Final Four

Writer's Picks: MOP, All-Tournament & Breakout Star

CHN — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 18:15:31 -0400

While the NCAA Tournament is ultimately about team success, you can't win games without star players. But which players will be the heroes of the 2010 NCAA Tournament? Look below:

	Jeff Borzello March Madness Blog	Brendan Bowers MAC	Jason Brubkaer SEC
Most Outstanding	Sherron Collins	Evan Turner	John Wall
Breakout Star	Randy Culpepper UTEP	DJ Cooper Ohio	Darington Hobson New Mexico

G	Sherron Collins	John Wall	John Wall
G	LaceDarius Dunn	Scottie Reynolds	Sherron Collins
G/F	John Wall	Andy Rautins	Scottie Reynolds
F	Evan Turner	Evan Turner	Wes Johnson
F	Wes Johnson	DeMarcus Cousins	DeMarcus Cousins

	Blake Hofstad Previews	Raphielle Johnson Asst. Editor	Matthew Ryter Rankings
Most Oustanding	Xavier Henry	Sherron Collins	Sherron Collins
Breakout Star	Juan Fernandez Temple	Keith Benson Oakland	Ryan Wittman Cornell

G	Juan Fernandez	Sherron Collins	Sherron Collins
G	Xavier Henry	LaceDarius Dunn	Da'Sean Butler
G/F	Evan Turner	Andy Rautins	Devin Ebanks
F	Da'Sean Butler	Da'Sean Butler	Marcus Morris
F	Derrick Caracter	Cole Aldrich	Cole Aldrich

	Shawn Siegel Editor	Jon Teitel Interviews	John P. Wise One Great Season
Most Oustanding	Cole Aldrich	Sherron Collins	Serron Collins
Breakout Star	Jordan Crawford Xavier	Alex Franklin Siena	Lazar Hayward Marquette

G	Scottie Reynolds	Sherron Collins	Sherron Collins
G	Xavier Henry	Ashton Gibbs	LaceDarius Dunn
G/F	Andy Rautins	Da'Sean Butler	Wes Johnson
F	DeMarcus Cousins	Kyle Singler	Lazar Hayward
F	Cole Aldrich	Cole Aldrich	Cole Aldrich

Also: Writers's Picks: Final Four, Sleepers, Busts

2010 Final Four Tickets

CHN — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 17:26:12 -0500

Tickets can still be had for the 2010 Final Four in Indianapolis, you just need to know where to look. Here are some places to get individual game tickets, all-session passes, and complete travel packages.

RazorGator.com

All-Session, Semifinals, Finals tickets. The "official" provider of hospitality packages.

+ also, you can sell tickets to the games as part of the "Fan2Fan Experience"

PrimeSport.com

VIP Final Four Packages (including hotel)

StubHub.com

Individual tickets & packages. Some good low-end seats/prices.

TicketSolutions.com

Hard to get tickets up close, though pricey, and more.

Others

Ebay.com - search for "Final Four"

Lucas Oil Stadium

Lucas Oil Stadium Seating Chart & Parking Info

Directions to Lucas Oil Stadium

More Information

2010 Final Four Indianapolis

Other NCAA Venue Info

Indianapolis Final Four: Other Sites & Attractions

CHN — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 17:03:30 -0500

There's much more to do in Indianapolis besides watching the games. Indianapolis is the capital of Indiana, and the 14th largest city in the U.S, so there is plenty to see. Some of our favorites:

Indianapolis Motor Speedway
4790 West 16th Street • Indianapolis, IN • 317.481.8500 • 800.822.4639
Built in 1909, this is one of the most celebrated auto raceways in the world. Each May, more than 400,000 spectators throng to the 2.5-mile oval course to watch the Indianapolis 500, the largest single-day sporting event in the world, boasting the largest purse in motor racing. The Speedway also hosts the NASCAR Brickyard 400 in August and the Senior PGA Brickyard Crossing Tournament in September.

Indianapolis Museum of Art
4000 Michigan Road • Indianapolis, IN 46208 • 317.920.2660
This world-class museum has notable paintings by El Greco, Rubens, American Impressionists, and European neo-Impressionists. Other strengths include African art, Japanese Edo-period paintings, American furniture, textiles, costumes, and a superb collection of Turner works on paper. The sculpture garden includes Robert Indiana's famed LOVE. In summer, the museum hosts Summer on the Terrace, which is actually a swinging scene for singles. Outdoor movies are shown on the lawn during the summer; you can see one of your favorite camp classics while enjoying a picnic with friends.

