It is just another Manic Monday

Apparently, prognostication is not one of the core competencies at the Yard. We did make some brash predictions about the state of ACC Basketball that have been borne out this weekend. But when you are in 43rd place in your own pool, bragging about your knowledge and understanding of NCAA Basketball is just not that appropriate.

At the same time, some of my hopes and aspirations for the tournament did materialize this past weekend. The Yard boldly predicted that the ACC would only have North Carolina left after Easter and that the Pac-10 would have at least three teams...done. Duke and Clemson did not even make it to Easter Sunday. Miami hung around for a bit with Texas until they folded. Duke is not a Yard Favorite and missing fifteen consecutive three point shots is not easy to do even against West Virginia. But the Dukies did it and as perimeter teams find out in March, the hoop gets smaller. UCLA has not looked pretty but they won their 12th consecutive game. Washington State completely dismantled fan favorite Notre Dame and their Big East player of the year Luke Harangody wining by 20. Stanford survived their head coach, Trent Johnson, melting down and getting himself ejected 3:38 minutes into the biggest game of their season. The Cardinal is still alive and in the Sweet 16. So ACC, your history is on your resume but March Madness is all about “What have you done lately?”

I heard from the Appalachians about how dominant Tyler Hansbrough is playing and how North Carolina is steam rolling everyone in the tournament. UNC did score 100+ in each game this weekend. The Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineer’s beat Sacred Heart to win the Northeast Tournament and then beat Coppin State to earn the right to get bushwhacked by the #1 Team in the tournament on Friday in Raleigh, NC. It was nice that UNC could run up 113 points on a small catholic college from Emmittsburg, MD. It is more surprising that a 19-15 team, seeded 64th in the tournament scored 74 points on the top seeded Tar Heels.

Washington State is playing very well but I do not think they have the athletes to keep up with UNC for 40 minutes. The Cougars play one of the best brands of team basketball in the tournament. Louisville is looming ahead, playing extremely well, and Coach Pitino knows his way around the dance. The Cardinals finally have a healthy David Padgett. He missed some games and the Cardinals missed all 6’11’ 250 lbs of him while he was out. Tyler Hansbumpkin will finally play against a quality player in the paint. Mr. Hansbrough is a low post guy only; he has not hit a three pointer all season. Playing Duke and Clemson is not like the Pac-10 or the Big East. T-Buck, you remember, Roy Hibbert of Georgetown from last year, right? He went to Atlanta while you were on your mother’s davenport last April.

John Calipari, the Yard called you and your Memphis Tigers out on your free throw shooting. With all due respect, USA today may have scooped me on that. Regardless, you were incredulous that people would get so granular as to look at your Memphis Tigers anemic free throw shooting. Ricardo, you got some “splaining to do!”

Coach C did assert that the Tigers make more free throws than their opponents and they did on Sunday afternoon. Mississippi State made 14 out of 20 and you made 15 out of 32. But when you miss 17 free throws in a tournament game and barely eek out a three point win over an eight seed, you get that it is not going to get easier to make free throws and win games next weekend?! Rickie, I do not think there is a lot that you can do about that basketball fundamental this week, but it will cost you game when you do not have a game to spare. Michigan State has one of the best coaches in the field in Tom Izzo. Stanford has one of the worst coaches but they have 7’ twins which always help if your coach is a dunce. And no one wants to play Texas right now. Johnny, you know what forget the free throws, work on the alley oops play, the behind the back dribble and possibly that somber post game interview like the one Coach Krezewski had to give on Saturday.

UCLA has grinded out twelve straight wins. Their perimeter shooting has left the building but they find a way to win each night when all of the games are huge. They marched through adversity and spotty offense to win the Pac-10 title, the Pac-10 Tournament and make it back to the Sweet 16. UCLA has had double digit deficits to overcome in several games including Saturday against the Aggies. I am not happy with those deficits because I do more grinding on my sofa than Ben does on the sidelines. I had to change my shirt at half time during the A&M game. The Bruins are one of the most experienced teams in the tournament. They are the only team left in the tournament that has played in a Final Four in either of the last two years. The Bruins are 11-2 during the Madness of March since 2006. They have a 7-1 record this year against teams still in the tournament. UNC has only played one team still in the dance, Davidson. I guess that speaks to the strength of UCLA’s schedule and the Pac-10 this year. And it speaks to the, "Who has Carolina really played this year?"

And the Bruins play defense every night. UCLA does not give up 74 points to the 64 seed. They gave up 29 points to the 62 seed. They held a nine seed to 49 points. They do not need to score 100+ per game because they always seem to score enough points with whatever type of game it ends up being. They can run and gun or slug it out in the paint. If Darren Collison is not the best point guard in the dance, please tell me who is? There have been some fortuitous calls for the Bruins of late. This time of year, I will take lucky over good. Connecticut was a good team; a lucky team was still playing on Sunday.

Kansas is firing on all cylinders. Their offense is clicking and the defense is always solid. They are probably the most complete team. I have never been a huge Bill Self fan but this may be his team and his year. He had the best team in the nation at Illinois in 2002 and petered out in the Elite Eight. He has been at Kansas for five years and made the Elite Eight twice but the Jayhawks also lost in the first round the other two years. Villanova is playing Philly style ball and Kansas had best be ready. Then comes the Wisconsin Badgers who I still like making it to the Final Four. Kansas probably gets to hang another “Elite Eight Banner” up at Allen Fieldhouse this year.

The opening rounds of March Madness are the greatest moments in sports each year. There were 48 games played in about 80 hours with enough Sports Center highlights for years to come. We enjoyed buzzer beaters, upsets, and melt downs. And now, the fortunate sixteen teams who remain who will play one more weekend before there are but Four still dancing.