Monday, April 6, 2009
The biggest crowd in Final Four history will watch tonight, including some fans from very far away.
Leading off
A Michigan State championship would put an upset win at the end of an otherwise upsetfree tournament. From Midnight Madness forward this was supposed to be Carolina's season. Tonight that would all come to fruition.
What to look forward to today
Kalin Lucas vs. Ty Lawson
Fearless Prediction of the day (5-2 at these so far)
North Carolina
Questions I don't know the answer to:
Can Villanova hang with North Carolina?
Obama 38 vs. Vautour 40
vs. 
The full Presidential bracket is here. He're mine.
Today's picks:
Me: I'm out of winners.
Obama:He needs a Carolina win to tie me in total wins. But I'd
declare him the winner for picking the champion correctly if Carolina
wins it all. My fiancee would like him to win. "I want the president to be smarter than you are" was her reasoning and that's hard to argue with.
Links:
Gerry Ahern on tonight's point guard matchup.
Michigan State figures to have a homecourt advantage.
Mitch Albom weighs in on Detroit's performance as a host.
Pete Thamel on the rematch.
Five reasons Michigan State will win.
Five reasons UNC will win.
Buzzer beaters:
At what point does Derek Kellogg become Memphis' choice? He told me Friday that he wasn't interested. I believe him because he answered the phone. He knew right away what I was calling about and joked that if he was really interested, he wouldn't have answered. That I believe. How about Tony Barbee?
Where does Arizona go next. College basketball season ends tonight. The Carousel has plenty of legs left.
...16 hours til One Shining Moment...
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Final Four tips tonight.
Leading off
This is as good a coaching Final Four as there's been in recent years. Two Hall of Fame coaches in Jim Calhoun and Roy Williams. Tom Izzo will likely be joining them there eventually and Jay Wright would certainly take a big step toward Springfield if the Wildcats win. If everything else is equal, I like Izzo to outcoach anybody in the tournament including any of these guy, but I don't think he has the talent UConn and North Carolina do. But can he create a game plan to counteract the talent gap? I'm anxious to see.
What to look forward to today
Kalin Lucas vs. A.J. Price.
Fearless Prediction of the day (5-2 at these so far)
Big East will put just one team in the final.
Questions I don't know the answer to:
Can Villanova hang with North Carolina?
Obama 38 vs. Vautour 40
vs.
The full Presidential bracket is here. He're mine.
Today's picks:
Me: I'm out of winners.
Obama:He needs a Carolina win to tie me in total wins. But I'd declare him the winner for picking the champion correctly if Carolina wins it all.
Links:
Wetzel on the silly attention given to Ty Lawson playing craps.
Ty Lawson and Scottie Reynolds have a friendly rivalry.
These are usually fun.
Hasheem Thabeet has had a long journey to the Final Four.
Buzzer beaters:
I'd like to thank all the readers who emailed me to tell they have
Villanova in the Final Four. That's an impressive read of the bracket
by you before it started.
...10 weeks til I'm married...
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Some version of this picture will be hanging in the homes and offices of quite a few Nova fans.
Leading off
The next person I meet that has Villanova in the Final Four in their bracket will be the first. I know of no one. If the Wildcats beat North Carolina/Oklahoma to advance to the final, this year could totally become the season where your pool is one by either a Nova grad/fan or the nonfan that filled out a pool for fun and picked Nova because his/her nephew goes there.
What to look forward to today
Griffin vs. Hansbrough.
Fearless Prediction of the day (5-2 at these so far)
One win by a one seed.
Questions I don't know the answer to:
How seriously to I take these "I'm not interested in the Kentucky job" statements?
Obama 38 vs. Vautour 40
vs.
I'll update this after tonight's games. The full Presidential bracket is here.
Today's picks:
Me: Oklahoma
Obama:Louisville, UNC
Links:
Wetzel on Scotty Reynolds' new legendary status.
Blair Kerkoff on Griffin-Hansbrough. Steve Megaree, John Branch weigh in too.
Rick Pitino is pushing John Pelphrey and Travis Ford for the Kentucky job.
