Durzblog

Kemba Walker, tied a career high with 23 points and led Huskies over Missouri 82-75 in the West Regional final on Saturday. UConn fought hard for their trip to Detroit, on the court and off, and is headed to its third Final Four this decade -- where they will meet either Louisville or Michigan State. JIm Calhoun's 'Elite Eight' record improves to 3-5 and he will be looking to stay unbeaten in the Final Four next weekend. Heading into this tournament, many questioned the legacy of Uconn's upper classmen, some calling them the least decorated class of the last 20 years. That was arguable, but today there is to be no argument; AJ Price, Jeff Adrien and Craig Austrie, the core Seniors, will leave Uconn as some of the best Huskies of all time. They have entered the high society, one of the three best teams ever to wear the American Flag Blue. Congrats boys, you've done us all very proud.

Congratulations are in order for the Villanova Wildcats, who beat Pitt in a new NCAA classic, good luck to Louisville today -- they could have us feeling all a little 1985 before the day is through...

Jesus Christ, Nate Miles, thanks for nothing pal! The Courant -which I am thinking about never reading again, simply because Jeff Jacobs is a miserable fraud of a person -- does do a good job chronicling the bizarre world of the troubled Southern Idaho shooting guard here, click

Amid the latest cloud surrounding the Husky Program, some business still needs to be taken care of this evening. Although it may look like it now -- through the reports and giddy journalists trying to bury Jim Calhoun, the man is not a cheater. That matter will not be cleared up until this summer it looks like and certainly not any sooner than that. Right now, the Huskies stand two winnable games away from their third ever Final Four. Tonight provides a good test against a very talented Purdue squad. When the ball gets thrown up tonight in Glendale, for 40 minutes its back to basketball. Calhoun has always persevered under duress, tonight we will see if the boys respond the same way. Calhoun likely has these guys believing that it's them against the world. A win tonight and a great match-up will await them on Saturday. A loss and they say good bye to a special class of players, and start thinking about Nate Miles.

A great night cap is on the docket tonight as well, Duke v Villanova at 9:57 from Boston. To similarly built ball clubs square off with a chance to get to the Elite Eight. Coach K is looking to get back to the Final Four for the first time in a while (in Duke terms) and Jay Wright is trying to get his program over the hump, from a consistent Sweet Sixteen club -- to a national player. Its going to be real good.


West Region
Purdue
Connecticut
7:07 PM ET

Missouri
Memphis
9:37 PM ET

East Region
Xavier
Pittsburgh
7:27 PM ET

Villanova
Duke
9:57 PM ET

In under three weeks, all the dramatics will be over and we will have ourselves a national champion. Right now, we have 64 teams left and the dance is ready to begin. Maybe it is being a fan of a #1 seed that could lose anywhere starting in round two, but I see this tournament as wide open. UNC and PItt are the best teams in the tournament on paper, but they both have some questions as well....Below I am going to lay out my predicted Sweet Sixteen match ups and who I think will get to Detroit from there and eventually be crowned champion...

Midwest
Indianapolis, IN
1) Louisville vs 4) Wake Forest
6) West Virginia vs 2) Michigan State

Elite Eight, Michigan State over Wake Forest

West
Glendale, AZ
1) Uconn vs 5) Purdue
3) Missouri vs 2) Memphis

Elite Eight, Memphis over Purdue

East
Boston, MA
1) Pitt vs 5) Florida State
6) UCLA vs 2) Duke

Elite Eight, Pitt over Duke

South
Memphis, TN
1) UNC vs 4) Gonzaga
3) Syracuse vs 7) Clemson

UNC over Syracuse

Final Four
Detroit, MI
Pitt over UNC
Michigan State over Memphis

Winner: the Pitt Panthers

# 1 seed adds to Huskyland Hysteria

Customary high expectations and standards mixed with nervousness, stemming from a recent trend of poor post season play (and to some extent luck), has the Nutmeg State quite anxious going into this NCAA tournament.

