Villanova - UNC

First of all, this was the Final Four matchup for this side of the bracket. The winner of this game was going to go to the finals and Carolina will do just that. Sorry Wisconsin, Michigan State and Kentucky, but the Big Ten despite having three teams in the elite 8 is a football conference not a basketball conference. I won't mention the easy road Wisconsin and Michigan State both had and yes they played the teams put in front of them, But let's not get ridiculous and talk about the Big Ten being this great basketball conference that got no respect. Illinois is for real absolutely but its Big Ten counterparts each won one tough game. And Kentucky - again not the toughest road - a good win over Utah and they looked good against Cincinnati, threes no way these Cats will give Carolina the fight Nova gave the Tar Heels. That being said - let's talk about arguably the greatest game of the tournament next to West Virginia's double OT win over Wake Forest.
Now had I stayed in my nose bleed seats at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, I may have given the referees the benefit of the doubt since they are on the court and I was almost a mile away. But after some well designed maneuvering, I ended up behind the basket normally reserved for the Syracuse student section, in much better position to give the harsh assessment of these referees that they deserve. But before I get into that, let's talk about the other aspects of the game.
First things first -if Villanova makes free throws, they win by 5. UNC made free throws (19-24 79%) when it counted, Villanova didn't (12-19 63%). Also, at least 3 or 4 of those missed free throws were the front end of a 1 and 1. Other than their performance from the line, the Wildcats played a great game and gave the most explosive team in the country a run for their money. The most amazing thing about this game, is that with 3:20 left UNC was up by 10. I figured Carolina would end up covering the 10 1/2 point spread, not to mention win. But then 'Nova made one last run and almost came away with the win.
But the turning point in this game, came - yes, you guessed it - at the foul line for Villanova. Freshman Kyle Lowry toed the line with the Cats down 53-50 and 'Nova had yet to let Carolina get a two possession lead. Up to this point and for the rest of the game as well, Lowry played an amazing game. The freshman starting in place of the injured Curtis Sumpter, tallied a career high 18 points and also led Villanova in rebounds (7), assists(3) and steals(2). But the freshman standout missed this key free throw and would miss another front end of a 1 n 1 later on - and Carolina went on a 14-3 run. This doesn't take away from the great game Lowry played, at times blowing by this "5 pro" line-up of Carolina and leaving them not knowing what happened; but both these misses cost 'Nova a potential 4 points.
So yes, Villanova should have - thanks in part to Randy Foye's 28 points- not given the referees the option to affect the outcome of the game. That being said, that does not let the refs off the hook. I don't so much blame the referees for the outcome of the game, but they should be held accountable for a horribly officiated game. Tom O'Neill and his phantom walk call was not an isolated bad call. O'Neill's Terry Porter imitation just capped off the night to an awful night of officiating. And it looked very much like O'Neill blew the whistle then decided what to call - a parallel to Porter waiting 5 seconds to throw the flag before calling pass interference in the 2002 Fiesta Bowl. But all three members of the officiating crew from last night should never ref another NCAA tournament game again - not to mention St. Louis for the Final Four. Within the first 5 minutes of the game, Villanova had picked up 5 or 6 ticky tack fouls. Then it seemed like the officials got a grip and god forbid let the teams play basketball. But the decided they needed to take over the game again at around the 11 minute mark of the second half. Again within a few minute span, Nova picked up ticky tack foul after ticky tack foul - and oh yea with Sean May knocking Wildcat players to the floor left and right.
Did they cost Nova the game ? NO. But they did themselves and officials everywhere no favors with that absurd excuse for officiating last night.

First round ramblings

It figures that as soon as I think Syracuse is getting it together and I put a little faith in them it turns out I should have stuck with my gut instinct when I labeled them most likely to dissapoint. As good as Gerry McNamara is when he's on, he is god-awful when he is off. Forcing shots, commiting turnovers, and the last shot of the game says plenty - he could have gotten a much better shot or at least found someone who did -and instead he had to try to be the hero and take some impossible circus shot. And oh yea, that was to cap a night of 4-18 shooting.

