Monday, March 21, 2005
THE FIRST WEEKEND OF THE TOURNAMENT
What a first weekend of the NCAA Tournament.
Who knew that tiny Bucknell College of Lewisburg, Pennsylvania would shock the mighty Kansas Jayhawks? Who knew that the only Big East schools in the Sweet 16 would be Villanova and West Virginia? Who knew that Julius Hodge would still be playing but Chris Paul isn't? Karma is a bitch, isn't it, C-Punch 3?
That's enough "who knews".
As David mentioned in his daily, I did running tournament posts all weekend long (yes, I consider the first day, Thursday, part of the weekend). Here they are, for your enjoyment. Surely you have to get a Sports and B's view to go along with the rest of the national views on the tournament.
Thursday 3/17/05 1st round
Friday 3/18/05 1st round
Saturday 3/19/05 2nd round
Sunday 3/20/05 2nd round
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TOP 5 GAMES OF THE FIRST WEEKEND
1. West Virginia defeats Wake Forest in 2 overtimes (2nd round)
---Mike Gansey is a hero in Morgantown. If the Mountaineers keep winning, the students may burn the town down before the team gets back home. I wish I was kidding.
2. Vermont upsets Syracuse in overtime (1st round)
---What a way to go out for Tom Brennan. His first and only NCAA tournament victory comes against the champions from 2 seasons ago, Syracuse. Expect Catamounts big man Taylor Coppenrath to be a NBA first round pick this June.
3. Oklahoma State holds off Southern Illinois (2nd round)
---The Salukis gave Eddie Sutton's Cowboys a run for their money. JamesOn Curry is the best freshman in the country not named Marvin Williams.
4. Bucknell shocks Kansas (1st round)
---I knew that the Kansas seniors weren't tough enough to win a championship. But man, I sure as hell didn't think they would bow out in the first round. Rock choke Jayhawk!
5. Utah defeats Oklahoma (2nd round)
---Hey, Utah is more than just Andrew Bogut.
BEST PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT SO FAR
That's easy.
North Carolina's Marvin Williams has been a force for the Tar Heels in the first two rounds. The way the Syracuse region has turned out so far, there's no reason why the Tar Heels can't get to St. Louis. They better, because I have them cutting down the nets.
BEST COACHING JOB SO FAR
Utah's Ray Giacoletti used Andrew Bogut as a point guard. Bogut only scored 10 points in the win against Oklahoma on Satuday, as he took only 7 shots. But more importanly, Giacoletti had Bogut get his teammates involved, recording a career high 7 assists. Of the first 40 Utah points, Bogut only had 2 of them.
BEST CBS ANNOUNCING TEAM
Dick Enberg and Jay Bilas in Indianapolis.
---There's no reason why these two shouldn't be calling the Final Four. To me, they're much more entertaining to listen to than Jim Nantz and Billy Packer. I still can't believe that Nantz is considered by CBS as the #1 guy.
Back to Enberg and Bilas. Enberg is a legend, we all know that. But Bilas has really impressed me. Unlike most ESPN talking heads, Bilas has a clue. I would add Bill Raftery to the Enberg-Bilas crew and everything would be onions.
Honorable mention: Craig Bolerjack and Bob Wenzel
THE SWEET 16 MATCHUP I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO
Louisville-Washington Thursday night in Albuquerque
Sure, the Louisville Cardinals looked very good against Georgia Tech yesterday. But I'd like to remind people that it was against a team that went 8-8 in the ACC. I know about their loss of B.J. Elder, but the facts are facts.
That being said, the Huskies better be ready for Louisville. They certainly aren't the Pacific Tigers, that's for sure. Can the Huskies quiet the critics by defeating a team that most people had pegged as a #1 seed instead of Washington?
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
It's already been a fun NCAA Tournament so far.
Expect more of the same starting this Thursday.
Until then, follow meaningless spring training baseball.
Who knew that tiny Bucknell College of Lewisburg, Pennsylvania would shock the mighty Kansas Jayhawks? Who knew that the only Big East schools in the Sweet 16 would be Villanova and West Virginia? Who knew that Julius Hodge would still be playing but Chris Paul isn't? Karma is a bitch, isn't it, C-Punch 3?
That's enough "who knews".
As David mentioned in his daily, I did running tournament posts all weekend long (yes, I consider the first day, Thursday, part of the weekend). Here they are, for your enjoyment. Surely you have to get a Sports and B's view to go along with the rest of the national views on the tournament.
Thursday 3/17/05 1st round
Friday 3/18/05 1st round
Saturday 3/19/05 2nd round
Sunday 3/20/05 2nd round
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
TOP 5 GAMES OF THE FIRST WEEKEND
1. West Virginia defeats Wake Forest in 2 overtimes (2nd round)
---Mike Gansey is a hero in Morgantown. If the Mountaineers keep winning, the students may burn the town down before the team gets back home. I wish I was kidding.
2. Vermont upsets Syracuse in overtime (1st round)
---What a way to go out for Tom Brennan. His first and only NCAA tournament victory comes against the champions from 2 seasons ago, Syracuse. Expect Catamounts big man Taylor Coppenrath to be a NBA first round pick this June.
3. Oklahoma State holds off Southern Illinois (2nd round)
---The Salukis gave Eddie Sutton's Cowboys a run for their money. JamesOn Curry is the best freshman in the country not named Marvin Williams.
4. Bucknell shocks Kansas (1st round)
---I knew that the Kansas seniors weren't tough enough to win a championship. But man, I sure as hell didn't think they would bow out in the first round. Rock choke Jayhawk!
5. Utah defeats Oklahoma (2nd round)
---Hey, Utah is more than just Andrew Bogut.
BEST PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT SO FAR
That's easy.
North Carolina's Marvin Williams has been a force for the Tar Heels in the first two rounds. The way the Syracuse region has turned out so far, there's no reason why the Tar Heels can't get to St. Louis. They better, because I have them cutting down the nets.
BEST COACHING JOB SO FAR
Utah's Ray Giacoletti used Andrew Bogut as a point guard. Bogut only scored 10 points in the win against Oklahoma on Satuday, as he took only 7 shots. But more importanly, Giacoletti had Bogut get his teammates involved, recording a career high 7 assists. Of the first 40 Utah points, Bogut only had 2 of them.
BEST CBS ANNOUNCING TEAM
Dick Enberg and Jay Bilas in Indianapolis.
---There's no reason why these two shouldn't be calling the Final Four. To me, they're much more entertaining to listen to than Jim Nantz and Billy Packer. I still can't believe that Nantz is considered by CBS as the #1 guy.
Back to Enberg and Bilas. Enberg is a legend, we all know that. But Bilas has really impressed me. Unlike most ESPN talking heads, Bilas has a clue. I would add Bill Raftery to the Enberg-Bilas crew and everything would be onions.
Honorable mention: Craig Bolerjack and Bob Wenzel
THE SWEET 16 MATCHUP I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO
Louisville-Washington Thursday night in Albuquerque
Sure, the Louisville Cardinals looked very good against Georgia Tech yesterday. But I'd like to remind people that it was against a team that went 8-8 in the ACC. I know about their loss of B.J. Elder, but the facts are facts.
That being said, the Huskies better be ready for Louisville. They certainly aren't the Pacific Tigers, that's for sure. Can the Huskies quiet the critics by defeating a team that most people had pegged as a #1 seed instead of Washington?
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
It's already been a fun NCAA Tournament so far.
Expect more of the same starting this Thursday.
Until then, follow meaningless spring training baseball.
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