Buzzer beaters:
Is therea more anonymous Elite Eight team than Michigan State? Kalin Lucas is legitimate star and nobody knows about him. They could know more after today.
...5.5 hours til tip...
Saturday, March 28, 2009
The best big man battle of years is coming tomorrow.
Leading off
It's been kind of a disappointing tournament so far. In a season where No. 1 was knocked off time after time, there was reason to dream of an upset-filled first weekend. It didn't happen.
So with all the heavyweights still alive, it then had the potential to be an amazing display of basketball, perhaps the greatest Sweet Sixteen ever, some experts predicted. That didn't happen either. With the exception of Pitt-Xavier and Michigan State-Kansas, there's been a collection of blowouts.
But tomorrow the potential exists for one of the best individual big man battles in years when Tyler Hansbrough and Blake Griffin square off.
What to look forward to today
Pitt-Villanova. Two schools very familiar with each other will meet today for a shot at the Final Four.
Fearless Prediction of the day (4-2 at these so far)
Two Big East wins.
Questions I don't know the answer to:
Is Pitt struggling or doing enough to win in this tournament? Or both?
Obama 38 vs. Vautour 40
vs.
I'll update this after tonight's games. The full Presidential bracket is here.
Today's picks:
Me: Pitt
Obama: Pitt, UConn
Links:
Wetzel on the Big East. John Feinstein too.
Turns out Luke Winn agrees with my lead off.
William Rhoden looks at UConn.
Buzzer beaters:
If I were running the search at Georgia, I'd offer Billy Gillespie my vacant coaching position today. In fact I'd have done it last night. Gillespie will be at his best when he's the basketball coach at a football school. Gillespie can coach and isn't interested in doing the other stuff. Georgia is perfect.
...8 hours til tip...
Saturday, March 28, 2009
The best big man battle of years is coming tomorrow.
Leading off
It's been kind of a disappointing tournament so far. In a season where No. 1 was knocked off time after time, there was reason to dream of an upset-filled first weekend. It didn't happen.
So with all the heavyweights still alive, it then had the potential to be an amazing display of basketball, perhaps the greatest Sweet Sixteen ever, some experts predicted. That didn't happen either. With the exception of Pitt-Xavier and Michigan State-Kansas, there's been a collection of blowouts.
But tomorrow the potential exists for one of the best individual big man battles in years when Tyler Hansbrough and Black Griffin square off.
What to look forward to today
Pitt-Villanova. Two schools very familiar with each other will meet today for a shot at the Final Four.
Fearless Prediction of the day (4-2 at these so far)
Two Big East wins.
Questions I don't know the answer to:
Is Pitt struggling or doing enough to win in this tournament? Or both?
Obama 38 vs. Vautour 40
vs.
I'll update this after tonight's games. The full Presidential bracket is here.
Today's picks:
Me: Pitt
Obama: Pitt, UConn
Links:
Wetzel on the Big East. John Feinstein too.
Turns out Luke Winn agrees with my lead off.
William Rhoden looks at UConn.
Buzzer beaters:
If I were running the search at Georgia, I'd offer Billy Gillespie my vacant coaching position today. In fact I'd have done it last night. Gillespie will be at his best when he's the basketball coach at a football school. Gillespie can coach and isn't interested in doing the other stuff. Georgia is perfect.
...8 hours til tip...
Friday, March 27, 2009
Levance Fields is starting to look like the type of player who gets a lot of face time in One Shining Moment.
Leading off
I think we were fooled. Both by Memphis and Duke. Timing and circumstance propped both teams up in the polls for much of the year. I think the Tigers are good and has the makings of a great team if Evans returns especially with the recruits they've have coming in.
Duke's ACC Tournament titlle helped get the Blue Devils the No. 1 seed, but they won that tournament thanks to the conference's best teams getting knocked out before Duke had to face them. These Blue Devils never quite played like the best Duke teams did.
What to look forward to today
Oklahoma vs. Syracuse. Is this Blake Griffin's last college game? Jonny Flynn's? Could be a classic.
