Shame on McDonald's...every year I enjoy multiple shamrock shakes (green peppermint beverages) by the truckload (record was 27 in 1994; my total of 28 in 1996 has an asterisk because Leap Year created a "Maris-Ruth" type controversy)...and 2009 will be remembered as the year that paralleled Georgetown's. For the first week I was on a Shammy roll like none other--finding participating restaurants that didn't Shake up in previous seasons--scoring Shakes morning, noon and night. Minty green goodness came all too easy--just like Georgetown's 12-3 start. Then all of a sudden the Hoyas and yours truly hit the wall...I don't know what was more disappointing--Georgetown's 4-11 finish (with two losses to St. John's) or one Shamrock Shake in the last two weeks--plus NONE on St. Patrick's Day (are you crazy????). Did they not create enough "mix"? I know we're in tough economic times, but I was under the assumption the green mint flavoring had the shelf-life, if not the half-life, of Twinkies.
Time to enjoy the best four days of sports--
EAST REGION-
BOLD--Virginia Commonwealth shocked the world two years ago with it's upset of Duke...the Rams are led by the type of player who can turn a bracket on it's ear: Eric Maynor averages 22 points and 6 assists while his penetrating style will put opponents in foul trouble. VCU also possesses something not many mid-majors have: a legitimate 6-foot-10 big man in Larry Sanders. Could coach Anthony Grant be using this weekend as an audition for the Virginia job?
FOLD--Florida State has Toney Douglas and not much else; they'll be playing a grinder of a game against Wisconsin before likely facing last year's surprise Xavier. The Seminoles are also under extra scrutiny for it's current academic scandal (can't wait to hear Steve Spurrier put an F--S--U spin on that one)...and they already have their memorable March moment in last weekend's upset of North Carolina.
GOLD--It's difficult not to choose Pittsburgh...the Panthers have size in DeJuan Blair, the floor general in Levance Fields, and mister versatility in Sam Young-- but this team has bee notorious for underperforming its seed, whether Jamie Dixon, Ben Howland or Paul Evans is coach. Plus, tournament games are called tighter--exposing Blair to potential foul trouble...something he still has trouble playing with. Guardplay takes a higher priority in March--and Villanova has the best guard in the region with Scottie Reynolds. The Wildcats also play the first weekend in Philadelphia--how is there not an investigation into this?--and coach Jay Wright has two Coreys coming off the bench (Fisher averages 11 points and 3 assists while Stokes nets 10 points and 3 rebounds)--meaning a Feldman-Haim reunion for the CBS open if Nova reaches the Final Four...and who wouldn't want that?
SOUTH--
BOLD-- Temple gritted its way towards the Atlantic Ten title last weekend with victories over Xavier and Duquesne--and face Arizona State in Miami. While the Owls have traditionally overperformed their seed in the tournament--ASU coach Herb Sendek has confounded experts- exceeding low expectations while failing to meet high ones. Plus, Dionte Christmas (19 points and 6 rebounds a game) is a matchup nightmare--and don't we want to hear Jim Nantz come up with a "over-rehearsed yet pretending to be spontaneous" call regarding Christmastime in March?
FOLD--the Big Ten was much maligned this winter, and with good cause. Exhibit A is Penn State's 38-33 win over Illinois...and the Fighting Illini are in the tournament! Coach Bruce Weber's nucleus is tasting its first NCAA action while Western Kentucky lies in wait (the Hilltoppers advanced to last year's regional)...if they survive it's a battle with Gonzaga...and Portland is much closer to Spokane than Champaign (although some of the best Pinot Noir is produced in Portland's Willamette Valley--Ponzi's my favorite).
GOLD--There are more question marks in this bracket than any other-- will top seed North Carolina have Ty Lawson...and how effective will he and his banged up toe be? Can #2 Oklahoma's Blake Griffin recover from his concussion to return to his mid-season dominance? Is third seed Syracuse gassed from playing the equivalent of 195 minutes over four days? I don't think anyone can beat the Tar Heels in Greensboro--but watch out in Memphis. While the Orange alum wants to pick SU--Oklahoma just seems in better shape and has the best player in college this winter...that has to count for something, doesn't it?
COMING SOON...MIDWEST AND WEST PREVIEWS...
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