Basketball Dynasties

[RMJH4]

Re: Final Conference USA Tournament Bracket

Excited for his first NCAA tournament. Is there a good NCAA selection show in NCAA 10 like there is in CHoops 2K8?

Well yes and no. Its nothing like CHoops. No people involved. Just a selection show with text on fancy screens. announcing the 4 number 1 seeds, and then the regional brackets. more like a powerpoint show with nice background music. but still exciting nevertheless!

[RMJH4]

Chapter 7 : Selection Sunday on Campus

Chapter 7: Selection Sunday on Campus

The student union at UCF was electric. Laughter, nerves, high-fives — the kind of buzz that only Selection Sunday could bring. The Knights weren’t just spectators this year. No, they were stars of the show. Conference USA regular season and tournament Champions. Puerto Rico Invitational Champions. A top 25 team. Nationally ranked #21. And everyone — players, coaches, students, alumni — they were waiting for the moment when the bracket would light up with UCF on the screen.

The entire team gathered around the flat screens, CBS Sports broadcasting live, Greg Gumbel and Clark Kellogg walking through each region with that familiar March cadence. The mood was a mix of celebration and suspense. Popcorn in laps, phones in hand, hearts pounding.

And then — BOOM — it happened.

"In the Mid West Region, the #5 seed… the UCF Knights!"

The room exploded. Cheers. Screams. Hugs. A sea of black and gold erupted in joy. Marcus Jordan, calm but grinning, exchanged a fist bump with AJ Rompza. Coach Kirk Speraw stood up and clapped, nodding toward his guys with that “we earned this” look in his eyes.

UCF. A 5-seed. The journey that started back in November with quiet confidence had erupted into something real, something undeniable.

“They’ll face the #12 seed… Cornell Big Red in the first round.”

Cornell Big Red. A solid mid-major with size and grit. No one was taking them lightly.

“The winner will go on to face either #4 West Virginia Mountaineers or #13 Michigan State Spartans.”

More murmurs. Michigan State’s a big name. West Vriginia’s sneaky. But for now — it was all about Cornell.

Also lurking in the Mid West region? Kentucky, the #1 overall seed looming as a sweet 16 clash. The Tar Heels were there as the #2 Seed. #3 Ohio State Buckeyes.

Marcus leaned back in his chair, expression serious.

“Let ’em doubt,” he said. “We’re not done yet.”

Coach Speraw stepped forward as the cameras panned to the UCF players, now being shown live on national TV. He held his hand up.

“Enjoy this moment. But we’ve got more to prove. Let’s go make history.”

The madness had arrived. The dream was alive.

March had called. And the Knights had answered.

[RMJH4]

NCAA Tournament Brackets

[RMJH4]

Mid West 1st Rd - #12 Cornell 74 - 86 #5 UCF

“Tyler Tames the Big Red! UCF Dancin’ to the Round of 32, BAY-BEE!”


Jordan was unstoppable from the midrange tonight enroute to 21 points.

March 18th 2010.

Louis Dale -G- AJ Rompza
Geoff Reeves -G- Marcus Jordan
Ryan Wittman -F- Nik Garcia
Alex Tyler -F- Keith Clanton
Jeff Foote -C- AJ Tyler


CORN | 31 | 43 |74
UCF | 35 | 51 |86

Game Leaders
Pts - 17 - R. Wittman (CORN), 22 - A. Tyler (UCF)
Rebs - 12 - A. Tyler (CORN), 11 - A. Tyler (UCF)
Asts - 9 - L. Dale (CORN), 8 - AJ. Rompza (UCF)
Stls - 3 - R. Wittman (CORN), 3 - K. Clanton (UCF)
Blks - 2 - A. Tyler (CORN), 2 - K. Clanton (UCF)

CBS Sports Player of the Game.

AJ Tyler (UCF)
22pts, 11 rebs, 2 asts, 2stls, 1 blk.

Game Recap by Dick Vitale.

March Madness is in full swing, and you better believe the energy was ELECTRIC as the #5 seed UCF Knights strutted onto the floor against the Ivy League darlings, the #12 seed Cornell Big Red. But bay-bee, there was NO CINDERELLA STORY tonight! The Knights proved they’re for real, advancing with a commanding 86-74 win!

