This years sweet 16 could not be any sweeter. There are 5 Big East schools representing the NCAA in the final 16. And a couple of them don't plan on losing anytime soon. I'm going to focus down in the South section of everyone's brackets and break down what we will see tonight when the final 4 in the south go head to head.
#1 UNC vs. #4 Gonzaga
This match up I am not going to waste too much time on because if Zaga pulls this game out somehow, I think the world will go into shock. This is UNC's game and it is their game to lose. They have an Elite 8 birth right around the corner and with Ty Lawson healthy, I just cannot see the Tar Heels losing this game. Gonzaga is a good team but they choke deep into the tournament. Last night we saw Duke get pummeled by the #3 seeded Villinova by 23 points. I am not going to go out and say that the Tar Heels are going to win by that much but it will be a slaughter in favor of the Heels.
Final Score: 78-63 UNC
#2 Oklahoma vs. #3 Syracuse
Now this game on the other hand could get interesting. This will be the second game starting in the 7 o'clock hour with Louisville and Arizona starting first. I will tell everyone right now that I picked against my home town Orange in advancing past tonight's game with Oklahoma in my Final 4. But with the way things are looking right now, my bracket could be in trouble.
Starting out in the back court, Jonny Flynn is the quarterback for SU who creates plays with his fantastic ball movement and he also has the ability to make plays for himself. Oklahoma is going to have to put their best defender face guarding Flynn if they want to control the lanes and make him use his other options. But SU has more. Eric Devendorf is the hottest 3 point shooter in this tournament. He is shooting well over 40 percent from downtown. Andy Rautins will come off the bench and he is also a pure shooter and if both of these guys get hot, I don't care if Blake Griffen puts up 30, SU will out shoot the Sooners and that in itself could lead them to victory.
Game Changer: Front Court Defense
SU will try and win this game tonight from the perimeter but Oklahoma is going to pick on the big guys for Syracuse. Arinze and Rick are going to have to double team Blake Griffen every time he touches the ball. Oklahoma is not the strong shooting Orange. Their game is in the paint. Kristof is going to be called on as well to play defense down low.
Overall, I truly think that the Orange of Syracuse outmatch the Sooners in the back court and with some tightly played zone defense on Oklahoma's big men, we could see SU back in the Elite 8. I have said it since day one of the tournament, it is going to take another Big East school to knock out the top teams out of the Big East. Right now, SU is one of those elite teams.
Final Score: 67-58 Syracuse
Friday, March 27, 2009
Monday, March 16, 2009
NCAA Bracket Picks: Big East Steals the Show
This years NCAA Men's basketball tournament made history as the first time 3 teams out of the conference has held 3 #1 seeds. Louisville winning the Big East tournament on top and hold the top spot overall in the big dance. This team has lulled people to sleep all year. They never once were ranked 1st in the nation with their highest being 3rd in the preseason polls as well as weeks 1 and 2. After a few early losses, Rick Pitino and the Cardinals dropped off to 11th and have been clawing their way back ever since. This week, first in America. But a field of 63 other teams all aiming for that bullseye on their backs.
