^
Well, here's my bracket. I told y'all which team I was picking, so at least those 6 lines shouldn't be a surprise!
Enjoy the tournament, everybody!
^
Showing posts with label NCAA tournament. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NCAA tournament. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 15, 2023
Monday, April 1, 2013
Three great days following Marquette (plus, a not-so-great one)
^
For Roberta and me, being spontaneous usually means deciding at the last minute to go grab wings and a couple of beers somewhere.
Last week, it meant driving to Washington, D.C. to watch our beloved Marquette Golden Warriors play in the NCAA tournament. We've been MU fans our entire adult lives and had never done anything like that.
It was about time.
We made the 7-hour drive from Charlotte and checked into our hotel, the Renaissance downtown. As a Marriott Platinum guest, I usually get upgraded to a better room if one is available. This time, we got upgraded into a suite on the 11th floor with a huge living room, a kitchenette, an incredible bathroom, two large flatscreen HDTVs, plush bathrobes and a veranda overlooking the city.
Miami was favored by 5, so I knew my lads would have to play superbly to win. And they delivered probably their best all-around game of the season. Marquette got up early and never let up. We led by 20-some points until Miami scored a few meaningless garbage-time hoops. Jamil Wilson, Vander Blue, Davante Gardner, Chris Otule, Trent Lockett, Junior Cadougan, coach Buzz Williams ... all of them were too much for Miami to handle.
After the wonderful triumph, we stuck around to watch Syracuse destroy Indiana in the second game of the evening. This result meant that Marquette had gone farther in the tournament than the coach who had abandoned us, Tom Crean, as well as hated archrivals Notre Dame and Wisconsin, each of whom had suffered humiliating first-round losses. We also went deeper into the tournament than anyone else from the new Big East (which is breaking off from the football schools starting this summer).
Then it came time to buy tickets for Saturday's regional final. We hung out near the exit hoping to find an Indiana fan who wanted to unload his tickets. Unfortunately, about a dozen scalpers were out there looking for the same thing. They were pros and were very aggressive. We had just about given up hope of buying the tickets there when an Indiana fan who had bypassed the scalpers heard Roberta say: "Marquette fans looking for two tickets we can use, not resell!" The guy says, "Oh, I like Marquette. I have two." He let us have the upper-deck tickets for $60 apiece, 40 bucks below face value. A great capper for a perfect night!
We spent most of Friday with my nephew Russ and niece Fran in the suburbs, including a lovely walk through Alexandria. Here we are at the waterfront there.
That night, we stayed with my cousin Steve and his wife Peggy in Silver Spring, Maryland. Whenever I go on the road like this, I try to catch up with relatives and friends I don't get to see very often.
The next afternoon, we headed back into Washington by subway, went to the Marquette pregame reception to act totally like goofy fans and then walked about 2 miles to the arena. It was a beautiful afternoon, and we ran into another Marquette couple along the way. They had made an even more last-minute decision than we had, taking the bus that morning from New York.
Then came the game. I won't go into that much here except to say that neither team could make a shot until Syracuse broke open a tight, low-scoring game midway through the second half. Blue started Marquette's scoring with a 3-pointer and Gardner ended the night with another trey. Between those two makes, MU missed 21 of 22 shots from behind the arc. My daughter Katie's high school team used to shoot better. But hey, these things happen. Syracuse totally deserved to win.
We left the arena and were in no mood to go to any of the surrounding bars, which were flooded with Syracuse fans. We had heard of a place frequented by the local Marquette alumni chapter and after almost getting lost, another Marquette couple on their way to the establishment guided us. We enjoyed drinks and a sandwich with our new best friends, Amy and Mitch, talking about our favorite moments from a season that was significantly better than I had expected it would be.
Marquette was picked to finish seventh in the preseason coach's poll. I thought we'd be fortunate to go 9-9 in the conference and sneak into the NCAAs. Instead, Buzz's Boyzz went 14-4 to grab a share of the league title. After a near-miraculous opening victory over vastly underrated Davidson and a great comeback win over Butler to make the Sweet 16, we took care of business against Miami. It was a great ride.
We drove home Sunday, unpacked our things and went to our dogsitter to pick up Simmie, who was thrilled to see her humans again. Then, after much carrying on, our exhausted girl did what she does best: curl up into a tight ball and chill!
For Roberta and me, being spontaneous usually means deciding at the last minute to go grab wings and a couple of beers somewhere.
Last week, it meant driving to Washington, D.C. to watch our beloved Marquette Golden Warriors play in the NCAA tournament. We've been MU fans our entire adult lives and had never done anything like that.
It was about time.
We made the 7-hour drive from Charlotte and checked into our hotel, the Renaissance downtown. As a Marriott Platinum guest, I usually get upgraded to a better room if one is available. This time, we got upgraded into a suite on the 11th floor with a huge living room, a kitchenette, an incredible bathroom, two large flatscreen HDTVs, plush bathrobes and a veranda overlooking the city.
Pretty sweet, huh? This incredible room was a sign that it was going to be a very good night!
After a pregame nosh in the club-level lounge, we hiked to the Verizon Center. The following picture was taken about 20 minutes before Thursday's opening tip.
Miami was favored by 5, so I knew my lads would have to play superbly to win. And they delivered probably their best all-around game of the season. Marquette got up early and never let up. We led by 20-some points until Miami scored a few meaningless garbage-time hoops. Jamil Wilson, Vander Blue, Davante Gardner, Chris Otule, Trent Lockett, Junior Cadougan, coach Buzz Williams ... all of them were too much for Miami to handle.
WE ARE ... MARQUETTE!!
After the wonderful triumph, we stuck around to watch Syracuse destroy Indiana in the second game of the evening. This result meant that Marquette had gone farther in the tournament than the coach who had abandoned us, Tom Crean, as well as hated archrivals Notre Dame and Wisconsin, each of whom had suffered humiliating first-round losses. We also went deeper into the tournament than anyone else from the new Big East (which is breaking off from the football schools starting this summer).
Then it came time to buy tickets for Saturday's regional final. We hung out near the exit hoping to find an Indiana fan who wanted to unload his tickets. Unfortunately, about a dozen scalpers were out there looking for the same thing. They were pros and were very aggressive. We had just about given up hope of buying the tickets there when an Indiana fan who had bypassed the scalpers heard Roberta say: "Marquette fans looking for two tickets we can use, not resell!" The guy says, "Oh, I like Marquette. I have two." He let us have the upper-deck tickets for $60 apiece, 40 bucks below face value. A great capper for a perfect night!
We spent most of Friday with my nephew Russ and niece Fran in the suburbs, including a lovely walk through Alexandria. Here we are at the waterfront there.
The next afternoon, we headed back into Washington by subway, went to the Marquette pregame reception to act totally like goofy fans and then walked about 2 miles to the arena. It was a beautiful afternoon, and we ran into another Marquette couple along the way. They had made an even more last-minute decision than we had, taking the bus that morning from New York.
Then came the game. I won't go into that much here except to say that neither team could make a shot until Syracuse broke open a tight, low-scoring game midway through the second half. Blue started Marquette's scoring with a 3-pointer and Gardner ended the night with another trey. Between those two makes, MU missed 21 of 22 shots from behind the arc. My daughter Katie's high school team used to shoot better. But hey, these things happen. Syracuse totally deserved to win.
We left the arena and were in no mood to go to any of the surrounding bars, which were flooded with Syracuse fans. We had heard of a place frequented by the local Marquette alumni chapter and after almost getting lost, another Marquette couple on their way to the establishment guided us. We enjoyed drinks and a sandwich with our new best friends, Amy and Mitch, talking about our favorite moments from a season that was significantly better than I had expected it would be.
Marquette was picked to finish seventh in the preseason coach's poll. I thought we'd be fortunate to go 9-9 in the conference and sneak into the NCAAs. Instead, Buzz's Boyzz went 14-4 to grab a share of the league title. After a near-miraculous opening victory over vastly underrated Davidson and a great comeback win over Butler to make the Sweet 16, we took care of business against Miami. It was a great ride.
We drove home Sunday, unpacked our things and went to our dogsitter to pick up Simmie, who was thrilled to see her humans again. Then, after much carrying on, our exhausted girl did what she does best: curl up into a tight ball and chill!
So that was our fun, by-the-seat-of-our-pants weekend.
Was it worth it?
Well, we got to see an impressive victory that put Marquette in the Elite Eight for the first time in a decade, got to see Indiana lose, got to see several people we love, got to stay in an awesome hotel suite, got to visit a cool city, got to commune with fellow Marquetters and got to spend lots of quality time together.
