A buddy and I were discussing the post-game celebration in Memphis on Sunday when he mentioned how almost sad Marcus Ginyard looked. Not selfish, I-wanted-us-to-lose sad, but happy-for-my-teammates-but-I-wish-I-could-help sad. I told him I was planning to write something for The Blue Team this week on the nearly forgotten Tar Heel, but it looks like I won't have to. Adam Lucas, the fantastic editor of Tar Heel Monthly and writer on TarHeelBlue.com (and contributor to all things Carolina) will apparently have this covered later on this week. I'm glad because I know it will be well worth the read, especially since he can talk to Marcus, his teammates, and his family about everything. I'll link to it on The Blue Team as well. Plus, it will save me a night of writing on this blog. A night I can now spend, instead, watching the 1982, 1993, and 2005 National Championship games. After all, those are my favorite movies.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Saved Me Some Work
A buddy and I were discussing the post-game celebration in Memphis on Sunday when he mentioned how almost sad Marcus Ginyard looked. Not selfish, I-wanted-us-to-lose sad, but happy-for-my-teammates-but-I-wish-I-could-help sad. I told him I was planning to write something for The Blue Team this week on the nearly forgotten Tar Heel, but it looks like I won't have to. Adam Lucas, the fantastic editor of Tar Heel Monthly and writer on TarHeelBlue.com (and contributor to all things Carolina) will apparently have this covered later on this week. I'm glad because I know it will be well worth the read, especially since he can talk to Marcus, his teammates, and his family about everything. I'll link to it on The Blue Team as well. Plus, it will save me a night of writing on this blog. A night I can now spend, instead, watching the 1982, 1993, and 2005 National Championship games. After all, those are my favorite movies.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Eight Legacies a Leapin'
Eight teams remain in the 2009 NCAA Tournament. Fifty-seven others are already home, watching the tournament just like me, and wondering what went wrong. Their seasons are finished, their stories complete. The eventual winner of this tournament is only halfway home to a title: three down, three to go. For these eight remaining teams, these next three games are what will write their stories and define their legacies.
A journey to the Final Four will be a memorable legacy for all four teams that are fortunate enough to go. Missouri has never been there and now, they are forty minutes away from extending a surprising season to remember. For a ravaged fan base just three season removed from the Quin Snyder mess, a trip to the Final Four would mean so much.
Oklahoma fans surely realize the greatness they are seeing before them. Blake Griffin is a once-in-a-lifetime talent for the Sooners. They are looking to surpass the late-eighties Billy Tubbs teams and seal the deal before Griffin is the first pick of the NBA Draft.
Villanova is on the brink of the Final Four yet again. Jay Wright has taken them this far once before and has the Wildcats poised for another Big East party at the Final Four, circa 1985. A team that will never be forgotten finished that season as champions and edition has a chance to join them in history.
Michigan St is playing not only for a short trip to nearby Detroit, but for all the people of their much-maligned state. The economic turmoil that our nation is facing is as bad as it gets in the Motor City, and the Spartans have given these folks a team to rally behind. For Coach Izzo and the green-clad fan base, a title in this particular season under these circumstances would be historical.
For UCONN coach Jim Calhoun, a third title in three tries at the Final Four would elevate him into the discussion of the game's greatest coaches. It would provide a full-circle experience for AJ Price, the senior who has been through so much in his Husky career. And, of course, three more wins might quiet the allegations against one of the best programs in the country...at least for a little while.
At Louisville, a title would place the spotlight on a program that sometimes feel lost under the shadow of its big blue neighbor. What better way to stick it to Kentucky than to win a national title with their old coach in the same season the Wildcats missed the NCAA Tournament and fired their coach? The Cardinals are hungry and have their best chance since Never Nervous Pervis & Co won it back in 1986.
For Pittsburgh, a Final Four appearance alone would validate the Panthers as a legitimate contender under Jamie Dixon; a title would only enhance things. This is a team that had not gotten over the hump of the Sweet 16 in years and could now make its first trip to the last dance.
And finally, for North Carolina, a championship would provide the ultimate reward for a group of players who all returned to school to hang a big banner in the Smith Center. It would also give Roy Williams a title with players he and his staff recruited. And, of course, it would be freakin' sweet.
History is before these eight teams and their fans. Someone will win three games and establish a legacy that will live forever. Today commences the remainder of the journey.
UCONN over Missouri, 78-74
Villanova over Pittsburgh, 71-61
Louisville over Michigan St, 84-67
Carolina over Oklahoma, 86-76
Rah rah...
A journey to the Final Four will be a memorable legacy for all four teams that are fortunate enough to go. Missouri has never been there and now, they are forty minutes away from extending a surprising season to remember. For a ravaged fan base just three season removed from the Quin Snyder mess, a trip to the Final Four would mean so much.
Oklahoma fans surely realize the greatness they are seeing before them. Blake Griffin is a once-in-a-lifetime talent for the Sooners. They are looking to surpass the late-eighties Billy Tubbs teams and seal the deal before Griffin is the first pick of the NBA Draft.
Villanova is on the brink of the Final Four yet again. Jay Wright has taken them this far once before and has the Wildcats poised for another Big East party at the Final Four, circa 1985. A team that will never be forgotten finished that season as champions and edition has a chance to join them in history.
Michigan St is playing not only for a short trip to nearby Detroit, but for all the people of their much-maligned state. The economic turmoil that our nation is facing is as bad as it gets in the Motor City, and the Spartans have given these folks a team to rally behind. For Coach Izzo and the green-clad fan base, a title in this particular season under these circumstances would be historical.
For UCONN coach Jim Calhoun, a third title in three tries at the Final Four would elevate him into the discussion of the game's greatest coaches. It would provide a full-circle experience for AJ Price, the senior who has been through so much in his Husky career. And, of course, three more wins might quiet the allegations against one of the best programs in the country...at least for a little while.
At Louisville, a title would place the spotlight on a program that sometimes feel lost under the shadow of its big blue neighbor. What better way to stick it to Kentucky than to win a national title with their old coach in the same season the Wildcats missed the NCAA Tournament and fired their coach? The Cardinals are hungry and have their best chance since Never Nervous Pervis & Co won it back in 1986.
For Pittsburgh, a Final Four appearance alone would validate the Panthers as a legitimate contender under Jamie Dixon; a title would only enhance things. This is a team that had not gotten over the hump of the Sweet 16 in years and could now make its first trip to the last dance.
And finally, for North Carolina, a championship would provide the ultimate reward for a group of players who all returned to school to hang a big banner in the Smith Center. It would also give Roy Williams a title with players he and his staff recruited. And, of course, it would be freakin' sweet.
History is before these eight teams and their fans. Someone will win three games and establish a legacy that will live forever. Today commences the remainder of the journey.
UCONN over Missouri, 78-74
Villanova over Pittsburgh, 71-61
Louisville over Michigan St, 84-67
Carolina over Oklahoma, 86-76
Rah rah...
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Sixteen Candles
The briefest of Sweet 16 previews is upon us. Let's ride...to-night...
West Region:
UCONN over Purdue. The Huskies, as was mentioned the other day, are playing great basketball right now. Then, this happened, and UCONN has been dealing with two days of distractions, questions, allegations, and speculation instead of focusing exclusively on Purdue. That being said, the Huskies are still the better team. Purdue should be able to hang in midway through the second half at least, but I just do not think they have the weapons to pull off the upset. The Boilermakers will have to shoot the ball extremely well and make certain to get quality shots after milking some time off the clock on each possession. I personally see AJ Price & Co coming out with the intent to rally behind their coach and program and take out some frustrations on Purdue. Score: 69-57 UCONN
Because I linked to the Montell Jordan video above and got distracted going through mid-nineties hip-hop videos, I have now ended up watching Mariah Carey videos for the last half hour. "Fantasy" is my personal fav, followed closely by "One Sweet Day". For the record, I have stood loyally by Mariah through all of her issues and am quite excited by her success in the past three or so years. I also stood by Christina Aguilera through the "Dirrty" phase. Just like Mariah, the girl can flat out sing and it's always catchy. I will now waste another half hour on Christina videos.
And we're back...
Memphis over Missouri. I do not think Missouri will have much success scoring in the halfcourt against Memphis' vaunted defense. The (Mizzou) Tigers will have to turn over the (Memphis) Tigers in order to convert easy buckets, and I do think they will have some success in doing so. Just not enough to win the game. Demarre Carroll, Missouri's best offensive weapon, will face a couple of great defenders in Shawn Taggart and Robert Dozier who are both quick enough to slow him down. Tyreke Evans' ability to break the press will be minimized because Memphis has enough other guys who are capable of helping him out with the ball-handling duties. Plus, John Calipari has been here more often than Mike Anderson and has recruited this outstanding talent for just such games. Score: 81-67 Memphis.
East Region:
Xavier over Pittsburgh. This game is quite simple really: the team who shoots the higher percentage will win. I think Xavier's post players can get DeJuan Blair in some foul trouble because of their quickness, thereby minimizing his rebounding impact. The Musketeers also have the athleticism on the wings to match up with Sam Young defensively. Young is the best all-around player on the Panthers and just went nuts against ETSU and Oklahoma St, so Xavier must do a good job on him as a team to prevent a repeat. I do worry a bit as to whether or not Xavier has an offensive weapon capable of getting them big buckets late in this game against Pitt's stellar defense, but I'm willing to take my chances. Score: 67-63 Xavier.
