Not the whole college...just the basketball team. VCU's run has been an incredible story but here are a few things they might be thinking about. So without further adieu...
If I'm VCU, I'd be thinking...
A). We were lucky to even be in the tournament at all
B). That so far in the NCAA tournament, I have beaten at least one team from each major conference EXCEPT the SEC (oh look, there's Kentucky on the other side of the bracket).
C). Two of the teams I beat were the first (Kansas) and second (Purdue) best teams in their conference (and except for a three minute span when Kansas closed to four, I beat them soundly).
D). My team is coached by the second best young coach (Shaka Smart) in the country (and he's not THAT far behind Brad Stevens).
E). My coach moves more when we are on defense than the actual players on the court
F). All this chaos may have just single-handedly taken the NCAA tournament to the 96-team format.
Unfortunately, I would not be surprised if the major college coaches didn't use the Rams run from the play-in game to the Final Four as the smoking gun to take another run at changing the format to 96 teams. VCU is the second #11 seed to reach the Final Four in five years (see Mason, George--2006) but with an added nuance this go-around. They came from the play-in game as one of the last four entries into the tournament.
The strongest argument to this point for not expanding past 68 teams was the quality of the play of teams 69-96. Based on the ratings of the NIT and the quality of basketball in most of those NIT games, the argument seemed to play out (of course, who knew if the poor ratings meant no one really knew the quality of the games because no one was watching). In the face of the weaker arguments--small ratio of teams making the tournament to eligible D-1 programs compared to the other NCAA sports, the great interest (huh?) fans would have in an expanded tournament, coaches losing their jobs for not making the tournament over a period of time (especially when consistently on the bubble) and, still denied by all involved to this day, money--quality of play was actually rock solid.
Poor quality of play stands out against the weaker arguments because if it is true, no one cares about the ratios, fans lose interest, coaches lose jobs and there is no money because no one is watching. Knowing that VCU barely made the tournament and that they were seen, by many, as interchangeable with those wallowing in the NIT mist, their quality of play should have been poor, right? What chance does any lower seed have to win anyway? The lowest seed to win the tournament was #8 Villanova in 1985.
Double-digit seeds are never in the mix. Sure, there's a couple Cinderellas in every tournament. But those flames fizzle in the Sweet 16--the lucky ones get to the Elite 8. Oh, and George Mason was a terrific story five years ago but it was bound to happen once, right? That's not a reason to make a potentially catastrophic leap of faith by expanding 28 more teams.
But a second run, especially one as dynamic and decisive by VCU, coming only five years after the last time it happened, will turn heads. It will raise eyebrows. It will give a glimmer of hope to the blowhards in the NCAA who will jump at any chance to pick the pocket of any fan who is willing to go to "First Four" games just because their school was lucky enough to make the tournament. Regardless of the quality of play. Regardless of the true ability of that team to win the whole tournament. If a team that didn't make the tournament could beat VCU, why can't that same team, if in the tourney as a #15 seed, make a similar run?
The one response to that is VCU is actually more than just a Cinderella. Cinderella has a fairy godmother and a magic wand. VCU has the three-pointer and no fear. They are the Gonzaga of 2011. A mid-major up-and-comer, winning games they "shouldn't" but doing it in a style that screams they should. They are the Butler of 2012. More established after its first run, still underrated and ranked low but maybe better than the year before.
They are not the final answer to a winning argument for 96 teams.
They are, instead, the epitome of why we love this tournament.
Peace,
Reg
Friday, April 1, 2011
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Three Points and Five Fouls
Because I love to share opinions, I'm going to rearrange some of this into a more coherent format. Keep in mind I said the format would be coherent...the rhetoric not necessarily so. Rambling at best, acerbic at times, here comes three points and five fouls.
THREE POINTS
1). How incredible was the finish of the Butler/Pitt game? Not nearly incredible as the responses of the game's participants to the two fouls that were called within two seconds of each other at the end. I have never seen a unusual finish like that handled more professionally by both sides with the exception of the perfect game that was taken away from Detroit Tigers pitcher last year. Pitt's coach Jamie Dixon was spot on when he said they got down by too many early in the game and that their comeback fell short for that reason. The Panther that committed the foul, Nasir Robinson, said that "It wasn't the ref's fault. It was my fault." Butler coach Brad Stevens was gracious in his post-game interview on the court saying he felt bad it ended that way. But I will say this...both were definitely fouls and should have been called. As one studio host said, if it's a foul in the first second or during the game, it's a foul in the last second too.