Bucknell coming through over Kansas. I did originally have this listed but due to publishing complications it got erased and lost. Kansas just simply wasn't that good this year. They showed signs of greatness but this was not a team that was going to do well in the tournament atmosphere.

As far as sleepers picks, I must have been dreaming. Alabama and LSU bowed out in the first round - thats what I get for thinking two SEC teams are going to do some damage. And Kentucky, they have a pretty easy road to the Elite 8, but again they just aren't as good as they've been and don't be surprised if they head home after this weekend. But for that to happen a different tournament rule would have to break down - the Cinci, Wake Forest and Florida rule - all tourney choke teams. Which brings me to the Gators - another first weekend exit as they will fall to Villanova after barely escaping against Ohio.

Another sleeper that stayed in bed, Pittsburgh. The Panthers falling in the first round to Pacific and the Tigers now face Washington. And as far as I can tell Washington has been getting no love at all. Pitt over Washington seemed to be the pretty popular second round upset pick, but even now people are going with Pacific. I like the Huskies to eventually face off with Louisville and the winner of that game will eventually get to the Final Four. And yes I'm sticking by my guns and my original Louisville final four pick.

Maybe, just maybe West Virginia will come through and knock off Wake Forest. I still like the Mountaineers in this game after escaping against Creighton. Big East v ACC round 1.

The Austin region is so weak. Granted no matter who the committee put there chances are they would lose to the winner of the Syracuse region but still. And if Syracuse the basketball team had gotten by Vermont they would have gone to the Final Four. But Duke, Kentucky, - a couple of has beens - Oklahoma and Michigan St? Not so strong. Especially after Duke heads home early after losing to Mississippi State.

Quick picks for round 2

UW Milwaukee OVER Boston College
West Virginia OVER Wake Forest
Connecticut OVER NC State
Gonzaga OVER Texas Tech
Louisville OVER Georgia Tech
Utah OVER Oklahoma
Miss St. OVER Duke


Check out the bloggers bracket on http://www.yocohoops.com/

Brackets

Chances are you've spent every waking hour since the selection show aired trying to devise the best scheme to win this years pool. But before you go and fill out you're bracket you might just want to check out some of these ramblings. Who knows, maybe I'll inspire you to victory.



Chicago Region:

#1 Illinois
#2 Okla St.
#3 Arizona
#4 Boston College
#5 Alabama
#6 LSU


First round upset special: #13 Penn over #4 Boston College. Not so long ago the Eagles were talking about an undefeated season and a #1 seed. But closing the season 4-4 (1-2 against tournament teams) does not bode well for BC heading into the Big Dance.

Sleepers: #5 Alabama and #6 LSU. Its too bad these two are in the same regional because each could make some noise and even take up a Final Four spot. But that doesn't mean these teams won't make their presence known. Alabama could get a shot at Illinois in a possible Sweet 16 matchup. LSU will have to likely go through Arizona AND Oklahoma state, but the Tigers have won 8 of their last 10 taking down Alabama and Florida and losing to Kentucky by 1 in OT in the conference semifinals.

Final Four : Illinois

Albuquerque Region :

#1 Washington
#2 Wake Forest
#3 Gonzaga
#4 Louisville
#5 Georgia Tech
#6 Texas Tech

First round upset special: #12 George Washington v #5 Georgia Tech. This one is really a toss up. The Colonials have sputtered in the first half all through the A-10 tournament and if they do the same, they'll find themselves on the losing end of this matchup. But if GW keeps it close in the first half, it shot 62% in the 2nd half during the A-10 tourney on its way to taking home the tournament championship. Tech played well in the ACC tourney losing to Duke in the championship game and it has the experience going to the NCAA title game last season. But this year's team just doesn't play as well as last year's; and in the always dangerous 5 v 12 matchup I'm taking the 12.


Sleepers : #9 Pittsburgh and #7 West Virginia. Both these teams hail from the Big East - the strongest and most physical conference in college basketball. Pitt's Chevy Troutman and Chris Taft of each average about 15 pts per game in the front court. If the Panthers get past Pacific in the toss-up #8 v #9 game the Panthers present an serious challenge to the #1 seed Washington Huskies. Talk about 2 teams with opposite styles. Washington averages 86 points per game while Pitt holds teams to 63 points per game.