I am starting this tournament off right -- with low expectations. (If and) When Uconn loses I am going to be gutted and devastated as always, but I am going to commence this big dance -- talking a good game at least.

I would just like to caution some fans that Ray Allen, Chris Smith, Donyell Marhsall, Rudy Gay and Caron Butler, to name a few, never played in a Final Four game and they are not bums or gutless (some words that have described this team by the peanut galleries on husky message boards). Connecticut has played in just two FF's in its history. So slow down with your proclamations that its Detroit or bust.

There is some good news though for the naysayers of the bunch: this is only the fifth number one seed in the program's history and they were 27-3 in a league with 3 of the top 4 teams in the country. Are they missing Jerome Dyson? yes they are, but even without him, they are a solid top 5-10 team. Lets just all settle down with calling these guys failures who have never won anything, or on the other side of it, Final Four locks playing in an easy bracket.

What is going to make me happy -- when all is said and done and I look back at this team and the players that are leaving?? Hmmmmm, I am not sure, but one thing is for sure, Detroit is about the last thing on my mind right now. Uconn is going to play this thing as three tournaments and the first one starts on Thursday, and likely will continue on Saturday. So until Saturday night, lets us all forget about Memphis and Purdue and worry about three teams: Chattanooga, BYU and Texas A&M. We get those two wins, then we can start talking about bigger prizes. Then you can start talking about what is apparently the new birthright of people born in Connecticut, to watch your team play in a Final Four every five years.

NOTES on the selections: Arizona has no business being in the tournament (and yes I have picked them to win their first game), the committee completely screws mid major teams. When they are looking at the"body of work" for a team like St Mary's I can understand there are some holes, but some of that is beyond their control in scheduling. In any event its ludicrous to reward the team that lost five of their last six..that is my only gripe -- so I guess they really did do a great job!...Its going to be a long wait until Thursday afternoon, that's for sure...BIG LOVE is getting real good...Way to go Phil, winning his first WGC event

the West Region

1 Connecticut
16 Chattanooga

8 BYU
9 Texas A&M
predict, Uconn over BYU

5 Purdue
12 Northern Iowa

4 Washington
13 Mississippi St.
predict, Purdue over Washington

6 Marquette
11 Utah St.

3 Missouri
14 Cornell
predict, Utah State over Missouri

7 California
10 Maryland

2 Memphis
15 CS Northridge
predictm Memphis over California

My picks for the top seeds are UNC, Pitt, Louisville and Memphis as #1 seeds and Connecticut, Duke, Oklahoma and Michigan State as the # 2's...Look for Uconn to be paired with Memphis out in the West Regional. Uconn might have a better resume of the two, but Memphis has been the hotter team, the Huskies are only 4-3 since they lost Jerome Dyson and quite frankly the committee is probably not in love with giving one league three #1 seeds. Louisville deserves the number one seed more than anyone and Pitt is a no brainer as well. I suppose Duke could slide in for Memphis with a win today, but I would be very surprised.

On the bubble:

28 automatic bids have been awarded and four more auto bids will be won today, and according to ESPN there are 30 locks or just about locks in total. That leaves four spots for about 10 candidates, and it could be three if Tennessee loses to Mississippi State today

I believe Minnesota is in -- so that will leave three, (maybe two, spots) for some very decent candidates...Don't be surprised to see Arizona's name pop up this evening as the last team in. Creighton, San Diego State, Providence and Auburn simply have not done enough to warrant a dance ticket, but stranger things have happened. Here is my pool of bubble boys -- fighting for the last few spots. I predict that at least two of these programs will be left out:

Arizona [19-13 (9-9), RPI: 62, SOS: 36] They appeared in 24 consecutive NCAA tournaments since 1985, the longest active streak in the country and second-longest in NCAA history.

Florida [23-10 (9-7), RPI: 52, SOS: 94] The Gators have put themselves in danger of missing the NCAA tournament for the second straight time, after winning back-to-back national championships in 2006-07.

