Other than the Chiefs home opener, and possibly Sunday at the US Open, there's no Sunday I look forward to more than Selection Sunday.
The hoops gods gave us one last sweet parting gift to the regular season: Duke vs North Carolina, at noon today. Hopefully the Devils do what Clemson could not yesterday, and beat the Rat Bastard by 50 today to start a season-ending two game losing streak for his Tar Heels.
Congrats to KU, for winning the Big XII Tourney in convincing fashion over Texas. I never thought it would be that easy. KU led by double digits early, and never looked back.
Also gotta say, nothing in life is sweeter than sitting back, watching KU play, and with about 90, 95 seconds to go, you start hearing from the rafters "Rock Chalk ... Jayhawk ... K U ..."
Speaking of "The Big Ten (plus two) Is the Worst Major Conference in America", anyone catch that Penn State / Wisconsin abortion of a battle Friday night? State 36, Wisconsin 33. Yes, that was the final score. Tell me again why Penn State deserves a NCAA berth, and an entertaining as hell mid major like UTEP (who led for all except 7.8 seconds yesterday before falling to Memphis) doesn't deserve one? I hate these horrific, crappy, utterly unwatchable middle of the pack power conference schools taking the 11 and 12 seeds every year, while fun to watch, entertaining mid majors sit at home. It's an outrage.
My early gut feelings on how Big XII(ish) teams will do come next week:
KU: prime for a second round upset if the right 8/9 team catches them. Just like last year, as I noted in my picks "this (Northern Iowa) is the scariest game KU will play in the entire regional". Not much is different between this Hawks team and last year's, other than the free throw shooting is worse, and the confidence might be higher. I do not want any part of George Mason, Old Dominion, Utah State, or Washington in round two.
KSU: feels like a six seed and a second round upset if it's an overseeded Big East school (like St. John's or UConn). And for anyone who says this KSU team can't reach Houston, remember 1988, when a one-man band of a team from Kansas landed a six seed, and six wins later, was cutting down the nets.
Texas: oh boy. Give Rick Barnes this -- either they flame out in horrific fashion early, or they're running to at least the Elite Eight. There's no in between. For some strange reason, the strength of this team (defense) went completely down the toilet yesterday against KU. Yes, the Morris twins are that good, but still. I'll pencil them in for the Sweet Sixteen, pending seeing the brackets.
Texas A&M: if they snag a 5, I'd bet the farm on whatever play-in team faces them. Especially if it's a VCU or even a Virginia Tech, as much as I hate middle of the pack power conference teams, Malcolm Delaney is that awesome to watch play. I'd be cool with Va Tech sneaking in.
Colorado: I think they're in, and I think they'll snag an 11 or maybe a 10. They won't be in the First Four. If Alec Burks is on, they can absolutely win in round one. Congrats to Tad Boyle, what a tremendous first (and final) season in Big XII(ish) play. I can see CU landing a top 5 seed thanks to the Pac 12 next spring. They've already gotta be the third best team out there, behind Arizona and Washington, and about on par with UCLA.
Mizzou: I know, I am in the drunken, delusional minority ... but I still think this is the Big XII(ish)'s best chance to reach Houston. A lot though, depends on the draw. If they get a 7, I can absolutely see them taking out a Pitt or Notre Dame or UNC in round two, they've got the athletes and the defense to do it. If they draw the 8/9 though, they're likely staring Ohio State or Duke in round two, assuming they survive an Old Dominion, George Mason, Utah State type in round one. I hope they get the seven. MU can absolutely have a 2002 type run from the lower half of the bracket. From the top half, well, there's a reason why most 1 seeds advance to the Sweet Sixteen (save for KU, or so it seems). Would love to see a MU / Duke showdown in Chicago in round two. Great contrast in styles.
If I had to pick an Elite Eight right now, based solely on taking what I think the eight best teams are, based on what I project their draws to be (or what Joe Lunardi projects them to be this morning), I'd go with:
East: Florida (3) vs Syracuse (4). This Gators team has impressed the hell out of me the last two nights, rallying from halftime deficits to blow out two decent squads (Tennessee, Vandy). Syracuse? Simple -- they're the only Big East school with a better scoring differential on the road than at home. They're built to win in March.
Southwest: Kansas (1) vs UNC (2). Please God, let this happen again, ironically in the same facility where it happened last time (The Alamodome). There's not much in life that gets me as excited as the chance to whip the Rat Bastard on national TV.
West: Pitt (1) vs San Diego State (2). I don't feel strong about Pitt at all ... but the 4/13 game has upset written all over it (Purdue / Belmont) as does the 5/12 (Vandy vs Clemson). And the 8/9 is a coin flip between Butler and George Mason. Lower half of the bracket, State cruises.
Southeast: Arizona (5) vs Duke (2). Notre Dame has "out in round of 32" flashing on them in neon lights at this point. (Especially if they draw Mizzou, as projected). Lower half of the projected bracket, how sweet would a KSU / BYU round of 32 matchup be? To say nothing of KSU / Michigan State to open, and a KSU / Duke Sweet Sixteen matchup? (Or Duke / Tennessee in the round of 32, first team to 135 wins?)
We'll know for sure in barely six hours. I freaking love Selection Sunday.
Kudos to the Bucks, who did what they had to do, and blew out the 76ers last night. The Bucks are now 1/2 game out of the eight seed, thanks to Indiana's now six game losing streak. (The "they should do everything short of pimp themselves out to bring Nathan Scott out of retirement" Bobcats are tied with the Pacers for the last spot currently). All three squads play today, and all three should lose on paper. Bucks / Celtics at 5pm on NBATV. Fear the Deer!
One hour to Duke / UNC. Come on Dukies. Come on. And if you want to throw a few Gerald Henderson memorial elbows at Drew Henson or Harrison Barnes while you're winning 95-50, please, feel free to do so ...
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