Was it worth it? Damn right it was!
^
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Marquette -- and Nadels -- Sweet 16 bound!
^
1. Last weekend was among the most thrilling 3-day stretches I have enjoyed/endured in my 35 years as a Marquette fan.
The win over Davidson in the NCAA opener was -- in the understatement of the year -- fortunate. There obviously was skill in the way Vander Blue and Jamil Wilson suddenly started draining 3-pointers and then in Blue's game-winning drive, but Marquette received so many breaks along the way we officially gave up any right to complain about not getting breaks the rest of the tournament.
Two nights later, Marquette and Butler went at it in a spectacular college basketball game, the kind of sporting event that makes this time of year my absolute favorite. My lads again got a lucky bounce or three but mostly they imposed their will in the second half and thoroughly deserved the victory. Again, Blue was the star.
So it's back to the Sweet 16 for the third straight year. Among the schools that can't make that claim: Kentucky, Duke, North Carolina, Indiana, UCLA, Wisconsin, Illinois, Syracuse, Michigan State, Arizona, UConn and Louisville.
In other words, it's a pretty special accomplishment.
Roberta and I have decided to celebrate the achievement by making the 6-hour drive to Washington to watch Marquette take on Miami in the Sweet 16. Just bought our tickets and booked our hotel. It was a spontaneous decision, the kind I rarely make, but what the heck? Maybe with us cheering them on from the nosebleed section of the Verizon Center, the Golden Warriors will advance on to the Elite Eight and the Final Four.
Whatever happens, it's been an amazing ride.
2. One of the linebackers the Bears signed to replace the departed Brian Urlacher was James Anderson, formerly of the Panthers. At this stage of their careers, Anderson is a better player. Also, less likely to get hurt. And less likely to say something idiotic.
3. Tiger Woods still has to win a major to prove he's TIGER WOODS! again, but he looks as good now as he did the last time he was great, 2008.
4. It's strange to be totally isolated from baseball. Spring training used to be one of my favorite assignments, especially after I became a columnist and could call my own shots. I doubt I could name 10 players on either the Cubs or White Sox now.
5. Marquette has authored just one of several crazy stories so far in the NCAAs. Top teams such as Indiana, Duke, Kansas, Ohio State and Miami have struggled to win ... but at least they did win. The same can't be said for Georgetown, New Mexico and St. Louis, each among the darlings of the supposed experts who try to forecast Final Four teams. Gonzaga, as usual, was proven a fraud from a weak conference. Oregon and Arizona have given the supposedly pathetic Pac-12 as many Sweet 16 representatives as the SEC and Big 12 combined. Either LaSalle or Wichita State will make the Elite Eight. Wow.
And Florida Gulf Coast ... are you kidding me? Have you seen this team play? Entertaining, athletic, fast-paced, high-flying and, most importantly at this time of year, victorious.
Here's a squad that has lost to Maine, Mercer, East Tennessee State, Stetson and Lipscomb -- twice! -- yet it absolutely destroyed Georgetown and handily beat San Diego State to be one of the 16 teams still standing. Ridiculous.
Can the Eagles beat Florida? Logic would say not a chance. But since when has logic meant anything in the NCAA tournament, especially this year?
^
1. Last weekend was among the most thrilling 3-day stretches I have enjoyed/endured in my 35 years as a Marquette fan.
The win over Davidson in the NCAA opener was -- in the understatement of the year -- fortunate. There obviously was skill in the way Vander Blue and Jamil Wilson suddenly started draining 3-pointers and then in Blue's game-winning drive, but Marquette received so many breaks along the way we officially gave up any right to complain about not getting breaks the rest of the tournament.
Two nights later, Marquette and Butler went at it in a spectacular college basketball game, the kind of sporting event that makes this time of year my absolute favorite. My lads again got a lucky bounce or three but mostly they imposed their will in the second half and thoroughly deserved the victory. Again, Blue was the star.
So it's back to the Sweet 16 for the third straight year. Among the schools that can't make that claim: Kentucky, Duke, North Carolina, Indiana, UCLA, Wisconsin, Illinois, Syracuse, Michigan State, Arizona, UConn and Louisville.
In other words, it's a pretty special accomplishment.
Roberta and I have decided to celebrate the achievement by making the 6-hour drive to Washington to watch Marquette take on Miami in the Sweet 16. Just bought our tickets and booked our hotel. It was a spontaneous decision, the kind I rarely make, but what the heck? Maybe with us cheering them on from the nosebleed section of the Verizon Center, the Golden Warriors will advance on to the Elite Eight and the Final Four.
Whatever happens, it's been an amazing ride.
2. One of the linebackers the Bears signed to replace the departed Brian Urlacher was James Anderson, formerly of the Panthers. At this stage of their careers, Anderson is a better player. Also, less likely to get hurt. And less likely to say something idiotic.
3. Tiger Woods still has to win a major to prove he's TIGER WOODS! again, but he looks as good now as he did the last time he was great, 2008.
4. It's strange to be totally isolated from baseball. Spring training used to be one of my favorite assignments, especially after I became a columnist and could call my own shots. I doubt I could name 10 players on either the Cubs or White Sox now.
5. Marquette has authored just one of several crazy stories so far in the NCAAs. Top teams such as Indiana, Duke, Kansas, Ohio State and Miami have struggled to win ... but at least they did win. The same can't be said for Georgetown, New Mexico and St. Louis, each among the darlings of the supposed experts who try to forecast Final Four teams. Gonzaga, as usual, was proven a fraud from a weak conference. Oregon and Arizona have given the supposedly pathetic Pac-12 as many Sweet 16 representatives as the SEC and Big 12 combined. Either LaSalle or Wichita State will make the Elite Eight. Wow.
And Florida Gulf Coast ... are you kidding me? Have you seen this team play? Entertaining, athletic, fast-paced, high-flying and, most importantly at this time of year, victorious.
Here's a squad that has lost to Maine, Mercer, East Tennessee State, Stetson and Lipscomb -- twice! -- yet it absolutely destroyed Georgetown and handily beat San Diego State to be one of the 16 teams still standing. Ridiculous.
Can the Eagles beat Florida? Logic would say not a chance. But since when has logic meant anything in the NCAA tournament, especially this year?
^
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Bracket? I don't need no stinkin' bracket!
^
Ten years ago, I had the best NCAA hoops bracket of my life.
I correctly predicted 7 of the Elite Eight -- Marquette, Kentucky, Arizona, Kansas, Syracuse, Oklahoma and Texas. I missed only on Michigan State (having picked Florida instead). I then nailed 3 of the Final Four -- Marquette, Syracuse and Texas (erroneously picking Arizona over Kansas in the West title game, which the Jayhawks won by 3).
And here was the cherry on top: Once the Syracuse-Kansas championship game was set, I made this prediction, in print, for everybody to see: "It says here that Carmelo Anthony will shoulder the load one more time. Syracuse, 81, Kansas 77."
Carmelo had 20 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists as Syracuse won 81-78. That's right: I was off by exactly one Kansas point.
I should have walked away from predicting right then and there, just as Roy Williams walked away from Kansas.
It's been downhill since, as my Oscar pick of "Battleship" will attest. I think the only prediction I've gotten right in the last decade was that the Internet would adversely affect the newspaper industry.
I'm going to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of my dream bracket by doing something radical, something unique, something profound.
Something un-American.
I'm not going to fill out a bracket this year.
The reason? I don't feel like it.
Of course, this means having to hear about everybody and his uncle's brackets and not even being able to follow up by saying, "Yeah, but I had Valpo over Michigan State."
My favorites are the dudes (and dudettes) who fill out multiple brackets. The reason for this is what? To be the Mitt Romney of sports prognostication?
What would me filling out a bracket prove, anyway? Either I go with my heart and predict Marquette to win it all ... or I go with my head and pick against Marquette. In the latter case, if I really care about being right, it would mean rooting against the only sports team I love. What sense would that make?
One reason I had a great bracket in 2003 was that I predicted Marquette to reach the Final Four. It wasn't a crazy pick. The Golden Warriors did have Dwyane Wade, two other guys who would go on to play in the NBA (Travis Diener and Steve Novak) and the best big man to play there in a quarter-century (Robert Jackson). Still, it was hard for me to claim it was an objective pick.
