Predictions for Thursday's Sweet Sixteen Games

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

Thank You Loyal Readers: I'm Back

The first weekend of the NCAA Tournament is over, and for a brief moment (hardly a shining one), I thought this blog was over too. There is more to life than March Madness. And while I knew this fact before I began the ambitious endeavour buzzing on the screen in front of you, the project (as well as myself) felt as if it had run it's course. This was meant to be an entertaining creative outlet for myself, as well as a distraction.....and after a little more than a month, that's exactly what this feels like, a distraction. My brackets are horrendous, I'm exhausted, and I'm burnt out.

However...there is something to be said for completing what one starts...and for following through on a commitment that one has made. This blog is not going to "make" my life, and it's not going to change the bigger things taking place in and around my universe. But the parallels between this project and my current world are oftentimes scary. If I cannot demonstrate the simplest forms of commitment, character, and resolve with this blog...how could I possibly expect the same from myself with regard to the actual, moment-to-moment existence that is my life? There is nothing noble in running. There is nothing honorable in simply giving up. When our heart and our gut lead us somewhere, there was probably a damn good reason as to why we ended up at that "somewhere" in the first place. Being frustrated, confused, and exhausted should never be permitted to triumph over one's initial desires and ambitions. There is something to being honest. There is something to staying true. There is something to never giving up. There is something to making a commitment. There is something in following through. And there is something to being there for the people that were there for you all along.

It is for these (and many other) reasons that I am going to push forward, continue with, and finish this blog. Thank you my friends and loyal readers. For the random hits this blog has received from places like Honolulu, Berkeley CA, and Arizona, I thank you. For the devoted readers I've had for awhile but didn't even realize, like Brian in Notre Dame and the person who keeps checking out this blog from Oak Park, I thank you. And a very HUGE and heart-felt thanks to all of the loyal friends who have contributed to this blog, shared comments, and have been reading since the beginning: Annie, Phil, Chaz, Liz, Matt G., John S., and Senator Nate...I thank you.

I'm back. We're down to 16 teams. 15 games left to be played. Let's rock and roll!

Mr. Raftery, do you have anything to say in closing?

Bill: "This blog is going to be followed through to completion.....with ALACRITY!!!"

Thank you Bill Raftery, thank you.

1020 & 8101

A Little Robert Goulet for Liz

Here is Mr. Robert Goulet crooning about beloved UNC coach Dean Smith for you Liz. I'm sorry that I haven't gotten around to covering the Tar Heels on any level. I know that Tyler Hansbrough is good and that Ty Lawson makes them a great team instead of a good team. I still have a hard time trusting Roy Williams in March. What is your opinion of him as a head coach? Am I right to be concerned? Maybe you could persuade me to trust him in crunch time. Sadly, I missed the UNC vs. Duke game this past weekend. Although if I'm reminded again that UNC and Duke are only 8 miles apart I swear I'm going to punch a hole in the wall. Hopefully they will meet for a third time this season in the ACC Championship game and I'll be able to catch that. Big props to everyone in tobacco country and big props to everyone from tobacco country.