DAILY SWARM

MORE CRAP ABOUT THE "REAL" NC
... begin Duke / Uconn (from MSNBC.com). All I have to say is that if one of those teams is truly the best in the land, then they will not have problems beating little ole weak GT or Ok.St. in the finals. Maybe it will just be like a tune-up for next year............. Here's another look at the games, but the writer does a good job of not discounting Ok.St and GT. Did you know that during Villinova's '85 title run, they won their 6 tourney games by a total of 30 points - that is the smallest margin of victory in history. GT has won their 4 games by a total of 21 points.

ALL REGION TEAMS
Not only did Jack and Luke make first team, but C-Moore and W.Bynum made 2nd team (link here).............. The Jackets are not giving up just getting to the FF (story here).

SCOUTING THE GAME
Here is a good look at the Cowboys from RamblinRed at the Hive................... Meanwhile, Tony Allen is a big part of their success (story here)......... Here's a story on John Lucas, who ended up at Ok.St only because Bynum ended up at GT........ MSNBC actually just wrote a nice column on the Jackets (story here).

From the USAToday, a look at "Rookie" Paul Hewitt, who is primed and ready........... Another story about Coach Hewitt making a name for himself.

COWBOYS LOOK TO START FAST
We all know that a slow start is NOT a good thing for the Jackets - well, the Cowboys are looking to start fast (story here)...............

STAR POWER ON THE SIDELINES
story here........... Hewitt getting major love from other ACC fans - Carolina fans

ELDER WILL BE READY TO PLAY
Looks like BJ should be close to 100% (story here). Great news.

FORMER JACKETS EXCITED FOR THE TEAM
You've heard that D-Scott was on 790theZone earlier in the week hyping up the Jackets. He will speak to the team at Hewitt's request. John Salley has been hyping up the team on BDSSP almost every night. He even wore his throwback jersey the other night................ Kenny Anderson is also excited about the team, but his boss wouldn't give him time off to go to SA - "I told him he has a better chance of seeing God than me allowing that to happen," Carlisle said, smiling.". I love Anderson's comments about working out over the summer with the team - that they always come in together, they work hard, and that - "Plus, Paul Hewitt is a class guy. He works hard and doesn't take any mess. He's real straightforward and he makes sure those guys work hard, so they had no choice but to be successful."...............

Now Travis Best is getting in on the excitement. In the Dallas News, he said - "Proud alumnus: Travis Best is happy his college team made it to the Final Four. But he prefers a different name for Georgia Tech: Point Guard U. Tech has produced Kenny Anderson, Best and Stephon Marbury over the last 15 years. Now it has Jarrett Jack . "He's carrying on the tradition of No. 3, that's for sure," said Best, who like Marbury also wore No. 3. "He's definitely holding his own. "Every time I see that number, I think it should be in the rafters ... just put one big banner with both our names on it," he said of himself and Marbury. "I'll accept that." Proud alumnus: Travis Best is happy his college team made it to the Final Four. But he prefers a different name for Georgia Tech: Point Guard U. Tech has produced Kenny Anderson, Best and Stephon Marbury over the last 15 years. Now it has Jarrett Jack. "He's carrying on the tradition of No. 3, that's for sure," said Best, who like Marbury also wore No. 3. "He's definitely holding his own. "Every time I see that number, I think it should be in the rafters ... just put one big banner with both our names on it," he said of himself and Marbury. "I'll accept that."

Here is another GREAT article on the team, mentioning that Hewitt has embraced the tradition started by Coach Cremins and called Salley, Price and D-Scott to make sure they would be at the game. - "I felt like I owe those guys something," Hewitt said yesterday. "I've talked about the tradition Bobby established and we tried to build on that tradition, and here we are in the Final Four. The history and tradition made it a little easier than for most coaches."

Who else will be at the game along with Salley, Price and D-Scott. How about Brian Domalik, Matt Harpring is trying to arrange his schedule, K-Anderson will be there if we make it to Monday night, maybe Bruce Dalyrimple, and possibly others. Evidently, Coach Hewitt has over 20 tickets alloted for former players.

FULL TRANSCRIPT OF PRESS CONFERENCE
To read what Coach Hewitt, C-Moore and M.Lewis had to say at the recent press conference, click here.

MORE ON J.JACK AND POINT GUARD TRADITION
I am sure this will not be the last story on J.Jack (story here).

MORE ON THE CHICAGO CONNECTION
This storyline will probably get more PR as the week goes on (story here).

ED NELSON SAYS OKAFOR IS OK
Dr.Ed Nelson has cleared Okafor for the game this weekend (story here). Notice the commnet - "Nelson is sitting out this season per NCAA rules for transfers and will travel to the Final Four on his own money. But Nelson could have been there as a player with Georgia Tech, where he averaged 8.1 points as a sophomore last season before leaving to join the Huskies." I hate to say this, but I'm not so sure we are in the Final Four with Ed Nelson on our team. I don't want to suggest that other players wouldn't play the same, but when he left, that made room for C-Moore, who has helped bring team chemistry and leadership to a new level. It is heart that has gotten GT to the FF, and C-Moore has added heart in spades to this team. Just not sure we would be the same without him and having a guy in his place more concerned about minutes.

If you don't believe me, then read this new story on C-Moore and what he brings to this team. Can you believe that Coach Hewitt said to Moore during the Syracuse / Kansas final game - "If you were on our team, we would be playing in this game," Hewitt told Moore". Now THAT is spooky!!!!!!!!!!!

WHERE ARE THEY NOW - MARK PIKE
Nice story on the former Jacket defensive player from the Bill's site.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW - DAVID DUVAL
As reported yesterday, he has withdrawn from the Masters - here is the story......... Evidently, other players feel for Duval (story here).

WHERE ARE THEY NOW - M.MADDUX
Looks like he is doing well, scoring 34 points in his latest effort.

MASKING BS IN MATHMATICS
This guy tries to make an argument for Duke based on a math argument. To me this story is crap. If you really want to normalize, then take out fouls at the end of the game from the trailing team. Because guess what the losing team tries to do to stop the clock - duhhh. Take that out and Duke does not get worse treatment - believe it. Of course the guy writes for the Duke b-ball report, so what do you expect.

FOOTBALL TEAM MAKES ADJUSTMENTS TO O-LINE
Click here for details........... Also, here is a story on Gerris Wilkinson, a winner, who will move back to his natural linebacker position this year.

WILL WE LOSE CALVIN JOHNSON BEFORE HE EVER STEPS ON THE GRIDIRON?
Turns out Calvin is quite the baseball diamond star. And while "insiders" say there is no chance we will lose him to baseball, it is fair to say "never say never".

MCDONALDS ALL-AMERICAN GAME COULD IMPACT MORRIS AND THE NBA
No doubt a strong performance could impact Randolph's decision on going pro. (story here). The game is tonight (no doubt on TV if you check)........... Here is a video clip about the MAA Game, including some time with R.Morris flipping burgers at the cafeteria.