The Pain...But Life Will Get Better!

I'm not sure who (realistically) saw Michigan losing to the Bobcats of Ohio.  Granted, the Bobcats won the MAC and the MAC winner is always tough...Looking back, I've made quiet money in the NCAA with Central, Kent State, and others over the years.  I just didn't think this team had what it took to get by the Wolverines.

I was wrong. 

It'll be sad to see this group of seniors go.  I can't count how many times either Zack or Stewey managed to hit a 3-pointer when the team needed it most.  There was thrilling victories and crushing defeats.  And in a way, the last defeat for these guys was almost symbolic.  Play to the level of your competition, suffer the consequences. 

Of course, one or two late shots could have changed everything and were talking about a Sweet 16 berth today instead of encapsulating an otherwise successful season. 

The tournament started out, frankly, boring, for lack of a better term, on Thursday.  Friday rolled around and not much had changed.  Not until the evening when not one, but two 15 seeds got it in their head that they could knock off their respective 2 seeds.  Granted, Lehigh beating Duke wasn't nearly as impressive as the Norfolk State dismantling of Mizzou.  I think everyone was pretty suspiscious of the Duke 2 rank and had them going out in the 2nd round to Xavier after the X-Men beat the Domers (you're MMQ included in that fine analysis).  But if you had Mizzou going out in the 2nd or even 3rd round, you were in somewhat of a minority.  And while it was an exciting Friday, it lacked that buzzer beater upset feeling that past tournaments have had.  Not that I don't like it, mind you.  It just didn't have the "Oh Boy!  Here we go!" heart-stopping moment.

Anyway, for future reference, if anyone is looking for ways to make "REAL" money during the NCAA tournament and you happen to find yourself in Vegas with nothing else to do and a couple of extra C-notes in your pocket, the following is one way you could have invested it (From the USAToday):

Sometimes you have to buck the odds to make bucks in this town.
R.J. Bell of pregame.com reports that betting on Norfolk State and Lehigh in round 1 would have been good for a couple of mortgage payments.
A $100 bet (Cash line - MMQ) on Norfolk State to upset Missouri would have paid $4,000. Norfolk State was a 21 1/2 point underdog.
A $100 bet on Lehigh (+11 1/2) to beat Duke would have returned $650.
A parlay on Norfolk State and Lehigh? $30,650.

That would have been NIIIIIICE!!!!!!

HOCKEY

For those of you that might be traveling south for the Easter holiday I have some news that Superfan alerted me to.  I will be in Tampa, Florida arriving on April 5th at around noon and guess what else is in Tampa, Florida, April 5th through the 7th?

The Men's Ice Hockey Frozen 4!

Michigan is the #1 seed in the Green Bay Region and it looks like the team will have a reasonable shot at making the Frozen 4.  Michigan is making its 22nd straight appearance in the Frozen 4, which is a hell of a tribute to the program and what Red Berenson can do with a hockey team.

5 CCHA teams have made the Round of 16 which is a testament to the strength of that conference.  Again, I've said it before, but I truly have mixed emotions about leaving the CCHA and forming the Big 10 Hockey Conference.  I know it's about money....But I will miss it.

If you can't link or don't feel like it:  Michigan plays Cornell on March 23rd and Ferris plays Denver that rounds out the field.  They're in and there's a chance.  

Nothing would give me greater pleasure than heading to the Tampa Bay Times Forum and checking out the Maize and Blue at either 4:30 or 8:00 PM!   Of course....I have to sell the Trip Coordinator on the idea..But that shouldn't be incredibly difficult!

GO BLUE!