CBS set up a camera crew to film us during the selection show. Every year teams reactions are captured and shown on television as their tourney dreams are either granted or dashed. We gathered at the pavilion for the live feed... Heading into selection show we knew that our chances of being selected were not in our favor. Joe Lunardi had us the outside looking in and he is usually spot on with his bracket. Personally, I did not think we would get the invitation. We had a poor record against teams in the top 70 rpi. As the teams were announced and things started to wind down, we watched as the bracket filled up. In the end, we were not selected for the tourney. It came as no surprise to the majority of the team as Coach McCoy prepared us for the strong possibility that we would not be selected. Still, after a long season filled with hard work and long nights, not being selected stings and you could definitely feel the air go out of the room...
Usually when one door closes, another opens. This was the case for us. Although not getting into the big dance hurt, we were selected to play in the NIT. It was a small consolation, but at least we would still be playing. We were chosen as a #2 seed and would be hosting Air Force at the Liacouras Center... We handled Air Force rather easily. Zack Felton led the way, scoring 20pts and grabbing 12 boards (his 9th double-double of the year). Our guards, Jarvis and Nooner continued with their cold play combining for only 10pts on 4-11 shooting. However, the were starlings on the defensive side. Air Force committed 21 turnovers and was held to just 21% from beyond the arc...
Our season ended the following game at home against an athletic Washington team 76-53. 4 of the 5 Husky starters scored in double digits, while our top scorer Felton scored only 11pts on 5-19 shooting. Heading into the game I really felt that we matched up well against Washington. Poor shooting and a slow start once again was the story...
Notre Dame went onto win the National Championship in a tight game over Georgetown 82-79. They entered the tourney as a 3 seed... Kansas' sophomore sg Mike Stanley took home National Player of the Year award. He averaged 26ppg, 1.8asts, 5.5rebs a game and led Kansas to a 27-7 record and a #2 seed, where they were upset bu Uconn in the round of 32...Villanova's Tiwaun Lee was the coach of the year. He led the wildcats to a 33-4 record and a run to the final four... No players on our roster brought home any national awards or honors. Zack Felton was named 1st team allconference, he was the only Owl to be recognized for any honors in our conference...
After a season that began with such great promise and even a national ranking (as low as 19), I am left feeling underwhelmed and disappointed with the way the season turned out. Zack Felton led our team in scoring (13.6ppg) and rebounding (8.6). The only other player to average double digits scoring was junior pg Deon Jarvis (12.2). Freshman guard Mike Porter was our most efficient 3pt shooter at 52%. I was really disappointed in the offensive play of Zack Felton. His fg percentage was abysmal for a big man 30%. Our team was among the top rebounding teams in the conference and we committed the third fewest turnovers. Our team shooting percentage was last in the conference and it was a key contributor to our disappointing season... As for myself, I may be a little biased, haha, but I feel that I've made great strides as a coach (entered coaching with 30s across the board in all areas). I feel I progressed in every area of my coaching ability, especially offensively (34), defensively (34), and player development (34)... During the offseason I was contacted by a few smaller schools interested in me interviewing for assistant coach roles. However, at this point in my career I am content and happily learning under the tutelage of Coach McCoy...