Saint Mary's [26-6 (10-4), RPI: 48, SOS: 159] The Gaels only have two victories over RPI top-50 opponents, and have a very weak resume -- but a lofty RPI keeps them in the picture. They lost to Gonzaga three times -- including a 83-58 blowout defeat in the finals of the WCC tournament.

Penn State [22-11 (10-8), RPI: 70, SOS: 119] PSU's 10-8 finish in Big Ten play and its six victories over RPI top-50 opponents could be enough to get an invite, IF the committee decides that the relatively soft B10 is worthy of 8 invites -- it would be the most of any conference.

Maryland [20-13 (7-9), RPI: 54, SOS: 22] The Terps finished 7-9 in ACC play after losing at Virginia 68-63 in its regular-season finale. However, Maryland some good wins, including, North Carolina at home and Michigan State and Wake Forest on neutral courts. They are currently playing with the look of a tournament team, a team that could win a game or two if they get in.

1) Uconn*, Pitt, UNC*, Oklahoma*
2) Memphis*, Michigan State*, Louisville, Kansas
3) Duke, UCLA*, Wake Forest, Villanova
4) Missouri, Washington, Xavier*, Gonzaga*
5) Purdue, Clemson, Florida State, Illinois
6) LSU, Tennessee, Syracuse, Marquette

7) West Virginia, Butler, Cal, Arizona State
8) BYU, BC, Texas, Utah*
9) Dayton, Minnesota, Oklahoma State, UNLV
10) Siena*, Wisconsin, Utah State*, Ohio State
11) Penn State, Providence, Charleston*, Arizona
12) Creighton, New Mexico, Michigan, South Carolina
13) VCU*, North Dakota State*, Northern Iowa*, Western Kentucky*
14) Stephen F Austin*, Miami (OH)*, Weber State*, Buffalo*
15) Cornell**, Bingampton*, American*, Robert Morris*,
16) Morgan State*, Radford*, East Tennessee State*,

play in: Cal State Northridge*, UT Martin*
*automatic qualifier, predicted tournament champion
**Ivy league champion

75-68 overtime triumph
Chalmer's late miracle three caps improbable comeback as the Jayhawks climb back from nine down with two minutes to play to force overtime. Memphis gets hurt by (the much talked about) poor foul shooting and some clutch stretch play by Kansas on both ends of the floor.

The game was in the hands of the Calipari's Tigers but they couldn't close the deal. A cruel blow for this Memphis "dream team" resulted in perhaps the finest hour for the great Kansas Jayhawk program. coverage














Chris Douglas-Roberts and Derrick Rose were valiant throughout despite missing late free throws. Arthur and Chalmers (combined for 38 points) led KU to their first title in 20 years.


"It will probably be the biggest shot in Kansas history," Bill Self said of Chalmers late three.

"Being so close to the national title, to not have it, I feel bad for our city and our players, because they know we had it," John Calipari said

One Shining Moment

Here we go -- tonight is the big one. Saturday night there were upsets, however two #1 seeds remain and athleticism will be on full display tonight.

Memphis and HC John Calamari will head into tonight's battle looking to bring the Tigers their first national title, while the more likable Bill Self will aim to bring the program where college basketball was built their fifth title and first since Danny Manning in 1988.

I will stick with my original pick and take the Jayhawks tonight, it should be a really good game.

Hello Friends -- CBS will once again have all the action...Hopefully nobody takes a leak in Billy Packer's cereal this morning and he does not ruin the entire evening. Jimmy Nantz will be his sidekick for the 17th straight year and will be glowing in anticipation of his trip later this week down Magnolia Lane, with Freddy Couple's game in form, ol Jimbo will be extra giddy

Price, Huskies Finished off by San Diego...

Calhoun suffers first opening round NCAA loss at Connecticut. I have little to say.

They may where the Blue and White but only two have suited up in an NCAA victory. Depressing.

Questions to be dealt with in the next few months...

• Thabeet, stay or go?
• How will AJ recover?
• Other potential comings and goings? (Curtis Kelly anyone? Donnell Beverly? Nate Miles?)

