March Madness Tournament Archives

NBA San Francisco Dons vs. NBA Georgetown Hoyas

Our next matchup features two programs whose past success centered around one of the greatest players in college basketball history. San Francisco won back-to-back championships with the legendary Bill Russell in 1955 and 1956, but they have not been back to the championship game since, and they have not even been to the NCAA tournament since the turn of the century. Patrick Ewing led Georgetown to three NCAA championship games in four seasons, but they have not been back to the big game since he graduated, and they’ve fallen on hard times in recent years, even with Ewing taking the reins as the head coach. The battle between the NBA San Francisco Dons vs. NBA Georgetown Hoyas features these two legends going head-to-head, but will likely be determined by the other pros from each school’s respective history.

Key Matchups

Battle of the Big Men – While Russell and Ewing are the headliners, each is starting next to another big man in a Twin Towers lineup, and they may not directly match up against each other as a result. Russell will be paired with Bill Cartwright, who has ample experience guarding Ewing from the Bulls-Knicks rivalry in the 1990s. Cartwright played Ewing tough in those contests, but Ewing still dominated, averaging 23.0 PPG and 11.3 RPG in 25 regular season head-to-head matchups, and 22.3 PPG and 11.0 RPG in 29 postseason matches. The best version of Cartwright, however, came before this rivalry, when he himself was a member of the Knicks. Cartwright could score effectively from the post, averaging 16.8 PPG on 55.2% shooting from the field over 8 seasons in New York. He’ll be heavily relied-upon by the scoring-deficient Dons, though he’s facing a fleet of elite defensive big men. Alonzo Mourning, one of those big men, will join Ewing in the starting lineup and will be Russell’s primary adversary. Both are among the greatest interior defenders to ever play; Mourning will try to use his bulk to establish post position, while Russell will try to use his speed and quickness to get out in transition and push the pace. Georgetown has the luxury of subbing in Dikembe Mutombo for either Ewing or Mourning and losing nothing on the defensive end of the court. San Francisco will have to rely on the likes of Erwin Mueller and Pete Cross if Russell or Cartwright gets tired or in foul trouble, which will be death against the Hoyas’ frontcourt.

K.C. Jones vs. Allen Iverson – Iverson presents a difficult challenge for the Dons’ perimeter defensive ace. Jones will use his high basketball IQ to bother Iverson, but nobody can keep AI out of the lane. How Iverson balances his role of creator and scorer, and how he deals with Jones’s defense, will ultimately help determine the effectiveness of Georgetown’s offensive attack.

Biggest Mismatches

Georgetown’s bench – San Francisco has one threat off the bench (Fred Scolari), while the rest of the reserves are replacement-level players (or worse). Georgetown’s bench complements their starting lineup and allows them to play more versatile, modern lineups. Reggie Williams and Jeff Green will get plenty of minutes at two guard and power forward, respectively, though Green’s minutes at the four will be limited in this series with the Dons playing two centers at a time. Jerome Williams will be a better fit next to one of Georgetown’s centers, to keep them competitive on the glass. Mutombo, Roy Hibbert, and Greg Monroe are all superior options to anything San Francisco can offer, and Mutombo specifically will help ensure that Ewing and Mourning get adequate rest. The Hoyas should wear the Dons out with their plethora of options.

Georgetown’s scoring options – San Francisco will have a lot of trouble scoring in the halfcourt. Expect Phil Smith to be their primary perimeter threat. Georgetown doesn’t have a great option to stop him in the starting lineup; Otto Porter will likely start off guarding him, and David Wingate may be their best defensive option off the bench. Outside of Smith though, San Francisco will rely on the inconsistent Quintin Dailey for shot creation, beyond their dual-center threat. Cartwright and Russell were good offensive players who were best suited to supporting roles, and they will have to generate offense against Georgetown’s fantastic defensive centers. The Hoyas have Iverson, Sleepy Floyd, Otto Porter, and Reggie Williams who can hurt San Francisco from the perimeter, and Ewing and Mourning will provide interior post scoring, in addition to second chance opportunities off the glass.

Bill Russell – Although the roster comparison doesn’t look good for San Francisco, Bill Russell is the greatest winner in basketball history. One could easily see him taking Mourning out of his normal game, and making Iverson and Floyd think twice about driving to the hole. One man cannot win a series, but it’s always helpful to have the best player on your side.

X-Factor

1982 – That’s the most recent year that an impact player was drafted on San Francisco’s roster (Quintin Dailey). Even though Georgetown’s had mixed success since the 1990s, San Francisco’s complete irrelevance in that time has severely hampered their NBA roster.

