Anderson, Memphis ready for NCAA men's basketball tournament
By Rich Tenorio
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Former Lynn Tech basketball star Antonio Anderson is ready for the next challenge of his basketball career.
It starts on Friday, when Anderson and the Memphis men's basketball team face Oral Roberts in the first round of the National Collegiate Athletic Association tournament.
Of Oral Roberts, Anderson said on Monday, "I don't know anything. We're not going to watch film until tomorrow."
What is known is this: Memphis enters the Oakland Regional with a top seed and a 30-3 record. Oral Roberts, seeded sixteenth, is 21-11.
"We're practicing," Anderson said. "We're taking off to go to Dallas on Wednesday. We'll be out there until this weekend."
The game will be played at the American Airlines Center in Dallas.
"It's going to be different, exciting," Anderson said. "I'm not going to get nervous. I have butterflies before game, but I just get my iPod and listen to my music."
Coincidentally, the other game played in Dallas that day features another North Shore player: Peabody High graduate Kevin Bettencourt, now a star for Bucknell, which is seeded ninth and meets No. 8 Arkansas.
Want more trivia? In this, his first college season, Anderson played for a coach - John Calipari - who left the University of Massachusetts a few years before Anderson's brother, former Lynn English star Anthony, began playing there.
"It's been a really good experience," Antonio Anderson said of playing for Calipari. "He's a really tough coach, a disciplined coach. If you can't play defense, you can't play...He worked with me on my shot, ball-handling, thinking, making better decisions..."
All this has improved Anderson's game.
"I make plays on offense, knock down open shots, and play defense," he said. "I improved a lot. I got stronger, got better, and shot more consistently. I became better overall."
In December, he scored 32 points in a 91-81 win over Conference USA rival Cincinnati on the Bearcats' home court.
"It was sold out, really loud and really intense," Anderson said. "It was a good away game to get us tested. We passed that test ... I had a pretty fair game and helped my team win."
Anderson helped his team win another crucial game on Saturday, when the Tigers clinched the Conference USA tournament with a 57-46 decision over UAB. This also avenged Memphis' lone conference loss; Anderson sunk both of his three-point attempts in the rematch.
"We came out with a lot of intensity," Anderson said. "We got up at 7 a.m.; we usually get up around 10 a.m. ... We controlled the game throughout."
Then came the elation and excitement of Selection Sunday.
"CBS was there with us," Anderson said. "Everybody got to see us celebrate."
Perhaps there will be some additional celebration in the next few weeks.
"We're hoping to win it all," Anderson said, "but we're going to take it one game at a time."
He has not forgotten his Lynn roots.
"I speak to (Tech coach Marvin Avery) all the time," Anderson said. "He's my pal; I'm really close to him. I speak to some of the young players there now -- Corey Bingham, Jamaal Boyd."
However, he does find one aspect of life in Tennessee to be superior to life back home.
"It's 75 (degrees) out here, in the 80s," he said. "I'm out here in shorts. Everybody back in Lynn is wearing jeans. That's the good part."
Searching for its man amid Madness
Missouri angles for coach while tourney begins.
By STEVE WALENTIK of the Tribune
Leap of faith
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
STEVE IRVINE
News staff writer
They came from different directions under different circumstances.
Demario Eddins, a Chicago native, was one of the top 75 prep basketball players in the nation. Richard Jones figured he would play college basketball near his hometown of Oklahoma City and Brandon Tobias, a Floridian, was originally headed to Arkansas. Derrick Broom, the fourth high school player in Mike Anderson's first recruiting class at UAB, was the only player signed by former coach Murry Bartow.
The four, along with junior college transfer Gabe Kennedy, had one thing in common.
"It was kind of blind faith," said Jones.
Saying goodbye to a senior class is never easy for a head coach. For Anderson, it is particularly tough because of the faith that his first four signees showed in a coach with no head coaching experience before arriving in Birmingham in April of 2002.
"The great thing about it is they came in and worked extremely hard," Anderson said. "They paid the price and did the things I asked them to do. The reward is they've been one of the most successful groups to come through here in a long time."
The senior class of scholarship players, which grew by two with the addition of Squeaky Johnson in 2003 and Marvett McDonald in 2004, will move on once the Blazers (24-6) are through playing in their third consecutive NCAA Tournament. Their next game - a first-round game in the Washington, D.C., Regional on Friday at 8:45 p.m. against Kentucky (21-12) at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia - could be their final game in UAB uniforms.
"You try not to get emotional about it," Jones said. "I'm not an emotional guy, but when I really think about all the things I've been through - going from not even knowing where UAB was to UAB being a big contender - now I'm glad I've been a part of it. It's all been worth it."