Let’s give a VITAL SHOUTOUT to my PTPer, Primetime Performer—none other than AJ Tyler! This guy was a WARRIOR in the paint! He was battling all night with 7-footer Jeff Foote, but Tyler stood tall—22 points, 11 rebounds, 2 steals, and a block! Are you kidding me?! That’s a grown man’s stat line!

Marcus Jordan played with that scoring swagger we’ve seen all year, baby. Cool, calm, and collected—he dropped buckets when it mattered most. The kid’s got moxie. UCF’s ball movement was absolutely sensational, thanks to AJ Rompza, who dished out 8 assists like a waiter at a 5-star restaurant, serving dimes on a silver platter!

Credit to Cornell—Ryan Wittman and Louis Dale showed heart. Wittman led the Big Red with 17 points and Dale was dropping dimes like a New York stockbroker with 9 assists. But the Knights’ pressure D and athleticism were just too much down the stretch!

Now hold on to your brackets, baby! UCF is movin’ on to face the #4 seed West Virginia Mountaineers in what’s sure to be a BARNBURNER in the Round of 32! Bob Huggins vs. the rising Knights?! OH BABY, it’s gonna be AWESOME, with a capital A!

Keep dancin’, Knights fans! The madness is just getting started!

[RMJH4]

NCAA Tournament Round 2

[RMJH4]

Mid West RD 2 #5 UCF 88 - 90 #4 West Virginia

“HEARTBREAK CITY, BABY! KNIGHTS FALL JUST SHORT IN INSTANT CLASSIC!”


Jordan's dominant game wasn't enough to help the Knights complete the upset.

March 20th 2010.

AJ Rompza -G- Joe Mazzula
Marcus Jordan -G- Darryl Bryant
Nik Garcia -F- DaSean Butler
Keith Clanton -F- Wellington Smith
AJ Tyler -C- Devin Ebanks


UCF | 31 | 57 |88
WVU| 49 | 41 |90

Game Leaders
Pts - 33 - M. Jordan (UCF), 27 - D. Butler (WVU)
Rebs - 13 - A. Tyler (CORN), 15 - D. Ebanks (WVU)
Asts - 5 - M. Jordan (UCF), 7 - D. Bryant (WVU)
Stls - 3 - M. Jordan (UCF), 3 - D. Butler (WVU)
Blks - 2 - N. Garcia (UCF), 2 - J. Mazzula (WVU)

CBS Sports Player of the Game.

DaSean Butler (WVU)
27pts, 6 rebs, 3 asts, 2stls.

Game Recap by Dick Vitale.

Oh no, baby! My heart is BREAKIN’, absolutely BREAKIN’ for the UCF Knights! In one of the greatest games of this tournament, #4 seed West Virginia escapes with a 90-88 thriller over the #5 seed UCF Knights! A back-and-forth barnburner, a clash of titans, and it came down to the final possession!

This one had all the drama of a Hollywood script, bay-bee! The Knights were down 18 at the half—49-31! Most teams would’ve folded like a cheap tent, but not these Knights. Not Coach Speraw’s squad. They came ROARING back behind one of the gutsiest, grittiest performances of the Big Dance!

Marcus Jordan—OH MY! What can you say about this young man? 33 points, 5 assists, 3 steals—he was simply unconscious in the second half! This kid put the entire program on his back, baby! He was pulling up from deep, driving to the rim, dishing out dimes—he did it ALL! A true Diaper Dandy no more—he’s a full-fledged Prime Time Performer!

But you gotta tip the cap to Da’Sean Butler and the Mountaineers. This guy is a flat-out winner, a warrior! 27 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals—the CBS Sports Player of the Game came up clutch in the final minutes, hitting dagger after dagger.

Devin Ebanks was a monster on the glass with 15 boards, and Darryl “Truck” Bryant was smooth at the point, running the show with 7 assists.

And let’s not forget AJ Tyler, baby! He fought like a junkyard dog down low—13 rebounds, banging bodies with Ebanks all game long. Nik Garcia and Keith Clanton chipped in with timely buckets and big-time hustle.

[RMJH4]

NCAA Tournament Brackets - Sweet 16

[RMJH4]

Chapter 8 : The Aftermath

Chapter 8 : The Aftermath.

The locker room was quiet. Not the kind of quiet that came with peace—but the kind that carried weight, like a heavy fog hanging in the air. The kind of silence that followed heartbreak.

