Thanks to the great people at Turner Sports, we have your quotes from the first night of NCAA Tournament coverage on truTV. After tonight’s coverage, I’ll write a review of the first two nights the CBS/Turner collaboration. So far so good for this Brave New World of televising the NCAA Tournament, but we’ll see how it fares without the “A” hosts and analysts on the set.
In any event, this is what was said in the studio on truTV.
Notes from the First Four on truTV – Tuesday, March 15, 2011
truTV’s coverage of the FIRST FOUR will continue tonight at 6 p.m. (ET) with a pre-game show featuring NCAA studio host Matt Winer joined by analysts Steve Smith and Seth Davis followed at 6:30 p.m. (ET) with the University of Texas at San Antonio vs. Alabama State and the University of Southern California vs. Virginia Commonwealth University at 9 p.m. (ET). Gus Johnson (play-by-play) and Len Elmore (analyst) will call the game, with Marty Snider reporting. The evening will concludes with a postgame show.
UNC-Asheville vs. University of Arkansas-Little Rock
UAB vs. Clemson
Studio team: Greg Gumbel, Ernie Johnson, Greg Anthony, Charles Barkley, Seth Davis and Kenny SmithAnthony on the unexpected return of Duke guard Kyrie Irving for the NCAA tournament: “(Duke head coach Mike) Krzyzewski has a bit of a pickle with this situation. We know (Kyle Irving) is a dynamic talent, we know without a doubt that he is the best talent on the team. But the fact is now you’re going to have to work him out. I think it’s more important that he plays this weekend because, let’s face it, in their first round match-up, they should be able to advance. (Playing in the first round) gives him the opportunity to work out the kinks and get a rhythm. This team has redefined itself over the course of the season and has become a number one seed without him as a result of their performance. Let’s face it, Nolan Smith has taken the helm of this basketball team and they’ve played, especially over the ACC tournament, as well as they’ve played all season long even with him. That’s going to be a difficult dynamic in trying to integrate him back into the rotation while not really disrupting the rhythm.”
Anthony on Purdue guard Kelsey Barlow being suspended from the team for the remainder of the season: “(Losing Kelsey Barlow) is like losing two players. He’s (Purdue’s) best perimeter defender, but he also plays three positions offensively at times. He handles the ball, he facilitates for them and he can also be a swing player. He’s not a great shooter, but again, this is a guy that is on the floor for 20 minutes a night for a very good basketball team. That’s a huge loss to not have him for the tournament.”
Barkley on the return of Duke guard Kyrie Irving: “It puts Coach Krzyzewski in an awkward situation. You have to bring him off the bench, that’s not even a question. You don’t know what you’re going to get. They’re on a roll (and) they’re the number one seed, but I wouldn’t play him more than ten minutes a game. He’s coming off the bench and I don’t think you can join the race in the middle.”
Davis on Clemson not having much time before their second round game: “The fact that (Clemson has) to play a noon (ET) game on Thursday, I think it’s wrong. The NCAA is making the strong statement that these First Four games matter and we’re making a big deal out of them that they are part of the tournament. To have them turn around within 48 hours…I just don’t think it’s fair.”
Anthony: “I disagree. To me, it’s irrelevant. This is an opportunity of a lifetime and this will be the highlight of a lot of these young student-athletes’ careers. That’s just the way the rules are and if you have a real issue with it, you should play a little bit better during the regular season and then you won’t find yourself in this position.”Smith on Kansas State guard Jacob Pullen:“I watched (BYU guard) Jimmer Fredette all year, I watched (Connecticut guard) Kemba Walker, but I think (Kansas State guard) Jacob Pullen is a guy who can do the same thing in an NCAA tournament. He could do it for the five games to get you over the hump. He’s an explosive scorer, but he can also take that contact in the lane. I do like him, I do like his chances. (Kansas State) is my Cinderella team and I have them going all the way to the Final Four.”
Barkley on the Arizona Wildcats: “(Arizona) is underrated. They got beat by Washington in the championship game. They’ve had a terrific season. They’ve got the player of the year in Derrick Williams. I think this team is going to get to the Elite Eight or Final Four.”
Barkley on BYU: “BYU plays one of the toughest schedules in the country. If they would have won their conference tournament, I think they would have been a legitimate number one seed. But losing (Brandon) Davies, and I want to wish him the best, really hurt this team. I still think they are going to win a couple games though.”
Smith on using criticism as motivation: “Every team has been motivated by what has been said in the newspaper or in the news. You put that up on the bulletin board. That is bulletin board material. To have that as extra motivation factor is great.”
Barkley on winners from the First Four carrying their momentum forward: “These teams feel a little bit insulted so they’ve got a chip on their shoulder. That’s going to help them get ready for the next game. Even though there’s a quick turnaround, an angry team has a good chance.”
Smith on if teams need to play with a chip on your shoulder in the NCAA Tournament: “I think you have to. You look for that motivation and that extra edge. Your coach can give you a ‘Knute Rockne’ speech and you can be excited but when you hear things about yourself, your teammates and your team, that gives you that extra motivation and that extra adrenaline that you always look for. It’s an exciting time, but you still need extra (motivation) especially when you’re a high seed. When you’re a one (seed) playing a 16 (seed) or an eight (seed), sometimes you need that extra, ‘You know what? Wake up; this could be a real game for us.’”
That’s it for now.
