The year has been up and down for everyone in college basketball. Duke, UNC, Wake Forest, UConn, Pittsburgh...it seems like everyone got a shot to be #1 in the nation for a while. But none of that means anything now.
Because it's tournament time!
Out in the Midwest, Louisville is the top overall seed and for good reason. They are a solid team that has been underrated, won the regular season and tournament in ONE of the toughest conferences in the nation (the top spot still belongs to the ACC) and they have the best defense in this country. However, I disagree with anyone who says that they have the easiest bracket heading to the Final Four. Wake Forest, Boston College and West Virginia could all be possible spoilers along the way, though I am still picking the Cardinals to slither out of the Midwest to the Final Four.
The region carries few potential upsets, though my pick for a 'Cinderella' story does reside here with North Dakota State. I have seen Ben Woodside and the Summit League champion Bison grow, seeing them play once in person each of those years. This team is dangerous and not only do I think they will beat defending champion Kansas in the opener, I have them upsetting West Virginia and heading to the Sweet Sixteen. Other than that, it's pretty standard with the exception of my pick of Boston College over Michigan State that will propel them to the Elite Eight. BC guard Tyrese Rice is as dangerous as any single player in the entire tournament.
In the West, UConn is the most debatable top seed, but I also think they have the easiest road through as long as someone knocks off Memphis, which I see Marquette doing in the Sweet Sixteen. That however should allow UConn to coast to the Final Four even though they are THAT good of a team. This bracket should follow seeded-suit with Marquette (6-seed) being the only one to step out of line. This team has a lot of heart and I think they will play well specifically in-spite of not having Dominic James. The Golden Eagles will be the team that falls to UConn in the Elite Eight.
The East is the most intriguing region to me with the deadly Pitt at the top at Duke down as the 2-seed. I think that Florida State is highly underrated, even as a 5-seed and their inside game could catch any team off guard on any given day, which could be interesting for Pitt in the Sweet Sixteen. I also love the match of Duke and Texas in the second round. And as much as they have both been choke artists in past tournaments, I see Pitt and Duke as the only 1/2 combo to make the Elite Eight in their region. And even though Pitt and the Big East have been tough, I don't think they can get the job done in the clutch and I have to take Duke (being a Blue Devil fan or not).
It will however be nice to see Olek Czyz and Steve Johnson get some PT for Duke in the opening round against Binghamton.
In the South, I hope North Carolina loses to Radford. Sadly I know better, but the Overtime kids in Orange will keep people from seeing the Tyler Hansbrough/Blake Griffin meeting in the Elite Eight. Well, Syracuse will be the other team at least...in reality, I think it's Michigan that derails the overrated Oklahoma train. I also like Western Kentucky in one of those 12/5 upsets against Illinois. In the end, the Orange are just too impressive right now, Johnny Flynn is amazing and I have them over Carolina, keeping the Heels from a third meeting with Duke.
In the Final Four, Louisville gets Hasheem Thabeet in foul trouble and coast against UConn, while Duke out energizes Syracuse in a game of will. The finals will be close, final score 76-70. And while Louisville's defense is godly, if Duke gets this far, I see them being to hot from 3-point range to faulter. Give K his fourth ring, probably say goodbye to Gerald Henderson and hate them or love them, Duke claims a title.
Check out my full 2009 NCAA Bracket here:
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u51/thefranchise484/danvance2009.jpg
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
>Summit League result dissapoints but may offer best opportunity
Let me first say that I am not happy with the outcome of the Summit League tournament title game. I have never been a fan of North Dakota State and never even pretended to like conference Player of the Year Ben Woodside.
On the other end of the spectrum, you could call me somewhat of an Oakland fan (I know Dane, you don’t have to say anything.)
I think Oakland was the perfect team when it comes to the conference. They have a terrific, experienced coach in Greg Kampe, a stellar quick point man in Jonathan Jones, a lights out shooter in Eric Kangas, a high energy post in Keith Benson and the intangible guy in Will Hudson. Around ALL of that, they also have stellar freshman Drew Maynard and a defensive juggernaut in frosh Blake Cushingberry. Not to mention senior Dan Waterstradt, who was out of this world in the opening round against IPFW.
That to me is the perfect prototype for a Mid-Major and I, as a fan of basketball, would have been proud to have that team represent the Summit League in this year’s field of 65. But I also know the conference’s best chance at winning a tournament game comes in the form of NDSU.
This Bison team is everything that Cinderella could hope to be. They are from a smaller conference, in their first full year of NCAA Division I eligibility. But at the same, with a record of 26-5, they are not exactly too far off the radar. After winning the conference tournament, NDSU had a chance to win a game in this year’s NCAA Tournament.
That is something that neither Oakland or even defending league champion Oral Roberts would do.
So I feel bad for Oakland, but know that sans-Kangas and Waterstradt, they will all be back to power through the conference next year. Not to mention, their best player Derrick Nelson didn’t even play this year.
And for NDSU, they may not be the team I wanted to see advance, but they are the Summit’s best chance. Even before the field of 65 was announced this past Sunday, people all around college basketball were calling on the Bison to be the potential upset special this post-season. That seemed to die down some when they drew defending National Champions Kansas.
But I don’t see why.