Will take a breath and talk sweet 16 later this week, despite the Huskies it was quite a weekend.

well, well, here we are....

the calm before the storm is now, the butterflies have arrived in full force. The tournament is just about to commence, the madness is only a day away.

This time, its not just about Uconn for me (not 100 percent as is the usual), my expectations after the Big East are not sky high. If the Huskies get a chance to play against UCLA in Phoenix and make a game of it, I can live with that.

Why?? Have I finally been broken down by dad's "we have to get by San Diego first" realisms?

No, its not that completely...

In the second half of the Cincinnati, game on January 23rd, (right before, Uconn fan scapegoat du jour, Jerome Dyson, jacked a pair of deep bombs to bring the team alive) I would have sworn this team was going to the NIT -- would have bet a bunch on it. Uconn was staring at two straight non NCAA's season in a row, it was frightening and nauseating.

Uconn would go on to rip off 10 in a row and the fans were treated to a pleasurable season, stress-free selection show and the chance to dance. I am going to be chapped when (if) the team loses (let their be no doubt) but this team gave the Connecticut faithful a chance to really play with the big guns again. A year away from the show and boy it seemed like an eternity. This is why I feel that getting to the Sweet 16 will be a sound achievement (I've been humbled) as this team gets a taste for the dance and gets ready to be a top 5 club next season.

All that being said, go and get to the final four!

Congrats to AJ. Price was named a second-team All-American Monday.

Cook looking for some early upsets (shockers if you will)


It is officially "on" now people -- breakout your dancing shoes, the party mix and your domestic brew. Three weeks until a champion is crowned and for us all to get a strange twinge of emotion as CBS airs their "one shining moment" montage. (I get the chills, i won't lie)

Its the best annual athletic tournament in the world (that's a fact!), and it starts this Thursday afternoon. Bring on the lovely Cinderella, the buzzer beater, the sleepers and the tearful press conferences. I want it all baby -- and as Dane Cook (the idol of males 19-20 in suburban college settings everywhere) would say.....

I live for this!

*winners are bold

• East

Raleigh
1 North Carolina
16 Mt St Mary’s
vs
8 Indiana
9 Arkansas
Sweet 16: North Carolina
__________
Denver
5 Notre Dame
12 George Mason
vs
4 Wazzou
13 Winthrop
Sweet 16: Washington State
_________

Birmingham
6 Oklahoma
11 St Joseph's
vs
3 Louisville
14 Boise State
Sweet 16: Louisville
________

Birmingham
7 Butler
10 South Alabama
vs
2 Tennessee
15 American
Sweet 16: Tennessee
________

• Midwest

Omaha
1 Kansas
16 Portland State
vs
8 UNLV
9 Kent State
Sweet 16: Kansas
________
Tampa
5 Clemson
12 Villanova
vs
4 Vanderbilt
13 Siena
Sweet 16: Clemson
_______
Omaha
6 USC
11 Kansas State
vs
3 Wisconsin
14 Cal State Fullerton
Sweet 16: USC
________
Raleigh
7 Gonzaga
10 Davidson
vs
2 Georgetown
15 UM-Baltimore County
Sweet 16: Georgetown
________

• South

Little Rock
1 Memphis
16 Texas-Arlington
vs
8 Mississippi St
9 Oregon
Sweet 16: Memphis
_______

Denver
5 Michigan State
12 Temple
vs
4 Pitt
13 Oral Roberts
Sweet 16: Pitt
___________

Anaheim
6 Marquette
11 Kentucky
vs
3 Stanford
14 Cornell
Sweet 16: Kentucky
________

Little Rock
7 Miami
10 St Mary's
vs
2 Texas
15 Austin Peay
Sweet 16: Texas
________

• West

Anaheim
1 UCLA
16 Mississippi Valley
vs
8 Brigham Young
9 Texas A&M
Sweet 16: UCLA
_______

