Okay – I want to
thank everyone who texted (and later e-mailed) to inform me that Michigan
looked like dog-doo and was showing “no effort” in the 1st half of
the ohio game. Yes, thanks for that….It
was nearly impossible for me to see that for myself as my eyes watered with
rage when the suckeyes more or less just continued their pre-game warm up
drills (lay-ups) through Michigan’s D….I had to switch to the Olympics once
in order to protect my basement TV from the remote in my hand. I exaggerate…but only a little. There was an object thrown. But I managed to avoid the TV.
And then, something
happened. Either the world shifted on
its axis or Michigan actually found a way to not only score, but stop the
suckeyes and Anyway, I think we all panic a little, myself included, when things like this happen. I’m not saying there’s not evidence that we SHOULDN’T Panic (Iowa and now Wiscy) but I do believe in the laws of regression and I looked again at ohio’s offensive numbers and realized that if we just kept playing our game….Things should eventually work out.
And work out, they
did! Walton, Irvin and even Stauskas (a
quiet 15 on the night) had superb games!
The 2nd half was highlighted by a 12-0 Michigan run that had
the BEST DEFENSIVE TEAM in the league looking around at each other wondering
what to do.
Wiscy: What can I say? It was going to be a big game no matter who
won or lost. I have to admit that I did
not see the game as I somehow got the start time in my little noggin screwed
up, but I did see the finish. What
looked like a close game late turns out was nothing but. I heard from foes and fans alike (Where I
caught the end of the game was full of rejoicing Spartys - more on that in a
minute) that more or less all agreed that Michigan sucked in the first
half. And it appeared to be an effort thing.
I don’t know what “Clicks”
with Michigan and what they do to turn it on, but when it’s on, they are
capable of beating anyone in the country.
And I do mean ANYONE. Bring it
Syracuse. Wichita State – Final Four
Fraud from last year. Arizona is more or
less done without Ashley….Florida?
PUHLEASE!!!!!
So the question
becomes: What team can Michigan put on
the floor for 6 games in the tournament? Or is it going to continue to be a "Up this game, Down this Game" routine with the Maize and Blue?
REST OF THE B1G
Sparty: As I was
saying, Sparty looked truly dominating in their win over the Kitty’s…but about
that Nebraska Cornhusker Team coached by Tom Miles…I have a Sparty buddy that I
can actually have civil conversations with and he was a huge believer in
Northwestern as the “Most Under-Rated Team In the B1G” and he was holding up
the Kats victory up in the Troll center as his evidence. I was leaning more towards Nebraska and this “kid-coach”
that had great success at Colorado State. When Nebraska hired Tim Miles, I
thought they’de made a good move. Bad
for Michigan and the rest of the B1G, but a good move.
And Sparty got to see just how good of a move it
was on their Home Court on Sunday. I
started watching the game with bunch of elated Spartys and depressed Michigan
fans and by the end of the game, the Spartys were “MASSIVELY DEFLATED” and the
Michigan Fans were doing a little dance!
In short, a horrible loss for Sparty that has more
or less destroyed any chance for a 1 seed with that loss. I’m not even sure a win in Ann Arbor gets
that back.
So what gives?
Who wants to win the B1G? (Rhetorical Question. Don’t answer that.)
We have learned
this about Sparty: When they play poorly, everyone is hurt,
either physically or emotionally. When
they win, everyone is toughing it out and playing over their pain. Sheesh…After questioning Apple(ings)
toughness, Izzo came out last Monday with this whine, er, rant:
Awww……Poor Babies!
Come to Izzo and daddy will make it all better! Bubuyathpppt… (Baby noises….) So, Sparty doesn’t like it when people talk
about them on Twitter….Perhaps if Sparty and their fans were not so active in
the “Talking” business, things wouldn’t be said about them? Hmmmm?What a jackass. Actually – let me re-phrase: What a bunch of Jackasses… The things Izzo and the collective known as Sparty have said about Michigan and Michigan players and then to come out and say that people are making “bad remarks” about his players. Really? Don’t throw mud, idiots. Get over it. Or better yet, get off Twitter.
But wouldn’t this be a great coaching opportunity
and a REALLY great team unity opportunity that could be used for a bonding
moment? Instead, Izzo comes out and only
makes it worse by saying his guys are “crying” about stuff that’s written about
them…
I can’t wait till February 23rd!
Wiscy: Doing what
they need to do to secure at least a top 5 seed. My guess is they are still an early out,
which again could mean a trip to the elite 8 knowing Ryan…
OSU: Is there
anything better and redder on the tube than Thad Matta’s face when he’s yelling
and pissed off about something? That guy
is really coaching at the right place due to the fact that his face goes so
well with the team’s colors….Kind of the same way if Brian Kelly was the head
football coach at Northwestern.
Iowa: If they can win out, I see a high seed in their
future as well….
Minnesota: Could have
really helped their tournament cause with a win at the Troll center, but
couldn’t even get close in the upset….
