Daily Tourney Talk (Tuesday)

Detailed CBS TV ratings for the 2nd week at the end of today's post!

ESPN the Magazine Tom Friend talks about Billy Donovan and, no, not Kentucky, no not extending his current contract, but, yes but, the Miami Heat! At 41, this would certainly be an interesting challenge for Billy, and a nice boost to his bank account(s).

Bold idea for the next Kentucky basketball coach: There's a number of promising coaches with Kentucky links that do not have the big time experience or resume to become the head coach at KY right now... So what if Kentucky hires all of them, and they work together as a triumvirate? People like Ralph Willard, Travis Ford, etc, etc... I know it's highly unlikely, but basketball is all about teamwork after all, although this doesn't seem to apply when it comes to a head coach's ego :-)

Iowa wants to talk to Bruce Pearl. About what? About the weather? About who he recommends for their next coach? Surely they don't think they can lure him out of Tennessee?. The only thing they can hang their hat on was that he was a former assistant there, and he is of the Dr Tom Davis (Ph.D) coaching tree... But in all reality this is just a PR move that helps both parties. Bruce Pearl's stock rises, and the Iowa job gets perceived as more intriguing since, well, Bruce Pearl is taking a look at it. Bruce Pearl is currently at $1.1m, going to $1.2m next year, with a $1m buyout. (m for millions!). He will receive a one year extension taking him to 2013.

Andy Katz reports that the Big East is going to an 18-game schedule next year, and every team will play each other at least once, but they won't decide on the matchups until after the NBA draft situation is settled. Having high profile games on ESPN (eg Big Monday), has its side-effects - it seems their schedule is heavily influenced by the ESPN mega-contract.

TV listings for the week are here.

DVD Shopping segment!. One day sale at Amazon, the first four seasons of The Shield are on sale for $90 (typical Amazon price is $137). Free shipping as well. The price is only good for today (Tuesday)... A brand new season of The Shield starts on FX the day after the Final Four (Tuesday, April 3, 2007).



Detailed CBS TV ratings for the NCAA tournament

Thursday
* Game 1: 6.0 rating (11%) with 9m viewers (m = millions).
* Game 2: 6.6 (13%) with 9.93m viewers (UCLA vs Pitt or Ohio St vs Tenn)

Friday
* Game 1: 5.4 (11%), 8.13m viewers
* Game 2: 6.3 (12%), 9.41m viewers (North Carolina vs USC or UNLV vs Oregon)

Saturday
* UCLA vs Kansas: 6.8 (14%), 10.22m viewers

Sunday
* The end of the North Carolina vs Georgetown gave them a nice 9.8 (19%), 15m viewers.