Former Xavier and Virginia coach Pete Gillen, a New York native, 2008 NYC Basketball Hall of Fame inductee and CBS College Sports Network analyst, shares his March Madn ess thoughts and predictions with The Post. As told to Steve Serby.
If I had a great out-of-bounds play at Providence, we would have gotten to the Final Four in 1997. We were playing Arizona, 3.9 seconds left (in regulation). They took away Option A, they took away Option B and Corey Wright, a New York City kid, was supposed to drive and kick it out. He shot it. The ball was such a brick it went up to the ceiling. It’s still embedded in the Birmingham Civic Center.
A look at the Sweet 16:
EAST
OHIO STATE over KENTUCKY: Jon Diebler is the best shooter dead, alive or yet to be born. Ohio State’s too physical, too experienced and Kentucky’ll have no answer inside for Jared Sullinger.
THE COACHES
John Calipari: He’s like a preacher. Great motivator. Very emotional — he cries during “NCIS” reruns. Gets the most out of his players.
Thad Matta: After games he texts his best players and they really believe in him.
MARQUETTE over NORTH CAROLINA: North Carolina better wear helmets. Marquette is a bunch of junkyard dogs who scrap and claw and bite you in the sneaker. They’re so tough they catch javelins in practice the day before they play. Their Juco players the last couple of years have been eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and nachos for pregame meals on eight-hour bus rides. Harrison Barnes will get his 15 to 18, but he’s gonna have to shoot 7-for-21 . . . because Jimmy Butler is a lockdown defender, remember the name. North Carolina has terrific talent and is a finesse team. Marquette is quicker and tougher . . . these guys are assassins.
THE COACHES
Roy Williams: Dean Smith disciple. Doesn’t deviate a lot from the system.
Buzz Williams: He worked my camp at Xavier. He’s eating steak and I’m eating shrapnel, moss and shrubs. Very emotional. Great feel for the game. His kids play harder than anybody in the country.
OHIO STATE over MARQUETTE: Too much Sullinger.
WEST
SAN DIEGO STATE over UCONN: San Diego State has one of the best frontlines in the country. Kemba Walker will get his 25, but D.J. Gay will make him work.
THE COACHES
Jim Calhoun: Tough as nails . . . taskmaster . . . great defensive coach.
Steve Fisher: Great feel for the game . . . a teacher . . . mixes toughness with love.
ARIZONA over DUKE: Duke doesn’t have an answer inside for Derrick Williams, a more physical Jeff Green.
THE COACHES
Sean Miller: Very confident . . . excellent defensive coach.
Mike Krzyzewski: One of the top three ever . . . a great psychologist . . . pushes the right buttons.
ARIZONA over SAN DIEGO STATE: Williams will be negated inside a little bit, but Arizona has a little better balance of inside-outside.
SOUTHWEST
KANSAS over RICHMOND: Richmond’s matchup zone and Princeton offense could be a problem, but Kansas is too tough inside with the Morris twins (Markieff and Marcus), and Brady Morningstar and Tyrel Reed can hurt you outside.
THE COACHES
Chris Mooney: Pete Carril disciple with a little more cuddliness. A rising star.
Bill Self: Great recruiter . . . good game coach, too . . . very good defensive coach.
FLORIDA STATE over VCU: Florida State’s man-to-man defense will choke the life out of VCU.
THE COACHES
Shaka Smart: Plays ball with them at lunchtime sometimes, and pickup games with the faculty. Can really relate to the kids.
Leonard Hamilton: Terminator . . . no-nonsense, my-way-or-the-highway guy.
KANSAS over FLORIDA STATE: Kansas is too versatile offensively, and Florida State can’t score consistently.
SOUTHEAST
BUTLER over WISCONSIN: Matt Howard is the best inside guy in this game, and Shelvin Mack is the best outside guy. There should be a Congressional investigation into why Indiana and Purdue didn’t get Howard. He’s like a poor man’s Dave DeBusschere.
THE COACHES
Brad Stevens: Very bright, very calm. I was itching, twitching, bleeding from the eyes.
Bo Ryan: Very intelligent. Runs that ball-control swing offense.
FLORIDA over BYU: The Florida frontcourt is too athletic and too physical. Jimmer Fredette is a smaller version of Pete Maravich. He’ll get his 42, but Florida will slow down the other guys.
THE COACHES:
Billy Donovan: Rick Pitino disciple . . . taskmaster . . . pumps iron in the body shop, can get out on the court and still demonstrate. It’s tough love with him.
Dave Rose: Quiet, confident leader.
FLORIDA over BUTLER: Kenny Boynton can slow down Mack, and Florida is too big upfront.
Your Final Four: Ohio State, Arizona, Kansas, Florida.