It is funny how the performance of one team over the last few weeks of a season can really kill your motivation to write about college basketball. This does not mean that I have not been watching.
I have actually been thriving. For the first time ever, I told myself that I was not going to enter a pool. Turns out that in the bracket that I picked for my annual battle with Melissa, I picked 3 of the final four teams correct (guess which one I missed!). Anyways, here is how I see the weekend going down.
Game #1 - George Mason vs. Florida
Simply put, George Mason is out of gas, and it takes alot of gas to hang with the Gators. Gators by 14.
Game #2 - UCLA vs. LSU
In the battle of acronyms, I have to side with the guys I picked to win the whole thing before the tournament even started. This game is going to be ugly, with the scores maybe pushing the 50's. Both teams are young, but both teams are strong-willed. I am really excited for this game.
It is also the game that will decide whether or not I beat Melissa in my bracket pick for the first time EVER!
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Anna's New Tricks
Here are some of the new things that Anna has been learning in the last couple of weeks.
She has had a great teacher for the past few months, but Mom is going back to work and Dad is taking over. Hopefully he does as good of a job!
She has had a great teacher for the past few months, but Mom is going back to work and Dad is taking over. Hopefully he does as good of a job!
Thursday, March 09, 2006
The Best of the Rest
Here are what I think are the highlights from conference tournament action today and tonight:
NOTE: These are in no particular order...mainly the order that I think of them!
1. Syracuse: I think they are making a statement by beating #1 Connecticut today. Another win and you really have to give them serious condition...especially since the committee claims to be looking for "the 65 best teams in the country". Anyone who can fight through the Big East tourney deserves consideration to be in that group.
2. A10 Games: 3 of the top 4 seeds fell today, spelling doom for such fence sitters as the entire Missouri Valley Conference. Should this happen a couple more times, there will be lots of unhappy campers on Sunday at about 5:30 (when they realize their name is not being called)
3. Marquette: I know I should really be cheering for them...since their play no longer has any "real" effect on the Badgers, but I can't help myself. I guess I can find it in my heart to "not cheer against them" next week at this time...unless they get seeded well ahead of Wisconsin.
There is much more that I can think of, but really don't feel like writing about. Look for more tomorrow as I continue to comment on the goings on across the country...to myself and my 2 loyal readers (and that is a generous number!)
NOTE: These are in no particular order...mainly the order that I think of them!
1. Syracuse: I think they are making a statement by beating #1 Connecticut today. Another win and you really have to give them serious condition...especially since the committee claims to be looking for "the 65 best teams in the country". Anyone who can fight through the Big East tourney deserves consideration to be in that group.
2. A10 Games: 3 of the top 4 seeds fell today, spelling doom for such fence sitters as the entire Missouri Valley Conference. Should this happen a couple more times, there will be lots of unhappy campers on Sunday at about 5:30 (when they realize their name is not being called)
3. Marquette: I know I should really be cheering for them...since their play no longer has any "real" effect on the Badgers, but I can't help myself. I guess I can find it in my heart to "not cheer against them" next week at this time...unless they get seeded well ahead of Wisconsin.
There is much more that I can think of, but really don't feel like writing about. Look for more tomorrow as I continue to comment on the goings on across the country...to myself and my 2 loyal readers (and that is a generous number!)
Day One In The Books
I wish I could have seen more, but the first day of the BTT is complete. The big surprise of the day seems to be Minnesota beating Michigan.
Even more surprising was the way it happened. Minnesota seemed to have the game in hand, forcing Michigan to play the foul game. But...the Gophers kept missing, and missing, and missing.
Between that and some cold shooting, the Gophers were able to "survive and advance".
Big day of games tomorrow...so big that I don't think I can spend a whole day at work!
NOTE: Though my big upset team (Michigan) lost, I will stick with my previous prediction and have the Gophers beating Iowa...unless they have to shoot free throws!
Even more surprising was the way it happened. Minnesota seemed to have the game in hand, forcing Michigan to play the foul game. But...the Gophers kept missing, and missing, and missing.
Between that and some cold shooting, the Gophers were able to "survive and advance".
Big day of games tomorrow...so big that I don't think I can spend a whole day at work!
NOTE: Though my big upset team (Michigan) lost, I will stick with my previous prediction and have the Gophers beating Iowa...unless they have to shoot free throws!
Two Out of Three Ain't Bad
The first game of the BTT is inthe books, and I was right with 2 of my 3 predictions:
1) Penn State beats Northwestern. CHECK!
