall, 10-10 in conference, T6th in ACC

12. NC State Wolfpack

2019 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 37
2018 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 14
Football: 4-8 overall, 1-7 in conference, 7th in ACC Atlantic
Basketball: 20-12 overall, 10-10 in conference, T6th in ACC

ACC Hoops and Helmets: Good In One Sport, Not The Other

11. Boston College Eagles

2019 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking:  86
2018 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 55
Football: 6-7 overall, 4-4 in conference, T3rd in ACC Atlantic
Basketball: 13-19 overall, 7-13 in conference, T10th in ACC

10. Miami Hurricanes

2019 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 83
2018 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 8
Football: 6-7 overall, 4-4 in conference, T3rd in ACC Coastal
Basketball: 15-16 overall, 7-13 in conference, T10th in ACC

9. North Carolina Tar Heels

2019 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking:  64
2018 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 67
Football: 7-6 overall, 4-4 in conference, T3rd in ACC Coastal
Basketball: 14-19 overall, 6-14 in conference, T13th

8. Wake Forest Demon Deacons

2019 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking:  77
2018 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 74
Football: 8-5 overall, 4-4 in conference, T3rd in ACC Atlantic
Basketball: 13-18 overall, 6-14 in conference, 14th in ACC

7. Pitt Panthers

2019 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 65
2018 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 117
Football: 8-5 overall, 4-4 in conference, T3rd in ACC Coastal
Basketball: 16-17 overall, 6-14 in conference, T13th in ACC

6. Duke Blue Devils

2019 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 12
2018 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 15
Football: 5-7 overall, 3-5 in conference, 6th in ACC Coastal
Basketball: 25-6 overall, 15-5 in conference, T2nd in ACC

5. Virginia Tech Hokies

2019 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 22
2018 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 17
Football: 8-5 overall, 5-3 in conference, 2nd in ACC Coastal
Basketball: 16-16 overall, 7-13 in conference, T10th in ACC

ACC Hoops and Helmets: Bowl and probably would’ve made the NCAA Tournament

OR, if something massive happened in one sport – like football – for one particular school.

4. Florida State Seminoles

2019 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 53
2018 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 16
Football: 6-7 overall, 4-4 in conference, T3rd in ACC Atlantic
Basketball: 26-5 overall, 16-4 in conference, 1st in ACC

3. Louisville Cardinals

2019 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking:  75
2018 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 46
Football: 8-5 overall, 5-3 in conference, 2nd in ACC Atlantic
Basketball: 24-7 overall, 15-5 in conference, T2nd in ACC

2. Clemson Tigers

2019 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 6
2018 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 2
Football: 14-1 overall, 8-0 in conference, 1st in ACC Atlantic
Basketball: 16-15 overall, 9-11 in conference, 9th in ACC

1. Virginia Cavaliers

2019 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking:  1
2018 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 20
Football: 9-5 overall, 6-2 in conference, 1st in ACC Coastal
Basketball: 23-7 overall, 15-5 in conference, 2nd in ACC

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Finebaum: NCAA president Emmert’s handling of cancellations “inexcusable”

Cancellation was always going to be the safe decision, but the NCAA’s lack of communication left conference leaders in the dark.

Last week, SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey appeared on The Paul Finebaum Show to disclose that he learned secondhand of NCAA President Mark Emmert’s decision to cancel spring and winter sports amid COVID-19 concerns.

As per Sankey, he learned of the cancellation from a journalist. He received no prior notification from NCAA officials.

Though it was always going to be the safe decision to make, the communication (or lack thereof) related to the NCAA’s cancellation plans left conference leaders in the dark.

Following Sankey’s revelation, Finebaum, in an appearance on Birmingham’s WJOX, let loose on his perceptions of the issue.

“I know this is the wrong time to make absolute statements but I’m going to make one anyway. That moment was the end of the NCAA as we know it. It may have power in existence for some times but that was an existential moment in the history of the NCAA where knowing the commissioners like we do, they are going to band together at some point, when the storm clears, and are going to say, ‘You know what, we’re not going to take that anymore.’”

Finebaum continued regarding the communication breakdown:

“For Mark Emmert, not to have more consultation with the people that feed the system was inexcusable. And what was interesting is we all praised him on Wednesday afternoon, ‘What a great decision to go ahead and announce that there would be no fans (for the 2020 NCAA Tournament)’ and in the moment it did look good, but once again no consultation with anyone.”

The necessary precautions for the general public’s safety never came into question for Finebaum.

“Quit praising him for making the right call…it wasn’t a difficult call.”