Villanova over Duke. Not changing this selection from my initial bracket (you know, the one currently floating down the Mississippi River en route to the Gulf of Mexico). Villanova has better balance inside and can convert some easy baskets as a result. The 'Cats should have an advantage on the glass and can defend Duke by switching on screens (a technique Carolina rarely uses, but has implemented effectively in its defeats of the Devils the past two years). They also have Scottie Reynolds running the show at the point, a multi-faceted guard who can score, distribute, and defend. Duke is tougher than heck, I'll admit, so Coach K's boys are not going down without a fight here. But in the end...Score 74-66 Villanova
East Region:
Louisville over Arizona. Closer than expected though. The Wildcats were on my Five to Thrive until I thought they might miss the tournament. Oops. While I do not think Arizona has beaten a legitimate opponent in the tournament yet, they certainly have the ability to do so. Budinger and Hill have been good most of the year, but Nic Wise, Jamelle Horne, and Kyle Fogg have been playing better recently. Arizona's zone defense will frustrate Louisville and if the Wildcats can take care of the ball, they have a real shot at winning. Nic Wise will be the key in that plan, as the point guard can be erratic at times. Keep in mind, also, that the Cardinals are not a good foul shooting team, which could come back to bite their red booties. Ultimately, I think Louisville is better balanced and will have a couple of key guys step up to make big plays and preserve a victory. I have liked this team all year and am not jumping off the bandwagon now. Score: 73-66 Louisville.
Michigan St over Kansas. I really do not know why other than I think Michigan St can defend a little better. Both teams have great point guards and a number of athletic wings. Cole Aldrich can make the difference inside for KU, but I think Coach Izzo's crew can attack him with their athleticism. I am honestly surprised that both teams made it this far, but have started to warm up to both of them a bit. Michigan St won the first matchup back in January and will do it again Friday. Score: 72-70 Michigan St.
South Region:
Syracuse over Oklahoma. The Orange have a terrific point guard (Jonny Flynn), two really good shooters (Devendorf and Rautins), a versatile forward (Paul Harris), a big banger (Onuaku), and a Hall of Fame coach. All five of those players average in double figures. Oklahoma has the player of the year nationally (Blake Griffin, of course), a talented freshmen guard (Willie Warren), a decent supporting cast, and a young coach. Syracuse plays a frustrating 2-3 zone that will require the Sooners to either score before it gets set up or hit from long-range. Better balance and a guard who can control every aspect of the game will lead the 'Cuse to a victory. Score: 85-73 Syracuse.
Carolina over Gonzaga. Ty Lawson is at least healthy enough to play and be effective. As last Saturday proved, the Heels will go as far as he carries them. He'll carry them to at least the Elite Eight. Also, Tyler Hansbrough got owned by Josh Heytvelt last time these teams played, played a poor second half against LSU last weekend, and wants to win a national championship - think he needs further motivation against the Zags? Score: 83-69 Carolina.
Although I enjoy a good early-round upset as much as the next fan, those tend to lead to poor games on the second weekend of the tournament. Davidson and George Mason have been exceptions, but usually Cinderella's clock strikes midnight in the Sweet 16 by about halftime. I am optimistic for some high quality hoops these next four days, and hopefully a trip to Detroit.
Rah rah...
West Region:
UCONN over Purdue. The Huskies, as was mentioned the other day, are playing great basketball right now. Then, this happened, and UCONN has been dealing with two days of distractions, questions, allegations, and speculation instead of focusing exclusively on Purdue. That being said, the Huskies are still the better team. Purdue should be able to hang in midway through the second half at least, but I just do not think they have the weapons to pull off the upset. The Boilermakers will have to shoot the ball extremely well and make certain to get quality shots after milking some time off the clock on each possession. I personally see AJ Price & Co coming out with the intent to rally behind their coach and program and take out some frustrations on Purdue. Score: 69-57 UCONN
Because I linked to the Montell Jordan video above and got distracted going through mid-nineties hip-hop videos, I have now ended up watching Mariah Carey videos for the last half hour. "Fantasy" is my personal fav, followed closely by "One Sweet Day". For the record, I have stood loyally by Mariah through all of her issues and am quite excited by her success in the past three or so years. I also stood by Christina Aguilera through the "Dirrty" phase. Just like Mariah, the girl can flat out sing and it's always catchy. I will now waste another half hour on Christina videos.
And we're back...
Memphis over Missouri. I do not think Missouri will have much success scoring in the halfcourt against Memphis' vaunted defense. The (Mizzou) Tigers will have to turn over the (Memphis) Tigers in order to convert easy buckets, and I do think they will have some success in doing so. Just not enough to win the game. Demarre Carroll, Missouri's best offensive weapon, will face a couple of great defenders in Shawn Taggart and Robert Dozier who are both quick enough to slow him down. Tyreke Evans' ability to break the press will be minimized because Memphis has enough other guys who are capable of helping him out with the ball-handling duties. Plus, John Calipari has been here more often than Mike Anderson and has recruited this outstanding talent for just such games. Score: 81-67 Memphis.
East Region:
Xavier over Pittsburgh. This game is quite simple really: the team who shoots the higher percentage will win. I think Xavier's post players can get DeJuan Blair in some foul trouble because of their quickness, thereby minimizing his rebounding impact. The Musketeers also have the athleticism on the wings to match up with Sam Young defensively. Young is the best all-around player on the Panthers and just went nuts against ETSU and Oklahoma St, so Xavier must do a good job on him as a team to prevent a repeat. I do worry a bit as to whether or not Xavier has an offensive weapon capable of getting them big buckets late in this game against Pitt's stellar defense, but I'm willing to take my chances. Score: 67-63 Xavier.
Villanova over Duke. Not changing this selection from my initial bracket (you know, the one currently floating down the Mississippi River en route to the Gulf of Mexico). Villanova has better balance inside and can convert some easy baskets as a result. The 'Cats should have an advantage on the glass and can defend Duke by switching on screens (a technique Carolina rarely uses, but has implemented effectively in its defeats of the Devils the past two years). They also have Scottie Reynolds running the show at the point, a multi-faceted guard who can score, distribute, and defend. Duke is tougher than heck, I'll admit, so Coach K's boys are not going down without a fight here. But in the end...Score 74-66 Villanova
East Region:
Louisville over Arizona. Closer than expected though. The Wildcats were on my Five to Thrive until I thought they might miss the tournament. Oops. While I do not think Arizona has beaten a legitimate opponent in the tournament yet, they certainly have the ability to do so. Budinger and Hill have been good most of the year, but Nic Wise, Jamelle Horne, and Kyle Fogg have been playing better recently. Arizona's zone defense will frustrate Louisville and if the Wildcats can take care of the ball, they have a real shot at winning. Nic Wise will be the key in that plan, as the point guard can be erratic at times. Keep in mind, also, that the Cardinals are not a good foul shooting team, which could come back to bite their red booties. Ultimately, I think Louisville is better balanced and will have a couple of key guys step up to make big plays and preserve a victory. I have liked this team all year and am not jumping off the bandwagon now. Score: 73-66 Louisville.
Michigan St over Kansas. I really do not know why other than I think Michigan St can defend a little better. Both teams have great point guards and a number of athletic wings. Cole Aldrich can make the difference inside for KU, but I think Coach Izzo's crew can attack him with their athleticism. I am honestly surprised that both teams made it this far, but have started to warm up to both of them a bit. Michigan St won the first matchup back in January and will do it again Friday. Score: 72-70 Michigan St.
South Region:
Syracuse over Oklahoma. The Orange have a terrific point guard (Jonny Flynn), two really good shooters (Devendorf and Rautins), a versatile forward (Paul Harris), a big banger (Onuaku), and a Hall of Fame coach. All five of those players average in double figures. Oklahoma has the player of the year nationally (Blake Griffin, of course), a talented freshmen guard (Willie Warren), a decent supporting cast, and a young coach. Syracuse plays a frustrating 2-3 zone that will require the Sooners to either score before it gets set up or hit from long-range. Better balance and a guard who can control every aspect of the game will lead the 'Cuse to a victory. Score: 85-73 Syracuse.
Carolina over Gonzaga. Ty Lawson is at least healthy enough to play and be effective. As last Saturday proved, the Heels will go as far as he carries them. He'll carry them to at least the Elite Eight. Also, Tyler Hansbrough got owned by Josh Heytvelt last time these teams played, played a poor second half against LSU last weekend, and wants to win a national championship - think he needs further motivation against the Zags? Score: 83-69 Carolina.
Although I enjoy a good early-round upset as much as the next fan, those tend to lead to poor games on the second weekend of the tournament. Davidson and George Mason have been exceptions, but usually Cinderella's clock strikes midnight in the Sweet 16 by about halftime. I am optimistic for some high quality hoops these next four days, and hopefully a trip to Detroit.
Rah rah...
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Tournament Food for Thought
Following one weekend of hoops, there are now just sixteen teams for which the dream of a national championship still remains. All of the 1, 2, & 3 seeds remain, but many were tested at some point this weekend. Arizona is the lone "upset" team that has stuck around (I don't consider Purdue much of an upset as a five-seed), which helps justify the selection committee's decision to include the Wildcats in tournament. The SEC is completely eliminated already, the Pac-10 has only one squad hanging around, and the Big Ten and ACC has lost 10 out of 14 tournament teams combined (5 a piece). Overall, it was an exciting four days of basketball, but was ultimately characterized by near-misses instead of little engines that could and one shining moments.
I did not see much of the Thursday/Saturday games aside from the ones I saw in Greensboro in person, but UCONN has to come out of this weekend as the most impressive team thus far. The Huskies simply blew out both their opponents and hardly broke a sweat. Things could certainly change with Purdue on Thursday night. Pittsburgh seemed pretty shaky in both of their contests, while Louisville and Carolina both struggled in the second round. We'll analyze the Sweet 16 a bit more later this week when picking the games (it has become tradition on The Blue Team to pick the actual matchups from the Sweet 16 through the finals because my bracket is traditionally ruined by now; speaking of which...)
