Isn't it Ironic?

Don't worry, there is no intention of linking a topless photo of Alanis Morisette on this post... seriously, that scared me...

It is an ironic afternoon in college hoops, with more than a few interesting coincidences occuring.

Today Purdue will look to become the #1 team in the country (not really, Syracuse will be #1 no maktter what in my estimation) when they host the Michigan State Spartans.  Last month Purdue beat State in Lansing while their top player, Kalin Lucas, was injured (yes he played sparingly).  Today, the tables turn as Sparty heads to Lafayette to meet the Boilers sans Robbie Hummel.

Tennessee, who was left for dead with little chance of posting bail just seven weeks ago now owns victories over the top two teams in the country, and two sure-fire #1 seeds in Kansas and Kentucky.  No one else in the nation can boast such an accomplishment.  Even more impressive, they were one possession away from beating Purdue way back in November.  That would have given them possibly three wins over #1 seeds.

Iowa?  Terrible.  Indiana?  Even worse.  New Mexico?  In line for a #2 seed after beating BYU in Provo yesterday.  Hats off to Steve Alford and his Lobos.  I'm interested to see how well they handle March Madness.  As of now they are 6-0 against ranked opponents.

 North Carolina finally got a conference win yesterday to keep their plus-.500 NIT hopes alive.  Their struggles have deflected attention from the truly worst team and coaching performance in the country, the absolute meltdown in Austin.  Texas lost again yesterday to fall to 5-7 over their last 12 games.  At seventh place in the Big 12, and looking at their final 12 games one could argue the Longhorns are inching close to the bubble (exaggeration, they are safely in).  It is hard to put them any higher than a #7 seed if the tourney started today.


And in a final ironic twist, how about Cincinnati blowing a 17-point lead to West Virginia, essentially ending their hopes of going to the NCAA Tournament.  The Bearcats still have not made the field of 65 since now-West Virginia coach Bobby Huggins patrolled the sidelines in the Queen City.  I am sure Bobby is was far above such pettiness, but one has to think "suck it Nancy Zimpher" entered his head on several occasions...

Good Day to Wear Orange

It's a good day to wear orange for sure, particularly if the orange is the trim on the white jerseys.

Tennessee and Oklahoma State secured their at-large bids today by knocking off the Top 2 teams in the country, respectively.  A few things showed through in the games.  One, Kentucky was impressive in the comeback, even though they lost.  Fortunately there are no road games in the NCAA Tourney, and seeing how Kentucky fans travel like mad it will never feel like a road game come March.  The second thing is that James Anderson needs to be on the list with Wall, Turner, Wesley Johnson and Scottie Reynolds for National Player of the Year.  I'm not saying he should win it, but he certainly deserves to be in the conversation.

The pair of losses raises an interesting question.  With #1 and #2 losing, suppose Purdue wins tomorrow at home against Michigan State.  Do voters have the cajones to vote a Robbie Hummel-less Purdue squad #1 in the country??  I think they don't. 

If Syaracuse gets the win over a tough Villanova team tonight at the Carrier Dome, expect the 'Cuse to be the nation's top ranked team on Monday.

If ALL FOUR lose, I really have no clue what voters will do.  Don't be surprised if the polls remain largely the same at the top, with only Nova and K-State creeping up...

As we say often, the best thing about polls is that strippers use them.  In college hoops, we settle it on the court, but the next few weeks are going to get crazyin terms of jostling for seeds.

Judgement Saturday Picks

Ok, the Gold Medal Hockey game is tomorrow, so there is no excuse not to gorge on a bounty of fantastic basketball games today.  Most of today's games likely won't affect who is "in" and who is "out", but there are about a dozen fantastic games that provide a nice look at who is ready for March and who might be a little overvalued.

The glamour game is tonight in Syracuse, where they are expecting more people in attendance than have EVER attended an on-campus basketball game.  As in EVER.  That's pretty impressive, and the Maniac imagines they will get their money's worth.  Villanova matches up well with the Orange, in the sense that their guard-dominated lineup is well suited to shoot teams out of the zone.  My only question with Nova tonight is how they will bang with the Cuse bigs.  If Syracuse can limit the Wildcats to one shot I like their chances.  The winner of tonight's game gets the inside track on a #1 ssed, particularly if the Cuse win (it pretty muck locks their #1, Villanova would still have a little work to do).

On to the quick picks:


Notre Dame +11 @ Georgetown:  The Irish have found something special in the past few games without Luke Harangody.  Their crushing win over Pitt puts them oddly back in the tourney mix, despite having lost three straight before that contest.  It's been a while since ND was blowout, and Georgetown seems oddly susceptable to the home upset to bubble teams.  Gimme the Irish with the bevy of points.