Fearless Prediction of the day (3-2 at these so far)
UNC is going to thrash Gonzaga. The Zags barely beat Illinois and barely beat Western Kentucky. Carolina is a different animal and Gonzaga is going to be done quickly.
Questions I don't know the answer to:
Is Missouri good enough to beat Memphis?
Obama 35 vs. Vautour 37
vs.
I'll update this after tonight's games. The full Presidential bracket is here.
Today's picks:
Me: Michigan State, Oklahoma, North Carolina
Obama: MSU, Louisville, Syracuse, North Carolina
Links:
Wetzel looks at Levance Fields and
After writing about DeJuan Blair's backside yesterday, Pete Thamel writes about Fields' ... courage.
Joe Posnanski looks at Mike Anderson.
The NY Times looks at a pair of particularly unlovable players.
Rick Pitino suggests that coaches not the NCAA should police recruiting. I think he should be slightly more realistic and have Santa Claus, the tooth fairy and the Easter Bunny handle it.
Gene Wojciechowski wonders if this is Jim Calhoun's final ride.
Buzzer beaters:
Former UMass athletic director Bob Marcum liked to hold court from time to time. Give him a few captive listeners and he enjoyed sharing his opinion on almost anything sports related. I remember one night, Marcum saying that he thought Missouri was one of the most underrated college basketball jobs in the country. It's in a good conference and is near recruiting bases in St. Louis and Kansas City and not that far from Chicago. Yesterday may have been the start of that coming to fruition.
...10 hours til tip...
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Detroit has never seemed so appealing.
Leading off
Normally today would focus on 16 teams two games awy from the Final Four. It would be about how the tournament's top 12 teams are all still alive which could create some terrific games.
But everything is taking a backseat to Connecticut.
The Huskies are one of those 16 teams playing. They'll face Purdue today. But the Yahoo Sports report detailing major recruiting violations by UConn is dominating college basketball news.
There were rumors already that Calhoun was considering retiring after this season especially if the Huskies made it to the Final Four. Does this make him more likely to retire to avoid the oncourt repurcussions? Or is he more likely to stick around and fight? Calhoun has always liked to fight, but his health concerns - two bouts of cancer and his recent ailments that led him to miss his first tournament game - make it fair to wonder if he's up for it.
If Calhoun leaves, who replaces him?
How damaging would an NCAA investigation be to UConn's future?
How willing is the NCAA to go after a Hall-of-Famer?
How will any of this affect the Huskies today against Purdue, which isn't an easy game to begin with?
Dennis Dodd seems sympathetic to Calhoun, and portrays UConn as a team you could otherwise really get behind.
Jeff Jacobs tees off UConn.
Calhoun is ducking questions.
What to look forward to today
All of it. There are four terrific games today. I can't wait.
Fearless Prediction of the day (2-2 at these so far)
Two upsets. That's right, two lower seeds are going to win.
Questions I don't know the answer to:
Is Missouri good enough to beat Memphis?
Obama vs. Vautour
vs.
I'll update this after tonight's games. The full Presidential bracket is here.
Links:
Wetzel looks at Xavier.
Gerald Henderson is no stranger to Villanova.
The New York Times has a story about DeJuan Blair's keister and one about Bill Rafftery.
Buzzer beaters:
Is Billy Gillespie really at risk of getting fired now that Kentucky is out of the NIT? Could the Travis Ford era at Oklahoma State be just one year long?
...9.5 hours til tip...
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Texas had so many chances to mayke all the Duke-haters happy, but couldn't do it.
Leading off
Today either No. 13 Cleveland State or No. 12 Arizona is going to the Sweet Sixteen today. There will be a Cinderella story still alive next week.
What to look forward to today
The return of Dominic James. The Marquette point guard has been cleared to play. If the Golden Eagles win today, James will have most of a week to get back in shape, which would make Marquette drastically better.
Fearless Prediction of the day (1-2 at these so far)
Syracuse will cruise past Arizona State
Questions I don't know the answer to:
Can Travis Ford and Oklahoma State beat Pitt today? When Ford's team are shooting well, nobody is safe.