Indianapolis Zoo
1200 West Washington • Indianapolis, IN 46222 • 317.630.2001
The Indianapolis Zoo is the only major new zoo in recent decades anywhere in the nation. This $64-million, 64-acre facility houses 2,000 animals roaming through simulated environments. Don't miss the world's largest enclosed Whale and Dolphin Pavilion

Indianapolis Raceway Park
10267 East U.S. 136 • Indianapolis, IN • 317.291.4090
Owned and operated by the National Hot Rod Association, the IRP's three courses host more than 60 events a year. Highlights include drag racing, car shows, and the NHRA U.S. Nationals

Other Sites

Indiana Reparatory Theatre

White River State Park

NCAA Hall of Champions

Education

Indianapolis is the home of Butler University (Hinkle Fieldhouse is a famous college basketball arena.), IUPUI, University of Indianapolis, and other colleges & institutes.

Sports

The Pacers are home twice during the Final Four, on Friday the 2nd (vs Miami) and Sunday the 4th (vs Houston)

Links

Indianapolis - Wikipedia

VisitIndy.com

Indianapolis Map

More Information

2010 Final Four Indianapolis

Final Four 2010 Event Schedule: Bracket Town, Practices, All-Star games, Etc.

2010 Final Four Indianapolis: Schedule of Events

Shawn Siegel — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 16:45:37 -0500

There's more to the Final Four than just the games.. check out these other exciting events the NCAA has to offer. Info culled from NCAA.com and other sources:

Thursday, April 1 - Monday, April 5

Bracket Town refreshed by Coca-Cola Zero

^{Formerly
called Hoop City}

Location: Indiana Convention Center
Admission: $10 (ages 12 and over)
$6 (ages 3-11, college students*, senior citizens (55 and older), and military*)
Free (ages 2 and under)
*Appropriate ID required.
Tickets may be purchased in advance at participating area Meijer stores or on the day of the event at Indiana Convention Center.
Hours: 5 - 10:30 p.m.
Description: Come play with the best at Bracket Town refreshed by Coca-Cola Zero - the ultimate fan experience. Fans of all ages can test their skills and enjoy championship action with basketball competitions, clinics, performances, autograph sessions and photo ops, the latest in interactive games and demonstrations, prizez and more. Everyone's a champion at Bracket Town.

Friday, April 2

USBWA Awards Breakfast
Location: Marriott Downtown
Admission: $75
Hours: 8 a.m.
Description: The basketball writers will hand out the organizations' National Coach and National Player of the Year awards.

Final Four Team Practices
Location: Lucas Oil Stadium
Admission: Free
Hours: Noon - 4 p.m. (Gates open at 11 a.m.)
Description: Come watch the student-athletes from the 2010 NCAA Final Four teams in their final practice before the national semifinal games. Enjoy the opportunity to hear from each head coach of the participating Final Four teams after the practice session is completed. Fans in attendance will be randomly selected to win national semifinal and championship game tickets throughout the day! Practice times are based on team seeding:
Noon - 12:50 p.m.: Game No. 1 Lower Seed
1 - 1:50 p.m.: Game No. 2 Lower Seed
2:10 - 3 p.m.: Game No. 1 Higher Seed
3:10 - 4 p.m.: Game No. 2 Higher Seed

Reese's College All-Star Game
Location: Lucas Oil Stadium
Admission: Free
Hours: 4:35 p.m.
Description: The Reese's College All-Star Game features two teams comprised of the top collegiate senior student-athletes in the country. For the third year, the game will be played in the Final Four venue and will provide Indiana residents and other NCAA basketball fans the chance to see many of the best college basketball players perform in action for free!

Saturday, April 3

NCAA Youth Clinics (sponsored by vitaminwater
Locations: Butler University (Hinkle Fieldhouse), University of Indianapolis (Nicoson Hall), Warren Central High School
Admission: Free (Participants must be between 8-16 years of age [boys and girls] and pre-registered).
Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
NCAA Youth Clinics Registration
Description: The NCAA Youth Clinics are a community outreach program that connects kids ages 8 - 16 with the basketball championship and provides them with resources designed to have a lasting impact. Participants receive sport instruction from NCAA coaches and student-athletes and get valuable information on fitness, healthy lifestyles and sportsmanship. The clinics also feature a session for parents and guardians with information on recruiting, academic and eligibility issues.

Sunday, April 4

NCAA Final Four Dribble
Start: NCAA national office (located in White River State Park)
Finish: Indiana Convention Center (corner of West and Maryland)
Admission: Free
Hours: 3 - 4 p.m.
Description: Basketball fans, under the age of 18, will have the opportunity to dribble from White River State Park to the entrance of Bracket Town refreshed by Coca-Cola Zero® at the Indiana Convention Center. Participants will receive a free basketball and t-shirt courtesy of the NCAA. Participants wearing the Final Four Dribble t-shirt will also receive free admission to Bracket Town on event day.

