ChicagoSportsBlogs : Non Compete

I am typing this as I watch Memphis battle Kansas for the NCAA Championship. It has been a very good game. Kansas coach Bill Self has his kids playing very well defensively. They are blocking shots, getting back on defense quickly, and shutting down Chicago's finest, Derrick Rose. I say that as they move to a box and one, and the one isn't Rose. He just made another 3-pointer. He's got 12 now. 9 in the half.

Kansas can hang with the dribble drive offense of Memphis. No question. They've proven that throughout the game. They're going cold as I write this, but the other Chicago kid in this game, Sherron Collins can make some big shots. If he gets a chance. 4 minutes left. Rose is officially hot now. 54-49 Memphis. I take great pride when there are Chicago kids in the tournament. It makes it that much more fun to root for a team I normally wouldn't root for. You always want to see the local kids do well. Besides, my bracket is officially shot.

The only thing that would make this tournament better is if these local kids would stay home instead of head off to UNC, Kansas, or Duke. If the Chicagoland area had some better coaching and recruiting, we wouldn't be losing all these young guns to the "big" schools. Imagine what Illinois would look like if Rose was on their roster? Ok, maybe not this year's Illini team, but you get my point.

I know none of these kids are going to realistically stay home. They don't have many choices for big name schools. Do you think these future All-Stars would go to Illinois, Northwestern, Loyola, or DePaul? The only one with any true "history" is DePaul. Loyola (my alma mater) hasn't gone to the dance since the 1980's. Northwestern is in the Big Ten, but they are worse at basketball than they are at football. (I know, I'm a season ticket holder) Illinois had a great run a few years ago during the Williams and Brown years, but the team is officially terrible again.

Technically, DePaul should have no excuse for not being able to recruit these kids. It's not like the academics at DePaul are world renowned. Unlike Northwestern, they are actually centrally located in the city. Loyola is in the city too, but they never had a Meyer coaching them.

Rose just missed his free throw...the first one. He made the second. Kansas' Chalmers just made a 3 to tie!!

Rose is hobbling as we head to a commercial break. Memphis' prayer bricked off the rim. This is crazy. I love the Madness.