2). Gus Johnson is easily the best announcer the NCAA and NFL have on the payroll. If you get a last second, tight game in either sport, he accentuates the excitement with his call of the action. You never get the feeling he is out of control or overhyping but he also doesn't downplay the moment--his voice delivers on what you are seeing. He doesn't overhype (see Nantz, Jim), overcriticize (see Davis, Seth) or overcomment with no purpose (see Packer, Billy). If CBS is smart, they ask Nantz to stick to golf and move Gus to the "A" Team.
3). The NCAA finally did something right. With the new scheduling and spacing on the Thursday through Sunday games, rarely did two games bump up against each other at critical moments. In fact, I barely needed to invoke the use of my three television hook-ups in the RegCave on Saturday or Sunday as the games were spaced to avoid the absolute need to see two games at once. Having said that, the televisions were in full service on Thursday and Friday and that's what makes that first round so special.
FIVE FOULS
1). You knew I was going to lead with the end of the North Carolina/Washington game. What a contrast to the officiating in the Pitt/Butler game--but more like the fiasco in the Big East Tournament. The Huskies coaching staff claims they asked the officials to double-check the clock and that they said they did and stood by putting .5 seconds on the clock. So someone is lying. Either the coaching staff blew it (highly unlikely that that many coaches would all forget to ask the question) or the officials blew it off. Having watched games all weekend and knowing how long it has taken the officials to review timing calls at the end of games, there is no way the officials checked it. Especially when replays clearly show there was at least a full second left. Granted, Washington made way too many mistakes before that moment to deserve to win, it still is an egregious error for an officiating crew to make in a close game like that. UPDATE--NCAA officials clarified that it should have been when the whistle blows, not when the ball hits the court. If that is true, they have been grossly inconsistent in past games as I know that various timing decisions in the past were determined by when the ball was out of bounds.
2). Seth Davis needs to quit defending his fellow media members. When Kansas State head coach Frank Martin verbally went after the reporter who asked the question of Jacob Pullen about his "emotions" after the game, he was simply defending his player in the face of a very emotional press conference. For Davis to feel the need to point out the reporter was right to ask the question instead of discussing the game, shows Exhibit A that the media themselves are cognizant of their negative perception within the public because they are always quick to defend each other publicly instead of discussing the real story. The self-importance of the media is almost as disgusting as their need to stir controversy.
3). Speaking of the media...Jim Nantz needs to follow Billy Packer stage left. His overhyping every Carolina three and underhyping every Husky play as if he were the Tar Heel play by play announcer on the radio was embarrassing. Poor Clark Kellog seems to be following his lead--hopefully that is out of necessity and not an approval of the Nantz approach. He may be the voice of the Masters but he doesn't (and has never) made the transition very well to basketball.
4). How many times can Georgetown and Pittsburgh lay eggs in this tournament before they stop getting overhyped by the media and pollsters during they year? Or even the Big East for that matter. 11 teams in the tournament...four first round exits (G-town, Louisville, Villanova, and St. John's), all to mid-major teams and four second round exits, albeit two of them to their own kind (UConn over Cincy and ) but the other two to Butler and Kentucky, no pushovers but still teams that the top teams in a supposed "Super Power" Conference should beat. The Big East does not get enough (if any) criticism for being the most overhyped conference in any sport in any era.
5). What a waste of spots...once again proof that the tournament may be better off adding more mid-majors instead of Penn State, USC, and Missouri (two lost to mid-majors in the first round, the last one just embarrassed itself against Cincy). I would be very interested to see what would happen if you took the #16's (all six of them...again, leave it to the NCAA to come up with that concept) and had them play the bottom entries from the so-called "power conferences"--I bet you get a split. Just so you think I'm not all mid-major love, two of them proved they had no business being in. UAB who was no contest for Clemson in the brutal "First Four" and UNLV which made Illinois look like Duke, North Carolina, and Kansas all at once--both teams should have been replaced with more deserving mid-majors or at least Alabama and Virginia Tech.
But if they did all that, we would have nothing to complain about.
Peace,
Reg
THREE POINTS
1). How incredible was the finish of the Butler/Pitt game? Not nearly incredible as the responses of the game's participants to the two fouls that were called within two seconds of each other at the end. I have never seen a unusual finish like that handled more professionally by both sides with the exception of the perfect game that was taken away from Detroit Tigers pitcher last year. Pitt's coach Jamie Dixon was spot on when he said they got down by too many early in the game and that their comeback fell short for that reason. The Panther that committed the foul, Nasir Robinson, said that "It wasn't the ref's fault. It was my fault." Butler coach Brad Stevens was gracious in his post-game interview on the court saying he felt bad it ended that way. But I will say this...both were definitely fouls and should have been called. As one studio host said, if it's a foul in the first second or during the game, it's a foul in the last second too.