That sound you heard this weekend, emanating from Blacksburg, VA, was my bracket being blown to bits. The smell? It started when I lit my bracket on fire. The water that erupted? Don't worry, it was just my bracket going down the drain. The last time I had a bracket go this terribly was way back in 2005.
Thursday in Greensboro was fairly tame. Only the Butler/LSU game was reasonably close and the crowd was pretty quiet most of the day. Duke playing the last game thinned out the Carolina folks who were willing to stick around and pull for Binghamton, so the Blue Devils did not have to play a "road game" as was speculated. Saturday, on the other hand, was intense. My day started early in Blacksburg with an 11:00am NIT home game. The Hokies decided not to show up, while Baylor came to play, leading to an 18-point home loss to end Virginia Tech's season and drive me to an early exit. After two plus hours in the car, I met the crew for some tailgating and hoops. The scoreboard gave us the first indication of Ty Lawson's status, including him on the listed starters. I sat/stood quietly for the entire game until Lawson's three-point play right before the eight minute media timeout of the second half, erupting from my seat for some unintelligible yelling, three pounds of the seat in front of me, and high-five that might have broken the girl's hand sitting in that seat in front of me (didn't know her) before I had to sit back down quickly. I had a Roy spell, nearly tipping over. Oops. I think I forgot to enjoy the ride for a minute there. Overall, the game was about what was expected in closeness, but the lackadaisical attitude in the first ten minutes of the second half was bothersome. Lawson is imperative to this team and Carolina will go as far as he carries them. Survive and advance, though, and the Heels did just that. Whew.
We'll see what next weekend brings us. All I know is that Carolina has only good teams left to play in this tournament. The top four seed in the South and East regions all remain, and I still think that UCONN and Louisville will settle who plays for the championship. I can tell you for sure that I'll be tuned in on Friday night at 9:57 EST for a tough matchup with Gonzaga. Rah rah...
I did not see much of the Thursday/Saturday games aside from the ones I saw in Greensboro in person, but UCONN has to come out of this weekend as the most impressive team thus far. The Huskies simply blew out both their opponents and hardly broke a sweat. Things could certainly change with Purdue on Thursday night. Pittsburgh seemed pretty shaky in both of their contests, while Louisville and Carolina both struggled in the second round. We'll analyze the Sweet 16 a bit more later this week when picking the games (it has become tradition on The Blue Team to pick the actual matchups from the Sweet 16 through the finals because my bracket is traditionally ruined by now; speaking of which...)
That sound you heard this weekend, emanating from Blacksburg, VA, was my bracket being blown to bits. The smell? It started when I lit my bracket on fire. The water that erupted? Don't worry, it was just my bracket going down the drain. The last time I had a bracket go this terribly was way back in 2005.
Thursday in Greensboro was fairly tame. Only the Butler/LSU game was reasonably close and the crowd was pretty quiet most of the day. Duke playing the last game thinned out the Carolina folks who were willing to stick around and pull for Binghamton, so the Blue Devils did not have to play a "road game" as was speculated. Saturday, on the other hand, was intense. My day started early in Blacksburg with an 11:00am NIT home game. The Hokies decided not to show up, while Baylor came to play, leading to an 18-point home loss to end Virginia Tech's season and drive me to an early exit. After two plus hours in the car, I met the crew for some tailgating and hoops. The scoreboard gave us the first indication of Ty Lawson's status, including him on the listed starters. I sat/stood quietly for the entire game until Lawson's three-point play right before the eight minute media timeout of the second half, erupting from my seat for some unintelligible yelling, three pounds of the seat in front of me, and high-five that might have broken the girl's hand sitting in that seat in front of me (didn't know her) before I had to sit back down quickly. I had a Roy spell, nearly tipping over. Oops. I think I forgot to enjoy the ride for a minute there. Overall, the game was about what was expected in closeness, but the lackadaisical attitude in the first ten minutes of the second half was bothersome. Lawson is imperative to this team and Carolina will go as far as he carries them. Survive and advance, though, and the Heels did just that. Whew.
We'll see what next weekend brings us. All I know is that Carolina has only good teams left to play in this tournament. The top four seed in the South and East regions all remain, and I still think that UCONN and Louisville will settle who plays for the championship. I can tell you for sure that I'll be tuned in on Friday night at 9:57 EST for a tough matchup with Gonzaga. Rah rah...
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
And Your 2009 National Champion Is...
The end is near for this edition of the North Carolina Tar Heels. Six games, at the most, remain for the nucleus of this squad. So before we analyze their potential path to a national championship, take a second to think of all the great things we fans have been blessed to see the past few years. Really, stop reading and think...
Ok, now smile. It has been so much fun, hasn't it? Disappointing and frustrating at times, sure, because the ultimate prize is still elusive. But, they have given us so much to appreciate and remember, so many times we've all lept out of our seats or fallen off the sofa with uladulterated elation. You find yourself shaking your head and smiling ruefully as Tyler grabs another gritty rebound and pounds it back for an and-one. You raise your hands when Wayne pops a high-arching three ball. You beat your chest after Danny Green blocks a shot on one end, then runs the floor and dunks on somebody at the other end. You give a high-five to Frasor in your mind after another drawn charge and find yourself wanting to fist-bump Mike Copeland everytime you see him. And, you try to keep up with Lawson when the afterburners kick in and he zooms down the court, weaving for another layup. All the wins over Duke, the ACC titles, the ACC Tournament titles, the thrilling wins that you'll tell Lil' Kyle about. This team, this group of players, does not need a national championship to become special - they already are.
But that does not mean they don't want to win the whole darn thing. So how do they do it?
1) Get healthy and stay that way. This needeth no explanation.
2) Rebound like it's your job. Every matchup will favor Carolina on the frontline unless they play UCONN or Wake Forest. Four guys 6-9 or taller will do that. But this team has not been quite as dominate on the boards as those prior to them in recent years. I promise this was a point of emphasis in practice this week.
3) Defend.
4) Don't get ahead of yourself. It has been a long, arduous season already. A marathon as Ol' Roy likes to say. Well, the time for the sprint is upon us. However, this group cannot afford to start thinking about anything but the next game. They cannot get behind and panic because the dream appears to be dying before them. They must keep grinding and focus only on small segments at a time (and the same goes for the fans in case you're wondering).
5) Have fun playing together and enjoy the ride.
Ladies and gentlemen, I challenge you to do the same. Enjoy this time and be thankful for basketball and this team. Furthermore, remember that there are many, many things much more important than hoops. On to my picks...
Midwest Region:
First Round Winners: Louisville, Ohio St, Arizona, Wake Forest, WVU, Kansas, USC, Michigan St
Second Round: Louisville, Wake Forest, WVU, Michigan St
Sweet 16: Louisville, WVU
Elite Eight: Louisville
West Region:
First Round: UCONN, BYU, Purdue, Washington, Utah St, Missouri, Cal, Memphis
Second Round: UCONN, Purdue, Utah St, Memphis
Sweet 16: UCONN, Memphis
Elite Eight: UCONN
East Region:
First Round: Pitt, Tennessee, FSU, Xavier, UCLA, Villanova, Texas, Duke
Second Round: Pitt, FSU, Villanova, Duke
Sweet 16: Pitt, Villanova
Elite Eight: Villanova
South Region:
First Round: UNC, LSU, Western Kentucky, Gonzaga, Temple, Syracuse, Michigan, Oklahoma
Second Round: UNC, Gonzaga, Syracuse, Michigan
Sweet 16: UNC, Syracuse
Elite Eight: UNC
Final Four:
UCONN over Louisville
UNC over Villanova
Rah rah...
Ok, now smile. It has been so much fun, hasn't it? Disappointing and frustrating at times, sure, because the ultimate prize is still elusive. But, they have given us so much to appreciate and remember, so many times we've all lept out of our seats or fallen off the sofa with uladulterated elation. You find yourself shaking your head and smiling ruefully as Tyler grabs another gritty rebound and pounds it back for an and-one. You raise your hands when Wayne pops a high-arching three ball. You beat your chest after Danny Green blocks a shot on one end, then runs the floor and dunks on somebody at the other end. You give a high-five to Frasor in your mind after another drawn charge and find yourself wanting to fist-bump Mike Copeland everytime you see him. And, you try to keep up with Lawson when the afterburners kick in and he zooms down the court, weaving for another layup. All the wins over Duke, the ACC titles, the ACC Tournament titles, the thrilling wins that you'll tell Lil' Kyle about. This team, this group of players, does not need a national championship to become special - they already are.
But that does not mean they don't want to win the whole darn thing. So how do they do it?
1) Get healthy and stay that way. This needeth no explanation.
2) Rebound like it's your job. Every matchup will favor Carolina on the frontline unless they play UCONN or Wake Forest. Four guys 6-9 or taller will do that. But this team has not been quite as dominate on the boards as those prior to them in recent years. I promise this was a point of emphasis in practice this week.
3) Defend.
4) Don't get ahead of yourself. It has been a long, arduous season already. A marathon as Ol' Roy likes to say. Well, the time for the sprint is upon us. However, this group cannot afford to start thinking about anything but the next game. They cannot get behind and panic because the dream appears to be dying before them. They must keep grinding and focus only on small segments at a time (and the same goes for the fans in case you're wondering).
5) Have fun playing together and enjoy the ride.
Ladies and gentlemen, I challenge you to do the same. Enjoy this time and be thankful for basketball and this team. Furthermore, remember that there are many, many things much more important than hoops. On to my picks...
