The NCAA Midwest Regional rolls into the Lou this weekend with a bit of variety for all hoop fans.
Top-seeded North Carolina takes on surprising No. 13 seed Ohio University while No. 2 seed takes on No. 11 seed North Carolina State on Friday night at the Edward Jones Dome. The winners meet on Sunday for a berth in the Final Four.
The regional is being hosted by Saint Louis University this year. If past years of this regional are any indication of the excitement that is about to begin this week, then I’m all in.
I have a picture on the wall in my man cave that’s called “Magical Basketball Moments In St. Louis.” It was given to me by some very nice people some time ago. Upon looking at it, the montage reminded me of some of the most memorable moments in recent St. Louis basketball history.
It features the run in 1996 when the Bradley Braves and Deon Jackson upset at that time SMS now Missouri State in the MVC Tourney Semi Finals.
1993: Roy Williams’ Kansas Jayhawks defeated Indiana for the Midwest regional championship.
1998: How could one forget one of the best regional finals ever when Jim Harrick’s Rhode Island team fought to the finish against Stanford. It was the first time I was introduced to the best college mascot out there, the Stanford Cardinal Xmas tree! I love it! And who could forget Stanford’s Mark “Mad Dog” Madsen jumping for joy after the final horn sounded, as the Cardinal punched a ticket to the Final Four that year.
1999: The sharpest dressed coach in college basketball my man, Tom Izzo brought the Flintstones through the Lou on there way to the Final Four. Michigan State defeated Kentucky in the regional finals.
2001: The NCAA Women’s Final Four came to town. It was when one of my favorite coaches Cheryl Burnett and the amazing Jackie Stiles and the Lady Bears of SMS was on every electronic and print media outlet in the state. And it was deserved.
But when the dust settled, it was the point guard from Cor Jesu in St. Louis named Niele Ivey that snatched away the National Championship and the spot light for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
After appearing in the American with Earl, and on my radio show as the ONLY media attention she got prior too winning the National Title. She knew Earl and I would have her back, and showed her gratitude afterward to all the National media afterwards.
2005: With Micheal Jordan watching from a sky box in the ED, his North Carolina Tar Heels defeated the University of Illinois in a thrilling national championship game.
It should be a great week of hoops this week with these four teams seeking that Final Four berth.
So good luck to St. Louis University this week, who’s hosting with the NCAA and let the hoops begin this weekend!
Scott’s Notes
Congrats to Malcolm Hill of the Belleville East Lancers. The 6’5 guard who has a oral commitment with the fighting Illini was named to the Associate Press Class 4- A Illinois first team All – State Team
In class 3-A, a pair of East St. Louis Flyers recieved All State reconition. Deshawn Munson was named to the Class 3A second team. His teammate Brandon Johnson recieved honorable mention. But something is not right. How could Munson be named by Associated Press second team All State honors, and not be named to the All-Southwestern Conference team?
Maybe we need a re- count? If nothing else, I smell a rat, or rats.
The St. Louis University basketball team deserves all the credit in the world after a great season. But lm not drinking the Rick “Slick Rick” Majerus cool aide down to fast without taking a break…..
Now at $1 million a year and the 1st NCAA appearance as long as he’s been here?
I still think Brad ” Lost In Space” Soderberg would have been to 3-4 NCAA tournaments for half the money and loses during the same million dollar run by Slick Rick.