2). Gus Johnson is easily the best announcer the NCAA and NFL have on the payroll. If you get a last second, tight game in either sport, he accentuates the excitement with his call of the action. You never get the feeling he is out of control or overhyping but he also doesn't downplay the moment--his voice delivers on what you are seeing. He doesn't overhype (see Nantz, Jim), overcriticize (see Davis, Seth) or overcomment with no purpose (see Packer, Billy). If CBS is smart, they ask Nantz to stick to golf and move Gus to the "A" Team.
3). The NCAA finally did something right. With the new scheduling and spacing on the Thursday through Sunday games, rarely did two games bump up against each other at critical moments. In fact, I barely needed to invoke the use of my three television hook-ups in the RegCave on Saturday or Sunday as the games were spaced to avoid the absolute need to see two games at once. Having said that, the televisions were in full service on Thursday and Friday and that's what makes that first round so special.
FIVE FOULS
1). You knew I was going to lead with the end of the North Carolina/Washington game. What a contrast to the officiating in the Pitt/Butler game--but more like the fiasco in the Big East Tournament. The Huskies coaching staff claims they asked the officials to double-check the clock and that they said they did and stood by putting .5 seconds on the clock. So someone is lying. Either the coaching staff blew it (highly unlikely that that many coaches would all forget to ask the question) or the officials blew it off. Having watched games all weekend and knowing how long it has taken the officials to review timing calls at the end of games, there is no way the officials checked it. Especially when replays clearly show there was at least a full second left. Granted, Washington made way too many mistakes before that moment to deserve to win, it still is an egregious error for an officiating crew to make in a close game like that. UPDATE--NCAA officials clarified that it should have been when the whistle blows, not when the ball hits the court. If that is true, they have been grossly inconsistent in past games as I know that various timing decisions in the past were determined by when the ball was out of bounds.
2). Seth Davis needs to quit defending his fellow media members. When Kansas State head coach Frank Martin verbally went after the reporter who asked the question of Jacob Pullen about his "emotions" after the game, he was simply defending his player in the face of a very emotional press conference. For Davis to feel the need to point out the reporter was right to ask the question instead of discussing the game, shows Exhibit A that the media themselves are cognizant of their negative perception within the public because they are always quick to defend each other publicly instead of discussing the real story. The self-importance of the media is almost as disgusting as their need to stir controversy.
3). Speaking of the media...Jim Nantz needs to follow Billy Packer stage left. His overhyping every Carolina three and underhyping every Husky play as if he were the Tar Heel play by play announcer on the radio was embarrassing. Poor Clark Kellog seems to be following his lead--hopefully that is out of necessity and not an approval of the Nantz approach. He may be the voice of the Masters but he doesn't (and has never) made the transition very well to basketball.
4). How many times can Georgetown and Pittsburgh lay eggs in this tournament before they stop getting overhyped by the media and pollsters during they year? Or even the Big East for that matter. 11 teams in the tournament...four first round exits (G-town, Louisville, Villanova, and St. John's), all to mid-major teams and four second round exits, albeit two of them to their own kind (UConn over Cincy and ) but the other two to Butler and Kentucky, no pushovers but still teams that the top teams in a supposed "Super Power" Conference should beat. The Big East does not get enough (if any) criticism for being the most overhyped conference in any sport in any era.
5). What a waste of spots...once again proof that the tournament may be better off adding more mid-majors instead of Penn State, USC, and Missouri (two lost to mid-majors in the first round, the last one just embarrassed itself against Cincy). I would be very interested to see what would happen if you took the #16's (all six of them...again, leave it to the NCAA to come up with that concept) and had them play the bottom entries from the so-called "power conferences"--I bet you get a split. Just so you think I'm not all mid-major love, two of them proved they had no business being in. UAB who was no contest for Clemson in the brutal "First Four" and UNLV which made Illinois look like Duke, North Carolina, and Kansas all at once--both teams should have been replaced with more deserving mid-majors or at least Alabama and Virginia Tech.
But if they did all that, we would have nothing to complain about.
Peace,
Reg
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Green Day Part 2
Moving into the second tier of games...