Midwest Region:
First Round Winners: Louisville, Ohio St, Arizona, Wake Forest, WVU, Kansas, USC, Michigan St
Second Round: Louisville, Wake Forest, WVU, Michigan St
Sweet 16: Louisville, WVU
Elite Eight: Louisville
West Region:
First Round: UCONN, BYU, Purdue, Washington, Utah St, Missouri, Cal, Memphis
Second Round: UCONN, Purdue, Utah St, Memphis
Sweet 16: UCONN, Memphis
Elite Eight: UCONN
East Region:
First Round: Pitt, Tennessee, FSU, Xavier, UCLA, Villanova, Texas, Duke
Second Round: Pitt, FSU, Villanova, Duke
Sweet 16: Pitt, Villanova
Elite Eight: Villanova
South Region:
First Round: UNC, LSU, Western Kentucky, Gonzaga, Temple, Syracuse, Michigan, Oklahoma
Second Round: UNC, Gonzaga, Syracuse, Michigan
Sweet 16: UNC, Syracuse
Elite Eight: UNC
Final Four:
UCONN over Louisville
UNC over Villanova
Rah rah...
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Hammer Time
I was going to come up with a clever intro to this column analyzing the brackets involving MC Hammer and the Tar Heels, but I lost my train of thought once I got to youtube and started watching the Too Legit to Quit video. Seriously, I can't remember where it was originally headed because I got up and broke out the old dance moves from second grade along with the video. And yes, this was in a shirt and tie at the office on my lunch break. Too Legit was actually my favorite Hammer track, along with "Have You Seen Her", which I belt out in the car and shower. "U Can't Touch This" is a bit overrated in my opinion...
Kind of like Duke! There, we did it. A successful segue from MC Hammer to college hoops. And I did not spell it "segway" and have to back space and look it up either!
Alright, focus. My goal today is to give some opinions on specific teams and some potential matchups that could have an effect on your bracket. There are not a lot of comprehensive tournament guides for the individual teams (lots of storylines, some players, and gimmick columns or ESPN, CBS Sports, SI, and others), so I am hoping that you will learn a few things that might be of service to your selections. USA Today does have a decent team-by-team with key stats, as does Yahoo! that I have found useful before. Then, I'll make my actual picks and put together a little something about the Tar Heels. For now, let's again go region-by-region starting with the...
Midwest Region:
Louisville is the favorite, of course. The Cardinals were originally part of my Five to Thrive a few weeks back, but played so well down the stretch that they no longer qualify for F2T status. Sad. I was terrified (yes, terrified) of Louisville being the two-seed in the Heels' region prior to their closing couple of weeks, making me quite relieved that both teams would have to win five games to play each other. What makes Louisville so good? Depth, great defense (a 3/4 court press that sags back into a 2-3 zone in the halfcourt), two stars capable of changing a game (Terrance Williams and Earl Clark), and a number of supporting cast guys who can light it up. And oh yeah, Rick Pitino is still a heckuva coach. Siena and Ohio St are both decent teams, but I just cannot see either hanging with Louisville for the full forty minutes.
Wake Forest, as alluded to on Sunday night, got a horrible draw. Arizona's zone, Utah's slow-it-down efficiency, and Cleveland State's athleticism are all issues. The Deacs will have to step it up to make it to the second weekend. This team had a rough time blending Ish Smith back into their starting lineup, as he has been turnover prone and is another guy who simply has no jump shot. Chas McFarland, on a related note, has been plagued with foul trouble (even though he's never committed a foul in his life - just ask him) and has not contributed the easy buckets in the paint they need. This is a dangerous team, despite these flaws, because Teague is terrific and they can pound people on the glass when focused. Can they win four straight games against good team/bad matchups though? Eh.
West Virginia, how I love thee. Bob Huggins, for all his shortcomings off the court, is a wonderful coach. He somehow has blended the leftovers from John Beilein's tenure with the athletes he likes to recruit and enjoyed the best of both worlds. WVU should have enough to survive Dayton and I really think they can knock out Kansas in the second round. KU can ride Sherron Collins as far as he can take them, but will have to get some other points from their auxiliary scorers in order to go far. Southern Cal vs Boston College is intriguing in the 7-10 game, as both teams prefer to keep the tempo down a bit and convert quality shots in the paint. USC should be able to switch everything on the post-flex that BC will run, and I think that is enough to make a difference. The Trojans could also prove challenging to Michigan St, as they start five guys between 6-5 and 6-9. I have not been impressed with the Spartans much this year, but still see a Sweet 16 in the works for the Coach to the Izzo.
West Region:
Everyone seems really down on UCONN. The Huskies lost at home to Georgetown in early January (fluke?), twice to Pittsburgh (tough matchup against a great team), and in 6 overtimes to Syracuse (and I stayed out watching it...on a work night). I don't see much to be that worried about really. Not a really deep team, and some guys are a bit inconsistent, but UCONN is still really, really good. I honestly have trouble seeing anyone in this region beating them except possibly Purdue. The Boilermakers are finally healthy (hence their Five to Thrive status), play outstanding defense, and have a number of guys who can hurt you. I am hesitant on that matchup due to Purdue's rebounding deficiencies combined by UCONN's propensity to gobble up boards. This is the kind of game that the Huskies will really miss Jerome Dyson and his outside shooting ability. Kemba Walker, in my opinion, is going to really have to step up and control this team from the point guard spot, which would enable AJ Price to concentrate on scoring the ball. Lord knows Price is dying for an extended tournament run following his knee injury he sustained in last year's first-round upset loss.
The bottom of the West bracket is headed by Memphis. Though the Tigers lost a ton of talent from last year's shoulda-woulda-coulda champions, they have pretty much replaced it all and continued to harass people defensively. Like, really harass. John Cal's boys should make the Sweet 16 with ease, and probably the Elite 8. I am not high on Missouri or Marquette, but for different reason. The Tigers are best when they run and gun and force teams into turnovers, but have issues against slower folks. Marquette just has not been right since James' injury. So who does that leave? Utah State, an efficient, slow, experienced team. Hello Cinderella's castle. If the Aggies can play their way and force Marquette and Mizzou out of their comfort zones, we could have quite a story on our hands.
East Region:
For years, Pittsburgh has been good, but not quite good enough. They defend, they rebound, they wear you down...but if you're a great team, you usually beat them. Under first Ben Howland, then Jamie Dixon, they have danced nearly every year, but not made it past the Sweet 16. This might be the year to change that, thanks in large part to Sam Young. When he blew out his knee last year, I had no clue how good he was, very similar to the season Brandon Roy missed at Washington in 2005. Young is the inside-outside scorer and do-everything guy that the Panthers have been lacking. Blair and Fields are good, but Young makes this team go. That being said, I think Pitt could have a tough opponent in every round. Oklahoma St can do nothing with the Panthers, but Tennessee's ability to stretch them out would cause major problems. Florida St was another Five to Thrive team of mine and I think they can handle Wisconsin and Xavier. FSU plays outstanding defense as a team. Their wings take some chances on the outside for steals because they know that Solomon Alabi is standing behind them to erase mistakes. I loved this team when they played in Blacksburg and still like them now. I'm not sure they can beat Pittsburgh, but a Sweet 16 is not out of the question.
The Dookies are the number two seed in this region, but probably are not the favorite to make the Elite 8. That falls instead to Villanova. Behind an experienced point guard in Scottie Reynolds and two solid front-court mates, Shane Clark and Dante Cunningham, the Wildcats have the pieces in place to go deep into this event. UCLA might pose a problem if they make it to the second round, but the Bruins have not put together consistent offense this year. Duke is almost a sleeper in the region, as I cannot recall having seen anyone pick the Blue Devils to emerge in the Final Four. Their defensive ability is unmatched along the perimeter; the questions are 1) can they get any rebounds if/when they start missing; and 2) can they avoid being torched by another point guard? I just can't see both of these turning up "yes" for four consecutive games.
South Region:
For the sake of speed, we'll largely ignore the Tar Heels in this analysis. LSU vs Butler is a toss-up in my opinion, but I think LSU's athleticism, combined with the youth in the Butler backcourt (start two freshmen guards), will sway this game in favor of the Bayou Bengals. Illinois was one of the worst "good" teams I saw all season and I love Western Kentucky in general, so...Gonzaga is playing its best ball and is the biggest threat in this region to a healthy Carolina squad. They are actually second in defensive field-goal percentage now (Memphis passed them after the C-USA tournament) and have five capable guys on the offensive end.
Down below, Oklahoma is the high seed and not one that I particularly like. Blake and Taylor Griffin are excellent, but I thought the Sooners benefited from a soft schedule early in the Big 12 season. I do not think their guards are ready to handle Clemson or Michigan - either the pressure of the Tigers or the zone of the Wolverines. I am taking Michigan because of Clemson's half-court deficiencies and riding them two rounds I think. Syracuse should be fine, too much is being made of the Orange's 6 OT game as it relates to their legs. They should see the second weekend at least in my opinion, but could see a dangerous Temple team. The Owls are traditionally a squad you never want to see in your bracket because of their matchup zone, but John Chaney is gone and this team rides the scoring of Dionte Christmas as much as their defense.
Big Picture:
There are five teams that I think can win six games: Louisville, UCONN, Pitt, Villanova, & UNC. So yes, I think the Big East is good. Wake Forest, WVU, Purdue, Memphis, Duke, Gonzaga, and Syracuse are all good enough to win four. And yes, I left out Oklahoma and Michigan St intentionally. Who you pick to win depends on one big toe and the subsequent health of its owner. Otherwise, the Louisville/UCONN semi-final would decide things for me.
Kind of like Duke! There, we did it. A successful segue from MC Hammer to college hoops. And I did not spell it "segway" and have to back space and look it up either!
Alright, focus. My goal today is to give some opinions on specific teams and some potential matchups that could have an effect on your bracket. There are not a lot of comprehensive tournament guides for the individual teams (lots of storylines, some players, and gimmick columns or ESPN, CBS Sports, SI, and others), so I am hoping that you will learn a few things that might be of service to your selections. USA Today does have a decent team-by-team with key stats, as does Yahoo! that I have found useful before. Then, I'll make my actual picks and put together a little something about the Tar Heels. For now, let's again go region-by-region starting with the...
