I picked 3 out of 4 games correctly on Thursday (only missing the Xavier overtime win over West Virginia). Now it's time to do one better and go a perfect 4 of 4 on Friday.
Davidson over Wisconsin
Reasons:
- Has any other team in recent NCAA tournament memory been more of a media darling than this Davidson team? Screw George Mason...what they did was unexpected, but nobody out there, just two years later, can name a single player from that team. Davidson has a superstar and, for whatever reasons, are extremely likable. Maybe that's what happens when a team actually has student-athletes. Plus...the University of Davidson is covering the hotel, bus fare, and tickets for all students who want to road trip to Detroit for Friday's game against Wisconsin. I ask again...has there been a more endearing team in recent NCAA tournament history than Davidson? I think not. This story NEEDS to continue.
- Wisconsin is a pretty good (and boring) team. The problem with the Badgers and Bo Ryan's system is that they are never too far ahead in a game, and they're never too far behind. All that needs to happen for a Davidson upset to happen is for Wisconsin to let the Wildcats stick around, gain confidence, and let the Cinderella wave carry them through.
- Nobody outside of Packer (that's Green Bay, not Billy) country is excited about seeing Wisconsin in the Elite Eight. (actually...Billy Packer hates mid-majors, so he's probably rooting for Wisconsin to move on as well)
- Davidson has the hottest player in the tournament so far wearing their uniform. So that's a good thing. By the way...did you know that Stephen Curry is (former NBA player) Dell Curry's son?
- I want Davidson to win. Good enough reason? Phil and Annie will be rooting for Davidson tonight, and so will I. As I told Phil a few days ago, I'm officially on the Davidson bandwagon. They are my adopted team for as long as they last in this tournament. Go Cats! (Plus...Gus Johnson is calling this game. That's a good omen.)
- Confidence in this pick: 7.5
Stanford over Texas
Reasons:
- I have this sneaky feeling that we're not quite done seeing and hearing about the Lopez twins just quite yet.
- I don't, I don't, I don't, I don't trust Rick Barnes in an important game at all. I'm sorry for any Texas fans out there, you have a very talented team, but I don't have any confidence in your head coach.
- A Stanford vs. UCLA contest in the Final Four would be outstanding. (It would be their 4th meeting this season) Plus, I think Trent Johnson wants to see if the refs would have the guts to give him a double technical in a Final Four game. He's quoted as saying, "Why should my approach change?" So he's obviously saying that Stanford has won every game this tournament that he has been eject from, so why would he mess with success? If the refs actually DID throw him out of a Final Four game, this would prove, without a doubt, all of the conspiracy theories out there about UCLA getting every favorable call (and non-call). We shall call this the 'John Wooden Rule'.
- Texas point guard D.J. Augustin is outstanding. But I'm on-board the Mitch Johnson bandwagon right now and if Johnson could handle the pressure and play of Marquette's guards, I'm thinking he can hold his own against Augustin.
- I've railed against Stanford all season (blog) long. And now they're going to prove me wrong. I can just feel it.
- Confidence in this pick: 6.3
Kansas over Villanova
Reasons:
- Kansas simply has too much talent with Brandon Rush, Darrell Arthur, Mario Chalmers, and company. The Jayhawks are probably the most athletic and most talented team in this NCAA Tournament. (My apologies to Cornell...you're good too.) (sorry Matt)
- Can a fashionable coach win the NCAA Tournament? I'm not so sure. When was the last time that happened? Jay Wright's greatest strength may turn out to be his greatest weakness. Stay tuned. (sorry Matt)
- If Bill Self can reach the Elite Eight with this Kansas team, I may finally stop giving him a hard time about being a choke artist in the NCAA Tournament. He's good at not being good in March. So I believe that to avoid further ridicule from me, Self and his Kansas squad will be properly motivated to win this game. (sorry Matt)
- The Jayhawks have depth and experience that Villanova cannot come close to matching. Unless Kerry Kittles still has some eligibility left at 'Nova, then they might have a shot. (sorry Matt)
- I picked Kansas to win it all in Tim's pool. So what am I supposed to do here? Have them losing to a #12 seed in the Sweet Sixteen? I think not. (sorry Matt)
- Confidence in this pick: 9.4
Memphis over Michigan State
Reasons:
- I thought about this one for awhile, because I really want to go with Michigan State. You might ask, "Why not just pick Michigan State here? This is a stupid blog that 6 people are reading. So who really cares?" Now that's a very good point and it's well taken. But more than anything, I want to get my pick right. So I'm going with the team that I think will win the game, it's as simple as that. If Michigan State wins, it would make Pitt's loss look much better. I just don't think it's going to happen.
- One reason I don't think it's going to happen - Michigan State is from the Big Ten. Michigan State scored 36 points in a loss to Iowa earlier this year. I cannot pick Michigan State with this kind of information bouncing around in my head.
- What's that John S.? Memphis coach John Calipari is from Western PA and attended the prestigious Clarion University? If that's the case, then I MUST pick Memphis in this game.
- If Memphis loses by 5 points or less, and missed free throws were involved, then we're going to have to hear Calipari defend his team and defend their free throw shooting for another 12 months and I can't deal with that anymore. So my pick here is partially reflecting my prayer that this doesn't happen.
- Memphis is a darn good team. I don't know how many rounds they have to get through before the nation starts to realize this. It's going to take more than Tom Izzo and Michigan State to bring down the Tigers. Speaking of which...remember when Memphis used to be Memphis State and had Anfernee (later to be known as Penny) Hardaway on their team?
- Confidence in this pick: 8.2
1020 & 8101
My Secret, Politics, and Liz's Nonnie.
ReplyDeleteI lost my glasses two weeks ago, which I need to watch TV, especially sports on TV. My secret is that I have had a great deal of trouble staying focused on all the games. I spend the greater part of each game asking my beautiful Tarheel Blue-clad wife, "What's the score again?" I feel like a senior citizen. I thought that I should explain why I'm not a regular commenter on your excellent blog.
But as you know, I have been following the political madness in the Democratic Party. One headline brightened my morning even more than last night's Carolina win: Bob Casey endorses Obama! Bob Casey endorses Obama! I thought that this blog needed a little political buzz.
And finally, Go Musketeers! - the only Jesuit school left in the tournament and the favorite team of my wife's 94-year-old Grandmother, Nonnie.
First, I have to call you out on the whole "no one" knowing any players from the Mason team that made that run. I promise this is without looking anything up on the internet, Lamar Butler - senior guard who went on a 3 point shooting spree against UCONN in their upset in the elite 8, and of course Jai Lewis, the kind of overweight big man - he went on to forgo trying to play pro basketball and tried out as a tight end for the NY Giants, didn't make it, and now I don't know where he is. Okay, so I am from the DC area so that run should be ingrained in my head, that and the fact that I listen to a podcast that regularly interviews GMU's Coach Larranaga and the topic this year was of course the Final Four team. But to say that no one remembers, maybe in the 'Burgh no one remembers, but my memory is not that bad. As one side note, Larranaga is a huge movie buff, probably goes to see 50 movies in the theaters a year, you should hear his reviews on movies, he knows his stuff.
ReplyDeleteAS for all the apologies, no need for them, I know that Villanova has an uphill climb on this one. My only hopes are a Bill Self choke or the fact that not every #1 seed is supposed to make the final four, so someone has to be knocked off (please not Memphis) or that no one is giving 'Nova a chance and that is never a good thing for an opponent when you are not even given a chance. It's an uphill battle, but I still stand by my boys and will listen to the whole game (yes, I said listen).