The Chat House

Sports News

Michael Wilbon. (The Washington Post)

Welcome to another edition of The Chat House where Post columnist Michael Wilbon talked about the latest in sports.

The transcript follows.

Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.

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Washington, D.C.: I have Michigan State taking it all. Will it happen???

Michael Wilbon: Good for you for thinking to advance Michigan State all the way to the Final Four in your bracket. You were a lot smarter than I was. Do I think Michigan State will beat North Carolina Saturday in St. Louis? No, I don't. While I messed up and had Syracuse and Georgia Tech in my Final Four bracket, I do have Illinois and Carolina meeting in the final game. Michigan State is really good, really smart, really tough, and really well coached. But so is North Carolina, which I think is a little more talented.

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Arlington, Va.: I know you recognize the talent of UNC, but I also know you're a Big Ten guy. How excited would you have been to see three Big Ten teams in the final four had Wisconsin pulled off a win? Has one conference ever sent three teams to the final four?

Michael Wilbon: Yes, the Big East sent three teams to the Final Four exactly 20 years ago: Villanova, Georgetown and St. John's were joined by Memphis State, which lost to Villanova. Georgetown beat St. John's to set up one of the two or three most thrilling NCAA Finals of all time. As far as what I'd like to see, I'm from the state of Illinois and went to a Big Ten school. So I wouldn't be disappointed to see Illinois win. Also, though, I've been living in D.C. for 25 years following the ACC and the Big East, plus national hoops...I'd love to see Roy Williams win, in the same way I was happy for Phil Mickleson...

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Arlington, Va: Hey Mike -- which lesser known players in this tournament, like Dwayne Wade from a few years back at Marquette, saw their stock rise and their NBA prospects brighten as a result of their great play in the tourney?

Michael Wilbon: Great question: How about Joah Tucker from Wisconsin-Milwaukee? A small school in that state (Wisconsin-Stevens Point, I think it was) produced Terry Porter. How about Larry O'Bannon, considered the third best player on Louisville? Maybe Villanova's Allen Ray. Oh, my producer Matt Kelliher mentions Arizona's Hassan Adams...Interesting what happens when kids with talent stay long enough in college to learn how to play the game.

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N.Y.: Wilbon, was Villanova jobbed vs UNC?
Do the bigger, more popular schools get more calls than smaller ones?

Michael Wilbon: Let's put it this way: that was no travel. There was no violation and that official must feel (ought to feel) terrible about making that call. Why would you make that call? It would be nit-picking at best and it wasn't even accurate. Having said that, I think referees and scouts are the last completely honest people in sports. Maybe I'm wrong, but I know so many referees and they have no hidden agendas. They're not oblivious. They know who's good and who isn't. But they care are about their craft and getting it right as much as, if not more than, anybody in the industry. Bad call? Yes, no question. Bad intentions? I think not. Are guys more likely to give benefit of the doubt, subconsciously, to teams whose games they work more often and therefore know more intimately on the court? Sure, I think that happens. But I don't think there are bad intentions involved, just human nature.

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Washington, D.C.: Hey Mike, can I ask you a question about the Redskins?

Michael Wilbon: What would be the point? I haven't checked in with the Redskins. Haven't read a word about them. Haven't asked anybody a single question about them or anybody else in the NFL. It's March. Why would anybody who isn't exclusively a Redskins Geek care about the Redskins this week? They're not topical. There's nothing to ask about them that would matter in the least. Okay, that qualifies as the Redskins Question of the Day. Unless somebody involved with the Redskins makes legit news, we're a non-Redskins Chat House until the week before the draft.

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Arlington, Va.: Hey Mike,
Great column today.
It looks to me like UNC plays just enough to get by for the first 3/4 of every game.
Then, in the last 10 minutes, their talent takes over and they win.
If I were a Carolina fan (which I'm not - go wolfpack!), their up and down play would drive me nuts.
Can you think of a championship team in recent years that is this hot and cold?

Michael Wilbon: Thanks for the kind words...I don't know that I see Carolina as playing well enough to just "get by" for the first 30 minutes. I think they take some time to get going. And they have so many talented players I think they need some time each game to figure how best to attack that particular opponent. And remember, these kids didn't get along that well just two years ago. People in basketball circles, college and pro, will tell you the Carolina chemistry ain't the greatest in the world even now. That's why I think Roy Williams has done a fabulous job with this team. It's not just talent that is difficult to coordinate. It's personalities, egos, supressing individual agendas...

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White Plains, Md.: What's your expectation for the Illinois -- Louisville game? Can Louisville match Illinois's mental toughness?

Michael Wilbon: Were you out of the country Saturday? Are you not away Louisville just came back from 20 points down to beat West Virginia? You want to ask about Louisville's mental toughness? This game has nothing to do with all the cliches people want to subscribe to. These are two very evenly matched teams, both featuring three-guard set ups (Garcia, Dean and O'Bannon for Louisville and Brown, Williams and Head for Illinois) and big guys who know exactly what their roles are. It's a pick-'em game as far as I'm concerned. I don't see how either team could be called a big "favorite" in this game...

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Michael Wilbon: As for the person who is "daring" me to provide reasons the NBA playoffs are more exciting than college basketball, why would I waste my breath. You're a college fan who probably thinks he knows everything about basketball and would spit out a bunch of dumb reasons the college game is more exciting without knowing anything real about the pro game. A great many of the people who spew that junk have their own issues to deal with.
I'll say this: The college game is exciting.
The NBA Playoffs are exciting.
But don't try to convince someone who has spent 25 years covering both that the college kids are more fundamentally sound and play better defense and all this garbage.
For all the college basketball know-it-alls, ask yourself this: If a college basketball player played better defense than his pro counterpart, why wouldn't he try out, make a roster as a defensive starter, then make the average NBA salary of $3.5 million?
Because he can't. Because the college game, while exciting, isn't as good. It isn't as well played, as well-officiated, as well coached, as well anything. It's a step below.
If you don't like the pro game just have the guts to say, "I don't like it" instead of hiding behind all the codes and personal agendas. People are allowed to like and dislike whatever they want. Discerning basketball fans see the beauty of both.

