Just like that, the season is over for the IUP men’s and women’s basketball teams. After posting wins in their opening games, both the IUP men and women fell in their second round games. Each team had a heck of a year. Who would have thought the men would do what they did? They finished 28-4. Joe Lombardi and his staff did one of their best coaching jobs in recent years with this team. The women finished 24-7 and were also a team that perhaps overachieved. Tom McConnell and his staff also deserve a lot of praise for the job they did. No, IUP did not win national championships, but both the men and women had seasons to remember.
* Let the madness begin now that the NCAA Tournament field is set. Last year’s champion, Villanova, is a number one seed and could do it again. Kansas and North Carolina, two other number seeds, went down in their tournaments but are certainly capable of cutting down the nets. And you can bet that a lot of fans will be pulling for Gonzaga, a number one seed and longtime Cinderella. I would love to see suddenly hot Duke win it again. The Blue Devils won four games in four days on their way to the ACC Tournament title. They’re hot, confident and finally healthy. The next three weeks should be a lot of fun.
* To say the Penguins have a lot of injuries would be quite an understatement. Seven regulars are on the sidelines at the moment, which is rather astounding when you think of it. Yet the Penguins are winning. That’s a credit to the team, the coaching staff and the depth the organization has put together. Also deserving of praise is goaltender Marc Andre Fleury. He’s been terrific as of late, and might even be playing better than Matt Murray. It takes a lot of players, both at the NHL and oftentimes AHL level, to get a team to the Stanley Cup. If the Pens do it again this year it’s because so many guys had a hand in it.
* You had to love the effort by the depleted Pens at Winnipeg the other night. Nick Bonino got the hat trick, and Evgeni Malkin recorded a Gordie Howe hat trick (goal, assist and fight). It was one of the most impressive performances by this team to date. Malkin was incredible. Besides his three point night, he also came close to scoring another goal when he tried a shot between his legs. It was a fun game to watch, and included some outstanding individual performances.
* The Pens’ game vs Edmonton was certainly worth the price of admission, and a real treat to watch on television. Sidney Crosby is the face of the NHL and Connor McDavid is the future face of the league. The contest was like a playoff game, and the three on three overtime was edge of your seat spectacular. The shootout wasn’t bad either. This was hockey at its best, and it wasn’t even a playoff game.
* I was hoping the Steelers would bring back Lawrence Timmons for at least another year. Timmons is now off to Miami as a free agent. Mike Tomlin’s first number one draft pick was a tackling machine, and started 101 straight games for the black and gold. I happen to think he was one of the best defenders the Steelers have ever had. Timmons may not make it to the Hall of Fame one day like other great Steelers’ linebackers have, but his contributions to the Pittsburgh defense should never be forgotten.
* He may not be a fan favorite, but Landry Jones is more than a capable backup. The Steelers obviously thought so when they brought him back. Look, I’m not going to suggest that he could take the Steelers to a lot of wins if Ben Roethlisberger goes down. Jones is, however, good enough to fill in if Big Ben goes down in a game, or if they need him for a game or two. He knows the system, and didn’t break the bank to come back to the Steelers.
* The signing of Jones does not mean the Steelers won’t bring in another young quarterback. I would not be surprised if they drafted a QB in the middle rounds of the draft if they identify a guy they really like. That player won’t unseat Jones anytime soon, but would have a few years to learn the system. For now, the 1-2 punch of Big Ben and Landry Jones should be good enough for the black and gold.
* I never believed that the Steelers had any interest in signing Terrelle Pryor as a free agent, given the deal he was looking for. Pryor is a heck of an athlete and proved last year in Cleveland that he can be a really good receiver in the NFL. He would be a nice addition in Pittsburgh, but not for ten million or more a year. I thought the Steelers should have tried to sign him a couple of years ago after he flamed out as a quarterback and was open to a position change. I think Pryor would have done well in his hometown. Obviously that will never happen now. But oh, what could have been.
* I haven’t watched any of the World Baseball Classic yet. I have no interest. I’m not sure I’ll watch any before it’s over. The only baseball I care about begins in April when the Pirates open up in Boston.
* I can’t imagine the disappointment that Franklin Regional wrestler Spencer Lee is feeling. Lee entered the 3A championship match having won three state titles and had never lost in high school. He was seconds away from a fourth title when he was taken down at the buzzer by Austin Desanto, who shocked the favorite Lee in one of the biggest upsets in Pa wrestling history. I was watching the match and it was terrific. It reminded me of when Iowa legend Dan Gable, who had never lost in college, fell in his final collegiate match. I remember watching that match on ABC’s Wide World of Sports several decades ago. Ironically, Lee is also headed to Iowa, having chosen the Hawkeyes over in state powerhouse Penn State. I was hoping the young man would end up at Penn State, but wish him the best at Iowa. He is a champion, through and through.
