The first thing that stands out to me about this new CAA scheduling format–and it smacked me in the teeth when I gave it the two-minute overview–is its geography. To review the construction: each team was assigned five “permanent partners” that they play home and away (10 games). The remaining six conference foes rotate through [...]

I know this is ugly, but I stink at graphics. Here’s the CAA partner schedule for the next three years. Each team was assigned five “permanent partners” that they play home and away during all three seasons (10 games). The remaining six “non-permanent partners” rotate through a three-year cycle in which teams face two opponents [...]

When you think about it, the swiftness of Jim Larranaga’s departure from Mason to Miami is the most jarring reality of the entire situation. It wasn’t supposed to go down like this. It was supposed to be a protracted romance–frothy-mouthed media leaks about overtures spurned, and a week’s worth of speculation and overanalysis of every [...]

Jeff Goodman and Gary Parrish are reporting it as fact. Here’s pre-press conference opinion: we had better not hear a tale of “wanting to prove it on a higher level” and related gibberish. That would cause CAAHoops great annoyance and displeasure. It will be beyond sad if this is about money.

Let me clear about three items: I think Jim Larranaga is going to be the next Miami coach. This is based on my opinion and not one bit of fact. It is a terrible idea, for both sides. Lucy’s got some ‘splainin to do… Let’s get the Miami angle out of the way first, because [...]

You thought I was a goner, didn’t you? Nope, just real life throwing a game of Hungry Hungry Hippo at me. Anyway, we managed to cobble together the most current version of each team’s comings and goings. These will obviously change as freshmen sign and transfers transfer, and I will update the list as events [...]

The most striking aspect to VCUs run to the Final Four is how much of it doesn’t matter. Cinderella, upsets, BCS conferences, Vitale and Bilas, comparisons to Mason’s run, Shaka Smart’s “stock” (whatever that is), even the money and prestige–all are unimportant outside of the pure fact that it gives people something to write about [...]

Three quick hitters as we get life back together: Towson has hired Pat Skerry as its new coach, replacing Pat Kennedy. Skerry was an assistant at Pitt this past year. Skerry has crossed paths with CAA teams frequently in his past. He was an assistant at three schools who are popular nonconference foes–Providence (2008-2010), Rhode [...]

So many words already written, so many more to go. We’ll get to the meanings–both real and contrived–of VCUs amazing run to the Final Four in the next day(s). For now, let’s answer the question of revenue. There was tremendous guilt in the confusing nature of the previous charts, so here’s what we’ve done: simplified. [...]

“Great things are done when men and mountains meet; this is not done by jostling in the street.” –William Blake. We’ve said it in the context of what can be, and in Ya Gotta Believe. From through tomorrow and Monday, ya gotta believe in the moment. Great things have indeed been done. I’m going to [...]