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November 22, 2014

Final Four - Week 2

If the men’s NCAA Final Four were held this weekend, here are its four teams.

  • Kentucky
  • Duke
  • Arizona
  • Wisconsin

No change from Week 1.

CHAMPION

Kentucky.

Last week I chose Wisconsin to win over Kentucky in the Championship Game.

That’s not gonna happen. Based on Kentucky’s overwhelming dominance against the then fifth-ranked Kansas Jayhawks ... not only will Kentucky be crowned champions they will win every game this season.

Ah. But this is college basketball. Yes, you say, but this is the 2014-2015 Kentucky Wildcats who play in platoons. Each platoon plays 4-5 minutes. While they’re playing they’re not really competing against the other team, they’re competing against their teammates sitting on the bench, watching. Their performance determines future playing time.

Still, this is college basketball. The tournament is a one-and-done format. Fail to show up for one game and you’re done. Think about over the years to Georgetown vs Villanova in ’85, Houston vs NC State in ’83, Butler (who?) vs Duke in 2010, Duke vs Lehigh and Mercer for that matter. Every year there’s the overwhelming favorite that fails to show up for a game and their bounced to the offseason.

Kentucky carried extra motivations for this week’s game. Their coach, Coach Cal Calipari, coached University of Memphis in 2008’s national championship game when it was defeated by ... wait for it ... Kansas coached by Bill Self. The other motivation was their coming out party on a national stage. They wanted to show the world what this ‘platooning’ thing was all about. Show them they did.

Still, they have so much depth and talent that not only could they stumble but they could lie down for 30 minutes of every game and still go undefeated.

Still. It’s college basketball and teenage players and it’s a long season. Lots can happen.

DARK HORSES

  • VCU. They have offense this year on top of their veracious defense.
  • Texas. They’re not really a dark horse at number 10. But they have size and depth and two excellent point guards. The star, Isaiah Taylor is out for 4-6 weeks with a broken hand. That's okay. This gives playing time for his backup before the conference games begin in January when he returns.

  • Miami. They’re not a championship contender. But after beating Florida at Florida, coming back from fifteen points down, then they’re someone to watch.
  • Gonzaga? They always look good playing in West Coast Conference games ... But defense not only wins championships it wins first and second round games (Duke's been reminded of that recently). And Gonzaga never plays defense. Ever.

Posted on November 22, 2014 at 08:02 AM in College Basketball |

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Books I've Read and Recommend

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    Jackie Huba: Monster Loyalty: How Lady Gaga Turns Followers into Fanatics
    a bigger challenge than I predicted. It’s not what to say that challenged me. It’s what NOT to say. I start reading and within 3-4 paragraphs, I’m nodding my head and saying Yes, yes, exactly. Bam. Bam, baby. Yeah, come on. Can I get a witness. Then I want to share verbatim Jackie’s translation of Gaga’s strategy. Here’s why. It’s a strategy with 7 steps that any, ANY, business can execute under its own terms and under its own budget no matter how small or large. Granted, I enjoy reading this strategy as it’s applied to Gaga. And Jackie's a good writer. But, what's really inspiring is understanding how even a car wash could apply this strategy with these 7 steps and find success. You could build a global empire selling gardening mulch if you followed these 7 steps. And you could lower your advertising and marketing budgets, to boot.

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    Yes! Finally a leadership book and author who bring empathy, caring and listening to the front of the leadership room instead of insisting it sit in the back, laughed at or ignored with no champion and certainly no budget to help spotlight its role in creating engaged leaders. He had me as a reader and fan on the first page of his introduction. Here’s what he wrote: Years later, when I was made Executive Vice President at McCann Erickson Worldwide ... I came to realize that the gift of human empathy, which had guided me through those early days at Marriott, would allow me to steer literally thousands of people to row in the direction of McCann Erickson’s future. I’ve learned things the hard way, through trial and error, mostly error. Through it all, I came to realize people follow you because of who you are; because you have come to understand the deep desires and hopes of your people; and because, by connecting with them, you have created a culture and a common cause they believe in.

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    I love this book. It's true that I say this about every book I review here. And why shouldn't I? Why waste time reviewing a book I don't love. That being said...Why Employees Are Always a Bad Idea: (and other business diseases of the industrial age) is one of my favorite business books for a long time. It starts with the title. It's eye-catching, provocative, right? Mentally, it's a head-slap, positing a theorem inside your head then pounding it home with AlwayandBad to let you know you're not getting away; you're going to have your mind changed. Right now. As I kept looking at the title, tilting my head like a dog - one side to the other - I began to smile. I read a kindred spirit. Here's a rebel, a true disruptor, someone who's willing speak up, take a stand; I like that. I might not agree with what I'm about to read, but his title made me smile without being cloying or clever so I knew I was in for a good ride.

  • Stephen Lynch: Business Execution for RESULTS: A practical guide for leaders of small to mid-sized firms

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    I'm an avid reader, always have been. I've read a lot of business books and I’ve led a small business. I recommend you read Business Execution for Results: A Practical Guide for Leaders of Small to Mid-Sized Firms. It is a very, very good book, among the best, most usable business books I’ve read. As a writer, he does things that make the reading very pleasant, very inspiring, very engaging. Very good. He offers personal stories, anecdotes, little clips. They’re genuine, sincere, well-organized to capture your attention, engage you in the story that illustrates the next lesson. I found myself thinking...I can relate...I am relating....I see, feel, remember this personally. And Stephen’s writing is very crisp, very concise in taking you from these stories to the principle with each chapter...and as important to the steps you’re going to take to generate the results you want to see. No hitch in the reading flow. VERY nice.

  • Kerry Patterson: Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High

    Kerry Patterson: Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High
    I came with low expectations. I was severely disappointed. It's a great book. This is a well-written, timely, book with tips and reminders and steps to take with each page you read. Real-world examples, real-world steps, to create real, meaningful conversations when the stakes are high. (*****)

  • Gregg Fraley: Jack's Notebook: A business novel about creative problem solving

    Gregg Fraley: Jack's Notebook: A business novel about creative problem solving
    I read this book completel, too. That should say enough. Even more, I plan to read it again this month. It's a great story whose purpose is to share useful, practical, tips and steps you can take to more effectively and more creatively solve challenges. (*****)

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