Midwest Region:
Louisville is the favorite, of course. The Cardinals were originally part of my Five to Thrive a few weeks back, but played so well down the stretch that they no longer qualify for F2T status. Sad. I was terrified (yes, terrified) of Louisville being the two-seed in the Heels' region prior to their closing couple of weeks, making me quite relieved that both teams would have to win five games to play each other. What makes Louisville so good? Depth, great defense (a 3/4 court press that sags back into a 2-3 zone in the halfcourt), two stars capable of changing a game (Terrance Williams and Earl Clark), and a number of supporting cast guys who can light it up. And oh yeah, Rick Pitino is still a heckuva coach. Siena and Ohio St are both decent teams, but I just cannot see either hanging with Louisville for the full forty minutes.
Wake Forest, as alluded to on Sunday night, got a horrible draw. Arizona's zone, Utah's slow-it-down efficiency, and Cleveland State's athleticism are all issues. The Deacs will have to step it up to make it to the second weekend. This team had a rough time blending Ish Smith back into their starting lineup, as he has been turnover prone and is another guy who simply has no jump shot. Chas McFarland, on a related note, has been plagued with foul trouble (even though he's never committed a foul in his life - just ask him) and has not contributed the easy buckets in the paint they need. This is a dangerous team, despite these flaws, because Teague is terrific and they can pound people on the glass when focused. Can they win four straight games against good team/bad matchups though? Eh.
West Virginia, how I love thee. Bob Huggins, for all his shortcomings off the court, is a wonderful coach. He somehow has blended the leftovers from John Beilein's tenure with the athletes he likes to recruit and enjoyed the best of both worlds. WVU should have enough to survive Dayton and I really think they can knock out Kansas in the second round. KU can ride Sherron Collins as far as he can take them, but will have to get some other points from their auxiliary scorers in order to go far. Southern Cal vs Boston College is intriguing in the 7-10 game, as both teams prefer to keep the tempo down a bit and convert quality shots in the paint. USC should be able to switch everything on the post-flex that BC will run, and I think that is enough to make a difference. The Trojans could also prove challenging to Michigan St, as they start five guys between 6-5 and 6-9. I have not been impressed with the Spartans much this year, but still see a Sweet 16 in the works for the Coach to the Izzo.
West Region:
Everyone seems really down on UCONN. The Huskies lost at home to Georgetown in early January (fluke?), twice to Pittsburgh (tough matchup against a great team), and in 6 overtimes to Syracuse (and I stayed out watching it...on a work night). I don't see much to be that worried about really. Not a really deep team, and some guys are a bit inconsistent, but UCONN is still really, really good. I honestly have trouble seeing anyone in this region beating them except possibly Purdue. The Boilermakers are finally healthy (hence their Five to Thrive status), play outstanding defense, and have a number of guys who can hurt you. I am hesitant on that matchup due to Purdue's rebounding deficiencies combined by UCONN's propensity to gobble up boards. This is the kind of game that the Huskies will really miss Jerome Dyson and his outside shooting ability. Kemba Walker, in my opinion, is going to really have to step up and control this team from the point guard spot, which would enable AJ Price to concentrate on scoring the ball. Lord knows Price is dying for an extended tournament run following his knee injury he sustained in last year's first-round upset loss.
The bottom of the West bracket is headed by Memphis. Though the Tigers lost a ton of talent from last year's shoulda-woulda-coulda champions, they have pretty much replaced it all and continued to harass people defensively. Like, really harass. John Cal's boys should make the Sweet 16 with ease, and probably the Elite 8. I am not high on Missouri or Marquette, but for different reason. The Tigers are best when they run and gun and force teams into turnovers, but have issues against slower folks. Marquette just has not been right since James' injury. So who does that leave? Utah State, an efficient, slow, experienced team. Hello Cinderella's castle. If the Aggies can play their way and force Marquette and Mizzou out of their comfort zones, we could have quite a story on our hands.
East Region:
For years, Pittsburgh has been good, but not quite good enough. They defend, they rebound, they wear you down...but if you're a great team, you usually beat them. Under first Ben Howland, then Jamie Dixon, they have danced nearly every year, but not made it past the Sweet 16. This might be the year to change that, thanks in large part to Sam Young. When he blew out his knee last year, I had no clue how good he was, very similar to the season Brandon Roy missed at Washington in 2005. Young is the inside-outside scorer and do-everything guy that the Panthers have been lacking. Blair and Fields are good, but Young makes this team go. That being said, I think Pitt could have a tough opponent in every round. Oklahoma St can do nothing with the Panthers, but Tennessee's ability to stretch them out would cause major problems. Florida St was another Five to Thrive team of mine and I think they can handle Wisconsin and Xavier. FSU plays outstanding defense as a team. Their wings take some chances on the outside for steals because they know that Solomon Alabi is standing behind them to erase mistakes. I loved this team when they played in Blacksburg and still like them now. I'm not sure they can beat Pittsburgh, but a Sweet 16 is not out of the question.
The Dookies are the number two seed in this region, but probably are not the favorite to make the Elite 8. That falls instead to Villanova. Behind an experienced point guard in Scottie Reynolds and two solid front-court mates, Shane Clark and Dante Cunningham, the Wildcats have the pieces in place to go deep into this event. UCLA might pose a problem if they make it to the second round, but the Bruins have not put together consistent offense this year. Duke is almost a sleeper in the region, as I cannot recall having seen anyone pick the Blue Devils to emerge in the Final Four. Their defensive ability is unmatched along the perimeter; the questions are 1) can they get any rebounds if/when they start missing; and 2) can they avoid being torched by another point guard? I just can't see both of these turning up "yes" for four consecutive games.
South Region:
For the sake of speed, we'll largely ignore the Tar Heels in this analysis. LSU vs Butler is a toss-up in my opinion, but I think LSU's athleticism, combined with the youth in the Butler backcourt (start two freshmen guards), will sway this game in favor of the Bayou Bengals. Illinois was one of the worst "good" teams I saw all season and I love Western Kentucky in general, so...Gonzaga is playing its best ball and is the biggest threat in this region to a healthy Carolina squad. They are actually second in defensive field-goal percentage now (Memphis passed them after the C-USA tournament) and have five capable guys on the offensive end.
Down below, Oklahoma is the high seed and not one that I particularly like. Blake and Taylor Griffin are excellent, but I thought the Sooners benefited from a soft schedule early in the Big 12 season. I do not think their guards are ready to handle Clemson or Michigan - either the pressure of the Tigers or the zone of the Wolverines. I am taking Michigan because of Clemson's half-court deficiencies and riding them two rounds I think. Syracuse should be fine, too much is being made of the Orange's 6 OT game as it relates to their legs. They should see the second weekend at least in my opinion, but could see a dangerous Temple team. The Owls are traditionally a squad you never want to see in your bracket because of their matchup zone, but John Chaney is gone and this team rides the scoring of Dionte Christmas as much as their defense.
Big Picture:
There are five teams that I think can win six games: Louisville, UCONN, Pitt, Villanova, & UNC. So yes, I think the Big East is good. Wake Forest, WVU, Purdue, Memphis, Duke, Gonzaga, and Syracuse are all good enough to win four. And yes, I left out Oklahoma and Michigan St intentionally. Who you pick to win depends on one big toe and the subsequent health of its owner. Otherwise, the Louisville/UCONN semi-final would decide things for me.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
A Buffet of Bracket Goodness
The 2009 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament field has been set and the road to the Final Four is finally laid out before us. Overall, the general consensus has been that this year's committee did a solid job, and I tend to agree. They were consistent across the perceived strength of the conferences and, in my opinion, got the top seeds right. I finished 64/65 on the bracket, missing Arizona (I had San Diego St in). No gripe there, I really thought Arizona had better wins, but figured the committee would go for a stronger Mountain West Conference or have pity on St. Mary's. Oh well. Bracketography nailed it, 65/65, while Joe Lunardi hit on 64/65 teams.
There are a few noticeable trends across the bracket (again, that's a sign of a job well done, because that means things are consistent). First, the committee really likes the Big East's strength. Three one-seeds, yes, but also a three for Syracuse following their tournament run. Also, Marquette remained pretty high (six-seed) despite a late-season swoon after Dominic James' season-ending injury. Second, the committee was also high on the Pac-10. A four-seed for Washington, was strong, but especially the ten-seed USC was rewarded with after winning the Pac-10 tournament. Of course, Arizona making the field was also good for the league. On the flip side, the ACC was not given as much prestige as some had thought. Wake Forest, FSU, and Clemson were all a seed line lower than I thought they would be. Also, the SEC was given harsh treatment, with an 8, 9, and 13 seed. I found that ironic considering the chairman of the committee is Mike Slive, the commissioner of the SEC.
Another thing that is consistent across this bracket is the equal strength found in each region. Last year, I was really appalled at how easy UCLA's region was; this year, none such region exists. Certain matchups may prove especially difficult for individual teams, and it looks like each one-seed has at least one such issue prior to the Elite Eight.
In the Midwest Region, Louisville will either see a feisty Siena squad or Ohio State (playing in Dayton, an hour or so from Columbus) in the second round. Arizona looks dangerous as can be, a la Villanova last year, as a team that just snuck in but has plenty of talent to advance. Doug Gottlieb made a great point on ESPN's show that Wake Forest could potentially see Arizona's zone defense in the second round, which could be a serious problem considering their issues when facing zones this season. A young-in-places Kansas team is staring at West Virginia's athleticism in the second round and Michigan St will either grind one out with BC or face a hot Southern Cal team. Louisville is still the best team in the region, but the Cards will have to earn a Final Four berth.