"I came in just on a wing and a prayer," Tobias said. "I didn't know what was going to happen. To see that this program was so successful and I was a part of that success just kind of makes me feel good. I put time into something that went well for me and went well for us."
Eddins' value to the program's rise under Anderson can be seen in the numbers: He finished his UAB career as the 11th-best scorer and rebounder in school history even though an Achilles' tendon injury ended his senior season after 12 games. He is one of only two UAB players with over 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 250 assists and 175 steals.
"No question he's one of the better players in our league," Anderson said. "For him to not be on the court and enjoy the last part of it, that's the tough part of it."
Patience has marked the careers of Tobias, Broom and Jones. Each played significant minutes as freshmen. Each faced times when playing time was minimal. Each persevered through those times.
"To me, if you want to succeed in something in life, in the workplace, you may not get your way all the time," said Tobias. "It's not a good work ethic when - every time you don't get your way- you want to quit something. I figured my time would come."
Anderson said the most recent time came when Eddins was sidelined by injury.
"So now who do you go to? You lean on those guys," Anderson said. "The opportunity presented itself and they're largely responsible for the success we've had."
E-mail: sirvine@bhamnews.com
NCAA Pants Party: Kentucky Vs. UAB
KentuckyUABmatchups.jpgKentucky Wildcats (21-12) vs. Alabama-Birmingham Blazers (24-6).
When: Friday, 9:55 p.m.
Where: Philadelphia
KENTUCKY
1. Fill the Tubb. You already know that Kentucky coach Tubby Smith won a national championship in his first year at Kentucky, and you likely already know that he has been rewarded for that achievement with a constant stream of Kentucky fans who hope to have him fired. But you likely did not know that Tubby Smith was one of 17 children and got his name because his mother would put him in the bathtub and he did not ever want to leave
UK upset defining moment for UAB
By Victoria Sun
Post staff reporter
LEXINGTON, Ky. - The architect of the Alabama-Birmingham basketball program wasn't in the building the day Mike Anderson's Blazers put the team back on the college basketball map.
Two years ago, No. 9 seed UAB upset No. 1 seed University of Kentucky, 76-75, in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
The victory made Blazers basketball relevant again after the team had failed to make it to the Big Dance the previous four seasons.
It also served as a reminder of what former athletic director and head coach Gene Bartow envisioned when he coached the school's first basketball team during the 1978-79 season, a year after UK had won its fifth NCAA championship.
"I think it was a giant step for our program, no question," said Anderson, now in his fourth season as UAB's head coach. "Here we are playing the No. 1 seed and the No. 1 team in the country and we were able to come out of it with a win so it was a big win in our program, especially in my era."
The Blazers, who will be making their third consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament under Anderson, find themselves matched up against UK for the second time in three years.
UAB, the No. 9 seed of the Washington Regional, will play UK, the No. 8 seed, in a first round game at approximately 9:45 p.m. Friday in Philadelphia's Wachovia Center.
This time, it's doubtful the Blazers (24-6, 12-2 Conference USA), will sneak up on any opponent, particularly the Wildcats (21-12, 9-7 Southeastern Conference), who became just the third No. 1 seed in history to lose to a No. 9 seed.
"They'll be motivated," said UAB senior guard Carldell "Squeaky" Johnson, one of two starters back from the 2004 team. "I think they looked past us two years ago and I think now they'll be really focused on the task at hand.
"(After we beat UK) People paid attention to who UAB is as a whole and they were more leery of us the next year as far as being a contender instead of being a pretender."
Under Anderson, a Nolan Richardson protege, Blazers basketball is played at a fast and furious pace.
UAB enters the tournament ranked second in the nation in steals per game (11.1) and first in turnovers forced, 21.2 per game.
The Blazers have won eight of their last nine games with their only setback being a 57-46 loss to Memphis, the No. 1 seed in the Oakland Regional, in the championship game of the C-USA tournament.
"We run and we press a lot," said junior Wen Mukubu, who transferred to UAB from Arkansas after his sophomore season. "We just like to run up and down and make the other team make mistakes.
"We have confidence going against Kentucky. We're confident in our style of play. We actually feel like we can beat anybody in the nation. We don't rely on one play or one player."
The team has had to find different ways to win since losing leading scorer and rebounder, 6-foot-7 senior Demario Eddins, who tore his right Achilles' tendon on Jan. 2. Eddins was UAB's only other starter from the team that stunned UK.
Without him, the Blazers still went 15-3, led by Johnson, who is ninth in the nation with 6.2 assists per game and 16th in steals per game (2.7), and senior guard Marvett McDonald, who is the leading scorer at 15 points per game.
