Villanova 78, Pittsburgh 76

(Three of the best players in Pitt history, and the scapegoat)

I've officially had enough time to digest the premature end to Pitt's season. It hurt. It stung. It sucked. But I have to move forward. The comments sections are getting nasty...and demanding my thoughts and opinions on the Panther's heart-breaking loss to Villanova last Saturday. To appease the masses, and to help the healing process, here are a few of my thoughts about the demise of the best Pitt basketball team I've ever witnessed.

• There were two moments when I thought Pitt "had" the game won: 1) When they were up by 4 and had the ball with 3:05 to play, and 2) When Villanova turned the ball over on the home-run inbound pass, Levance Fields got fouled, and with ice in his veins...sunk the two clutch free throws that tied the game. As I told Phil during our halftime phone call, I was never 100% confident in Pitt winning the game. But during those two moments, my mind wandered on the hope that Pitt was about to reach the Final Four for the first time in their history. As we know, it wasn't meant to be. This is the epitome of why Panther fans dream of the best, but constantly prepare (emotionally) for the worst.
• I discovered that...when one is emotionally invested in a particular team...it is nearly impossible to realize THAT team is in the midst of a "classic" game. I have the awareness to realize I'm watching a "great" or "classic" game when my team isn't involved. (Such as the Memphis/Kansas title game last year, or the UNC/Michigan title game in 1993) But I do NOT have the awareness (or composure) to notice this when Pitt is playing. At no point during the Villanova game did I think to myself, "Wow...this is a great game! It's probably the best game of the tournament to date! The deciding bucket will be shown during One Shining Moment and haunt me for years!" To me...it was just a game where Pitt was battling their hearts out to achieve something the program had never achieved before. I believe that emotional investments prohibit one to exist outside themselves and realize the magnitude of what's going on in the present...and it's lasting imprint on the future.
  
• Jermain Dixon had a really good year for the Panthers. He was Pitt's best on-the-ball defender and will be a crucial part of their success next season. With that being said, I need to throw him under the bus for a moment. If Dixon hadn't made 2 mistakes (one mistake actually having four parts), I wonder if we'd be talking about Pitt's first trip to the Final Four this week. First...when Pitt was up 4 with three minutes left, Dixon and Fields were playing catch in the back court to advance on the Villanova press. For reasons that defy logic, Dixon: 1) took the ball across the timeline (center court), 2) picked up his dribble, 3) turned the ball over, and 4) fouled Dwayne Anderson as he was in the midst of making a layup. Ug. A basketball player is taught IN SEVENTH GRADE to NOT take the ball over the timeline and pick up their dribble! The errors after that were the wonderful snowball effect of frustration. His second mistake occurred on the last play of the game. Dixon's responsibility on the play we've all seen 1,000 times by now was to 1) Deny Scottie Reynolds the ball, and if he couldn't do that, 2) Deny Scottie Reynolds from running north/south up the court. Unfortunately, Dixon allowed Reynolds to receive the ball cleanly (and with full momentum) on a classic triangle-based soccer play. Reynolds streaked up the court and the rest was Pitt and Villanova history. I like you Jermain. I just need to get this out. It's therapeutic.
• What makes college basketball great is the same thing that makes it suck. If you're lucky, you get to watch your team's players for 4 years. You get to watch these kids come in as flawed freshmen and develop into players with specific skills and endearing personalities. Sometimes...we have to be happy watching a player for just a season or two. College basketball is permanent and temporary...endearing and disappointing...familiar and brand new all at the same time. This is what makes it so great. This is what makes it suck. I'm going to miss the hell out of Sam Young and Levance Fields. It seems like those two have been starting on Pitt's squad forever. I can't envision watching a Pitt game next season where I don't have Young's ridiculous pump-fake to look forward to. You're telling me I can no longer watching Fields move around the court like a bowling ball dishing out sweet passes and taking ballsey 3-pointers at the end of a close game? Sigh. And let's PLEASE not bring up the fact that Dejuan Blair might jump ship and declare for the NBA draft. I can't deal with that right now. I've started to love his passion, his intensity, his Hines Ward'esque smiling, his rebounding dominance, and Bill Raftery's references to his derriere. This was the best Pitt team I've ever had the privilege of watching. College basketball is a cruel mistress. It giveth...and it taketh away.
  
• I have to give credit to the Villanova Wildcats and I have to give credit to Matt. They won. His team won. That team is both skilled and scrappy. They were physical and demonstrated finesse at the same time. They made a TON of difficult/clutch shots. Pitt tried to punch them in the mouth over and over again and they never wavered. If these teams played a 10-game series, I believe each would win 5 times. This was a classic Great Eight game. Jamie Dixon and Jay Wright's squads provided an outstanding match-up. Someone had to win, someone had to lose. These kinds of cliches could only come from someone on the losing end. Props to you Matt. It's right here in writing...for the world (or at least 10 people you don't really know) to see.
• Hey...at least Gary McGhee didn't enter the game.
• I took no notice of what the coaches were wearing during this game. Perhaps their attire had something to do with the outcome. (Annie...I'm opening a window for you here!)
  
• After a sloppy performance in the Pitt/Xavier game, I thought that Verne Lundquist acquitted himself nicely in this one. Bill Raftery, of course, remains the consummate professional.
• Just to say it before they're gone: Dejuan Blair - 20 points (9-9 from the field!) and 10 rebounds, Sam Young - 28 points and 7 rebounds, Levance Fields - 6 assists and 0 turnovers. Like I said, I'm gonna miss these guys.
• I think that about does it. This is my Pitt/Villanova recap. Please feel free to contribue comments concerning this "classic" Great Eight game. Pitt had an oustanding season. Villanova prevailed on this night and reached the Final Four. It hurt. It stung. It sucked. But this is what being a fan is all about.

0201

Seth Curry Transfers To Duke (Seriously)

(Is Seth not blatantly palming the ball here?)

Adding to the Curry family's already monumental mystique, Seth Curry has decided to transfer to the Duke Blue Devils. After leading the nation in freshman scoring, Curry decided that the competition he faced as a Liberty Flame was not up to par with his abilities. The word on the street was that Seth wanted to transfer to an ACC school in his home state of North Carolina. It looks like he was successful on both counts. Could Seth have chosen a more polarizing program than Duke? Not likely. Apparently Curry's father (former NBA player Dell Curry) was a big part of Seth's transfer process, telling the Associated Press: "Coach K kept telling him the timing couldn't be better, there'll be plenty of opportunities to contribute." Just wait until Curry gets his shot at Seth Greenberg and the Virginia Tech Hokies in ACC play. Seth will be eligible to play for Duke during the 2010-2011 season, following his redshirt year.

Stephen Curry was unavailable for comment.

0201

Predictions for Sunday's Great Eight Games

(POY Candidates: Tyler Hansbrough & Blake Griffin)

Better late than never with these picks. Not that there's anything else to discuss.

Michigan State over Louisville

Reasons:

• I'm tired of picking against the Big 10.
• If a certain Big East team seeded No. 1 can't reach the Final Four, I don't want all the other Big East teams seeded No. 1 to make it there.
• People LOVE talking about how good of a coach Tom Izzo is...this will give those people another opportunity to gush.
  
• The Spartans can slow down anybody with their sleep-inducing Big 10 style of play. Including Louisville. I think.
• I couldn't end up picking all the #1 seeds to reach the Final Four. That would just be boring.
• Confidence in this pick: 5.1

North Carolina over Oklahoma

Reasons:

• If North Carolina wins, this blog will be much more fun over the next week.
• I'll take Roy Williams over Jeff Capel in the coaching match-up please.
• Again...do you really think that sports fans are done hearing about Tyler Hansbrough? This is going to continue for another week folks. Not much you can do about it.
• In college sports...especially basketball...all-round skill ends up winning 9 out of 10 times. I'm sorry...but UNC just has the most talent of any team in this tournament. For instance, have I mentioned my love of Mega Star Ty Lawson lately?
  