Kansas as an opponent does not change all of the good things that NDSU brings to the table and to me, they will still be the ‘Cinderella’ team when all is said and done. More importantly, even a single win by them will given instant credibility to the league.
Hope the Bison don’t let down.
On the other end of the spectrum, you could call me somewhat of an Oakland fan (I know Dane, you don’t have to say anything.)
I think Oakland was the perfect team when it comes to the conference. They have a terrific, experienced coach in Greg Kampe, a stellar quick point man in Jonathan Jones, a lights out shooter in Eric Kangas, a high energy post in Keith Benson and the intangible guy in Will Hudson. Around ALL of that, they also have stellar freshman Drew Maynard and a defensive juggernaut in frosh Blake Cushingberry. Not to mention senior Dan Waterstradt, who was out of this world in the opening round against IPFW.
That to me is the perfect prototype for a Mid-Major and I, as a fan of basketball, would have been proud to have that team represent the Summit League in this year’s field of 65. But I also know the conference’s best chance at winning a tournament game comes in the form of NDSU.
This Bison team is everything that Cinderella could hope to be. They are from a smaller conference, in their first full year of NCAA Division I eligibility. But at the same, with a record of 26-5, they are not exactly too far off the radar. After winning the conference tournament, NDSU had a chance to win a game in this year’s NCAA Tournament.
That is something that neither Oakland or even defending league champion Oral Roberts would do.
So I feel bad for Oakland, but know that sans-Kangas and Waterstradt, they will all be back to power through the conference next year. Not to mention, their best player Derrick Nelson didn’t even play this year.
And for NDSU, they may not be the team I wanted to see advance, but they are the Summit’s best chance. Even before the field of 65 was announced this past Sunday, people all around college basketball were calling on the Bison to be the potential upset special this post-season. That seemed to die down some when they drew defending National Champions Kansas.
But I don’t see why.
Kansas as an opponent does not change all of the good things that NDSU brings to the table and to me, they will still be the ‘Cinderella’ team when all is said and done. More importantly, even a single win by them will given instant credibility to the league.
Hope the Bison don’t let down.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
>NIT lucks out with NCAA snubs
The NCAA's stupidity is the NIT's gain. And honestly, compared to previous years, the NCAA was not as stupid their tournament selections as in past years.
But this year, a wide array of strong but not strong enough teams makes the NIT just as interesting and competitive as parts of the 'Big Dance.'
In one bracket, St. Mary's (THE NCAA SNUB) gets a two-seed! That shows you the NIT is more stacked than usual. In that bracket of eight, the first round should be boring, but second round matches of San Diego State (the top seed) and Illinois State and Davidson/St. Mary's are going to be outstanding. SDSU is gonna sneak by Osiris Eldridge and the crafy Illinois State team but even with Patrick (I refuse to call him Patty) Mills, I don't think St. Mary's can get by a Stephen Curry-driven Davidson team that has a huge chip on it's shoulder.
In the next eight, Virginia Tech should roll over Duquense, Baylor and Auburn to get to the NIT's final four teams. This bracket is pretty weak with Auburn as the top-seed and also featuring not-so-powerhouse teams like Northwestern.
On the other side of the overall bracket, Creighton has a pretty clear path but honestly teams should look out for UAB, who underachieved with Robert Vaden leading the way this year. The eight-team bracket below that features alot of parody but 5-seed Providence has a lot of talent and I have them in the finals of the bracket topping Penn State.
The final four teams will pit, in my demented mind, Creighton will cruise fairly easily over Providence with their hot shooting. And, as much as I really do like the gritty nature of Virginia Tech, Davidson is just not going to take this NIT lightly and that also spells bad news for Creighton in the finals. The good news: a NIT Title is not what Stephen Curry is in this for so after Davidson WINS the NIT this year, expect for the older Curry brother to return for one more run in 2009-2010.
But this year, a wide array of strong but not strong enough teams makes the NIT just as interesting and competitive as parts of the 'Big Dance.'
In one bracket, St. Mary's (THE NCAA SNUB) gets a two-seed! That shows you the NIT is more stacked than usual. In that bracket of eight, the first round should be boring, but second round matches of San Diego State (the top seed) and Illinois State and Davidson/St. Mary's are going to be outstanding. SDSU is gonna sneak by Osiris Eldridge and the crafy Illinois State team but even with Patrick (I refuse to call him Patty) Mills, I don't think St. Mary's can get by a Stephen Curry-driven Davidson team that has a huge chip on it's shoulder.
In the next eight, Virginia Tech should roll over Duquense, Baylor and Auburn to get to the NIT's final four teams. This bracket is pretty weak with Auburn as the top-seed and also featuring not-so-powerhouse teams like Northwestern.
On the other side of the overall bracket, Creighton has a pretty clear path but honestly teams should look out for UAB, who underachieved with Robert Vaden leading the way this year. The eight-team bracket below that features alot of parody but 5-seed Providence has a lot of talent and I have them in the finals of the bracket topping Penn State.
The final four teams will pit, in my demented mind, Creighton will cruise fairly easily over Providence with their hot shooting. And, as much as I really do like the gritty nature of Virginia Tech, Davidson is just not going to take this NIT lightly and that also spells bad news for Creighton in the finals. The good news: a NIT Title is not what Stephen Curry is in this for so after Davidson WINS the NIT this year, expect for the older Curry brother to return for one more run in 2009-2010.
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