Nine players average more than 10 minutes per game and in eight games from Jan. 5 to Feb. 4, eight different players led the team in scoring.
"We've been doing it with a lot of other guys kind of plugging in here and plugging in there," Anderson said. "Squeaky has been the guy who is leading us.
"Richard Jones did some good things, Marvett McDonald has really played well. So we're leaning on a lot of guys who have experience as well as some newcomers."
These Blazers are picking up where Bartow, now a consultant for the Memphis Grizzlies, steered the program in the 1980s.
Before he arrived in Birmingham in 1977 to start UAB's athletic program, Bartow was legendary coach John Wooden's immediate successor at UCLA for two seasons. Though he led the Bruins to the Final Four his first year, the team lost in the second round of the NCAA Tournament the following season, prompting him to head South.
Bartow guided the Blazers to seven consecutive NCAA appearances from 1981-87 and two more times (1990, 1994) before retiring after the 1995-96 season. He was replaced by his son, Murry Bartow, now the head coach at East Tennessee State, who led the Blazers to one NCAA Tournament (1999) in six seasons before being succeeded by Anderson.
The school's best showing in the Big Dance was getting to the Elite Eight in 1982.
Twenty-four years later, Anderson, who has been mentioned as a candidate for several high-profile jobs, has his players primed for another upset.
"We're real confident. I think it's our peaking time," Johnson said. "We're coming together as a better team and I think that's going to help us out a whole lot.
"I just feel like we've got to survive and advance, do whatever it takes to win. If it means winning by one or two points, whatever it takes."
NCAA Tournament : Guillotine Sharpened & Neck On The Block
Ok, it is neck on the chopping block time. Here's a rundown of matchups that I like in this year's NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. Of course, while the guillotine is being sharpened, I'll offer my picks for Final Four and March Madness Champion.
Great Matchups
All of the 8-9s and 7-10s are set up for potentially great games. I want to say one or two that I'm particularly keeping my eye on, but they all should be great games. NC-Wilmington can beat G Washington, but will have to face Duke in round 2. Same goes for Bucknell. If they get past Arkansas, they are looking up at Memphis. Northern Iowa can give Georgetown fits in the first round and UAB vs. Kentucky should be a game to remember.
Possible Upsets
The one that pops right out is Wis-Milwaukee beating Oklahoma. If the Panthers make it to Round 2, they could provide Florida with all they ask for. Heavy emphasis on "could" as the Gators have proven they can be beaten. Although 27 wins tells you that their balanced attack counts for a lot.
The other upset that is making my bones ache is SDSU vs. Indiana. SDSU matches up nicely and if they keep IU from making a lot of 3s, the Hoosiers could be one and out. Either team will have the honor of getting stomped by Gonzaga in the next round.
Alabama will give Marquette a good game and that should be about it, a good game and a good win for Marquette. There is one last possible upset to watch for and I'll hang my hat on this. Utah St. beats Washington. Laugh at me if Brandon Roy gets hot and I'm wrong. But there is definitely the potential for the Aggies to play great defense and put all the game factors in their favor.
Predictions
Sweet Sixteen:
Duke vs. Syracuse
Iowa vs. Texas
Memphis vs. Kansas
Gonzaga vs. UCLA
UConn vs. Illinois
Michigan St. vs. Wichita St.+
Villanova vs. Boston College
Wis-Milwaukee+ vs. Ohio State
Elite Eight:
Duke vs. Texas++
Kansas vs. Gonzaga
UConn vs. Mich St.
Villanova vs. Ohio State
Final Four:
Duke vs. Kansas
UConn vs. Ohio State
Final:
Duke vs. Ohio State
2005-2006 NCAA Champion:
The Duke Blue Devils
CYA Time
+ I'm thinking there will be two Cinderellas this year, Wichita St. and Wis-Milwaukee. My guess is that neither team will get past the Sweet 16, but this March will definitely provide them with well deserved respect.
++ I want very badly to say that Cal catches fire and makes it to the Elite Eight. With a huge frontcourt led by Powe, they most certainly have the ability. But let's face it. Texas is a very tough second round matchup for the Golden Bears. If any team can matchup in the frontcourt with Cal, it is the Longhorns. The big question is if Cal can matchup with Paulino and Gibson?
Picking a Team in March Madness
March 15, 2006
UK VS. UAB
Practice made foe perfect
DON'T EXPECT RICHARDSON AT CATS' PREPARATION TIME FOR UAB
By Jerry Tipton
HERALD-LEADER STAFF WRITER
Former Arkansas Coach Nolan Richardson uses a simple formula to prioritize his rooting interest.