Final score was 60-42.
2) The game was going to be ugly. CHECK!
NW shot 31% from the field, Penn State missed 11 free throws, and the winner only scored 60 points.
3) The over/under I suggested was 114 1/2. NOPE!
It actually went under, but you should expect that when Northwestern and Penn State meet.
On to the next game...Michigan vs. Minnesota
1) Penn State beats Northwestern. CHECK!
Final score was 60-42.
2) The game was going to be ugly. CHECK!
NW shot 31% from the field, Penn State missed 11 free throws, and the winner only scored 60 points.
3) The over/under I suggested was 114 1/2. NOPE!
It actually went under, but you should expect that when Northwestern and Penn State meet.
On to the next game...Michigan vs. Minnesota
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
Big Ten Tournament Analysis
I will add more thought to this Thursday morning, but I want to get my thoughts out there before the games start, so that when I pick all 10 games correctly, people cannot say that I cheated.
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THURSDAY'S GAMES
Game #1: #8 Penn State vs. #9 Northwestern
People like to talk about it being so difficult to beat a team three times in one year...I say hogwash. It will be ugly...if I had to handicap the game, the over/under would be 114 1/2.
WINNER: Penn State
Game #2: #7 Michigan vs. #10 Minnesota
Minnesota's season can be broken into two sections...the part without Vincent Grier and the part with Vincent Grier. Unfortunately, Vincent Grier will not be able to neutralize the inside-outside game that Michigan can play when they use their big men (Brown, Sims, Petway) effectively with their guard play (Horton and Harris).
WINNER: Michigan
Game #3: #6 Michigan State vs. #11 Purdue
The rest of the conference got a little gift when Michigan State was forced to play a Thursday game. I see no reason why the Spartans will not dominate a continually depleted Purdue squad.
WINNER: Michigan State
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FRIDAY'S GAMES
Game #4: #1 Ohio State vs. #8 Penn State
Again, this is another classic mismatch. A rested Ohio State team should be able to dismantle a physically weak Penn State team
WINNER: Ohio State
Game #5: #4 Wisconsin vs. #5 Indiana
This game is the biggest wild card so far. Both Indiana and Wisconsin have played Dr. Jeckyl and Hr. Hyde all season. Indiana seems to have pulled it back together after Mike Davis announced his resignation, but ahve looked pretty awful at times, including a terrible loss at Wisconsin. The Badgers are very similar. They started hot but are only 5-8 after losing two of their big men (Landry and Stiemsma) to academics. Someone has to win, and the team that decided to show up in the correct incarnation will do it. I really hope if is Wisconsin (for obvious reasons) but I think Marco Killingsworth is starting to re-emerge and will dominate the physically soft and depleted Wisconsin big men.
WINNER: Indiana
Game #6: #2 Iowa vs. #7 Michigan
Every tournament needs an "upset", and I think Michigan is the team to pull it off. Some out there think they need to make a strong showing in order to get a bid to the NCAA tourney. I think Coach Amaker will be able to sell the team on this and will come out and surprise an Iowa team that has some great history in the BTT.
WINNER: Michigan
Game #7: #3 Illinois vs. #6 Michigan State
I commented before that the rest of the Big Ten should be thankful that Michigan State has been forced to play on Thursday, and I think Illinois will be the big benefactor of this "extra" game. I see a very close, well-played game, with the power of the Illini overtaking the Spartans in the waning minutes.
WINNER: Illinois
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SATURDAY'S SEMI-FINALS
Game #8: #7 Michigan vs. #3 Illinois
Michigan will meet the same fate that their rival from East Lansing met the day before. They will hang with the Illini, but in the end, the big men will cancel each other out and the superior outside shooting of the Illini will prevail. This game and this result hinges on Dee Brown re-emerging from the "slump" he has been in (if you can call it that!)
WINNER: Illinois
Game #9: #1 Ohio State vs. #5 Indiana
The "home crowd" of the Hoosiers will play a factor, but I see the Buckeyes negating this advantage early in the second half. I see a close game throughout the first half, but the Buckeyes should be able to take over and handily win, being able to ready themselves for the big match-up on Sunday with the Illini.
WINNER: Ohio State
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SUNDAY'S FINAL
Game #10: #1 Ohio State vs. #3 Illinois
I see no real reason to preview this game, since the likelihood of me actually being correct is slim to none...probably closer to that latter! But...I will still at least pick a winner for this game. And the 2006 Big Ten Tournament Champion is...
