Congratulations to the 2008-2009 North Carolina Tar Heels. They were a great team and they had a hell of a tournament run. I hate the Tar Heels, but you can’t deny them their props.
However, former Tar Holes remain classless like always.
Even in their team’s finest moment, they still can only think of us. How sweet.
For the record, Vince Carter, Antawn Jamison, Julius Peppers (in football) and Makhtar Ndiaye (holding the sign) produced a total of ZERO championships for North Carolina. Yep, that’s ZERO titles.
As for Ndiaye, it must have been nice to see some real players step up in the big moment. He wouldn’t know it from experience of course. In his one Final Four appearance, he started for a Carolina team that was upset by Utah. His game stats…ZERO points (0-3 shooting), two rebounds and five fouls.
If he still doesn’t ring a bell, as a commentator below reminded me, he was the disgraced Tar Heel who lied after the Utah defeat, claiming a white UTAH player called him racist names, and then admitted afterwards he made it all up.
He’s also the guy who, after his career at UNC ended, was arrested for attacking/beating/choking a ‘friend’ who gave him a ride to Raleigh.
Eventually, this class act had a brief NBA career, but ended up blaming the end of it on stewardess. Yep, you read that correctly.
Filed under: 2009 NCAA Tournament | Tags: ACC Conference, Boston College, Clemson, Florida State, Wake Forest
After two days of basketball, it’s almost hard to believe that prior to the start of the 2009 NCAA Tournament, we were actually discussing which conference was the best; the ACC conference or the Big East?
That debate is no longer happening. Now I’m not even sure the ACC is as good as the PAC-10 or the Big 10. The breakdown in the first round was:
- Big 12: 6-0
- Big East: 5-1
- PAC 10: 5-1
- Big 10: 4-3
- ACC 3-4
- SEC: 1-2
Well, at least we’re still better than the SEC. The worst part was the 0-2 mark against the Big Ten (Florida State lost to Wisconsin, Clemson lost to Michigan).
What went wrong?
No 4 Wake Forest - There was no excuse for the Demon Deacons to lose to Cleveland State. They have three players who would be drafted in the first round of the NBA draft. In fact, I’m sorry Wake fans, but I hope you enjoyed your first round ride, because the big three will be gone. Do you really think these three are going to pass up million dollar paychecks in two months just to come back and lose to Cleveland State. We should have known this was coming. Despite being number one at mid-season at 16-0, but the Demons finished 8-6.
History should have told us what to expect: Since 1997, Wake Forest has made it to the second weekend in the tournament only once (2004).
No 5 Florida State - The Seminoles were young, but they had Tony Douglas, one of the best players in the NCAA. Who was going to stop him? Um, Wisconsin did. Wow. The Seminoles were so talented, they were even going to give Pittsburgh trouble in the Sweet 16. Luckily for the Seminoles, even though they’re losing Tony Douglas, they have a young group of solid players and have another great recruiting class coming in.
History should have told us what to expect: How could we expect a team who hasn’t sniffed the NCAA Tournament since the 1997-1998 season, the suddenly make a run this season?
No 7 Boston College - We could simply argue that the young Eagles ran into a hot Southern California. The Trojans finished 5th in a weak PAC-10, entered the tournament with a five-game winning streak and a PAC-10 tournament title. Unlike the Seminoles’ Tony Douglas, who had a great game in defeat, Tyrese Rice finished his career with a nine-point game on 4-11 shooting.
History should have told us what to expect: The Eagles have survived the first weekend only once since 1994.
No 7 Clemson - Seriously, was anyone surprised by this. It’s becoming a yearly tradition…Clemson rolls out of the gate in the first half of the season, falls apart in the back end, drops out the ACC tournament quickly and loses in the NCAA tournament even quicker. Too much talent for this team to fall like this.
History should have told us what to expect: The Tigers haven’t won a NCAA Tournament game since 1997.
Now that’s more like it. After a pretty mundane first day, Friday brought some excitement. Sure there were the usual near-gigantic upsets (I’m looking at you Pittsburgh & Kansas) that didn’t pan out, but we saw No 4 Wake Forest not only get beat, but embarrassed by Cleveland State. We also saw two 12 seeds win (that’s three out of four this year), and we won’t forget No 11 Dayton and No 10 USC taking down higher seeds as well.
On top of that, three games were won in the final seconds (Siena, Oklahoma State and Wisconsin). However, the story of the day has to be about the loser of the day…the ACC conference. Three ACC teams went down today, all were higher seeds (No 4 Wake Forest, No 5 Florida State and No 7 Boston College). After two days of basketball, the ACC is 3-4.