Obama 27 vs. Vautour 30
vs.
I'm still beating the President although his Final Four is still intact. The full Presidential bracket is here.
Presidential winners today (only teams still alive listed): Louisville, Michigan State, Missouri, Pitt, Syracuse
Mine: Louisville, Michigan State, Missouri, Pitt, Syracuse,
Links:
Gary Waters has rejuvinated himself and the Vikings.
Lawson returns.
NY Times has a look at Hasheem Thabeet.
Buzzer beaters:
The Atlantic 10 is 2-1 so far in the tournament. Xavier should be the favorite today against Wisconsin, while Dayton will try to be the second school in the conference to beat Kansas this year.
...two weeks til the Final Four...
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Siena might have been a No. 9 seed, but fans were glad to embrace a little guy getting a win.
Leading off
I'm at the muttering stage. I reach this stage most years when a team I have high hopes for gets bounced early. I walk around mad at myself for overestimating the potential of a team and thus crushing my bracket. This year, it's Wake Forest.
What to look forward to today
Western Kentucky vs. Gonzaga. Want to see a No. 12 in the Sweet Sixteen?
Fearless Prediction of the day (0-2 at these so far)
LSU will make it interesting with North Carolina.
Questions I don't know the answer to:
Will Ty Lawson play? How effective will be if he does?
Obama 19 vs. Vautour 23
vs.
I'm still beating the President although his Final Four is still intact. The full Presidential bracket is here.
Presidential winners today (only teams still alive listed): UConn, Purdue, Memphis, Villanova, Duke, UNC, Gonzaga, Oklahoma
Mine: UConn, Purdue, Memphis, Villanova, Duke, UNC, Western Kentucky, Oklahoma,
Links:
Interesting day in Ohio yesterday with Dayton, Xavier and Cleveland State winning while Ohio State fell.
Siena's win is classic.
Jeff Passan looks at Eric Devendorf's villan status.
Ben Woodside made a name for himself even in a loss.
Buzzer beaters:
Weak showing by WVEI, the which broadcasts Boston's WEEI sports programming, last Friday night. At Midnight with both FSU & Wisconsin and Siena & Ohio State in overtime, the station switched over from its Westwood One NCAA Tournament coverage to Fox Sports national coverage, which after a quick news update, went to a few minutes of commercials. Fortunately at night you can get WFAN out of New York which didn't switch over. I assume the switch over is automated, but NCAA games going past midnight wasn't unforseable.
...two weeks til the Final Four...
Friday, March 20, 2009
Getting to this point took longer than it should have for the Hilltoppers.
Leading off
I'm not an anti-Duke person. There are a lot of people who hate
anything Duke does because they hated Christian Laettner, 17 years ago.
I'm not one of those. I'm not a Duke fan per se, but I rooted for Jay
Williams, for Shane Battier and even J.J. Redick. But right now I'm
rooting for Mike Krzyzewski to shut up.
“As much as I respect what he’s doing, really the economy is something he should focus on more than the brackets.’’
This was Coach K's response fo finding out that Barack Obama had
only picked his Blue Devils to reach the Elite Eight. Krzyzewski isn't
the only one. There are plenty of gas bags to make a similar statements
when finding out that the President dared have a moment of leisure time.
I don't care if you're the president, the pope or a member of the
FBI bomb squad, if you think about work ever waking hour, you're
eventually going to lose your mind. There's value to distractions and
college basketball, especially for a guy whose brother-in-law is a
coach and whose body man played at Duke, is a good one, certainly
better than some things some politicians have done in their leisure
time.
What to look forward to today
Better games I hope. Only VCU-UCLA really went down to the wire as the rest of the games fizzled out or never got good to begin with.
Fearless Prediction of the day (0-1 at these so far)
North Dakota State over Kansas
Questions I don't know the answer to:
What's really wrong with Jim Calhoun and why does he seem to have health issues during the NCAA Tournament? I'm admittedly not a Calhoun fan, but it's scary that his health seems to fail at tournament time.
