Happy Tuesday, 'Nova Nation! It still hurts, doesn't it? But this is what makes the NCAA Tournament so great and while it's been a tough two years to digest, we'll be back. And trust me from personal experience - losing in the Final 4, after having spent my last dollars driving to Detroit to watch us go all the way, was a way worse feeling than losing on Saturday early. It wasn't as shocking. But it was a worse feeling that lasted longer. Everyone besides one team will feel what we are feeling eventually this season.
On to the recruiting season, I say! Oh, and also it's news silly season. So expect to have a few laughs with us in the Arizin each morning for the next few months.
And now, the "news."
Darrun Hilliard on Villanova teammates: 'They saved my life' | Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia
Villanova's Darrun Hilliard owes a great deal of his success to his Villanova teammates, but it's off the court where they have helped him the most.
Villanova's Darrun Hilliard named Big 5 Player of the Year | Jonathan Tannenwald philly.com
Although Villanova's season ended in disappointing fashion, the Wildcats' overall success got some deserved recognition on Monday.
How Villanova's success came back to haunt them | Philly.com
April of 2012, Jay Wright sat in his office and explained his view of how Villanova had fallen to 5-13 in the Big East that season. He talked about recruiting mistakes, decisions on style of play, about how development of some players had fallen short. He didn't leave himself out of any of it.
#speedbump: The Aftermath | The Bench Mob
I am not going to play the blame game in regards to what happened last night. I am not going to talk about what Villanova should have done to win. There is another issue at hand that goes beyond the basketball court. Jay Wright preaches about having a great attitude. It's one of the key attributes of his program.
After stunning Villanova, North Carolina State is primed for more | The Washington Post
No. 8 North Carolina State is an abundantly talented squad, one that has defeated both Duke and now no. 1 Villanova, but can that talent carry the Wolfpack to the Final Four?
Titus’s 20 NCAA Tournament Observations | Grantland
I’m not surprised Villanova lost. NC State has plenty of talent, and the NCAA tournament is the most unpredictable sporting event in the world. I’m just surprised that after four months of being steady in big spots, the Wildcats played those last 10 minutes with incredibly tight buttholes.
March Madness incentives for NCAA Division I coaches | Newsday
No Big East data, but very interesting to see the bonuses for each round.
Louisville Cardinals coach Rick Pitino says high schoolers should be able to skip college, declare for NBA draft | ESPN
I'm torn on this, personally.
The NFL Veteran Combine Is The Saddest | Deadspin
The NFL hosted its first-ever veteran combine this weekend, a chance for players who have fallen out of the league for one reason or another to claw their way back onto an NFL roster by proving that they've still got it. Michael Sam was there! So were Felix Jones, Michael Bush, and a lot of other names you'd recognize. It was sad.
The NFL Wants Two Teams In Los Angeles | Deadspin
The Los Angeles stadium game is getting serious: this week, NFL owners will hear two different proposals for new stadiums in L.A. And as the Los Angeles Times revealed yesterday, each stadium would be designed to hold two different NFL teams.
Syracuse Lacrosse Player Clearly Had A Rough Go Of It Before His Arrest | Deadspin
Hayes McGinley, a redshirt freshman midfielder for Syracuse lacrosse, was arrested last Saturday night, March 14, and charged with two counts of second-degree harassment. Okay. But what happened to his face?
Will Ferrell on Fraternities: Maybe Just Get Rid of Them? | Gawker
Vox populi Will Ferrell took a bold stance this week by saying the obvious: racist-as-hell fraternities (and sororities) are in and of themselves a reason to get rid of the greek system.