An Expose On Coaching Fashion: by Annie

(Go ahead and out-dress me...I DARE YOU!)

For the first time in the history of this blog, we have a guest author! Annie has put in some time-consuming research with regard to NCAA basketball coaching fashion. I was awed and quite pleased with her findings and the amount of effort she put into this. Enjoy!

Desmond has been encouraging me for awhile to lend some of my fashion expertise to this blog, as I admit that sometimes I pay more attention to what coaches are wearing than to what’s happening on the court. Not always, but sometimes. And I am not the only one, as certain coaches have become known for certain suits, hairdos, ties, signature garments that aren’t suits (I’m thinking mock turtleneck here), and general style or lack thereof. In order to best illustrate my thoughts on this topic, I’m going to focus on a few well-known coaches, in no particular order.

It must not be ignored that part of good fashion is good looks. As much as we hate to admit it, the people who set the tone in the fashion world tend to be good-looking. We average-looking people then hope to improve our overall image by buying and wearing what’s in style. However, sometimes we ignore the fact that fashion is often sold not on the looks or quality of the garment, but on the looks of the person wearing it. This may seem obvious to you all, but it’s worth highlighting as I consider several basketball coaches—some good looking and good dressers, some not as good looking and good dressers, and some even bad looking and bad dressers. I won’t go into the fourth quadrant, which would be good looking and bad dressers, since I honestly don’t pay that much attention to coaches’ looks, and tend only to notice a handsome coach primarily when he’s handsomely dressed.

We’ll start with Mike Brey, coach of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, who falls squarely into the third quadrant: bad looking, bad dresser. Need I really say anything more than Mock T? With his slicked-back hair and sleepy eyes, Brey has the look of a villain—a relentlessly positive, encouraging villain, if you’ve ever listened to his post-game interviews. Truth be told, Mike Brey is a nice guy, but he just needs some guidance when it comes to his wardrobe. If you can believe it, Brey’s bio photo on the Notre Dame website features him in a black sports coat with a navy blue shirt underneath. Hello…NAVY with black??? Ann Taylor is turning in her grave. Another staple of Mike Brey’s wardrobe is the drab brown jacket with the black mock turtleneck underneath. Some people, and by some I mean very few, can pull off a light jacket with a dark shirt, but it’s a rare occurrence. And as far as I know, nobody can pull it off when said dark shirt is a mock turtleneck, and said light jacket is perennially unbuttoned.

Next up we have Rick Pitino, esteemed coach of the Louisville Cardinals. Pitino, in my opinion, falls into the “not as good looking and good dressers” quadrant of our fashion diagram. Some of you may disagree, claiming that he is both good looking and a good dresser, but I believe that Pitino has come to be regarded as good looking over the years precisely because of his peerless fashion sense, proving the quote he likes to sign with his autographs: “There is no substitute for hard work.” Well Rick, if you’re lucky enough (which you’re not) good looks can be a substitute for hard work. Pitino is best known for his white suits, which Desmond has featured on this blog before, and for the expertly-folded handkerchiefs that are usually peeking out of his jacket’s breast pocket. This photo tells it all.

Roy Williams, national champion coach extraordinaire, is the subject of our next fashion analysis. Considering our diagram, Willams is one of few coaches who fall into that elusive quadrant: good looking and good dresser. Some of you may disagree again, claiming that Williams is not much of a looker. However, I think that Roy Williams is not always considered among the better-looking coaches simply because he is not a young man. Williams is almost sixty, and he has aged remarkably well. With his classy silver hair, rimless glasses, and year-round tan, Roy Williams has a look of dapper health about him, and his well-chosen suits only accentuate his dignified yet down to earth aura. The owner of the retailer where Williams buys many of his suits explains, “Roy Williams has his own sense of style. He shops with us often but he already knows what he likes and doesn't like. He wears classic and very stylish peek lapel single-breasted suits by Canali and Hickey Freeman, and he loves pocket squares or ties in Carolina light blue. He's a basketball coach that understands clothing.” Well said, Mr. Stockton. The only downside of Williams’ fashion sense is that at one point he became a bit too confident in his fashion savvy, attempting to pull off the light coat dark jacket combo that I already berated Mike Brey for above. As you can see, even Roy Boy can’t pull off the look very well.

