JPW

@CBB_Central Is t this exactly how UConn held off Furman?

Todd Golden made an interesting point to me on the lack of upsets: Elite teams have gone from slanting towards skill + playing 5-out to going all-in on dominating at the rim. It’s a higher-floor brand of basketball and the hardest style for MMs to match: si.com/college-basket…

The NCAA tournament has been dominated by top seeds for a second straight tournament. Is this the end of Cinderella? Inside the reasons it’s harder than ever for David to take down Goliath: si.com/college-basket…

Furman-UConn has the AAU refs that won't blow the whistle because they just want to go home.

@Richard37215662 Not fouling up 3 on last possession is probably the right move with new continuation rule. Could have fouled up 6 as Joe Mazzula does. TOs to set up the D is not a bad strategy either. Probably should have denied Power. Players just did or didn't execute.

Those who are criticizing James Jones should first listen to his presser. Pure, unmitigated class. He is the best coach in the Ivy right now. Few dispute that. His decision not to foul is made by a majority of NCAA coaches in 2026. Of course, you can disagree, but he had the best Ivy defender, Simmons on Power. As to Power, there is a 0% chance that he leaves Penn after this season. Lots of reasons that many might not know. He has a great situation at Penn, on many levels.

@FeehanPres @FarinellaMark Congrats. Power rankings probably don't capture improving teams or reward blowouts as much anymore (which is probably a good thing). Definitely looks like they started to figure things out later in the season, which is always the goal.

@CBreadfromDot @FarinellaMark Played in all 25. Feehan played a very tough schedule. Lost to a very good Attleboro team twice (by 6 total points), lost to state champion Wareham and state champion St. Mary's. And certainly got better over the course of the season.

Not only did Bishop Feehan defy the odds of winning a state title from the 14th seed, it lent credibility to the playoff system by proving that the system is not an insurmountable challenge to anyone but the top four seeds. Way to go, Shamrocks!

@stoolpresidente New rules change the math on fouling up 3. Casuals.

THIS IS MARCH! How do you not foul by the way?

@coach_jb1 @scottguzman New York 21 might have been the best developmental small area game we didn't know we were playing. Rebound, defend, help, score 1-1 and against help, pressure free throws...

@scottguzman Looking back, I think games like "21" are so good for developing rebounding instincts. There was ZERO thought of boxing out. If you wanted to win, you had to GO GET THE BALL.

Watching the state tournament games and noticing this: Players box out… and still give up rebounds. Reading the ball off the rim and pursuing it might be the real skill 💯 Is boxing out overrated?

Youth tournaments are often a weekend of wasted development. We spend three days chasing a plastic trophy instead of maximizing the court time for genuine player and coach growth. Here is how to rethink the long weekend tournament. 🧵👇

@Scouting_Col Whoever gets the BC job should have him high on their list.

We will probably see Alex Wilkins in the SEC next year. My only worry is his lack of strength. He can do everything else: score off the bounce, pass, and he has some size and length too.

@T_Mulherin If there are so many positives they should just rotate the slots every year among all divisions and genders.

Mostly, yes, but D4 boys played it last year. Obviously it’s not GREAT for fans. Not for nothing — it’s the best ice of the day, it starts when it’s supposed to & players don’t have all day to build nerves. 2024’s 9am game ended at 11:45 (3OT) & threw off the rest of the slate

@bradHFD @T_Mulherin @BostonHeraldHS And last night they played Duxbury in the semis at 7:45 on a Sunday night at BC. Last game of the night. No student support for the Duxbury girls, who deserved it, probably due to start time and distance.

@CBreadfromDot @T_Mulherin @BostonHeraldHS and the girls get stuck every year in that slot

The lineup at TD Garden is set next Sunday:

@bradHFD @T_Mulherin @BostonHeraldHS Last year Milton girls were in the last slot, which wasn't much better.

@AlBernstein In the portal era I don't think it matters. The power conference teams are just so much better than any mid or low-major that who they send is irrelevant. Pre-portal, senior-laden mid-major could compete. Those no longer exist.

The problem with teams like this getting knocked out means that the likelihood of upsets early in the tourney goes down because the league might have a representative that frankly isn't as hood. I thinks some of the lower mid major conferences should just send the regular season champs. They can still have a conference tourney.

@NoahB77_ If you screen record it you can see it actually does take less than 3.6 from first touch to the shot.

Clock operator sold Navy down the river 💔

@EliteDiscourse @SteveBHoop Watch the games. He gets nervous and defers until he has no choice. It's ok. I like him and I cheer for him. But it's true.

@CBreadfromDot @SteveBHoop A player who holds the league record in most points scored in a game 7 always wants to defer in big games. A player who has openly said multiple times that he loves close out games was to defer in big games. Y’all legit don’t know what yall be talking about.

League exec checks in by phone after the game: "If he's gonna play like that and they're gonna play like that, that's gonna be a bitch of a team to stop. I know it was against Dallas, but holy $#×& that was smooth."

@BillSimmons He was open for a 3 as the trailer on the next possession too but whoever had the ball missed him

Been thinking about this sequence since it happened — one of the best non-playoff Celtics moments I can ever remember. We went from “man, this has been rough” to “he’s fucking back!!!!!!” in less than 30 seconds. I’m really happy for JT.

@brianmccormick @BrandonBigsby_ She probably committed two fouls and was completely out of control the entire play. Lucky she didn't injure the offensive player. I'd like to make diving for the ball a foul in basketball. High injury risk, low reward. Often just a way to signal "effort" in absence of skill.

@BrandonBigsby_ Can someone explain why this is a bad call? I see a girl diving into another girl’s legs. What am I missing?

If a call is this egregiously bad, then I don’t have any problem a coach doing this. Officials are rarely held accountable as is, and they can hand out techs and ejections at will. This is too ridiculous of a call to not deserve to get an earful from a coach. On court or not.

@GlobeKPD I noticed at a Celtics game the other night that there was a beer for sale that was cheaper than the Diet Pepsi I was ordering.

Wonder how many Bruins fans are aware TD Garden each night offers $5 draft beer (12 oz).