• I don't want certain followers of this blog to kill me.
• Confidence in this pick: 8.8

0201

Predictions for Saturday's Great Eight Games

(One more win guarantees me an expensive-ass suit!)

I went a measly 2/4 yesterday...bringing my Sweet Sixteen totals to a very average 5 of 8. Today is all about the Pitt vs. Villanova game. This game is so good for the blog. Who would have guessed that Matt's Villanova team would be squaring off with Pitt for the right to go to the Final Four? I could not have scripted things better myself. Let's enjoy this monumental occasion. Someone will have HUGE bragging rights by the end of the day.

Connecticut over Missouri

Reasons:

• Like I said before...you think that a mere "recruiting scandal" is going to keep Jim Calhoun and the Huskies down? That's only going to piss coach off more! To quote Calhoun when asked about knowing NCAA recruiting rules: "Do you think every NCAA investigator knows what's in every one of those 508 pages?" Jim Calhoun does not have time to worry about rules...he's too busy winning NCAA Tournament games!!!
  
• I'll take UConn's senior leadership in A.J. Price, along with the Huskies' size advantage over Missouri's run-and-gun speed.
• Two weeks ago, after selection Sunday, everyone was sleeping on this UConn team...thinking that they were all but guaranteed to be the first No. 1 seed to go down. This is the classic reverse-bandwagon effect in action. Everyone thought they were vulnerable, the program is under recruiting allegations, Coach Calhoun is a cocky jerk, etc. These are the teams that piss everyone off by continuing to win.
• I think there may be a chance that Missouri is a little physically and emotionally exhausted after their big "upset" win over Memphis. They ran Memphis out of the building, scored over 100 points, and defeated a team that many had going to the Final Four. They might just be a little tired.
• Big East over Big 12. I just have to do it.
• Confidence in this Pick: 7.2

Pittsburgh over Villanova

Reasons:

• Do I really have to give reasons? I'm rooting for Pitt to make their first EVER Final Four appearance. This should be obvious to everyone. There will be no objectivity what-so-ever taking place here. This is blatant homer'ism...and I'm not ashamed. I'm worried that both teams are playing with house money right now. I'm worried that Villanova defeated Pitt during their only meeting during the regular season. I'm worried that Pitt hasn't played their best game in the NCAA Tournament...yet. This should be a great one. I'm nervous as hell. Go Pit!
• Confidence in this pick: N/A

0201

PITT REACHES THE ELITE EIGHT

(Levance "I shoot 90% with under 2 minutes to play" Fields)

Before whatever happens today actually happens...I needed to post something that would stand the test of time. The Pitt Panthers reached the Elite Eight for the first time in my lifetime by defeating Xavier on Thursday. My scream is still echoing from when Levance Fields hit that 3-pointer with under a minute remaining. I needed to post something simple, yet very important, that noted the accomplishment of this outstanding squad. What a season...31 victories, their first ever #1 ranking in the polls, defeating the #1 team in the country twice, and earning their first #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Pitt has finally reached the Elite Eight. Let's see what happens next.

0201

Predictions For Friday's Sweet Sixteen Games

(Who will prove to be "the man" in the UNC/Gonzaga game?)

I went 3 of 4 in my predictions for last night's sweet sixteen games...not to shabby. Let's crank out the rest of these things so people can post their predictions (and rants) by game time.

Louisville over Arizona

Reasons:

• I'll be taking Rick Pitino (and the occasional white suit) over Arizona interim head coach, Russ Pennell, any day of the week. Pitino knows this is one of the best teams he'll ever have. He's not going to screw it up by losing to a No. 12 seed.
• Staying with the Coach Pitino theme...he has an all-time record of 8-0 in Sweet Sixteen games.
• Much has been made about Arizona's "big three" of Nic Wise, Chase Budinger, and Jordan Hill...who could all end up being NBA draft picks this year. But this group of talent couldn't help them roll through Pac 10 conference play? A league where no other teams but Arizona reached the Sweet Sixteen? Please.
• Louisville has Terrence Williams, arguably the player that should have been co-Big East Player of the Year along with Dejuan Blair (and not Hasheem Thabeet). He does everything for the Cardinals (24 points and 15 rebounds in the Siena game).
• The Big East is proving it's dominance...already 3 teams in the Great Eight. If you think I'm picking a Pac 10 team over a Big East team, you haven't been reading this blog.
• Confidence in this pick: 9.5

Syracuse over Oklahoma

Reasons:

• At this point, I'm just choosing every Big East squad to reach the Great Eight. I'm not even settling for 4 Big East schools moving on to the next round. I want all 5!!!
• Jonny Flynn and Eric Devendorf should be able to manhandle the guards from Oklahoma. It then comes down to Paul Harris, Arinze Onuaku, and Rick Jackson slowing down Blake Griffin enough to throw him off his game.
• Oklahoma head coach Jeff Caple has done a good job this year, and he should be a good to great coach for years to come. But he's still relatively new to the scene, and I'm going with the savvy, experienced Jim Calhoun to out-coach and win in this match-up.
• I have visions of Syracuse's infamous 2-3 zone giving the Oklahoma guards and wing players fits. I don't really have any proof to back this up. But I can just picture it happening.
• Blake Griffin is an outstanding player. But Eric Devendorf and the Syracuse Orange need to stick around a little longer for the sake of this blog.
• Confidence in this pick: 6.4

Kansas over Michigan State

Reasons:

• How ironic is this? Bill Self and I were involved in an epic blood feud for most of last year's tournament (blog). Now I'm back picking the guy I don't trust at ALL to advance to the Great Eight? Peculiar.
• DON'T TRUST THE BIG TEN! DON'T TRUST THE BIG TEN! DON'T TRUST THE BIG TEN! DON'T TRUST THE BIG TEN!
  
• Tyler Hansbrough and Josh Heytvelt will be getting all of the big man attention in the UNC/Gonzaga game. But Cole Aldrich of Kansas might just be the best (white) big man in the country right now. He's coming off consecutive double-doubles in his first two NCAA tournament games, including 20 rebounds against Dayton.
• MSU head coach Tom Izzo has the track record to trust him in these kinds of situations. However, the Spartans SHOULD have lost to USC in the second round and were thoroughly outplayed for a half against a scrappy Robert Morris squad.
• Much like rock, paper scissors...when playing college basketball knockout: Big East > Big 12 > Horizon League > Big Ten.
• Confidence in this pick: 7.6

North Carolina over Gonzaga

Reasons:

• Ummm...I need North Carolina to keep winning (for at least two more rounds) to continue dominating my NCAA pools.
• Does anyone in America honestly (and I mean HONESTLY) think that Tyler Hansbrough's career is going to come to an end before the Final Four? Honestly? He's seemingly been around forever! It's not going to come to an end in a regional semi-final. My apologies to all of the UNC haters out there, but it's not going to happen.
• If Ty Lawson proved what he can do on a bad toe in the second half of that LSU game, Gonzaga should be terrified of what he can do with a few more days rest.
• I wish Gonzaga was in another region because it would be quite fun to root for this team to advance. They have a bunch of characters on this team including point guard Jeremy Pargo (who has also seemingly been around forever) and the man with the dreamy locks, Matt Bouldin.
• Coach Roy Williams against Coach Mark Few...a definite win...but also much closer than you'd originally think. But ACC vs. WCC...that's a blatant mismatch.
• Confidence in this pick: 9.9

0201

Predictions For Thursday's Sweet Sixteen Games

(Writing poetry & slamming dunks all the way to the Great Eight)

I'm actually doing well in some of my pools this year, but I'm still going to make things interesting and informative by predicting the rest of the games from here on out.

Connecticut over Purdue

Reasons:

• Jim Calhoun is like teflon...if you think something as small as a "recruiting scandal" is going to knock him off his game, you're crazy. A similar situation destroyed the Indiana Hoosier program, but it's only going to piss Coach Calhoun off and make the team stronger.
  
