Being that I'm out of every pool that I entered, I've decided to make some predictions on Thursday's games:West Virginia over Xavier
Reasons:
- WVU's Joe Alexander can go crazy at times and win a game by himself.
- I cannot doubt Bob Huggins anymore (unless he loses this game).
- I don't believe that Drew Lavender's ankle is completely healthy.
- The Big East MUST have at least two teams reach the Elite Eight.
- If Xavier wins, it would actually help a few of my brackets. Therefore, it's not going to happen.
- Confidence in this pick (out of 10): 7.5
North Carolina over Washington State
Reasons:
- North Carolina will score more than 41 points (Sorry again Notre Dame fans).
- Washington State has never won a big game in their history.
- Even if the game is somehow close, CBS will "fix" the outcome in UNC's favor because the CBS announcers have invested too much time in loving Tyler Hansbrough for their run to end with this game.
- I trust Roy Williams more than I trust.....um.....uhh.....thinking hard over here.....who is Washington State's head coach anyway???
- Things might get intense in Chaz and Liz's place if UNC goes out this early, and I'm praying against that happening.
- Confidence in this pick: 9.7
UCLA over Western Kentucky
Reasons:
- Western Kentucky is about to experience what experts call a "letdown".
- Kevin Love and his amazing outlet passes are not going to be denied.
- I think I've almost recovered from Ben Howland leaving Pitt, and am almost ready to trust him and give him credit as an amazing college basketball coach.
- As we've seen all along, the refs are going to make sure UCLA wins no matter what.
- Western Kentucky beat Drake (the pride of Des Moines Iowa), and now they are going to get what's coming to them.
- Confidence in this pick: 8.8
Louisville over Tennessee
Reasons:
- Denny Crum is still coaching Louisville, right? What's that...Rick Pitino is coaching them now? Didn't he used to coach Kentucky? And the Boston Celtics? Hmmm...interesting...I guess I like Rick Pitino as much as Denny Crum in a big game (unless it was with the Celtics)
- James Lofton may or may not have a serious injury and Tennessee has spent the last three days downplaying that "injury'. We all saw what happened with Tom Brady in the Super Bowl after the Patriots tried to hide his "injury". Not good.
- Big East over SEC. It's as simple as that.
- Unless Bruce Pearl has the guts to wear that bright orange sports coat, Tennessee won't have a chance.
- If Tennessee wins, it would actually help a few of my brackets. Therefore, it's not going to happen.
- Confidence in this pick: 7.9
You heard it here first.
1020 & 8101
These picks are not to bad, but as I always do, I am bringing this conversation back to 'Nova. I know that this will not be your selections until tomorrow, but really, is anyone even giving them a chance against Kansas? I know that Kansas is the better team, but I want to point out (despite my other comments) when no one, and I mean no one, gives a team a chance, then they play with extra motivation to prove something. I'm just pointing this out in advance because...well...its my only hope.
ReplyDeleteIn regards to Thursday's picks, we definitely need at least 2 Big Easters in there, so go WVU and Louisville.
I think that Villanova has a punchers chance. Bill Self still terrifies me as a coach in big games and Kansas hasn't delivered when it counted for years, despite their superior talent. I'm sorry to say, Kansas needs to play crappy for 'Nova to have the opportunity to take this one.
ReplyDeleteMatt...not matter what happens...you should feel good because this Villanova team is young and should be really good for the next season or two. BUT, I heard a rumor about Jay Wright moving the the NBA eventually. Is there any truth to this? I'll try to find an article about this. I only heard it on a podcast...and we can't trust those at all.
I'm glad we can at least agree on Big East pride.
Is Steve Lappas (the rat) living in a sewer now? What's his deal?
Let me get the Lappas thing out of the way, he was fired from that lowly job at UMASS and started doing some columns for foxsports.com, but now he is in oblivion with the other rats.
ReplyDeleteIf Scottie Reynolds stays and coach Wright stay, yes the team will be pretty good next year. But I think Reynolds may opt for the NBA ('Nova guards have been getting good looks from the NBA in the draft) and if he leaves next year will be just a rebuilding year.
As for Wright, yes there are rumors that the 76er's have contacted him and those same rumors are saying that he is interested. You might as well throw a dagger in the heart of 'Nova fans if this happens. Wright has led a legit revival of 'Nova, who was left for dead with Lappas. If Wright leaves they stand the chance of having a fall like that of Seton Hall, Providence, and Saint Johns, never to return to being good with the exception of 1 maybe 2 good seasons every 10 years. This is not what I want. Wright is an awesome coach and has made 'Nova basketball legit again. With a small school with basketball history, its all about the coach, you can't whoo players with your big athletic department like Ohio State and UCLA, you just have what you have and hope you can recruit the player cause he just wants to play for Wright. Wright has connections in NY, NJ, and Philly and this has led the revival, I think we would lose all of that if he left and (as you have seen with the teams mentioned above), it may not be easy to get the reputation that we have back if he leaves.
Anyway, enough of the rant, but if he does leave, you can mark a guarantee that I won't be leaving comments related to 'Nova on a blog like this for many, many years.
Thank you Matt...you've done a great job as this blog's resident Villanova correspondent.
ReplyDeleteThanks also for the guarantee. However...this is a guarantee that I hope doesn't come true, as I value the Villanova/Big East comments with or without Jay Wright in the mix.
What a sad day for college coaching fashion that would be.