Monday, April 5

NCAA Sports Career & College Expo
Location: Butler University - Hinkle Fieldhouse
Admission: Free
Hours: 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Description: The NCAA Men's Final Four Sports Career & College Expo will enlist professionals from all aspects of the sports industry to inform, educate and enlighten high school and college students on athletics and non-athletics sports career options in addition to giving them an opportunity to meet with local and national college representatives.

NABC Championship Trophy Presentation Celebration
Location: National Champion Downtown Hotel
Admission: Free
Hours: Postgame
Description: Winning coach and student-athletes will be presented with the NABC championship trophy in a pep rally setting for all fans to enjoy.

Games: Televised on CBS HD

Lucas Oil Stadium. Seating is approximately 70,000.

Semifinals:
Saturday, April 3th
Game #1: 6:07 PM ET
Game #2: 40 minutes after the conclusion of game #1

National Championship Game
Monday, April 5th
9:21 PM ET

For other smaller events, check the NCAA website for the latest Indy Final Four events. Please email shawn@collegehoops.net if you'd like to add an event to the list.

More Information

2010 Final Four Indianapolis

Things to do in Indianapolis: Sites & Attractions

2010 Final Four: Lucas Oil Stadium Directions

CHN — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 16:30:08 -0500

Lucas Oil Stadium in downtown Indianapolis, host of the 2010 Final Four, is easily accessible by car from Interstate Highway's 65 & 70. Over 40,000 parking spaces are within walking distance of the stadium. You can find information about specific lots here.

Map your way to the stadium using this handy Google Map.

From North: Chicago, IL

I-65 South to West Street (Exit 114).
Straight (south) to South Street.

From North: Fort Wayne, IN, Lansing, MI

I-69 South to I-465. South to I-70 West (Exit 44) to I-65
North to West Street (Exit 114); Straight to South Street.

From West: St Louis, MO, Terre Haute, IN

I-70 East to West Street (Exit 79A).
Left (north) to South Street.

From West: Springfield, IL, Champaign, IL

I-74 East to I-465 South (Exit 73A); Follow I-465 South to I-70 East. Exit I-70 at West Street (Exit 79A). Left (north) to South Street.

From South: Louisville, KY, Nashville, TN

I-65 North to I-70 West (Exit 110B);
Exit I-70 at West Street (Exit 79A).
Right (north) to South Street.

From Southeast: Cincinnati, OH

I-74 West to I-465 West; Follow I-465 West to I-65 North. I-65
North to I-70 West; Exit I-70 at West Street (Exit 79A). Right
(north) to South Street.

From East: Columbus, OH, Pittsburgh, PA

I-70 West to I-65 North; Follow I-65 North to West Street
(Exit 114);
Left (south) to South Street.

Indianapolis International Airport

http://www.indianapolisairport.com/

More Information

Lucas Oil Stadium Seating Chart

2010 Final Four Indianpolis

More NCAA Venue Info

2011 NCAA Tournament: A Look Ahead

Shawn Siegel — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 16:03:09 -0500

The 2011 NCAA Tournament culminates with the Final Four in Houston, TX. Houston will also be the home of the Final Four in 2016. The format of the 2011 Tournament will be the same as usual, although there has been talk of expanding the event in future years, it will not impact 2011.

The Lousiana Superdome, which will host the 2012 Final Four, gets a test run here in the Regional Finals. Interestingly, the Regional Finals will be played at 2 massive 30,000+ stadiums (Superdome & Alamodome), and 2 standard arenas.

Opening Round: March 15
UD Arena, Dayton, OH
Host: University of Dayton

1st and 2nd Rounds: March 17 and 19
Pepsi Center, Denver, CO
Host: Mountain West Conference

St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa, FL
Host: University of South Florida

McKale Center, Tucson, AZ
Host: University of Arizona

Verizon Center, Washington, DC
Host: Georgetown University

1st and 2nd Rounds: March 18 and 20
Time Warner Cable Arena, Charlotte, NC
Host: University of North Carolina-Charlotte

United Center, Chicago, IL
Host: Big Ten Conference

Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, OH
Host: Cleveland State University

BOK Center, Tulsa, OK
Host: University of Tulsa

West Regional: March 24 and 26
Honda Center, Anaheim, CA
Host: Big West Conference

Southeast Regional: March 24 and 26
Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, LA
Host: Tulane University

East Regional: March 25 and 27
Prudential Center, Newark, NJ
Host: Seton Hall University

Southwest Regional: March 25 and 27
Alamodome, San Antonio, TX
Host: University of Texas-San Antonio

Final Four: April 2 and 4
Reliant Stadium, Houston, TX
Hosts: University of Houston, Rice University

2010 NCAA Tournament Schedule

Future Final Four Sites

Shawn Siegel — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 11:36:21 -0500

Following the 2010 Final Four in Indianapolis, the fun will move to Houston.