• UConn has arguably been the best team in the tournament so far, steamrolling their way through the first two rounds. They're doing a great job as the "underdog" after being labeled the most "vulnerable" No. 1 seed.
• I have a sneaking suspicion the nation is not done hearing about Hasheem Thabeet. Not to mention, A.J. Price is really really good.
• It's Big East over the Big 10. It doesn't take a astro-physicist to get this one correct.
• I couldn't name you a single Purdue player other than Robbie Hummel. And I'M the one that's been obsessed with college hoops for the past 5 weeks.
• The Boilermakers definitely win the mascot battle over the Huskies, but I have to go with the #1 seed here. There are at least 1.6 million reasons to like them against Purdue.
• Confidence in this pick: 9.2

Pittsburgh over Xavier

Reasons:

• It's only been four days since this match-up has been set, but I've already been reminded that Xavier Coach Sean Miler used to play for the Panthers roughly 25,000 times. For some reason, I'm angrier at Xavier for hiring him than I am at Pitt for recruiting him. Enough of this story already!!!
• Oklahoma State hung with Pitt athletically, but eventually lost because they were grossly undersized (and they stink). Xavier is neither athletic OR big. The only way they can win is to "out-Pitt" Pitt. And that's not gonna happen with Sam Young and Dejuan Blair in the mix.
• Xavier lost to Duquesne. I mean...I have Pittsburgh pride here...but Duquesne? Really Musketeers? Sean Miller is a "great" coach and you lost to the Dukes? You're better than that.
• I'll take the Big East over the A-10 EVERY SINGLE TIME! OK...maybe not DePaul over anyone, but I'll take the Big East over the A-10 EVERY SINGLE OTHER TIME!
• By choosing the Panthers, I'm going against some blog trends. I'm picking against the Jesuit institution, which means I could potentially be going against God. By not going with Xavier, I'm also saying that Liz & Emily's grandmother's favorite team is going to lose. So there are possible karma issues involved (such as losing another closely contested NCAA pool...or being hated on). But these reasons will not deter me, for we are all Pitt Panther fans today!!!
• This Pitt team is a team of destiny. And by destiny, I mean that they're going to reach the Great Eight for the first time in my lifetime. We're gonna see it happen Phil. This team is too talented. It's GOING to happen! (I typed this whole point with one hand, so I could cross my fingers with the other hand. No jinx going on here)
• Confidence in this pick: 8.1

Missouri over Memphis

Reasons:

• Don't really have any legitimate reasons for this pick. I'm shamelessly rooting for Missouri because an "upset" win by them helps me out in a lot of my brackets. And I can earn way more bragging rights by excelling in my brackets than I can by randomly predicting a team to win on this blog.
  
• If you desperately NEED a reason...Missouri is the one team that can run and actually keep up with Memphis. This is a good Memphis team but not the one that made the national championship game last season. If a team can come out early, punch them in the mouth, run with them, and not back down...they're going to be in trouble. And I think that trouble finds them tonight in the form of Missouri (coached by the outstanding Mike Anderson).
• Confidence in this pick: 5.4

Duke over Villanova

Reasons:

• I honestly have no idea who to pick here. This is as even a match-up as one could hope to find in the sweet sixteen. Should be a great one.
• Big East vs. ACC? Very evenly matched. This is why we watch college basketball. Can't find an edge here.
• Coach K vs. Jay Wright? Well Wright obviously wins that match-up if fashion sensibilities were the only criteria. There are a lot of Coach K "haters" out there, but the truth of the matter is, his track record is a little more beefy and established than Jay Wright's.
• Duke wins the battle of most awkward looking white players. But I'm not so sure that "win" isn't more of a loss.
• Neither team has been overly impressive...with Villanova getting a scare from American in the first round, and Duke going down to the wire with Texas in round two.
• If I went with Villanova to win here, it would just look like I was pandering to Matt. I'm choosing to avoid that appearance. But please, please, please, please, please.....don't for one second think that I like the Duke Blue Devils.
• I don't even know which of these two teams I'd want Pitt to face in the Great Eight. But back to the jinxing thing, I'm getting WAY ahead of myself here.
• Confidence in this pick: 0.0 (totally a 50/50 propsition)

0201

Announcers For The Sweet Sixteen Games

(Bring on the upsets so I can scream!!!)

Keeping you up to date on the tournament's announcing duos is one of the most important responsibilities of this blog. For the sweet sixteen...fans of Louisville, Arizona, Kansas, and Michigan State won the Gus Johnson sweepstakes. Bill Raftery will be doing the Pitt game again, which has me feeling really good. However, there has been an undercurrent of Verne Lundquist "hating", which I hope to explore further in the near future. Villanova fans also get the Raftery/Lundquist combo. North Carolina fans get CBS's #1 team of Jim Nantz and Clark Kellogg. Tar Heel nation (and EVERYONE else) can rejoice in the fact that Billy Packer isn't Nantz's partner this year. There are some great match-ups here along with some great announcing teams. Let's get ready for more madness!

Thursday, March 26th

• Connecticut vs. Purdue (Glendale, 7pm)- Dick Enberg, Jay Bilas
  
• Pittsburgh vs. Xavier (Boston, 7:30pm)- Verne Lundquist, Bill Raftery
  
• Memphis vs. Missouri (Glendale, 9:30pm)- Dick Enberg, Jay Bilas
  
• Duke vs. Villanova (Boston, 9:30pm)- Verne Lundquist, Bill Raftery

Friday, March 27th

• Louisville vs. Arizona (Indianapolis, 7pm)- Gus Johnson, Len Elmore
  
• Oklahoma vs. Syracuse (Memphis, 7:30pm)- Jim Nantz, Clark Kellogg
  
• Kansas vs. Michigan State (Indianapolis, 9:30pm)- Gus Johnson, Len Elmore
  
• North Carolina vs. Gonzaga (Memphis, 10pm)- Jim Nantz, Clark Kellogg

0201

John 3:16 Guy From The Ohio St./Siena Game

For those of you who stayed up late Friday night to watch the Ohio State/Siena double-overtime thriller, you may have noticed a fan behind the Siena bench flaunting a "John 3:16" sign. I remember finding it amusing at the time because it was such an absurd throw-back to the 80's and early 90's. Apparently....a security guard at the University of Dayton Arena did not find the sign so amusing, as you'll see in the following clip. Watch for the guard coming in from the left around the 12 second mark. So much for freedom of speech/religion. Let the conservative conspiracy theories begin!!!

0201

Best Dressed Coaches w/ Steve Lavin

The best dressed coaches in college basketball is a topic that has largely been ignored in this year's blog. With the Sweet Sixteen nearly upon us, we need to step up our game. Annie...I'm looking to you for some outstanding insights and information in this all-too-important area of March Madness. To get things rolling, here is Steve Lavin talking about sharply dressed coaches, as well as his own style over the years. Does the ex-UCLA coach deserve to be an authority on fashion? You tell me.

0201

Pitt vs. ETSU Running Diary w/ Tangents

(Number 1 seed? It's about damn time!)

Last season, I kept a running diary of Pitt's opening round game against Oral Roberts (Oh Oral! How I miss thee!). The problem was...the game was not that captivating, as Pitt won in a blowout. I figure I'll slightly alter the gimmick this year. I'll keep a running diary of the game...but I'll hardly be focused on the game...allowing for my thoughts on the tournament's first day and a half, commentaries about coaches and commercials, along with updates about who I'm talking to on the phone and how my brackets are doing. Sound like a plan? Sounds like something at least.

(Comments for the Pitt game will be preceded by the time...all other comments will be marked by bullet points. That way...you can easily read either/or, both, or neither if you so choose)

Here we go. #1 Pitt vs. #16 ETSU to open Pitt's run in the East region. Let's make it happen this year! (I'm not sure what I mean by "it")

3:05 pm - Dejuan Blair wins the opening tip back to Levance Fields. Bill Raftery says, "Verne Lundquist...Eastern Tennessee State goes...MANTAMAN"! Everything is right in the world.

3:08 pm - Raftery makes his first "derriere" reference of the day. I think I'll be keeping a running count of this. Tyrell Biggs makes a 3-pointer for Pitt. He's surprisingly good for one of those a game. Pitt 6, ESTU 5.