In playing close with NoCo for awhile, San Diego State looked far better than Pittsburgh did playing NC Ash close. Both teams pulled away in the end but there was a fluidity to SDSU's play that was never apparent in the Pitt game. Traditionally, Pitt and Georgetown play ugly tournaments...at least traditionally in the last five years. If I'm a Hoya fan, I can't say I'm happy with the direction IV has taken the team compared to his Dad. Granted, Mr. Thompson was an iconic coach (Dean, Knight, "K") but Georgetown has not had that breakthrough moment to the point that you wonder when it is coming. I wonder if Hoya fans feel the same dread tonight as I did the night before the NFC Title game against the Saints.
Richmond and Princeton showed why the SEC is down. Don't ask why Alabama didn't make it instead of Georgia. Ask why Georgia made it all. There are probably at least five mid-majors that should have been in before five big conference schools...and don't tell me that Penn State played it close with Temple. The Nittany Lions were given a gift with their draw...Temple is not going to scare anyone.
Having said all that negativity...the early afternoon games were outstanding drama. Starting with Morehead State's cold-blooded upset of Louisville to last second shots by Kentucky, Temple, and Butler made it one of the better days off I've had during the tournament. And it made me miss Vegas. As I've said countless times, there is no greater observation of the human condition than to see people living and dying on a last second shot in a sports book in Vegas. Great theater...
But I've got three tv's in front of me, no waiting for a seat, and green beer to concoct. No complaints here.
More later...
Peace,
Reg
In playing close with NoCo for awhile, San Diego State looked far better than Pittsburgh did playing NC Ash close. Both teams pulled away in the end but there was a fluidity to SDSU's play that was never apparent in the Pitt game. Traditionally, Pitt and Georgetown play ugly tournaments...at least traditionally in the last five years. If I'm a Hoya fan, I can't say I'm happy with the direction IV has taken the team compared to his Dad. Granted, Mr. Thompson was an iconic coach (Dean, Knight, "K") but Georgetown has not had that breakthrough moment to the point that you wonder when it is coming. I wonder if Hoya fans feel the same dread tonight as I did the night before the NFC Title game against the Saints.
Richmond and Princeton showed why the SEC is down. Don't ask why Alabama didn't make it instead of Georgia. Ask why Georgia made it all. There are probably at least five mid-majors that should have been in before five big conference schools...and don't tell me that Penn State played it close with Temple. The Nittany Lions were given a gift with their draw...Temple is not going to scare anyone.
Having said all that negativity...the early afternoon games were outstanding drama. Starting with Morehead State's cold-blooded upset of Louisville to last second shots by Kentucky, Temple, and Butler made it one of the better days off I've had during the tournament. And it made me miss Vegas. As I've said countless times, there is no greater observation of the human condition than to see people living and dying on a last second shot in a sports book in Vegas. Great theater...
But I've got three tv's in front of me, no waiting for a seat, and green beer to concoct. No complaints here.
More later...
Peace,
Reg
Green Day!
Thoughts on the early games...
Butler has become the Rasputin of college basketball. Similar to last year, they are just hanging around--every time their demise is predicted, they keep coming back. That game-winning shot came off of such a messy play, they really had no business beating ODU. But they did and now get a chance to torment Pittsburgh.
Speaking of messes, Clemson beat themselves. After Clemson closed within three, they self-destructed as West Virgina stole the ball three consecutive times within a 20-second span. Brilliant move by Huggins to tighten the screws at such a crucial time. Clemson went into complete panic mode.
The Large Craniums--what a gutsy play at the end. That is why they won...the good teams go for the jugular instead of playing for OT. The easy play was the 2 for OT. It was obvious when he didn't start something with ten seconds left that they were going for the win and, in contrast to West Virginia's aggressive D earlier, Louisville sat back and waited. And for once, a team doesn't get a cheap call at the end...there was not enough (if any) of a foul there to warrant a call. Instead of just going up for the shot like his counterpart earlier, he leaned in to get a gift that was not forthcoming and cost himself a chance to make the game winning shot. Sidebar---the assassin from the Craniums missed his last six shots before the final dagger.
Did Penn State really think they were going to win?
Butler has become the Rasputin of college basketball. Similar to last year, they are just hanging around--every time their demise is predicted, they keep coming back. That game-winning shot came off of such a messy play, they really had no business beating ODU. But they did and now get a chance to torment Pittsburgh.
Speaking of messes, Clemson beat themselves. After Clemson closed within three, they self-destructed as West Virgina stole the ball three consecutive times within a 20-second span. Brilliant move by Huggins to tighten the screws at such a crucial time. Clemson went into complete panic mode.
