Mr. Floyd should have gone to Tucson and other stories.

The Yard was fortunate enough to cover the last three Final Fours. We did not exactly have a Press Pass last year while we watched the game through the Hubble Telescope in Section 324 of the Alamodome. It was great Final Four and the Memphis Kansas game was one for the ages. We did question Memphis’ 64% Free throw shooting all year. It really never mattered until the last 75 seconds of the National Championship Game. Tigers make 3 of 5 and Memphis raises the flag and Johnny C might still be there this AM. Los Tigres clanked 4 of 5 and let Kansas tie the game and beat them in OT.

The Bruins did not make a 4th consecutive trip to the finals. That would have been glorious and unprecedented in recent history. But after Indie, Atlanta and San Antonio, Detroit in early April did not sound like a great destination for us anyway. It is 45 degrees with a chance of showers today. Detroit is not just the murder capital of the nation any longer, it is the swirling vortex of bailed out dreams and stimulus package nightmares.

The Yard likes Michigan State into the Finals. Tom Izzo is a great story for another blog. He has coached every senior he has ever graduated to the Final Four. That is more amazing than the title he won in 2000. UCONN has the 7’3” Thabeet that Jim Calhoun recruited out of a village in Africa. Some people ask about Calhoun’s salary, the Yard questions their recruiting budget! Get Thabeet in foul trouble and the Huskies are a far different team. The Yard despises UNC but we have them winning the dance. Villanova is a great story and they took down the Bruins, so we are glad they went this far. Nova Coach Jay Wright idolizes UNC Coach Roy Williams. That usually spells defeat for the star struck at their first dance. Of course, that and a veteran UNC team that was in the Finals last year.

Tim Floyd considering the University of Arizona job was a shocker to the Yard on several levels. This is the second straight season where Floyd has pledged his allegiance to the Cardinal and Gold stating that this “is my last job” only to entertain another job as he did with LSU last year. Floyd was pleading with his underclassmen to remain at the university so they could do something special. His remarks were made at the team sports banquet earlier this week. Nice words from Timmy, funny thing though the LA times reported he was considering the Wildcat job in the morning paper the very next day. Once again when it comes to Floyd, nothing illegal but it is best to be up wind from his activities.

When did the UofA job become such a big deal? Lute Olsen was a big deal and he shepherded that program for 67 years or something. Arizona was not on any radar screen before he arrived and what he accomplished is nothing short of remarkable. His exit strategy these past three years has been a bit messy but it does not diminish his resume. But once Lute is gone, so is the only face this program has ever had. Wildcat Fan, Rick Pitino is not coming. Tim Floyd is not coming. Steve Lavin is available.

Of course, the Yard can not blame Coach Floyd. USC will always be a football school. Basketball has never been embraced by the Myopians who can be found on fall Saturdays at the Coliseum in garish colors. 92,000 show up for every USC home game. In the sparkling new Galen Center that had to be built for USC to be competitive in basketball or so the story goes, 5400 on average attended the basketball games this year. UCLA averages 10,000+ in ancient Pauley Pavilion and 65,000 still go to the football games at this basketball school.

Trying to gain mind share at this football school causes Tim to take chances. Being the underdog every year to your legendary cross town rival has Tim trolling in murky waters as well. The OJ Mayo’s and Demar DeRozan’s of one and done fame at USC were never recruited anywhere significant because of their baggage and potential liability. What elite school lets a player tell them that they will only come if their best friend can be on the team also? USC did for DeRozan. Elite programs will not waste their time with these Kwame Brown starter kits who will give their compliance department heart burn long after they are gone.

Renardo Sydney from Fairfax High School is the next one of those problem children. USC is awaiting his taking of the SAT test. The Yard does not know many high school seniors who had not taken the SAT test by April 2?! We are confident Renardo is pulling all nighters for the test so he will get that one year at USC completed before he is 23 like his predecessor Taj Gibson. Mr. Sydney showed his USC colors wearing 2 carat diamond stud earrings when he announced his intention to enroll at USC.

Tim, you should have taken the Arizona job. Arizona is a basketball school. Arizona draws over 14,000 a game for hoops and is usually amongst the leaders every year in attendance and performance. The McHale center is one of the toughest places to play in the conference and in the nation. With Lute’s stumbling out the door the past two seasons, the bar has been lowered below the replacing a legend rung. The legend took a hit and the job did as well. And every athlete who wants to can get into school and can stay in school until the NBA calls. Tim, have fun winning 20 games in front of 5000 people and being a six seed in the dance every couple of years. Mr. Renardo’s agent is on the other line, got to run…

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.- Mark Twain