The West Region brings some potentially delicious matchups in the Sweet 16. If UCONN and Purdue can both navigate tricky second rounders, they would face off in Phoenix. Missouri's press should wear down Cornell, but the Bison will do their best to slow things down against an inexperienced foe. I wish Marquette was healthy, because to see their guards attack Mizzou would sure be fun. Memphis likely awaits to form a Tigers vs Tigers game in the tournament's third round. It seems to me that UCONN's toughest foe could indeed be Purdue, who is finally healthy and focused as a unit.
Over in the East Region, Pittsburgh's reward for a great season is either a tussle with Okie State or a horrendous date with Tennessee. The Vols run a high flex offense (the perimeter flex, a la Illinois or Ohio St, as opposed to Maryland and Boston College's interior or post flex) which forces the defense to fight through screens or switch. It also pulls the opposition's big men away from the lane and into easy foul trouble from trying to hedge the screens or guard smaller players off switches. DeJuan Blair in foul trouble could mean big trouble in that scenario. If the Panthers survive, they'd see Florida St (LOVE the 'Noles, more on that another day) or a really athletic Xavier team, or even a resilient Wisconsin team. No favors for Pitt. On the bottom half of the bracket, Villanova and UCLA are headed for a great second round game. That is, if the Bruins can survive Eric Maynor and VCU. Duke will be forced to play another small team in Texas, but a small team who is far more athletic than the Blue Devils. This region is, in my opinion, the one most likely to implode and give us a surprise or two. While Pittsburgh is a terrific team with a defense that never slumps, the road ahead of them is chock full of land mines.
Finally, the South Region and the beloved Tar Heels. I saw Radford play in person a few weeks back in the Big South Tournament final and really like their team. Artsiom Parakhouski is a talented big man and will relish the opportunity to body up with Psycho T. I was quite surprised to see LSU, a team that won a BCS conference regular-season title by three games, listed as an eight-seed. I do not think LSU over Butler is a foregone conclusion, but the Tigers are more athletic and bigger than a young Bulldogs unit. That very athleticism and a great coach, first-year head man Trent Johnson, scare me a bit. Illinois will be fortunate to escape Western Kentucky and Gonzaga could struggle with Akron. The Zags, though, are the team who could really present problems for Carolina thanks to a tremendous starting five and the nation's stingiest defense (#1 ranked field-goal percentage defense in America) in the form of a 2-3 zone. Down below, red-hot (and tired) Syracuse and another 2-3 zone will tangle with either Dionte Christmas and Temple's matchup zone or James Harden and former NC State-turned-Arizona State coach Herb Sendek in the second round. Yikes. Oklahoma's road to hoe is no better, with the 1-3-1 of Michigan and John Beilein or the diamond press of Clemson awaiting. Ugh. Carolina's chances honestly hinge on the right big toe of Tywon Lawson. If it heals, the Heels could at least see the mean streets of Detroit for one night.
All in all, a job well done by the selection committee, possibly the best I've ever seen. The balance and consistency are excellent and the right teams are mostly in the field. A much more successful process than the BCS, don't you think? Personally, I think we're in for a fun few weeks and hopefully a fun celebration on a particular street in Chapel Hill on April 6th/7th. Rah rah...
There are a few noticeable trends across the bracket (again, that's a sign of a job well done, because that means things are consistent). First, the committee really likes the Big East's strength. Three one-seeds, yes, but also a three for Syracuse following their tournament run. Also, Marquette remained pretty high (six-seed) despite a late-season swoon after Dominic James' season-ending injury. Second, the committee was also high on the Pac-10. A four-seed for Washington, was strong, but especially the ten-seed USC was rewarded with after winning the Pac-10 tournament. Of course, Arizona making the field was also good for the league. On the flip side, the ACC was not given as much prestige as some had thought. Wake Forest, FSU, and Clemson were all a seed line lower than I thought they would be. Also, the SEC was given harsh treatment, with an 8, 9, and 13 seed. I found that ironic considering the chairman of the committee is Mike Slive, the commissioner of the SEC.
Another thing that is consistent across this bracket is the equal strength found in each region. Last year, I was really appalled at how easy UCLA's region was; this year, none such region exists. Certain matchups may prove especially difficult for individual teams, and it looks like each one-seed has at least one such issue prior to the Elite Eight.
In the Midwest Region, Louisville will either see a feisty Siena squad or Ohio State (playing in Dayton, an hour or so from Columbus) in the second round. Arizona looks dangerous as can be, a la Villanova last year, as a team that just snuck in but has plenty of talent to advance. Doug Gottlieb made a great point on ESPN's show that Wake Forest could potentially see Arizona's zone defense in the second round, which could be a serious problem considering their issues when facing zones this season. A young-in-places Kansas team is staring at West Virginia's athleticism in the second round and Michigan St will either grind one out with BC or face a hot Southern Cal team. Louisville is still the best team in the region, but the Cards will have to earn a Final Four berth.
The West Region brings some potentially delicious matchups in the Sweet 16. If UCONN and Purdue can both navigate tricky second rounders, they would face off in Phoenix. Missouri's press should wear down Cornell, but the Bison will do their best to slow things down against an inexperienced foe. I wish Marquette was healthy, because to see their guards attack Mizzou would sure be fun. Memphis likely awaits to form a Tigers vs Tigers game in the tournament's third round. It seems to me that UCONN's toughest foe could indeed be Purdue, who is finally healthy and focused as a unit.
Over in the East Region, Pittsburgh's reward for a great season is either a tussle with Okie State or a horrendous date with Tennessee. The Vols run a high flex offense (the perimeter flex, a la Illinois or Ohio St, as opposed to Maryland and Boston College's interior or post flex) which forces the defense to fight through screens or switch. It also pulls the opposition's big men away from the lane and into easy foul trouble from trying to hedge the screens or guard smaller players off switches. DeJuan Blair in foul trouble could mean big trouble in that scenario. If the Panthers survive, they'd see Florida St (LOVE the 'Noles, more on that another day) or a really athletic Xavier team, or even a resilient Wisconsin team. No favors for Pitt. On the bottom half of the bracket, Villanova and UCLA are headed for a great second round game. That is, if the Bruins can survive Eric Maynor and VCU. Duke will be forced to play another small team in Texas, but a small team who is far more athletic than the Blue Devils. This region is, in my opinion, the one most likely to implode and give us a surprise or two. While Pittsburgh is a terrific team with a defense that never slumps, the road ahead of them is chock full of land mines.
Finally, the South Region and the beloved Tar Heels. I saw Radford play in person a few weeks back in the Big South Tournament final and really like their team. Artsiom Parakhouski is a talented big man and will relish the opportunity to body up with Psycho T. I was quite surprised to see LSU, a team that won a BCS conference regular-season title by three games, listed as an eight-seed. I do not think LSU over Butler is a foregone conclusion, but the Tigers are more athletic and bigger than a young Bulldogs unit. That very athleticism and a great coach, first-year head man Trent Johnson, scare me a bit. Illinois will be fortunate to escape Western Kentucky and Gonzaga could struggle with Akron. The Zags, though, are the team who could really present problems for Carolina thanks to a tremendous starting five and the nation's stingiest defense (#1 ranked field-goal percentage defense in America) in the form of a 2-3 zone. Down below, red-hot (and tired) Syracuse and another 2-3 zone will tangle with either Dionte Christmas and Temple's matchup zone or James Harden and former NC State-turned-Arizona State coach Herb Sendek in the second round. Yikes. Oklahoma's road to hoe is no better, with the 1-3-1 of Michigan and John Beilein or the diamond press of Clemson awaiting. Ugh. Carolina's chances honestly hinge on the right big toe of Tywon Lawson. If it heals, the Heels could at least see the mean streets of Detroit for one night.
All in all, a job well done by the selection committee, possibly the best I've ever seen. The balance and consistency are excellent and the right teams are mostly in the field. A much more successful process than the BCS, don't you think? Personally, I think we're in for a fun few weeks and hopefully a fun celebration on a particular street in Chapel Hill on April 6th/7th. Rah rah...
Merry Bracket Christmas: Revised
Slight revisions for the final edition of this year's prognosticated bracket. First, Mississippi St did end up winning the SEC Tournament, meaning the cowbell-ringing Bulldogs will be in the Big Dance. That means that someone had to go from the Field of 65, and I finally settled on excommunicating St. Mary's. Which really sucks, by the way. San Diego St. stays in, joining Minnesota, Maryland, and Wisconsin as my last four in. St. Mary's, Arizona, Creighton, and Penn St are the final four out. I also exchanged Wisconin and Michigan within the bracket. While Michigan might not have been the ideal team to bump up so far on the S-curve, it was easier given their conference affiliation. With only half an hour before the selection show, moving one team could have forced a number of switches because of the high number of Big Ten teams between seeds eight and eleven. I left Ohio St where they were, as I had already bumped them this week from a ten-seed to an eight-seed given their run to the Big Ten tournament finals and win over Michigan St.
We'll see how this turns out. I reckon I'll have a few major mistakes, but oh well. It is fun either way. Holla holla.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Merry Bracket Christmas
In less than twenty four hours, we will not have to hear the term "bubble" for a solid eleven months. The brackets will be out and, after a couple hours of hearing every "expert" tell us who got screwed and left out of the tournament that should have gotten in, we can just sit back and dissect the actual road to the Final Four. Sadly, we will not get to sit through the annual Billy Packer/Jim Nantz attack on the tournament committee chairperson. I'll really miss that actually, highly entertaining.
Simple math would show that if Mississippi St wins the SEC Tournament, they will take St. Mary's bid away. However, I am still hedging on St. Mary's vs San Diego St vs Arizona. I've seen the Wildcats a bunch of times and I know they have the most talent of those three; the question, though, is do they have the best resume? I think San Diego St is solid, but I am also hesitant due to Arizona's head-to-head victory over San Diego St. Past history has shown us that does not really play a factor with the committee. As you may recall, last year, Arizona benefitted from this scenario, as they had lost two games to Arizona St, yet made the field of 65 just ahead of the disappointed Sun Devils.
