Headlines…
Connecticut routs Louisville on way to National Championship
I'll assume you were not watching the Women's NCAA Basketball Tournament over the past few weeks (Neither was I), but apparently the Huskies from Connecticut went 39-0 on the season. They were flat out dominate all season. And that is taking nothing away from Louisville who went 34-5 and made it all the way to the final as a three seed. Impressive. It's nice to see the Big East actually live up to its billing as the best conference in the nation. Too bad the men could not respond in kind. They were too busy worrying about declaring for the draft...
Dejuan Blair of Pittsburgh declares for NBA Draft
He may have been the Co-Big East Player of the Year. He may have averaged a double-double for the 2008-2009 season. It may be a thin draft. But this is the wrong move for the sophomore from Pittsburgh. Some players regardless of success in college need as much time in the NCAA as possible. Dejaun Blair is too unrefined as a basketball player to even think about going to the NBA. He's a 6'7 power forward with no jump shot and average passing skills. That skill set barely passes in the developmental league. And that is where he is headed when he inevitably gets drafted in the mid to late second round. Or not at all.
Red Sox defeat Rays on rescheduled Opening Day
There is nothing harder than trying to sound objective when discussing the Red Sox. Even when talking to friends I start out saying things like, "Well Lester looked terrific last night striking out eight and going seven innings". But inside my head I'm screaming, "Red Sox suck! Go Yanks!" But clearly if I said those things, I would be considered a homer and thusly, not objective. That being said, everything went right for the Red Sox yesterday. Beckett went seven innings while yielding only 2 hits and 1 run. Reigning AL MVP Dustin Pedroia hit a homerun in his first at bat of the season. And god help us, Jason Varitek hit a homerun. It's going to be a long season.
2009 Masters starts tomorrow
I'm not sure what station has been whoring out their coverage of the Masters more, ESPN or CBS. It's essentially a tossup. I remember seeing advertisements for it on CBS back in January. At the same time, it seems as if ESPN has an ad for the Masters every 30 seconds. This year, ESPN has the first two days of the event (the ones most people don't care about), while CBS has Saturday and Sunday (The ones where people say, "Is this almost over? Where's Two and a Half Men). The favorite to win this year, and every year since 1997 is Tiger Woods. However, the Hefty Lefty Phil Mickelson is coming off two straight wins and might have actually lifted a dumbbell since the last Masters (He wasn't really lifting it, he was just moving it out of his way so he could get to the vending machine). And the man with the best accent on the Tour, Padraig Harrington is looking for his third straight major title. Of all the golfers that enjoyed Woods's absense from the Tour last year, Harrington definitely enjoyed it the most. Notching two major titles in 2008 and placing himself among the game's elite.
I'll be back...
Here’s your Final Four
Let's see here, I have one, tw.....no, just one team in from my original Final Four. Awesome. It's irrelevant though, most of the people I know had their bracket's ruined long ago. It should be an interesting couple of games though. Michigan St. and UNC get in, AGAIN. Villanova makes it's first appearance since 1985. And Connecticut, amid scandal, has been the most impressive team in the tournament. That being said, I really like the Huskies to come out on top. Michigan State has been playing over their head for the entire tournament and it's about time they get a wake-up call. And that wake-up call will be in the form of Hasheem Thabeet. Although, I still maintain that he is the most overrated player in the country, he is 7'3 and has hands the size of folding chairs. Obviously, I would love to see Villanova beat North Carolina. There would be nothing better than an all Big East final. But in reality, UNC hasn't seen a whiff of competition since the tournament started because of their suffocating defense and Ty Lawson.
I don't know what to make of UNC in terms of pro talent. Clearly, Tyler Hansbrough will be, at best, a sixth man off the bench who gives coaches hustle minutes and will probably lead the league in "things that don't appear in the box score". Things like diving for a ball, setting a solid screen, or crying at an official. Ty Lawson is an incredible college talent, but I can't see him doing the same things in the NBA. Currently, he has an McDonalds All-American at every position around him. He doesn't pass or shoot like Chris Paul, and he doesn't have the size of someone like Deron Williams. Out of all the starters for North Carolina, my belief is that Wayne Ellington will come out as the most successful professional. He may not be as tall as Richard Hamilton, but he in on par shooting wise. Any team in the NBA is looking for a mid-range jump-shooter who isn't afraid to handle the ball.
My Final Four
I know that I stated in the previous post that I fall in love with the Big East too easily when making bracket picks. Well, it seems the love affair will continue. That being said, here is my Final Four and subsequent winner...
Biased? Very. It most likely is not going to happen. But it very well could happen. Why not? Take a closer look at each individual bracket. If the cards fall in the right direction for each team, we could be seeing a mini Big East Tournament held in Detroit on April 4th.
