Bubble talk has turned this week into an upside-down inflatable water raft... as teams leapfrog into the field with quality wins while others fall out with bad losses. The cut line (ESPN Joe Lunardi's celebrated last four in/first four out) changes hourly. Hopes and dreams are realized for some; while others are stuck with an NIT (or whatever the third-tier tournaments call themselves) bid.
This drama may change somewhat next year if the NCAA expands its tournament field to 96... now many of my media brethren have spoken against this bloating of what is near-perfection (ahem, the play-in/opening round game). I don't like expansion for several reasons.
First, it will take necessary dramatic tension out of the regular season-- remove the must-win feel and you've got exhibitions. Adding games will also turn what was a taut three week rollercoaster ride into a four week "isn't this thing done yet" journey. Quality of play will drop--which teams pad the bracket of 96? Not necessarily 20-win mid-majors-- we're talking 18-12 Miami (4-12 in the ACC) or 16-14 Alabama... get ready for more chaff and less wheat. Lastly, does anyone want to fill out a 96-team tournament bracket? What about those who fill out multiple sheets-- does this mean they can only belong in 2/3 of the pools?
Georgetown wrapped up its regular season with a 74-47 thumping of Cincinnati (the Bearcats bubble breaking bigtime)... turning a three point halftime lead into a legalized mugging. Major props to Austin Freeman-- scoring 24 points less than a week after being diagnosed with diabetes. Does this mean the Hoyas are primed for the postseason? They've overperformerd when underestimated (2006 & 07) in the past. BET seed--#8 vs South Florida/DePaul in the second round. Two mysteries--for whatever reason the Hoyas have always had matchup problems with the Bulls... and for whatever reason DePaul is still in the league.
Alma Mater Update-- Syracuse lost its #1 ranking after falling at Louisville in the Cardinals final game at Freedom Hall. Still, a great time was had by all at Sign of the Whale (which will be remodeling and renaming itself "the Whale" after extensive market research) where my friend Batch reminded me why I fear this current SU team...there's no alpha dog, nobody who when the Orange are down 5 with 3 minutes left says "boys, hop on my back-- I'll get us there" ala Gerry MacNamara or Johnny Flynn. This team's strength-- lack of obscene egos-- may be what it lackingly needs this March.
Maryland is not in the market for an Alpha Dog... in fact Greivis Vasquez has enough canine capacity for the entire kennel! The Terps earned a share of the ACC regular season championship with a 74-68 win at Virginia... no small feat when you realize the Terps hadn't won in Charlottesville since 2006, they were fighting the emotional letdown of the Duke win, and UVa is having one of those seasons where they collapse yet somehow steal a game on the back end of the schedule. Player of the Year Moment: Say what you will about Jon Scheyer-- but Greivis is the best player in the league, has put up more impressive numbers and is more valuable to his team than anyone else. Case closed (although I know our friends in Greensboro may lose a ballot box off one of the trucks). ACC seed--#2 vs Georgia Tech/North Carolina...while the Tar Heels are in the middle of a nightmare winter, lets remember-- they are defending national champions. Three important pieces of advice my mother gave me: 1-Don't drink milk out of the carton...2-just because your date has a cross tattooed on her back doesn't mean she goes to church... and 3-never underestimate a basketball blueblood (she also said defense doesn't end until you get the rebound, but I digress).
Commonwealth Credibility and Collapse-- Virginia Tech solidified its at-large status with an 88-82 win over Georgia Tech; even with conference expansion and an unbalanced schedule, I can't imagine the NCAA ignoring a 10-6 ACC record. The Hokies 4th seed means they won't get an opening round victory to add to their RPI, but a quarterfinal matchup with Wake Forest (a team capable of beating and losing to anybody in the league) or Miami-- Hurricanes have upset from the 12th seed before. Virginia wrapped up an 0-8 back end to the ACC season with the loss to Maryland; a bigger loss was that of leading scorer Sylvan Landesburg to academics. The 9th seeded Cavaliers clash with Boston College for the right to play Duke in the quarterfinals.
George Washington closed its regular season with a 70-57 loss to #20 Temple... despite the loss a 16-13 overall record represents a season in the right direction. A-10 Seed-- #10 vs Dayton in the first round. GW lost their lone regular season matchup January 20th (66-51), but the Flyers are perhaps the coldest team in the league with 5 losses in 7 games. Winner plays Xavier-- (7-0 in that span).
Howard after a 1-9 finish to the regular season plays a team it swept-- North Carolina A&T. If the 8th seeded Bison dispose of the Aggies, they get top seed Morgan State in the quarterfinals. Unbeaten in the MEAC Morgan State.
Postseason postscripts:
George Mason lost 75-60 to Virginia Commonwealth in the CAA Quarterfinals... leading scorer Cam Long made 2 of 12 shots as the 17-14 Patriots finished with 7 losses in 9 games.
American watched its season end in the Patriot League Semifinals...losing to Lehigh 79-57. The Mountain Hawks hit 8 of 13 three pointers and began the game with an 11-0 run.
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