Speaking of older coaches, it’s time to move onto a less-beloved basketball mind, one that led his team to a mind-boggling 0-18 start in Big East play this season, only to win the big one against Cincinnati in the first round of the conference tournament. Yes, I’m speaking of the one and only Jerry Wainwright, coach of the DePaul Blue Demons. Wainwright’s fashion sense can be described the same way as his team’s record this season: less than stellar. Way less. From the first time I saw Wainwright on the sidelines in the Joyce Center, I knew this was a man even more securely in the bad looking, bad dresser quadrant than Mike Brey. From his gauche tweed jackets and khaki pants, to his palm studded ties, to his oversized polos when he’s not on the sidelines, to his generally dumpy look, it doesn’t get much worse than Jerry Wainwright. His suits are surely purchased from Burlington Coat Factory, though I couldn’t get any confirmation on this. In his favor, I will say that the lack of class in Jerry’s appearance can lend an air of coziness and comfort to his persona, perhaps conjuring up in players and fans the same sense of being one of the guys that we all get from Charlie Weis’s gametime sweatsuits. However, this is meager praise, and this image sums up my general thoughts on Jerry Wainwright’s looks and style.

(Wright's thank you to Gabe at D'Annunizo & Battistoni Clothiers)

The last coach I will analyze is none other than Jay Wright, who coached his 3 seeded Villanova squad to the Final Four in this year’s tournament, breaking the hearts of Pitt fans along the way. But I can’t hold Wright’s Pitt win against him as I analyze his fashion sense. And even if I could, Jay Wright would easily maintain his spot as perhaps both the best looking and best dressed coach in college basketball. As one of the pundits writes, Wright has “movie star looks and a wardrobe that would rival any in Tinsel Town.” Wright’s I-talian suits are custom-made at D’Annunzio & Battistoni Clothiers, which boasts the following about its hand-crafted fashion for men: “There is nothing that compares to dressing in custom-made. Nothing. The comfort that comes from owning a piece of excellently crafted clothing, the uniquely ‘you’ feel that comes from wearing it, and the quiet confidence that comes from knowing that there is no one in the room better dressed... and that, while fashion may come and go, your piece of custom clothing will never go out of style.” Jay is known for his four-button, three piece suits, which tend to stay buttoned during the game, until the sweet smell of victory wafts over to the sidelines, and then onto the court.

Looking uncannily like George Clooney, it’s not surprising that Jay Wright is a multiple winner of GQ’s annual Fashionable Four, a contest to see who’s the best-dressed coach in college basketball. As one blogger writes, “Villanova games don’t have to be in High Definition—Jay Wright makes the TV look better.” And if you have any doubts about Jay Wright’s good looks and fashion sense, just see how good he looks next to yours truly and a certain Lyddie Cate, who’s pretty sure she’s found her Mr. Wright.

Well, that’s all from Fashion Annie, as they call me on the runway. Until next year!

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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.

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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.

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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.

Syracuse & UConn Play For A Long Time

(Rat Boy with a little premature celebration)

Of course I have a few thoughts from Thursday's Syracuse/Connecticut 6-overtime game. I just didn't have the strength or energy to write them on Friday. So instead, I chose to write a pissy post to the demanding masses, claiming the epic Big East Tournament contest was uninteresting. This is mostly true. I'm not here to write about content. I'm here to write about process. That's what you've all come to expect. So here (finally) are my musings about Syracuse's 127-117 6 OT win over UConn, along with some final thoughts on the Big East Tournament:

Syracuse & UConn's All Nighter:

• Watched the game at The Saloon in Mt. Lebanon in the company of CJS, Kim, Chris H., A.J., & Rick. The only one really invested in the game before it came a classic was CJS, who still unquestioningly roots for the Orangemen based on his love of a color pattern back in 5th grade. Soft. In the spirit of full disclosure, I had a Washington Huskies Starter jacket in 7th grade because I liked their colors and logo. Still...not as soft as CJS.
  