• Has anyone else noticed how these NCAA Tournament games have been grossly under attended? It's really absurd. The Portland region has been the worst. There were so many empty blue seats during that Gonzaga/Akron game last night. There is NO ONE at the Temple/Arizona St. game right now. This has to have something to do with the weak-ass economy, right? This Pitt game in Dayton is no different. Plenty of good seats available.

3:16 pm - Apparently country music star Kenny Chesney attended ETSU. Don't know how that applies to Pitt's chances. The Panthers have committed 4 turnovers and look lazy. Pitt 11, ETSU 11.

• Pitt is doing what they do all-to-well, playing down to their competition in the first half. I need to divert my attention. As CJS has mentioned, check out Club Trillion, a blog by Ohio State bench player Mark Titus. It's titled Club Trillion because when he gets into a game, his line in the box score is 1 (for minutes played), followed by a BUNCH of zeros.

3:37 pm - After two missed free-throws by Blair, Pitt only leads by two. The fact Bill Raftery is calling this game can't even make me feel better right now. The UConn/Chattanooga game yesterday was close for the first 15 minutes, right? UConn ended up winning by 50 of course. 10 turnovers for Pitt and were not even at the half! Pitt 22, ETSU 20.

3:39 pm - Blair gets called for a technical for "hanging on the rim" after a dunk! Maybe he did a little bit of a chin-up on the play but COME ON! Both Raftery and Lundquist don't agree with the call. Coach Jamie Dixon is furious...either at the officials or at Blair. Dixon's hair, however, remains slicked back and in position. Pitt 24, ETSU 22.

3:41 pm - Bob sends me a text that simply reads, "BULLSHIT!!!" He immediately sends me another text saying, "Let's have a sporting event text chat like (Bill) Simmons and his buddies! I wanna make the blog!" Well Bob...you just did.

3:48 pm - Raftery, "Pitt has not put their imprint on this game." Couldn't have put it better myself sir. Pitt 24, ETSU 22.

• The best games so far have been #11 VCU's one-point loss to #6 UCLA, #11 Utah State's one-point loss to #6 Marquette, and #12 Western Kentucky's smack-down of #5 Illinois. I think the NCAA Tournament selection committee isn't going to make the mistake of giving WKU a #12 seed anymore.

3:55 pm - Pitt makes ANOTHER turnover...giving them 13 in the first half. I'm not panicking yet, but I'm definitely sick in my stomach. ETSU makes a last second layup to end the half that is then taken away after review. This is disgusting. Embarrassing. I need a cigarette Pitt 26, ETSU 23.

4:07 pm - Just talked to Phil during halftime. He's not nearly as confident as I am right now. Pitt's going to win...it's just a matter of if they win by 5-10 points or more than 20. They need to dominate and pull away, not for the fans, but for themselves. This is excruciating.

• Tournament Tattoo Update - The one guy from American U. had some ridiculous ink on his bicep, the explanation of which couldn't be determined. The tattoos of the tournament have to go to the boys from Northern Iowa. Lots of white guys with lots of ink. This prompted my dad to comment, "Tattoos on white guys just don't look good". I don't know if this means he thinks they look good on black guys, or he doesn't think they look good on anyone. Love ya pops!

4:18 pm - The second half gets underway. I really hope Jamie Dixon tore the boys a new one in the locker room during halftime. I'm wondering where my level of frustration will be in 5 minutes, 15 minutes, 30 minutes, etc.

4:20 pm - Jermaine Dixon takes a long bomb outlet pass...misses the layup...gets his own rebound, and misses the put-back. ETSU rebounds. At no point during that entire sequence did any Pitt player enter the screen to come down and help Dixon out. What the hell is going on?!?

4:23 pm - Bob sends me another text, "For cryin' out loud...they (Pitt) look like Bobby Mo (Robert Morris) in the (NEC) title game! Hey-oh!" Bob just got all of his labels taken away.

4:26 pm - I love how they have to break out the whole "no #16 seed has ever defeated a No. 1 seed" thing. The attempt to jinx the Panthers is officially on!

4:29 pm - CJS just texted me - "What the fuck?!?!" Why do I feel this growing momentum against Pitt? The crowd in Dayton is certainly pulling for the upset. Pitt 35, ETSU 33.

4:34 pm - Shot of Coach Dixon sitting down on the Pitt bench with his face buried in his hands. This sums up today's events perfectly. Pitt 39, ETSU 38.

4:37 pm - Lundquist keeps calling Sam Young "Wanamaker"...in reference to Panther guard Brad Wanamaker. Anything is going to piss me off at this point. Pitt 40, ETSU 40.

4:46 pm - When I did the running diary of Pitt's victory over Oral Roberts last year...it was a party...every player was contributing, smiles were all around. This is the complete opposite of that experience. ETSU just threw down a dunk. Blah. Pitt 46, ETSU 44.

4:52 pm - Sam Young misses his billionth layup of the game...Blair gets two offensive rebounds and finally makes the basket, giving Pitt it's first 5 point lead in an eternity. They just need to score 15 more unanswered points to PUSH the spread of 20. Pitt 50, ETSU 45.

4:55 pm - Young makes his second 3-pointer in the last couple of minutes. Things are a little more encouraging than they were before. Also, Fields looks like he's playing at about 60%, maybe I'm looking for excuses.....but he doesn't look like the Levance Fields we Pitt fans know and love. Pitt 58, ETSU 52.

5:01 pm - A bunch of bullshit just happened underneath Pitt's basket. I can't talk or type rationally right now. Pitt 59, ETSU 57.

5:06 pm - CBS holds a gun to Lundquist's head and makes him read the "no #16 seed has ever beaten a No. 1" fact again. I hate CBS right now. Pitt 62, ETSU 57.

5:09 pm - Pitt's going to win, as I said at halftime, but this win isn't going to feel good at all. Ashton Gibbs just hit a 3-pointer...followed by an ETSU layup. It's all but over...but I'm still feeling sick. Pitt 67, ETSU 61.

5:12 pm - College hoops are SO about confidence and momentum. Pitt came out lazy and entitled, once ETSU felt they could hang with the Panthers...the complexion of the game changed completely. Give a team confidence and they'll believe they can do anything. Pitt 70, ETSU 62.

5:16 pm - The "game" is finally over. I'm going to need to drink a lot tonight. This was horrible. I can't wait to hear from everyone busting my balls over this disaster. Hopefully this is what Pitt needs to wake up and realize that a No. 1 seed is earned and not given. They have to go out and PLAY like a No. 1 seed. I pray this scared them shitless. I have nothing more to say right now. Final Score: Pitt 72, ETSU 62.

0201

First Day of the Tournament - I Need Sleep

(Western Kentucky pulls off another 12 over a 5 seed upset)

Day one of the NCAA Tournament is in the books. My brackets are doing surprisingly well, thanks in large part to having complete confidence in Maryland and Western Kentucky after I saw their first round match-ups. No big surprises to speak of. There is stuff to discuss, like the heavily tattooed white guys on Northern Iowa and the cardiac episodes induced by Memphis early on in the day. But I'll get to those things later. Right now...I desperately need to sleep for more than 4 hours. This will be the first time in a long while. In the mean time, please feel free to leave some comments about your thoughts on the first day of the tournament or anything else you'd like to rant about. I'd love to hear from anybody and everybody as we move towards the weekend. This blog is a blog of the people after all. Day two of the madness is a mere 9 hours away.

0201

A Musical Guide To The NCAA's Top Six Seeds

(Pittsburgh's Finest - Gregg Gillis, aka: Girl Talk, Mashing Up Basketball & Flowers)

I'm all for writing gimmicks...so I figured why not combine two things I'm interested in: music and college basketball. I will now attempt to break down the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds in this year's NCAA Tournament by associating them with a band and song, that I find appropriate from the very recent past. Be prepared for subjectivity the likes of which you've never seen! Let's get this thing underway as we're dangerously close to tip off. As always, rock 'n' roll.