Talk about a tease of a day. There looked to be some amazing upsets on the verge of happening. Memphis was down six with ten to play, but it wasn’t meant to be. American had Nova by 14, but couldn’t keep ‘em off the line. North Iowa rallied late, but came up short. Four lower seeds won today, a No 9 (Texas A&M) and two No 10′s (Maryland & Michigan). The biggest upset (based on seeding) was No 12 Western Kentucky over No 5 Illinois, but was it really that big of a surprise?
The stat of the day was, live by the three, die by the three. The losing teams on day one shot 355 three-point shots. They hit only 114, 32%. The sixteen winners took 296 shots and made 118, that’s 40% from the floor. Of the 16 losing teams, 11 took 20 or more three-point shots and only two made at least ten of them. Of the 16 winning teams, only four took 20+ three-point attempts.
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I think we got what we expected, right? The Binghamton Bearcats kept it sort-of close for about a half, down only 11, but Duke came out in the second half smoking, taking a 26-point lead thanks to a solid 17-2 run. The game never got close again.
Overall I’m happy, but I would have liked to have one of those Connecticut/North Carolina 50+ point victories. However, I know this isn’t that kind of team, so 24 is fine. The only real concern I had was the defensive energy, especially when it looked like Duke was going to pull away in both halves, they let Binghamton make a tiny run. We should be dominating these teams.
This is an update to our original post about Coach K’s response to Obama’s bracket.” When I posted on it, I had only read the quote on CNN. Here it is:
“Somebody said that we’re not in President Obama’s Final Four, and as much as I respect what he’s doing, really, the economy is something that he should focus on, probably more than the brackets,” Krzyzewski told a reporter from the Associated Press on Wednesday.
However, I just saw the video for the first time and saw that he said it with his trademark smirk.
Filed under: 2009 NCAA Tournament | Tags: 2009 NCAA Tournament, Champion, Final Four
Welcome to the second annual ‘Ballsy Tournament Predictions’. We’ve finally made it to the Final Four. It has been a strange trip to get to this point. You see, I don’t begin this project with a planned Final Four and then work my way to it. Instead, I literally take it day-by-day. I do round one, without thinking at all about round two. I try (my best) to just focus on each game. The irony is, by the time I get to Thursday and see my own Final Four, I’m usually left shaking my head.
Do I really think the Sooners, who only play seven players, can survive to final four? I have a Midwest bracket with Louisville, Wake Forest and Michigan State, yet I have West Virginia advancing? I don’t even remember how I accomplished that one. Do I really believe Ty Lawson’s toe is that bad and if so, will it really affect this talent Tar Heels team? I really don’t know. In fact, there are plenty of examples where I will look over my post the next day and wish I could go back and take the prediction back. I have to be nuts to think Syracuse will lose in the first round. Think about it, I have Pittsburgh losing to OSU, I have Duke beating Villanova and to be honest, if Gonzaga does beat North Carolina, they’re not really going to fold against the Sooners.
Anyhow, it is all besides the point now. We don’t go back and change predictions. This is the Final Four pick we made, and we’re going to finish this bad boy. Like I say over and over and over again, don’t listen to my predictions. Having said that, let’s move on to our Ballsy Sweet 16 & Elite 8 Predictions.
WHAT TO EXPECT THIS WEEK:
- Monday: First Round Predictions
- Tuesday: Second Round Predictions
- Wednesday: Sweet 16 & Elite Eight Predictions
- Thursday: Final Four & Title Game Predictions
FINAL FOUR
#2 Duke Blue Devils over #2 Oklahoma Sooners
Here it is, student vs. pupil (technically Jeff Capel isn’t pupil of Coach K. He was never an assistant). Having said that, it is certainly a great match up between two contrasting styles. In one corner, the motion offense, run basically by four small forwards/shooting guards, going against size, Blake Griffin. While the Sooners are by no means a one-man band, everything flows through him. The Sooners aren’t deep, only playing about seven players, but luckily for them, this isn’t a run-n-gun Duke team with the safe and conservative Scheyer running the floor. Duke will have no answers for Blake, so look for Coach K to swarm three players at Griffin every time he touches the ball. If the Sooners are going to beat Duke, they’ll need to beat them with other players. While Griffin is a solid defender, he’s not a shot blocker, which can give Duke trouble. Look for the Devils to spread it out and force Griffin to have to move on double teams.
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Update can be found here.