• Before the game even went into overtime, we were all ready to go home. Everyone was either tired or had to work the next day. Little did we know what was going to happen next. I have to give Kim some props here...she had to work the next day and probably wasn't too excited to go out in the first place. She left after the 2nd overtime...4 overtimes before the game ended. You're a trooper Kimberly!
• Any time a sporting event goes so long that one orders drinks long after one has closed their tab and sobered up, is probably a very good one.
• You've all seen Eric Devendorf's "winning" 3-pointer at the end of regulation that didn't count. After preening, posing, and showing-up Seton Hall the night before, Rat Boy drew attention to himself again by jumping up on the scorer's table after the phantom 3-pointer. His teammates quickly pulled him down...but the image of the cocky, tattooed guard with poor facial hair standing on a table will now be around for generations to enjoy.
• Jonny Flynn of Syracuse deserves some huge credit for not only playing 67 of a possible 70 minutes, but for hitting all 16 of his free throws...many of which were taken on exhausted legs. A.J. Price gets some props from me to for being damn good and for not having any eligibility left, therefore, never being able to play Pitt again. Also...coaches Jim Boeheim and Jim Calhoun are looking old.
  
• The most interesting thing from this game was when Canadian-born Andy Rautins hit a wide-open 3-pointer for Syracuse at the end of the 3rd overtime that tied the game at 98. Twenty-eight years ago, Rautins' father, Leo, tipped in a buzzer-beater to topple Villanova in the 1981 Big East tourney championship game...in three overtimes...in what was then the longest conference tournament game in history.
• I wish that somebody would have had the balls to ask Jim Calhoun about his salary after the game. This would have been the PERFECT opportunity for that follow up! He could have at least worked it into his post game press conference. Here's how it could have played out: Reporter - "Coach Calhoun, are you disappointed or unhappy that your team lost this 6 overtime game tonight?" Coach Calhoun - "I have 1.6 MILLION reasons to be happy right now! In fact...I have A LOT more than that!"
  
• Had a very nice back-and-forth texting exchange with Liz during the game. You know that something is becoming an event when someone texts, "are you watching this?" The absurdity of things was exponential with each overtime. It was impossible not to get caught up in the madness. "Only basketball can make me stay up this late", Liz said at 1:15 am. I could not have put it better myself. I hope Anna Lou's 2 am wakeful period wasn't too bad that night.
  
• Remember when Georgia had to play two games in one day to miraculously win the SEC Tournament last season? This had to be worse.
  
• That Syracuse went on to beat West Virginia the next night 74-69 in OVERTIME was quite comical.

Other Big East Tourney Thoughts:

• West Virginia head coach Bob Huggins wore the same suit, shirt, and tie for three consecutive games. The combo ran out of luck during the Mountaineers semifinal loss to Syracuse. What exactly was he thinking? Who knows.
• Jamie Dixon was absolutely brilliant to let Pitt lose in the quarterfinals. The Panthers now have a week to rest and get focused for the important tournament. What has reaching the Big East Championship game done for them during the last 7 seasons? Nothing. And don't give me the whole..."Pitt was trying and still lost the game!" bullshit. Gary McGhee was getting quality minutes in the first half. Enough said.
• Discovered that Annie's favorite player on West Virginia is Devin Ebanks. I didn't know that Annie had a favorite West Virginia player. I also have no idea why it's Devin Ebanks. Please feel free to explain yourself at any time Annie.
• Before the Syracuse/UConn game...the best game of the tournament was the Marquette vs. Villanova game from earlier in the day Thursday. Dwayne Anderson made a last second layup to give Jay Wright's Villanova squad a 76-75 victory. The result of this thriller should have made Matt quite happy. At least until his Wildcats lost to Louisville the next day.
• As I've said all season long, DePaul is the best 0-18 team in Big East history. They proved my point by upsetting Cincinnati in the first round then giving Providence all they could handle on Wednesday. The frumpy Jerry Wainwright did a great job of getting his team to peak at just the right time.
• Louisville defeated an exhausted Syracuse team last night to win the tournament. This should give the Big East three #1 seeds when the brackets come out in 4 hours. Everyone rooting for the Cardinals knows how to correctly pronounce "Louisville". I'm sorry I'm not drinking with Tony in South Bend right now.