Obama 11 vs. Vautour 13
vs.
I took a two-game lead over the Predictor in Chief yesterday. The full Presidential bracket is here.
Presedential winners today: Louisville, Ohio State, Utah, Wake Forest, West Virginia, Kansas, BC, Michigan State, Marquette, Missouri, Pitt, Tennessee, Florida State, Xavier, Temple, Syracuse
Mine: Louisville, Siena, Arizona, Wake Forest, West Virginia, North Dakota State, USC, Michigan State, Marquette, Missouri, Pitt, Tennessee, Florida State, Xavier, Temple, Syracuse
Links:
Arizona is trying to prove they belong in the field.
Jeff Jacobs, Calhoun's long time verbal sparring partner, weighs in on the coach's medical situation.
Geoff Calkins, on Roburt Sallie writing his name into NCAA lore.
Plaschke on UCLA.
New York Times on Jeff Jordan.
Buzzer beaters:
The Atlantic 10 rides today. The conference got two of the four at-large bids for non BCS leagues. The other two - Butler and BYU - are already out. A couple of wins from Xavier, Dayton and Temple wouldn't hurt the A-10's cause or that of the many other leagues that hope to get more bids down the road.
...2.5 hours til tipoff...
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
"This isn't football. We have this event and ultimately that's what you're judged on. It's how you do in the end."
- Big East Commissioner Mike Tranghese.
Leading off
I love the idea that today and tomorrow throughout North Dakota, that fans are getting interested in the NCAA Tournament more than ever before to follow the North Dakota State Bison, the state's first ever participant in the tournament.
What to look forward to today
The tipoff between LSU and Butler that hopefully kicks off a great tournament.
Fearless Prediction of the day
Akron over Gonzaga
Questions I don't know the answer to:
Will injured point guards Ty Lawson and Chester Frazier even play? Look doubtful at least for today.
Obama vs. Vautour
vs.
I'm confident the president is smarter than I am, which is certainly a
good thing. But can he out pick me in the NCAA Tournament. On each day
guide I'll look at our picks for each game. The full Presidential bracket is here.
Presedential winners today: UConn, BYU, Purdue, Washington, Maryland, Memphis, VCU, Villanova, Texas, Duke, UNC, Butler, Illinois, Gonzaga, Clemson, Oklahoma
Mine: UConn, A&M, Purdue, Washington, Maryland, Memphis, VCU, Villanova Texas, Duke, UNC, Butler, Western Kentucky, Akron, Michigan, Oklahoma
Links:
My picks.
Tony Kornheiser's picks.
Dan Wetzel explores the romantic relationship between each fan and his Final Four picks.
I always enjoy SI's annual NCAA Preview cover.
Joe Posnanski tries speed-picking his bracket.
Katie Hairopolous says expect the unexpected.
NY Times on Eric Maynor.
Bill Plaschke predicts the fate of the Los Angeles teams.
Diane Pucin on Obama snubbing the Pac 10.
Buzzer beaters:
For years I've lamented the lack of a Hampshire County sports bar that gets the NCAA Tournament package (so you can see all the game), so I'm greeting the arrival of Buffalo Wild Wings with open arms. If you're skipping work stop over and say hello.
...17 hours til tipoff...
Sunday, March 15, 2009
The Brow meets The Dance.
Leading off
I'm hoping for a No. 4 Oklahoma State vs.No. 13 Binghamton matchup in the first round or Travis vs. Tiki.
What to look forward to today
The Bracket. Finding out who is going to upset Clemson in the first round.
Prediction of the day
Creighton is going to get in. It shouldn't, but its going to get in.
Bubble guide:
Mississippi State vs. Tennessee -.The Volunteers can make the rest of the bubble breathe a little easier. Just a little.
Questions I don't know the answer to:
Does the UMass hockey team have one more great effort in them?
Link
The New York Times' Pete Thamel says in this economy, it was a good time to have a bad year as a coach.
