I Like Fun

Per our conversation Saturday night:




I didn't know Eric gave Amare Stoudamire the creeps.

Is Notre Dame a Final Four team?

I'm watching Notre Dame tonight and I know they're a Top 10 team but I never really thought of them as a Final Four team but...

They look like they can be a Final Four team. They beat Pitt earlier in the season by grinding the Panthers down and limiting possessions and obviously, they can be very dynamic on offense, too. I might even say this is the closest a Mike Brey - Notre Dame team has looked like a Duke team.

They are 9th in AdjO for KenPom, their weakness being rebounding on offense and even that's not terrible. (Note - I guess rebound margin is the equivalent to batting average when evaluating). What you really have to like is how they pass and handle the ball. 15th in assists, 6th in assist/TO ratio and 16th in overall turnovers. Guys get good looks.

Only 61st in AdjD, they're still solid enough on defense to make a run through March. They simply don't foul, 7th in the nation. Again, the numbers all are solid other than guarding beyond the arc, 244th in the nation and making steals, 317th. The d isn't as good as the offense but I'm reminded them of controlling possessions against Pitt at Pitt and playing a neutral court B1G style game against Lucky and beating them ugly.

Finally, they have a legitimate guy that can carry them in Ben Hansbrough who can light you up behind the arc and break you down on the dribble.

I don't think picking Notre Dame, a member of the Axis of Evil (MSU & OSU) to make a DEEP run in March is much of a stretch. The one red flag is the losses have all been by double digits and all on the road but with a veteran-laden roster and plenty of good wins, they'll be ready come tourney time.

Monday Afternoon Bracketology

1 seed vs 16 seed
Ohio State (Big10) vs McNeese(Sland)/B-Cook (MEAC)
Kansas vs N.Colo(BSky)/TexSo(SWAC)
BYU (Mwest) vs Murray State (OVC)
Pittsburgh (Beast) vs Florida Atlantic (Sbelt)
2 seed vs 15 seed
Duke (ACC) vs UWM (Horizon)
Texas (Big 12) vs Coastal Carolina (Bsouth)
Purdue vs Long Beach State (Bwest)
Notre Dame vs Kent State (MAC)
3 seed vs 14 seed
Wisconsin vs Long Island (NEC)
San Diego St vs Fairfield (MAAC)
Louisville vs Bucknell (Patriot)
Syracuse vs Vermont (Aeast)
4 seed vs 13 seed
North Carolina vs Colllege of Charleston (SoCon)
St. John's vs Princeton (Ivy)
Florida (SEC) vs Oakland (Summit)
Kentucky vs Belmont (Asun)
5 seed vs 12 seed
Connecticut vs Missouri State (Mvalley)
Georgetown vs Alabama/Baylor
West Virginia vs Richmond/Boston College
Vanderbilt vs Gonzaga
6 seed vs 11 seed
Villanova vs St. Mary's (WCC)
Arizona (Pac10) vs UAB (Cusa)
Texas A&M vs Georgia
Missouri vs Butler
7 seed vs 10 seed
Xavier (A10) vs Michigan State
Temple vs Illinois
G. Mason (Colonial) vs Tennessee
UNLV vs Virginia Tech
8 seed vs 9 seed
Utah State (WAC) vs Marquette
UCLA vs Washington
Florida State vs Cincinnati
Kansas State vs Old Dominion

First Four Out
Colorado State
Clemson
Colorado
Memphis
Next Four Out
Michigan
Cleveland State
Nebraska
Maryland
Also Considered
VCU
Washington State
Penn State
Wichita State
Southern Miss

Funny

Still finalizing this week's bracket but at the moment it came out as a Duke-UWM matchup as a 2-15 seeded game. That would be awesome.

Bubble Status

Lots of movement yesterday. After 2 days of 2 tournaments and league play for Evan's basketball and baseball teams I'm looking forward to going through the bracket tonight and sifting through SOS, RPI, and KenPom tomorrow to get a new bracket. We are two weeks away from Selection Sunday!

WE ARE IN....

Until we lose to BC and Clemson this week!

Tonight's thought.

I think VA Tech just won either the Super Bowl or the World Cup based on espn's coverage. Good win for them and while I agree they're in the tournament did I just hear Vitale say they deserve it because they are a BCS school?

Gotta go, One Shining Moment should be coming on.