Kentucky, N. Carolina, UCLA, Kansas, and Duke "The Phat 5" of College Basketball at 500 Report Volume #9 (End of the Regular-Season)

(PRWeb) February 28, 2007 -- "The Phat 5" of College Basketball at 500 Report Volume #9 (End of the Regular-Season)

Kentucky 104 years, 1903-2006-07
N. Carolina 97 years, 1911-2006-07
UCLA 88 years, 1920-2006-07
Kansas 109 years, 1899-2006-07
Duke 102 years, 1906-2006-07

"The Phat 5" of College Basketball at 500 Report Volume #9 (End of the Regular-Season) is dedicated to Frank McGuire. Coach McGuire led the University of N. Carolina from 1952-61. He coached UNC to the first ever "Phat 5" vs. "Phat 5" National Championship meeting on March 23, 1957when UNC defeated Wilt Chamberlain and the Kansas Jayhawks 54-53 in the first and only 3OT game in NCAA history. Coach McGuire recruited Larry Brown to UNC and later coached Wilt Chamberlain and the Philadelphia Warriors for one season in the NBA during the 1961-62 season. Coach McGuire compiled an 550-235 career record spanning from 1947-1980. He was enshrined into the basketball Hall of Fame in 1977.

The "Super 5" of "The Phat 5"

Kentucky- Randolph Morris is averaging 15.3 ppg. and 7.6 rpg.
N. Carolina- Tyler Hansbrough is averaging 18.7 ppg. and 7.6 rpg.
UCLA- Arron Afflalo is averaging 17.5 ppg.
Kansas- Brandon Rush is averaging13.8 ppg. and 5.6 apg.
Duke- Josh McRoberts is averaging 12.8 ppg., 7.7 rpg., and 3.6 apg.

Randolph Morris scored a season-low 4 points this past Sunday (02/25) during a 67-65 loss to Vanderbilt. Morris needs an impressive Conference and NCAA Tournament to become a Top 20 NBA Draft Pick this coming June. Tyler Hasbrough has been "Mr. Steady" for the Tar Heels. Hansbrough will be a finalist for ACC Player of the Year. Tyler will remain at UNC for his Junior season. Arron Afflalo has improved on his outside shooting but still needs to be more dominant with his overall game to give the Bruins serious Championship hope. Afflalo has been the best player on the best team in the PAC-10 and is the favorite to be named Conference Player in the Year. Brandon Rush like Afflalo needs to improve his outside shot for KU. Rush and the Jayhawks has the most balance of any team going into the "Big Dance". Rush needs to stay in Jayhawk Land for one more season before he goes to the NBA. Josh McRoberts scoring has declined during the 4-game win streak of the Blue Devils. McRoberts has gotten major contributions from his teammates during the streak. McRoberts remains an NBA Lottery Pick if he decides to make himself eligible this coming June.

Kentucky 19-9, 8-6 SEC E. unranked in both polls. Kentucky has lost 4 of their last 5 games since losing at home to then #1 ranked Florida 64-61 (02/10). The last "Phat 5" at 500 report UK was ranked as high as #18 in the ESPN/ USA Today poll. The Wildcats also had road losses to Tennessee 89-85 (02/13) and Alabama 72-61 (02/17). UK completed their worst stretch of the season this past Sunday (02/25) with a loss to Vanderbilt 67-65. The Jayhawks are now in 4th place in the SEC E. Kentucky has 2 games remaining before the end of the regular-season.

02/28 Georgia (Final home game of the regular-season)
03/04 @ #4 Florida
03/08-11 SEC Tournament

N. Carolina 24-5, 10-4 ACC ranked #8 in the new AP and ESPN/ USA Today polls. The Tar Heels have gone 2-2 since the last "Phat 5" at 500 Report dropping from the #4 ranking. Carolina who looked like a lock for a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament must fight for a #2 seed.The ACC roller-coaster for Carolina started vs. #25 ranked Virginia Tech losing at home 81-80 (02/13). UNC then posted a huge road win over then #21 ranked Boston College 77-72 (02/17). The Heels would win again and even the season-series vs. in-state rival N. C. State 83-64 (02/21). UNC tasted defeat again this past Sunday (02/25) as they visited Maryland and lost 89-87. The Heels have 2 games remaining before the end of the regular-season.

03/01 @ Georgia Tech
03/04 #14 Duke ("Phat 5" vs. "Phat 5", Final game of the regular-season)
03/08-11 ACC Tournament

UCLA 25-3, 14-2 PAC 10 ranked #2 in the new AP and ESPN/ USA Today polls. The Bruins have won 4 straight games since losing to West Virginia 70-65 (02/10). UCLA was ranked 5th in the last "Phat 5" at 500 Report. They are certainly the favorite for the #1 seed in West for the NCAA Tournament. The Bruins went on the road and defeated Arizona St. 67-61 (02/15) and then #24 ranked Arizona 81-66 (02/17). They came home and continued their winning ways by beating California 85-75 (02/22) and Stanford 75-61 (92/24). Arron Afflalo is the leading candidate for PAC-10 Player of the Year. The Bruins have 2 games remaining before the end of the regular-season.

03/01 @ Washington St.
03/03 Washington (Final game of the regular-season)
03/07-10 PAC-10 Tournament

Kansas 25-4, 13-2 Big 12 ranked #3 in the new AP and ESPN/ USA Today polls. The Jayhawks are riding a 7-game win streak. KU was ranked #8 in the last "Phat 5" at 500 Report. Kansas are first in the Big 12 and are a sure bet for the #1 seed in South East come Tournament Selection Sunday. KU started their climb to #3 in the polls with a road win over Colorado 75-46 (02/14). The Jayhawks earned the most lop-sided win of the BIG-12 season at home vs. Nebraska 92-39 (02/17). They then made it 33 out of 34 when KU visited Kansas State and beat the other Wildcats 71-62 (02/19). KU came home for another dominating performance over Iowa St. 89-52. The Wildcats went on the road again this past Monday (02/26) and held off Oklahoma to win 67-65. KU has 1 game remaining vs. the best player in the country in Kevin Durant. Durant and the #15 ranked Texas Longhorns will face the Jayhawks 03/03 to end regular-season play.

03/08-11 Big 12 Tournament

Duke Blue Devils 22-7, 8-6 ACC ranked #14 in the new AP and ESPN/ USA Today polls. Duke was unranked and out of the polls for the first time in 200 weeks last "Phat 5" at 500 Report. The Blue Devils have won 4 in row with 3 of those wins coming on the road. Duke is now a favorite for a #3 or #4 seed in the NCAA Tournament. They started their way back by beating Boston College on the road 78-70 (02/14). Duke then came to Cameron and defeated Georgia Tech 71-62 (02/18). Duke headed back to road and won at Clemson 71-66 (02/22) and at St.Johns 67-50 (02/25). Duke bounced back like a true "Phat 5" program and silenced any thought of them not getting into the NCAA Tournament. Duke has 2 games remaining before the end of the regular-season.

02/28 Maryland
03/04 @ #8 UNC ("Phat 5" vs. "Phat 5", Final game of the regular-season.
03/08-11 ACC Tournament

"The Phat 5" stat of the Week:

Duke and N. Carolina will end the ACC regular-season this coming weekend. It is possible that this is the last "Phat 5" vs. "Phat 5" matchup during the historical 500 years of combined play of the 2006-07 season.

See you in another 500!

For more information or interview request on "The Phat 5" and their 19-year Final Four streak 1988-Present contact Derrick E. Vaughan of Dunkadelic Inc. 443-851-5244.

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