S.F. Examiner: Wisconsin cries foul, physical Duke prevails

By Art Spander
San Francisco Examiner

Dead in the water. That's what the coach said late Monday night, and the words seemed dead accurate. Duke was nine points down in the second half of its biggest game of the season, and its biggest man, 6-foot-10 Jahlil Okafor, was on bench with four fouls,

But a Mike Krzyzewski-coached team knows something about basketball because Coach K knows a great deal about the game. He knows who and how to recruit. And his players know that defense wins, which in the end it did.

Read the full story here.

© 2015 The San Francisco Examiner 

S.F. Examiner: Coach K deserves his spot on coaching’s Mount Rushmore

By Art Spander
San Francisco Examiner

INDIANAPOLIS — We’re big on comparisons. Could Muhammad Ali have beaten Joe Louis — or Rocky Marciano? Could Tiger Woods have defeated Jack Nicklaus? And, as if subjectivity doesn’t enter into the equations, who is the greatest college men’s basketball coach of all time?

Up front, I’ll tell you: I’m a UCLA grad, and I knew John Wooden. So, yes, I’m biased. But if you insist, take Mike Krzyzewski, who tonight has Duke in another NCAA final. Or Adolph Rupp. Or Bobby Knight. Or Dean Smith. Or the man who veritably invented the game and mentored Smith, Phog Allen. Then you have an argument.

Read the full story here.

© 2015 The San Francisco Examiner 

Bleacher Report: Duke vs. Wisconsin: Don't Downplay This Blockbuster NCAA Tournament Final

By Art Spander
Featured Columnist

INDIANAPOLIS — So the best 38-1 team in college basketball has taken its unexpected leave. What did you think would happen? That they wouldn’t hold the NCAA final Monday night at Lucas Oil Stadium?

That CBS would show re-runs of The Jackie Gleason Show instead of Duke and Wisconsin on runs down the court?

Read the full story here.

Copyright © 2015 Bleacher Report, Inc. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.

Bleacher Report: Justise Winslow Emerging as a Superstar in Duke's Run to 2015 NCAA Title Game

By Art Spander
Featured Columnist

INDIANAPOLIS — The big man, Jahlil Okafor, played as we expected. He was in the middle for Duke, a freshman who's supposed to be one-and-done.

Yet, the star of the young team, another freshman we'll never see develop to his full potential as an undergrad, was Justise Winslow.

Read the full story here.

Copyright © 2015 Bleacher Report, Inc. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.

RealClearSports: Butler Does Its Ugly Best

By Art Spander
For RealClearSports.com

INDIANAPOLIS -- The sense is something mystical is happening, something beyond all the rebounds, turnovers and missed shots -- and oh, were there missed shots.

The thought is everything is going so perfectly for Butler, the sporting gods have taken control of the college basketball season.

Read the full story here.

© RealClearSports 2010