MIDWEST
Round 1
1 Louisville over 16 Morehead St./Alabama St.
9 Siena over 8 Ohio St.
12 Arizona over 5 Utah
4 Wake Forest over 13 Cleveland St.
6 West Virginia over 11 Dayton
3 Kansas over 14 N. Dakota St.
7 Boston College over 10 USC
2 Michgan St. over 15 Robert Morris
Round 2
1 Louisville over 9 Siena
4 Wake Forest over 12 Arizona
6 West Virginia over 3 Kansas
2 Michigan St. over 7 Boston College
Sweet 16
1 Louisville over 4 Wake Forest
6 West Virginia over 2 Michigan St.
Elite 8
1 Louisville over 6 West Virginia
EAST
Round 1
1 Pittsburgh over 16 E. Tennessee St.
9 Tennessee over 8 Oklahoma St.
5 Florida St. over 12 Wisconsin
4 Xavier over 13 Portland St.
11 VCU over 6 UCLA
3 Villinova over 14 American
7 Texas over 10 Minnesota
2 Duke over 15 SUNY Binghamton
Round 2
1 Pittsburgh over 9 Tennessee
4 Xavier over 5 Florida St.
3 Villinova over 11 VCU
2 Duke over 7 Texas
Sweet 16
1 Pittsburgh over 4 Xavier
3 Villinova over 2 Duke
Elite 8
1 Pittsburgh over 3 Villinova
SOUTH
Round 1
1 UNC over 16 Radford
9 Butler over 8 LSU
12 W. Kentucky over 5 Illinois
4 Gonzaga over 13 Akron
6 Arizona St. over 11 Temple
3 Syracuse over 14 Stephen F. Austin
7 Clemson over 10 Michigan
2 Oklahoma over 15 Morgan St.
Round 2
1 UNC over 9 Butler
12 W. Kentucky over 4 Gonzaga
3 Syracuse over 6 Arizona St.
2 Oklahoma over 7 Clemson
Sweet 16
1 UNC over 12 W. Kentucky
2 Oklahoma over 3 Syracuse
Elite 8
2 Oklahoma over 1 UNC
WEST
Round 1
1 UCONN over 16 Chattanooga
9 Texas A&M over 8 BYU
5 Purdue over 12 Northern Iowa
13 Mississippi St. over 4 Washington
6 Marquette over 11 Utah St.
3 Missouri over 14 Cornell
7 California over 10 Maryland
2 Memphis over 15 CSU Northridge
Round 2
1 UCONN over 9 Texas A&M
5 Purdue over 13 Mississippi St.
3 Missouri over 6 Marquette
2 Memphis over 7 California
Sweet 16
1 UCONN over 5 Purdue
3 Misouri over 2 Memphis
Elite 8
1 UCONN over 3 Missouri
FINAL 4
1 UCONN over 1 Louisville
1 Pittsburgh over 2 Oklahoma
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
PITTSBURGH 68
UCONN 65
PITTSBURGH PANTHERS NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
MIDWEST
Round 1
1 Louisville over 16 Morehead St./Alabama St.
9 Siena over 8 Ohio St.
12 Arizona over 5 Utah
4 Wake Forest over 13 Cleveland St.
6 West Virginia over 11 Dayton
3 Kansas over 14 N. Dakota St.
7 Boston College over 10 USC
2 Michgan St. over 15 Robert Morris
Round 2
1 Louisville over 9 Siena
4 Wake Forest over 12 Arizona
6 West Virginia over 3 Kansas
2 Michigan St. over 7 Boston College
Sweet 16
1 Louisville over 4 Wake Forest
6 West Virginia over 2 Michigan St.
Elite 8
1 Louisville over 6 West Virginia
EAST
Round 1
1 Pittsburgh over 16 E. Tennessee St.
9 Tennessee over 8 Oklahoma St.
5 Florida St. over 12 Wisconsin
4 Xavier over 13 Portland St.
11 VCU over 6 UCLA
3 Villinova over 14 American
7 Texas over 10 Minnesota
2 Duke over 15 SUNY Binghamton
Round 2
1 Pittsburgh over 9 Tennessee
4 Xavier over 5 Florida St.
3 Villinova over 11 VCU
2 Duke over 7 Texas
Sweet 16
1 Pittsburgh over 4 Xavier
3 Villinova over 2 Duke
Elite 8
1 Pittsburgh over 3 Villinova
SOUTH
Round 1
1 UNC over 16 Radford
9 Butler over 8 LSU
12 W. Kentucky over 5 Illinois
4 Gonzaga over 13 Akron
6 Arizona St. over 11 Temple
3 Syracuse over 14 Stephen F. Austin
7 Clemson over 10 Michigan
2 Oklahoma over 15 Morgan St.
Round 2
1 UNC over 9 Butler
12 W. Kentucky over 4 Gonzaga
3 Syracuse over 6 Arizona St.
2 Oklahoma over 7 Clemson
Sweet 16
1 UNC over 12 W. Kentucky
2 Oklahoma over 3 Syracuse
Elite 8
2 Oklahoma over 1 UNC
WEST
Round 1
1 UCONN over 16 Chattanooga
9 Texas A&M over 8 BYU
5 Purdue over 12 Northern Iowa
13 Mississippi St. over 4 Washington
6 Marquette over 11 Utah St.
3 Missouri over 14 Cornell
7 California over 10 Maryland
2 Memphis over 15 CSU Northridge
Round 2
1 UCONN over 9 Texas A&M
5 Purdue over 13 Mississippi St.
3 Missouri over 6 Marquette
2 Memphis over 7 California
Sweet 16
1 UCONN over 5 Purdue
3 Misouri over 2 Memphis
Elite 8
1 UCONN over 3 Missouri
FINAL 4
1 UCONN over 1 Louisville
1 Pittsburgh over 2 Oklahoma
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
PITTSBURGH 68
UCONN 65
PITTSBURGH PANTHERS NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Syracuse Nabs the 3 seed
What a week it has been for the Orange. Syracuse pulled off a run in the Big East Tournament that honestly was unpredictable
