5 things every fan should know about the Final Four
Whether you’re a diehard college hoops fan or a newbie hoping to win your office pool, here are five facts you HAVE to know about the contenders and pretenders in this year’s Final Four.
Technically, the Final Four will be played in April, but it’s still important to remember that This Is March.
This is March.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 2, 2015 This is March.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 3, 2015 This is March.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 7, 2015 This is March.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 7, 2015 This is March.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 7, 2015 This is March.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 8, 2015 THIS IS MARCH!!!!
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 13, 2015 This is March.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 13, 2015 This is March.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 14, 2015 This is March.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 15, 2015 This is March.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 18, 2015 This is March.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 19, 2015 This is March.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 19, 2015 This is March!
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 19, 2015 This is March.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 19, 2015 This is March.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 20, 2015 This is March.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 22, 2015 This is March!
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 22, 2015 This is March.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 29, 2015 This is March.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 29, 2015 2) Death, taxes, Bo Ryan.
There’s death, there’s taxes, and then there’s Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan.
Death. Taxes. Bo Ryan.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) November 16, 2014 Death. Taxes. Bo Ryan.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) November 27, 2014 Death. Taxes. Bo Ryan.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) November 28, 2014 Death. Taxes. Bo Ryan.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) December 6, 2014 Death. Taxes. Bo Ryan.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) December 23, 2014 Death. Taxes. Bo Ryan.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) December 31, 2014 Death. Taxes. Bo Ryan.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) January 5, 2015 Death. Taxes. Bo Ryan.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) January 8, 2015 Death. Taxes. Bo Ryan.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) January 21, 2015 Death. Taxes. Bo Ryan.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) January 31, 2015 Death. Taxes. Bo Ryan.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) February 4, 2015 Death. Taxes. Bo Ryan.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) February 8, 2015 Death. Taxes. Bo Ryan.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) February 11, 2015 Death. Taxes. Bo Ryan.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) February 15, 2015 Death. Taxes. Bo Ryan.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) February 19, 2015 Death. Taxes. Bo Ryan.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) February 21, 2015 Death. Taxes. Bo Ryan.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 1, 2015 Death. Taxes. Bo Ryan.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 6, 2015 Death. Taxes. Bo Ryan.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 8, 2015 Death. Taxes. Bo Ryan.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 13, 2015 Death. Taxes. Bo Ryan.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 14, 2015 Death. Taxes. Bo Ryan.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 15, 2015 Death. Taxes. Bo Ryan.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 21, 2015 Death. Taxes. Bo Ryan.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 23, 2015 Death. Taxes. Bo Ryan.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 27, 2015 Death. Taxes. Bo Ryan.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 29, 2015 However, it's not just Death, Taxes, Bo Ryan. It's sometimes Death, Taxes, Other People Too. In fact, it's Death, Taxes, Three Of The Four Final Four Coaches:
Death. Taxes. Coach K.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) December 4, 2014 Death. Taxes. Tom Izzo in March.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 23, 2013 But that doesn't mean we should count out Kentucky just because it's not Death, Taxes, John Calipari. Death, Taxes, A Coach status can be revoked. For example, it used to be Death, Taxes, Bill Self:
Things I learned today. There are three constants in life --- death, taxes, and Bill Self.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) December 22, 2012 Three constants in life. Death, taxes, and Bill Self.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) January 10, 2013 Death, taxes, and Bill Self.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) January 15, 2013 Kansas wins. Death, taxes, and Bill Self.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) January 15, 2013 Death. Taxes. Bill Self.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) January 19, 2013 Death. Taxes. Bill Self.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) January 23, 2013 Death. Taxes. Bill Self.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) January 29, 2013 Death. Taxes. Bill Self.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) February 21, 2013 Death. Taxes. Bill Self.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) February 26, 2013 Death. Taxes. Bill Self.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 17, 2013 Death. Taxes. Bill Self.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 24, 2013 Death. Taxes. Bill Self.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) May 20, 2013 Death. Taxes. Bill Self.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) January 11, 2014 Death. Taxes. Bill Self.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) January 18, 2014 Death. Taxes. Bill Self.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) February 8, 2014 Death. Taxes. Bo Ryan.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) February 16, 2014 Death. Taxes. Bill Self.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) February 25, 2014 But it isn’t Death, Taxes, Bill Self anymore. So it’s anybody’s game.
One last wild card:
Death. Taxes. Fran Dunphy's teams make the NCAA Tournament.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 10, 2013 3) College basketball is where the unexpected becomes the ordinary
College basketball. Where the unexpected becomes the ordinary.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) November 26, 2014 College basketball. Where the unexpected becomes the ordinary.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) December 31, 2014 College basketball. Where the unexpected becomes the ordinary.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) January 12, 2015 College basketball. Where the unexpected becomes the ordinary.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) January 24, 2015 College basketball. Where the unexpected becomes the ordinary.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) January 31, 2015 College basketball. Where the unexpected becomes the ordinary.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) February 24, 2015 College basketball. Where the unexpected becomes the ordinary.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 1, 2015 College basketball. Where the unexpected becomes the ordinary.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 7, 2015 College basketball. Where the unexpected becomes the ordinary.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 8, 2015 College basketball. Where the unexpected becomes the ordinary.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 19, 2015 College basketball. Where the unexpected becomes the ordinary!