That year, Marquette just so happened to play at the same subregional site as Illinois. I was covering the Illini so, as a bonus, I got to watch the first two Marquette tourney games. Holy Cross, the 14th seed, had Marquette beaten until Diener -- not Wade, who was ordinary at best -- went nuts from 3-point range. I didn't cheer from press row. I NEVER cheered from press row during my entire career. But I did bury my head in my hands in frustration at one point. At another juncture, I had to get up from press row and take a short walk into the hallway because I couldn't take the idea of our best team since the Al McGuire Era losing its NCAA opener to Holy Freakin' Cross.
My buddy, then-Southtown columnist Phil Arvia, later told mutual friends that "Nadel was going crazy" -- suggesting I was ranting and raving on press row. Truth is, I was going crazy, but only inside, and very quietly. Damn you, Arvia ... I'll accept your apology any time.
The Missouri game was a wild OT affair, with the Golden Warriors outscoring the Tigers 21-12 in the extra session to finish with a preposterous 101 points. Again, it wasn't Wade who stole the show. Novak, then the team's freshman sixth man, introduced himself to the nation by hitting approximately a gazillion 3-pointers. I was really into that game but, again, not outwardly.
Anyway, I digress. Even though this Marquette team isn't nearly as talented as that one was, if I was picking a bracket I'd have to say my lads would win the national title.
Or I'd have to fill out a second bracket with Louisville, my actual pick, doing so.
So why bother?
I've been called many things over the years, but Mitt Jr. has never been one of them.
^
Ten years ago, I had the best NCAA hoops bracket of my life.
I correctly predicted 7 of the Elite Eight -- Marquette, Kentucky, Arizona, Kansas, Syracuse, Oklahoma and Texas. I missed only on Michigan State (having picked Florida instead). I then nailed 3 of the Final Four -- Marquette, Syracuse and Texas (erroneously picking Arizona over Kansas in the West title game, which the Jayhawks won by 3).
And here was the cherry on top: Once the Syracuse-Kansas championship game was set, I made this prediction, in print, for everybody to see: "It says here that Carmelo Anthony will shoulder the load one more time. Syracuse, 81, Kansas 77."
Carmelo had 20 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists as Syracuse won 81-78. That's right: I was off by exactly one Kansas point.
I should have walked away from predicting right then and there, just as Roy Williams walked away from Kansas.
It's been downhill since, as my Oscar pick of "Battleship" will attest. I think the only prediction I've gotten right in the last decade was that the Internet would adversely affect the newspaper industry.
I'm going to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of my dream bracket by doing something radical, something unique, something profound.
Something un-American.
I'm not going to fill out a bracket this year.
The reason? I don't feel like it.
Of course, this means having to hear about everybody and his uncle's brackets and not even being able to follow up by saying, "Yeah, but I had Valpo over Michigan State."
My favorites are the dudes (and dudettes) who fill out multiple brackets. The reason for this is what? To be the Mitt Romney of sports prognostication?
What would me filling out a bracket prove, anyway? Either I go with my heart and predict Marquette to win it all ... or I go with my head and pick against Marquette. In the latter case, if I really care about being right, it would mean rooting against the only sports team I love. What sense would that make?
One reason I had a great bracket in 2003 was that I predicted Marquette to reach the Final Four. It wasn't a crazy pick. The Golden Warriors did have Dwyane Wade, two other guys who would go on to play in the NBA (Travis Diener and Steve Novak) and the best big man to play there in a quarter-century (Robert Jackson). Still, it was hard for me to claim it was an objective pick.
That year, Marquette just so happened to play at the same subregional site as Illinois. I was covering the Illini so, as a bonus, I got to watch the first two Marquette tourney games. Holy Cross, the 14th seed, had Marquette beaten until Diener -- not Wade, who was ordinary at best -- went nuts from 3-point range. I didn't cheer from press row. I NEVER cheered from press row during my entire career. But I did bury my head in my hands in frustration at one point. At another juncture, I had to get up from press row and take a short walk into the hallway because I couldn't take the idea of our best team since the Al McGuire Era losing its NCAA opener to Holy Freakin' Cross.
My buddy, then-Southtown columnist Phil Arvia, later told mutual friends that "Nadel was going crazy" -- suggesting I was ranting and raving on press row. Truth is, I was going crazy, but only inside, and very quietly. Damn you, Arvia ... I'll accept your apology any time.
The Missouri game was a wild OT affair, with the Golden Warriors outscoring the Tigers 21-12 in the extra session to finish with a preposterous 101 points. Again, it wasn't Wade who stole the show. Novak, then the team's freshman sixth man, introduced himself to the nation by hitting approximately a gazillion 3-pointers. I was really into that game but, again, not outwardly.
Anyway, I digress. Even though this Marquette team isn't nearly as talented as that one was, if I was picking a bracket I'd have to say my lads would win the national title.
Or I'd have to fill out a second bracket with Louisville, my actual pick, doing so.
So why bother?
I've been called many things over the years, but Mitt Jr. has never been one of them.
^
Monday, March 12, 2012
Snubbed by NCAAs? Tough nuggies!
^
My Marquette Golden Warriors emerged as 3 seeds, tying their highest since seeding began more than 3 decades ago. So that's good.
If they advance, their second opponent probably will be Murray State. That's bad.
Not because Marquette will be overmatched but because it doesn't seem fair that the No. 3 seed has to play a team from Kentucky in Louisville.
Then again, all my lads had to do was win a couple of games in the Big East tournament. If they had, they would have moved up to a 2 seed (or a slightly higher status among 3 seeds) and they would have received a more favorable draw. Instead, they played poorly, got crushed by Louisville, and now face a potentially difficult challenge.
Frankly, I have little sympathy for teams that get "snubbed" by the NCAA tournament selection committee.
Don't want to get left out of the field? Win your conference tournament. Beat a ranked team or two.
Don't want to get "jobbed" on seeding? Don't bow out early in your conference tourney. Play a tougher non-league schedule.
It's pretty simple, really: Win more and you won't have to whine. That goes for me and my boys, too.
^
My Marquette Golden Warriors emerged as 3 seeds, tying their highest since seeding began more than 3 decades ago. So that's good.
If they advance, their second opponent probably will be Murray State. That's bad.
Not because Marquette will be overmatched but because it doesn't seem fair that the No. 3 seed has to play a team from Kentucky in Louisville.
Then again, all my lads had to do was win a couple of games in the Big East tournament. If they had, they would have moved up to a 2 seed (or a slightly higher status among 3 seeds) and they would have received a more favorable draw. Instead, they played poorly, got crushed by Louisville, and now face a potentially difficult challenge.
Frankly, I have little sympathy for teams that get "snubbed" by the NCAA tournament selection committee.
Don't want to get left out of the field? Win your conference tournament. Beat a ranked team or two.
Don't want to get "jobbed" on seeding? Don't bow out early in your conference tourney. Play a tougher non-league schedule.
It's pretty simple, really: Win more and you won't have to whine. That goes for me and my boys, too.
^
Monday, March 14, 2011
Some strange tourney selections, but don't weep for snubbees
^
The Bald Truth
Let me start by saying I'm thrilled Marquette is an 11 seed. Everybody knows it's better to be an 11 than an 8 or 9 because, if the 11 seed can beat the 6 in its first game, it then gets to play the 3 seed in the next round; the 8 or 9 must play the top seed in its second game.
Having said that, every year I'm reminded how crazy some of the seeding is. For example ...
Marquette and West Virginia each won 20 games and each played proudly in the best conference in the land. Marquette didn't have a single "bad loss" all season; West Virginia lost at home to Marshall. And not only did Marquette beat West Virginia during the season, my Golden Warrior Eagles defeated the Mountaineers in the Big East tournament.
Nonetheless, Marquette was one of the last five teams in the tournament -- and the very last that doesn't have to do one of those play-in games -- while West Virginia is a 5.
Weird.
The Balder Truth
Illinois failed to win 20 games, never contended in the Big Ten, beat just about nobody all season and blew numerous games it was supposed to have won. Many Illini fans were convinced their heroes weren't going to make the NCAAs after a conference tournament loss to Michigan.
Yet here the Illini are, easy qualifiers as No. 9 seeds. Meanwhile, Colorado -- which beat Texas and Missouri teams that had defeated Illinois -- was snubbed. And while the Illini couldn't even handle Northwestern and Illinois-Chicago, Virginia Tech beat Duke but was snubbed.
Weird.
THE BALDEST TRUTH
Having said all that, I don't feel at all sorry for any of the snubbees.
I'm guessing that if Colorado had somehow found a way to beat Harvard, San Francisco and Iowa State or if it hadn't lost 6 of 7 during one stretch, the Buffaloes wouldn't have been excluded. I'm guessing that if Virginia Tech hadn't lost twice to a dreadful Virginia team and once to even more hapless Georgia Tech, the Hokies wouldn't have given the selection committee the chance to slight them.