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Lydia Cate, Annie, & Phil Take Things Up A Notch

I'm speechless. Well...I have things to say, but I'm still stunned. Phil, Annie, and Lydia Cate have gone out and done something unprecedented in the history of this blog. I don't want to spoil the moment with too many words...those can be left for the comments section. Villanova traveled to South Bend on Monday night to play the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. ESPN was broadcasting the game nationally with their best announcing crew. Phil, Annie, and Lydia Cate were in attendance. Here's what happened:

(Superstar announcer Bill Raftery, Annie, & Lydia Cate)

This one makes me so proud! The blog was worth it just for this!

(Play-by-play man Sean McDonough, Annie, & Lydia Cate)

I'm so excited and proud right now I might just cry. You have certainly raised the bar. I have no idea how I'll ever be able to top this. But I'm thankful that we'll have these pictures for the rest of time. Amazing work. Amazing moment. Amazing memories.

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Lydia Cate, Annie, & Phil Take Things Up A Notch II

I'm presenting these amazing pictures over two posts because the people involved deserve twice the labels for their efforts. Well done!

(Villanova coach Jay Wright, Annie, & Lydia Cate)

Wright's stylish tie matches Lydia Cate's stylish cap!!!

(Announcer Jay Bilas, Annie, & Lydia Cate)

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DON'T GO OUTSIDE THE BLOG

...because your thoughts, opinions, and ideas will get posted anyway.

The following is what transpired Friday, February 27th on an e-mail thread after some mild interaction in the comments section of my first Patriot League post. Phil referred to the league as "uninteresting and depressing" and Matt went on record as saying "yawwwwnnnnn". This was the last straw for Chaz. The Holy Cross graduate had to take a stand. (But he should have taken it on the blog) I'm choosing not to edit any content, but I did add some information in brackets to assist readers in the experience. Enjoy.

Chaz - 12:05 pm

fired up by phil's post, i just wrote up this comment for damon's blog, but after re-reading it I realized that it was heavy on the personal attack and light on anything having to do with the tournament, so i decided that i still wanted to attack phil personally (and let you all in on it) but that i didn't feel the need to advertise it to damon's internet community. liz, for goodness sake, please post something on damon's blog - you're the one with real knowledge in our family and you're the only one, THE ONLY ONE, who graduated from a school (North Carolina) with a real chance of winning this thing. you need to humble Phil (no chance for alma mater [Davidson], adopted another school's [Pitt] team), Annie (no chance for alma mater (does Wheaton play basketball?), adopted new home's [Notre Dame] team (which has no chance), adopted husband's team [Davidson?]), Damon (no chance for alma mater [Robert Morris], adopted another school's [Pitt] team), Craig J (sadly, no chance for the [John Carrol] Blue Streak(s), adopted another school's team [Pitt? Syracuse?]), and me (no chance for alma mater although of course happy that the Patriot League still brings heart and class to the March Madness - and usually a good first round show).

Here is what I was going to write:

It's time.

While D-man has fired up his blog this week, I've been in sunny Simi Valley, California, home to the Ronald W. Reagan Presidential Library and Museum. Simi Valley has also been the home to the Charles Manson Family (in the 1960s), Michael Landon and the cast and crew of 'Little House on the Prairie' (in the 1970s), and the jury in the controversial Rodney King trial (in the 1990s).

Today, after reading D's illuminating post about a little-known NCAA conference and then reading some of the comments, I thought of Rodney King: "Can't we all just get along?"