"God first, my family second," he said before adding, "and Mike's my family.
"Then I spread it to my friends."
Mike is UAB Coach Mike Anderson, who played for Richardson at Tulsa in the early 1980s and served as his assistant for 20 years.
Among the friends is Kentucky Coach Tubby Smith, who looked at Richardson as a mentor and trail blazer for minorities who aspired to be coaches.
Richardson's priorities came into question two years ago when Kentucky played the Birmingham, Ala., school in the NCAA Tournament. For many UK fans, the rematch in Friday's first-round game picks at a 2-year-old scab.
For those who don't recall, Smith invited Richardson to attend Kentucky's private practice the day before the game. Then, as USA Today reported, Richardson helped form UAB's game plan and "acted as almost a second head coach from his seat in the stands" as UAB upset No. 1-seeded Kentucky.
The newspaper said Richardson yelled instructions, signalled Anderson with hand gestures and yelled at the referees.
When contacted by the Herald-Leader, Richardson scoffed at the suggestion that Anderson needed his help.
"Good god almighty," he said. "Can you imagine? Mike was my assistant during all those (years)."
Richardson exulted in UAB's victory. In the hallway outside the locker room after the game, he could be heard yelling, "Shock the world!" and "Mighty Kentucky has fallen."
As for the rematch, Richardson isn't sure if he will attend. He works for ESPN Classic on a contract basis, a job that will take him away from home all of next week. He also is working to promote the charity golf tournament he stages each year in El Paso, Texas. He isn't thrilled about adding a trip to Philadelphia for the Kentucky-UAB game. "I'm about burnt out," he said.
However, Richardson is 100 percent sure he roots for and respects Smith, but he will cheer for UAB. Oh, and one other thing, he doesn't care how that sits with Kentucky fans.
"Let me ask you this question," Richardson said. "This is my son, Mike. I am a fan now. I've been fired (from Arkansas in 2002). Did they tell those people not to fire me? Did anybody send anything? ...
"I don't live in Lexington, Ky. They've not bought me one meal. They don't care about me one iota. Now I'm supposed to sit there real quiet?"
Richardson first met Anderson in 1980. Richardson coached unbeaten Western Texas in the junior college national championship game against a Jefferson State Community College (based in Birmingham) led by Anderson.
"Mike was just all over the floor," Richardson said. "I enjoyed watching him play."
The game was Richardson's last for Western Texas. But before he left to become coach at Tulsa, he told an assistant, "Go find that little guy. We've got to have him. We've got to keep rolling."
With four Western Texas players and Anderson, Richardson was an immediate hit at Tulsa. The Golden Hurricanes won the NIT in his first season. In 1982, Tulsa received its first NCAA Tournament bid since 1955 (and second ever).
Paul Pressey starred while Anderson, who averaged 12 points in two seasons for Tulsa, provided heart and soul at point guard.
"He would take a charge on a Mack truck to win," Richardson said. "He was a tough, tough youngster. He'd battle you to death."
Anderson's play prompted the nickname Mighty Mouse, a cartoon hero of the 1950s and '60s whose theme song included the line, "Here I come to save the day."
As Richardson recalled, he would look at Anderson in a nip-and-tuck game and say, "Hey, Mighty Mouse, it's time to save the day, baby."
After briefly exploring a career in business, Anderson joined Richardson's Tulsa staff as an unpaid assistant coach. He worked for Richardson three seasons at Tulsa and 17 at Arkansas, the final 12 as assistant head coach and recruiting coordinator.
Three years after Richardson's daughter, Yvonne, died of leukemia in 1987, Anderson named his new-born daughter Yvonne. She is a high school sophomore in Birmingham and a potential big-time women's basketball prospect.
Much to Richardson's good-natured consternation, Anderson did not use the same name Richardson coined to describe the high-energy, fast-paced style of basketball each coaches. Richardson called it "40 minutes of hell." Anderson, who traps less in the halfcourt but otherwise coaches much the same style, prefers "the fastest 40 minutes of basketball."
"Why don't you call it Part II?" Richardson said he asked Anderson. "Damn it, you know what it is."
Richardson certainly does.
"I can tell everything he's going to do and when he's going to do it," said Richardson, "and when he should be doing it. I know exactly what's going to happen."
It's that insight, plus any knowledge he might have passed along from attending Kentucky's practice two years ago, that became a concern to UK.
Richardson should not expect Kentucky to extend an invitation to a practice this week.
Donell made the start in the NBA, not Ronell. STupid writer.[/quote]