Final Four Picks

I planned on doing this long, extensive post about the Final Four but then it dawned on me that everyone has heard the stories about each team. We know these squads like the back of our hand in the day and age of the world we live in. Instead, I am going to deliver my points in a couple sentences with hopes not to ramble to either look like a champion, or an idiot by the end of night.



11) VCU v. 8) Butler: It's kind of useless to put the seeds in there, but hey, it's what the cool kids are doing. I think this will be a better game than people expect to be because I am sure casual fans *cough Brett Boyer cough* see this as an ESPN BracketBuster.  No power conference tend to turn people off. It's like being at the bar with a bunch of fairly attractive people, no one is really that hot, it's perfect way to sum this battle. VCU has played out their mind in the past two weeks, but at some point that magic will run out. The clock strikes midnight for the Rams as Butler will play them strong on defense, which will translate into a victory. Butler 71-65

4.) Kentucky v. 3.) Connecticut: The purists of the game have a difficult time watching this one. It's two of the most unethical coaches in college basketball going up against one another for a shot at the National Championship. It's like watching a fight between Bernie Madoff and Rod Blagojevich (yes I had to look that up) and you really don't care who wins because you do not want the other to succeed.  For me, I just see it as basketball and there will always be shitty people no matter what industry you are in.  Even though the Wildcats can earn me some money with a win plus my mancrush on Josh Harrellson, I have a hard time seeing them pull through. People don't nearly give Kemba Walker enough credit for his defense and I think that will shine as he shuts down Brandon Knight, Kentucky's x-factor. UCONN 75-67

-Charlie.

Elite Eight Picks Part Deux

Well I went 0 for 2 yesterday, and I woke up later than I wanted to so I am going to basically give you a three sentence prediction. Likely, more to come from us today with the first Half Assed Previews (HAP) for Major League Baseball and the latest Brewer trade.

11.) VCU v. 1.) Kansas- In no way should I doubt the Rams in this game. CBS executives woke up from nightmares watching the Rams play the Butler Bulldogs in the Final Four.  The Rams need to come out firing threes if they want to win. The Jayhawks just need a good performance out of the Morris Twins and Thomas Robinson. I think if Tyshawn Taylor plays well, this could be a long day for the Rams. Kansas pulls away late. KU 80-70

4.) Kentucky v. 2.) North Carolina- The Wildcats are on a roll, and I love everything they are doing right now. I think Jorts Harrellson will be a problem for the skinny Tar Heels inside. If I am North Carolina, I am taking it right at the Cats' big man trying get him in foul trouble. I think Brandon Knight hits another big shot late and the Cats head back to the Final Four.  UK 91-89

-Charlie.

The Good, The Bad, and The Rebecca Black

I liked the format that I used for the games yesterday so much, I thought I would use it again. Also since Marquette's first half was the ugliest thing on Friday, I decided to use Rebecca Black's name instead. Hit me with the cyberbullying charges!

The Good

-So far this March Madness had brought us Mr. Onions, Brandon Knight. He is a stone cold assassin in the late game situations. Knight struggled mightily all game, but nailed the shot when it mattered   

-Josh Harrellson has become the centerpiece of the Kentucky Wildcats offense, and my favorite white center since Kevin Pittsnoggle. I also loved that he spiked a ball off Jared Sullinger. 

-The Fightin' Shakas live for another day!  Even though Florida State threw a block party, the Rams were able to survive to face Kansas. David meet Goliath. 

-Tyler Zeller had another great game and played tough defense all game. We all should forget that asshole who said he couldn't play defense, whoops.  

-If you review my predictions, I basically laid out the Kansas game for you.

-The Dwight Buycks Era is over!  (Yes I know he did some nice things, but bad outweighs the good)

-Pumped that Robert Forenza hit a three in his final game of his career. Beyond awesome ending to a great Marquette season.   

The Bad 

-Florida State not getting a shot off in regulation or overtime.  The Noles late game situation troubles made Marquette's look minor.    

-The ref who gave Jae Crowder a T when Marquette is down 26. Don't worry that cushion is big enough for the Heels to win, stripes.  

-Marquette's three point performance was horrendous especially after they fueled the three-point goggles phenomenon this week. Embarrassing. 

- Roy Williams leaving his starters in until the 2 minute mark, I wish Devante Gardner would have leveled that pretty boy Zeller. 

-Dallas Lauderdale bows out in his college career with a five minute performance.  That would be tough to swallow if I were him. 

The Rebecca Black 

-I am very glad I watched the game with my parents because if I watched with my boys, it would have been non-stop jokes. Marquette could not have played more tight.  MU threw up so many breaks in the first half, they could have built an Extreme Home Makeover home. 

-Anyone who scheduled the second round games in Newark. Horrible choice.  

-Darius Johnson-Odom did way too much for my liking. It's okay, he will be great next year.  

-Florida State was 7/18 from the line, which has to bite you in the ass if you are a fan. If I were a Noles fan I would tell myself, 'well at least we got Jenn Sterger.'   

-William Buford missed the final shot and went 2 for 16, yikes. He will be thinking about this one for awhile.  

-Charlie.

JORTS!

 If Josh Harrellson had some tattoos and a jumper, he would be the next Kevin Pittsnoggle.  Anyways, he has become one of my favorite players of the tournament. Wait a second, who had Kentucky in their Final Four?  Oh that's right me.  