I know that Phil gets some kind of sick pleasure at insulting Holy Cross basketball and the Patriot League, but it always reminds me of the Republican Senator who can't seem to say enough about how disordered gay people are: he protests too much. Need I remind Phil that in the fall of 2000, while a junior year abroad student at Mansfield College, Oxford, he was basically also a Holy Cross undergrad (all of his friends were Crusaders). May I also remind Phil that he benefited from one year with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, a program which receives no small amount of support from Worcester's college on the hill. And may I remind Phil, ABD [All But Dissertation], of one final thing: he does philosophy. By my lights, there is nothing more "uninteresting (and depressing)" than insecure white elitists exploring the mysteries of the universe by focusing narrowly on what insecure white elitists have written about the universe in the past.

And Matt, step the f off. I don't even know you and you are giving me ultimatums about when I should post? I hope that Annie kicks your as$.

But back to Rodney King. Phil, "Matt", quit trashing the Patriot League and let's get a long. It's not cool. If you would like to learn something about the league, which bares little resemblance to the CAA, read John Feinstein's book 'The Last Amateurs' which according to Amazon.com is the #1 book in the Basketball, College & University category (for Kindle). Nothing to "yaawwnn" at, Matt.

Oh, and Anna Lou leads Lydia Cate for the second week in a row.

Phil - 12:14 pm

CTS (Chaz),

you might as well go ahead and post this. most of the comments don't have to do with basketball anyway. personal attacks are all the rage...that's the beauty of damon's blog!

besides, your arguments for my debt to holy cross are pretty weak.

i also felt some tension between your claim that we should all get along and that matt should step the "f" off (not to mention your description of philosophy).

Chaz - 12:28 pm

my next comment on damon's blog: phil's debt to holy cross, in three parts.

CJS - 12:38 pm

I really feel all of this needs to be on the blog, it may be the only chance I have of seeing JVC [Jesuit Volunteer Corps] on a college basketball blog, or anywhere for that matter.


Thank you to everyone involved with this e-mail thread. It was quite an enjoyable experience. Chaz...never take things outside the blog again! That's what the comments sections are for!

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Blog Intro #2 - What I'm Curious To Find Out

(how did this happen?)

Last year we all asked the aforementioned question. Unfortunately, no answer provided sufficient explanation for this perplexing turn of events. Who would have believed that Bill Self could coach a team to a national championship? Nobody. That's who.

And do you know why nobody believed this? Because we weren't asking the right questions! Could an underachieving drunk who continually choked while coaching in the Big 10 lead his team past the likes of North Carolina & Memphis, while matching wits against the likes of Roy Williams & (Clarion's own) John Calipari? Well.....yes....apparently so. I just never thought to ask.

But I'm not here to discuss the past (too often). And I'm not here to try and figure out how Kansas won the National Championship (hurts my head). And I'm DEFINITELY not here to rehash topics of conversation that I've already exhausted (except when humorous or when provoking friends). What I am here to do is ask questions that pertain to this year's NCAA Tournament (and this lovely blog). So without further ado, here is a provocative and surprisingly fresh list of the Top 10 things I'm curious to find out over the next 8 weeks.

1. How will my friends and their teams be involved with this year's tournament? In an ideal situation, the following teams would make the field of 64 (65): Pitt, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Robert Morris, Villanova, Davidson, Holy Cross, Iowa, Gonzaga, Penn State, & Duquesne. Did I leave any program out? Of the teams listed, Notre Dame, Iowa, Penn State & Duquesne have little to no chance of making the Big Dance. Mike Brey's mock-turtlenecks and Luke Harangody's haircut will be sorely missed. If everyone else makes it in...this blog is going to be a lot of fun. Of course if Chaz doesn't make his presence known on this blog sometime soon, I'm going to be very disappointed.
   