One of the cool things about sports is that participants control their own destinies. Every single one of the snubbees had the opportunity to win another game or two and take itself off the dreaded bubble.
Rather than whine about "undeserving" teams that got in, snubbees and their fans need to look in the mirror and say:
"Yeah, but if we only had beaten San Fran (as Colorado didn't) or Virginia (as Virginia Tech didn't) or Iowa (as Alabama didn't) or San Diego (as St. Mary's didn't) or Yale (as Boston College didn't), we'd be in the tournament, too."
Nah ... much easier to whine and blame somebody else, right?
^
The Bald Truth
Let me start by saying I'm thrilled Marquette is an 11 seed. Everybody knows it's better to be an 11 than an 8 or 9 because, if the 11 seed can beat the 6 in its first game, it then gets to play the 3 seed in the next round; the 8 or 9 must play the top seed in its second game.
Having said that, every year I'm reminded how crazy some of the seeding is. For example ...
Marquette and West Virginia each won 20 games and each played proudly in the best conference in the land. Marquette didn't have a single "bad loss" all season; West Virginia lost at home to Marshall. And not only did Marquette beat West Virginia during the season, my Golden Warrior Eagles defeated the Mountaineers in the Big East tournament.
Nonetheless, Marquette was one of the last five teams in the tournament -- and the very last that doesn't have to do one of those play-in games -- while West Virginia is a 5.
Weird.
The Balder Truth
Illinois failed to win 20 games, never contended in the Big Ten, beat just about nobody all season and blew numerous games it was supposed to have won. Many Illini fans were convinced their heroes weren't going to make the NCAAs after a conference tournament loss to Michigan.
Yet here the Illini are, easy qualifiers as No. 9 seeds. Meanwhile, Colorado -- which beat Texas and Missouri teams that had defeated Illinois -- was snubbed. And while the Illini couldn't even handle Northwestern and Illinois-Chicago, Virginia Tech beat Duke but was snubbed.
Weird.
THE BALDEST TRUTH
Having said all that, I don't feel at all sorry for any of the snubbees.
I'm guessing that if Colorado had somehow found a way to beat Harvard, San Francisco and Iowa State or if it hadn't lost 6 of 7 during one stretch, the Buffaloes wouldn't have been excluded. I'm guessing that if Virginia Tech hadn't lost twice to a dreadful Virginia team and once to even more hapless Georgia Tech, the Hokies wouldn't have given the selection committee the chance to slight them.
One of the cool things about sports is that participants control their own destinies. Every single one of the snubbees had the opportunity to win another game or two and take itself off the dreaded bubble.
Rather than whine about "undeserving" teams that got in, snubbees and their fans need to look in the mirror and say:
"Yeah, but if we only had beaten San Fran (as Colorado didn't) or Virginia (as Virginia Tech didn't) or Iowa (as Alabama didn't) or San Diego (as St. Mary's didn't) or Yale (as Boston College didn't), we'd be in the tournament, too."
Nah ... much easier to whine and blame somebody else, right?
^
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Raftery's schtick had its day ... and I'm pretty sure that day was sometime last century
^
Oftentimes, Jay Bilas is the sharpest analyst in college basketball. Sometimes, Sean McDonough is among the best play-by-play guys.
Those times are most likely to happen when Bill Raftery is elsewhere.
It isn't bad enough that the way-past-his-use-by-date Raftery brings little to a broadcast. What's worse is his effect on McDonough and Bilas when ESPN or CBS foolishly decides to go to three in the booth.
Separately, two of the three (and we've already discussed which two) actually sound like they know what they're talking about. When Raftery brings his schtick -- dopey catchphrases, dopier inside jokes and dopiest puns -- the trio cackles and giggles and talks nonsense.
How insufferable have they been during the Big East tourney? Well, I've had to use the mute button during the telecast and bring back the volume for the commercials.
Hey, Heckle, Jeckle and the other Jeckle: We don't care which of you is least likely to pick up the dinner check. (As if you're not doing New York on expense account, anyway.)
If ever there was a case for addition by subtraction, this is it.
Bill Raftery had a nice run. It's time to hide his microphone. Or at least stick him back with Verne Lundquist on the 3rd or 4th team.
^
Oftentimes, Jay Bilas is the sharpest analyst in college basketball. Sometimes, Sean McDonough is among the best play-by-play guys.
Those times are most likely to happen when Bill Raftery is elsewhere.
It isn't bad enough that the way-past-his-use-by-date Raftery brings little to a broadcast. What's worse is his effect on McDonough and Bilas when ESPN or CBS foolishly decides to go to three in the booth.
Separately, two of the three (and we've already discussed which two) actually sound like they know what they're talking about. When Raftery brings his schtick -- dopey catchphrases, dopier inside jokes and dopiest puns -- the trio cackles and giggles and talks nonsense.
How insufferable have they been during the Big East tourney? Well, I've had to use the mute button during the telecast and bring back the volume for the commercials.
Hey, Heckle, Jeckle and the other Jeckle: We don't care which of you is least likely to pick up the dinner check. (As if you're not doing New York on expense account, anyway.)
If ever there was a case for addition by subtraction, this is it.
Bill Raftery had a nice run. It's time to hide his microphone. Or at least stick him back with Verne Lundquist on the 3rd or 4th team.
^
Monday, April 5, 2010
Obviously broken, NCAA tourney needs a fix
A few thoughts from a wild sports Monday:
++ A great championship game caps a great tournament. Yep, the NCAA surely needs to fix this thing by adding dozens more teams and making it every bit as compelling as the BCS.
++ You know what would have been crazy? If Gordon Hayward would have made that desperation heave at the buzzer only to have the refs wave it off for the obvious, nearly injurious moving screen set by Butler teammate Matt Howard.
++ Here's the main difference between the BCS and the NCAA hoops tournament: The first tries to secure a matchup of the "best" teams as determined by voters and computers; the second seeks to crown a worthy champion as determined by actual competition.
++ It's fun to root for the underdog, yes. It's also proper to admit that the Dookies had one hell of a tournament.
++ A few days before the season opener against the Braves, Carlos Zambrano said: "They're a very good team but I think we're better. Let's rock and roll." Well, consider Cra-Z rocked and the Cubbies rolled.
++ I was at the White Sox opener and witnessed what probably will be the best fielding play of the entire season: HERE IT IS. Oh, and by the way ... Mark Buehrle also turned in the day's best pitching performance. Forget all the Cubbie pretenders and give this guy props for being by far Chicago's best pitcher this past decade.
++ It says something about something that, within seconds of each other, White Sox fans booed video highlights of Barack Obama throwing the first pitch for the Nationals and then cheered the Sox debut of has-been Andruw Jones.
++ Were I at the Tiger Woods press conference, I would have asked only one question: "Why is anybody even bothering to ask a confirmed, notorious liar to tell the truth about anything?"
Monday, March 29, 2010
High 5s
Just remember when you're doing your brackets next year, kids:
Despite what the "experts" say, the 12s don't always beat the 5s.
Sometimes the 5s not only win, but two of the suckers go all the way to the Final Four.
On another note, I was glad Duke won. There should always one overdog in any tournament, one team you want to root against.
So now we've got three pretty darned good underdog stories ... and the effen Dookies!
Despite what the "experts" say, the 12s don't always beat the 5s.
Sometimes the 5s not only win, but two of the suckers go all the way to the Final Four.
On another note, I was glad Duke won. There should always one overdog in any tournament, one team you want to root against.
So now we've got three pretty darned good underdog stories ... and the effen Dookies!
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Busted bracket do-over
I never (OK, just about never) take a mulligan when I play golf, so I'm gonna take one here ...
Northern Iowa over Michigan State ... There hasn't been this much excitement in Cedar Falls since Oliver saved Mr. Haney from the corn-shucking machine.
Ohio State over Tennessee ... Evan Turner will rip that Creamsickle sportscoat off Bruce Pearl's back while he's driving past the Vols' bench on the way to a dunk.
Then ...
Ohio State over Northern Iowa ... Let's get real. Northern Iowa ain't going to the Final Four.
Syracuse over Butler ... This is the only Sweet Sixteen matchup I actually got right, so I'm going with the team I picked to win it last week. As good a reason as any.
Kansas State over Xavier ... K-State has better players at just about every position - as if talent advantages have meant anything so far.
Then ...
