Pre-Tourney Thoughts

First, Wow! what a great set of games that all tipped off at 1 PM on Sunday. The Bonnies beat Xavier, the ‘Noles upset UNC, and a great win by Vandy against seemingly unbeatable Kentucky. I was switching channels so rapidly the remote nearly flamed out. Only afterwards did I remember I have picture-in-picture. Anyways, a great final day of championship week, including a fantastic back-and-forth between OSU and MSU in the Big Ten Tourney Final.

Following the Big Ten Tourney game, my top 12 seeds were as follows:

1 Seeds: Kentucky, Syracuse, UNC, Missouri

2 Seeds: MSU, Kansas, Duke, OSU

3 Seeds: Baylor, Florida State, Michigan, Marquette

Apparently the committee valued the Big Ten over the Big 12 as far as top seeds, but did not feel Michigan was above Georgetown. Whatever, I was close.

Some quick thoughts about the brackets and teams included:

Iowa State’s had a bit of a resurgence with the “Mayor” Fred Hoiberg as coach. It’s a new level of ‘oldness’ when you remember (quite clearly) watching these guys play in the tournament that they’re now coaching in. One of those tournament memories that still sticks with me 11 years (!) later is the two-seeded Cyclones under the leadership of beer-drinking, co-ed kissing, coach Larry Eustachy fall to 15 seed Hampton. Needless to say, the Hampton coach was happy…

In a delightful turn of fate, Eustachy is back in the tourney after his fall from grace in 2003 for these photos (he was married at the time – full story here). 

Eustachy leads Southern Miss to the tourney. If the Golden Eagles, the nine seed, advance to face Syracuse in the second round, it will be interesting to see how Coach Larry chooses to celebrate said victory. Take it easy on the Natty Ice their coach.

Speaking of coaches who I watched play, Steve Alford’s Lobos, once again showed some spunk in conference play, and in defeating Mountain West top-dog SDSU in the conference championship. Still, it’s the MWC, and I don’t see New Mexico making it beyond the Sweet 16. Speaking of kissing coaches, Rick Pitino has been known to get a bit of action on the side, and Saturday night it was his team that ended up “on top” in the Big East Tournament (yes, incredibly sophomoric). Frankly I think Memphis has a better chance of getting past Sparty than the Cardinals. Although another NCAA Tourney superstar coach – Rick Majerus who made Utah a regular in the March festivities in the 1990s (including a trip to the Championship game in 1998) is now back with the Billikens of St. Louis University. The Memphis-St. Louis first rounder looks to be a great matchup, although it’s sad that one of these teams will not make it into the second round. By the way, this is what a Billiken looks like. No clue.

As I mentioned, it was wonderful to see Vandy and the Bonnies win in dramatic fashion and join the tournament ranks. I’ve been a big Vandy fan for some time for three main reasons: One, Coach Kevin Stallings is a former Purdue player (he was on the last Purdue team to make the Final Four in 1980) and assistant coach there for 6 years. Two, Vandy Assistant Coach Dan Muller attended my high school (starred on the team, and went on to play for Coach Stallings at Illinois State) while I was enrolled. Third, Vandy is one of only three schools to sport the “Old Gold and Black.” My alma maters Purdue and Wake Forest are the only other two. Why did I get my Ph.D. at Northeastern? Vandy, I believe, has a chance of making things interesting for Syracuse. The Bonnies, on the other hand, are running into the Buzz saw that is Florida State. Maybe the Franciscan friars of St. Bonaventure can conjure up some religious magic (Itinerarium mentis in deum).

Did you see this rant by Lamar coach Pat Knight a month back? 

Would you be surprised to learn that since that loss to Stephen F. Austin (that’s a college not just the first Secretary of State of the Republic of Texas) the Cardinals won their last six games including a revenge win against said Lumberjacks and then a 21 point win in the Conference Championship game against perennial conference giant McNeese St? Is that just some weirdly successful motivation trick or is he really just an ahole? Oh, and here’s his dad:

Suffice to say I’m pulling for the Catamounts.

Finally, the internet is abuzz about the t-shirts that St. Mary’s University wore after winning the WCC (click on the pic for story).

I’m just wondering what t-shirts they should wear after the Boilermakers usher them out of the tourney Friday night. Or maybe those shirts should just end up around their necks.

Your thoughts?