Somewhere Jimmy Chitwood Is Smiling...
- Wednesday, March 24, 2010 5:25 PM
- Written By: Josh Bycel
... because there is one story that is not being talked about in the NCAA tournament. Maybe it’s just too explosive. Maybe the media are trying to bury it. Maybe ... America is not ready to deal with it. But the simple truth is, the breakout stars of this year's tourney are .. white guys!
They are everywhere. And, yes, they still might not be able to jump but they can pass, rebound, play defense and hit big-time, pressure-packed shots to win huge games. The NCAA tournament is starting to look like a NASCAR race or a lunchtime pick-up game at the local YMCA.
Call it “The Revenge of Billy Hoyle” or the “Jimmy Chitwood 2: The Heretic”. But the dudes from Northern Iowa, Butler, Purdue, Duke, Ohio State, St. Mary’s and Cornell are kinda kicking serious ass.
Now, this is not a race thing. And I’m really not trying to make any profound statement ... this is just a blog after all. I guess I’m just pointing out this statistical anomaly, this once-in-a-lifetime moment ... like when “Entourage” is actually funny or when “Lost” actually makes sense.
Take Ali Farokhmanesh from Northern Iowa. He won the first-round game against UNLV with three-point dagger. And then, to top that, he cemented the monumental upset over Kansas with a cold-blooded pull-up three. He did all of this without letting that unfortunate “Midwest Frat Dude: I usually wear a hat backwards so who cares” haircut he rocks trip him up.
Then there is Mickey McConnell from St. Mary’s ... who banked in a three to put Villanova out of its misery. First, the name: Mickey McConnell. Could he have a whiter name? Maybe Whitey McWhitington. And he looks like he’s about 13 years old. But the guy can play. Plus, the whole St. Mary’s team is filled with dudes from Australia. Like we didn’t have enough good white guys here, so they had to import some.
Cornell literally has 78 skinny, 6-5 guys on its roster. When they sub into games, it’s like attending a Young Republican college mixer or watching a scene with David Spade from “P.C.U.” And I think they look whiter because in all the times I have been to Ithaca I have NEVER seen the sun. I don’t think it exists.
We could go on and on. And it’s not just the mid-majors. Chris Kramer carried Purdue into the Sweet Sixteen, and Jon Scheyer and Kyle Singler have led Duke in almost every category, including the “grimace/fist pump” after they get a call.
Okay, so this whole theory might be a little thin but we “white guys” don’t have much to hang our hat on besides “bunting the runner over” and “making a great crack back block” so I’m running with this ... and it got me thinking about the best white players in the recent history of the tournament. I’m talking the last 20 years.
Here is my top five:
5. Bryce Drew. Valparaiso. Beat Ole Miss with an amazing shot in 1998.
4. Wally Szczerbiak. Carried Miami of Ohio to the Sweet Sixteen in 1999.
3. Gerry McNamara. Syracuse. Scored 43 against BYU in 2004.
NOTE: these top two kill me because I hate their school but ...
2. Bobby Hurley. Duke. 19-2 record. Averaged 12 points, 2 steals and 7 assists in the NCAA tournament.
1. Christian Laettner. Duke. Enough said ...
What does everyone else think? By the way, can’t wait for a Northern Iowa, Cornell, Butler and St. Mary’s Final Four.