My Winner:
Louisville
Coaches to watch out for:
Jim Calhoun (Connecticut)
Mike Krzyzewski (Duke)
Jim Boeheim (Syracuse)
Roy Williams (North Carolina)
Jay Wright (Villanova)
Rick Pitino (Louisville)
Bill Self (Kansas)
John Calipari (Memphis)
Jamie Dixon (Pittsburgh)
Bob Huggins (West Virginia)
Dino Gaudio (Wake Forest)
Players to watch out for:
Jonny Flynn (Syracuse)
Terrence Williams (Louisville)
Ty Lawson (North Carolina)
Jeff Teague (Wake Forest)
Tyrell Biggs (Pittsburgh)-Nanuet represent!
Scottie Reynolds (Villanova)
A.J. Slaughter (Western Kentucky)
Kenny Hasbrouck (Siena)
Greatest Mascot:
The Xavier Blue Blob
NCAA Tournament Picks (Sort of)
Every year on Selection Sunday, I sit down on the couch, grab the remote, put on CBS and wait for Greg Gumbel to tell me which teams made it into the tournament and their respective seeds. After the final team is named, I go to my printer and print out five copies of the bracket. Three for me and two for my dad. I just finished my first bracket and I will tell you what, I am not happy with it. I fall in love with the number one seeds too easily. And if this year has taught us anything, NO ONE is a favorite. Right now, excluding the 13, 14, 15, and 16 seeds, it seems as if anyone can win the tournament. Each team has significant flaws and bad losses.
I ended up with Louisville winning it all after the first bracket. It sounds like a reasonable choice, but I hate it. I just know somewhere along the road they will be knocked off by a Wake Forest or even a Kansas. They are a heck of a team and proved that by winning both the Big East regular season championship and Big East Tournament yesterday. But all year, whenever they were on television, I would turn to my dad and say, "They probably have the most talent in the country, but they play so dumb". And it's true, they make awful decisions; bad shot selection, touch fouls, and unnecessary passes. Each number one has their own problems. Pittsburgh turns into an average team when DeJuan Blair gets into foul trouble, North Carolina relies too heavily on Tyler Hansbrough, and Connecticut has not been the same without Jerome Dyson. All that being said, it wouldn't be unreasonable to say that none of the number ones will make the Final Four. That is why I hate my choice in Louisville to win it all. After posing a objective, reasoned argument stating that the higher seeds are clearly not of the same ilk of years past, I end up with the Cardinals to win it. But you know what, I am going to stick with them. My parents and teachers always told me to go with my gut instinct, and that is what I am going to do.
I might toil around with my other picks though. It is difficult to fill out a bracket objectively without having personal feelings get in the way. I am a sucker for the Big East and after making my picks, I realized that six of the eight teams in the Elite Eight were from the Big East. As much as I would like that to happen, the odds are against it.
I love some of the opening round games and I am estatic that the economy is the way it is so I don't have to go to some job on Thursday or Friday. I can watch college basketball for twelve straight hours and only breaking my visual gait to go to the little boys' room. I will be keeping my eye on these opening round games...
(8) Ohio State vs. (9) Siena
I have always thought the Big Ten was overrated and this year was no exception. Although teams like Michigan St. and Purdue perform well in conference, they would be at the bottom half of the ACC or Big East. The committee didn't see it my way though by inviting seven Big Ten teams in the tournament, including Ohio State. The Buckeyes were poised to have a terrific year and were ranked high in the Top 25 at the beginning of the season. But after getting destroyed by West Virginia in December, they started to struggle. Before the Big Ten tournament they were firmly on the bubble and after a great showing where they made the finals, are now an eight seed. But I like Siena in this game. Look for senior guard Kenny Hasbrouck to carry the Saints to another first round victory.
(7) Boston College vs. (10) USC
(7) California vs. (10) Maryland
(7) Clemson vs. (10) Michigan
The way I see it, it is not a year for the seven seeds. If you are looking for upsets, here they are. I base that off the overratedness (word?) of the seven seeds in the tournament (other than Texas). I understand that Boston College beat both UNC and Duke this season, but that is the extent of their key wins and probably the sole reason they made it to the tournament. Remember that double digit loss to Harvard earlier in the season? "Yes, Boston College, I remember and I am calling you out!" They are in for a rude awakening when Taj Gibson and the rest of Southern California run over the Eagles.
Shouldn't Maryland over California be an automatic pick? The Bears had two losses to Oregon State and a loss to Stanford this season. Sure, if I am going to call out Cal for losing to those two teams, I really should call out Maryland for losing to Morgan State in January. But that is besides the point! Maryland has the big game experience coming out of the ACC and Greivis Vasquez who can take over a game on his own.
Why are people constantly sold on Clemson? I remember writing in a post from September how their entire sports program is based off hype. Prior to every football and basketball season, the Clemson Tigers are overhyped with high rankings and the words "National Championship" following their name. This season, like every season, Clemson started out hot and were one of the last undefeated teams left in the country. Like they are every year. Then they ended the season 7-8 with losses to Virginia, Georgia Tech, Florida State, and Wake Forest. I anticipate a quick exit for the Tigers.
(8) BYU vs. (9) Texas A&M
Isn't BYU an eight seed every, freaking, year? Just something to think about. I like BYU by the way.
