First a quick look at a game not involving Top 25 teams, but 2 teams still hoping to sneak into the NCAA's.
I said that Michigan State had clinched a berth by beating Wisconsin earlier this month, but this will not help their cause any: Losing in Ann Arbor to Michigan, 67-56 . This gives the Big 10 5 teams with at least 20 wins, which used to be golden in the Big 10. Drew Neitzel was unhealthy for this game, but he's been getting a little too much love anyway. Regardless, I think Michigan State is probably in. There is no way I can see Michigan getting into this tournament. Some prognosticators having Purdue in, sitting at 7-7 in the Big 10. I can't believe that either, barring a thrilling run in the conference Tourney. What is going on with the prognosticators?
This is reflected glory syndrome in all it's (well) glory. Wisconsin and Ohio State are two of top 5 teams in the country, in terms of ranking, records, and RPI. So, therefore, the rest of the conference must be better than it is. Purdue has played some tough non-conference teams, to be sure, and they've played the tougher teams in their conference. They played a tough schedule, so they have an impressive RPI. But they lost to almost every single team on their schedule we could consider tough. Is losing to Virginia in November really a tough loss? This team lost to Minnesota. End of discussion. If Purdue somehow gets in, I'm declaring Shenanigans, and picking against them very quickly.
Meanwhile, my boys at Winthrop should be ranked by now! The Big South tournament has started, and Winthrop did what those of us who them Eagles knew they would--destroying Charleston Southern 72-42. This is what bothers me about College hoops sometimes. Winthrop is now 26-4. And sure, yeah, they play in an easy conference. Is it that much easier than Memphis' conference? It isn't THAT much easier, where Memphis gets ranked in the top 10, and Winthrop spends the entire year in the "Other teams receiving votes" while the same half dozen teams cycle below and above them in the lower 25. There's even talk that if Winthrop doesn't win the Big South Tournament, and finish the year at say, 26-5, they won't make it to the Dance, because the Committee won't take two teams from the Big South. This team barely lost at UNC (7 pts) , and at Wisconsin (3 pts) and has gone undefeated in conference play. Has Memphis played two teams as good as UNC and Wisconsin? This team should probably be in the top 25, and should have a locked in spot no less than a #5. They'll probably get an 11. Watch out for them, kids.
#12 Pittsburgh got back on track tonight, demolishing West Virginia, 80-66 I still think Pittsburgh still relies too much on Aaron Gray, a big lummox of a man. His game is about one thing--getting the ball down low. A team with a quicker big man who is at least somewhat comporable in size could give Gray, and Pittsburgh fits. Its almost too bad that Nevada is so highly regarded. I think Nick Fazekas could eat Aaron Gray's lunch.
#25 Air Force loses at home to The Stormin' Mormons of BYU, 62-68--Fair to middlin' major conference teams better watch out for this conference. BYU and Air Force both have legitimate shots at taking the automatic berth in the MWC. UNLV and San Diego St are also in the mix. SDSU may find themselves hurting after tonight, losing to former Goliaths, now Chumps of this Conference, Utah. If those four teams make it to the semis of their tournament, things could get messy in a hurry. Air Force has been ranked in the top 25 for awhile. BYU maybe ranked come Monday. I don't see a way the committee can actually take 4 teams from the Mountain West, but be prepared to see 3 teams. Prepare to see 2 of them win their games. They could be this year's version of the Missouri Valley of 2006.
And now, our favorite part of the night:
Damn, Pat Summitt, I'll show you my ole Rocky Top! Whooo!
Say what you will, but she looks better without her pants than Bruce Pearl did without his shirt.
Though Pat was wearing something that looked rather like Adult Diapers underneath that skirt. But for all we know, she had some NASA bitch to kill later.
Better than this? Hard to imagine, I know. But:
Tennessee Beats Florida, 86-76!
And that's with Tennessee completely taking the foot off the gas pedal for a good chunk of the second half. They destroyed Florida in the first half, and in the early part of the second half. Then they let Florida get within 8 before trading baskets with them the rest of the way.
But make no mistake, not only is this Florida's third loss in a row, but also their 4th game in a row where they've been worked for the first 20 minutes. Only Alabama couldn't seal the deal (that's unsurprising to me). So what to make of this Florida team that was unstoppable 2 weeks ago, and destroyed current #1 Ohio State earlier in the season, and now finds themselves down by about 15 points at halftime for their last 4 games?
Don't ask color commentator Dick Vitale, because he was a little, well, conflicted. Earlier that day, it was revealed he had some comments accidently broadcast over the air that were a little dismissive of some Florida talent. The story is well covered here and here.
Which was why we heard so much about how great Billy Donovan was as a college player for Rick Pitino, or how great of a coach he was, and how great this team was, even as they were floundering to their fourth straight double-digit halftime deficit. Obviously, you can't not criticize a team that is fourth in the country looking like they are in free-fall. Criticism happened, but it was always bookended by some serious fellating of Billy Donovan.
Dick V, you of all people should know that there's a difference between a blowjob given out of guilt, and a truly enthusiastic blowjob given out of love. It may look the same from the outside, but it just feels different. Dick Vitale, you didn't really love giving that blowjob--you felt like you had to. Billy Donovan knows it, too. Dickie V had Florida still as a #1 seed, which I don't think they get if they don't win at least two games in the SEC tournament. He dismissed Wisconsin to a #2. But if that team makes it to the final of the Big 10, then even without Butch, they are clearly a #1. Florida has dropped 3 straight games without any injuries.
The fact is, folks, that we have an incredibly fluid Top 8 right now. More than I can remember. Georgetown could get a #1. UCLA could get The #1. The winner of the ACC would probably get one, but what if it is Maryland, or GA Tech? (not a completely crazy thing to suggest). Right now, the only guaranteed #1 spot that I can think of is Ohio State. And if they lose in the first round of the Big 10 Tourney (which could happen) then they could lose that seed. This is going to be a sick tournament. We probably won't see a #1 lose to a #16 this year, but a #2 to a #15 is possible, and I will practically guarantee a couple of #3 and #4 seeds dropping in the opening weekend.
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