Most Exciting Game

I can’t quite remember right now, that cbssportsline feed is off the hook good. However, I do not know if this is weird or normal, but I might have burned myself out these last two days. All the competitive games are running together in my mind as the same.  I will have to go with Siena v. Ohio State just because I remember the two extra sessions pretty well.   They’re fresh in my mind. Conshohocken, Pennsylvania native Ronald Moore hit two clutch shots at the end of both overtimes that had me hollering for joy.  Shortly thereafter a college basketball watching novice near me said “Darnit Siena, they’re screwing up my bracket!”  I looked at the person and scolded them not for the fact they had Ohio State beating Louisville in the next round, but for the fact they pronounced Siena wrong.

Most Surprising Game

None really… until Cleveland State mooned Wake Forest on Friday night, and I mean mooned. It just so happens I picked Wake to go far, Final Four far, championship runner up far.  Anyways.

The Vikings did everything right

Best Individual Performance

I could go with Nic Wise’s 29, Chase Budinger’s 20 points, 8 boards, 6 feeds and 4 swipes, Ben Woodside’s (NDSU) 37, Sherron Collins 32 and 8 dimes, Chris Wright’s (Dayton) 27 points and 10 boards, Taj Gibson’s 10-10 from the field en route to 24 points (3 swats), Greivis Vasquez’s 27, Marcus Thorton’s (LSU) 30, or Dwayne Anderson’s (Nova) 25 on 9-10 from the field (he averages 8.8ppg), but I’ll go with a performance just too improbable to overlook.  And that’s 35 big ones (10 trifectas) in 36 minutes from Roburt Sallie, 6′5 guard from Memphis, averaging 5.4 ppg in 14.7 min/gm. I think Roburt might ask to have a repeat of the pre-game meal before the Maryland game.

Worst Moment

The WWF smackdown of Blake Griffin during the Oklahoma-Morgan State thrilla.  But it gets better, Morgan State players are seen throwing tantrums after the game.

Game I Cared Most About

Michigan v. Clemson.  Always been a  University of Michigan sports fan, can not put a finger on why, but it is what it is. Maybe living in Michigan all my life has something to do with it, just a guess. It also does not hurt that the fine institution accepted me for the fall of 09′.  Big leagues baby.

A Prediction For Round Two
Western Kentucky over Gonzaga. I like WKU’s wing players as well as 6′9 skinny bean Jeremy Evans (190lbs).

Post from: EveryJoe

Round 1 Wrap

Whitlock wrote an article for ‘FoxSports on MSN’ yesterday.

“NCAA Truths” he calls it.

I call it a bunch of mumbo jumbo. Ok, only some of it.

Whitlock’s words in bold

The Gonzaga Bulldogs are not my sleeper team. They’re my pick to win the whole thing.
Jason is trying to drum up some discussion and controversy on his article, no person (unless they’re a Zags fan) in their right mind thinks Gonzaga has a shot to win it all. That said, I also think Gonzaga can win it all, and I’m not a Zags fan.

If you’re looking for a tournament fraud, take a gander at the 27-4 Oklahoma Sooners. Oklahoma does not have an offense. The Sooners do nothing to free Griffin in the low post. He gets his points off talent and nothing else. Capel’s offense does not require Warren to move without the basketball.
Actually, I agree with this, plus, another thing that Whitlock did not mention, the Sooners have the depth of a kiddie pool with a hole in it. They might win two games.

Michigan State is the other top-10 poser. I don’t care what the RPI says, the Big 10 is the worst major conference this year. I’ve had the pleasure of watching many Big 10 hoops games this year. It’s all unskilled labor in that league. Michigan State is the perfect poster child to represent the Big 10. The Spartans can’t shoot. They don’t have enough ball-handlers and passers to run a consistent and effective offense. They’re brutal to watch. Thank a higher power that they won’t be around long.
Whitlock must have only watched MSU once this season (UNC game at Ford Field) to come up with an explanation like that. Travis Walton and Kalin Lucas are pretty good point guards. Goran Suton is one of the best big man passers out there. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but the Big Ten is overrated. Ha, eight overrated Big Ten teams will make the Big Dance. Riiiiight.

Stephen Curry, Davidson and Sonya Curry belong in the NCAA Tournament. Look, sex sells, and the NCAA Tournament is a television event put on to draw viewers. Sonya Curry makes me want to watch Davidson hoops. The woman is fine. She looks like Halle Berry’s big sister.
Interesting.

Doug Gottlieb is the best guy calling college basketball today.
And Rush Limbaugh is a liberal.

The women’s 64-team field is an absolute joke and embarrassment. There are only 15 to 20 good programs, and less than half of those have a chance to win the national title.
Tell me about it.

Dwyane Wade’s strip and seal against the Bulls Tuesday night is one of the greatest regular-season moments in NBA history.
Whitlock wandering off topic again.

I like the Kansas Jayhawks a lot on the nights when Sherron Collins lets the game come to him offensively. They’ll lose in the first round if Collins gets out of control.
Let the game come to him offensively? Sherron Collins is the offense over there in Lawrence. Kansas will be lucky to make it out of the first weekend alive.

Post from: EveryJoe

Jason Whitlock is only slightly tolerable

Missouri 73 Oklahoma 64

Missouri

DeMarre Carroll scored 15 and hauled in 10 boards

Leo Lyons scored 15

Justin Safford hit 2 trifectas and swiped 3 in 7 minutes

12 steals

Oklahoma

Blake Griffin scored 16 (7-11 fg), grabbed 21 biscuits, and missed 5 free throws

21 turnovers

Juan Pattilo hauled in 9 boards in 17 minutes, but, also had 6 turnovers and fouled out

Willie Warren and Austin Johnson shot a combined 6-22 from the field

Texas Tech 84 Kansas 65

Texas Tech

Alan Voskuil drained 9 trifectas, scored 35

Mike Singletary scored 18 and grabbed 10 boards in 26 minutes

Every player that saw the floor had at least 1 turnover (19 to’s total)

Pat Knight did NOT pull a Pat Knight

Kansas

Sherron Collins shot 3-19 (1-10 3pt)

Cole Aldrich shot 1-5 from the floor

Only 8 assists

4-24 from downtown

Post from: EveryJoe

Rough Night For the Big 12 Bullies

Jan. 4- California 5′10 junior Jerome Randle erupted for 26 and 10 feeds in a win against Arizona St. He’s averaging more than 19ppg and nearly 5 feeds this season.

Jan. 4- Drake 5′11 junior Craig Stanley scored a season high 17 points in a road win over Southern Illinois.

Jan. 3- One of the most superb freshman in the game right now is Arkansas’s 5′11 Courtney Fortson. He didn’t have his best game in a win against N.Texas (5 TO’s and 2-8 ft) but back on December the 30th in an upset win over Oklahoma, he nearly had a triple double (2 rebounds shy). For the season he’s rebounding the ball like a mad man with 5.4 rebounds and taking care of the point guard duties with over 7 feeds/gm. Meh, just 15.3ppg to boot.

Jan. 3- Can’t forget about the sixth man on last season’s championship team, Sherron Collins. In a 7 point victory over the Tennessee Volunteers, Collins netted 26 to go along with 9 assists.

Jan. 3- Oklahoma State’s 5′10 freshman Keiton Page, one of the best bench players out there, tied a career high with 21 (5-9 3ptfg) in a shellacking of Northwestern State. 5′11 starting point guard Byron Eaton didn’t light up the scoreboard but did get to his assist average with 6 helpers. Nice combo they got there in Stillwater.

Jan. 3- Howard 5′11 freshman Chris McHenry hit 4 three pointers on his way to 18 points in a loss to La Salle. McHenry had a 29 point performance earlier in the season.

Jan. 2- South Carolina 5′9 junior Devan Downey scored 23 and dished out 8 assists in route to a 1 point victory @ Baylor. Devan has been nothing short (pun intended) of amazing his entire collegiate career with averages like 15.7ppg and 4.8 assists. Although he doesn’t take many 3 pointers, just 3.0/gm this season, he’s connecting on over 41% of them.

Jan. 2- Mount St. Mary’s 5′9 junior Jeremy Goode scored 15 and pulled down 5 rebounds in a 5 point win versus Lafayette. He’s averaging over 15ppg this season

Post from: EveryJoe

Little men doing BIG stuff

Tonight: #1 UCLA vs. #11 Michigan State – this will be a true test for the Bruins to see just how good they are.

Wednesday November 21st: #21 Syracuse at Ohio State – OSU has struggled a bit early on this season, but the Orangemen can’t overlook the Buckeyes in Columbus.

Friday November 23rd: Florida State at #25 Florida – in a warm-up contest before the big football game in the Swamp on Saturday, look for the Gators to role the Noles once again.

Sunday November 25th: Arizona at #4 Kansas – Arizona is struggling without Lute Olsen on the bench, while Kansas is playing without standout guard Sherron Collins.

Post from: EveryJoe

Games to watch – 11/20

Collins, who averaged 16 points in the Jayhawks first two games this season, will be out of action for at least 6 weeks.

The loss of Collins further depletes Kansas’ thin backcourt, and head coach Bill Self and the Jayhawks will be in full scramble mode to keep the ship afloat until Rush and Collins return from their injuries.

With Rush and Collins in the lineup, Kansas is one of the top 5 teams in the country. Without them, they will struggle to stay in the top 25.

Post from: EveryJoe

Injury bug hits Jayhawks again