Tampa
5 Drake
12 Western Kentucky
vs
4 Uconn
13 San Diego
Sweet 16: Uconn
_______

DC
6 Purdue
11 Baylor
vs
3 Xavier
14 Georgia
Sweet 16: Purdue
___________

DC
7 West Virginia
10 Arizona
vs
2 Duke
15 Belmont
Sweet 16: Duke
__________

Round of 16:
UNC over Washington State
Louisville over Tennessee
Kansas over Clemson
Georgetown over USC
Pitt over Memphis
Texas over Kentucky
UCLA over Uconn
Duke over Purdue
_____________

Regional Finals
East: Louisville over UNC
Midwest: Kansas over Georgetown
South: Texas over Pitt
West: UCLA over Duke
_____________

Final Four
Kansas over Louisville
UCLA over Texas

____________

Championship
Kansas over UCLA

BET quarters --updated 3/14
Thursday is in the books and its a darn good thing Uconn was not on the bubble. Two things that really work against the Huskies this year are the Providence College Friars and Joe Alexander.
This is the third straight first game tourney loss at the Garden and you can tell Calhoun (who has won six tournaments in New York) is growing awfully tired of it. Uconn has likely gone from a 3 seed to a 5 and will wait to see where they are headed next week.
courant

In other Garden action, Georgetown was the only favorite to get through as Pitt and Marquette were able to pull off a couple of surprises over Louisville and Notre Dame.

The Pac-10 on the other hand yielded no upsets and that leaves Arizona State and Arizona biting their nails and Orgeon out, ASU has the best chance no matter what Arizona players and coaches are preaching. Dayton losing to Xavier spells the end of the road for the Flyers' dance aspirations. Other NCAA casualties yesterday include the Maryland Terrapins who left no doubt in losing to a bad Boston College squad and, the back-to-back defending champs, Florida Gators suffered a beating from the Crimson of Alabama.

Update 3/12 -- Orange Crushed

Villanova hammers Syracuse in second half and win going away 82-63. An upset tomorrow will have Nova dancing for a fourth straight year. Boeheim and his troops will have no gripe this season as they are off to the NIT for the second year in a row.

box

__________________

Championship Weeks kicks off for real in a couple of hours. Nova and Cuse square off in a high noon death match at the world's most famous arena. The winner gets a crack at Georgetown tomorrow afternoon and the loser will head off to the NIT. Lots is on the line in this one -- should be a dandy!

Other potential bubblicious tilts in the next couple of days:


Xavier vs Dayton on Thursday -- Dayton will need this game if they are to have any chance at an at-large bid and will need to win their semi game as well.
(PAC 10) should be a ridiculous day of hoops out West on Thursday -- likely match-ups have USC v ASU, WSU v Oregon and Stanford facing Arizona (Zona is looking to qualify for their 24th straight dance and it can't be done without at least one win in the league tourney)

Ohio State v Michigan State on Friday -- Buckeye's need one badly, they might be in without it -- but you never want to leave it up to the committee

Notes: Good luck to Dave Bike and his Sacred Heart Pioneers as the 1986 D-2 national champs go for their first D-1 NCAA birth tonight at the Pitt Center.

Less than a week until the pairings are announced -- followed by the moans from a few schools that will have their bubble's burst. At large fringe teams should be pulling for teams like South Alabama, Drake, Kent State, Butler and Memphis to take their conference tournaments and prevent a Cinderella from swallowing one of the precious spots left (like VCU losing in the CAA semis).

update 3/11
San Diego upsets Gonzaga and snares a bid from the shallow at-large pool.

Mid major conference tournaments (Sun Belt, West Coast) are not helping teams like Syracuse, Nova, Arizona and Maryland. I have 22 teams playing for 11 spots -- bubble teams (from top conferences) who can string together a couple of wins in their league tourney should have some good news coming on Sunday.