2011 Houston, April 2 and 4, Reliant Stadium (University of Houston, host)

2011 NCAA Tournament Schedule

2012 New Orleans, March 31 and April 2, Louisiana Superdome (Tulane University, host)

2013 Atlanta, April 6 and 8, Georgia Dome (Georgia Institute of Technology, host)

2014 North Texas, April 5 and 7, Cowboys Stadium (Big 12 Conference, host)

2015 Indianapolis, April 4 and 6, Lucas Oil Stadium (Butler University, Horizon League, IUPUI, hosts)

2016 Houston, April 2 and 4, Reliant Stadium (University of Houston, Rice University, hosts)

Who will be next in 2017?

2010 Final Four: Indianapolis

Shawn Siegel — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:23:16 -0500

April 3 and April 5, 2010

Indianapolis, IN

Lucas Oil Stadium

On April 3, 2010, Indianapolis will host America's premier college sporting event - the 2010 NCAA Final Four.

Selection Sunday will be on March 14, 2010, and the following weeks will lead up to the semifinals in Indianapolis. The first men's national semifinal on Saturday, April 3 will begin at approximately 6:00 p.m. (ET) and as usual will be televised on CBS. The men's national championship game will air at approximately 9:15 p.m. (ET) on Monday, April 5. (Complete 2010 NCAA Tournament Schedule.)

Like last year, the 2010 Final Four will be held in a football stadium (2009 was in Detroit's Ford Field.) The event is "hosted" by Butler University, the Horizon League, and the Indiana Sports Corporation.

Want to head to the games? 2010 Final Four Ticket Info & Links

Lucas Oil Stadium
Capital Avenue • Indianapolis, IN 46225

The brand new, state-of-the-art Lucas Oil Stadium is located in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana on South Senate Avenue, only blocks from the RCA Dome, the Colts previous home stadium and former Final Four venue. The $675 million facility will seat 63,000 people and features a retractable roof and moveable window wall. For the 2010 Final Four, the stadium will seat approximately 70,000 fans.

The stadium will feature two Daktronics high-definition scoreboards at northwest and southeast corners. Each scoreboard is 53 feet tall and 97 feet wide, meaning the fans won't miss any of the action.

The mechanized roof and the moveable window wall allow for Lucas Oil Stadium to host both indoor and outdoor games while allowing a great deal of ambient sunlight in. Other modern amenities include over 100 luxury suites and concessions areas that will cater to almost every taste.

Lucas Oil Stadium Seating Chart & Parking Info

Directions to Lucas Oil Stadium

Other Final Four Activities & Sites

+ Final Four 2010 Event Schedule: Bracket Town, Practices, All-Star games, Etc.

+ Between the Games: Things to do and sites to see

+ Indianapolis Downtown Map

More:

2010 NCAA Tournament

NCAA Tournament: Other Venues

2010 Final Four Info on Wikipedia

Official 2010 Final Four Website

Note: The 2011 Final Four will be in Houston, TX. See All Future Final Four Sites.

2010 Final Four: Lucas Oil Stadium Seating Chart

Shawn Siegel — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:07:51 -0500

Lucas Oil Stadium
Capital Avenue • Indianapolis, IN 46225

Parking

There are 40,000 parking spaces within a short walk of Lucas Oil Stadium in downtown Indianapolis, IN. Check the following maps for on-location & downtown parking.

2010 Final Four: Indianpolis Info

2010 NCAA Tournament

Other NCAA Tourney Venues

NCAA Tournament: If It Ain't Broke..

Kevin McNeill — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 11:14:03 -0500

"The Best Just Got Better" – slogan for “New Coke”, 25 years ago.

In a week that saw Kentucky’s super-frosh John Wall introduce himself to the country against two national powers in North Carolina and UConn, and Texas Tech establish itself as the surprise of the young season, a bigger story got largely overlooked.

Sports Business Journal reported Monday that the NCAA has started meeting with broadcasters to look into the value of expanding the NCAA Tournament field. The idea, in its early form, would be to increase the number of teams from 65 to a staggering 96, with the top 32 teams receiving byes in an extra first week.