Results

This proves to be an ugly series, with a slew of low-scoring games. Ultimately, San Francisco simply cannot find enough ways to score against Georgetown’s defense. Although it seems blasphemous to say this, Bill Russell can’t make it out of the first round.

Georgetown wins, four games to one.

Next Round

The Hoyas face the NBA Duke Blue Devils.

NBA Georgetown Hoyas

Our next profile features a program who, for a brief period of time, may have been the most influential team in the country. “Hoya Paranoia” ran rampant in the 1980s under Coach John Thompson, who intimidated foes with his towering presence and by overseeing a physical, defensive-oriented brand of basketball. Thompson landed a string of elite recruits, including the crown jewel of the program, Patrick Ewing, who led them to three NCAA championship games in four seasons. And though the big names kept enrolling, the Hoyas haven’t been back to the championship game since Ewing graduated in 1985, and have only made one more Final Four appearance, in 2007 under John Thompson III. Even though the program is struggling to remain relevant, and they’ve had less overall success than their reputation would indicate, many of their players have reached great heights on the pro level. The NBA Georgetown Hoyas feature four Naismith Hall-of-Famers, and complementary players who thrived under both Thompson regimes.

Allen Iverson is one of the most polarizing superstars in NBA history. On one hand, he was a league MVP, four-time scoring champion, and lead player on an NBA finalist. On the other hand, his high-usage, low-efficiency style made him one of the toughest stars to build around, he had mediocre advanced and impact statistics, and he wasn’t always the most reliable teammate and leader. One underrated part of Iverson’s game that will serve this team well was his stamina, as he led the league in minutes per game seven times in his career, and averaged 41.1 minutes per game in his career, which ranks fourth all-time. This is positive for a team that’s short on guards, but the question remains – can Iverson play well with other stars, or will he dominate the ball to the detriment of the rest of the offense? His backcourt mate, Sleepy Floyd, had a good pro career, earning one all-star birth and lighting up one of the greatest teams ever with a legendary playoff scoring binge. There is a bit of redundancy in Iverson and Floyd’s games, as both were skilled with the ball in their hands, could penetrate to break down defenses, and were inconsistent shooters from long range. Ideally, these two would lead a fast-paced attack, and have ample spacing around them to clear the driving lanes. The only other true guard on this roster, David Wingate, was a complete non-threat on offense whose solid (though unspectacular) defense helped him stay in the league for 15 seasons. Though Wingate gives them valuable size at the two guard position, his inability to space the floor or contribute anything positively on the offensive end will force Georgetown to rely heavily on their starting guards.

Otto Porter, the starting small forward, is (by far) the best three-point shooter on the roster, eclipsing 40% from long-range for his career. While his giant contract overstates his ability, he has developed into a good player when healthy, which is highlighted by his impact stats (despite a disastrous rookie season, he has a career 116 offensive rating, and 107 defensive rating). In addition to being a lethal spot-up shooter, he can catch-and-shoot on the move, play smart off of the ball, and post-up smaller defenders when necessary, and he will be included in all of this team’s best lineups. Off the bench, Reggie Williams never lived up to his lofty draft status, but was productive in Denver, which was his fourth stop in the NBA. In fact, Williams enjoyed a five-year stretch where he averaged 15.1 PPG with solid percentages, and it’s not hard to envision him increasing his 31.7% mark from three-point range during this stretch to a league average or better mark in the modern game. He will back up Porter but also serve as a reserve two-guard, who gives them even more length than Wingate with a lot more firepower and ability to stretch the floor. Jeff Green, who can toggle between both forward positions but is more of a natural power forward in today’s game, will also see plenty of minutes off the bench. Green’s talent has always been tantalizing, but his production has always been spotty. His athleticism, ability to stretch the floor when he’s on, and ability to guard multiple positions can bring this team to another level, though realistically, he can’t be counted on for consistent production. Lineups with Williams, Porter, and Green at the 2, 3, and 4 positions will give this team a modern feel and switchability on defense, and will be used in stretches during any series they participate in. The other bench forward, Jerome Williams, was a valuable role-player who had tremendous impact stats over the course of his career. In fact, he led the league in offensive rating in 1998-99, when he also had a superstar-level .201 WS/48, and he led the league in offensive rebounding percentage that season and the following year. One could easily envision Williams playing as a small-ball five in the modern game, but he’ll slide in at power forward due to this team’s depth at center, and will help the NBA Hoyas dominate the boards when he’s on the court.