ILLINOIS
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We will see how I do. As the games progress, I will attempt to continue to prognosticate the results, as well as what will happen when the brackets are announced on Sunday after the BTT.
--------------------
THURSDAY'S GAMES
Game #1: #8 Penn State vs. #9 Northwestern
People like to talk about it being so difficult to beat a team three times in one year...I say hogwash. It will be ugly...if I had to handicap the game, the over/under would be 114 1/2.
WINNER: Penn State
Game #2: #7 Michigan vs. #10 Minnesota
Minnesota's season can be broken into two sections...the part without Vincent Grier and the part with Vincent Grier. Unfortunately, Vincent Grier will not be able to neutralize the inside-outside game that Michigan can play when they use their big men (Brown, Sims, Petway) effectively with their guard play (Horton and Harris).
WINNER: Michigan
Game #3: #6 Michigan State vs. #11 Purdue
The rest of the conference got a little gift when Michigan State was forced to play a Thursday game. I see no reason why the Spartans will not dominate a continually depleted Purdue squad.
WINNER: Michigan State
--------------------
FRIDAY'S GAMES
Game #4: #1 Ohio State vs. #8 Penn State
Again, this is another classic mismatch. A rested Ohio State team should be able to dismantle a physically weak Penn State team
WINNER: Ohio State
Game #5: #4 Wisconsin vs. #5 Indiana
This game is the biggest wild card so far. Both Indiana and Wisconsin have played Dr. Jeckyl and Hr. Hyde all season. Indiana seems to have pulled it back together after Mike Davis announced his resignation, but ahve looked pretty awful at times, including a terrible loss at Wisconsin. The Badgers are very similar. They started hot but are only 5-8 after losing two of their big men (Landry and Stiemsma) to academics. Someone has to win, and the team that decided to show up in the correct incarnation will do it. I really hope if is Wisconsin (for obvious reasons) but I think Marco Killingsworth is starting to re-emerge and will dominate the physically soft and depleted Wisconsin big men.
WINNER: Indiana
Game #6: #2 Iowa vs. #7 Michigan
Every tournament needs an "upset", and I think Michigan is the team to pull it off. Some out there think they need to make a strong showing in order to get a bid to the NCAA tourney. I think Coach Amaker will be able to sell the team on this and will come out and surprise an Iowa team that has some great history in the BTT.
WINNER: Michigan
Game #7: #3 Illinois vs. #6 Michigan State
I commented before that the rest of the Big Ten should be thankful that Michigan State has been forced to play on Thursday, and I think Illinois will be the big benefactor of this "extra" game. I see a very close, well-played game, with the power of the Illini overtaking the Spartans in the waning minutes.
WINNER: Illinois
--------------------
SATURDAY'S SEMI-FINALS
Game #8: #7 Michigan vs. #3 Illinois
Michigan will meet the same fate that their rival from East Lansing met the day before. They will hang with the Illini, but in the end, the big men will cancel each other out and the superior outside shooting of the Illini will prevail. This game and this result hinges on Dee Brown re-emerging from the "slump" he has been in (if you can call it that!)
WINNER: Illinois
Game #9: #1 Ohio State vs. #5 Indiana
The "home crowd" of the Hoosiers will play a factor, but I see the Buckeyes negating this advantage early in the second half. I see a close game throughout the first half, but the Buckeyes should be able to take over and handily win, being able to ready themselves for the big match-up on Sunday with the Illini.
WINNER: Ohio State
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SUNDAY'S FINAL
Game #10: #1 Ohio State vs. #3 Illinois
I see no real reason to preview this game, since the likelihood of me actually being correct is slim to none...probably closer to that latter! But...I will still at least pick a winner for this game. And the 2006 Big Ten Tournament Champion is...
ILLINOIS
--------------------
We will see how I do. As the games progress, I will attempt to continue to prognosticate the results, as well as what will happen when the brackets are announced on Sunday after the BTT.
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Let The Madness Begin
When I looked at my watch this morning, I noticed it said "29"...then I smiled.
I realized that I got to set my watch ahead to "1", which means that my favorite month is about to start...MARCH!!
March is my favorite month for one reason, college basketball. Hearing things like the folliwing send shiver down my spine:
I realized that I got to set my watch ahead to "1", which means that my favorite month is about to start...MARCH!!
March is my favorite month for one reason, college basketball. Hearing things like the folliwing send shiver down my spine:
- Championship Week
- Brackets
- Buzzer Beaters
- Cinderella
- Selection Sunday
- Final Four
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