Friday Picks (Southwest and East)

Well we went 2 for 4 last night, obviously hoping for better this evening. I'm really not that nervous about the big one, more so excited for it to start. Tacos and Miller Lite are awaiting me after I let the Sno Tap nation in on who I am picking tonight, which is also very exciting.

Southwest


12.) Richmond v. 1.)Kansas: Can someone explain to me why ESPN and others act like this one will be even close? I have seen 1 v. 12 matchups before, and they go a little something like this... the 12 seeded team will give a strong effort for the first 10 minutes playing their asses off and then run out of gas faster than Kristie Alley's treadmill workout. The Spiders do have some good talent in Justin Harper and Kevin Anderson, yet they lack size underneath. The Morris Twins will drain this team, and win in convincing fashion. KU 87-71 

11.) VCU v. 10) Florida State: I guess Shaka Smart needs to stop playing the tapes of all the naysayers because that's long gone. He created the Havoc defense, which I personally love and think most high schools if talented should adopt as their primary system. Florida State has a ton of size, but they fail to score the ball plus they turn the ball over too much. I like the Rams because of their defense and their ability to score. I think they win going away for the third straight game. VCU 71-57 

East
11.) Marquette v. 2.) North Carolina:  Whoa nelly, I have been ready for this game since Sunday night. From everything I've read and heard, the Warriors seem pretty loose and ready to play against the Tar Heels. I really hope Darius Johnson-Odom, a Carolina kid doesn't do too much in the beginning of the game. Marquette needs to be strong on the perimeter or else it will be a long day for the Warriors with Carolina's ability to shoot threes. The Tar Heels have great size, and they need to attack right away down low with Tyler Zeller/Gumby Henson.  I got called out last week for being a biased homer, so why ruin tradition?  MU 79-76 

4.) Kentucky v. 1.) Ohio State- I am eagerly excited for this game because I feel the Buckeyes will get exposed if they do not scorch the earth from three.  Ohio State cannot matchup with both Josh Harrelson and Terrence Jones at the 4 and5. I am assuming that Jared Sullinger will take Harrelson leaving Dallas Lauderdale on Jones, which is more of a mismatch than a war between US and Bangladesh. If last night was the Derrick Williams show, tonight could be Jones'. Also I feel Brandon Knight can tire out Aaron Craft very quickly. The only thing I worry about is Ohio State coming out strong, and Kentucky not responding. The Cats win with a Jones' tip-in at the buzzer.  UK 84-83 

-Charlie.

The Big Blue Knight



Brandon Knight's play could be the difference
in a deep run for the Cats.

 I worried about putting John Calipari's teams very far in the NCAA Tournament. They always seem to have all the talent but never come through in March. This year, I liked the way the Kentucky Wildcats finished the season and I took them to the Final Four.  The last two games though, I have been biting a towel like Jerry Tarkanian once did, but the Wildcats found a way to get it done.

I will admit I have not watched that much of Kentucky this season so it really surprised how good Brandon Knight played on Saturday. The times I have watched him this season, he didn't impressed as a scorer. Especially after having one basket (the game-winner) on Thursday.  Today, he dropped 30 on West Virginia to advance them to the Sweet 16 awaiting the winner of Ohio State/George Mason.  Knight slashed into the lane and hit big threes all game long. Not always is a point guard a problem in all parts of the game. Also Knight was easily the fastest player on the court allowing him to push the tempo of the game.

Something that cannot be forgotten is how good the Wildcats played on defense in the second half.  The Mountaineers had 41 in the first half, and only 22 in the second. I thought they used the same sort of techniques Marquette did against the Mountaineers in the Big East quarterfinal. The Wildcats sunk into the lane letting them shoot ill-advised shots all game long. Additionally, I could not understand why Bob Huggins felt the need to bring Johnnie West into a late-game situation when he had not played all game long. It was very Mike Dunleavly-esqe.  I also did not like keeping Casey Mitchell out there who I think would have shot from Orlando if they allowed him too.  Huggins lost the Mountaineers the game down the stretch. 

I am not convinced my Final Four pick will live up to my aspirations, but if Terrence Jones can figure out how to get going in this tournament... look out. Knight and Jones will be a great combination that most teams will not have an answer for in the coming weeks.

-Charlie. 

America Is Just So Sensitive

This is a slow news day.  The only thing that is really worth a damn so I am glad that I was on the road for the whole day.  There is one thing I would like to write about, which I will probably do tomorrow and Gil Meche. But I defend Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari, which is like seeing Charlie Sheen sober so strap in.

I have no problem whatsoever with Calipari calling freshman Terrence Jones a 'selfish motherf-----' last night in their upset lost against Alabama.  Who cares?  Coaches swear, oh my God!  There are a ton of places where you might not put up with people swearing at you, but in sports especially high division 1 and pro sports isn't one of them. If Jones has a problem with that, good luck finding a program like Kentucky where a coach doesn't swear like Calipari did last night.  

Calipari shouldn't have to apologize to the public for his choice words. You know who they should have asked about this... Bobby Knight.  Do you really think Knight would apologize for some bad words he said?  Not a chance in hell. I will give you an example... one of my high school coaches swore at us like no man had in my junior year.  We were getting our asses kicked (surprise surprise) by halftime, I will paraphrase it for you... "We are playing like a bunch of synonym for cats, we are taking it up where the sun don't shine."  He apologized the next day for his actions.  Why?  I respect him more for telling us how he really felt instead of stroking our high school egos.  There is no reason why Cal needs to stroke these college pricks who leave in a year.  

Keep doing your thing Cal with the swearing.

-Charlie.