Buzzer beaters
Selection Sunday, St. Patrick's Day and Tournament Thursday... It's going to be a good week.
..8.5 hours til UMass-Northeastern hockey...
Saturday, March 14, 2009
I'm pretty sure this is a scene from a Broadway musical.
Leading off
The NCAA Tournament is going to have a tough act to follow after what has been an amazing championship week.
What to look forward to today
It's a scary day for bubble teams that are done playing as there are several teams in position to grab automatic bidsthat wouldn't be getting at-large bids if they lose.
Prediction of the day
I was right on Syracuse yesterday. I think the Orange is losing today.
Bubble guide:
Tulsa vs. Memphis -The Golden Hurricane is in the discussion now win or lose. Bubble teams are hoping for a convincing Memphis win.
USC vs. Arizona State - The Trojans might be in already now.
Baylor vs. Missouri -The Bears can complete their Cinderella run.
Questions I don't know the answer to:
How many teams is the Atlantic 10 going to get? Xavier is in. Is Dayton? If Duquesne wins today, is Temple in? I can't imagine the league will get four. If Duquesne loses I'm sure the Dukes are the odd team out. But they're playing like they could win.
Links
Wetzel looks at another Syracuse overtime game.
ESPN looks at Travis Ford's successful gamble.
Michael Wilbon has rediscovered his love for conference tournaments.
John Feinstein thinks Maryland is in. I think he's right.
Buzzer beaters
At 11 a.m. former Minuteman Tiki Mayben plays for a shot at the NCAA Tournament in the American East Championship.
...9.5 hours til UMass-Northeastern hockey...
Friday, March 13, 2009
“It was the best that I’ve ever seen. It
was the best I’ve ever seen in our tournament. The level of play and
the level of competitiveness was extraordinary.” - Big East Commissioner Mike Tranghese
There will be a lot of tiredcollege hoop fans at work today after watching this one.
Leading off
I went to bed last night secure I'd seen the best game of the day. Villanova beat Marquette at the buzzer. I was awakened by a text message making sure I was still watching Syracuse-UConn. It was only the third overtime when I got back in front of the TV. So I'm not sure if I can officially say "I stayed up" to watch one of the greatest college basketball games of all time.
But I'm glad I got back up for it.
What to look forward to today
Today can't be as good as yesterday. Can it?
Prediction of the day
I think Syracuse is going to beat West Virginia today. There's a belief that the Orange will be dead today and they might be. But I'm actually betting they summon some adrenaline today and run out of gas tomorrow.
Bubble guide:
Virginia Tech vs. North Carolina - Would beating the Tar Heels be enough to get the 18-13 Hokies in?
Kentucky vs. LSU -Beating the Tigers would probably be enough to convince the NCAA to include a fan base that will lessen the effect of the recession on NCAA Tournament ticket sales.
Houston vs. Memphis, UAB vs. Tulsa - Is Conference USA getting more than one team? Memphis is obviously in and could be playing for a No. 1 seed, but the other three are on the outer reaches of the bubble.
Michigan vs. Illinois - I think the Wolverines are in, but this would assure it.
Maryland vs. Wake Forest -Bubble teams around the nation are rooting for the Deacs.
San Diego State vs. BYU - Little attention is being paid to the Mountain West, but the Aztecs could be in with a win here.
BC at Duke - A win clinches things for the Eagles.
St. Mary's vs. Eastern Washington - Winning isn't enough for the Gaels, they need Patty Mills to look good.
Florida vs. Auburn - This could be a play-in game.
Questions I don't know the answer to:
If Baylor beats Texas are they a bubble team? If USC beats UCLA?
Links
Pete Thamel looks at UConn-Syracuse.
“It’s always better to win the greatest game ever played,” said Jim Boeheim in this Dan Wetzel column.
The once great Frank DeFord rants about the term bubble rather than looking at something significant.
Buzzer beaters
I'm rooting for Duquesne to win the Atlantic 10 Tournament. Ron Everhart has done a terrific job. The Dukes would be a great story.
...10.5 hours til UMass-Northeastern hockey...
