the big ten (plus two): where crappy basketball is the norm

In case there was any doubt that Bruce Weber is the WORST D1 coach in America, today should erase any and all lingering doubts about that. Bruce Weber is the WORST D1 coach in America. And he honestly doesn't have much competition, now that Pat Knight is out of a job.

Weber's Fighting Illini led fellow bubbler and fellow inept, utterly unwatchable Big Ten (plus two) squad Michigan 51-39 with 6:17 to play today. Most teams, no matter how crappily they are coached, can manage to hang onto to a 12 point lead with six minutes to play. Hell, simply running the four corners offense, bleeding 35 seconds off the shot clock, and never taking a shot, and you're still probably going to win the game, up that much with that little time to go.

Oh, but not Bruce Weber's boys. No sir. They managed to not only whiz away the entire 12 point lead by the under four timeout ... they lost 60-55. The only points Illinois scored after taking their largest lead, was two free throws to stop a 12-0 Michigan run coming out of the under four, and a jump shot with :48 to play to cut the lead to three at 58-55. (Yes, Michigan managed a 19-2 run in a five minute stretch. Michigan! A school that hasn't topped 87 all freaking season, and hasn't topped 75 since late January, managed to score 19 points (and ultimately 21) in a six minute stretch! You KNOW you're a god awful head coach when you allow Michigan to drop 20 on you in barely a quarter of a half).

Losing in that spot is a fireable offense. Losing to a woeful offense like Michigan is beyond a fireable offense, it's a "swift kick in the ass as you're fired" offense.

But wait! It gets even better!

The Illini led 45-39 with 13:12 to play. It was 51-39 with 6:17 to play. Do the math, boys and girls. Because over the span of nearly seven freaking minutes, all that these two awful, dreadful, utterly crappy squads could muster was two Demetri McCamey three pointers (one at 13:12, one at 6:17). Yes, a "power conference", the Big Ten (plus two), features two probable NCAA tournament teams that CANNOT SCORE A F*CKING POINT BETWEEN THEM FOR SEVEN F*CKING MINUTES!!!

THIS is "quality" basketball? Both of these teams are likely making the tournament come Sunday afternoon. To which I say, why? Why in God's name is a horrendous, one-and-done Big Ten (plus two) squad going to get in ahead of Missouri State (who won the Valley outright in the regular season) or St. Mary's (Sweet Sixteen last year, resume equal to any horrendous middle of the pack Big Ten (plus two) school this year)? Why in the hell are these awful, absolutely wretched middle of the pack squads that, at best, will get annihiliated by 20 in the opening round, why are these schools getting in at the expense of the mid-majors?

NCAA committee, I beg you, I implore you, put these God awful squads, like Illinois, like Michigan, like Michigan State, Penn State, Virginia Tech, Clemson, please -- put them where they belong:

In the NIT.

Give the little guys their spot. I'd much rather watch an entertaining as hell VCU team battle UConn or Arizona in the 5/12 battle. I'd definitely much rather watch a Missouri State team that got raped by the committee in 2006 (RPI of 16, and they were passed for an at large. To date, they are the only at-large candidate with an RPI below 28 to get snubbed. And the team with a RPI of 28 to get snubbed? You betcha, Missouri State in 2007. The only two squads EVER with a RPI below 30 to not get in), I'd much rather see the committee right those past wrongs by taking this year's Bears team over some putrid, mediocre power six team.

I love the NCAA tournament. And I love to gamble. And believe me, the thought of wagering the bankroll against Bruce Weber next Thursday or Friday has me drooling in anticipation.

But the thought of Bruce Weber's Illini sitting at home, really has me drooling in anticipation. Do the right thing committee members. Sit the mediocre power school, and let the successful mid-majors have their day. Sure, they might crap the court and lose 85-60. But isn't that what we already know is going to happen to Illinois or Michigan or Boston College next week anyways?