Without really delving into the why's and why not's of things, let's just look at The Blue Team's Field of 65:
Anyway, as many of you are well aware, I've been sitting around predicting the tournament field for the last six or seven years. It started out in college as a good way to stay awake in class from late-January through the tournament selection show and has evolved into a less-complicated-but-more-efficient Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. Last year, The Blue Team hit home 63/65 teams, which is really an average performance. That dastardly Joe Lunardi nailed the entire field. Screw him and the horse he rode in on.
2009 is a new year though, and I'm here striving for perfection. Keep in mind that the bubble has shrunk considerably in recent days, thanks to Cleveland St, Temple, & Southern Cal winning their conference tournaments. Each of these teams "stole" a bid, and Mississippi St remains to try and do so on Sunday. As of now, here are your last eight teams according to seed who are at-large squads in the tournmament: St. Mary's, San Diego St, Minnesota, Maryland, Dayton, Michigan, Texas A&M, Oklahoma St., and those are listed from the bottom up. I have the "out" teams as Arizona, Creighton, Penn St, Providence, Auburn, New Mexico, Florida, listed from the bubble down.Simple math would show that if Mississippi St wins the SEC Tournament, they will take St. Mary's bid away. However, I am still hedging on St. Mary's vs San Diego St vs Arizona. I've seen the Wildcats a bunch of times and I know they have the most talent of those three; the question, though, is do they have the best resume? I think San Diego St is solid, but I am also hesitant due to Arizona's head-to-head victory over San Diego St. Past history has shown us that does not really play a factor with the committee. As you may recall, last year, Arizona benefitted from this scenario, as they had lost two games to Arizona St, yet made the field of 65 just ahead of the disappointed Sun Devils.
Without really delving into the why's and why not's of things, let's just look at The Blue Team's Field of 65:
I am still waiting on a few automatic bids as I type this, so apologies for having to fill in a league instead of a team. Please note, again, that this bracket assumes Mississippi St does not win the SEC title on Sunday. Adjustments will be made prior to the Selection Show, which is a 6pm Sunday evening.
The briefest explanation possible for what you may be thinking: yes, three Big East teams as one-seeds. I am not convinced the committee will do it, but UCONN has better wins than Memphis, period. Strangely, they both played Syracuse and Georgetown: UCONN split with Syracuse but lost to Georgetown while Memphis lost to both. I really think UCONN has better numbers than the Tigers. Either way, I assume the two teams will be sent out west and will be the number four and five overall seeds based on the S-curve. For my bracket, I assumed the regions as East, Midwest, South, West in that order.
As a brief aside, my official Five to Thrive will be written this week as part of the tournament preview. The teams I selected two weeks ago: Louisville (not sure they count anymore), Florida St, Tennessee, Purdue, VCU. Three of these teams have already gotten kind of hot, so I guess the cat is out of the bag there. Oh well, that's what I get for being lazy and not writing.
Finally, I would like to point out that I selected the 65 teams at my house this evening. However, I put my bracket together, seeding the teams and placing them in their regions, at Big Al's, a bar in Blacksburg. So yes, I sat at a high-top table with a Diet Coke and scibbled on a piece of paper while my friends played mini-Shuffleboard and downed pitchers of beer, keeping an eye on Louisville's dominate performance. I am not sure if that is dedication or nerdiness, but either way, that's how it went down yo.
Merriest of Bracket Days to everyone. Enjoy the last few conference tournament finals and get ready for a fun three weeks of madness. Everybody dance now...
Let Every Heel Chill
Carolina lost to Florida St in the ACC Tournament Semi-Finals...and it's ok. Come on, say it aloud: it's ok. Now rinse, repeat. And again. There, you feel better?
The goal is to win every game; I understand that. But, the big picture goal is to win your last six games, cut down nets, and cry your way through "One Shining Moment". So get healthy, Ty Lawson. Remember that the ball can actually go IN the basket, Danny Green. And Roy, learning to make that "T" sign with two hands would indeed be nice (for a demonstration, please see Webber, Chris, circa 1993). Win your last six, and you get this:
After two hard-fought, emotional games in this tournament, a third matchup with Duke or forty minutes against a fired-up Maryland team could potentially do more harm than good. Remember, these guys, save the freshmen, have all won the ACC Tournament before (most of them twice). Winning it sure is fun, but getting out of the ACC Cocktail Party with your health and a high seed are more important THIS YEAR. For the record, I advocate playing hard in every game and trying to win this historic event with everything you've got. But, for THIS TEAM, a National Title is the ultimate goal. They've gone to Atlanta, played two gritty games, and hopefully learned what needs to be worked on this week.
We'll analyze this team more in-depth this week. For now, I've got to complete my bracket prognostication and type it out on this blog. I leave you with a quote that sent me into three minutes of giggles and singing. Courtesy of Tim Brant, who announced today's game for Raycom with Mike Gminski: "There's a lot of bumpin' and grindin' going on (in the lane) down there".
You dang right, Tim Brant: there ain't nothin' wrong with a little bump and grind.
The goal is to win every game; I understand that. But, the big picture goal is to win your last six games, cut down nets, and cry your way through "One Shining Moment". So get healthy, Ty Lawson. Remember that the ball can actually go IN the basket, Danny Green. And Roy, learning to make that "T" sign with two hands would indeed be nice (for a demonstration, please see Webber, Chris, circa 1993). Win your last six, and you get this:
After two hard-fought, emotional games in this tournament, a third matchup with Duke or forty minutes against a fired-up Maryland team could potentially do more harm than good. Remember, these guys, save the freshmen, have all won the ACC Tournament before (most of them twice). Winning it sure is fun, but getting out of the ACC Cocktail Party with your health and a high seed are more important THIS YEAR. For the record, I advocate playing hard in every game and trying to win this historic event with everything you've got. But, for THIS TEAM, a National Title is the ultimate goal. They've gone to Atlanta, played two gritty games, and hopefully learned what needs to be worked on this week.
We'll analyze this team more in-depth this week. For now, I've got to complete my bracket prognostication and type it out on this blog. I leave you with a quote that sent me into three minutes of giggles and singing. Courtesy of Tim Brant, who announced today's game for Raycom with Mike Gminski: "There's a lot of bumpin' and grindin' going on (in the lane) down there".
You dang right, Tim Brant: there ain't nothin' wrong with a little bump and grind.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Score One for the Good Guys
Last week, The Blue Team took a break from the norm and journeyed to the depths of hell to analyze Coach K and his Evil Empire, the Duke Blue Devils. Now, after a longer-than-anticipated delay (sorry Kev), let's summarize Roy and the Boys' equally successful trip to Blacksburg. For the sake of brevity...
- An early arrival with tarheelpwin in tow. Woody and the Tar Heel Sports Network team are all in place. First Erin Andrews sighting, along with your favorite Dookie and mine, Jay Bilas. Erin > Jay.
- Tyler Hansbrough is famous for an extensive pre-game stretching routine. However, on this night, he nearly lost his life when he decided to lay outside the Carolina locker room for said stretching routine. A wayward employee was walking to the press room, turned around to glance back at Danny Green, and almost fell over a sprawled-out Psycho T. Lucky for Tyler, I'm quick like a cat and avoided him.
- Unlike Duke, Carolina does no such crazy tandem stretching or military-like pregame routine. Each player is focused in his own world for the most part. William Graves did manage to swish three straight baseline three-pointers standing about two feet out of bounds on the right side of the basket. I guess that's his spot...too bad it is indeed out of bounds and thus, useless in a game.
- JB Tanner is known within the Tar Heels community for his pre-game shooting displays, but it is really sick in person. The kid just rains three ball after three ball, none as much as touching the rim.
- The mosh pit in the hallway is hype. I did not make it to the Smith Center this year to see it on the videoboard, but it is still fun.
- It is fun to hear everyone boo the Heels on the road. They do not look tight at all, a good sign early.
- One thing that is in stark contrast to Duke is the size of the Carolina players. Everyone on this team is filled out and cut. Frasor is much thicker in person than I remember two years ago and Ty Lawson's calves are the size of my quads (not saying much, but still). What is odd is that Hansbrough is not beefy looking at all, very trim; however, his core strength was only display multiple times on this night as he powered through the Hokies defense.
- During the game itself, the Carolina bench is very much into the game. Pointing on assists, cheering on defensive effort, checking out dancers...
- Contrary to popular perception, Coach Williams may engage the officials as much or more than Coach K. Roy is similar in that he does not typically just scream at them, instead choosing to have one-on-one heated discussions. Maybe it is just because of their reputations and place among the nation's great coaches, but it does seem to me that both Coach K and Coach Roy are given the chance for interaction with officials more so than others. Of course, there are some coaches who just scream and yell and stomp and kick just to put on a show...not naming any names.
- Ed Davis is phenomenal. In this game, he probably made at least five plays that will not show up in a stat sheet, but made a difference for the Heels: a tipped ball here, an altered-shot there. He is athletic, but not out-of-this-world. However, he is definitely a coach's kid, as evidenced by his seemingly innate ability to make smart basketball plays and his understanding of the game. Love this guy.
- Tyler Zeller did not play a great deal, and frankly looked rough in his brief stint. However, he is definitely a legit 7-0 and is fast from end to end. Once he gets back into the flow of the game and slides his feet better, I think he can log some good minutes.
- From our courtside table, I have a wonderful vantage point for checking out the visiting team's shoes. The Heels are well-stocked with Air Jordans, my personal brand of choice. Quite partial to Bobby Frasor and Tyler Zeller's choice of the Team Jordans with the interlocking "NC" on the outer heel.