West Virginia could also make some waves in this region. The Mountaineers are coming off a solid run in the Big East tournament taking down Boston College and Villanova before losing to Syracuse in the championship game. If WVU gets by Creighton in the first round, watch out Wake Forest. Before last season's trip to the Sweet 16 where they lost to St. Joseph's, the Demon Deacons had bowed out in the first weekend in its last 4 trips to the Big Dance. Wake joins Cinci and Florida in the tournament choke team category. The Mountaineers rely heavily on the 3 but also have a solid inside game with Kevin Pittsnogle. This guy not only has the coolest name in college basketball but he averages 11 points and 4 rebounds per game, is solid down low and can shoot the 3. Don't be surprised if WVU sends Wake home early again.

Final Four pick : #4 Louisville - If this bracket breaks down the way it could, the Cardinals
may find themselves in St. Louis without really realizing how they got there. Louisville closed the season strong winning 9 of its last 10 on its way to the conference USA tournament championship.

Syracuse Region: This is going to be a mess. Best chance is to go with the numbers and have UCONN and UNC face off in the elite 8.

#1 UNC
#2 UCONN
#3 Kansas
#4 Florida
#5 Villanova
#6 Wisconsin

First round upset special: #13 Ohio OVER #4 Florida. Sometimes the brackets just have a mind of their own. And since blowing its chance at a national title in 2000 , Florida has not made it out of the first weekend. The Gators get the same distinction as Cincinnati and Wake Forest as tournament choke teams. Either way, the winner of this game will lose to the winner of Villanova v. New Mexico.


Sleeper: Villanova. The #5 Wildcats have a tough first round matchup with New Mexico but if 'Nova gets by its first game it should find its way to the Sweet 16 against North Carolina. Let the ACC v Big East talk begin. I like NC going the distance in this bracket, but the Wildcats have shocked earlier this season. And the Tar Heels were flat throughout the ACC tournament. The combination of Allen Ray and Curtis Sumpter along with Kyle Lowry and Mike Nardi pitching in could give the most explosive team in the country a run for its money.

Final Four: UNC


Austin Region:

#1 Duke
#2 Kentucky
#3 Oklahoma
#4 Syracuse
#5 Michigan State
#6 Cincinnati

First round upset special: #11 Iowa over #6 Cincinnati. Cinci is one of the founding fathers of the choke team category and once again it looks like they might as well not make the trip. The Bearcats have gotten to the sweet 16 only twice in its last 10 tournament appearences (Cinci has gone to the Big Dance in each of the last 10 seasons). Of the other 8 it has been a 2 seed twice a 3 seed twice, a 1 seed once, a 4 seed, a 7 seed and an 8 seed. Perfect, they're a 6 seed this year. And they face an Iowa team that lost its leading scorer to burglary charges in the middle of the season but still made it to the semifinals of the Big Ten conference tournament.


Sleeper: #4 Syracuse - Yes, I labeled them as most likely to dissapoint about a week ago. But then the team that Syracuse has had the potential to be all season decided to show up for the Big East tournament and win. So as of now I sit corrected and ready to put some faith in the Orange. The biggest reason - it beat the hottest team in the country, Connecticut, on its way
to the Big East tournament crown. Also SU has tournament experience. Josh Pace, Gerry McNamara, Craig Forth and Hakim Warrick all were on the championship team in 2003. The best lineup the 'Cuse can put out there is Pace and McNamara up top with Warrick and sophomores Daryl "Mookie" Watkins and Terrence Roberts down low. Coach Jim Boeheim has said that this team will go as far as the sophomores take them and that looks to be the case with Roberts starting and Watkins making significant contributions off the bench. The other factor that goes along with these two is rebounds. Syracuse has been outrebounded in every game it has lost. The energy and physicality these two bring to the court helps the Orange tremendously on the glass. Syracuse should make a run to St. Louis, taking out Duke on the way in another ACC v Big East showdown.