Why not take a chance on Missouri State, on VCU (who's won three games in the last four tournaments, by the way, including Duke in 2007, so it's not like they're an unproven commodity), on St. Mary's, on Utah State if they lose this weekend?

There, that's my college hoop rant for the day.

As for my pro hoops rant ...

(bradley center crowd chant voice) Fear the Deer! Fear the Deer!

The Bucks have made up 3 games in the standings in a week, now sitting only 1 1/2 out of the final playoff berth in the East. It's a three team race between Indiana (currently the eighth place team), Charlotte (currently ninth, one back), and the Bucks (currently tenth, 1 1/2 back).

Indiana has lost five straight. Charlotte traded their best player at the deadline in anticipation of collapsing.

Hollinger has the Bucks odds of making it at 26% ... but considering they were at 3% after the loss to Boston on Sunday night, they're on the rise. And in chats on ESPN this week, both Hollinger and Ric Bucher predicted Milwaukee to take the eighth seed.

So come on Bucks. Fear the Deer! Yes We Can (Steal the eight seed)! Yes We Can (Put the fear of God in Chicago or Boston in round one)!

The key games over the next week to watch:

Tonight: the Pacers visit Toronto, a game that should snap their five game losing streak. Toronto's horrible. But the Pacers are absolutely imploding, highlighted by Danny Granger and Dahntay Jones having to be physically restrained from brawling with Lance Stephenson the other night after their loss to Philly. Good times in Indiana! Also, the Bobcats host the streaking Trail Blazers, who are absolutely on fire right now. Bucks should get some help, hopefully, from LaMarcus Aldridge and his boys.

Saturday: the Bucks host the 76ers, and it's a virtual must win game. They've got to win this one, because Sunday's game is likely a lost cause. To the Bucks credit, they've been winning the games they should, having won 3 of their last 5, the only two losses coming to Boston and Phoenix.

Sunday: all three contenders for the eight seed are in action, and on the road. Indiana is at New York, Charlotte is at Toronto, and the Bucks are in Boston. Bucks don't figure to pick up any ground on Selection Sunday. Bucks / Celtics is the NBATV Game of the Night at 5pm CT, so if you need something to distract you from the endless commercials as CBS unveils the brackets, there's your best option.

Tuesday: another brutal one for the Bucks, as they travel to Atlanta to take on the Hawks. Fortunately, the Pacers host the Knicks, so a loss for Milwaukee should (in theory) not cause them to lose any ground.

Wednesday: all three contenders in action, all three will be decided underdogs. The Pacers visit Boston, the Bobcats visit Houston, and the Bucks host Orlando. If the Bucks could steal this one, that might be the difference between hoping for a fortuitous ping-pong ball bounce, and playing after April 15th.

Friday: the Bucks host the Nets in another "must win" game against an inferior or equal opponent. (In this case, vastly inferior). The Pacers host the Bulls, a very loseable game for the Pacers. Bobcats are in Oklahoma City to face the Durants. They might need to un-retire Nathan Scott for this one, at least he can hit a three pointer or two and maybe keep them in it.

(damien voice) Jesus Stevo, nobody but us gets the "One Tree Hill" jokes. Let it go man! Let it go!

Saturday: the Pacers visit Memphis (good luck guys), and the Bobcats visit San Antonio (good luck guys). Bucks figure to gain a half game on each by simply watching at home.

Sunday: the Bucks host the Knicks, another one of those "if they win this home game, it might be the deciding factor" games.

The next nine days are critical to the Bucks chances. They've gotta beat Philly and New Jersey at home, and (I think) steal one of the two tough home games against Orlando and New York. That'd be 3-3 in this stretch, and given what Indiana and Charlotte face, that should launch them into the eighth seed with three weeks to go. If they can take both tough home games, they should have some breathing room.

They're finally starting to get healthy, they're finally starting to put it together. Fear the Deer!

Man I love this time of year. Hoops everywhere! If only it was 90 and sunny outside, so I could haul the TV out and get a tan ...