First Weekend Postmortem
My 35 correct picks out of 48 is nothing to write home about, but it is four better than where I was last year this time and leaves 7 of 8 of my Elite Eight picks intact and all of my Final Fours. I’ve learned to respect USC basketball a little more this weekend, was thrilled with my signature pick (Winthrop over Notre Dame) and delighted in watching the ‘Dores (gotta love that Lionel Ritchie!) play through to the Sweet Sixteen as I boldly predicted. As much as I hate to admit it, UNC’s depth and talent are going to be tough to overcome. Sans mask, “Psycho T” Hansbrough looks even scarier (is there a real human being behind those empty, dark eyes or is he merely a pre-programmed basketball borg?)
Speaking of Lionel Ritchie, with UNLV, Georgetown, Memphis and Southern Illinois in the mix, the Sweet Sixteen also has a little bit of a retro flavor. Those schools fielded some good teams back in the 70s and 80s, and for the most part, we’ve haven’t heard from them in a while. Having Memphis around is especially good since Coach Calipari is always good for a few choice quotes, such as this gem:
“I’m firm with these guys. If you’re sitting close enough, I’m hard on them. But they know I love them. They know I love them and I care about them, so I can treat them like I would my own son. I can grab them at times. You’re not supposed to grab them? I do. I kiss them at times. What? Oh, I kiss their sweaty faces. I won’t kiss them on the lips, because that’s a little bit too much. But I’ll kiss them on the face or on the forehead. Especially if I really ram them. I’ll walk over and say, ‘You know I still love you.’”
Coach C., that may be a little too much information. In this day and age, you gotta be careful going around talking like that.
That’s my first weekend postmortem. How’s your bracket doing? And, having seen everybody in action now, who do you think has the right stuff to go all the way?
18 Comments
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Terri
I think I threw my bracket away in Atlanta this past weekend!
Mike the Eyeguy
That bad, huh?
Stoogelover
How’s MY bracket? I’m living this madness vicariously through YOU, so hang in there … if for no other reason, for me!
cg
Just doing a little daydreaming here… I would love to see a Kansas v. North Carolina final. That would allow Roy Williams an opportunity to be personally involved in giving KU something he never could as their coach – a national championship.
Well, it could happen, but there’s a lot of work to be done first. Just one game at a time…
Mike the Eyeguy
Sl, be careful which horse you hitch your wagon to.
cg, if I could do my bracket over having seen everybody play this weekend, I would pick UNC and KU to square off in the final with a slight edge to those @#$%&! T-r H–ls to win it all.
Oh, the pain…
Terri
I know how much it hurt for you to say that.
…and yes, that bad.
cg
It IS hard to go with your head instead of your heart, and hindsight IS 20/20. Being the Eyeguy, you probably already know that.
But in the scenario of a KU/UNC final, I would think you would be a Jayhawk fan in your heart – at least for a day.
Mike the Eyeguy
And in my heart I would be. But my head looks on in trepidation at the depth of the UNC bench. Fresh legs constantly rotated onto the floor without missing a beat; in a survival-of-the-fittest tournament scenario, that can make all the difference.
cg
I agree, and the bench is one of KU’s strengths too. Kansas has depth at every position with 8-9 starters, any one of which can explode for a 20+ points in any given game.
No doubt about it, there will be some great games down the stretch.
Mike the Eyeguy
Then that settles it, KU and UNC in the final. What was that cheer again, “Paper, rock, scissors Jayhawks!” or something like that? 🙂
Stoogelover
Just out of curiosity, do you have patients in your waiting room while you’re doing all this conversation with us?
Mike the Eyeguy
Nah. My staff takes care of a lot and then lets me know when I need to change into my Eyeguy suit and do my thing.
KS
Glad for the SEC (3 in the sweet 16). Does anyone else notice that Hansborough travels almost everytime he touches the ball???
Mike the Eyeguy
The refs must already be giving him that NBA “extra step.”
Keith
13 out of 16 in one bracket. No comment on the other one. If you fill out enough of them your certain to hit above the 80% mark sometime. Yes Hans Solo travels everytime but every big man does; watch the Gator Bigs and the Buckeye Biggie…’they been doin it allll night!” Those guys are allowed 2 pivot feet I think. Hey, your Dukies were due a down year. Let somebody else win.
Brady
I just got back from Ukraine, so thanks for letting me catch up on the tournament so easily. Wife just read in Time that $1.2 billion is the estimated loss in productivity in the USA during March Madness.
Like Europe and the World Cup.
Mike the Eyeguy
Keith, you’re right, it’s widespread. Another thing I’ve noticed is that “palming” and “carrying” are hardly ever called anymore either. I think in both instances, refs may be giving the fans what they want–flying jams (extra step needed) and crossover dribbles (hence, the palming).
Brady–I’ve heard that figure too. It always makes me wonder how they come up with figures like that. I think I know, but I can’t say since this is a family blog and all.
cg
What was that cheer again, “Paper, rock, scissors Jayhawks!” or something like that?
Yeah, something like that 🙂