2. Can the Pitt Panthers finally reach the Elite Eight? This program has turned itself around SO much since the Ralph Willard/Jerry McCullough era, but there are so many remaining hurdles to overcome. I can't realistically root for a Final Four appearance until I see them reach the Elite Eight first.
3. How many Tournament pools will I win? Three...Four...Five? Will I end up filling out bogus brackets in some pools to allow others the chance at victory? Is this blog merely a ruse to lead you in the wrong direction? How many times will you personally have to congratulate me for winning the pool you're involved in? We'll see.
4. When will the NCAA stop treating the "play-in" game like a joke? That's right...I'm going to beat this issue to death this year as well. A conference tournament champion, no matter how small the conference, should be rewarded by playing at a regional site where they get the once-in-a-lifetime experience of being in the limelight, dealing with reporters, meeting celebrities and (oftentimes) losing their first game by 20 or more. And that's fine! DON'T RELEGATE ANY CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS TO THE PLAY-IN GAME! Solution: The "play-in" game should feature the last two teams on the bubble, according to the selection committee. These two teams should play Tuesday night in Dayton...and the winner would then be placed as the 11th or 12th seed in the region deemed the weakest. So simple. So smart. So good for TV. You'll thank and credit me later.
5. Why was Billy Packer removed from his announcing duties with Jim Nantz during the Final Four and replaced by Clark Kellogg? Because we won people. We won.
6. How many Northeast Conference Tournament games featuring Robert Morris will I attend? Without jinxing things...hopefully three. Robert Morris is in line for the #1 seed in the NEC (although they lost an embarrassing game at Monmouth tonight). The higher seed hosts every game in the NEC tournament, and for $5, you better believe I'm not missing one this year. I'm still bitter from last season. While writing this comprehensive blog, I didn't make it to one college basketball game...and I seemed to be the only one. Phil & Annie attended Notre Dame games. Rob attended the Missouri Valley Conference championship game (Drake won it all). Chaz & Liz attended Patriot League Tournament games in Washington D.C. I'm not getting left our this year. No way.
7. Which team will be this year's Davidson? I'll tell you right now...it's not going to be George Mason. Never again. NEVER! This question will be answered during my Bracket Busters columns, but I will say that I don't think this year's Davidson is going to be Davidson. It's hard to catch lightening in a bottle twice. I don't care how good Stephen Curry is.
8. Are there any teams with a legitimate shot to win it all outside of the ACC and Big East? I don't know. Seriously...I don't know...that's why I'm asking. The obvious answers are Oklahoma, then there is a drop-off before Memphis and possibly Michigan State. The Pac 10 stinks. Gonzaga? It is the 10 year anniversary of their coming out party. Xavier lost to Charlotte tonight. So a big NOPE on them. I just can't see it happening (yet). The Elite Eight could have 7 Big East/ACC teams then some random Cinderella.
   
9. Will Matt run away with the comments race? He's off to an early lead and looking very solid. I can't help but think that this bodes well for the well dressed Jay Wright and his Villanova squad. But we all know that comments don't equate to labels, so nobody can become complacent this early in the blog.
10. Who will become the star of this year's Tournament and who will become the star of this year's blog? I will reveal my thoughts for both, but only for gambling purposes. I'm not giving that shit away for free. Every Tournament and Tournament Blog is different. The best part about both is the process involved. Sit back, relax, taunt, and enjoy.
    

5 Quickie Questions Not Typed In Boldface:

1. Will Syracuse somehow find a way to choke this year?
2. When will Brian W. finally comment on this blog?
3. Will Trent Johnson look just as angry while coaching LSU?
4. How can one read this blog daily and still want to be my friend?
5. Which team will nearly upset Duke in the first round this year?

I'll have my picks for ESPN's convoluted Bracket Busters weekend up sometime tomorrow, followed soon thereafter by my third and final Blog Intro...splendidly titled: Blog Intro #3 - What We Know. Thanks for reading.

