Blog Intro #3 - What We Know

Nothing. We know absolutely nothing. That's a good place to start.

I quit the blog. I was done. It was finished. For a good 15 minutes tonight, the previous three statements were true. I was as furious as Bob Knight during a solid chair toss as I watched the Pitt debacle, only I was not sporting a stylish polo shirt or knit sweater. I've followed this team all season and this is how they repay me? A shit-tastic performance at Providence? Going down less than 48 hours after being voted the #1 team in the country? I felt as if I had teleported back to 2005 and was watching a Carl Krauser led Panthers squad. There was no precedent from this season hinting at the possibility of a pathetic effort such as this. In EVERY SINGLE GAME the Pitt Panthers had played this season, they led by 10 points during the contest (yes, even in their two losses). It was INCONCEIVABLE that a scenario like this would play out. A Pitt loss while ranked number one? Sure...those things happen. But being down on the road by 18 at halftime after being labeled the nation's best? That my friends is ridiculous.

What was the point of the blog? Why go on? I don't want to see these upset highlights over and over again, let alone discuss the event rationally, let alone WRITE about it. Why suffer like that? My feelings could be summed up by a text Liz sent me after North Carolina fell to Maryland on Saturday: "It's too soon. I can't talk about it." Exactly.

And it is too soon. But curiously enough, I find myself writing about the Pitt upset at Providence. Why? Because that's what we do as fans. We move forward...always moving forward. The pain makes us sick. Losses deflate us. Upsets feel like a punch in the face. But there is always the next game...and if not the next game...the next season. No matter what happens with the stupid teams we root for based on whatever reasons we have to root for them...we're going to come back. We're going to cheer, swear, yell, bitch, and taunt. That's our role. As fans, that's what we're here to do. There is a lot of basketball left to be played. Victory and redemption are always around the corner. (In Pitt's case, that victory better come Saturday night at Seton Hall, or this blog really is over)

TURN RECORD OVER

I need these blog intros to be over...so with absolutely no transition, here are a few things that we kinda, sorta, might know about college basketball this season:

• The four best teams in the country are Pitt, North Carolina, UConn, and Oklahoma. There is a marked drop-off after this group with the next tier being Memphis, Michigan State, Louisville and an ACC team yet to be determined. BUT...the top four teams from this year are not as good as the top four teams from last year when all #1 seeds reached the final four. Each of these four teams have weaknesses and each of these four teams have shown they can lose at any time. Do not fill out a control bracket this year and expect to win you pool. (P.S. I guarantee I beat the control bracket in Phil's pool this year)
• The SEC and the PAC-10 stink. Here's a little exercise - Think about your team playing in the NCAA tournament. Now imagine that they just defeated some small school in the first round and are gearing up for their second round match-up against an unknown SEC or PAC-10 school. Now go through the list of every single team in those conferences that might make the tournament and find ONE team that you would be worried about. I'll wait. (downloading music and twittering about blogging while waiting) You finished? I DARE you to name me one team from either conference that you think your team could not beat.
• The Big 10 plays the most boring brand of basketball in the history of humankind. Penn State defeated Illinois 38-33 last week. That score really speaks for itself and I should stop there, but the fascinating thing is that Illinois was ranked #16 at the time and was playing at HOME!!! It was also the second time this season that Illinois failed to score 40 points in a game. Penn St. is much improved this year, but hardly a powerhouse. The Fighting Illini and the Big 10 should be embarrassed. Play the exercise from the point above with the Big 10 and see if you come across any scary teams besides Michigan St. Maybe Iowa could switch conferences so the Big 10 could actually be the Big 10 again. I'm only filling out a Big 10 Conference Tournament bracket this year because of principle...not because I'll enjoy it.
• The following individuals all have something in common: Oliver Purnell (Clemson), Trent Johnson (LSU), Leonard Hamilton (Florida State), Mike Anderson (Missouri), Craig Robinson (Oregon State), Jeff Capel (Oklahoma), and Lewis Jackson (Alabama State). What do these men have in common you ask? They are all GREAT college basketball head coaches.
• Nobody is officially in or out of the NCAA Tournament yet. I haven't been offered a large sum of money to sell-out this blog (yet), but I'm starting to wonder if I'd accept the offer should it present itself. (I TOTALLY would, but stay with me) The media is driving ME crazy...and that's saying something. I'm starting to realize that if one pays attention to something for long enough, it will eventually begin to dissolve one's brain. According to "analysts" and "experts" there are roughly 82 teams that are locks for the NCAA Tournament, with another 27 or so on the bubble. The 24 hour news cycle is truly maddening. I'm all for talking/complaining/bs'ing about sports, but come on members of the media...talk about strong teams from lesser known conferences, Jerry Wainwright's hair, or the lost art of the mid-range jump shot instead of relentlessly guessing bubble teams when all know things will really start to take shape next week. I'm Desmond Huntington and I'm in the NCAA Tournament. Thanks for reading.

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