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 19, 2015 College basketball. Where the unexpected becomes the ordinary.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 19, 2015 College basketball. Where the unexpected becomes the ordinary.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 29, 2015 Often, really obscure teams make college basketball become where the unexpected becomes the ordinary.
Delaware State beats Wake Forest at Wake Forest. College basketball --- where the unexpected becomes the ordinary.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) November 29, 2014 USC Upstate just beat Georgia Tech 59-54. College basketball --- where the unexpected becomes the ordinary ---- AGAIN!!!!
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) December 6, 2014 Arkansas Pine-Bluff 61 Houston 56 Final/OT. College basketball --- where the unexpected becomes the ordinary.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) December 18, 2014 South Carolina State beats Houston. College basketball --- where the unexpected becomes the ordinary.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) December 20, 2014 McNeese State beats Mississippi State by 19 in Starkville. College basketball --- where the unexpected becomes the ordinary.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) December 31, 2014 Fresno State upsets San Diego State. College basketball --- where the unexpected becomes the ordinary.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) January 4, 2015 East Carolina just beat Memphis --- in basketball. College basketball. Where the unexpected becomes the ordinary.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) February 11, 2015 4) Somebody is definitely Chandler Parsons -- but who?
It really seemed like it was Maryland’s Jake Layman.
Jake Layman has a "Chandler Parsons" type feel to his game. Everything looks effortless. Really smooth for a SF.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) October 23, 2012 Jake Layman could be Maryland's X-Factor in 13-14. 6-8 SF has Chandler Parsons like ability. Could really emerge as a sophomore.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) July 13, 2013 Expecting a big jump from Maryland's Jake Layman this year. Was Terps' best player in the Bahamas. Chandler Parsons type SF. Really skilled.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) August 20, 2013 BREAKOUT guy --- Maryland's Jake Layman. Big time sophomore year ahead. 6-8. Going to play 3 + 4 for the Terps. Think Chandler Parsons.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) October 12, 2013 So much Chandler Parsons in Jake Layman.....
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) August 2, 2013 So much Chandler Parsons in Jake Layman....
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) November 3, 2013 So much Chandler Parsons in Jake Layman....
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) November 9, 2013 So much Chandler Parsons in Jake Layman.....
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) November 25, 2013 So much Chandler Parsons in Jake Layman....
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) December 8, 2013 So much Chandler Parsons in Jake Layman.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) December 21, 2014 But recent reports lead us to believe it could actually be Wisconsin's Sam Dekker:
So much Chandler Parsons in Sam Dekker...
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 29, 2015 If it turns out Sam Dekker is the one who has a lot of Chandler Parsons in him, so don’t count Wisconsin out.
5) Never forget what Shakespeare said
The Bard may have predated the Final Four by a few hundred years, but if he were around today, I think we all know what he’d say about college basketball’s exciting finale:
"What's won is done. Joy's soul lies in the doing." - Shakespeare
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) November 2, 2014 "What's won is done. Joy's soul lies in the doing." - Shakespeare
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) November 12, 2014 "What's won is done. Joy's soul lies in the doing." - Shakespeare
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) November 21, 2014 "What's won is done. Joy's soul lies in the doing." - Shakespeare
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) November 26, 2014 "What's won is done. Joy's soul lies in the doing." - Shakespeare
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) December 4, 2014 "What's won is done. Joy's soul lies in the doing." - Shakespeare
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) December 15, 2014 "What's won is done. Joy's soul lies in the doing." - Shakespeare
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) December 20, 2014 "What's won is done. Joy's soul lies in the doing." - Shakespeare
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) January 17, 2015 "What's won is done. Joy's soul lies in the doing." - Shakespeare
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) January 20, 2015 "What's won is done. Joy's soul lies in the doing." - Shakespeare
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) February 24, 2015 "What's won is done. Joy's soul lies in the doing." - Shakespeare
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 9, 2015 "What's won is done. Joy's soul lies in the doing." - Shakespeare
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 14, 2015 "What's won is done. Joy's soul lies in the doing." - Shakespeare
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 28, 2015 (fwiw, the quote is from I.ii.173 of Troilus and Cressida -- a deep cut! -- and it’s kinda botched.)
Now that you’re at the end of this post, you really should follow Jon Rothstein, who’s a really solid reporter who breaks a lot of college hoops stories. He also tweets the same stuff over and over and over, but that never stopped anybody from owning a parrot, because parrots are great.
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