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Blog Intro #1 - What To Expect

Like The Killers on their Sam's Town album...I kicked things off with a bang (the already timeless running diary of Pitt's victory over UConn)...and will now take a step back to send greetings & explain myself through the writing gimmick called: using song lyrics as sub-headings. (This bit is totally a stolen idea, do not ask me about it. Good writers steal things, get over it)

• "We hope you enjoy your stay...it's good to have you with us, even if it's just for the day" - Enterlude

Welcome back loyal readers! Welcome back those near and far! Welcome those who were tricked into clicking on this blog! Welcome all! The college basketball blog is back. I'm very excited for this year. I started this blog last year because I needed a creative outlet and a distraction during a crappy time. This year, I'm doing the blog because I enjoy it so much, and more importantly, you readers make it so much fun and totally worth my while. Thank you all very much. Let's enjoy the ride!

• "Can We climb this mountain? I don't know, higher now than ever before" - When You Were Young
  

Here are some things that one can expect from the experience known as Conquering The 2009 NCAA Tournament:

• Filling out 30 conference tournament brackets - besides having friends get into arguments in the comments sections, this is the main reason I bleed and sweat for this blog. If filling out one bracket is good, how are 30 brackets not way better?
• There will be guarantees - anyone who knows me, has read this blog before, or knows Phil...knows that guarantees are going to happen. The best strategy is to get on board early and enjoy the genius...and the absurdity.
• Running Diary of Selection Sunday - I did this last year, enjoyed it a lot, so I'll be doing it again. Will Billy Packer make an appearance this year?
• 5 Bracket Busters - last season, I predicted 5 potential bracket buster teams for the NCAA Tournament. The awesome thing was that I did this before the conference tournaments were complete. I'll definitely be doing this again. Listen to me early, or risk the chance of being ignorant and/or embarrassed later.
• Much discussion about the best dressed coaches in college hoops - duh (Annie is my expert here, although Matt does have that crush on Jay Wright).
• Mild rooting for UNC - because I must find an excuse to post a picture of Anna Lou in her Tar Heel blue and I think a Pitt vs. UNC Final Four match-up or Championship game would be outstanding.
  
• An Intense Labels Race - One of the fun surprises of last year's blog was how intense the "labels" race became. There reached a point where people were shamelessly attempting to get labels. I predict even more shame this year...not to mention bribery involved with people trying to get props. I look forward to it all. No C.O.D.s please.
• Blatant Homer'ism - I'll be rooting for Pitt and Robert Morris at every opportunity. And I will bring up Iowa for no apparent reason every now and then. Be prepared.
• Bets - If March Madness is about anything...it's about filling out brackets. If it's about anything else...it's about gambling and making bets. With any luck I'll be in 5 NCAA Tournament pools and will (again) con Phil into making many absurd bets.
• An obsession with winning Phil's pool - I need a victory for bragging rights and to prove dominance. Plus, I lost to Liz two seasons ago and I'm still way bitter.
  
• Dell Curry man love - When Davidson makes the Tournament, we can expect tons of talk about Stephen Curry. But more importantly, we can expect tons of crowd shots of Dell Curry! Did you know Stephen Curry's dad Dell once played in the NBA?!? Holy shit!
• Predictions - After the first weekend of the tournament is over and my brackets have already been eliminated from making me any money...you better believe I'm going to keep myself invested by predicting the results of the games from the Sweet Sixteen through the Championship Game. I'll still get those picks wrong 50% of the time, but it keeps things interesting.
• A Weekly Patriot League Update - This league absolutely fascinates me. Their conference tournament last year was amazingly competitive. Plus I have to keep Chaz involved with this blog somehow.
• Gus Johnson and Bill Raftery man love - duh.
• Giving my friends props - What's the use of having a creative platform if one can't give his friends props all the time for no apparent reason? Plus, this is a blog of the people...you make it enjoyable for me to do. And you provide opinions, ideas, and feedback that allow me to create and have fun with things. Can we make this the best and most extensive NCAA Tournament Blog on the net? YES WE CAN! YES WE CAN!

• "Don’t give the ghost up just clench your fist, You should have known by now you were on my list" - My List

Coming up next time in the entry cleverly titled: Blog Intro #2 - What I'm Curious To Find Out, I'll ask the most pressing questions I have with regard to this blog as well as college basketball.

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