UCF had fallen to West Virginia, 90–88, in one of the wildest, most emotional games of the NCAA Tournament’s opening weekend. The Knights’ dream run had ended not with a blowout, but with a single missed shot, a single possession lost, a few seconds they wished they could replay forever.

Marcus Jordan sat in front of his locker, still in uniform, staring at the floor. A towel draped over his shoulders, sweat still drying. His eyes weren’t red—but they had the quiet intensity of someone who had just poured everything onto the hardwood and walked off with nothing to show for it.

Nothing... except for 33 points. Five assists. Three steals. And the respect of every basketball fan in the country.

He had done everything. Led the second-half charge. Scored 18 straight points during one stretch. Hit dagger threes, split double-teams, found open teammates. When it was slipping away, he took it personal. And yet, it wasn’t enough.

Coach Speraw walked by and gave him a firm pat on the back. “You left it all out there, Marcus. No one can say otherwise.”

Marcus just nodded, silent.

Back in Orlando, the campus buzz that had built all March was now met with a bittersweet pause. Posters were still up. The Selection Sunday watch party still felt fresh in everyone’s mind. And though the Knights were no longer dancing, their story had left a mark.

But for Marcus Jordan, the season wasn’t entirely over.

There were still whispers. Still lists being made. Still accolades to be announced.

He knew the All-Freshman Team was coming up soon. He had averaged 20.5 points per game, the 5th-highest mark in Conference USA, and he had done it on the biggest stages—regular season title clincher, the C-USA Tournament MVP run, and now a 33-point explosion against a Big East powerhouse.

Whispers were already starting to circulate online. “Freshman of the Year?” “First-Team lock?” “NBA upside?”

Marcus didn’t say much about it, but he was watching. Listening. Waiting.

More than anything, though, he wanted to prove this wasn’t the peak. This was just the beginning.

The next morning, he walked into the practice facility alone. Hoodie on. Beats on. He picked up a ball and started putting up shots in silence. One after another. Form tight. Eyes focused.

He had come a long way from being “just a name.” Now, he was building his own legacy.

And the fire inside? It was far from out.

The tournament may be over... but Marcus Jordan was just getting started.

[studbucket]

Re: Chapter 8 : The Aftermath

Joe Mazzula beat you in a round 2 thriller. What a twist! Tough game, but the Knights did well for Jordan's first season.

[RMJH4]

Re: Chapter 8 : The Aftermath

Joe Mazzula beat you in a round 2 thriller. What a twist! Tough game, but the Knights did well for Jordan's first season.

You know I actually did not realise that until you said it! Totally forgot he played there! Crazy.

[RMJH4]

NCAA Tournament Brackets - Elite 8

[RMJH4]

Like Father, Like Son: Marcus Jordan’s Basketball Journey reaches Crossroads

Like Father, Like Son: Marcus Jordan’s Basketball Journey reaches Crossroads

March 2010 was a defining moment in college basketball—and perhaps, a turning point in the legacy of a storied name. Marcus Jordan, the youngest son of NBA legend Michael Jordan, carved his own path this season, leading the UCF Knights to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2005 and capturing the Conference USA Championship along the way.

While the surname carries weight and worldwide recognition, Marcus has worked tirelessly to build a reputation beyond his bloodline. Averaging over 20 points per game Jordan believes he has a real chance of earning a spot on the NCAA All-Freshman First Team alongside the likes of John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins.

In Orlando, he became the face of a resurgent UCF program. Alongside fellow freshman standout Keith Clanton, Marcus helped the Knights knock off Ivy League champion Cornell in the NCAA Tournament’s opening round before falling heartbreakingly to No. 4 seed West Virginia in a tight second-round battle.

"He’s not just a name—he’s a hooper," one scout said. "He competes, he leads, and he’s not afraid of the big moment."

Draft Day Dilemma

As the 2010 NBA Draft approaches, Marcus faces a challenging evaluation. At 6'3", he’s an undersized two-guard by NBA standards, and scouts remain split on whether he can effectively transition into a full-time point guard role.

His ability to score is not in question—his poise and polish in clutch moments have turned heads—but questions about his court vision and facilitation skills remain front and center.

"There’s no denying he’s a shot-maker and competitor," said one veteran NBA executive. "But in today’s league, at his size, you need to run an offense. If he’s going to stick long-term, that’s where his development needs to come."