As ESPN’s Andy Katz reported, the NCAA examined expanding the Tournament four years ago and rejected it as unnecessary. Even then, according to Katz, the discussions four years ago were only “about moving from 65 teams to 68 with four opening-round games in Dayton, Ohio, in which eight teams would play for the four 16 seeds.”

What changed since then? The NCAA can opt out of its multi-billion dollar CBS deal at the end of the 2010 Final Four, and now that time is only a few months away. The NCAA, like any business, wants to know if there is even more revenues to be had – possibly with ESPN or with a new deal with CBS - should they expand the Tournament even more.

It would be a colossal mistake.

Just to give one example. Whether the NCAA Selection Committee likes to admit it or not, a significant value is usually placed on a team’s RPI when deciding seeding or an invitation. With 34 at large berths available, it is rare (although it has happened) that a team not qualifying for an automatic bid with an RPI in the top 40 will get passed over. Traditionally, teams finding themselves ranked in the 50s or even 60s are squarely on the bubble and could be considered an even bet to get to the Dance.

At the close of last season, the ACC had nine teams with an RPI no worse than 68 (Boston College). The Big East had eleven teams with an RPI in the top 90. The Big 12 had nine with an RPI of 75 or better. The Big 10? They had eight teams in the top 50, with Northwestern coming in later at 80. The SEC, even in a terrible year for the conference, had eight teams no worse than 83 (Ole Miss). The PAC 10 had eight teams in the top 90.

So, had that system been in place last season, you would have had a grand total of 54 teams in the BCS conferences (out of 73 teams) that would stand a chance, or at least have an argument, for getting a bid to the NCAA Tournament. Heck, with 65 at large berths suddenly available, most of those teams would probably get in.

Think of what that would mean for those conference tournaments. Would you tune in to the ACC Tournament knowing that all but three teams already locked up an at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament? Would you watch the Wednesday night 8-9 game in the Big East Tournament when both teams are only playing for NCAA seeding?

The mid-major conferences would suffer as well. ESPN’s Championship Week to me is one of the most fascinating weeks of the season. Watching kids, sometimes non-scholarship four year players, play their guts out because a win means going to the Dance, and a loss probably ends their season is something special, even if it’s not well-played. But would I still set my DVR to the MEAC Championship if I knew there wasn’t as much at stake? That both teams had a reasonable shot at the Dance? Probably not.

The fact is that a good controversy is great for the game. Every year you can make a strong case for why certain teams should have been selected over a team that got into the Dance. You can also usually make a good case for why the NCAA Selection Committee got it right. Either way you’re arguing about the best teams in college basketball, and when you’re arguing about it you’re talking about it, and the more people that talk about it, the better it is for the sport.

That’s why the annual debate over all the worthy teams on “the bubble” is not only entertaining, but a big reason college basketball is as big as it is today. It’s also one reason watering down that debate by letting just about every average team into the Dance could hurt the game in the long run.

As to the oft-cited (mainly by over-stressed coaches whose job security depends on NCAA appearances) complaint that the current system isn’t fair enough to all teams, give me a break. Every single team in Division I college basketball, all 347 of them, has a chance to win the national championship. Win the conference, you go to the Dance. Win six games, you lift the trophy. Doesn’t matter if you’re Kentucky or Campbell. Every single team on the bubble is there because they recently lost a big game. Deserving or not, at the end of the day, they still have only themselves to blame.

The NCAA Tournament is the single greatest event in American sports. It is three weeks of complete saturation of the best college basketball has to offer, with each game an elimination game, with each game coming one step closer to a championship.

But it’s not great because there are a lot of teams playing. It’s great because there are a lot of good teams playing. 31 teams are there because they won their conference championship – they earned their way in. The others represent (in theory) the 34 best teams remaining.

But with the best 32 teams getting byes under the new proposal, how many people would really tune in to see the rest of the bunch battle it out the first weekend? How many casual fans, or people who don’t really follow college basketball, would help nosedive their office productivity to watch two 15 win teams commit 40 turnovers in a half empty arena in Boise? ESPN and CBS need to seriously examine that question before getting into a multi-billion dollar bidding war.

Sometimes the best thing to do, and the hardest, is to do nothing. The ratings aren’t where CBS and the NCAA would like them to be, granted, with midday games during workdays, and games that last until midnight on the east coast. But there are possible solutions: A more effective marketing campaign perhaps, or even showing less commercials and more basketball (God forbid).

But diluting the greatest sporting event in the country shouldn’t be one of them.