It should be quite a battle between Mike Krzyzewski’s Duke team and Tom Izzo’s Michigan State team in the first game of the NCAA semi-finals on Saturday night.
Krzyzewski has won 4 national crowns and has an (8-1) record vs Izzo, who has won 1 national title.
I am predicting Duke to win and face Kentucky in the championship game on Monday night.
If it happens, it will be the third time in a 50 year period (1966-2015) that the teams will meet in a semi-final or final game.
What a difference in the coverage between now and when Kentucky beat Duke in a Friday night semi-final game that had no national television coverage in 1966.
Now there is the proverbial “wall to wall” coverage and hype.
Earlier in the year, I took a look at the surprising Golden State Warriors and Atlanta Hawks.
Each team had a great start to the never ending NBA season and now each has clinched the top spot in their respective conference.
The Warriors are the big story of the NBA regular season and easily have the best record in the league.
That feat is even more impressive, playing in the far tougher Western Conference.
The Hawks, with the second best record in the league have done so in the far weaker Eastern Conference.
It has been a long time “between drinks” for each of these franchises and each team faces a tough task in their conference’s playoffs.
An NCAA Tournament semi-final game will match Kentucky and Wisconsin for the second straight year.
Last year, Kentucky as an upstart team, won a thrilling game vs Wisconsin before losing to Connecticut University in the final game.
This time, Kentucky is (38-0) and just two wins from the first perfect season in college basketball since Indiana University accomplished that in 1976.
Wisconsin is no slouch either entering the game with a (35-3) record.
Last year Wisconsin defeated Arizona in a regional final and did the same this year.
Each team was the top seed in its region. Kentucky is a solid favorite in the game.
I predict Kentucky will repeat last year’s semi-final win vs Wisconsin.
It will be Duke vs Michigan State in the first game of the national semi-finals this Saturday night in Indianapolis.
Each team has an outstanding coach. Duke is under Mike Krzyzewski, who tied the legendary UCLA coach John Wooden by advancing to his 12th national semi-final.
Michigan State’s head man/coach is Tom Izzo, who now has guided Michigan State this far for the 7th time.
Duke is a solid favorite in the upcoming tilt. Krzyzewski’s teams are (8-1) all time vs Izzo’s teams.
The winner of the Duke/Michigan State game will face the winner of the Kentucky/Wisconsin game for the national title next Monday night.
Coach K
“The Tallest Tree in the Forest,” a show written and performed by Daniel Beaty at Brooklyn Academy of Music’s (B.A.M.) Harvey Theater is a brilliant look at the life of the great performer and activist, Paul Robeson.
Directed by Moises Kaufman, and with three musicians accompanying the extremely talented Mr. Beaty, the play dug deep into the feelings of a man so great and yet relatively unknown, (beyond unknown, relative to his greatness.)
The reasons for this injustice and much of Mr. Robeson’s life, good and bad are discussed.
The fact he organized different groups and causes and that his protests which went beyond the racial prejudice that actually was law in the United States (it still stings to think about it and frankly one wonders how it will ever be completely overcome, but overcome it we must) account for Mr. Robeson and our loss to history.
In his great performance, Beaty brings to life Mr. Robeson’s activism, acting and yes his singing.
With renditions of “Happy Days Are Here Again” and what Beaty as Robeson, called “a nice little ditty” actually a classic, “Ol’ Man River,” the great singing was brought to life.
Beaty’s talent includes a great skill with accents, as he played all the voices including those of Robeson’s wife, Eslanda and Yiddish poet Itzik Feffer.
Mr. Beaty received a well deserved standing ovation. As I looked around and up in the magnificent theater, I felt pretty sure both Paul Robeson and son Paul Robeson Jr., (who once graced my television show with his eloquent presence) appreciated the great performance from a “better place.”
On this day and surely others, the Harvey Theater was a great place to be and “The Tallest Tree in the Forest” was a magnificent tribute, with perspective, to one of the greatest figures of the last century.
Daniel Beaty
It is always fun and informative for me to review old games, especially great ones, such as the decisive fifth game of the 1980 N.L.C.S.