Kansas State over Syracuse ... Just when K-State players start to get tired, Frank Martin buys some time by having a coronary on the bench. Now that's strategy!
Kentucky over Cornell ... Boy, would I love to be wrong in this matchup of Future Pros vs. Future Agents.
West Virginia over Washington ... If those Marquette-vanquishing Huskies keep playing the way they have been, they have a great chance. Odds of yet another incredible outside-shooting game are low, however, and West Virginia knows how to muck its way to victory.
Then ...
West Virginia over Kentucky ... Just a feeling. Of course, I've said that before in this tournament and have been burned so often that my scars have scars.
Duke over Purdue ... This will be such a blowout that Coach K will pull a Phil Jackson and start filing his nails midway through the second half.
Baylor over St. Mary's ... I don't know much about either team, but I do know one thing: There was never a great player named Elgin St. Mary's.
Then ...
Duke over Baylor ... The team you love to hate - the Yankees of NCAA hoops - are back in the Final Four.
Kansas State over Ohio State ... K-State finally overcomes feelings of rejection from when Lon Kruger bolted.
Duke over West Virginia ... Jon Scheyer's high school coach was Bruce Weber's brother. I'm just sayin'.
Duke over Kansas State ... In the most unpredictable tournament in years, those freakin' Dookies end up back on top. Somehow, that's not fair!
MIDWEST
Northern Iowa over Michigan State ... There hasn't been this much excitement in Cedar Falls since Oliver saved Mr. Haney from the corn-shucking machine.
Ohio State over Tennessee ... Evan Turner will rip that Creamsickle sportscoat off Bruce Pearl's back while he's driving past the Vols' bench on the way to a dunk.
Then ...
Ohio State over Northern Iowa ... Let's get real. Northern Iowa ain't going to the Final Four.
WEST
Syracuse over Butler ... This is the only Sweet Sixteen matchup I actually got right, so I'm going with the team I picked to win it last week. As good a reason as any.
Kansas State over Xavier ... K-State has better players at just about every position - as if talent advantages have meant anything so far.
Then ...
Kansas State over Syracuse ... Just when K-State players start to get tired, Frank Martin buys some time by having a coronary on the bench. Now that's strategy!
EAST
Kentucky over Cornell ... Boy, would I love to be wrong in this matchup of Future Pros vs. Future Agents.
West Virginia over Washington ... If those Marquette-vanquishing Huskies keep playing the way they have been, they have a great chance. Odds of yet another incredible outside-shooting game are low, however, and West Virginia knows how to muck its way to victory.
Then ...
West Virginia over Kentucky ... Just a feeling. Of course, I've said that before in this tournament and have been burned so often that my scars have scars.
SOUTH
Duke over Purdue ... This will be such a blowout that Coach K will pull a Phil Jackson and start filing his nails midway through the second half.
Baylor over St. Mary's ... I don't know much about either team, but I do know one thing: There was never a great player named Elgin St. Mary's.
Then ...
Duke over Baylor ... The team you love to hate - the Yankees of NCAA hoops - are back in the Final Four.
NATIONAL SEMIFINALS
Kansas State over Ohio State ... K-State finally overcomes feelings of rejection from when Lon Kruger bolted.
Duke over West Virginia ... Jon Scheyer's high school coach was Bruce Weber's brother. I'm just sayin'.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Duke over Kansas State ... In the most unpredictable tournament in years, those freakin' Dookies end up back on top. Somehow, that's not fair!
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Only BCS format can save sucky NCAA hoops tourney
NCAA pooh-bahs had better fix the way they crown their men's basketball champion, because, as usual, the tournament has been a horrible bore.
Overtimes, one-point games, stunning upsets, wild finishes, stirring storylines ... yawn ... wake me when it's over, OK?
Obviously, NCAA honchos should have adopted the always-thrilling BCS model, declared Kansas and Kentucky the two best teams in the land, had the Jayhawks and Wildcats wait 4 or 5 weeks until they meet in an overhyped mythical title game, and let all the other teams play in dozens of glorious basket-"bowl" games.
After all, that formula always produces such a satisfying conclusion to the college football season, right?
And while they're at it, they can tell their basketball programs to stop scheduling games against quality opponents before conference play begins. In football, the best teams spend September fattening up on Cupcake U - yummy morsels for the every-game-counts crowd.
It's hard to beat Florida vs. Central Eastern State College for none of the marbles, I always say.
Clearly, following the NCAA basketball tournament model could never work in football.
I mean, who would want to see the best teams from a cross-section of the country go at it round-by-round until a legitimate champion gets crowned?
Overtimes, one-point games, stunning upsets, wild finishes, stirring storylines ... yawn ... wake me when it's over, OK?
Obviously, NCAA honchos should have adopted the always-thrilling BCS model, declared Kansas and Kentucky the two best teams in the land, had the Jayhawks and Wildcats wait 4 or 5 weeks until they meet in an overhyped mythical title game, and let all the other teams play in dozens of glorious basket-"bowl" games.
After all, that formula always produces such a satisfying conclusion to the college football season, right?
And while they're at it, they can tell their basketball programs to stop scheduling games against quality opponents before conference play begins. In football, the best teams spend September fattening up on Cupcake U - yummy morsels for the every-game-counts crowd.
It's hard to beat Florida vs. Central Eastern State College for none of the marbles, I always say.
Clearly, following the NCAA basketball tournament model could never work in football.
I mean, who would want to see the best teams from a cross-section of the country go at it round-by-round until a legitimate champion gets crowned?
Friday, March 19, 2010
About that bracket ...
As Emily Litella used to tell "Cheddar Cheese" on SNL's Weekend Update:
"Never mind."
"Never mind."
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
If you can stand it, another "expert's" bracket guess
A Preliminary Four things before I start:
1. If your alma mater has a legitimate chance (as mine does this year), pick them.
2. Despite what everyone says, 12s don't "always" beat 5s. Contrarian that I am, I'm picking all four 5s.
3. Just about nobody has seen Northern Iowa or BYU or Richmond or Cornell play. So when folks do accidentally get an upset right, it means they were lucky, not smart. That goes for Yours Baldly, too.
4. Don't be so generous calling things upsets. 9 beating 8 isn't an upset. Neither is 10 over 7. Most 11s are as good as the 6s. 12-over-5 is an upset, of course, but also a cliche. 13 over 4? Now that's an upset. (And I pick one of 'em just for the giggles and yucks.)
OK, here goes:
First Round
1-Kansas over 16-Lehigh ... Jayhawks make 'em look like Le-Junior-High.
9-Northern Iowa over 8-UNLV ... That's right: picking a team that lost to DePaul.
5-Michigan State over 12-New Mexico State ... Tempted, but no.
4-Maryland over 13-Houston ... No Phi Slamma Jamma this time.
11-San Diego State over 6-Tennessee ... Bruce Pearl implodes.
3-Georgetown over 14-Ohio ... MAC daddies sent packin'.
10-Georgia Tech over 7-Oklahoma State ... Ah, but Cowboys will always have win over Kansas.
2-Ohio State over UC-Santa Barbara ... But I'd sure rather be in Santa Barbara than Columbus in March.
Second Round
1-Kansas over 9-Northern Iowa ... Sherron Collins played against my son when both were in 8th grade, and Ben obviously got him ready for the big time.
4-Maryland over 5-Michigan State ... Not one of Izzo's great teams.
3-Georgetown over 11-San Diego State ... Hoya Paranoia is back.
2-Ohio State over 10-Georgia Tech ... Evan Turner = best player in country.
Regional Semifinals
1-Kansas over 4-Maryland ... Greivis Vasquez keeps it close.
3-Georgetown over 2-Ohio State ... G-Town playing as well as anyone in country.
Regional Final
1-Kansas over 3-Georgetown ... I see too many Hoya fouls trying to keep up with KU talent.
First Round
1-Syracuse over 16-Vermont ... Beware the Catamounts!
8-Gonzaga over Florida State ... No longer darlings; just a solid team.
5-Butler over 12-Texas-El Paso ... Because everybody and their uncles are picking UTEP.
13-Murray State over 4-Vanderbilt ... Because I loved Murray the Cop on The Odd Couple.
6-Xavier over 11-Minnesota ... Hey announcers: It's "zavier," not "ex-avier"!!!
3-Pitt over 14-Oakland ... Just like the AFC in the 1970s.
7-BYU over 10-Florida ... Gotta go with a star named "Jimmer."
2-Kansas State over 15-North Texas ... No love for Mean Green on day after St. Pat's.
Second Round
1-Syracuse over 8-Gonzaga ... Almost picked under-the-radar Zags.