The center position is the strength of this team, and their depth at the five may be unmatched in this tournament. Ewing was one of the great jump-shooting centers during his time, and may have been even more of a threat in the modern-day game, where his range would be stretched out to the three-point line. His shooting and post-game made him a stud offensively, but he also anchored a defensive juggernaut in New York, and led the league in defensive win shares three times over the course of his career. While he may not have been as dominant as some of his Hall-of-Fame peers, he was an all-time great, who is the best all-around player on this roster. Alonzo Mourning will join Ewing in the starting lineup as this team’s nominal power forward. Injuries and illnesses were persistent factors in his career, but in his prime (defined here as 1992-93 to 1999-00) he averaged 21.1 PPG, 10.1 RPG, shot 52.6% from the field, and blocked 3.1 shots per game. He’s fourth all-time in block percentage, and earned two Defensive Player of the Year awards for his tenacity on that end of the court. Like Ewing, he also had an effective mid-range jumper, though he was best suited for a secondary role on offense. They’re backed up by a third Hall-of-Fame big man, Dikembe Mutombo, who earned a record-tying four Defensive Player of the Year awards in his career. Of the three, Mutombo was the least skilled offensively, but he was a huge positive on the court (111 career offensive rating vs. 99 career defensive rating), was a tremendous rebounder, and finished with the second most blocked shots in history (since they started recording the statistic). Two other big men, Greg Monroe and Roy Hibbert, round out the bench. Each thrived on one end of the floor (offense for Monroe, defense for Hibbert), but neither was able to adapt to the modern-day league due to their inability to move well on defense, and their lack of ability to space the floor on offense. They do provide nice depth when needed, but each will play sparingly behind the Hall-of-Famers.

This team has talent across the board but may be more of a collection of individual talent than a team that can come together and play cohesively. They will try to play twin towers lineups with two of their Hall-of-Fame big men on the court at the same time. Can that work against modern lineups? They have options with their forwards off the bench, but that will likely lead to inconsistency. Also, Iverson and Floyd must co-exist and avoid dominating the ball at the expense of their teammates. As the 20^th seeded team in the tournament, they have a first-round matchup against the 13^th seeded NBA San Francisco Dons.

NBA San Francisco Dons

Our next profile features a program that has not made the NCAA tournament since 1997-98. In fact, they’ve never really recovered since they chose to shut their basketball program down for three seasons (1983-85) due to multiple NCAA violations. While their recent history is putrid, they once were a significant program, earning 15 tournament appearances in a 28-year span. Ultimately, the main reason they’re in this tournament, and have two NCAA championships, is due to the presence of one of the GOATs of the sport. The NBA San Francisco Dons are led by the incomparable Bill Russell, who will try to work his magic with modest NBA talent around him.

K.C. Jones, the starting lead guard, was one of the great defensive players of his era. His offensive limitations were pronounced, which did not make a difference during his playing career (he won a title in his first eight seasons as a Celtic), but will be limiting for this team. Jones was below average from the field, even accounting for his era (for his career, he was 9% worse than league average), was a horrendous foul shooter for a guard (64.7%), and he averaged just 7.4 PPG for his career. He was, however, a key piece of the greatest dynasty we’ve ever seen, and as a playmaker, he ranked in the top 12 in assists six years in his career. The starting wings will take on an outsized scoring role for their rotation. Quintin Dailey was a good mid-range shooter who put up 15.3 PPG over the first seven seasons of his career. His impact statistics, however, were horrendous (career 101 offensive rating, 111 defensive rating, 0.050 win shares per 48 minutes), and his teams averaged just 25 wins per game over that period. Dailey had his troubles on both the college and pro levels, and his admission that he accepted money for a bogus job was the last straw that led to the university suspending its program. He was, however, immensely talented, and he’ll be surrounded by winning players in the starting lineup. Phil Smith, the other starting wing, had the talent to be a 3-and-D wing in the modern game. He was a tremendous athlete who in his prime years (his 2^nd to 5^th seasons before an Achilles injury slowed him down) averaged 19.6 PPG on 48.0% from the field, and 4.4 APG while making an all-NBA defensive team and an all-NBA second team appearance. He’ll be one of the key players on this roster, and will have to guard larger wings due to their lack of small forwards.

