A Continuing Story...

This blog brought to you by Raap Elleinad. Raap Elleinad, for all the times you need to be humbled in two weeks or less. Guaranteed to work four out of every five years. Money back if you are not completely humiliated before the Final Four.

"Artie?"

The voice sounded like an annoying mosquito that wouldn't go away.

"Artie!"

I typed the results furiously into the computer, knowing I only had seconds to spare.

"ARTIE!!!!"

Take Two (Or Give 9 If You Picked Louisville)

This blog brought to by Tripp's Wife. Tripp's Wife, for the times when you really want to watch college basketball and you need someone to remind you it's dinner time.

**Good start to both games. Finally, a #1 playing like a #1....Oklahoma is slowing it down and being effective.

**So much for slow being effective...the problem is "slow" doesn't get you ahead by enough to prevent a comeback. Sooners all of a sudden look bad--did Memphis just show up?

**Syracuse just doesn't have the flash they have had lately. If Oklahoma stays steady and doesn't let up again, they should win this. Tripp, are you done with dinner yet?

And they're off...

This blog brought to you by anyone who can understand what goes on in my mind. As soon as that person is identified, I'll collect the sponsorship money.

We'll we're off and UConn/Purdue appears to be the game of choice (not that anyone of us without Direct TV or a direct flight to Vegas had a choice). UConn is already covering the spread which is nice (if you into that thing for entertainment purposes).

If any one is actually reading this, I'll be making random sarcastic remarks all night. Feel free to comment and keep refreshing for updates.

Does Purdue really deserve to be here?

**Second tv timeout and UConn is getting bored. Purdue is shooting 3-pointers like there's 30 seconds left and they're down 6. Fortunately, none of that is happening.

**Watching the Xavier/Pitt score in the corner reminds me of watching college football in Iowa City at my brother's house when he was in college and we'd switch to Headline News for the sports report every :20 and :40 of the hour---and even those were not close to real time updates.

**Speaking of Pitt...isn't a little early for them to be bored?

**Purdue is lucky to be this close at half. UConn seriously looks like they could just turn it on at any point and win by 20

**Oh great, the DVR is getting ready to start taping two shows at once which means I have to switch to watching the games on-line. Earl and American Idol--I'm sure this crowd isn't into either one.

**Pitt is in danger of losing respect as a serious basketball team with this performance but if that happens, they'll end up pulling a "Memphis" and making the title game next year.

**Pitt redeems but doesn't cover the spread...that'll teach me for picking them yet again. Teaser still to go with Nova and Memphis. Memphis will screw me...trust me. And yes, Marty, I do like Earl. What you do watch? American's Next Top Model?

**For the record, I am watching The Office right now...did you know American arrogance got us into WWII? (copyright, Dwight).

**It is actually entertaining watching Raap freak out about the games. She's so nervous, she can barely stand to watch--funny thing is when she does watch, she's not sure what she's watching.

**There is only one thing better than watching Duke lose---and that team plays Gonzaga tomorrow night.

**Memphis goes down 10 towards the half. Raap starts softly sobbing (wonder what the second brain is doing).

**Raap finally asleep...she couldn't take any more. Villanova had a decent first half...a better second should put Duke away. Memphis is doing what Memphis does best...playing the pretender.

**Memphis needs to get out of Conference USA. They need to be better "battle-tested" by the time they get to the Dance. They just said their last loss was against Syracuse many moons ago which means that was the last time they played a team of any substance.

**Two best games tomorrow night and the Twin Cities gets neither. Oklahoma/Syracuse and Gonzaga/NC are far more interesting than Louisville/Arizona (double-digit blowout for sure) and Kansas versus the last Big Ten team, Michigan St. Seriously, I need Direct TV.

**This Duke game is ridiculous--Villanova is outhustling, out running and out "poising" them. Duke is usually the well-coached, cool as a cucumber squad but Villanova is outclassing thema s of the 11 minute mark.

**Maybe Memphis can make free throws to get back in it...that iron thud you heard was my comment getting shot down by a brick

**I can't believe Laettner is still making money off that shot. He was arrogant when he was with the Wolves calling every one of his teammates a loser to a newspaper reporter. Nothing has changed, trust me.

**Missouri wraps their 15 minutes in the sun--UConn will end it Saturday. I still can't get over Nova's pummeling of Duke...is it fair for me to be this happy over the misfortunes of others?

I Learned Something Today

This blog brought to you by the Timeout. The Timeout, for all the times someone drives uncontested for a layup to give their team a 2-point lead with .9 seconds left and you kind of want to set up a play to try and win it instead of heaving a one-handed 75-foot bomb the length of the court at the buzzer. The Timeout can be found any time a referee actually looks at you or hears you ask (also available at Piggly-Wiggly and Sam's Club--also comes in the Chris Webber technical size).