Early projections list Marcus as a late first-round to early second-round prospect. His stock has a chance to rise if he declares for the draft and plays well in the draft combine. But he has not made a decision on that yet.

His playmaking showed flashes of growth, and his defensive tenacity was noted as a pleasant surprise by team evaluators.

Father and Franchise

What complicates matters further is the looming presence of his father’s status in Charlotte. Michael Jordan, a minority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats, has been rumored to be exploring either increasing his stake in the franchise or stepping away entirely.

The Bobcats, notably, hold no picks in the 2010 NBA Draft. Whether Jordan’s ownership situation could influence Marcus’s landing spot remains a subplot to watch, but Marcus insists his journey is independent.

"Of course I talk to my dad. He’s my biggest mentor," Marcus said. "But this is my path. I want to earn it on my own."

Looking Ahead

As the draft draws closer, Marcus Jordan enters the biggest offseason of his young career. A move to point guard, increased defensive responsibilities, and refining his decision-making are the likely next steps once he decides whether to return to UCF or declare for the draft.

But if the past season is any indicator, he’ll rise to the challenge.

Marcus Jordan might never be the same player as his iconic father. But as he eyes the professional ranks, he’s writing a story only he can tell—and that alone might make him one of the most compelling prospects in the 2010 NBA Draft class.

Like father, like son? Maybe.
Like a baller? Definitely.

[RMJH4]

NCAA Tournament Bracket - Final Four

[RMJH4]

NCAA Tournament Championship Game

[RMJH4]

NCAA Championship Game #1 Kansas 78 - 83 #1 Kentucky

Kentucky Wildcats are the kings of college basketball.




April 5th 2010.

Sherron Collins -G- John Wall
Tyshawn Taylor -G- Eric Bledsoe
Xavier Henry -F- Deandre Liggins
Markieff Morris -F- Patrick Patterson
Cole Aldrich -C- Demarcus Cousins


KAN | 43 | 35 |78
KEN | 30 | 53 |83


Game Leaders
Pts - 28 - X. Henry (KAN), 31 - J. Wall (KEN)
Rebs - 7 - C. Aldrich (KAN), 8 - D. Cousins (KEN)
Asts - 5 - S. Collins (KAN), 6 - E. Bledsoe (KEN)
Stls - 2 - X. Henry (KAN), 3 - J. Wall (KEN)
Blks - 3 - C. Aldrich (KAN), 2 - P. Patterson (KEN)

CBS Sports Player of the Game.

John Wall (KEN)
31pts, 6 rebs, 5 asts, 3stls.

Game Recap by Dick Vitale.

Ohhhhhh, are you kidding me?! What. A. FINISH! This was a heavyweight title bout in every sense of the word, bay-beee! You had blue bloods, you had star power, and you had heart, hustle, and HARDWOOD HEROICS, my friends!

Final score from Indianapolis: Kentucky 83, Kansas 78, as John Wall, the sensational freshman—a diaper dandy deluxe—put the Wildcats on his back and delivered one of the greatest performances in NCAA title game history!

Let me tell ya something, Kansas came out SWINGING! The Jayhawks were on fire in the first half, knocking down big shots and playing that classic Bill Self team defense. Xavier Henry was UNCONSCIOUS, baby! He dropped 28 points and looked like he couldn’t miss—he was en fuego! They went into the break up 43–30, and Big Blue Nation was sweating bullets!

But then—ohhh then—it became the John Wall Show! The future NBA lottery pick came out in the second half with purpose, with poise, and with PIZZAZZ! He scored from the mid-range, took it to the cup, and hit from downtown—31 points, 6 boards, 5 dimes, 3 steals—he did EVERYTHING but sell popcorn at halftime, baby!

Let’s not forget Eric Bledsoe with 6 assists, and DeMarcus Cousins grabbing 8 boards and anchoring the paint down the stretch. Patrick Patterson was Mr. Intangible all night—he didn’t fill the stat sheet, but he made BIG PLAYS that don't always show up in the box score.

Kansas made a late push—Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich were battling like warriors—but it was too little, too late. The Cats outscored the Jayhawks 53–35 in the second half. That’s the sign of a CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM, baby!

John Calipari gets his elusive national title, and Lexington is going to be partying all night long! Big Blue Nation, you’ve got your crown, and it's shining BRIGHT!