The starting frontcourt consists of two big men who combined to win 14 championships in their pro careers. Bill Russell is the greatest winner of all time, and the greatest defensive player ever. He has the most career defensive win shares in NBA history, and has the second most rebounds and rebounds per game ever. One researcher estimated that he averaged more than 8 blocks per game in his career based on more than 100 games for which reports are available. When accounting for pace, these numbers are less impressive, but Russell’s impact went far beyond the box score. Although impossible to quantify, he seemed to have a mental edge over his opponents, frequently intimidating them on defense, and knowing their tendencies and weaknesses as well as anyone who has ever played. He was 10-0 in game sevens in his career. And, of course, he won the championship in 11 of his 13 seasons, which will never be duplicated. His skillset would translate to any era of NBA basketball, which includes the intangibles that helped lead to all of his success. His frontcourt mate, Bill Cartwright, was best known for his supporting role on the Bulls championship teams, but he started his career off as a true offensive threat, averaging 20.9 PPG on 55% shooting over his first two years in the league. Throughout his Knicks career (from 1979-80 to 1987-88), Cartwright had a major impact on both ends of the court, as seen in his offensive (116) and defensive (106) rating over that period. He’ll be one of the prime offensive weapons for this team, and his weaknesses as a big man (rebounding, defending the rim) should be more than compensated for by Russell.

Off the bench, Fred Scolari was a pioneering point guard whose impact on both sides of the ball led to two all-star game selections and two all-BAA honors. He was more of an offensive threat than K.C. Jones as a lead guard, and can give this team a different look when he comes into the game. After Scolari, I don’t have anything informative to say about anyone else on the rest of the bench. Depth is a major problem for this team, as none of the remaining six players even approached mediocrity at the pro level. While Russell averaged 42+ minutes per game in his career, the other players will need rest, so these journeymen will be forced into action to the detriment of the team’s chances at winning.

Overall, the NBA San Francisco Dons will be offensively challenged, but should be among the best defensive teams in the tournament due to their famed Celtics duo, along with Smith and Cartwright. As the 13^th seed, they have a tough first round matchup against the NBA Georgetown Hoyas.

NBA Duke Blue Devils vs. NBA Minnesota Golden Gophers

There is more than meets the eye to our next matchup. In theory, Duke should have no trouble at all against Minnesota, considering their histories and their respective standing in the college basketball landscape. However, this tournament is all about NBA performance, and both schools have produced a rich mix of NBA talent. How will the matchup between the NBA Duke Blue Devils vs. NBA Minnesota Golden Gophers play out? Several key factors will determine who advances to the Sweet 16.

Key Matchups

Kevin McHale vs. Duke’s frontline – McHale, one of the greatest power forwards of all time, will face several different looks from the Blue Devils. Luol Deng will start off on him, but Mike Dunleavy, Carlos Boozer, and Christian Laettner should all have a chance to guard him. Duke may have to utilize a double-team and play zone defense at times to disrupt his rhythm, since he should not have trouble with any of these defenders. On defense, McHale is versatile enough to guard Deng and Dunleavy on the perimeter, and he won’t embarrass himself if he’s forced to guard Grant Hill. Overall, McHale is a nice trump card who allows Minnesota to play big without sacrificing anything defensively against Duke’s modern offense.

Grant Hill vs. Sweet Lou and friends – Hill will split time with Kyrie Irving running Duke’s offense. He’ll primarily be matched up against Minnesota’s best perimeter scorer, Sweet Lou Hudson. Hill is bigger and more athletic than Hudson and should have a good series on both ends of the court. Hudson was a game defender, but he’ll likely need help from his teammates against the versatile Hill. Expect McHale to spend some time on Hill, with Hudson switching off to the bigger but less impactful Luol Deng. Off the bench, Minnesota does not have many ideal options to play against Hill or scoring wing Corey Maggette. Jim Brewer was a defensive stud, but he was more of a traditional power forward who was not used to defending quick, athletically dominant opponents. Mark Olberding would likely get the assignment, but Hill or Maggette should have their way if this matchup materializes. On the other end, Duke’s Shane Battier can harass Hudson all over the court and prevent any easy buckets for the should-be-Hall-of-Famer.

Biggest Mismatches

Duke’s bench vs. Minnesota’s bench – Duke’s bench provides them with a range of options in playing their opponents. Battier can give them an airtight perimeter defense when paired with Deng and Hill. J.J. Redick and Mike Dunleavy open up the floor for their teammates. Bob Verga, Maggette, and Carlos Boozer can provide instant offense, while Christian Laettner gives them a versatile big man who can do a little of everything on the offensive end. Minnesota’s bench is led by Bobby Jackson, who can provide instant offense, Trent Tucker and Voshon Lenard, who can shoot the lights out, and Brewer, who can provide a strong interior defensive presence, but it has neither the high-end talent nor depth of its counterpart.

