Cheer up, bubble teams...oh what a conference tournament run can mean. February frenzy gives way to March Madness... and for at least the next week or so everybody (with the exception of the Ivy League and early tournament castoffs) has a shot at getting into the field of 68. Having a shot and actually getting there are two different things- but what's the point, otherwise? Monkees fans-- head to the bottom of the page.
Georgetown (22-6, 12-5) can take over second place in the Big East with a victory over #8 Marquette... a team they beat 73-70 January 4th. In a league where #2 Syracuse, streaking Notre Dame and slumping UConn have monopolized the headlines-- the Hoyas have quietly carved out a campaign with no losing streaks... and a defense that's held four opponents in the 40's during February.
Alma Mater Update-- final day of the regular season means Syracuse-Georgetown, right? Maybe SU-UConn? No- it's a home game against longstanding bitter rival Louisville. Rick Pitino's white suits aside-- this is why it's not a horrible thing the Orange are leaving for the ACC. The Big East that remains is not the fantastic league that was ridiculously awesome in the '80s... especially with San Diego State and Memphis on the horizon (not in the Horizon, though-- that's Butler's league).
Maryland (16-13, 6-9) wraps up its regular season with a Sunday showdown against Virginia. The Terrapins are assured of 8th place in the ACC... and gets either Wake Forest, Virginia Tech or Boston College as a first round matchup. They played well in spurts against North Carolina-- but unfortunately the talent gap showed over the Tar Heels 31-10 second half run.
Cruising the Commonwealth-- the Cardiac Cavaliers and the Heartbreak Hokies continue to provide thrills and chills-- but mostly spills. Virginia's 63-60 come from ahead loss to Florida State was the team's 5th ACC loss by three points or less. But my UVa faithful Kippy and Buffy can't hold a candle to their VT counterparts Ray and Louann -- Virginia Tech's 58-56 loss at Clemson was the Hokies 13th ACC game decided by five points or less.
George Mason (23-8, 14-4) begins CAA Tournament play against 21-10 Georgia State... needing to at least reach the finals to have any at-large hope...and even then it's tough to like their chances on the bubble. This is where the Northeastern loss hurts.
George Washington (10-19, 5-10) clinched a spot in the Atlantic Ten Tournament when Rhode Island beat Fordham. Sadly a second half rally against La Salle came up short... GW missing 8 of 16 free throws in a 60-56 loss on Senior Night. David Pellom's fourth straight double double (16 points, 11 rebounds) was the bright spot... they'll need Pellom to produce if they want to surprise anybody in the A-10.
Maryland Womens' Window-- sophomore Alyssa Thomas becomes the third Terp in five years to capture ACC Player of the Year honors (Crystal Langhorne-2008, Kristy Tolliver-2009). An upset-ridden quarterfinal round saw the Terps emerge as the highest remaining seed (regular season champ Duke lost to NC State while #2 Miami fell to Wake Forest) in Greensboro. A ridiculously large window is now open.
American (20-10, 10-4) shut down Army 57-40 in the Patriot League quarterfinals... and now visits Lehigh in the semis. The Mountain Hawks (still miss the old nickname "Engineers") boast the league's leading scorer in C.J. McCollum. Each team scored 71 points while winning on its home floor. Can AU get a big effort from Charles Hinkle? The senior is on a 12 for 35 shooting slump... and after scoring in single figures just twice in the first 27 games of the season has posted two single digit efforts in the last ten days.
Howard (9-20, 6-10) finishes 10th in the MEAC... and plays North Carolina A&T in the first round of the tournament. The Bison hosted the Aggies January 14th-- losing 70-65 while shooting 29% from three point range.
Davy, we hardly knew ye-- my parents purchased me The Monkees Greatest Hits for my 7th birthday. The summer before, I was glued to Channel 56 in Boston's daily broadcasts of the pre-fab four. And to be honest-- I didn't like Davy Jones at first. Always cute, always smiling, and always getting the girl. And he didn't even play an instrument! Tamborine, maracas-- those were things from my first grade music class. I'm surprised he didn't play the recorder or xylophone as well. Granted, at age 6 I didn't know they didn't play instruments on their first two albums-- but still... maracas?
The Monkees were a TV show about a group that eventually became a group. Four guys from completely different backgrounds: Davy was stage and showtunes... Micky was California pop... Mike (wool hat and all) was Texas country... and Peter was Greenwich Village folk. That they eventually imploded when left to their own devices isn't a surprise: but the fact that they were able to generate two solid albums (Headquarters plus Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn and Jones, Ltd.) and memorable singles is a credit to their often debated talents. The diminutive Monkee will be missed.
An interesting sidestory to the late Mr. Jones-- he had a front row seat to the world he would then wander into: while part of the traveling Oliver! cast (as the Artful Dodger) Jones found himself on the Ed Sullivan Show February 9, 1964. After singing "Consider Yourself" he wound up watching four lads from Liverpool make history. Only to one day be on the TV show inspired by the Beatles. RIP Davy-- wherever you are... you're still probably getting the girl. Damn cheeky smile.
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