Today, Coach K decided to go into douche bag mode and comment on President Obama’s Final Four Prediction.
“Somebody said that we’re not in President Obama’s Final Four, and as much as I respect what he’s doing, really, the economy is something that he should focus on, probably more than the brackets,” Krzyzewski told a reporter from the Associated Press on Wednesday.
Listen up, Coach. I have some advice for you…as much as I respect what you’re doing, really, the game against Binghamton is something that YOU should focus on, probably more than who the hell the President Obama has in his Final Four.
Everyone knows that Coach K is a conservative (hey, no one is perfect), but seriously, is he really that hurt by Obama’s predictions? I don’t know about you, but I like having a President who seems to like the sport of college basketball as much as I do. If Coach K is really this hurt about Obama’s picks, let’s hope he hasn’t had a chance to read CNNSI, CBS Sports and USA TODAY. Hell, Obama put Duke in the Elite Eight; pretty kind compared to what the experts (see below) are saying. Next time, instead of pulling your best Jim Calhoun impersonation, just say, “Well, hopefully we can prove him (Obama) wrong.”
At least he didn’t curse when he said it.
FOR YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE, EXPERT’S PREDICTING DUKE’S DEMISE:
- Luke Winn (CNNSI) – Sweet Sixteen, losing to Villanova
- Seth Davis (CNNSI) – Sweet Sixteen, losing to Villanova
- Tim Layden (CNNSI) – Elite Eight, losing to Pittsburgh
- Andy Glocker (CNNSI) – Sweet Sixteen, losing to Villanova
- Andy Staples (CNNSI) – Sweet Sixteen, losing to Villanona
- Gary Parrish (CBS SPORTS) – Final Four, losing to North Carolina
- Greg Doyel (CBS SPORTS) – Sweet Sixteen, losing to Villanova
- Brian De Los Santos (CBS SPORTS) – Elite Eight, losing to Pittsburgh
- Michael Freeman (CBS SPORTS) – Sweet Sixteen, losing to Villanova
- Tim Gardner (USA TODAY) – Second Round, losing to Texas
- Jeff Zillgitt (USA TODAY) – Sweet Sixteen, losing to Villanova
Filed under: 2009 NCAA Tournament | Tags: 2009 NCC Tournament Predictions, Elite Eight, Sweet Sixteen
Welcome to the second annual ‘Ballsy Tournament Predictions’. The Second Round was not an exciting one, as we predicted almost no upsets and no double-digit seeds making it to the Sweet 16. I know, I was disappointed myself. I got two six seeds and one five-seed making it to the final sixteen. Don’t worry, I foresee some excitement and shake ups in the second week of the tournament.
Like I say over and over again, don’t listen to my predictions. I haven’t gotten anything right since 1996. Having said that, let’s move on to our Ballsy Sweet 16 & Elite 8 Predictions.
WHAT TO EXPECT THIS WEEK:
- Monday: First Round Predictions
- Tuesday: Second Round Predictions
- Wednesday: Sweet 16 & Elite Eight Predictions
- Thursday: Final Four & Title Game Predictions
SWEET SIXTEEN
EAST BRACKET
#8 Oklahoma State #5 Florida State
Yep, I did it. I knocked the Panthers, a favorite to win it all by many, out of the tournament. Who the hell do I think I am? I’ll tell you who I am. I’m a guy who’s putting the OSU Cowboys into the Elite Eight. No, I don’t think they’re one of the top eight teams in the land, but they can beat Pittsburgh by spreading it out. Look for them to do it yet again against the Seminoles.
#2 Duke over #3 Villanova
Nearly everyone has Duke falling to the Wildcats, but I just don’t know why? Villanova’s strength is the same as Duke’s strength. Duke’s weakness is the same as Villanova’s weakness. Duke’s advantage, over the last two months, no team has done a better job at not turning it over. Duke may miss more shots in the end, but they’ll take more attempts.
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There’s a long, but interesting article about Memphis head coach, John Calipari, and his one-and-done strategy to recruiting.
Personally, I’m not a fan of Calipari. I just don’t think he’s that great of a game time coach, most evident by his awful 2+ seasons in the NBA with New Jersey. I also think he rides small teams in weak conferences to earn his gaudy Win/Loss numbers. While his teams would be good in any conference, let’s see him average 30+ wins per season in the ACC. Let’s just say it was fun to watch Memphis blow a championship because of missed free throws, only a few weeks after he told everyone and anyone who would listen that free throws didn’t matter and that they would “make them when they had to.” They didn’t.
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