Minnesota’s size advantage up front – Duke will typically forgo traditional two-big lineups, instead using Deng and Dunleavy as stretch-fours who can compete on both ends of the court. That should be good news for McHale as mentioned above, and he and Brewer should be able to take advantage of this on the glass as well. Mychal Thompson will have his hands full with Elton Brand, but he can use his height advantage to bother Brand on defense. If Thompson can keep up with Brand on the boards, Minnesota should be in good shape, but Duke’s size on the wing will help to mitigate this.

X-Factor

What will Duke’s late-game offense look like? Kyrie Irving is the best guard in this series, and the best bucket-getter for the Blue Devils. He can create any shot he wants, and he’s had success as a closer late in games. He’ll have to find the right balance between hero-ball and putting his teammates in position to succeed. Duke has an array of shooters they can pair Irving with, along with Hill and Brand, who should be involved in the closing minutes. Minnesota will primarily rely on Hudson and McHale down the stretch, though Archie Clark will be involved as well, preferably in more of a facilitator role.

Results

Minnesota comes to play, and utilizes their strong frontcourt and brilliant performances by McHale and Clark to take several games. However, Duke utilizes their depth and versatility to wear down the Golden Gophers over the course of the series. Their strong perimeter defense on Hudson limits his effectiveness, and Irving helps them close it out in six hard fought games.

Duke wins, four games to two.

Next Round

Duke faces the winner of San Francisco vs. Georgetown.

NBA Minnesota Golden Gophers

Our next team will try to play the role of spoiler in the NBA March Madness Tournament. They’ve had modest success throughout their history, making the NCAA Tournament 14 times, and the Final Four once, an appearance which was later vacated by the NCAA. Now led by the son of a coaching legend, they’re hoping to become relevant again in the college basketball landscape. Despite their struggles, they’ve produced impressive NBA talent throughout their history, including four top-five draft picks, all of whom are represented on this roster. The NBA Minnesota Golden Gophers are a talented underdog who boasts a formidable starting unit.

Archie Clark was one of the most exciting players of his era, using crossovers and hesitation dribbles like a modern-day guard. Today, the two-time all-star would likely be able to stretch his jump shot out to the three-point line and have his scoring ability translate to the modern era. Clark could play at either guard position, as could his starting backcourt mate, Ray Williams. Williams was dynamic in the early years of his career, cumulatively averaging 19.6 PPG and 6.0 APG from 1978-79 to 1981-82. He had a sweet jump shot that also would have likely translated to the three-point line in today’s NBA, and on the other end of the court, he aggressively hunted for steals (averaging 2+ SPG four times in his career), and had solid defensive metrics during his prime (top 5 in defensive rating and defensive box plus/minus in 1983-84). The depth of this backcourt is impressive, with Bobby Jackson, Trent Tucker, and Voshon Lenard coming off the bench. Jackson found his calling in Sacramento, as a dynamic sixth man who could change the pace of a game and score in bunches. Tucker is the tallest member of the group (6’5”), who was one of the league’s greatest shooters. He can play next to any of the aforementioned guards and serve as a valuable floor spacer. Lenard can do the same, though he wasn’t as accurate as Tucker from long-range, especially when the three-point line was moved back to its original distance after the ’97 season. However, he could still shoot it effectively (37.9% career from three at the normal distance), and he should be able to earn minutes for this team, even as a fifth guard.

The starting forwards were Hall-of-Fame-level competitors whose games would translate to any era. Lou Hudson was a brilliant scorer who arguably had the prettiest jump shot of his generation. In his six-year prime, he cumulatively averaged 25.2 PPG on an efficient 49.7% from the field, and it’s scary to think about what he could do with the three-point line (think Klay Thompson with more playmaking and off-the-dribble capacity). He also was a disruptive defender, averaging 2.5 steals per game in the first year they recorded the statistic and posting solid defensive ratings throughout the latter half of his career (when this statistic was able to be computed). Kevin McHale was one of the most efficient scorers ever, earning a 60.5% career true shooting percentage and mastering the art of low-post basketball. He was also a dogged defender, earning six all-defensive team nods and guarding a range of players on the perimeter and low post. They’re backed up by Mark Olberding, who was part of the San Antonio Spurs’ ‘Bruise Brothers’ frontcourt that rebounded at a high level and roughed up their opponents. He could play either forward position, though he would be a better fit as a modern day four (or five) who could pass well for his position. Jim Brewer was the second overall pick in the 1973 NBA draft; while he did not live up to that lofty status, he was an all-league defender who has a top-20 all-time defensive rating for his career.

