Forget the Big Dance-- I'm all dialed into the swarm before the storm. Even with 2010's lack of compelling cases in the at-large field... the now-they're in, now they're not feel to this weekend had a certain charm. Playing back-to-back-to-back (and sometimes back-to-back-to-back-to-back) days will do that. More than a few shocks and surprises marked championship week from the elites (more on the ACC quagmire later) to the mid-majors (9th seed Ohio in the MAC?) to the one-bid leagues (Sam Houston over Stephen Austin in the Southland-- no truth to the rumor Jim Bowie and Davey Crockett rounded out the semifinals)... what a spicy appetizer before my favorite three-course sports meal.
Shammy Shake Update-- lets just say the green dye fueled minty goodness was imbibed early and often this season... although yesterday the McD's in NE DC near NY/FLA Ave's had run out of the "magic formula"-- hopefully this won't be a trend; and if it is hopefully it won't be used as an allegory to how area teams fared in the tournament.
Georgetown avenged regular season defeats to South Florida, Syracuse and Marquette en route to a Big East Championship appearance--and fell two points shy of a seventh tournament title. Credit improved rebounding (-3 against SF, +2 against SU and +22 against MU) and unconcious shooting (52% and 41% of 3's in first three games) to the Hoyas run... with a short bench and 120 minutes on the odometer, their legs just ran out on them against a very good defensive team in West Virginia (25% shooting from 3pt land and getting outrebounded by 17). Say what you will about the Hoyas not putting a player on the inbounds (thanks, Jay Bilas)- the Mountaineers had more in reserve... and more reserves. How much of a bounce will coach John Thompson III's team get? Pre-BET they were a #5 or a #6 seed...now ESPN & CBS's experts have the Hoyas as a #2 (I'm thinking a 3 in the East).
Alma Mater Update-- Orange Crushed! So much for my gold pick... one always has a nervous feeling-- and sometimes it's overreaction, sometimes it's legitimate. The Hoyas played SU tough during both regular season games and outscored them 32-15 over the final ten minutes of the game in DC... so the loss wasn't a surprise. They should get a #1 seed and will probably begin the tournament in Buffalo (the East Regional is in the Carrier Dome, so this means they would be bracketed in the South, Midwest or West) on Friday. Can they get their mojo back after back to back losses for the first time all season and will they be sharp after just two games in 17 days? Is this a replay of 2000, when the Orange advanced to the Sweet 16 after losing to the Hoyas in the quarterfinals? Or is this a replay of 1991, when after losing to Villanova as the BET #1 they played Richmond...
Maryland saw its ACC Tournament stay end abruptly with a 69-64 loss to 7th seed Georgia Tech--a reversal of last year when the Terrapins earned their tourney ticket as a 7 seed by upsetting #2 Wake Forest. Conference Player of the Year Greivis Vasquez had as bad a game as he'd had since January 31st's loss at Clemson (6-21 FG and 2-11 from 3-pt range with 6 TO's). Still, a pesky defense that caused 25 turnovers gave the College Park faithful hope into the final minute of play. Many were talking a #3 seed if the Terps triumphed in Greensboro... now ESPN/CBS has Gary Williams' team a #5 (sounds fair).
Commonwealth Conniption--- Virginia Tech was in, right? A quarterfinal loss to last place Miami put the Hokies in a 50-hour long bubble (more agonizing than the 70's John Travolta TV movie)... while 10 ACC wins is usually good enough to punch a tourney ticket-- the late-season sagging of Wake Forest and Florida State plus complete collapse gives double digits a little less luster-and a non-league strength of schedule that ranks in the 300's is the zit that can't escape the eye of the committee.
Big East Recap-- more than a few of my friends and fellow alumni made the journey to MSG and were rewarded with a Tuesday tickets they couldn't get time off work for, Wednesday seats they didn't want, a Thursday afternoon exit followed by two days of rain and Arinze Onuaku watching. In the middle there was what my ACC friends refer to as "bumper car basketball". Again, scoring in the 50's should be like getting 400's on your SAT's. Notre Dame made good on my bold pick and early stole the tournament-- Luke Harangody wrapped up his BET career like the guy who took Brenda Walsh to the prom... with a strong early showing against Providence (the very special steroid episode), a statement game against Pitt (although a Dylan-less Brenda had no date, it took onions! for Tony to ask... I believe at the Peach Pit) followed by a shutout in the semis against West Virginia (seriously, he thought he could get a room?). Instead, the week belonged to fellow next-generation member West Virginia-- who may not be able to shoot at all... but can rebound and play tight defense like the best Huggins teams. Da'Sean Butler took a page from the Gerry Macnamara story and turned MSG on its ear... and his teammates weren't that bad either. The Mountaineers are more deserving of a #1 seed than Georgetown is of a #2...if that makes sense (and often in March things don't).
ACC Thoughts-- imagine hell if you are a Tar Heels fan... it's not just a 16-16 mark with a first round exit in the conference tournament you've dominated since Frank McGuire strode the sidelines when the league was founded. It was having to watch top seed Duke stroll through a final four that featured nobody else with a winning conference record, #7 Georgia Tech, #11 North Carolina State and #12 Miami rounding out the drab four (these teams went a combined 16-32 in the league during the regular season) And the Blue Devils still came close to stumbling during its two day coronation--winning both by a combined seven points! Congratulations to the program from Durham that has turned what was originally the Wolfpack's to win (NC State won 5 of 13 tourneys hosted in Raleigh from 1954 to 66) and then became Dean's deal (UNC took 9 of 16 from 1967 through 82) into the Blue Devil Invitational-- with nine tournament titles in twelve seasons. Last year I thought Coach K's team deserved a #1 seed and they were made a #2... this year I think they're a #2 (behind Ohio State or West Virginia) but they'll probably get a #1.
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