Seeds --
#1 -- UNC, Memphis, UCLA, Kansas
#2 -- Georgetown, Duke, Texas, Tennessee
#3 -- Louisville, Wisconsin, Stanford, Xavier
#4 -- Butler, ND, Purdue, Miss State
#5 -- Vandy, Indiana, Uconn, Wash State
#6 -- Drake, Clemson, Marquette, Mich State
#7 -- BYU, Gonzaga, Kansas State, Miami
#8 -- Baylor, Pitt, USC, Oklahoma
#9 -- West Virginia, Arkansas, St Mary's (38), UNLV (28)
#10 -- Umass (40), Kentucky (48), Ohio State (49), Arizona (29)
#11 -- South Alabama (37), Villanova (56), Oregon (53), Florida (65)
#12 -- Virginia Tech (57), George Mason, San Diego, Western Kentucky
#13 -- Kent State, American, Davidson, Santa Barbara
#14 -- Winthrop, Cornell, Boise State, Oral Roberts
#15 -- Stephen F Austin, Robert Morris, Siena, Hartford
#16 -- Morgan State, Belmont, Portland State, Alabama State/Austin Peay

already in at large (34)
winner or projected winner of one-bid leagues (teams
that would not otherwise qualify) (20)
bubble teams w/ RPI (11)

outside looking in w/ RPI (11): Dayton (34), Illinois State (35), Mississippi (43), Texas A&M (47), UAB (50), New Mexico (52), VCU (54), St Joseph's (55), Houston (66), Maryland (69), Arizona State (76)


SWAC -- Alabama State
MEAC -- Morgan State
Ohio Valley -- Austin Peay
Atlantic Sun -- Belmont
America East -- Hartford
Big South -- Winthrop
Big Sky -- Portland State
IVY -- Cornell
Northeast -- Sacred Heart
Summit -- Oral Roberts
Southland -- Stephen F Austin
Big West -- Santa Barbara
Western Athletic -- Boise State
MAAC -- Siena
Patriot -- American
Southern -- Davidson
Colonial -- George Mason
MAC -- Kent State
Horizon -- Butler
C-USA -- Memphis
Missouri Valley -- Drake
Sun Belt (2)-- South Alabama, Western Kentucky
Mountain West (2) -- BYU, UNLV
A-10 (2) -- Xavier, Umass
West Coast (3) -- Gonzaga, St Mary's, San Diego
Big 10 (5) -- Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan State, Purdue, Ohio State
SEC (6) -- Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Kentucky, Arkansas, Mississippi State, Florida
Big East (8) -- Georgetown, Connecticut, Louisville, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Marquette, West Virginia, Villanova
Big 12 (5) -- Kansas, Kansas State, Texas, Oklahoma, Baylor
Pac 10 (6) -- UCLA, Stanford, Washington State, USC, Arizona, Oregon
ACC (5) -- North Carolina, Duke, Clemson, Miami, Virginia Tech
*automatic bid bolded
___________________________





PREDICTIONS


Wednesday, 1st Round
(9)Syracuse over (8)Villanova
(12)Providence over (5)West Virginia
(7)Pittsburgh over (10)Cincinnati
(6)Marquette over (11)Seton Hall

Thursday, Quarterfinals
(1)Georgetown over (9)Syracuse
(4)Connecticut over (12)Providence
(2) Louisville over (7)Pitt
(6)Marquette over (3)Notre Dame

Friday, Semifinals
(4)Uconn over (1)Georgetown
(2)Louisville over (6)Marquette

Saturday, Championship
(2)Louisville over (4)Uconn
____________________________

-All Big East- Teams Announced:
*denotes unanimous selection


2007-08 All-BIG EAST First Team

*A.J. Price, Connecticut, Jr

*Roy Hibbert, Georgetown, Sr

*David Padgett, Louisville, Sr

*Luke Harangody, Notre Dame, So

Deonta Vaughn, Cincinnati, So

Jeff Adrien, Connecticut, Jr

Kyle McAlarney, Notre Dame, Jr

Sam Young, Pittsburgh, Jr

Brian Laing, Seton Hall

Kentrell Gransberry, USF, Sr

Joe Alexander, West Virginia, Jr