5-Butler over 13-Murray State ... What? I'm gonna pick Murray State twice?
3-Pitt over 6-Xavier ... Panthers are as tough as the hammer and the nails.
2-Kansas State over 7-BYU ... Can't go with a star named "Jimmer."
Regional Semifinals
1-Syracuse over 5-Butler ... Bulldogs bite against 2-3 zone.
2-Kansas State over 3-Pitt ... The better team wins.
Regional Final
2-Kansas State over 1-Syracuse ... The spit'll be flyin' out of Frank Martin's mouth.
First Round
1-Kentucky over 16-East Tennessee State ... Didn't even know there was an Atlantic Sun Conference.
8-Texas over 9-Wake Forest ... Don't like either, but Texas is better.
5-Temple over 12-Cornell ... Ivy Leaguers are fashionable pick, but Temple's good.
4-Wisconsin over 13-Wofford ... This won't be pretty.
6-Marquette over 11-Washington ... True story: My Sun-Times buddy, Cubs beat writer Gordon Wittenmyer, is a Washington alum. He and I have spent the better part of two weeks talking about our alma maters and we often said (though not in unison): "Wouldn't it be crazy if they met in the first round?" And here they are. I hate this matchup because UW has lots of skilled players, and I can see why people would pick the Huskies. But my boys have come through over and over again in tough games like this, so I won't abandon them now. The winner of this game could have quite a run in the tourney.
3-New Mexico over 14-Montana ... Grizzlies give Lobos a scare before bowing.
10-Missouri over 7-Clemson ... Clemson hasn't won tourney game in 13 years; why start now?
2-West Virginia over 15-Morgan State ... Name your score.
Second Round
1-Kentucky over 8-Texas ... A scary second-round matchup for the mighty Wildcats.
5-Temple over 4-Wisconsin ... The more athletic team wins defensive war.
6-Marquette over 3-New Mexico ... Buzz Williams over Steve Alford every time.
2-West Virginia over 10-Missouri ... There aren't five players better than Da'Sean Butler.
Regional Semifinals
1-Kentucky over 5-Temple ... Tempted to pick Temple to set up a battle between my alma mater and my brother's school, but can't do it.
6-Marquette over 2-West Virginia ... My lads lost by 1 at West Virginia this season. This time, it's on a neutral court and my guys will make their free throws down the stretch.
Regional Final
6-Marquette over 1-Kentucky ... I don't pick Marquette to get to the Final Four every year. Honest. In fact, the last time I did - in 2003 - they beat Kentucky to get there. My Golden Warrior Eagles might have to shoot 60 percent from 3-point range to do it this time, but they've done that before. So why the heck not pick 'em?!?!
First Round
1-Duke over 16-Arkansas-Pine Bluff ... Still, you gotta respect a team that gets to the NCAAs after starting the season 0-11.
9-Louisville over 8-California ... Cardinals can beat anybody.
5-Texas A&M over 12-Utah State ... The 12-5 upset I'd pick if I were picking one.
13-Siena over 4-Purdue ... Wounded Boilers fall to dangerous Saints in my upset special.
6-Notre Dame over 11-Old Dominion ... Will be a close game.
3-Baylor over 14-Sam Houston State ... Sam they am not gonna win.
7-Richmond over 10-Saint Mary's ... Everyone's afraid of Spiders.
2-Villanova over 15-Robert Morris ... R. Morris reminds me of cats, and I hate cats.
Second Round
1-Duke over 9-Louisville ... Cardinals can lose to anybody, and Duke's not just any anybody.
13-Siena over 5-Texas A&M ... Why? Like I used to tell my kids: Because I said so.
3-Baylor over 6-Notre Dame ... It pained me enough to pick ND to win once.
7-Richmond over 2-Villanova ... Nova's not playing very well lately.
Regional Semifinals
1-Duke over 13-Siena ... Well, it was fun while it lasted.
3-Baylor over 7-Richmond ... How can a guy pick against the backcourt of Tweety Carter and LaceDarius Dunn?
Regional Final
1-Duke over 3-Baylor ... I guess a guy can pick against Tweety and LaceDarius if the other team has Jon Scheyer and Nolan Smith.
Kansas over Kansas State ... The only team in America with no weakness will win a wild one against its archrival.
Marquette over Duke ... You were expecting a different prediction? Of course, this will look pretty dopey if my guys lose to Washington in the first round. Damn you, Gordon Wittenmyer!
Kansas over Marquette ... Fanatic, but not insane.
1. If your alma mater has a legitimate chance (as mine does this year), pick them.
2. Despite what everyone says, 12s don't "always" beat 5s. Contrarian that I am, I'm picking all four 5s.
3. Just about nobody has seen Northern Iowa or BYU or Richmond or Cornell play. So when folks do accidentally get an upset right, it means they were lucky, not smart. That goes for Yours Baldly, too.
4. Don't be so generous calling things upsets. 9 beating 8 isn't an upset. Neither is 10 over 7. Most 11s are as good as the 6s. 12-over-5 is an upset, of course, but also a cliche. 13 over 4? Now that's an upset. (And I pick one of 'em just for the giggles and yucks.)
OK, here goes:
MIDWEST
First Round
1-Kansas over 16-Lehigh ... Jayhawks make 'em look like Le-Junior-High.
9-Northern Iowa over 8-UNLV ... That's right: picking a team that lost to DePaul.
5-Michigan State over 12-New Mexico State ... Tempted, but no.
4-Maryland over 13-Houston ... No Phi Slamma Jamma this time.
11-San Diego State over 6-Tennessee ... Bruce Pearl implodes.
3-Georgetown over 14-Ohio ... MAC daddies sent packin'.
10-Georgia Tech over 7-Oklahoma State ... Ah, but Cowboys will always have win over Kansas.
2-Ohio State over UC-Santa Barbara ... But I'd sure rather be in Santa Barbara than Columbus in March.
Second Round
1-Kansas over 9-Northern Iowa ... Sherron Collins played against my son when both were in 8th grade, and Ben obviously got him ready for the big time.
4-Maryland over 5-Michigan State ... Not one of Izzo's great teams.
3-Georgetown over 11-San Diego State ... Hoya Paranoia is back.
2-Ohio State over 10-Georgia Tech ... Evan Turner = best player in country.
Regional Semifinals
1-Kansas over 4-Maryland ... Greivis Vasquez keeps it close.
3-Georgetown over 2-Ohio State ... G-Town playing as well as anyone in country.
Regional Final
1-Kansas over 3-Georgetown ... I see too many Hoya fouls trying to keep up with KU talent.
WEST
First Round
1-Syracuse over 16-Vermont ... Beware the Catamounts!
8-Gonzaga over Florida State ... No longer darlings; just a solid team.
5-Butler over 12-Texas-El Paso ... Because everybody and their uncles are picking UTEP.
13-Murray State over 4-Vanderbilt ... Because I loved Murray the Cop on The Odd Couple.
6-Xavier over 11-Minnesota ... Hey announcers: It's "zavier," not "ex-avier"!!!
3-Pitt over 14-Oakland ... Just like the AFC in the 1970s.
7-BYU over 10-Florida ... Gotta go with a star named "Jimmer."
2-Kansas State over 15-North Texas ... No love for Mean Green on day after St. Pat's.
Second Round
1-Syracuse over 8-Gonzaga ... Almost picked under-the-radar Zags.
5-Butler over 13-Murray State ... What? I'm gonna pick Murray State twice?
3-Pitt over 6-Xavier ... Panthers are as tough as the hammer and the nails.
2-Kansas State over 7-BYU ... Can't go with a star named "Jimmer."
Regional Semifinals
1-Syracuse over 5-Butler ... Bulldogs bite against 2-3 zone.
2-Kansas State over 3-Pitt ... The better team wins.
Regional Final
2-Kansas State over 1-Syracuse ... The spit'll be flyin' out of Frank Martin's mouth.
EAST
First Round
1-Kentucky over 16-East Tennessee State ... Didn't even know there was an Atlantic Sun Conference.
8-Texas over 9-Wake Forest ... Don't like either, but Texas is better.
5-Temple over 12-Cornell ... Ivy Leaguers are fashionable pick, but Temple's good.
4-Wisconsin over 13-Wofford ... This won't be pretty.
6-Marquette over 11-Washington ... True story: My Sun-Times buddy, Cubs beat writer Gordon Wittenmyer, is a Washington alum. He and I have spent the better part of two weeks talking about our alma maters and we often said (though not in unison): "Wouldn't it be crazy if they met in the first round?" And here they are. I hate this matchup because UW has lots of skilled players, and I can see why people would pick the Huskies. But my boys have come through over and over again in tough games like this, so I won't abandon them now. The winner of this game could have quite a run in the tourney.
