There’s no ignoring Texas’ 2nd loss to Kansas in 3 tries, and even if today’s Big 12 title game had a different result, I doubt Texas would’ve been a no. 1 seed. That said, they played 3 of the 4 eventual no. 1 seeds, and were slaughted by one early (Duke) but put a beating on the other two (Memphis, Villanova).
LaMarcus Aldridge picked a heck of a day to have one of his worst games, but better now instead of next week.
If Brandon Rush, Julian Wright and Mario Chalmers (above) stay together for 3 or 4 years, Kansas are gonna be scary good. As it is, they’re mildly scary good.
Next up for the Longhorns is a Friday meeting with Ivy League champs Penn, the winner facing the victor of Cal/NC State next Sunday.
I thought about checking when the last time a Big East Tournament Champ went into the field of 65 as a 5 seed, but I’m developing a dust allergy (and I think some of those boxes in the garage have scary bugs living inside them). I’d like to hear someone on WFAN use that excuse when it comes time to look something up. I realize we have the internet at our disposal, but since they removed the friendly butler from “Ask Jeeves”, all the fun has gone out of search engines.
Hands up, everyone who was certain Ohio State would get by Iowa today and enter the tournament as a no. 1 seed in the midwest. Not that I can see you from here. That’s the Hawkeyes’ Erik Hansen (13 points) shown above. Believe it or not, he was on his feet when that photo was taken.
I realize Gonzaga got a lot of TV time this year, but I’ve never seen anyone look less interested at their pairing (in this case, Xavier) or in being given a chance to jump up and down for Greg Gumbel. Then again, even those who’d like to see Adam Morrison guard someone, just for the sheer novelty of it, surely believe that Gonzaga are worthy of a higher seeding.
Unlike the Zags, the guys from Winthrop haven’t mastered the “been there, done that” reaction shot. And thank god, too, as the presentation of this selection show could really use some spicing up. Maybe Yoni Cohen reading the pairings off a 3X5″ card while being held by his ankles outside a 35th floor window.
A record of 18-11 (9-7 conference) was apparently good enough for Indiana to get in ; they’ll face San Diego State on Thursday. 18-10 was deemed invite-worthy for Seton Hall. Consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, so I suppose Louis Orr’s team have gargantuan brains. 8 teams from the Big East, and none of ’em are named Cincinnati.
We might see a North Carolina/Michigan State 2nd round meeting next Sunday. Or a Martian invasion. My money’s on the former, but only because no one is taking action on the latter.
I’m always glad to see more Jersey teams in the tournament, especially with Monmouth having to power through the play-in game just to get the honor of being stared down by Shelden Williams’ flounder eyes. But the Seton Hall call really surprised me. Cincy can’t score, but they’re tough and played a very difficult schedule and played well in a tough conference. I don’t recall seeing Hall on anyone’s list — if you have to throw an iffy big-conference team in and it can’t be Cincinnati, I don’t know how Florida State isn’t that team. They had a winning record in the ACC, beat Duke, gave Sam Cassell the degree that helps him run his own clothing company…what more do they need to do?
Cincy was hurt by Kirkland’s injury, much like how GW dropped to an eight seed because of Mensah-Bonsu’s knee problem.
I was most surprised by Tennessee getting a #2, despite losing four of their last six.
Tennessee is a weak #2, that’s for sure. Weaker than UCLA? Debatable, but certainly a close call. Texas clearly the best of the 2 seeds. OSU is a nice team, but more vulnerable than most because they are so dependent upon the three. One sub 30% night from everyone not named Dials on that team and they’re through.
If Pops can get back at anything close to a decent level physically (and they win their 8/9 game, of course), GW is tailor made to give Duke fits. Deep and athletic is the profile you need to beat that team, and GW’d fit the bill if intact.
What FSU needed to do was play someone, ANYONE in the non-conference. They probably also should have figured out a way to beat Wake in the ACC Tourney, but had they done the former, that would have likely been irrelevant. Agree about Cincy, though…the Huggy Bearcats got jobbed.
South Carolina’s near miss against Florida was a life saver for someone today.
re: FSU. Again, I’m too lazy to look this up. When was the last time a non-tourney team had a win against the end-of-season national no. 1 to their credit? Must’ve happened before…
24 wins for Hostra and no action. Wayne Chrebet just can’t buy a break.
Vitale thinks that Cincy got “a raw deal”. Though it would’ve nice (and unprecedented) had he cited which team didn’t deserve their spot in the dance.