Pittsburgh Panthers - #1 East

• Band/Album: Girl Talk - Feed The Animals
• Key Lyric: Too many notable lines to choose a single one. Just like Panthers have too many outstanding qualities to merely point out a couple. But if I have to choose a lyric, why not this one: "Now YOU...I'm jocking on you, I'm jocking on you. And if we get ta fightin' then I'm cocking on you, I'm cocking on you." - Don't Stop
• Public Perception: The Pitt Panthers and Girl Talk have given the city of Pittsburgh credibility in areas where they had not previously received honors or respect. Both come at you for (roughly) 40 minutes without stopping, demanding your complete focus, attention, and energy. The two have similar devoted fan bases...developed over years of understated notoriety. Both are also ridiculously entertaining.
• Eventual Outcome: This year's Pitt squad is the direct result of a decade's worth of program-building, recruiting, dedication, ignoring player's minor run-ins with the law, and hard work. The Panthers are built and suited for their first Final Four run ever. Girl Talk's success is the direct result of relentless touring and relentlessly perfecting the art of the mash-up. Every artist of a similar ilk from here-on-out will owe a HUGE debt of gratitude to Gregg Gillis for paving the way.
• Optional Applicable Song: Famous For Nothing - Dropkick Murphys

North Carolina Tar Heels - #1 South

• Band/Album: Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
• Key Lyric: "And I told you to be patient, and I told you to be fine, and I told you to be balanced, and I told you to be kind" - Skinny Love
  
• Public Perception: North Carolina has been patient through a preseason filled with hype, and a regular season where they could only play down to those monumental expectations. As President Obama said, the Tar Heels are balanced...and that's why he liked them. They are also "fine", in the sense that Mega Star Ty Lawson's game is fine whenever he's on the court without a big toe injury. Um...the state of North Carolina and Bon Iver's music could both be called rustic at times?
  
• Eventual Outcome: Both North Carolina and Bon Iver should thrive...as long as they can avoid random debilitating setbacks. That would be Ty Lawson's big toe for the Tar Heels and Justin Vernon actually finding a long-term fulfilling relationship for Bon Iver.
• Optional Applicable Song: Raise Up (The North Carolina Song) - Petey Pablo

Connecticut Huskies - #1 West

• Band/Album: Lil Wayne - Tha Carter III
• Key Lyric: "A mili, a mili, a mili, a mili, a-mil, a-mil, a mili, a mili, a mili, a mili" - A Mili
• Public Perception: As Jim Calhoun told us earlier this season, he makes "a lot more than" 1.6 millon dollars a year to coach UConn men's basketball. Lil Wayne is a Cash Money Millionaire. Jim Calhoun is just a regular old millionaire. Need I Say more?
• Eventual Outcome: The Huskies are probably doomed to be the first #1 seed to fall in the tournament. Jim Calhoun will be just fine with his stacks of money. And Lil Weezy is going to have to reevaluate his career if he's serious about putting out this "rock" record he's been working on.
• Optional Applicable Song: Got Money (feat. T-Pain) - Lil Wayne

Louisville Cardinals - #1 Midwest

• Band/Album: Los Campesinos! - Hold On Now, Youngster...
• Key Lyric: "I invented you (I invented you) AND I WILL DESTROY YOU!" - Death to Los Campesinos!
• Public Perception: Los Campesinos! is a seven-piece indie pop band made up of quite young musicians from Wales. Louisville is a team that goes (at least) seven players deep, with the only truly experienced player being Terrance Williams. The Big East "invented" the Cardinals back in 2005, when they asked Louisville to join the conference. It was only a matter of time before they "destroyed" that conference...winning both the regular season and tournament title this year.
• Eventual Outcome: Can youth and inexperience lead to one's downfall? Louisville is on fire entering the NCAA Tournament. Los Campesinos! are cranking out 2 albums a year and gaining a lot of positive momentum. Here's to hoping the kids from Wales keep growing in their craft...while Louisville fizzles out.
• Optional Applicable Song: Swagga Like Us (Feat. Kanye West, Jay-Z, & Lil Wayne, & M.I.A.) - T.I (they are the #1 overall seed afterall)

Memphis Tigers - #2 West

• Band/Album: The Hold Steady - Stay Positive
• Key Lyric: "That’s alright I was desperate too, I’m getting pretty sick of this interview.
  Subpoenaed in Texas, sequestered in Memphis. Subpoenaed in Texas, sequestered in Memphis" - Sequestered In Memphis
• Public Perception: The Hold Steady and the Memphis Tigers may be on the verge of wearing out their "new" and "hip" factors after both having outstanding and well publicized years in 2008. Does coach John Calipari feel sequestered in Memphis? Probably not after being threatened by John Chaney while at UMass years ago. Both always seem to get too much or too little respect...never the right amount.
• Eventual Outcome: Memphis has become the popular choice to reach the Final Four from the West region. The Hold Steady will seek to become more popular this summer while opening for the Dave Matthews Band. Let's wait and see how all that works out for both sides.
  
• Optional Applicable Song: Walking In Memphis - Cher

Duke Blue Devils - #2 East

• Band/Album: Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend
• Key Lyric: "The pin-striped men of morning are coming for to dance, With pure Egyptian Cotton, The kids don't stand a chance" - The Kid's Don't Stand A Chance
• Public Perception: Whether it's Vampire Weekend or Duke basketball, people love to talk about these polarizing forces (a LOT) whether they love them or hate them. Very divisive. Both bring up the topics of snobbery, white privilege, over-education, assholes, and boating shoes. Both have had some deserved success and some undeserved success over their time. And perhaps most importantly...both are VERY white, with minor shades of brown...just enough to have "cred".
• Eventual Outcome: Both will disappoint at some point. This will cause many of the "devout" fans to claim they were only into them ironically in the first place.
  
• Optional Applicable Song: Heaven For The Weather (And Hell For The Company) - The Streets

0201

President Obama Likes Pitt, LOVES UNC

(I looked everywhere online and could not find a bracket with the Presidential seal)

President Barack Obama has filled out his NCAA Tournament bracket. Assuming he's a genius, things look VERY good for Pittsburgh, North Carolina, Louisville, and Memphis. I'd be completely happy with that Final Four, but still, a little chalky Mr. President. UNC fans should be happy, he chose the Tar Heels to win the whole thing. It's been a pretty fantastic 5 months for North Carolina democrats.

A few highlights from President Obama's time filling out his Presidential NCAA Tournament bracket Tuesday afternoon in the Map Room:

• On choosing Utah over Arizona in the first round - "It has nothing to do with McCain," Obama said. "I think Arizona is a great state. I love playing golf there. But they just squeaked in."
• "Because of Reggie Love, I've got to pick Duke,", said Obama concerning his personal aide, a former Blue Devil basketball and football player.
• President Obama on Pitt potentially playing Duke, "I think [Dejuan] Blair is going to eat them up."
• On the Panther's amazing hometown, "I've had good luck with Pittsburgh," Obama said. "It turned Pennsylvania. They came through in the Super Bowl. So I figure let's keep riding them a little bit longer.
• Obama on his pick for national champion...North Carolina, "Now, for the Tar Heels who are watching, I picked you all last year -- you let me down. This year, don't embarrass me in front of the nation, all right? I'm counting on you. I still got those sneakers you guys gave me."

Really good stuff.

I BESEECH you to read Andy Katz's article on President Obama filling out his NCAA Tournament Bracket. Katz is the reason this happened on a national stage. The background to this story involves interviewing Obama's brother-in-law (Oregon State head coach Craig Robinson) and playing pickup hoops with Barack Obama on election day.

Also...President Obama's original bracket...and his official ESPN Tournament Challenge entry.

Here's the video of Obama going through his bracket. I love this blog!