3-New Mexico over 14-Montana ... Grizzlies give Lobos a scare before bowing.
10-Missouri over 7-Clemson ... Clemson hasn't won tourney game in 13 years; why start now?
2-West Virginia over 15-Morgan State ... Name your score.
Second Round
1-Kentucky over 8-Texas ... A scary second-round matchup for the mighty Wildcats.
5-Temple over 4-Wisconsin ... The more athletic team wins defensive war.
6-Marquette over 3-New Mexico ... Buzz Williams over Steve Alford every time.
2-West Virginia over 10-Missouri ... There aren't five players better than Da'Sean Butler.
Regional Semifinals
1-Kentucky over 5-Temple ... Tempted to pick Temple to set up a battle between my alma mater and my brother's school, but can't do it.
6-Marquette over 2-West Virginia ... My lads lost by 1 at West Virginia this season. This time, it's on a neutral court and my guys will make their free throws down the stretch.
Regional Final
6-Marquette over 1-Kentucky ... I don't pick Marquette to get to the Final Four every year. Honest. In fact, the last time I did - in 2003 - they beat Kentucky to get there. My Golden Warrior Eagles might have to shoot 60 percent from 3-point range to do it this time, but they've done that before. So why the heck not pick 'em?!?!
SOUTH
First Round
1-Duke over 16-Arkansas-Pine Bluff ... Still, you gotta respect a team that gets to the NCAAs after starting the season 0-11.
9-Louisville over 8-California ... Cardinals can beat anybody.
5-Texas A&M over 12-Utah State ... The 12-5 upset I'd pick if I were picking one.
13-Siena over 4-Purdue ... Wounded Boilers fall to dangerous Saints in my upset special.
6-Notre Dame over 11-Old Dominion ... Will be a close game.
3-Baylor over 14-Sam Houston State ... Sam they am not gonna win.
7-Richmond over 10-Saint Mary's ... Everyone's afraid of Spiders.
2-Villanova over 15-Robert Morris ... R. Morris reminds me of cats, and I hate cats.
Second Round
1-Duke over 9-Louisville ... Cardinals can lose to anybody, and Duke's not just any anybody.
13-Siena over 5-Texas A&M ... Why? Like I used to tell my kids: Because I said so.
3-Baylor over 6-Notre Dame ... It pained me enough to pick ND to win once.
7-Richmond over 2-Villanova ... Nova's not playing very well lately.
Regional Semifinals
1-Duke over 13-Siena ... Well, it was fun while it lasted.
3-Baylor over 7-Richmond ... How can a guy pick against the backcourt of Tweety Carter and LaceDarius Dunn?
Regional Final
1-Duke over 3-Baylor ... I guess a guy can pick against Tweety and LaceDarius if the other team has Jon Scheyer and Nolan Smith.
FINAL FOUR
Kansas over Kansas State ... The only team in America with no weakness will win a wild one against its archrival.
Marquette over Duke ... You were expecting a different prediction? Of course, this will look pretty dopey if my guys lose to Washington in the first round. Damn you, Gordon Wittenmyer!
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Kansas over Marquette ... Fanatic, but not insane.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Kentucky has tradition - but not the best job
^
Sunday's final four:
1. Why, why, why on earth would Tom Izzo, John Calipari, Billy Donovan or any other coach who already has built a top-tier program be even the least bit interested in going to Kentucky now that another good coach has been driven away from Bluegrass country?
Izzo is back in the Final Four with Michigan State, which for the last decade has established itself as the premier program in the Big Ten and one of the very best in the country - far better than Kentucky, in fact.
Calipari is worshipped in Memphis, where he is king of Conference USA and where he successfully recruits some of the very best players in the land. According to several ratings services, he is bringing the No. 1 class of 2009 to Memphis. At Kentucky, the alums and other hard-core fans probably would expect him to do better than No. 1. Who needs it?
Donovan has won two national titles at Florida and continues to bring top talent to Gainesville, where he is revered for having already given the thumbs down to Kentucky once.
As a bonus - a huge, enormous, gigandulous bonus - none of these guys faces the kind of scrutiny and pressure in his current job as he would at Kentucky. As an extra bonus, all are paid the same kind of outrageous salaries they'd get from the Bluegrass boyz.
There are a handful of traditional powerhouse programs and Kentucky is one of them. (Duke, North Carolina, Kansas, Indiana and UCLA also leap to mind.) But I'd say that many others, including Michigan State, Memphis and UConn, have pulled alongside - and, in many cases, surpassed - those traditional powers.
Funny thing about tradition in sports: It guarantees nothing. Just ask the Cowboys how much tradition has been worth on the playing field the last few years. New traditions get established all the time in sports; witness the Red Sox now being clutch winners while the Yankees have become chokers.
Tom Crean left Marquette for Indiana, saying it was a slam-dunk decision because "Indiana is Indiana." Well, Indiana hasn't been Indiana for awhile now, including Bobby Knight's last half-dozen years there, and Marquette - thanks in great part to Crean - has surpassed Indiana by miles. Crean is counting on tradition helping him recruit better players to Indiana than he did to Marquette, but most ratings services say his Marquette replacement, Buzz Williams, will be bringing in a group as good as or better than Crean will to Hoosierland.
Of course, once upon an Al McGuire time, Marquette was one of those traditional powerhouses.
Yes, Kentucky has tradition out the ying-yang. But so do many other places where the pressure isn't so great a coach feels like killing himself 50 times a year. There are too many other fantastic schools at which a coach can win big without putting himself through the torture.
2. Saturday's Villanova-Pitt game was so good, I found myself actually cheering several plays - something I very rarely do because I'm more of a detached appreciator of excellence than I am of a fan. I must admit: It was pretty darn fun.
3. As usual, the "experts" couldn't stop talking about the distractions facing UConn after word of possible NCAA recruiting violations surfaced before the weekend. Ridiculous. Why would UConn players be even the slightest bit distracted by this? Turns out, they weren't, as the Huskies took down Purdue and Missouri to get to the Final Four.
4. In honor of Tiger Woods officially being back, it's time to take a mulligan on my Final Four picks. What other choice do I have, since I managed to go a sterling 0-for-4?
As much as I appreciate Izzo's Spartans, UConn can play whatever game Michigan State wants to play - and play it just a tad better. On the other side of the bracket, I'm going with the upset: Villanova's tough, talented perimeter players, augmented by vastly underrated Dante Cunningham, making Carolina blue.
And in the all-Big East title game ... UConn 80, 'Nova 74.
Call your bookies and pull out those wallets, folks. I mean, I haven't steered you wrong yet!
Thursday, March 26, 2009
A League of Its Own
^
Thursday's final four:
1. Two words, my friends: Big East. Instead of wondering if there will be four No. 1 seeds in the Final Four for the second straight year, we probably should wonder if one conference will capture all four spots for the first time ever.
2. How 'bout Mizzou? Or maybe a better question is this: How the hell did the Tigers get trounced by Illinois back in December? DeMarre Carroll just might be the best player most of America doesn't know. As usual, the kid was everywhere for Missouri in its impressive win over Memphis to reach the Elite Eight. It's hard to imagine the Tigers taking out UConn in the West final, but they've done a pretty good job smacking around doubters - and opponents - so far.
3. In Villanova, Duke ran into a faster, stronger, defensively superior version of itself. The result was so predictable ... I'm mad as hell I didn't predict it.
4. Hey, look at those oft-maligned (quite oft by me) Chicago Bulls! They're playing so well lately, they probably could win a couple of NCAA tourney games.
Monday, March 23, 2009
First cars, superstars and har-de-hars
^
The Big Milestone
The Big Milestone
That's my soon-to-graduate-from-college daughter, Katie, and her first car.
She took possession of it Monday and drove it back to Lawrence U. in Appleton. With its 4-wheel-drive, the 2003 Ford Escape will help her navigate the Wisconsin winters and will give all of us - including her old man and old lady - a little peace of mind.
For those wondering exactly how spoiled Katie is ... we didn't let her get her driver's license until she was 18, she had no wheels until now and she put up a pretty nice chunk of her own hard-earned cash toward this graduation present (which has 81,000 miles on it).
Congrats, Katie, you deserve it!
The Bald Truth
Although he did nothing but contribute the genes, Michael Jordan was still the man in the spotlight as son Marcus helped Whitney Young win the Illinois big-schools prep hoops title.