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Down here there's just winners and losers and don't get caught on the wrong side of that line
- Bruce Springsteen - Atlantic City
Ben Woodside and North Dakota State made a little history.
Leading off
Welcome to Day One of Year Three of the Day Guide. Every day when conference tournaments or NCAA Tournament games are play, I'll post a primer on the day's action before 11 a.m. The only exception will be the day after UMass is elimnated from the Atlantic 10 Tournament, because I'll be driving home. So check here for links, predictions and probably a fair share or quotes from Bruce Springsteen's Atlantic City and One Shining Moment.
What to look forward to today
Notre Dame vs. West Virginia, 7 p.m. MS. I'm not saying its going to happen, but the Irish have enough talent to make a little run in New York. It would be fun to see.
Prediction of the day
Travis Ford gets past his first-day-of-tournament woes and beats Iowa State.
Bubble guide:
Providence vs. DePaul -The Blue Demons killed Cincy's NCAA chances and damaged Providence's too regardless of the result here. The Friars not only miss a chance for a decent win over the Bearcats, but their RPI will be damaged just by playing this game.
OK State vs. Iowa State - I think all the Cowboys need to do is avoid a bad loss here and they're in. They might be in anyway, but it'll be a long four days waiting for the selection show if they lose.
Texas A&M vs. Texas Tech - The Aggies are in good shape too, but a loss here would stagger them at least a bit.
Questions I don't know the answer to:
If DePaul were to somehow win the Big East Tournament (It's not going to happn this is strictly hypothetical), would they be in theplay-in game? I realize the Blue Demons' RPI would be too good, but shouldn't any team with a losing record have to play in the play-in game? If not, what would its seed be?
Links
The Pittsburgh Tribune Review's UMass-Duquesne preview.
Philly.com's Atlantic 10 Tournament Preview.
DeJuan Blair, who the Day Guide's favorite player in college basketball this year, implied he might stay another year.
Ware native and NY Times college sports guru Pete Thamel has a Q&A with outgoing Big East Commissioner Mike Tranghese.
Life on the bubble with Kentucky.
North Dakota State makes a little history.
I'm a big fan of: The new format of the Big East Tournament. I like that all 16 teams are included and I like that the top four teams have extra protection.
Buzzer beaters
I was rooting pretty hard fort North Dakota State last night. The newly-upgraded Division I porgram becomes the first school from North Dakota to make it to the NCAA Tournament. For the first time office pools in the state will have a familiar name in the bracket. TV's all over the state will be tuned in Thursday or Friday as a state full of people gets its baptism on why this tournament is special. I'll be rooting for them.
...8.5 hours til UMass-Duquesne...
Sunday, March 30, 2008
The ball is tipped...
The Player of the Year is through to the Final Four.
Leading off
I'd hate for Clark Kellogg to be right. Every year, the CBS analyst seems to pick four No. 1 seeds in the Final Four and its never happened. He's halfway to being right. Texas or Davidson needs to keep the streak of at least one nonNo. 1 getting through.
What to look forward to today
D.J. Augustin vs. Derrick Rose - They'll be playing against each other for years in the NBA. This will be their only meeting in college.
Predictions
Kansas over Davidson
Texas over Memphis
Question I don't know the answer to:
Are you rooting for Memphis. Many UMass fans' passion for college basektball is a direct result of John Calipari, but many who I've spoken to sheepishly selfishly want his greatest season to have been in Amherst.
Buzzer beaters
When I sent in my national player of the year ballots, I wasn't 100 percent sure Hansborough should be the guy as Michael Beasley and Kevin Love were in the back of my mind. I no longer have any doubt.
...four hours til Memphis-Texas...
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Playing with house money
Leading off
Between now and tomorrow the question will be asked thousands of times. Is Davidson this year's George Mason? If any program that should reach the Final Four isn't going to, it has to be Kansas right?
Predictions of the day
UCLA over Xavier
North Carolina over Louisville
Questions I don't know the answer to:
Are you rooting for Xavier? UMass fans seem to split when an Atlantic 10 team gets this far. It's good for the league and the teams in it if Xavier makes it to the Final Four. But that would mean UMass would no longer be the only A-10 team to ever get there. So where do you fall?