Teams to go on a run:
Wake Forest
Why not? At one point in the season they were ranked number one. They have a plethora of talent and have been battle-tested all season in the ACC.
Syracuse:
A lot of "analysts" have been asking if the Orange are going to be burnt out come Thursday after playing for 700 minutes this weekend. I'm not sure if these analysts realize that these are 18-22 year old athletes who will have 5 days off. They have a terrific complement of pure shooters and strength inside. Not to mention a coach who won a National Championship only seven years ago in Jim Boeheim.
Incredibly random team to make a run so I look like a genius when they do:
Virginia Commonwealth University
Only 21 hours until the Women's Bracket is revealed!
A real game takes six overtimes
Most of the time I stay up until the wee hours of the morning before I hit the hay. Usually, for no good reason. I should be working on papers and projects like a good student does, but I am too busy watching an episode of Scrubs I have seen thirty to forty times before. I can't help it though. That show is so damn funny and it's on every half hour on the half hour. Last night was different though, I had a reason. Well, a reason for me. Not a reason for my parents that I woke up at 11pm. Or a reason for my teachers that I didn't even touch my paper. It was reason for myself that justified the many times I continue to watch "The Tube" when I should have been tucked away in my bed with thoughts of sugarplums dancing in my head.
I have become obsessive for the Big East Tournament for the past few seasons. It has become one of my favorite sporting events of the year. Even though I attend Seton Hall University, I really do root for the entire Big East to do well. I mean, it's not like "The Hall" will be interesting any time soon, so that rooting interest comes based off of necessity. Last year I went to the quarterfinals at the Garden with my uncle. I had a great time. Great seats. Great food (for a sporting event). Great games. Me and him were supposed to go this year but schedules clashed and such is life, things got in the way. C'est la vie.
But I digress. Last night's quarterfinal game between Syracuse and Connecticut rivaled any college basketball game I had ever seen. From the start, everyone knew The Orange were going to put up a fight. Every year, they hover around the rankings at #15-#25, occasionally winning a big game, then losing to an awful team. But as soon as the first round of the Big East Tournament begins, they turn into the 1996 Chicago Bulls. I said to my dad right after tipoff, "Syracuse is going to win this game". And to be honest, that is not exactly going out on a limb. Connecticut is a terrific team, but for a better part of the season, I considered them the worst #1 ranked of all time. I base that entirely off the fact their "best player" Hasheem Thabeet is softer than a pillow. I could not believe he was voted "Co-Big East Player of the Year" with Dejuan Blair. Both times the two squared off against eachother, Blair, who is eight inches shorter, took over the game and made sure Thabeet had little, to no impact. Sure, there would be times he would be dominant, but there would be games where he would have two rebounds and three points, or no points. I don't care if you have never seen a basketball before, if you are 7 foot, 3 inches tall, and you play at least 25 minutes a game, you should be pulling down ten rebounds and scoring fifteen points, by accident. When your knees are at other players' eyes, your team should never lose a game. But since Thabeet has the toughness of a baby panda, Syracuse prevailed in six overtimes last night, err, earlier this morning.
I used to support Syracuse when they had players like Gerry McNamara, Hakim Warrick, and even that fantastic one year with Carmelo Anthony. But someone like Eric Devendorf can eliminate all sorts of affection you had for a team. I have never seen a more insufferable college athlete in my entire life. From his tattoos, to his constant unwarranted trash talk on the court, I can't stand the guy. Not to mention his two run-ins with the law where he was accused of harming two people, one of which was a woman. The judicial board was going to suspend him for the entire year, but coach Jim Boeheim thought that was too severe. So there he was, playing in the greatest college basketball game of all time, yapping and strutting around like a jackass. But a little bit of the sting from the Syracuse win was taken away when Jonny Flynn, not Devendorf, single-handedly took his team on his back. If you do not enjoy watching him play, you do not enjoy sports. From the tipoff to the final buzzer of the sixth overtime, he maintained the same amount of intensity. When Thabeet fouled out in the fifth overtime, Flynn made the lane his home. Driving on essentially every possession, he either made the basket or drew the foul. When he got to the line, he didn't miss one free throw. And every single one was important being that Syracuse didn't take the lead in overtime until the sixth one.
It was an incredible game, and today is only the semifinals.
Headline…
Connecticut guard Jerome Dyson to have surgery, out for year
If you don't care about College Basketball, then this doesn't concern you. But this is a really, really big deal for UConn and their hopes for a National Championship. According to an MRI, he tore his lateral meniscus (sounds important) in the second half of Connecticut's win over Syracuse. I can look at this two ways. One being that it's awful for UConn and I hope he recovers quickly and maybe even in time for the tournament. And secondly, Connecticut is playing my Seton Hall Pirates this Saturday. Seton Hall is riding a five game winning streak and will host UConn in front of a packed house (they cover the upper deck seats) at the Prudential Center. So naturally, this can be construed as a good thing for "The Hall". Go Pirates!...and yes, get well soon Jerome.
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