This game concluded an incredible series featuring the Philadelphia Phillies vs the Houston Astros. Philadelphia would go on to win their first World Series, beating the Kansas City Royals, who had just won their first pennant.
Some new observations include noting the fortuitous carom to Astros outfielder Gary Woods on Del Unser’s double in the tenth inning. Otherwise, likely it would have been a one out triple.
As fate would have it, the Phils needed and got the two out eventual pennant winning hit from Garry Maddox.
Maddox caught the final out to clinch the pennant and the last out of a “sudden ending possibility bottom of the 9th” and I doubt anyone has ever done all three in such a big game.
The late, great player and commentator Ralph Kiner’s praise of Maddox, a tremendous outfielder was “two thirds of the earth is covered by water, the other third by Garry Maddox.”
The fabulous and legendary show, “Cabaret,” ends its current Broadway run with Sunday’s 2 p.m. performance. I saw the show recently and marvel at its greatness, both the history of the other Broadway runs and the movie, as well as this incarnation of the show.
The play begins and ends with the incredible Alan Cumming as “the emcee.” I offer lofty praise to Mr. Cumming by putting him with Joel Grey and Liza Minnelli for incredible, breathtaking performances in “Cabaret.”
“Cabaret” was in great hands throughout this production with its stellar cast.
In going from the ominous warnings evidenced in Cabaret on the precipice of all time horror in Germany, to this day, Cabaret struck dual chords.
Of course, one was the beautiful music/entertainment. This is a truly spectacular, entertaining show. The other, perhaps will aid perspective.
Mr. Cumming at play’s end is in garb from utter horror, namely a concentration camp. In that article of “clothing” he talks to the audience, after what was the last Wednesday matinee performance.
Here, hopefully compassion was shown in asked for donations to help those with AIDS. Additionally it was pointed out some people’s sense of entitlement has increased so much as to make it a ridiculous low.
Apparently some people (one school sentiment about a few ruining it, or at least hurting the “whole class” proved relevant) were taking pictures, their lights shining in the performer’s faces during the show.
Mr. Cumming standing in the garb and addressing such is another warning.
I add to it, saying– think of what we have, at least relative to most “elsewheres” and without having to be a saint (TV show reference to St. Elsewhere). Show some respect and minimal courtesy and that means no photography during the performance.
It was a great performance!
Tomorrow night in the South Region semi-finals, Duke takes on Utah while Gonzaga faces U.C.L.A.
My prediction is that Duke will win (74-63) vs Utah. This Duke team has a chance to win it all.
In the other game, Duke’s chances will increase as U.C.L.A. will upset Gonzaga.
I may as well state now I believe Duke will win a fairly close game vs U.C.L.A. to win the region.
If Duke/U.C.L.A. takes place, it will be a redux of the 1964 title game when U.C.L.A. under legendary coach John Wooden won the first of an incredible 10 titles in 12 seasons.
The two games in the West Region tomorrow night have pretty big favorites.
In one, Arizona is heavily favored vs Xavier. In the other, Wisconsin is a nice sized favorite vs North Carolina.
Arizona will win easily vs Xavier. My prediction is (83-68).
Last year Wisconsin was denied in heartbreaking fashion by Kentucky in the semi-finals. I think North Carolina will deny them much earlier this year. My prediction is North Carolina (72-71).
The Midwest and West Regions have their semi-final games Thursday night.
(36-0) Kentucky faces West Virginia in one game. In the earlier tilt, Notre Dame takes on Wichita State.
Last year Wichita State had an unbeaten regular season before an underdog Kentucky beat them in the round of 32.
Now each is favored, Kentucky by a wide margin and Wichita State by a very slim one, to meet in the regional final on Saturday.
I say only Kentucky gets there as I think they will win by 10 points vs West Virginia, unless the Mountaineers have another Jerry West hidden on their team. (Jerry is easily the greatest player in West Virginia history, and one of the greatest NBA players ever).
My other Midwest region prediction is Notre Dame winning a close game from Wichita State.
Andy B Sports 