What did we learn this weekend?

1). Arizona is the lone double-digit seed in the Sweet 16--Is Cinderella dead?

Nope, just sleeping. Did everyone forget that two former Cinderellas, Xavier and Gonzaga, are in the Sweet 16? But since they have established major programs in the past five years, they are no longer considered the underdog. Much like it was inevitable that all #1 seeds would make the Final Four, it's inevitable that an underdog doesn't make the Sweet 16. You can't count Arizona because, much like Kentucky missing this year's Dance after 17 straight years, the "other" Wildcats are a failing program who will not even guarantee the current "interim" coach a permanent spot. This last hurrah is all part of the script. Besides, despite the lack of upsets, there were some pretty damn good games in the first two rounds, albeit ending in favor of the favorites. And Cleveland State, who only made the tournament by upsetting Butler in the championship of the Horizon League tournament beat West Virginia handily in the first round. Cinderella lives--she's just waiting until next year.

2). #1 seeds look shaky in opening round--a sign of vulnerability?

Normally, I would say no. Typically the #1's get bored pretty easily playing the dregs of the mid-majors and that coupled with a super size effort from a team with a lot of heart and nothing to lose makes for an interesting time in the first round. But Pittsburgh looked shaky against East Tennessee State right after losing early in the Big East tournament to the same West Virginia team who was upended by the ever dangerous Dayton Flyers in the first round of the tournament. Even though Oklahoma State "gave them a scare" in the second round, Okie State hasn't exactly set the world on fire this year. Forget their Big 12 tourney win against Oklahoma. Florida State beat North Carolina in the ACC tournament and that meant nothing when faced with the menacing Badgers from Wisconsin. The moral of the story? Pittsburgh goes down to Xavier on Thursday.

3). Duke and North Carolina make it to the Sweet 16. Again. Yaawwwnnnn!

And Villanova and Gonzaga await. At least one of the ESPN love children will fall in the Sweet 16. Let's pray to the gypsy piss hex god that it's both.

4). Raap Elleinad is in third after two rounds of the pool.

Let the suicide watch commence!

5). Timeout? What timeout?

By now, everyone knows the story. Gonzaga scores an uncontested layup with .9 seconds left on Saturday night, the coach and at least one player from Western Kentucky called for a timeout but the Hilltoppers inbounded the ball anyway and the 75-foot prayer was off the mark. Did Western Kentucky get screwed by the refs on Saturday night? Who cares? What that less than a second solidified was the undisciplined play that WK has shown in the tournament the last two years. In a last second OT win against Drake last year, WK won with a hail mary 3 off a last second inbound but had blown a 16-point lead late in the game that led to OT. In their win against Illinois in the first round, again with game in hand late, they blew a 15-point lead with 3:27 left and held on for the 4-point win. Yes, this is a sign of resiliency that they could hang on after blowing leads in the NCAA tournament. But undisciplined teams are most vulnerable to blowing these leads--and undisciplined teams do not think about leaving the basketball on the end line in the last second of the game to give their coach a chance to call the timeout.

Unless they're really, really good at 75-foot jumpers.

Peace,

Reg

Twas the Night Before Madness

This blog brought to you by Jay Bilas. Jay Bilas, great for when you need an ill-informed blowhard ex-Dukie to back-up your overrated major against a more deserving mid-major using bad logic.

T'was the night before Madness
And all through the house
There was myriad snoring
The second head and the spouse

The television was on
The NIT playing loud
I was watching the Hoyas
Do the betting line proud

My brackets not done
Not sure what to do
I reach in the fridge
For another fresh brew

Back in control
Things coming in view
I just can't bet again
On the Zags and their Few

The Pac 10, the Big 10
I like them the least
Could it really end up the
Final Four's the Big East?

UConn might do it
And possibly Pitt
But a team like the Sooners
Is there a better fit?

I'm distracted by noise
from the HD I look south
and start wishing Jay Bilas
would just shut his mouth

Which reminds me of why
I want to gag and to puke
every time I consider
either Carolina or Duke

Too many upsets
I'm guessing too much
My wife, daughter and dog
I'm going to lose to the bunch

I'm starting to panic
I'm losing my psych
Is this really what
Turning 40 feels like

Deep breaths start to come
I'm starting to pull through it
With enough time to finish
Just before I get lit

The last lines are done
My national champ has been added
The games are tomorrow
My walls should be padded

To my knees I fall down
And invoking God's name
I pray like hell Northern Iowa
wins just one game

And "Yes" I exclaimed
Er I finished the beer
It just doesn't matter
There's always next year

Peace,
Reg