0201

Props To The Patriot League #3 - El Fin

(Crusader Basketball? Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz)

As Anna Lou fell asleep in her Holy Cross gear, the Crusaders were in the midst of losing the Patriot League Championship game to American University. Ralph Willard's Holy Cross squad made a valiant run through the tournament...defeating Bucknell in a grudge match, followed by a win against an upstart Colgate team to reach the finals. The Patriot League Championship has the best start-time of any title game, 4:45 pm the Friday before Selection Sunday. As the #1 seed, American hosted the championship in front of a standing-room-only Bender Arena crowd of 3,123. (I'd like to take a moment to point out there were 3,227 of us loyal fans cheering on Robert Morris during the NEC Championship game) Chaz, Liz, and Anna Lou were some 600 miles away at (I believe) Between the Buns...a fine restaurant and sports bar in South Bend, Indiana. Beers were had, purple was worn, hearts were broken. Thus is the life for Holy Cross devotees. American U. won the game 73-57, earning a #14 seed in the NCAA Tournament and the right to play Villanova in the first round. You'll get 'em next year Crusader fans. You'll get 'em next year.

The bright spot for Holy Cross was freshman R.J. Evans, who was named Patriot League rookie of the year. Evans was also named to the Patriot League All-Rookie team while averaging 13.4 points per game and running the floor for the Crusaders. Another Holy Cross player, sophomore forward Andrew Keister, was selected to the All-Patriot League first team. American U. loses three key seniors when their season is over. This Holy Cross team is relatively young and should be competitive for the next couple of years. Keep your chin up Chaz.

Before we close the curtain on the Patriot League, I'd like to try and address the topic of why Holy Cross declined an invitation to join the Big East Conference back in the late-70's. The truth is...I couldn't find much information concerning this important question online. Perhaps sometime in the next year, I'll finally get around to reading The Last Amateurs: Playing for Glory and Honor in Division I College Basketball by John Feinstein. Maybe Feinstein's text will provide more insight as to why Holy Cross went the more academic route.

I did find this blurb from the New York Post in an article discussing the Big East's 'Glory Days', "The Big East had been created in advance of the 1978-79 season as a way for a consortium of like-minded basketball schools to arm themselves against the coming age of television, against long-established bastions such as the ACC, the SEC, the Big Ten and the Big 8. It was such an outside-the-box idea that not everyone wanted in right away: Holy Cross actually declined the invite, a fact over which its alumni have been torturing themselves for 30 years."

Apparently the Big East was a wacky idea at the time. One that some people and institutions didn't think would last. Was Holy Cross ahead of the curve or behind it? I suppose that's for history and disgruntled alumni to say.

Speaking of disgruntled Holy Cross alumni...here is blog favorite, and notable ESPN personality, Bill Simmons venting his frustrations about Crusader basketball back in 2007:

Simmons: "My problem isn't with the players, the coach, or the character/resolve/dignity of the team. My problem is the situation itself. Back in the '80s, when the Jesuits inexplicably decided to cripple sports at Holy Cross and kill our famous rivalry with BC, their explanation was that we needed to raise the school's profile as an academic/athletic institution. So we left the MAAC and joined the Patriot League, which was originally envisioned as a Division I version of the NESCAC (like a poor man's Ivy League with better sports). Well, guess what? That idea bombed. They should just change the name of the league to No-Man's-Land.

You know why I know this? Because the head coach of my basketball team just told me, [Ralph Willard] "We don't have the most heavily recruited players in our program and rarely any with exceptional natural ability. We have no innate advantages over the rest of the programs in Div. I, and some real physical and fiscal disadvantages."

This isn't a new thing, either. When I was attending school there from 1988 to '92, nobody understood what was happening with the Patriot League move and our curious decision to scale back sports when the football and basketball teams were such an enormous part of the Holy Cross experience. At the time, the direction was sweepingly unpopular. I even wrote a newspaper column or two for the Crusader about it -- they were crippling our football and basketball programs for reasons that didn't make sense to anyone. Nearly two decades later, the reasons STILL don't make sense. It's the equivalent of a triathlete intentionally amputating his left leg, then continuing to compete while telling you, "Look at me, look at me. I'm doing this with one leg!" Admittedly, it's impressive and takes a ton of heart and courage. At the same time, HE STILL CHOPPED OFF HIS LEFT LEG FOR NO REASON. There's a difference between courage and abject stupidity.

That's where we are with Holy Cross sports right now."

Thank you for doing my work for me Bill.

Props to the Patriot League.

0201

Morgan State Wins - I Lose Another Bet

(Why Did I Let Matt have the #1 Team In The MEAC Without A Fight?)

I lost another bet during championship week. I don't really want to talk about it. Morgan State pretty much rolled through the competition en route to the MEAC title. This gave Matt the victory in our little $5 prop bet. None of my teams (Hampton, Bethune-Cookman, North Carolina A&T) even made it to the semifinals. So much for the MEAC Tournament not making any sense. The #1 seed rolled...and now Morgan State will be playing Oklahoma in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. I really hate the idea of Matt using his winnings to purchase a tasty five-dollar footlong. These are the consequences of loving to make bets. I like to think I've gotten the losing out of my system. It's time to focus on the Big Dance. Curse you Matt.

0201

Tourney Notes, Tips, Anecdotes, & Fun Facts

With the opening round games tipping-off in a mere 55 hours...it's time for some notes, tips, anecdotes, thoughts, musings, and fun facts to help get you up to date with the tournament, as well as this blog.

• Before their teams get eliminated, you need to be aware of some of the great names associated with this year's tournament: Chief Kickingstallionsims, C, Alabama State (name is Navajo and means "strength of the fallen rocks"), Kwadzo Ahelegbe (Ka-JOE Uh-HELLIG-buh), G, Northern Iowa (his name means "born on Monday"), and my personal favorite - Anthony "Humpty" Hitchens, G, Akron (apparently he's gone by "Humpty" since childhood...we can only hope he does the Humpty Dance after each made three-pointer).
• CJS...I'm aware that you're in Boston, Mass. for St. Patrick's Day, but I must say that I'm disappointed you didn't comment on the (real) Syracuse/UConn post, after rooting so intently during the game and bitching so profusely when there wasn't a comprehensive post afterwards. I look forward to your return to the comments sections.
• Hopefully I'll get around to a proper requiem post for this year's Davidson team in the next couple of days. Until then, for those who care deeply (Phil), Stephen Curry's Wildcats begin their NIT run tonight against South Carolina. It's a 7:00 pm game that will be nationally televised on ESPN2. Here's to hoping Curry stays around for his senior year and one more NCAA Tournament run.
  
• Speaking of our resident Davidson alum, here is a quote Phil sent me featuring Dejuan Blair talking in the third person: Blair on Hasheem Thabeet before Pitt's second meeting with UConn, "I hope he shows up with an 'I'm going to kill DeJuan' attitude, because DeJuan already has that attitude for him. It should make for a beautiful game." Blair also referred to that game as a "celebrity death match" at some point. Anytime a sports star speaks in the third-person, I'm going to be a BIG fan.
• I happened upon some interesting information regarding the graduation rates of this year's tournament teams. Here are the grad rates of the No. 1 seeds: North Carolina 86%, Pittsburgh 69%, Louisville 42%, and UConn 33%. Is there really any surprise here? UNC and Pitt clearly show they are the best two teams in this tournament when one combines academics and athletic ability. Not only does Jim Calhoun make "way more" than 1.6 million a year...he makes that money and doesn't bother to make graduating college a priority for his kids. What a trashy program. The exact opposite of a trashy program would be the Robert Morris Colonials, who were one of seven teams in the field with a 100% graduation rate. Nicely done boys. (The other six were Binghamton, Florida State, Marquette, Wake Forest, Utah State, and Western Kentucky) Cal St. Northridge had the worst grad rate of anyone in the field at 8%. Maryland was a close second at 10%. Great job Gary Williams, how do you sleep at night? I couldn't find the graduation rates for the Villanova or Holy Cross teams. Sorry. I'm guessing that Holy Cross' number would be quite high, as they won the "All-Academic NCAA Bracket" two years ago. Here is this year's All-Academic Bracket. A very fun way to waste some time.
• We all know Pitt and UNC are dominant both on the court and in the classroom. But things may not be as dominant on the hardwood if the two No. 1 seed's injury problems don't improve. Ty Lawson's toe might keep him out of UNC's opener against Radford on Thursday. Levance Fields won't miss any time for Pitt because of his groin injury, but Pitt fans must be concerned that he might not be 100%.
  
