1. Sean Miller gets another chance to get over the hump: The best coach to never make a Final Four gets another shot at the hallowed showcase again Saturday when Arizona facesWisconsin. Miller is 0-3 in the Elite Eight, but easily could have won and advanced in 2011 and last year. Arizona will be one of nation’s the best programs as long as Miller is in Tucson, but the window for this particular group closes if the Wildcats don’t beat the Badgers. T.J. McConnell is a senior and there’s a good chance Stanley Johnson, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Brandon Ashley and Kaleb Tarczewski leave school for the NBA. The time is now for Arizona, and Miller.
2. Sam Dekker played like an alpha dog vs. UNC: The NCAA Tournament is bringing out the best in Dekker, evident again in the win over North Carolina. Playing with a palpable edge, Dekker displayed confidence in collecting 23 points and 10 rebounds. If he continues at this level, Wisconsin can beat anyone. Through three tourney games, Dekker is averaging 20 points and 5.6 rebounds while shooting 57 percent.
3. Kentucky’s blowout of West Virginia was ridiculous: To beat a team coached by Bob Huggins in the Sweet 16 by 39 points is ridiculous. To beat any team that won 25 games in the Sweet 16 by 39 points is ridiculous. Do all that and Karl Anthony-Towns doesn’t have a made field goal and still win by 39? That’s really ridiculous. Kentucky was as dominant as I’ve possibly ever seen in the Sweet 16, and stands out even more considering Towns was a non factor. How many teams boasting the potential No. 1 pick could have him go without scoring a field goal in the Sweet 16 and still beat a team the caliber of West Virginia? None. But this is Kentucky, and this NCAA Tournament is looking like a coronation and a second national title under John Calipari.
4. Notre Dame put on an offensive clinic vs. Wichita State: Nobody does what the Irish did to the Shockers in Cleveland — nobody! Notre Dame shot 55.6 percent overall, 75 percent in the second half en route to an 81-70 win. The Irish are 32-5, a career-best record for Mike Brey, who’s in his first Elite Eight. Notre Dame has been a breathtaking offensive team most of the season, but this performance was special (18 assists on 30 FGs, five players scoring between 9 and 20 points). It will be interesting to see how this team does Saturday vs. Kentucky.
5. Zak Showalter displayed serious Glue Guy potential for Wisconsin: One of the biggest questions Badgers fans ask is who will replace Josh Gasser’s intangibles when the senior graduates. Showalter showed he may fill that role. The 6-foot-2 sophomore was huge off the bench in the 79-72 win, finishing with with six points in eight minutes. Showalter’s value doesn’t always show up in the box score — he impacts the game with tips, deflections and 50-50 plays. The Badgers aren’t very deep, but Showalter’s increased production helps. He’s put together solid outings back-to-back (five points and five rebounds vs. Oregon in the Round of 32). When I attended a Wisconsin practice before the season, coaches regularly talked about Showalter resembling former Purdue guard Chris Kramer: a tough, rugged overachieving guy that you loved on your team and hated when as an opponent. It makes sense after seeing Showalter’s past two games.