. They played their hearts out these last 4 games and with that, a well deserved 3 seed in the big dance. Before this conference tournament, the Orange were a lock for the NCAA's. I had them listed at a 6 seed behind 6 other Big East schools. But with the show they put on, they are well deserving of this 3 seed. Personally I believe that they got put into what is an extremely underrated South bracket. UNC at the #1 seed obviously is not my point. First round against Stephen F. Austin will/should be a cake walk. The Lumberjacks are the 14 seed Southland Conference Champs. Yeah, you read right, Southland Conference. They were put to the test minimal times through the season with their biggest game coming in a 69-55 loss to Texas Tech. And no where in the field of 65 do you see Pat Knight and Texas Tech. As I said, should be no contest. Second round they will play the winner of Arizona State 
and Temple. Arizona State out of the non-threatening PAC 10 as an at large bid and Temple, conference champs out of the Atlantic 10. Arizona State should be the second round opponent for the Orange but I will save all these picks for a later post with my bracket and all my final picks. When it is all said and done, Syracuse I feel got lucky in a way because they are the only Big East team in the South while the East holds Pitt and Villinova, the West with UCONN and Marquette and finally the Midwest with Louisville and West Virginia. But do not underestimate the abilities of some of these teams the Cuse will have to face. Oklahoma is struggling as of late but with a possible Sweet 16 meeting, things could get interesting not to mention UNC possibly waiting in the Regional Finals. I give all the credit in the world to the Orange this past week. Hands down the best effort ever shown by a single team that I have ever witnessed. Congratulations to Jonny Flynn, Big East Tournament MVP!
Next post to come: Complete NCAA Bracket picks from 1st round to the National Champions!
MLB Previews to come...
. They played their hearts out these last 4 games and with that, a well deserved 3 seed in the big dance. Before this conference tournament, the Orange were a lock for the NCAA's. I had them listed at a 6 seed behind 6 other Big East schools. But with the show they put on, they are well deserving of this 3 seed. Personally I believe that they got put into what is an extremely underrated South bracket. UNC at the #1 seed obviously is not my point. First round against Stephen F. Austin will/should be a cake walk. The Lumberjacks are the 14 seed Southland Conference Champs. Yeah, you read right, Southland Conference. They were put to the test minimal times through the season with their biggest game coming in a 69-55 loss to Texas Tech. And no where in the field of 65 do you see Pat Knight and Texas Tech. As I said, should be no contest. Second round they will play the winner of Arizona State 
and Temple. Arizona State out of the non-threatening PAC 10 as an at large bid and Temple, conference champs out of the Atlantic 10. Arizona State should be the second round opponent for the Orange but I will save all these picks for a later post with my bracket and all my final picks. When it is all said and done, Syracuse I feel got lucky in a way because they are the only Big East team in the South while the East holds Pitt and Villinova, the West with UCONN and Marquette and finally the Midwest with Louisville and West Virginia. But do not underestimate the abilities of some of these teams the Cuse will have to face. Oklahoma is struggling as of late but with a possible Sweet 16 meeting, things could get interesting not to mention UNC possibly waiting in the Regional Finals. I give all the credit in the world to the Orange this past week. Hands down the best effort ever shown by a single team that I have ever witnessed. Congratulations to Jonny Flynn, Big East Tournament MVP!
Next post to come: Complete NCAA Bracket picks from 1st round to the National Champions!
MLB Previews to come...
Thursday, March 5, 2009
TO Gone From Big D
It was reported last night by two sources from ESPN that Terrell Owens was released from the Dallas Cowboys. Could this have been because of salary cap reasons or is it simply because he just wore out his welcome? Tough to say but when Jerry Jones just last year paid TO 12 million dollars in signing bonus, that kind of would look like the team was interested in his abilities for a few years to come. Whatever the case may be, Owens is needing to find a home once again this off season. What teams are interested? We'll have to wait and see.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Manny Inks with Dodgers!