- After a scrum early in the second half, Davis grabbed an offensive rebound, gathered it in, and rose for a tremendous two-hand stuff. In his excitement, one of the Blue Teamers threw his gum in the air over his shoulder. It landed behind the bench on the front row of the Carolina seats, much to the amusement/dismay of the fans there.
- Speaking of which, one of the Carolina fans was an African-American gentleman roughly the size of my house. Seriously, this guy was easily 6-3, 300 muscular pounds and stood cheering after every made basket. Very nice guy, though I do not know which player(s) he belonged to. Maybe a father, maybe an uncle, not sure.
- Though this game was close off and on, it never felt like the Hokies had a chance to turn the corner. Carolina got in the lane (specifically Ty Lawson) at will, whereas VT had to work like crazy for everything they got. In the end, the Heels are just more talented and were able to win playing at about 85% focus/effort. I don't particularly have a problem with that honestly, as long as they recognize that the time to play at 100% focus/effort begins on March 19th.
- After the game, I made my way to the media room to listen to Coach Williams. I was joined by Dick Baddour, the athletics director at Carolina, who sat drinking Gatorade while Roy talked about how fortunate we were to win, etc. Roy was very calm and poised after the game, even taking the time to share a joke with Baddour and SID Steve Kirschner. How refreshing.
Though there are differences in how they approach things, both Duke and Carolina are highly successful programs. This level of success just serves as further motivation for the both program, each pushing the other along. It was fun to see both of them in person, especially one after the other. Of course, it was also fun to watch them battle it out last Sunday and prove just which blue is better. Duuuuh.
General thoughts on college hoops & my bracket prognostication are coming this weekend. Next week, we'll have picks, a Five to Thrive, and the steps Carolina has to take in order to secure a national championship. Until then...happy 311 Day.
Sunday, March 01, 2009
Analysis of the Evil Empire
One of the many perks of working for ISP here at Virginia Tech is the chance to sit courtside for a minimum of eight ACC men's basketball contests per season. After an internship at Carolina, a season of hoops at Clemson, and three here at VT, it is almost odd watching a game from anywhere else; less stressful, yes, but not quite as good a vantage point. Besides not having to worry about a 6-6 guy standing in front of you or a sorority girl screaming at the wrong time behind you, an All-Access pass allows you to see and hear things not many are priviledged to; sometimes, it also leads to a 6-6 guy tumbling over the table into your lap, but that's another story. Anyway, it is easy to get a read on how focused a team is watching the pre-game warm-ups and "get hype" mosh pit in the tunnels. It is always entertaining to hear the coaches during the game. And finally, it is fun to see a team celebrate a big win or tough to watch them grieve a heart-breaking defeat.
On Saturday, Coach K and the 2008-2009 version of the Duke Blue Devils rolled into town for a matchup with the Hokies, a nationally televised contest and a shot for VT to make a move off the NCAA Tournament bubble in the positive direction. This Wednesday night, Carolina comes calling, extending the same opportunity to Seth Greenberg's squad. I thought that the rare chance to see two programs of such stature would be a good way to compare and contrast them. Here are my thoughts and observations of the Duke Blue Devils, up close and personal:
On Saturday, Coach K and the 2008-2009 version of the Duke Blue Devils rolled into town for a matchup with the Hokies, a nationally televised contest and a shot for VT to make a move off the NCAA Tournament bubble in the positive direction. This Wednesday night, Carolina comes calling, extending the same opportunity to Seth Greenberg's squad. I thought that the rare chance to see two programs of such stature would be a good way to compare and contrast them. Here are my thoughts and observations of the Duke Blue Devils, up close and personal:
- Saturday started for Team Duke around 1:30pm when the team bus arrived at Cassell Coliseum. The Dookies were off the bus and out to shoot around early, each player loosening up at his own pace after ankle tapings and such. All of the players were dressed exactly the same: short-sleeved blue and white Nike Elite shooting shirts and black shooting pants. No one was in shorts or a different shirt or an extra layer of clothing. A reflection of Coach K's military training no doubt.
- I came back out from a Hokie Club function with 75 minutes on the pre-game countdown. Duke's players were just finishing their individual work. The team huddled for a brief moment, then lined up across the baseline. Paulus led the players as they walked baseline to endline and back, with jogging, high knees, shuffling, etc. Everyone then gathered (after Gerald Henderson slapped hands with every team member - he is definitely the leader here) in pairs to stretch each other out. I watched as each player went through seven or so different stretches, counting loudly in unison to ten or fifteen depending on the stretch. Another influence from the military days.
- The Blue Devils did not whoop it up in the locker room much before the game. Some synchronized clapping, then a short talk from what I could hear. They did circle up in the tunnel and mosh for ten seconds or so before running out to a chorus of boos. Nothing fancy, no craziness...just focus and confidence. LOTS of confidence.
- Nolan Smith sat on the bench in a team jumpsuit with earplugs to alleviate the pain that the noise of the fans could cause post-concussion.
- Coach K, in the early part of his career, was known for really screaming at the officials. However, following two decades of excellence, he has earned the ability to just plead his case with a few quick words. It is quite rare nowadays to see him fly off the handle and just go balistic about a call. There are other coaches in the ACC that I cannot say the same for...not naming any names of course. One call on a ball out-of-bounds did not go his way and all he said to official Bob Donato was "that's impossible", meaning the ball could not possibly have gone off his player and landed over the inline. And, he was right. Of course, he can still go off at any given moment like he did during a timeout late in the second half. K actually picked up a chair off the bench like he was about to throw it or break it due to his frustration with his team's ability to stop the ball.
- Assistant coaches Steve Wojohousekey (sic) and Chris Collins catch a lot of flack from opposing fans (two careers of filling the "annoying white guy on Duke" role will do that for you), but there are likely not two more intense assistants in the ACC. Wojo was out early watching the players closely during pre-game and had a couple of pep talks with inidividuals during the game. Collins, who looks more like his father, Doug Collins, everyday, worked the officials on behalf of Coach K a few times. Included in this was an incorrect protest of not allowing substitutions to enter the game, to which he admitted his mistake with a "my bad, I messed up".
- Chris Carrawell and Nate James, both on the Blue Devils' staff now following Johnny Dawkins leaving for the head gig at Stanford (I am actually typing this in a Stanford shirt and shorts...thanks), could both suit up and play right now. James worked a good bit in pre-game with the guys on the floor, as a post-up defender, passer, and rebounder. Carrawell, a grad assistant, observed intently from the sideline most of the afternoon.
- Yes, the entire army of goons travels with Duke on the road, or at least it seems like it. Duke added five additional chairs to the end of their bench (leaving one manager nearly sitting on our table courtside), plus had three folks behind the bench in charge of the coolers and towels. Not to mention four more of the traveling party who sat in the first row behind the bench.
- Speaking of, there was a particularly attractive Dukette on the second row of the Blue Devils' seat. Blond, athletic, and not obnoxious from what I saw. So yes, they do exist. Who knew?
- As for the players themselves, I was surprised at how small the Blue Devils are. Yes, we all know they do not have much height on their frontline, but none of their guys are bulky either. Singler must be incredibly strong in his core and legs to bang in the post as much as he does, because it sure is not obvious on the rest of him. Scheyer looks like a marathoner more than a basketball player (and a douchebag more than a marathoner...oops, sorry). This is in stark contrast to a team like Georgia Tech, which has the thickest frontline players I've ever seen. Too bad only one of them has a lick of basketball skills (that will change next year when Derrick Favors pairs with Lawal - oh my).
- When I say Duke has no height, I mean none except for Brian Zoubek. Chewbek, as I have called him for three years now, is a giant. When Neil Fingleton and his 7-6 British mullet patrolled the grounds at UNC my freshman year, people gawked at him. Chewy got a similar reception from the Virginia Tech fans on Saturday. He's not much better than Fingleton, but I did have a friend who thought Fingleton would play in the NBA. Gotta love Jarhead. By the way, click on the Fingleton link, it's worth five minutes at least.
- Gerald Henderson is on another level as an athlete, but he is still a bit streaky. VT really clamped down on him in the second half, playing him with one-and-a-half defenders (allowing Singler to kill them...awesome). Henderson had three dunks and a block that were nuts, including a Stackhouse-esque reverse on the baseline that made me jump out of my seat (way to stay professional, I know).
- VT students chanted "T-bag Paulus" every time he entered the game and serenaded Singler with "you're a p****". Hokies Respect!
- I am not at all one to whine and complain about officiating, and I am not about to right now. I will acknowledge that Duke "gets" a lot of calls, especially in the block/charge department. There were nine (I think) offensive fouls called on the Hokies, including six charges to just one block. This has to do with two factors that stem from Coach K's defensive philosophy. First, Duke rotates on defense better than any team in the ACC, year in and year out. Second, they sell the charge and are willing to step in to take it. Every. Single. Player. Tough, smart, and solid gamesmanship. Do I think all of those calls were right? I'd say the odds are no. But, you have to give the Devils credit for their efficiency on the defensive end.
All in all, I was very impressed with Duke. They are organized, team-oriented, and a group with one singular focus: winning games. This is not a national title team this year, probably not a Final Four team either. But, watching the way Coach K runs his ship and the way the players and coaches respond is really cool. Remember, Darth Vader had some good qualities too and made Luke Skywalker that much better, just as Duke serves this purpose for North Carolina. But also remember who's the Dark Side and which side wins out in the end.
More from the lighter and brighter shade of blue after Wednesday night's game. Hopefully we'll have a chance to analyze the college basketball landscape soon before the end of the regular season, and I promise a look at the Tar Heels as it relates to the big picture and their title hopes before the Big Dance. It's back to sports, specifically college hoops, here at The Blue Team for the next month plus. March Madness is finally upon us and it's going to be one heck of a fun ride.
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