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Washington, D.C.: First of all ... That was a travel and it was a good call. The ref was in perfect position. And I hate anything from Carolina ... But since it occurred on the final possession people are up in arms. The last step allowed to get closer to rim. That's it!

Michael Wilbon: I've asked two college officials in the last 24 hours and they both said it wasn't a travel. So we'll have to simply disagree. It wasn't a travel. The video supports, conclusively, it wasn't a travel. Bilas and Packer also have gotten it right.

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Washington, D.C.: What about Sparks hitting that three in the final second to tie. They should have given him a chance for the 4-point play to win the game at the line. Now that would have been truly remarkable! Was it just me or do you see the bump he received while shooting? What do you think about NCAA officials clocking more time at the replay monitors that NFL referees?

Michael Wilbon: That was indeed a foul, and Sparks should have been at the line shooting plus-one.

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Bethesda, Md.: The pro game -- I don't like it. Thanks that's been bottled up for so long.

Michael Wilbon: Hope you feel better.

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Richmond, Va.: It seems like there is more and more parity in college basketball. Do you think it will ever go back to the dynasty days of UCLA?

Michael Wilbon: No chance. UCLA only had to two games, by the way, to reach the regional final. And college basketball talent wasn't spread around the way it is now. No. Not ever. Hey, nobody can even win back-to-back anymore. Duke last did it in 1991-92. This isn't big news, by the way. Talent has been spread around for more than a dozen years. But there are kids everywhere who can play, who play all year 'round on these AAU teams, who go to camps put on by coaches and pro players. Dynasty, now would mean three championships in four years and I don't see that happening either.

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Moorefield, W.Va.: Mike: As a diehard West Virginia fan, I get pretty tired of my teams being put down and disrespected. I still have Virginia Tech people telling me the run by WVU this year was a fluke; they refuse to acknowledge what Coach John Beilein has done with this team. Would you back me up on this, please?

Michael Wilbon: West Virginia had a damn good season, as evidenced not just by its run in the tournament but also the Big East tournament. So you're listening to some Virginia Tech stooge from a football school that doesn't know a basketball is round? Why?

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Aberdeen, Md.: Why don't we have a consolation game for the semi-finalist losers during the Final Four?

Michael Wilbon: Because the committee doesn't want anybody to go home with consecutive losses and a really bad feeling.

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Washington, D.C.: What do you think about the recent revelation in the news that a "cabal" has fixed the Final Four and that as a result, Syracuse was ousted on purpose (agreed upon by all players) and other teams agreed on a schedule of results.

Michael Wilbon: Sorry, I'm not a conspiracy guy. I don't believe a word of it.

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Tucson, Ariz.: Are the Arizona Wildcats the Boston Red Sox of college basketball? Maybe the Alanta Braves? I came into Saturday's game thinking no matter what the outcome, this team couldn't let me down. I just didn't imagine that the outcome could be so agonizing. Channing Frye is the second best big man in college ball this year (Sean May being the first).

Michael Wilbon: Didn't Arizona win a championship in 1997 or 1998 with Mike Bibby? How many guys have won a second title? Okay, Duke and UCONN in the last 25 years. Anybody else? Stop the pity party. My school's men's basketball team has never PLAYED in the NCAA Tournament. Arizona has a wonderful basketball program. Disappointment, I understand. But you should be proud. If not, go sit outside in the rain.

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Baltimore, Md.: I think the guy that asked the Redskins question was just messing with you. You took the bait.

Michael Wilbon: No, you gave me an opportunity to rant at the other Redskins fans who had submitted their handful of questions. So I thank you!

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Abingdon, Md.: You have not given us your pick for the final four.

Michael Wilbon: Well, I'm taking Carolina over Michigan State and Illinois over Louisville. Do I have to pick a winner for Monday night? Well, I guess I believe Carolina will win...I don't know. Hell, these teams are so close. I guess I'll say Carolina will beat Illinois, but that's a pick-'em game, too.

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Rockville, Md.: What do you make of Maryland advancing thru the NIT with Ledbetter in for Gilchrist? A harbinger of good things to come next season? (I'm proud of this team keeping its head up.)

Michael Wilbon: Good question. What I make of it is that it's too bad Ledbetter wasn't ready to step in for Gilchrist earlier in the season. Let me say this: I think Maryland could really benefit (and get the bad taste out of its mouth) by winning the NIT this season. I think that would be quite an accomplishment.

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Washington, D.C.: As a Terp fan, is there any reason to care about the NIT besides giving Ledbetter et. al. extra minutes?

Michael Wilbon: read the previous answer.

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Columbia, Md.: To all the Travel-gate people out there. If they didn't call a travel, Ray's basket would have only closed the Carolina gap to one point. So don't assume the correct call there would have given Nova the win.

Michael Wilbon: Great point.

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Tucson, Ariz.: Mike, I'm a Northwestern alum too! But I like to pretend I went to the U of A for the tournament.

Michael Wilbon: Well, as somebody wrote recently in the Arizona Republic about all the Chicagoans who live in Arizona, "Phoenix is the western-most suburb of Chicago."

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Michael Wilbon: Okay, gotta run and prepare for PTI. We'll probably move next week's Chat House to Tuesday, the day after the NCAA Championship game...But it'll be announced for certain on Washingtonpost.com. Have a great weekend. Mike

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