Welcome back to Break Room Small Talk, the infrequent daily newsletter that provides you with talking points about yesterday’s sports. When your dentist asks you about last night’s game, don’t sweat the fact that you didn’t watch — just drop a line and he’ll be none the wiser1.
Before we get to the action, let’s talk real quick about (11) NC State head coach, Kevin Keatts2. As we’ve covered, NC State made the NCAA Tournament by winning five straight games in the ACC Tournament to earn the conference’s automatic bid. Leading up to the conference tourney, the Wolfpack had lost seven of their final nine regular season games. Without winning the conference tournament, it’s very possible Keatts seven-year run in Raleigh was done.
Instead, the ACC Tournament Championship triggered a two-year contract extension, a $100,000 bonus, and a $400,000 annual raise that kicks in next season. Keatts has earned an additional $75,000 in bonuses from NC State’s first two tournament wins, with more to come should his team keep winning. These contract incentives are not unique to Keatts contract, but it is pretty crazy to see him hitting so many of them when just weeks ago he was on the hot seat.
The lessons for the rest of us are clear:
Always negotiate — no doubt those incentive structures were fought for
When you’re ready for your next raise, do a really bad job and then do your best work ever
In all seriousness, Keatts has done an amazing job of getting his team to play its best when it matters the most. The Wolfpack will look to extend their hot streak today at 4:09 PM PT against (2) Marquette.
Alright - let’s get to five great talking points for your Good Friday.
1. Alabama’s Heel Turn
With a 54-46 halftime lead, (1) North Carolina was 20 minutes away from advancing past the Sweet Sixteen for the second time in three years. Unfortunately for the Tar Heels, Grant Nelson and (4) Alabama had other ideas.
Nelson, a senior forward with a freshman’s upper lip, scored 15 of his 24 points in the second half while adding 12 rebounds and five blocks to lead the Crimson Tide back to the Elite Eight for the first time since 2004.
Say something like: “Grant Nelson’s name and mustache are straight off a fake I.D., but his game is a REAL problem!”
- or -
Say something like: “Roll Tide!”
2. Conn Men
There is nothing fake about (1) UConn, who beat (5) San Diego State 82-52 last night in a rematch of the 2023 national championship game. Coach Dan Hurley’s squad was led by their trio of starting guards, seniors Cam Spencer (18 points) and Tristen Newton (17 points), and freshman Stephon Castle (16 points and 11 rebounds).
The Huskies have won their first three tournament games by an average of 28.7 points. They are halfway to repeating as National Champions and look every bit deserving of the their favorite status.
Say something like: “I haven’t seen a college team this dominant since the UConn women won four straight national titles from 2013-2016.”
3. Every Day I’m Schieffelin
The front court tandem of Ian Schieffelin (14 points, seven rebounds) and PJ Hall (17 points, eight rebounds) had big games for (6) Clemson last night, but it was brothers Chase Hunter (18 points) and Dillon Hunter that made the two deciding plays in the Tigers’ 77-72 win over (2) Arizona.
With Clemson clinging to a two-point lead with 25 seconds remaining in the game, the elder Hunter, Chase, made a contested lay-up while getting fouled. Chase converted the free throw to put the Tigers up by five, but Arizona responded quickly with a Caleb Love jump shot to cut the lead back to three, 75-72. Thats when the younger Hunter brother, Dillon, got the last laugh, putting the game out of reach with a layup of his own with 11 seconds left on the clock.
Say something like: “With two sons on the same team, Brandi Hunter-Lewis is living Donna Kelce’s dream!”
4. Flipping The Script
The first weekend of the Men’s tournament went mostly as expected, as 14 teams that made the Sweet Sixteen were seeded 1-5. Thursday was less favorable for the favorites, however, with (1) UConn being the only higher seed to win. (3) Illinois beat (2) Iowa State, 72-69, joining (4) Alabama and (6) Clemson with upset victories.
Terrence Shannon Jr.3 led the way for the Fighting Illini with 29 points and five rebounds.
Say something like: “I’d love to see Duke, NC State, Gonzaga and Creighton win today!”
5. Hold My Beer(s)
Today’s slate of games includes four more Men’s Sweet Sixteen games and the first four games of the Women’s round of 16. The women’s action gets underway at 11:30 AM PT with Raegan Beers and the (3) Oregon State Beavers taking on (2) Notre Dame and freshman star Hannah Hidalgo.
Say something like: “I’ll be out of office watching basketball all day and will respond to your email upon my return on Monday, April 1. If your message is urgent, please contact breakroomsmalltalk@gmail.com4.”
Then tell him to stop asking questions while your mouth is full of metal instruments.
Once a year we are obligated to remind you that the college coaching profession is wild. Last March, BRST waxed poetic about a longterm contract extension that Dusty May signed with FAU, and just as we predicted (with a VERY extended Cinderella metaphor), May lasted just one more year before leaving for the greener (as in money) pastures of Michigan.
Shannon’s play is overshadowed by legal charges stemming from an alleged incident that occurred in September. Illinois initially suspended Shannon, but the suspension was overruled by a federal judge in January.
Careful, if you choose to use this, I will respond.