NEBRAKSA: I’m adding
them to the “List” as a potential team to surprise some people and get in the
tournament. And this is a team you DON’T
want to play as a middle seed…
Indiana: Now, after
a crippling loss against the Gophers and what can only be described as a pathetic
last minute loss to Penn State (after being up 10 with 3 minutes to go!), I’m
taking Indiana officially out of the tournament. They’re done.
Stick a fork in them. And what’s
funny is, they have talent…but there’s no way unless they win the B1G
Tournament…And then it will probably be curtains for the Gophers as Indiana
would “Steal” a B1G spot….
NCAA Tournament
Locks:
Michigan, Sparty, Wiscy, ohio, Iowa
Locked up, but
Trying desperately to Break into the NIT or at least get on the bubble: Minnesota
Last B1G Teams In – NEBRASKA
Wishing they had
one or two more victories right now or hoping for a final 5 game run or B1G Tournament Victory: PSU, NWU,
IU
Roaming around
waiting for any other sport to start: Illinois and Purdue
The B1G is probably only going to get 6 in the NCAA
tourney this year. Too much parity in
the middle of the pack and too many bottom feeders upsetting the middle guys…But
if Nebraska can win 4 of last 5…look out.
Could be 7.
Bracketology
Getting down to the proverbial “Nitty Gritty” and
the chips are getting stacked in front of the big boys and the other little
guys are scrambling for spots.
Right now, the 4
number 1 seeds will be:
- Florida (My new “first 1 seed to lose in
the tournament” team)
- Syracuse (This team could win the whole
enchilada…they are better than last year.)
- Wichita State (Haven’t lost since last
year’s Final Four)
- Arizona – Another 1 seed that might not make it out of the first weekend to the Sweet 16….
The 2-4 seeds, in particular order because it DOES
matter as we get closer:
2 Seeds: Creighton,
sparty, Kansas, Dook
3 Seeds: Kentucky, Michigan, San Diego State, TEXAS
4 Seeds: Cincinnati, Villanova, Louisville, Virginia
Team most likely to move up to a 1 when either
Florida or Arizona loses again: Dook. Whoever wins the B1G is going to be in the
next best spot to grab a Number 1 seed.
I think Kansas has people thinking they aren’t that good and KENPOM
knocked them down out of the top 8….The Duke argument is tough because there is
already a Big East team as a 1 Seed and the schedule is not doing them any
favors…OHHHH, I’m sorry…Did I say Big East?
I meant ACC! And Dook got “Paxed”,
so to speak with the big storm that moved through and postponed the UNC
showdown to February 20th.
Dook will play three games in 5 days - Tuesday – Thursday - Saturday.
Georgia Tech – UNC and Syracuse….I don’t see that being a 3 for 3 type
of victory plan…in fact, 1 and 2 is entirely possible.
Again, read Lunardi or the SBNation Bracket Tracker
if you’re interested about the last teams in…I’m focusing on who has a real
shot at winning the NCAA by sticking with the top 12 teams….
The State of the Game
Is charging becoming a lost call in the college
game? In fact, is college officiating at
its lowest point (meaning: Really,
really, really, REALLY Shitty) that it’s ever been? I tried to do some research to see if there
were any blogs or anyone out there that tracked such things, but I couldn’t
find anything. Pat Forde over at Yahoo
made mentioned this in his Forde Minutes
column, and I agree with him then that the college officiating this year, well,
sucks.
The charge is the most mysterious call in
basketball right now. Half the time it
is called, I think it should have been a block, and the other half, I think
they call the block when, to this somewhat unbiased observer, it looks clearly
like a charge. Not to mention the number
of no whistle “Travels” I’m seeing this year along with the innocuous “reach
in” foul. Look, this isn’t the NBA and I
don’t want to make College Hoops into the NBA so the referees need to stop
calling it like the NBA. Period.
I don’t know how to fix it and I wish there was a
better governing body and perhaps a broader re-play list of what is
reviewable. But, as was pointed out to
me, the game is at times, slow enough as it is.
In fact, I can’t remember how many times games have gone over the 2 hour
mark this year, but it’s been quite often.
I do think some of that is due to MULTIPLE COMMERCIALS and extended
commercial breaks. I only hope we don’t
start seeing games slotted for 2 hours and 15 minutes or something…Basketball
is pure just the way it is. Keep the
games at 2 hours total.
GAMES TO WATCH
SUPER TUESDAY
Texas @ Iowa State
Iowa @ Indiana
Kentucky @ Ole Miss
Northwestern @ suckeyes
Witchy State @ Loyola (Chicago)
Arizona @ Utah (Best Upset pick of the Week!)
THURSDAY
Sparty @ Purdon’t
Dook @ North Carolina
FRIDAY
Catch a High School Game!
SATURDAY
Louisville @ Cincinnati
Wiscy @ Iowa
Gophers @ suckeyeland
WWIII REMATCH:
Syracuse @ Dook: Can the Devils
get payback?
Texas @ Kansas – Big12 Implications! Bigger problems for Kansas and a number 1
seed if they lose
SUNDAY
Sparty @ Michigan
(NOON!!!!!)
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