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The Secondary Break: Monday’s Links

ollie

For Ollie and his mom, a trip to Texas together (Connecticut Post)
No. 7 UConn wasn’t expected by many to reach the Final Four, yet they’re on their way to Texas after beating No. 4 Michigan State in the East regional final Sunday. For head coach Kevin Ollie that means a return to the Metroplex, as he was born in Dallas. And the trip’s a special one for his mother, who is six days removed from undergoing surgery for stage two breast cancer.

Why Travis Ford’s contract has been a burden for him and Oklahoma State (The Oklahoman)
Rarely does a college basketball coach receive a ten-year contract, and in the few cases in which that does happen the coach in question has put together quite the resume. Unfortunately for Oklahoma State and head coach Travis Ford that hasn’t been the case in Stillwater, and the natives are beyond restless. But with that deal, there really isn’t much that can be done.

Basketball academy’s empty promises (The Chronicle for Higher Education)
In recent years multiple prep schools have popped up across the country, with the goals being to provide students with an elite basketball environment while also making sure they qualify to receive a Division I scholarship. But a key for parents when considering the option is to make sure the school is reputable, as a bad decision can lead the child and his family down a winding path that ultimately reaches a dead end.

NCAA tournament should return to NYC as frequently as possible (CBS Sports)
The feedback from those who attended the NCAA tournament games at Madison Square Garden was overwhelmingly positive, with the combination of the return of the sport’s biggest event in more than 50 years and the big game atmosphere resulting in a special weekend. And with that being the case, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to make sure that MSG is home to more NCAA tournament games in the future.

Deal with it, America- Kentucky back in the Final Four, younger than ever (The Sporting News)
Just three weeks ago there were many who declared this season to be a lost one for the Kentucky Wildcats. With the guards struggling and the team as a whole not playing to the level expected, few saw a trip to the Final Four in their future. Yet here the young Wildcats are, as John Calipari’s program will make its third Final Four appearance in the last four years this week.

Final Four tickets up 27% in last three days behind underdogs UConn and Kentucky (Forbes)
Whether it’s gambling or ticket sales, money plays an important role in March Madness. And with regards to ticket sales for the Final Four, sellers received a nice boost thanks to the presence of Kentucky and UConn. According to Forbes Magazine there’s been a 27% increase in the price of tickets to the event thanks to the Wildcats and Huskies punching their respective tickets to Arlington, Texas.

Aaron Harrison feeling his shot (Louisville Courier-Journal)
Kentucky freshman guard Aaron Harrison struggled mightily down the stretch for the Wildcats, and his shot-making ability was something the Wildcats would need if they were to reach the Final Four. Sure enough Harrison’s gotten going of late, with his three-pointer with 2.3 seconds remaining clinching Kentucky’s 75-72 win over No. 2 Michigan.

Shabazz Napier, Connecticut knock out Michigan State (USA Today)
Shabazz Napier has been the leader all season long for No. 7 UConn, which has reached the Final Four after beating Michigan State on Sunday. The Huskies, who ended the regular season with an 81-48 loss at Louisville, faced long odds to get here and that goes for Napier as well. But a special relationship with his mother has buoyed Napier, and as a result he’s been able to lead his team.

Keith Appling finds final Michigan State moments difficult to put into words (MLive.com)
Michigan State point guard Keith Appling has been dealing with a bad right wrist for quite some time, and while the senior put on a brave front it was clear by his play that the issue was still bothering him. In what would turn out to be the final game of his college career Appling struggled once again in a loss to UConn, and afterward he struggled to find the words to explain what happened.

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