The media barely cared that the school won a championship. After all, the real important news was that Michael shed tears over his son's exploits.
No matter what, it's always about Michael, isn't it?
The Balder Truth
One weekend in, I'm already tired of hearing announcers yammer on about players in the NCAA tournament experiencing "fatigue."
Please. As Bobby Knight said years ago: With all of the time outs that are called - and the length of said time outs - any 20-year-old who is tired must be in pretty crappy shape.
A 30-second time out lasts about 90 seconds, a full time out lasts about 2 1/2 minutes and a TV time out goes on for approximately an ice age. March Madness, indeed.
Believe me, these superbly conditioned athletes get far more fatigued during every team practice than they do during NCAA tourney games.
THE BALDEST TRUTH
"Four World Series, three world championships. That there are men with plaques in Cooperstown who never experienced one - and I was able to be on three teams over seven years that won it all - is another 'beyond my wildest dreams' set of memories I'll take with me." - Curt Schilling, announcing his retirement on his blog.
He averaged only about 11 victories during his 20-year career, but I'm leaning toward giving Schilling my Hall of Fame vote when he's eligible in five years.
Why?
His incredible postseason performance (11-2, 2.23 ERA).
His role in helping the Red Sox reverse the Curse of the Bambino.
His outstanding pitching during the heart of the Steroid Era.
And, of course, his humility. I mean, at least he stopped short of claiming to be the best pitcher ever.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Hats off to victors (Mizzou) - and even to victims (Marquette)
^
Sunday's final four:
1. Because Michigan State somehow was chosen as Chicago's "home" team - even though Marquette has a massive alumni base here and is only an hour and a half away - I had to watch most of the Marquette-Missouri game on a laptop computer while Michigan State-USC droned on in the background on my beautiful HDTV. CBS's feed repeatedly froze and the network experienced a couple of long stretches of outages due to its own technical difficulties. It was like the Dark Ages, man, so ... so ... so ... 2006!
2. My lads fought valiantly but couldn't quite pull off the upset. I'd love to blame the refs or injuries or sunspots for the 83-79 loss, but Missouri earned the victory by playing extraordinarily well in the first half and then coming through in the clutch. Even though Marquette's season is over, I really enjoyed this edition of the Golden Warrior Eagles. The class of Jerel McNeal, Dominic James and Wes Matthews played hard and well for four years. As a fan, I never felt cheated, and there's not much more we can ask for from our athletes.
3. Between Wisconsin's hack-first defense, the Badgers' slow-mo offense and the refs calling a foul every time a player on either team breathed on an opponent, the Wisconsin-Xavier game had all the pace and entertainment value of somebody changing a flat tire. I'm still trying to figure out how Wisconsin made the tourney, how the Badgers beat Florida State in the first round and how Xavier merited a No. 4 seed. I'd say that Xavier's stay in the tournament from here on in will be a short one, but its next opponent, Pitt, hasn't exactly been playing like the team so many folks (including this folk) picked to win it all.
4. How's your bracket? I'm not going to set any records, but I'm 37-11 after the first two rounds and still have seven of my final eight alive. (West Virginia? Oy! What was I thinking?) I'm looking forward to next weekend, when the stars really will shine. Who will emerge as the one transcendant star - the guy who, like Stephen Curry in 2008 - everybody will be talking about? Terrence Williams? Blake Griffin? Ty Lawson? Hasheem Thabeet? Gerald Henderson? DeJuan Blair? JaJuan Johnson? Tyreke Evans? Jonny Flynn? I'm thinking Griffin is really going to put on a show in carrying Oklahoma past Lawson, Tyler Hansbrough and the rest of the Tar Heels. Regardless of what happens, it will be fun watching it unfold.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Coach K puts it on the line for Duke
^
Saturday's final four:
1. In the final seconds, with Duke at the line trying to extend a 3-point lead, Coach K did what far too few coaches do: Instead of having nobody line up in any of the free-throw rebounding positions, thereby surrending a missed shot to the opponent, he had a player take one of the spots. Sure enough, when the foul shot was missed, David McClure kept the ball alive for the Dookies. Teammate Gerald Henderson emerged from a scramble with the ball, got fouled and iced the game with two free throws. Given the funny bounces the basketball can take, why do coaches so often just concede the rebound to the opponent? I know the answer: They are afraid of a player being called for a loose-ball foul. But think about it: A coach trusts players to do all manner of things during the course of a game but won't trust them to steer clear of a foul in a key situation? Well, Coach K trusted McClure. Rather than trying not to lose, he was trying to win. Just another reason Coach K is one of the best ever.
2. And speaking of free throws ... I felt really good about my upset pick of Western Kentucky over Gonzaga. And the Hilltoppers probably would have pulled it off if they hadn't gone 5-for-14 from the line. Texas, meanwhile, was 16-for-25 in losing the close one to Duke. This time of year, if you don't hit your free throws, you're dead.
3. Illinois certainly missed Chester Frazier and Marquette misses Dominic James ... but please. Ty Lawson, an NBA stud in the making, showed Saturday just what North Carolina had been missing when the superstar point guard was out with his toe injury. Yeah, but Lawson has so much more talent around him, right? Right - and yet he still took over and was the difference in the second half when the Tar Heels needed him against LSU. What a player.
4. As is the case going into Sunday's meeting, Marquette and Missouri were the 3 and 6 seeds in the 2003 tourney (although back then, unlike now, Marquette was the 3 and Mizzou was the 6). That game was an overtime classic, with Travis Diener and Steve Novak - not Dwyane Wade - carrying the day for a talented Marquette team that used the victory as a springboard to the Final Four. Sounds like a plan! Hey, a Golden Warrior Eagles fan can dream, right?
NCAA tourney delivers - as usual
^
Friday's final four:
1. If you don't love the NCAA basketball tournament, why even bother loving sports? Those who were a little disappointed that the first-day action didn't produce more thrills needed to wait only a few hours. Friday included victories by the 13th-seeded Cinderfellas of Cleveland State, classic 12/5 upsets pulled off by Wisconsin and Arizona, and a month's worth of late-game heroics. There is nothing - nothing! - better than this. It is the one major sporting event that never fails to live up to the hype.
2. The only thing more stunning than Cleveland State's victory over No. 4 Wake Forest was the ease in which it occurred. The Vikings were in control from the opening tip to the final horn in knocking out a team many thought could sneak into the Final Four. Another popular choice as a possible Final Four crasher, fifth-seeded Florida State, was victimized by Wisconsin. As I watched the game, I was thinking: "Remember when Trevon Hughes was going to be the Badgers' next great player? What ever happened to that?" Well, it was Hughes who came through with the huge, old-fashioned, drive-and-a-foul 3-point play to give Wisconsin an amazing triumph. I still don't think Wisconsin deserved a bid ... but as long as they were invited to the party, they are to be praised for showing up ready to rock and roll.
3. Kudos to CBS for the spectacular way it handled the tense moments in two OT games that were unfolding simultaneously: Wisconsin-Florida State and Siena-Ohio State. The network slickly provided every big play live for its audience, and the announcing teams (Craig Bolerjack/Bob Wenzel for UW-FSU and Verne Lundquist/Bill Raftery for Siena-OSU) were spot-on in capturing the drama. The time I spent watching the endings of both games was about as much fun as a guy can have sitting alone in his recliner.
4. After the first round, my prognostication record stands at 26-6. Not great, for sure, but more than twice as good as Hoopster in Chief Barack Obama. Really, Mr. President? 19-13? Here's hoping you're better at fixing the economy than you are at filling out a bracket.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Way to go, Marquette Bald Eagles!
^
Friday's not-yet-final four:
1. Had I known the Marquette players were going to shave their heads, I'd have picked my Golden Warrior Bald Eagles to win the national title!
2. After a flying start, my bracket took a severe hit Friday afternoon. I put too much faith in West Virginia - predicting that Bob Huggins' Mountaineers would reach the Elite Eight - and it cost me when they lost to Dayton. So while I'm 21-3 through three sessions, it feels like I'm doing a lot worse.
3. Note to extremely red-faced bully-turned-yakker Bobby Knight: SPF 100, dude!
4. Those of us who have Pitt as our eventual national champions can't feel too good after the Panthers were taken to the limit by mighty East Tennessee State. Another performance like that against Oklahoma State, and Pitt can pack it up. Then again, the ETSU debacle might have been just the "Hey wake up, Dummies!" Pittsburgh needed.
(Check back in on TBT after the night games for Friday's final four.)
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