• A word of advice: PLEASE don't get caught up in the "sexy" upset picks this year. EVERYONE is going to be picking VCU over UCLA. When the bandwagon gets too crowded for any one underdog...it basically guarantees that underdog won't win. It's the reverse bandwagon effect in action. With that said, No. 11 seeds are 6-10 over the last four years while No. 12 seeds are 5-11. There will be upsets, you just have to be smart in picking the right ones.
• I have to bring Duquesne's valiant run in the A-10 Tournament to attention. The Dukes did their best to get all three D-1 schools from Pittsburgh into the Big Dance by upsetting #2 Rhode Island and #3 Dayton on their way to the A-10 Championship Game where they lost to Temple. Duquesne's program has shown marked improvement over the past couple of years, winning 21 games this season after the on-campus shooting of 5 players just two and a half years ago. Interestingly enough, the Dukes play Virginia Tech in the first round of the NIT tomorrow night...another university that knows all-too-well about tragedy, sadness, and the painful process of healing.
• What's the difference between a No. 1 seed and a No. 2 you may ask? In the last four years, all 16 No. 1s made it to the Sweet 16. Only nine of the 16 No. 2s made it that far. Oops...I may have just jinxed some number one seeds near and dear to the reader's hearts.
  
• Matt...I'm thinking that when you and the family are back in the States for March Madness next year, you should seriously consider taking some pictures of you kids wearing Villanova gear. I don't know where your wife stands on this issue, but you know I'm a sucker for that stuff on the blog.
• I have to talk about the Division III college basketball tournament because it includes some schools of interest. Carnegie Mellon (Pittsburgh) made the "little dance" and advanced to the second round only to lose to John Carroll University by a mere two points. JCU is of course one of 28 institutions that make up the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities. Regarding John Carroll...props must be given to CJS, R.B., and Sara (sorry if I forgot anyone). The team of note performing the best is Franklin and Marshall (props to Bryan). They reached the D-III Final Four and will battle a feisty Richard Stockton squad on Friday. My money is on Guilford, who beat John Carroll in the quarterfinals and play Washington U. on the other side of the bracket on Friday. Wheaton Ill. (props to Annie) won two games before losing to Wash. U. in the "sweet sixteen". We covered a lot of people, schools, and ground right here. I have officially conquered the 2009 D-III Tournament.
• The play-in game (now called the opening round game) is tonight and pits Morehead State against Alabama State. The winner earns the right to get demolished by Louisville on Friday. I'm taking Lewis Jackson's Alamaba State squad featuring Chief Kickingstallionsims in a blowout.
  
• Finally...as Chaz informed us in the comments section, Jay Bilas and Dick Vitale got into a good argument during a "Bracketology" segment on ESPN. The video is featured below. Things really kick into high gear around the 3:00 mark. The best part is when a frustrated and chippy Vitale says to Bilas, "I know you went to Duke, and I didn't go to Duke. But I'm telling you now, I don't buy it [Jay's point] at all". Fun stuff. The only thing that could have made this clip better was if Bilas was wearing the puffy winter coat from his photo shoot with Annie and Lydia Cate.

Announcers For Thursday & Friday's Games

(Greatest college basketball announcing duo?)

Here's the information you've all been waiting for...the announcing teams for the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament! Pitt fans have lucked out for a second year in a row...pulling the outstanding team of Bill Raftery and Verne Lundquist this weekend (after winning the Gus Johnson lottery last year). Speaking of Mr. Johnson...the greater Pittsburgh area (and myself) seemed to have lucked-out again because Gus and Len Elmore will be calling the Robert Morris vs. Michigan State game Friday night. What luck?!? Great times. As mentioned previously in this blog, the cantankerous Billy Packer is gone from CBS, being replaced by Clark Kellogg on CBS's number one team with Jim Nantz. Kellogg and Nantz will be in Greensboro to announce the games featuring North Carolina and Duke among others. I couldn't be happier right now as a Pitt and Robert Morris fan.

Thursday, March 19th:

• LSU vs. Butler (Greensboro, 12:20pm)- Jim Nantz/Clark Kellogg
• Memphis vs. Cal. St. Northridge (Kansas City, 12:25pm)- Tim Brando/Mike Gminski
• BYU vs. Texas A&M (Philadelphia, 12:30pm)- Dick Enberg or Carter Blackburn/Jay Bilas
• Purdue vs. Northern Iowa (Portland, 2:30pm)- Kevin Harlan/Dan Bonner
• North Carolina vs. Radford (Greensboro, 2:50pm)- Jim Nantz/Clark Kellogg
• California vs. Maryland (Kansas City, 2:55pm)- Tim Brando/Mike Gminski
• Connecticut vs. Chattanooga (Philadelphia, 3pm)- Dick Enberg or Carter Blackburn/Jay Bilas
• Washington vs. Mississippi St. (Portland 5pm)- Kevin Harlan/Dan Bonner
• Texas vs. Minnesota (Greensboro, 7:10pm)- Jim Nantz/Clark Kellogg
• Clemson vs. Michigan (Kansas City, 7:10pm)- Tim Brando/Mike Gminski
• Villanova vs. American (Philadelphia, 7:20pm)- Dick Enberg or Carter Blackburn/Jay Bilas
• Gonzaga vs. Akron (Portland, 7:25pm)- Kevin Harlan/Dan Bonner
• Duke vs. Binghamton (Greensboro, 9:40pm)- Jim Nantz/Clark Kellogg
• Oklahoma vs. Morgan State (Kansas City, 9:40pm)- Tim Brando/Mike Gminski
• UCLA vs. VCU (Philadelphia, 9:50pm)- Dick Enberg or Carter Blackburn/Jay Bilas
• Illinois vs. Western Kentucky (Portland, 9:55pm)- Kevin Harlan/Dan Bonner
  

Friday, March 20th

• Syracuse vs. Stephen F. Austin (Miami, 12:15pm)- Ian Eagle/Jim Spanarkel
• Oklahoma St. vs. Tennessee (Dayton, 12:25pm)- Verne Lundquist/Bill Raftery
• Kansas vs. North Dakota State (Minneapolis, 12:30pm)- Gus Johnson/Len Elmore
• Marquette vs. Utah State (Boise, 12:30pm)- Craig Bolerjack/Bob Wenzel
• Arizona State vs. Temple (Miami, 2:45pm)- Ian Eagle/Jim Spanarkel
• Pittsburgh vs. E. Tennessee St. (Dayton, 2:55pm)- Verne Lundquist/Bill Raftery
• West Virginia vs. Dayton (Minneapolis, 3pm)- Gus Johnson/Len Elmore
• Missouri vs. Cornell (Boise, 3pm)- Craig Bolerjack/Bob Wenzel
• Utah vs. Arizona (Miami, 7:10pm)- Ian Eagle/Jim Spanarkel
• Louisville vs. Alabama St./Morehead St. (Dayton, 7:10pm)- Verne Lundquist/Bill Raftery
• Boston College vs. USC (Minneapolis, 7:20pm)- Gus Johnson/Len Elmore
• Xavier vs. Portland State (Boise, 7:25pm)- Craig Bolerjack/Bob Wenzel
• Wake Forest vs. Cleveland State (Miami, 9:40pm)- Ian Eagle/Jim Spanarkel
• Ohio State vs. Siena (Dayton, 9:40pm)- Verne Lundquist/Bill Raftery
• Michigan State vs. Robert Morris (Minneapolis, 9:50pm)- Gus Johnson/Len Elmore
• Florida State vs. Wisconsin (Boise, 9:55)- Craig Bolerjack/Bob Wenzel

0201

Conference Tournament Results: March 11th - 15th

The Conference Tournament Predictions are over. For better and for worse...they're over. I'm pleased with my results and I'm frustrated with my results. My goals were to predict 15 of the 30 Conference Champions correctly, along with having a 70% overall winning percentage. Um, I didn't quite make either of those goals. I showed improvement from last season in predicting Conference Champions (13 from 12), but I performed much worse with regard to my overall percentage. It's not a good thing, it's not a bad thing...it just is. Let's move on to the important Tournament now. Here are my final statistics:

Predicting Conference Champions:

• 2009 - 13 of 30 Correct (43.3%)
• 2008 - 12 of 30 Correct (40%)

Overall Winning Percentage:

• 2009 - 167 of 271 Games Correct (61.6%)
• 2008 - 174 of 265 Games Correct (65.7%)
  

America East Conference:

• Actual Champion: Binghamton (1st ever NCAA appearance)
• My Predicted Champion: Vermont (lost in quarterfinals to Albany)
• Bracket Winning Percentage: 25% (2 of 8 games correct)
• Overall Bracket Winning Percentage: 63.1% (65 of 103 correct)
• Overall Predicted Champion Winning Percentage: 41.7% (5 of 12 correct)

Big Sky Conference:

• Actual Champion: Portland State (2nd NCAA appearance, second in a row)
• My Predicted Champion: Weber State (lost in semifinals to Montana State)
• Bracket Winning Percentage: 40% (2 of 5 games correct)
• Overall Bracket Winning Percentage: 62.0% (67 of 108 correct)
• Overall Predicted Champion Winning Percentage: 38.5% (5 of 13 correct)

Northeast Conference:

• Actual Champion: Robert Morris (6th NCAA appearance, first since 1992)
• My Predicted Champion: Robert Morris
• Bracket Winning Percentage: 71.4% (5 of 7 games correct)
• Overall Bracket Winning Percentage: 62.6% (72 of 115 correct)
• Overall Predicted Champion Winning Percentage: 42.9% (6 of 14 correct)

Patriot League:

• Actual Champion: American (2nd NCAA appearance, second in a row)
• My Predicted Champion: American
• Bracket Winning Percentage: 71.4% (5 of 7 games correct)
• Overall Bracket Winning Percentage: 63.1% (77 of 122 correct)
• Overall Predicted Champion Winning Percentage: 46.7% (7 of 15 correct)

Western Athletic Conference:

• Actual Champion: Utah State (18th NCAA appearance, first since 2006)
• My Predicted Champion: Utah State
• Bracket Winning Percentage: 62.5% (5 of 8 games correct)
• Overall Bracket Winning Percentage: 63.1% (82 of 130 correct)
• Overall Predicted Champion Winning Percentage: 50% (8 of 16 correct)

Mid-American Conference:

• Actual Champion: Akron (2nd NCAA appearance, first since 1986)
• My Predicted Champion: Buffalo (lost in finals to Akron)
• Bracket Winning Percentage: 72.7% (8 of 11 games correct)
• Overall Bracket Winning Percentage: 63.8% (90 of 141 correct)
• Overall Predicted Champion Winning Percentage: 47.1% (8 of 17 correct)

Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference:

• Actual Champion: Morgan State (1st ever NCAA appearance)
• My Predicted Champion: Morgan State
• Bracket Winning Percentage: 60% (6 of 10 games correct)
• Overall Bracket Winning Percentage: 63.6% (96 of 151 correct)
• Overall Predicted Champion Winning Percentage: 50% (9 of 18 correct)

Big East Conference:

• Actual Champion: Louisville (35th NCAA appearance, third in a row)
• My Predicted Champion: Pittsburgh (lost in quarterfinals to West Virginia)
• Bracket Winning Percentage: 35.2% (6 of 17 games correct)
• Overall Bracket Winning Percentage: 60.7% (102 of 168 correct)
• Overall Predicted Champion Winning Percentage: 47.4% (9 of 19 correct)

Southland Conference:

• Actual Champion: Stephen F. Austin (1st ever NCAA appearance)
  
• My Predicted Champion: Stephen F. Austin
• Bracket Winning Percentage: 71.4% (5 of 7 games correct)
• Overall Bracket Winning Percentage: 61.1% (107 of 175 correct)
• Overall Predicted Champion Winning Percentage: 50% (10 of 20 correct)

Southwestern Athletic Conference:

• Actual Champion: Alabama State (3rd NCAA appearance, first since 2004)
• My Predicted Champion: Alabama State
• Bracket Winning Percentage: 85.7% (6 of 7 games correct)
• Overall Bracket Winning Percentage: 62.1% (113 of 182 correct)
• Overall Predicted Champion Winning Percentage: 52.4% (11 of 21 correct)

Big West Conference:

• Actual Champion: Cal State Northridge (2nd NCAA appearance, first since 2001)
• My Predicted Champion: Long Beach State (lost in semifinals to Pacific)
• Bracket Winning Percentage: 42.9% (3 of 7 correct)
• Overall Bracket Winning Percentage: 61.4% (116 of 189 correct)
• Overall Predicted Champion Winning Percentage: 50% (11 of 22 correct)

Mountain West Conference:

• Actual Champion: Utah (27th NCAA appearance, first since 2005)
• My Predicted Champion: Utah
• Bracket Winning Percentage: 75% (6 of 8 games correct)
• Overall Bracket Winning Percentage: 61.9% (122 of 197 correct)
• Overall Predicted Champion Winning Percentage: 52.2% (12 of 23 correct)

Conference USA:

• Actual Champion: Memphis (22nd NCAA appearance, fourth in a row)
• My Predicted Champion: Memphis
• Bracket Winning Percentage: 63.6% (7 of 11 games correct)
• Overall Bracket Winning Percentage: 62.0% (129 of 208 correct)
• Overall Predicted Champion Winning Percentage: 54.2% (13 of 24 correct)

Atlantic 10 Conference:

• Actual Champion: Temple (27th NCAA appearance, second in a row)
• My Predicted Champion: Xavier (lost in semifinals to Temple)
• Bracket Winning Percentage: 63.3% (7 of 11 games correct)
• Overall Bracket Winning Percentage: 62.1% (136 of 219 correct)
• Overall Predicted Champion Winning Percentage: 52.0% (13 of 25 correct)

Pac 10 Conference:

• Actual Champion: Southern Cal (15th NCAA appearance, third in a row)
• My Predicted Champion: Arizona State (lost in finals to USC)
• Bracket Winning Percentage: 55.6% (5 of 9 games correct)
• Overall Bracket Winning Percentage: 61.8% (141 of 228 correct)
• Overall Predicted Champion Winning Percentage: 50% (13 of 26 correct)

Big 12 Conference:

• Actual Champion: Missouri (22nd NCAA appearance, first since 2003)
• My Predicted Champion: Kansas (lost in quarterfinals to Baylor)
• Bracket Winning Percentage: 45.5% (5 of 11 games correct)
• Overall Bracket Winning Percentage: 61.1% (146 of 239 correct)
• Overall Predicted Champion Winning Percentage: 48.1% (13 of 27 correct)

Southeastern Conference:

• Actual Champion: Mississippi State (10th NCAA appearance, second in a row)
• My Predicted Champion: South Carolina (lost in quarterfinals to Miss. St.)
• Bracket Winning Percentage: 72.7% (8 of 11 games correct)
• Overall Bracket Winning Percentage: 61.6% (154 of 250 correct)
• Overall Predicted Champion Winning Percentage: 46.4% (13 of 28 correct)

Big 10 Conference:

• Actual Champion: Purdue (23rd NCAA appearance, third in a row)
• My Predicted Champion: Michigan State (lost in semifinals to Ohio State)
• Bracket Winning Percentage: 70% (7 of 10 games correct)
• Overall Bracket Winning Percentage: 61.9% (161 of 260 correct)
• Overall Predicted Champion Winning Percentage: 44.8% (13 of 29 correct)

Atlantic Coast Conference:

• Actual Champion: Duke (33rd NCAA appearance, 14th in a row)
• My Predicted Champion: North Carolina (lost in semifinals to Florida St.)
• Bracket Winning Percentage: 54.5% (6 of 11 games correct)
• Overall Bracket Winning Percentage: 61.6% (167 of 271 correct)
• Overall Predicted Champion Winning Percentage: 43.3% (13 of 30 correct)

0201