After an off season full of drama, Manny Ramirez will be sporting that number 99 uniform in Dodger Blue in a few weeks as he signed a 2 year 45 million dollar contract with the Dodgers. Torre and the Dodgers will have the dread locks back roaming the left field grass for another two years. Maybe he will send a text message during a pitching change this year. Or even an email on his blackberry. We know now he is making the big bucks. Well not as much as he would have been making had he accepted their original offer. Who knows what you will get out of Manny. Thank goodness he remains in the National League!
Monday, March 2, 2009
Big East Conference: Tournament for all!
With the new vamped style that the Big East conference has put into effect starting this year that will include all 16 teams in the conference tournament in a couple of weeks, it is so tough to figure out what teams will and which ones will be left out of the big dance come mid March. The outlook of the conference has certainly changed from the beginning of the year as now teams like Providence and Cincinnati are in talks for at large bids and others like Georgetown and Notre Dame have basically been forgotten about. But nothing is over until it is over. All teams including 0-16 DePaul have the opportunity to get into the NCAA tournament with a conference title. What teams are truly on the bubble, safely in, and can pack their bags for home in the what has been said to be the toughest conference in Division I basketball?
Safely In:
It is obvious what teams in the Big East we can count on seeing in the big dance. Pitt is safe as well as UCONN, Louisville and Marquette. Those four are going to be my top 4 seeds, not in that order, for the conference tournament. All four, even if they get knocked out early, will all be in the NCAA tourney. After these teams are set, it is tough to say where the others will fall into place. But there are a few schools that in my eyes have already solidified a spot.
Villinova
Nova has proven to be a confident team that can play with any of those 4 I listed above. Yeah, they did get beat recently by West Virginia who ranks about middle of the pack but they have also beaten a lot of other teams who at the time, were ranked pretty high. They were able to sneak by Marquette which is a big win and also not as big but still a competitive Georgetown. What scares me about this team is that yeah they have taken a lot of teams to the wood shed but in some cases, they let teams that they should blow out hang with them. DePaul hung with them and they snuck away with a win 74-72. It is tough to say. They will not make it into the top 4 but have a good shot at a decent run in the Big East tourney and definite in NCAA birth.
Syracuse
Despite me being a huge Orange fan, this is not a homer pick. SU has played mediocre basketball down the stretch. They have dropped every game they have played against teams ranked higher than them in the Big East. Nova has beat them twice. Louisville, Pitt and UCONN have all gotten the best of the Orange. But this team wins games that they should. St. John's was a blow out. Cincinnati looked like a Division II school for most of the game. They have won 21 games this season so far with their only out of conference loss courtesy of Cleveland State who should get a bid to the dance. Syracuse may look like a middle of the road team, but with their schedule remaining, I see them at the very least the 5 or 6 seed in the Big East showdown.
Providence
This is probably the first time that I have ever written about this team before. At the beginning of the season, if you had told me Providence would be in contention for the NCAA's, I would have probably laughed. But this team is the real deal. Beating teams like Pitt and Syracuse makes their story look glorious. If anyone beats Pitt this year, consider yourself a contender especially when they were the #1 ranked team in the nation. Do I think they will win the Big Easy, absolutely not. But 8 teams have to get into the NCAA tourney therefore, Providence, you are in.
On the Bubble:
West Virginia
It is tough to say with this team. They have played some very good basketball this season. But their lack of ability to shut teams out and to hang with teams late in games really scares me. But this team has not really lost to any teams that I would consider a bad loss. Louisvillem Syracuse, UCONN, these are all respectable losses. But only beating Cincinnati by 4. They are winning the games they should be winning but they are not blowing teams out of the water which could cost them.
Cincinnati
After watching them play this weekend, I will confidently say that this team needs help. They did not show up to play Sunday against SU. They have struggled late into this season and if the trend continues, things are not looking good. Right now, Cincinnati sits 9th in the Big East. 9 teams I do not think will get into the dance. It could happen but the selection committee is not going to be impressed by the way the Bearcats have been playing lately.
Pack Your Bags
Notre Dame
Harengody could possibly still win player of the year for the conference with his team not making the NCAA tournament but his team has been just hard to watch. Talk about a team falling apart. I guess that is what you get when your team is supplied points by two players, one from downtown and the other from the paint. A conference title is really their last hope.
Georgetown
Another team that has disappointed a lot of fans this year. Greg Monroe can out of the gate this year like he was in contention for player of the year but then the team forgot that the object of the game is to put the ball in the hoop. As I said, a conference tournament title or bust. Same goes for the rest of the bottom dwellers of the conference.