The starting center, Mychal Thompson, was the number one overall pick in 1978. He averaged over 20 points and 10 rebounds in his third (active) year in the league, and in a five-year stretch in Portland, he averaged 17.5 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 3.8 APG, 0.9 SPG, and 1.5 BPG on 50.9% shooting from the field. After a brief detour in San Antonio, he served as a high-end backup for two championship teams in Los Angeles before starting on a 63-win team that disappointed in the playoffs. A talented rebounder and passer, he should be able to play well with McHale. He’s backed up by two behemoths: Joel Przybilla and Randy Breuer. The 7’1” Przybilla was a force on the boards and protecting the rim; in 2008-09, he had his best year and led the league in rebounding percentage. The 7’3” Breuer had a few solid seasons early in his career, but would have a very hard time adjusting to today’s game and is likely to be called upon only if his teammates get in foul trouble.

The NBA Minnesota Golden Gophers should be a high-scoring team, with Hudson and McHale leading a balanced attack. Their best defensive lineup will likely feature McHale, Brewer, and Hudson, with a rotating cast at the other two positions depending on the matchup. Seeded 29^th in our tournament, they have a first-round matchup against the NBA Duke Blue Devils.

NBA Duke Blue Devils

Our next profile features alums from the gold standard of college hoops. How amazing has their run been since Mike Krzyzewski took over in the 1980-81 season? They’ve earned the number one ranking in the AP poll in 20 of 40 seasons. They’ve made the Final Four 12 times, including a stretch from 1985-86 through 1993-94 where they made 7 in 9 seasons. They’ve won five national championships, and were runner-up four other times. While they’ve consistently remained relevant in the national title picture, the quality of their NBA players has changed over time. At the beginning of Coach K’s tenure, a high percentage of their players failed to make a meaningful impact in the pros. Over time, as they’ve adapted to the “one-and-done” era, they’ve produced a steady stream of early entry stars, including three members of their starting lineup, who combined to play four collegiate seasons. The NBA Duke Blue Devils are led by 10 players from Coach K’s legendary tenure, which looks poised to continue into the foreseeable future.

Kyrie Irving didn’t exactly have a lasting impact at Duke, missing 26 games in his lone season on campus before becoming the number one pick in the NBA Draft. Despite this, he has become the greatest pro guard the school has ever produced. Irving is an unparalleled shot maker, who has thrived in clutch situations, including in the 2016 Finals, when he made one of the most important shots in NBA history. His efficiency stands out; over the past four years (from 2016-17 through 2019-20), he has shot a combined 48.2% from the field, 40.2% from three, and 89.4% the line, while scoring 24.8 points per game with a 24.0 PER and .194 WS/48. He will serve as this team’s best late game option on offense. He’s joined in the starting lineup by Jeff Mullins, a three-time all-star who scored more than 20 points per game four consecutive years in his prime with the Warriors. Mullins had good size for his position at the time (6’4”), and was able to beat opponents with his effective pull-up jumper and by driving to the hole. He and Irving will be difficult for opponents to stop, as both have well-rounded offensive games. Bob Verga is another explosive offensive option who can play either guard position off the bench. Verga was a scoring machine in his brief ABA career, which peaked in 1969-70, when he averaged 27.5 PPG and made the all-ABA first team while finishing fifth in the MVP race. He’ll be used when this team needs instant offense off the bench, and he can play alongside both starting guards. J.J. Redick is one of the modern game’s great shooters, who seems to get better with age. He will add another dimension to this team’s offensive game, as his floor spacing will create room for all of their primary options.

To date, Grant Hill is the only Naismith Hall-of-Famer to attend Duke. Hill was one of the league’s great playmakers from the small forward position, and may be the best passer on this team. One of the most impressive parts of Hill’s career is the way he battled through years of injuries and remade his game into an effective supporting role with Phoenix. He can wear multiple hats on this team; lead play maker and primary ball-handler as he played in his Detroit days, or 3-and-D complementary piece as he played in Phoenix. Luol Deng was a rock-solid pro who gave his all for the Tom Thibodeau Chicago Bulls teams of the 2010s. A two-time all-star, he was a standout defensive player who proved to be a very effective stretch-four in Miami (after playing small forward most of his career), before his career cratered in Los Angeles. Deng adds a much-needed defensive presence for the starting lineup, and Shane Battier, the famed “no-stats all-star” will do the same off the bench. Battier is another valuable 3-and-D piece who can easily slot into the starting lineup when needed and guard the opposing team’s best player. Corey Maggette is another swingman who may be this team’s best athlete. Maggette was an underrated scorer who had a tremendous ability to draw fouls, where he sank over 82% of his shots for his career. A three-time 20+ PPG scorer, he did most of his damage from the mid-range and in, and he’ll add another dimension for this team on offense. Mike Dunleavy Jr. was an excellent role player who could play multiple positions while also spacing the floor. In the modern game, he’d be a prototypical four, who can switch on to smaller players when needed.