Boston College @ Georgia Tech - 7:  For some reason every mock bracket has the Jackets tucked safely in the field, despite a 6-7 record in an average ACC.  I think that's a mistake, and I think GT knows they have work to do.  Expect them to finally do it today at home.

Kentucky -2 @ Tennessee:  Yes, the Vols will be amped up today.  The crowd will be electric.  But this is a terrible matchup for UT.  They just don't have the depth or the guard play to hang with Kentucky.  Expect Cousins and Patterson to get Chism in some foul trouble early and the Vols have no one to turn to after that.

Rhode Island -5 @ St. Bonnaventure:   The Rams are in danger of playing themselves out of the tournament with another bad loss.  Fortunatly for them St. Bonnie is terrible.  I like the Rams to get well and win by double digits on the road.

Arizona State @ Cal -6:  Knock the Pac 10 all we want, but I think Cal locks up a comfortable tourney spot with a win tonight.  One thing nearly every Pac 10 team has done this year is pack it in on the road.  I like Cal, one of the nation's hottest teams, to roll at home and grab the conference regualr season crown.  However, should the Devils steal on on the road, they move into the soft bubble mix.

New Mexico +9 @ BYU:  Syracuse gets all the attention tonight, but the game of the day is right here in Provo, Utah.  Both teams are NCAA locks, the winner today likely sews up a Top 4 seed.  New Mexico is absolutely on fire and is more athletic than the Cougars.  I like them to control the looks Jimmer Fredette gets from the perimeter and to control the glass.  I'm not sure the Lobos get the huge road win, but I'll take them with the points.

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On the Ropes

Ah, what a difference a week makes when March Madness looms around the corner. Once the Superbowl passes and the masses join us junkies, hanging on every hoops score, the hyperbole ramps up with every passing Bracketology. Two weeks ago Louisville was left for dead. Now? Win tonight hosting Georgetown and they move into a tie for fourth in the Beast at 10-5 and become a stone cold lock for the tourney.

So it goes as the snow melts in college hoops. Two games tonight feature teams hanging on a thread after promising views just a few weeks ago.

After Illinois knocked off Wisconsin at the Kohl Center to force a virtual five way tie for the Big Ten lead it seemed to lock up their spot in the Dance. Tonight they visit Ann Arbor as three point underdogs to Michigan. Casinos don't go under often in Vegas, so that tells me my perception of the Illini teetering ain't just me. A loss tonight puts them on the bubble and puts the Big Ten in the position of earning only four bids.

Florida looked solid on paper, but using the eye test Ive had them as a bubble team for weeks. Watching them get out-physicaled by Xavier on the home floor was a huge red flag. A loss tonight to Tennessee could even pop the bubble for Billy D. Two banners versus three straight NIT appearances... Do the whispers start in Gainesville??

Maniacs Picks:
Michigan +3
Tennessee +2.5

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A Red Letter February Game

When the Red visit the Crimson tonight, there's a good reason to get a little red in the face.  The loser's season might be done.  And for once in this bubble-frenzied college hoops February world, it isn't hyperbole.

Whole the world apparently spun off it's axis today because a robatic Tiger Woods was compelled to tell a nation of strangers he is sorry he used his putter so often outside of the golf course, people who actually like sports could scarcely avoid the coverage.

Did you hear that a Starbucks actually stopped serving during the twenty minute puppet show?  Seriously, I was waiting for Al Cowlings to drive him away in a white Bronco.  I can't be the only one out there who doesn't give two shits about this story, can I?!?  Please, someone back me up on this, because it makes me frightened for the general public that a stranger getting some strange is stop-work news...

Anyhow - there actually is a great sports story unfolding tonight, and it focuses on nothing but great student-athletes competing on the court.  The winner of tonight's Cornell @ Harvard game leaves themselves in line to make the tournament (Cornell buries Harvard with a win, if the Crimson win, things get interesting).  The loser is all but done.  The Ivy league is the only conference without a conference tournament, making tonight's game truly a MUST win.

Much attention focused on Harvard's Asian-American point guard Jeremy Lin, but pay attention to Cornell's seven-foot Foote.  His size and gentle touch around the rim make Cornell more than a cute story, they are a legit club who can win a game (maybe even two...) in the tourney.

Great game tonight, I'm going with the Red laying three on the road taking a huge step towards earning the first bid in the 2010 Tourney.

Maniac's Pick:

Cornell -3

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