The Large Craniums--what a gutsy play at the end. That is why they won...the good teams go for the jugular instead of playing for OT. The easy play was the 2 for OT. It was obvious when he didn't start something with ten seconds left that they were going for the win and, in contrast to West Virginia's aggressive D earlier, Louisville sat back and waited. And for once, a team doesn't get a cheap call at the end...there was not enough (if any) of a foul there to warrant a call. Instead of just going up for the shot like his counterpart earlier, he leaned in to get a gift that was not forthcoming and cost himself a chance to make the game winning shot. Sidebar---the assassin from the Craniums missed his last six shots before the final dagger.
Did Penn State really think they were going to win?
Twas the Night Before Madness (Redux)
Time to break out a classic (at least up to the "Reg Standard")...those who did not see the original should go back to the post on 3/18/09--almost two years ago to the day (find it here). Hopefully, I will do it justice.
'Twas the Night Before Madness
Just up from a nap
Not a creature was stirring
Especially not Raap
A pull from the glass
Man that was good
Pour a little out
For the boys in the hood
Chewy lays in a ball
snoozing up a small storm
he's not really worried
his picks are to form.
The kids are asleep
with their mother the leader
What a convenient point in time
to say I hate Jeter
The NCAA made a change
They called "First Four"
They said it was genius
I say it's a bore
I look at my bracket
Why do I care?
The Big East Eleven
Are too much to bear
Who am I kidding?
It's the same every year...
Does anyone out there
think there's something to fear?
But I'm bound and determined
To make this one great
Does anyone know
which player not to hate?
Or is it the game
I can't keep it straight
And with Kemba and Jimmer
the game just can't rate
Another pull from the glass
I'm starting to think
what if I'm not done
and there's nothing to drink
The clouds start to part
and the sun shines through
Is it possible to believe
I like THE OSU?
Then a voice rings out
"Do you remember the fish?"
A reminder from above
"Don't forget the Irish"
And then on me it dawns
and it really isn't clear
Notre Dame is the pick
And I have nothing to fear
'Cept all you junkies
the kids, dog and wife
the entries are many
imagine my strife
The beer is now gone
and there's nothing to say
but to wish you the best
and stay out of my way
Peace,
Reg
'Twas the Night Before Madness
Just up from a nap
Not a creature was stirring
Especially not Raap
A pull from the glass
Man that was good
Pour a little out
For the boys in the hood
Chewy lays in a ball
snoozing up a small storm
he's not really worried
his picks are to form.
The kids are asleep
with their mother the leader
What a convenient point in time
to say I hate Jeter
The NCAA made a change
They called "First Four"
They said it was genius
I say it's a bore
I look at my bracket
Why do I care?
The Big East Eleven
Are too much to bear
Who am I kidding?
It's the same every year...
Does anyone out there
think there's something to fear?
But I'm bound and determined
To make this one great
Does anyone know
which player not to hate?
Or is it the game
I can't keep it straight
And with Kemba and Jimmer
the game just can't rate
Another pull from the glass
I'm starting to think
what if I'm not done
and there's nothing to drink
The clouds start to part
and the sun shines through
Is it possible to believe
I like THE OSU?
Then a voice rings out
"Do you remember the fish?"
A reminder from above
"Don't forget the Irish"
And then on me it dawns
and it really isn't clear
Notre Dame is the pick
And I have nothing to fear
'Cept all you junkies
the kids, dog and wife
the entries are many
imagine my strife
The beer is now gone
and there's nothing to say
but to wish you the best
and stay out of my way
Peace,
Reg
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Ripped From the Headlines
It is important in preparing for any pool, whether it be the NFL, college bowl games or March Madness, to be up to date on the current headlines. I mean, if you're going to throw your money at something, you need to give yourself a fighting chance. You never know what little tidbit of information could be the difference between money and mediocrity. Obviously, since I have never won money in my own pool in 13 tries, I have been the definition of mediocrity.
So I resolved this year to change things. I became more in touch with the Internet and all it has to offer (other than the obvious--get your mind out of the gutter for once). I scoured websites for those very tidbits of information which would finally bring me to prosperity in the very monstrosity I created.
In doing so, I came across three stories I thought you might be interested in. Read into these what you want but if we read the same things, you might just share in my wealth for Vegas Donation XIV.
So I resolved this year to change things. I became more in touch with the Internet and all it has to offer (other than the obvious--get your mind out of the gutter for once). I scoured websites for those very tidbits of information which would finally bring me to prosperity in the very monstrosity I created.
In doing so, I came across three stories I thought you might be interested in. Read into these what you want but if we read the same things, you might just share in my wealth for Vegas Donation XIV.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