He concluded:

“Let’s not give him too much credit or give anyone too much credit. This was this a domino effect, which we all know was caused by the NBA (being the first major American sporting league to suspend play due to coronavirus concerns).”

For other inquiries into how the global health pandemic affects the world of college sports:

Coronavirus forces NCAA to make big decisions regarding eligibility, recruiting

SEC cancels its men’s basketball tournament due to coronavirus

NCAA grants spring season athletes an extra year of eligibility

Will Georgia football cancel G-Day due to coronavirus?

Georgia football Pro Day postponed amid coronavirus outbreak

American Athletic Football Basketball School Rankings: Hoops and Helmets 2019-2020

Which American Athletic schools had the best and worst years in the two major sports – football and men’s basketball?s

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Which American Athletic schools had the best and worst years in the two major sports – football and men’s basketball? Which fan bases got the glory, and which ones didn’t have any fun?

Contact @PeteFiutak

On the field and court – whose fans had the most fun?

Of course every school has sports outside of the big two that matter and generate revenue, but when it comes to what athletic departments need, it’s really all about college football and men’s basketball.

Which American Athletic Conference schools had the best and worst seasons?

Here’s how these rankings work.

1) The top-ranked schools with teams that went to a bowl game and would’ve played in the NCAA Tournament.

2) The next group had stronger football seasons and were okay in basketball. The superstar basketball schools get credit, but football is the bigger revenue generator.

3) One or the other. Usually there’s a disparity with one good season in one sport an a clunker in the other. It’s sort of a catch-all before …

4) The disasters. No bowl game, there wouldn’t have been a trip to the NCAA Tournament, no fun.

The worst-to-best American Athletic Conference schools in 2019-2020 in college football and college basketball …

American Athletic Conference Hoops and Helmets: Losers In Both Sports

These schools suffered the indignity of failing to come up with a winning season in either of the two major sports. The fans didn’t get to have any fun.

12. East Carolina Pirates

2019 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 127
2018 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 126
Football: 4-8 overall, 1-7 in conference, 5th in AAC East
Basketball: 11-20 overall, 5-13 in conference, 13th in AAC

11. USF Bulls

2019 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 47
2018 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 78
Football: 4-8 overall, 2-6 in conference, 4th in AAC East
Basketball: 14-17 overall, 7-11 in conference, 8th in AAC

10. UConn Huskies

2019 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 123
2018 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 121
Football: 2-10 overall, 0-8 in conference, 6th in AAC East
Basketball: 19-12 overall, 10-8 in conference, T5th in AAC

American Athletic Conference Hoops and Helmets: Good In One Sport, Not The Other

9. Tulane Green Wave

2019 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 90
2018 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 111
Football: 7-6 overall, 3-5 in conference, 4th in AAC West
Basketball: 12-18 overall, 4-14 in conference, 12th in AAC

8. Houston Cougars

2019 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 26
2018 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 21
Football: 4-8 overall, 2-6 in conference, 5th in AAC West
Basketball: 23-8 overall, 13-5 in conference, 1st in AAC

7. Temple Owls

2019 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 30
2018 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 60
Football: 8-5 overall, 5-3 in conference, 3rd in AAC East
Basketball: 14-17 overall, 6-12 in conference, 10th in AAC

6. Tulsa Golden Hurricane

2019 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 107
2018 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 104
Football: 4-8 overall, 2-6 in conference, T5th in AAC West
Basketball: 21-10 overall, 13-5 in conference, T1st in AAC

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5. Navy Midshipmen

2019 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 125
2018 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 59
Football: 11-2 overall, 7-1 in conference, T1st in AAC West
Basketball: 14-16 overall, 8-10 in conference, T6th in Patriot

4. UCF Knights

2019 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 10
2018 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 34
Football: 10-3 overall, 6-2 in conference, 2nd in AAC East
Basketball: 16-14 overall, 7-11 in conference, T8th in AAC

3. SMU Mustangs

2019 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 115
2018 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 57
Football: 10-3 overall, 6-2 in conference, 3rd in AAC West
Basketball: 19-11 overall, 9-9 in conference, 7th in AAC

American Athletic Conference Hoops and Helmets: Bowl and probably would’ve made the NCAA Tournament

2. Cincinnati Bearcats

2019 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 17
2018 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 68
Football: 11-3 overall, 7-1 in conference, 1st in AAC East
Basketball: 20-10 overall, 13-5 in conference, 1st in AAC

1. Memphis Tigers

2019 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 42
2018 Hoops & Helmets National Ranking: 41
Football: 12-2 overall, 7-1 in conference, T1st in AAC East
Basketball: 21-10 overall, 10-8 in conference, T5th in AAC

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