UCLA beat Pitt Thursday night 64-55 — in somewhat convincing fashion. In fact, the nine point victory turned out to be the largest margin of the evening, by far. Despite the relatively easy win, my excitement as a proud UCLA almunus was immediately halted. That’s when it him me — next up is the #1 seed in the West Region — the Kansas Jayhawks. I thought to myself, damn, that’s a fine prize for reaching the Elite 8!
Ponder this for a second — only 36 hours until your next opponent — for the right to reach the illustrious Final Four — the most heralded prize in college basketball.
How do teams do it? How can you transition from gut-wrenching, sweat-pouring, heart-breaking, ass-kicking games on Thursday night, to a birthright game on Saturday afternoon? Same thing for the teams playing Friday and Sunday — it’s insane.
There’s time for a few post-game interviews, a trip back to the hotel, and then boom — hit the film, study your opponent, grab a Gatorade and power bar, and hope to bring your A-game in the next round.
That’s why coaching is more paramount than any other factor in the Elite 8. Following 2nd round wins, every coaching staff has four days to prepare three game plans: one in-depth plan for the immediate Sweet 16 opponent, and two lighter advanced plans for each of the potential Elite 8 opponents.
Once you win your Sweet 16 game — it’s time to hit the film room, tweak the game plan, and rally the troops. These are the most crucial hours; coaches need to get a dozen 18-22 year-olds to forget about their tired and achy bodies, and prepare for the upcoming game.
So in instances like this, when a trip to the Final Four and remembrance as a team of historical significance is on the line, it’s the coaching that matters most. And you must ask yourself the question:
Would you rather have John Calipari or Thad Matta leading your team? Ben Howland or Bill Self?
Once you reach the Final Four, talent prevails. But to escape the Elite 8, it’s the coaching that must shine.