Elton Brand will start as this team’s center. Brand was an excellent pro who helped the Clippers briefly escape the doldrums in the early 2000s. In Brand’s first eight seasons as a pro, before he ruptured his Achilles’ tendon in his ninth season and moved to a different phase of his career, he averaged 20.3 PPG, 10.2 RPG, and 2.1 blocks per game, on 50.5% shooting from the field with 22.7 PER and .168 WS/48. His long arms, stout frame, and ability to protect the rim will help him man the middle despite his relatively short stature (6’8”). Off the bench, Carlos Boozer was another 20/10 guy in his prime, who mastered the pick-and-pop game in his seasons with the Jazz. The league has evolved and power forwards like Boozer who don’t switch or protect the rim on defense or space the floor on offense are not as prevalent in today’s game, but this team can experiment with Boozer at center backing up Brand or playing alongside Elton in more traditional lineups. Christian Laettner is this team’s tallest player at 6’11, and he’ll serve as Brand’s primary backup off the bench. Laettner had a somewhat underrated pro career, averaging 17.2 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 3.1 APG, 1.2 SPG, and 1.0 BPG over his first five seasons, and he likely could have extended the range on his jump shot out to the three-point line in the modern-day game.

This team’s positional versatility will be tremendous, as they sport a high volume of long, athletic wings that are the biggest asset in the modern-day game. They will feature Battier, Deng, and Hill in their best defensive lineups, and their offense will run primarily through Hill, Irving, and Brand. The fourth-rated team in our tournament, they have an intriguing first-round matchup against the NBA Minnesota Golden Gophers.

NBA Villanova Wildcats vs. NBA St. John’s Red Storm

Our next matchup is a classic Big East clash. St. John’s dominated the early days of this rivalry, going 37-19 from 1954-55 through the 1992-93 season. Since then, however, Villanova has dominated, sporting a 33-10 record as St. John’s has faded from national prominence. In recent years, Villanova has become the last vestige of Big East basketball power, adding two championships and becoming one of the best programs in the country. The NBA Villanova Wildcats vs. NBA St. John’s Red Storm will be a battle of an old juggernaut and a new superpower, with key players from each era of this storied rivalry.

Key Matchups

Small ball vs. traditional lineups – The Wildcats are going to try to go as small as possible throughout this series. Their best NBA players were guards (or guard-sized in the case of Paul Arizin), and their bench is filled with ball-handlers and shooters. St. John’s has more roster balance, and can play a variety of ways, but expect Villanova to try several different four-guard lineups, and also to try a five-out configuration with Tim Thomas as the big man. How will St. John’s counter these lineups? St. John’s has several competent big men, but they can adjust by using Metta World Peace and Maurice Harkless as power players to counter the smaller Wildcat lineups. Leroy Ellis should be quick enough to defend Thomas on the perimeter while giving St. John’s an advantage on the boards when they need mobility at the five spot.

Pitchin’ Paul vs. modern-day wings – Arizin may be the best NBA player in this series, but it will be interesting to see how he fares against some of the modern day wings the Red Storm will throw at him. World Peace, Malik Sealy, and Harkless will all spend time using their length and physicality to disrupt Villanova’s best scorer. Arizin was highly skilled, and will get his points, but they won’t come easy unless Villanova can force the Red Storm’s older, slower guards to switch onto him.

Biggest Mismatches

St. John’s big man depth – The Red Storm should dominate the interior on both ends of the court. Billy Paultz should have a field day against Jim Washington at the start of each half, and will serve as the key rim protector in this series. If Villanova plays Ed Pinckney and Washington together for long periods of time, St. John’s can pair Paultz with Jayson Williams and/or Ellis. Williams in particular will help them dominate the glass.

Villanova’s modern-day backcourt – Kyle Lowry is one of the best all-around guards in today’s game, and Kerry Kittles would thrive as a modern-day 3-and-D athletic wing. Mark Jackson and Max Zaslofsky do not have the size, athleticism, or defensive capabilities of their counterparts. Expect Zaslofsky to cede playing time to Sealy and Harkless (with Chris Mullin switching to shooting guard in some of these lineups) to help St. John’s offer more defensive resistance.