And just for kickers, I think that this whole lets have all 16 teams play in this tournament is complete crap. The top 4 seeds get double byes with the next 4 getting a single bye. Who wants to watch the first round of DePaul vs. St. John's? And then have a team like South Florida get on a run and beat a team like Marquette (oh right, that actually happened already) and then be a spoiler. Do you really want to watch South Florida play in the quarterfinal round or even possibly the semis? No. No one does. It is a way to make more money for the conference and that is all. Just thought I would voice my disgust with the conference. Any thoughts? Leave me a comment and I will answer.
Safely In:
It is obvious what teams in the Big East we can count on seeing in the big dance. Pitt is safe as well as UCONN, Louisville and Marquette. Those four are going to be my top 4 seeds, not in that order, for the conference tournament. All four, even if they get knocked out early, will all be in the NCAA tourney. After these teams are set, it is tough to say where the others will fall into place. But there are a few schools that in my eyes have already solidified a spot.
Villinova
Nova has proven to be a confident team that can play with any of those 4 I listed above. Yeah, they did get beat recently by West Virginia who ranks about middle of the pack but they have also beaten a lot of other teams who at the time, were ranked pretty high. They were able to sneak by Marquette which is a big win and also not as big but still a competitive Georgetown. What scares me about this team is that yeah they have taken a lot of teams to the wood shed but in some cases, they let teams that they should blow out hang with them. DePaul hung with them and they snuck away with a win 74-72. It is tough to say. They will not make it into the top 4 but have a good shot at a decent run in the Big East tourney and definite in NCAA birth.
Syracuse
Despite me being a huge Orange fan, this is not a homer pick. SU has played mediocre basketball down the stretch. They have dropped every game they have played against teams ranked higher than them in the Big East. Nova has beat them twice. Louisville, Pitt and UCONN have all gotten the best of the Orange. But this team wins games that they should. St. John's was a blow out. Cincinnati looked like a Division II school for most of the game. They have won 21 games this season so far with their only out of conference loss courtesy of Cleveland State who should get a bid to the dance. Syracuse may look like a middle of the road team, but with their schedule remaining, I see them at the very least the 5 or 6 seed in the Big East showdown.
Providence
This is probably the first time that I have ever written about this team before. At the beginning of the season, if you had told me Providence would be in contention for the NCAA's, I would have probably laughed. But this team is the real deal. Beating teams like Pitt and Syracuse makes their story look glorious. If anyone beats Pitt this year, consider yourself a contender especially when they were the #1 ranked team in the nation. Do I think they will win the Big Easy, absolutely not. But 8 teams have to get into the NCAA tourney therefore, Providence, you are in.
On the Bubble:
West Virginia
It is tough to say with this team. They have played some very good basketball this season. But their lack of ability to shut teams out and to hang with teams late in games really scares me. But this team has not really lost to any teams that I would consider a bad loss. Louisvillem Syracuse, UCONN, these are all respectable losses. But only beating Cincinnati by 4. They are winning the games they should be winning but they are not blowing teams out of the water which could cost them.
Cincinnati
After watching them play this weekend, I will confidently say that this team needs help. They did not show up to play Sunday against SU. They have struggled late into this season and if the trend continues, things are not looking good. Right now, Cincinnati sits 9th in the Big East. 9 teams I do not think will get into the dance. It could happen but the selection committee is not going to be impressed by the way the Bearcats have been playing lately.
Pack Your Bags
Notre Dame
Harengody could possibly still win player of the year for the conference with his team not making the NCAA tournament but his team has been just hard to watch. Talk about a team falling apart. I guess that is what you get when your team is supplied points by two players, one from downtown and the other from the paint. A conference title is really their last hope.
Georgetown
Another team that has disappointed a lot of fans this year. Greg Monroe can out of the gate this year like he was in contention for player of the year but then the team forgot that the object of the game is to put the ball in the hoop. As I said, a conference tournament title or bust. Same goes for the rest of the bottom dwellers of the conference.
And just for kickers, I think that this whole lets have all 16 teams play in this tournament is complete crap. The top 4 seeds get double byes with the next 4 getting a single bye. Who wants to watch the first round of DePaul vs. St. John's? And then have a team like South Florida get on a run and beat a team like Marquette (oh right, that actually happened already) and then be a spoiler. Do you really want to watch South Florida play in the quarterfinal round or even possibly the semis? No. No one does. It is a way to make more money for the conference and that is all. Just thought I would voice my disgust with the conference. Any thoughts? Leave me a comment and I will answer.
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