Links
I guess you can cross Jim Christian off the list of potential UMass candidates if Travis leaves.
Buzzer beaters
It won't happen, but the Final Four could include three schools not in BCS leagues.
...Seven days til the Final Four...
Thursday, March 27, 2008
The ball is tipped...
The Final Four is in April?
Leading off
Back at it today. Two of the primary championship favorites, Carolina and UCLA will try to reach the round of eight.
What to look forward to today
Louisville vs. Tennessee. Two coaches that like to attack square of with the pieces to do it.
Predictions of the day
Xavier over West Virginia - Have to appreciate Huggins vs. Xavier again.
Tennessee over Louisville - Flip a coin
UCLA over Western Kentucky
Carolina over Washington State - I really think this could be an upset, but I don't have the guts to pick it.
Questions I don't know the answer to:
What's Cal's place in the pecking order of the coaching search?
Is Washington State's defense good enough to make an upset possible?
Links
Did you catch what Davidson is doing?
How has Ty Rogers' life changed since he hit the game-winner for Western Kentucky?
Buzzer beaters
Ten college basketball teams are playing into April. Pretty amazing to think UMass is one of them.
...8.5 hours til my bracket is busted...
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Drew Neitzel's career is lasting at least one more weekend
Leading off
I will not be winning the ESPN, Yahoo, SI, FoxSports, Facebook or any other Bracket Challenge I entered. Friday wounded me and Saturday finished me off.
What to look forward to today
Tampa. The beauty of the pod system means anyone with a ticket in St. Pete is watching two games involving a No. 13 vs. No. 12 to go to the Sweet Sixteen.
Prediction of the day
Siena over Villanova - Why not
Georgetown over Davisdon - Although the Hoyas won't have it easy
San Diego over Western Kentucky
Tennessee over Butler
Louisville over Oklahoma
UNC over Arkansas
Texas over Miami
Memphis over Mississippi State
Questions I don't know the answer to:
How many schools wished they'd recruited Chris Lowe? The fact that he was still unsigned when Travis Ford was hired was a huge lift for the Minutemen.
How seriously hurt is Tony Gaffney? UMass will miss him if he doesn't play Tuesday.
Links
ESPN's Gene Wojciechowski looks at Stanford's Trent Johnson getting tossed out of his team's dramatic win over Marquette
Andy Katz on Drew Neitzel.
Bill Plaschke on UCLA's narrow escape.
William Rhoden on WVU's Joe Mazzulla.
Buzzer beaters
Happy Easter. Enjoy jelly beans, ham and basketball.
...two days til Sunday Mornings (Yes you read that right)...
Saturday, March 22, 2008
"I watched the 'One Shining Moment' play every year at the end of the tournament. It's every kid's dream."
Western Kentucky's Ty Rogers, whose 30-foot-game winner in overtime guarantees he'll be a part of One Shining Moment.
Ty Rogers hates the Drake.
Leading off
Today is really an appetizer to tomorrow as tomorrow's matchups are terrific.
What to look forward to today
Notre Dame against Washington State. The casual fan falls in love with Luke Haragody today.
Predictions of the day
Wisconsin over K-State
Kansas over UNLV
Duke over West Virginia - although the Mountaineers are hot
Purdue over Xavier
UCLA over Texas A&M
Notre Dame over Washington State
Stanford over Marquette
Pitt over Michigan State
Question I don't know the answer to:
Which UMass will show up today? The 'have-something-to-prove' Minutemen or the 'think'they're'going'to'win'by'showing-up' group that's suffered some costly losses.
Links
Tony Massaroti on Calipari.
Jim Calhoun adversary Jeff Jacobs writes about the Huskies demise.
Pat Forde wishes he was in Tampa. So do I.
The San Diego Tribune covers the upsets.
Buzzer beaters
I have a feeling that there'll be some UMass fans buying these.
...four hours til my bracket is busted...