X-Factor

Whose older players are better positioned for success? Arizin, Zaslofsky, Paultz, Bill Melchionni, and Dick McGuire will face an interesting transition to the modern-day game. How will they hold up defensively? Which of them has the skill set to thrive in any era? Arizin was a superb athlete and pioneering jump shooter in his time, so I expect his transition to be the smoothest. Others have specific skills that translate (Zaslofsky’s shooting, Paultz’s rebounding and shot-blocking, Melchionni and McGuire’s ability to run an offense), but will have varying degrees of success, based on matchup.

Results

This proves to be a fun series, with several memorable performances from the superstars (namely Lowry, Arizin, and Mullin). However, the role players wind up being the deciding factor. St. John’s has a deeper, more versatile team, and they use a balanced attack, led by Mullin, World Peace, and Paultz, to pull out the victory.

St. John’s wins, four games to three.

Next Round

The Red Storm faces the NBA Louisville Cardinals in the second round of our tournament.

NBA St. John’s Red Storm

Our next profile features a school with a rich basketball tradition. Currently ranking 9^th all-time in NCAA Division I wins, this school has captured six NIT championships, and has four coaches enshrined in the Hall of Fame. They have never won an NCAA championship, however, and have only made the NCAA tournament five times since 2000. The NBA St. John’s Red Storm team is full of players from the team’s rich past, with a mix of modern-day competitors who will try to help them advance in our tournament.

The guards on this team are throwbacks from previous generations. Although he played through the 2004 season, Mark Jackson’s game had an old-school feel. He did not have the athleticism, quickness, or shooting ability of many modern-day guards. He also wasn’t known for his work on the defensive end of the court. He could, however, run an offense effectively, currently ranking fourth in total assists in NBA history. While he’s not an ideal fit for the modern NBA rules, he was a smart player who will find a way to compete. He’ll split his time with Dick McGuire, a seven-time all-star who led the league in total assists in his rookie season, and led the league in playoff assists per game in each of his first four years in the league. Max Zaslofsky, the starting two guard, was a star of the Basketball Association of America (BAA), leading the league in points and made field goals in the 1947-48 season. He was selected to four all-BAA/NBA first-teams, and despite his unsightly looking field goal percentage, he was top five in that category in the league back-to-back years (1947-48). He’s backed up by Kevin Loughery, a high-volume scorer who crossed the 20 points per game mark twice in his career. It’s reasonable to question how well this backcourt would hold up when playing against the athletes in the modern-day game, but they were all well-respected, effective players during their time in the league.

The starting forwards are two of the most memorable NBA players on the team. Chris Mullin was one of the great shooters of his era, with career .509/.384/.865 splits. He ranked in the top-10 in scoring average four years in row, and was so revered that he made the original Dream Team. He’ll serve as the fulcrum of this team’s offensive attack. Metta World Peace will start alongside Mullin, and will serve as a secondary option on offense (over his prime seven-year stretch, he averaged 18 points per game). Metta was one of the league’s top two-way players in his prime, and his dominant defense will be desperately needed for this starting unit. He had enough bulk (listed at 260 pounds on basketball reference) to play as a modern-day four, but can switch to his natural small forward position to play alongside two big men when needed. Malik Sealy was a lengthy wing (6’8”) who showed potential on the defensive end of the court before his tragic passing in 2000. He had the best year of his career before he passed, and his terrific free-throw shooting (84.7% his last four years in the league) indicates that he may have been able to turn into a 3-and-D wing in the modern game. Maurice Harkless is another lengthy wing who credibly defends his position. He is very limited offensively, however, but can shoot from downtown at a reasonable rate (34.7% over the last four seasons).

Billy Paultz, the starting center, was an ABA legend, who also had a solid NBA career after the merger. In his first eight years in the pros (ABA and NBA), he averaged 15.7 PPG, 10.4 RPG, and 2.3 BPG on 50.1% shooting from the field. He was a key member of the ABA champion New York Nets team in 1974, and led the ABA in blocked shots per game the following year. Paultz had a solid jump shot for a big man, and was an intimidating presence in the paint. Jayson Williams was one of the best rebounders of his era, and can play as either a power forward or center depending on matchups. Leroy Ellis was another solid big who could play at the four or five. He was quicker and thinner than his frontcourt teammates (210 pounds despite standing 6’10”), and may be better suited than most old-school players to play the switching defense that is often featured in the modern game. Bill Wennington, best known for his role play on the ’96-’98 Chicago Bulls championship teams, will provide depth at the center position.

The NBA St. John’s Red Storm team has an older, smaller backcourt, who will be helped by their depth at the wing and center positions. They should have a lot of flexibility in their lineups, and can feature World Peace, Sealy, and Harkless in their best defensive configurations. They will face the NBA Villanova Wildcats in the first round of the NBA March Madness Tournament.

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: