Today's Winners and Losers

Winners:
Kansas State - knocks off Kansas to move from the bubble to a 5 seed. Now alone at the top of the Big 12. I knew Kansas would choke but this is earlier that I thought.
Drake - soundly beats Creighton to remain perfect in the Valley. Drake is now my second favorite team that starts with a D and ends with a ke.
Arkansas - blows out Mississippi State to move from the last 4 in to a Great Bet.

Losers:
Vanderbilt - one of the last teams with zero loses is about 1 more away from being out of the bracket. This free fall is reminiscent of Clemson's fall from 17-1 to out of the bracket last year
Texas - boy, did I predict that one or what? Connor Atchley gets into foul trouble 3 minutes into the game and when I woke up from my nap at 9pm last night there Texas was down 21 to Texas A&M.
West Virginia - Way to go Coach Huggins, go back to Cincinnati and lose by 20. I guess shooting 20% for the game will do that. Nice homecoming...way to show Cincinnati Who's the Boss. Now, where's Alyssa Milano?

More Past Tournament Memories

Another game I was not present for, Tennessee-Winthorp. How come the best memories of the past 5 years involve me being upstairs? I guess this year I'll have to lock myself in the basement. A person can live 4 days on Fiery Cheetos and Busch Light right?

New UPS commercial just in time for March Madness

Douche Bag of the Day

Ugly Pitino Son, AKA UPS Guy

Great, it's nice to know UPS signed this guy up for another round of commercials for this years NCAA Tournament. It wasn't enough last year when at any given time he was on 2 TV's hawking his delivery service and drawing skills. Wow, you can turn a package into a delivery truck in just under 30 seconds with a board and a marker! Well, you know what? I can turn my package into a kid in less than 30 seconds and I don't need any props! And by the way; Get a Haircut HIPPIE!

Disturbing

veeeerrrry disturbing....

Monday Evening Bracktology Update

Well, I compared my Bracket to Joe Lunardi's on ESPN and we have only 3 different with all 3 of the one's he has in, in my last 4 out. Either he's not as smart as he thinks or ESPN should be paying me.

Rules – 31 Auto Conference Bids, 34 At Large Bids, 65 Total

Automatic Bids:
American East – Binghamton
ACC – Duke
Atlantic Sun – Jacksonville
Atlantic 10 – Xavier
Big East – Georgetown
Big Sky – Northern Arizona
Big South – UNC-Asheville
Big 10 – Indiana
Big 12 – Kansas
Big West – UC-Northridge
Colonial – VCU
Conference USA – Memphis
Horizon – Cleveland State
Ivy League – Cornell
MAAC – Rider
MAC – Kent State
MEAC – Hampton
Missouri Valley – Drake
Mountain West – UNLV
NorthEast – Wagner
Ohio Valley – Austin Peay
Pac 10 – UCLA
Patriot – Lafayette
SEC – Mississippi State
Southern – Davidson
Summit – Oral Roberts
Southland – Lamar
Sun Belt – South Alabama
SWAC – Alabama State
WAC – Utah State
West Coast - Gonzaga

Locks (22)
North Carolina
Clemson
Connecticut
USC
Pittsburgh
Marquette
Wisconsin
Michigan State
Texas
Kansas State
Washington State
St. Mary’s
Mississippi
Vanderbilt
Rhode Island
Arizona
West Virginia
Tennessee
Purdue
Stanford
Texas A&M
Louisville

Great Bets (8)
Oregon
Dayton
Oklahoma
Ohio State
Notre Dame
Florida
Baylor
Miami - Fla

Last 4 In (4)
Providence
Arkansas
Arizona State
UMass

First 4 Out (4)
St. Joseph’s
Illinois State
Syracuse
Villanova

Also Considered (24)
North Carolina State
Creighton
Florida State
Duquesne
San Diego State
George Mason
Georgia Tech
Ohio
BYU
Seton Hall
Texas Tech
Virginia Tech
Southern Illinois
Charlotte
Minnesota
Western Kentucky
Maryland
Cleveland State
Temple
Houston
Virginia
Boston College
California
Kentucky

Seedings
#1 Seeds – Kansas, Memphis, North Carolina, Duke
#2 Seeds – Washington State, UCLA, Georgetown, Tennessee
#3 Seeds – Michigan State, Butler, Wisconsin, Texas
#4 Seeds – Indiana, Xavier, Vanderbilt, Marquette
#5 Seeds – Dayton, Pittsburgh, Drake, Mississippi
#6 Seeds – Rhode Island, Gonzaga, St. Mary’s, Arizona
#7 Seeds – Stanford, Louisville, Clemson, Baylor
#8 Seeds – Texas A&M, Mississippi State, Kansas State, Ohio State
#9 Seeds – Connecticut, Miami-Fla, West Vriginia, Notre Dame
#10 Seeds – USC, Oklahoma, UNLV, Florida
#11 Seeds – Oregon, Purdue, Kent State, UMass
#12 Seeds – Providence, South Alabama, Arizona State, VCU
#13 Seeds – Arkansas, Davidson, Utah State, Oral Roberts
#14 Seeds – UC-Northridge, Cornell, UNC-Ashville, Austin Peay
#15 Seeds – Rider, Northern Arizona, Lafayette, Hampton
#16 Seeds – Binghamton, Lamar, Wagner, Jacksonville, Alabama State

A Top Ten Team that will struggle in the Tournament

Texas Longhorns

Yes, they have good if not great guard play and average almost 80 points but this team is ripe for a quick exit from the NCAA tournament. First and foremost they only go about 7 deep and if anybody remembers Duke from last year you'll need more than 7 players to advance in the tournament. If there's an injury or foul trouble suddenly they're really screwed. Secondly, although their guards are superb they both average more than 35 minutes a game. If pressed and forced out of their game plan, see Badgers, Wisconsin, they'll tire out and be less effective down the stretch. Don't be fooled by their 16-3 record, this team is vastly overrated. I predict they lose a couple more games in conference, probably to Kansas and Kansas State and get a forth seed in the Midwest bracket. Against a well coached 13 seeded team this team is in trouble and if that 13th seed happens to be Davidson, Oral Roberts, or South Alabama I'm predicting the upset.

Douche Bag of the Day

Deron Washington

Rarely you'll be able to find a player that can out flop a Duke player but this guy takes the cake and then falls down into it. Crickets could knock him over but that's not the worst part. After he doesn't get the call watch out because he's going to end up doing something stupid like he did on Thursday tripping Kyle Singler and getting a technical. This is the same guy that kicked Lee Melchionni in the face 3 years ago. I know to some of us that's a good thing but I'm pretty sure Lee got back up and managed to go 1-9 from the 3 point line later that game. He probably should have kicked him in the shooting hand.

Early Sunday Update

As expected Boston College loses to Virginia Tech and the douche bag that is Deron Washington at home to fall out of the bracket on Saturday. I believe that is the last you'll hear about B.C. and their 85 RPI ranking. Also moving out of the bracket this weekend is Villanova who lost at home to Notre Dame, Cleveland State, and San Diego State. The later two are no longer leading their conferences and are replaced by Butler and UNLV. Since Butler is already in this leaves 3 at-large openings that go to Oklahoma (RPI = 28), Arkansas (43), and Purdue (based on their uoset of Wisconsin).

Lastly on the Low-Major front there has been some changes at the top in the listed conferences:
MAAC - Siena replaced by Rider
Southland - Stephen F. Austin replaced by Lamar
NorthEast - Quinnipiac replaced by Wagner

More Past Tournament Memories

Well, last year the commercials were crap so we have to go back a couple years to remember a truly remarkable commercial. Last time I checked, V-Dub was still in the house YA!

Separated at Birth

Darren Collison


A Cricket

Past Memories

Damn that finish was great, I can still remember you flying down the stairs as we rejoiced in drunken jubilation. I seem to remember you missing either Tennesse-Winthrop or NW St-Iowa if memory serves me.....

Past Tournament Memories

This highlight takes a minute to get to where we want to go but it will always be near and dear to my heart because I freaking missed it while putting Emma to bed. I'll always remember the roar from the basement and thinking, "Great, what the F did I miss this time"

Baylor Makes a Statement

Not sure if anybody caught this since the game wasn't televised but Baylor knocked off Texas A&M, at A&M, 116-110 in Five Overtimes. Besides Drake, Baylor is the biggest surprise this season.

The January 23 Awards for taking the biggest dump:

Villanova loses to Rutgers to fall into the last 4 in status and Illinois State loses to 9-10 Bradley to fall out of the bracket. Replacing Illinois State is Boston College which I can guarantee will eventually fall out of the bracket too. They've been playing above their heads after losing Jared Dudley to the NBA last year and once they get into the full ACC schedule they'll drop like a lead balloon. Oh, and they also lost to Robert Morris 2 weeks ago.

I wanna be a blog dork too!!

Its about damn time I found a place to get some good, unbiased Duke information. Here are three random thoughts:

1. Dominic James is not better than last year. He's exactly the same. Welcome to the second round of the NBA draft.

2. Kenny George is a freak. He has a 101.5 inch wing span. That's not a man, that's a pterodactyl. Its comical to watch him dunk:
http://www.nbadraft.net/admincp/profiles/kennygeorge.html

3. Oh yes. I managed to use pterodactyl in a March Madness blog. Betcha didnt see that coming.

Later

Player You Should Get To Know

"The KING" Taylor King

A sharpshooter from Mater Dei in California, Taylor King will be known only as "The King" going forward. Pre-Duke, The King verbally accepted a letter of intent to attend UCLA in 8th grade. However, upon learning that UCLA was a dump and that Duke was interested The King quickly changed his mind and ran directly to the Mecca that is Cameron Indoor Stadium. Listed at 6'6" The King is not known for his rebounding, driving, passing, or defense. What he is known for is his uncanny ability to chuck shots from anywhere on the court without being reprimanded by Coach K. It's almost as if he's got naked pictures of Coach K or something because if Paulus pulled this $hit he'd be riding the pine so quick he'd have splinters. Anyway, it's hard to argue with his average of 10 points per game in just over 13 minutes. All Hail The King!

Now, My first post

Hello all,

Brian has invited me here, maybe even to post from time to time. I don't know how much insight I can provide. Hell, I rely on Dachel for his bracketology reports. I can tell you three things:

1. Yes, I am a Duke fan.
2. Yes, I hate unc.
3. Yes, I have an opinion on how crappy your team is.

This is my first experience with blogging, just like Dachel. God forbid I gain 150 pounds and start collecting comic books, too.

Although there is a comic book/Star Trek convention here in Phoenix this weekend.

http://www.phoenixcomicon.com/

I wish I was making that up.

And it's not just Star Trek. Lou F'ing Ferrigno will be there. And the guys who played Chewbacca and Boba Fett.

What time is your flight, Brian?

Low Major's You Want To Make the Tournament

Holy Cross
Reason: Tim Clifford, AKA CroMags
Currently Lafayette is leading the Patriot league but perennial Patriot League powerhouses Bucknell and Holy Cross are lurking. Best case scenario is for Holy Cross to win the conference tournament so that we get the chance to watch a 15 seeded Holy Cross team lead by a player who has yet to evolve take on UCLA. Who doesn't want to cheer for Encino Man circa 2008?

UNC-Asheville
Reason: Kenny George and his size 28 shoes
Go ahead and Google this guy...7'7", 360 pounds. Yes, you read that correctly. We're not dealing with Manute Bol or Shawn Bradley's 220 pound frame here. This guy is huge and if you've seen the highlights against North Carolina where he blocks two straight Wayne Ellington shots without jumping you'd know what I'm talking about. Put him in the middle and watch him defend the paint like nobody's business. Oh, and he's only a junior!

Cleveland State
Reason: Their Mascot
Right now Cleveland State is leading the Horizon League so a bid seems possible at this point. Does anybody remember their mascot? If you said Vikings you'd be correct. If you said Snork you'd be correct in Hacker's eyes. Think back 2 years when Cleveland State hosted a first round game and in the middle of the court was that Snork looking thing. If Cleveland State makes the tournament we can all look forward to Hacker singing "Come along with the Snorks, SNORKS!" everytime they show their logo or mascot. If they make it this year I'm expecting Hacker to have the lyrics memorized.

2008 Bracketology

**Rules – 31 Auto Conference Bids, 34 At Large Bids, 65 Total

Automatic Bids (31):
American East – MD-Baltimore
ACC – Duke
Atlantic Sun – Jacksonville
Atlantic 10 – Xavier
Big East – Georgetown
Northern Arizona
Big South – UNC-Asheville
Big 10 – Wisconsin
Big 12 – Kansas
Big West – UC-Northridge
Colonial – VCU
Conference USA – Memphis
Horizon – Cleveland State
Ivy League – Cornell
MAAC – Siena
MAC – Akron
MEAC – Hampton
Missouri Valley – Drake
Mountain West – San Diego State
NorthEast – Quinnipiac
Ohio Valley – Austin Peay
Pac 10 – UCLA
Patriot – Lafayette
SEC – Tennessee
Southern – Davidson
Summit – Oral Roberts
Southland – Stephen F. Austin
Sun Belt – South Alabama
SWAC – Alabama State
WAC – Utah State
West Coast - Gonzaga

Locks (22)
North Carolina
Clemson
Dayton
Providence
Pittsburgh
Marquette
Indiana
Michigan State
Texas
Butler
Washington State
St. Mary’s
Mississippi
Vanderbilt
Rhode Island
Arizona
Miami - Fla
Mississippi State
UMass
Stanford
Texas A&M
Louisville

Great Bets (8)
Oregon
Illinois State
Villanova
Ohio State
Notre Dame
Arizona State
Baylor
West Virginia

Last 4 In (4)
Connecticut
Kansas State
Creighton
Florida

First 4 Out (4)
Purdue
Boston College
USC
Oklahoma

Also Considered (24)
Arkansas
Duquesne
St. Joseph’s
Florida State
North Carolina State
UNLV
Sam Houston State
George Mason
Western Kentucky
Syracuse
Missouri
Minnesota
California
Kent State
Virginia Tech
UAB
Southern Illinois
Texas Tech
Virginia
BYU
Valparasio
Maryland
Charlotte
Houston

Seedings
#1 Seeds – Kansas, Memphis, North Carolina, Tennessee
#2 Seeds – Washington State, Duke, UCLA, Georgetown
#3 Seeds – Indiana, Butler, Wisconsin, Texas
#4 Seeds – Michigan State, Dayton, Vanderbilt, Mississippi
#5 Seeds – Xavier, Pittsburgh, Texas A&M, Marquette
#6 Seeds – Rhode Island, Gonzaga, Clemson, St. Mary’s
#7 Seeds – Stanford, Arizona, Louisville, UMass
#8 Seeds – Drake, Mississippi State, Oregon, Ohio State
#9 Seeds – Villanova, Miami-Fla, West Vriginia, Notre Dame
#10 Seeds – Illinois State, Arizona State, Providence, Baylor
#11 Seeds – Connecticut, Kansas State, Creighton, Florida
#12 Seeds – San Diego State, Utah State, Akron, VCU
#13 Seeds – Cleveland State, Davidson, South Alabama, Austin Peay
#14 Seeds – Oral Roberts, UC-Northridge, Stephen F. Austin, Siena
#15 Seeds – Cornell, Northern Arizona, Lafayette, Hampton
#16 Seeds – MD-Baltimore, UNC-Ashville, Quinnipiac, Jacksonville, Alabama State

Super Bowl

Well, now that the Super Bowl is set and nobody gives a shit we can all turn our attention to College Basketball. Go Duke.

My second post

Well, that first post went so well that I have to write another one. How about that Maryland team? Rarely will I cheer for Maryland but way to beat the piss out of North Carolina. Go Terps

My first post

Well, I'm taking Dan's advice and transfering my March Madness emails to a blog. I guess the next thing I'll do is gain 150 pounds, watch Star Trek and start collecting comic books.