Final Four : Syracuse

St Louis:

Syracuse v UNC Illinois v Louisville

UNC v Illinois

Illinois - maybe next year Roy Williams

Spring Break

No shows this week or next week thanks to a much needed spring break. But check the site for continuous updates from Selection Sunday on through the tournament. The All Sports All the Time Talkshow on WERW will return Saturday March 26th at 7am.

Almost Tourney Time

So as every sports fan knows, the NCAA tournament is just around the corner. This week is of course championship week with all the conference tournaments underway and Selection Sunday only 5 days away. With the most exciting time of the sports year about to get underway, some thoughts as you get ready to fill out your bracket...

Team to beat: North Carolina. Yes Illinois came within one game of an undefeated season and should be the overall #1 team in the tournament. But the Tar Heels are the most explosive team in the conference and with a healthy McCants will be virtually unstoppable. And yes, every year the team that no one can see losing always seems to lose, but Roy Williams just might finally get that championship he has been looking for.

Most Overrated Team: Boston College looks to be this year's Stanford. The Eagles played their way out of a #1 seed. The only real chance they have now is too run the table in the Big East tournament. BC has struggled down the stretch losing to Notre Dame, Villanova, and Pittsburgh. Not a good sign heading into the tournament.

Most likely to dissapoint: Syracuse leads this category. The unpredictable Orange(men) have yet to really play one complete 40 minute game. The best performance came against Villanova, a 90-75 victory in Philly. And despite wins against Memphis and Miss. St. early in the year, SU has struggled against all top tier teams. Oklahoma St. , Pitt twice, BC , UCONN twice, all losses. With Hakim Warrick, Gerry Mcamara, and Craig Forth all still around from the 2003 championship team, AND one of the stronger sophomore classes in the nation, this season will be an extreme dissapointment if the 'Cuse doesn't make the Sweet 16 and even then this team has the potential to do so much more. The one saving grace...Mcnamara is clutch come tourney time.

Illinois?: Yes, the undefeated season came to a halt with a last second 3 pointer to Ohio State, and no there is no such thing as a good loss. But that being said, that loss shouldn't shake this Illini team's confidence in the least. Illinois does come out of the weaker Big Ten tournament, so make the case that they would have lost more games in the ACC, etc. This sounds all so familiar kind of like last year's St. Joe's. And both teams have similar play...they rely heavily on the guard play and surprise surprise in the loss the other day, the Illini backcourt had their worst shooting performance of the season. The one thing Illinois has that St. Joe's didn't - a consistent presence down low that can carry some of the load if the guards don't shoot well. And Illinois is this year's St. Joe's and not because they won't make it to the Final Four. This team should make the Final Four, and SJU came within one shot of doing the same last year.

Teams to watch out for: Alabama, LSU, Villanova, Arizona, UConn. Connecticut has been red hot since starting the Big East 4-3. The Huskies have won 9 straight in the conference and 9 of their last 10 with the only loss coming against North Carolina. Arizona is a quiet likely #2 seed. One bump down the stretch against a solid Washington team, otherwise a strong showing in the Pac-10. LSU a misleading 17-10 record but 12-4 in the SEC and 7-2 down the stretch- getting hot at the right time. Alabama is a powerful squad that has hit a few bumps down the stretch - losses to UK and LSU - but again a 12-4 record in an SEC looking to send 5 teams. Wrapping up these squads is Villanova. The Wildcats a surprising year finishing 11-5 in the Big East. Wins against Pitt, Kansas, and BC. Almost beat BC twice. If Espn's bracketology is a preview of what will be....Zona, BAMA, Nova all in the same region...look out.

Others who could come up short: Cincinnati and Wake Forest - Both of these teams earn this spot due to their hard-earned reputations of being perennial tournament choke teams. Also Kansas (Langford is questionable) and Kentucky have been all over the place this year, so don't be surprised if the two KU and UK boys in blue fall early.

Last words : Duke not the Duke of years past....only a sweet 16 this year? Will Gonzaga finally succeed as a top 5 seed?

So there you have it, your pre-selection sunday preview.