Basketball Thoughts Before the BIG APPLE

Basketball Thoughts Before the Big Apple

*This stupid idea of calling everday "Elimination (fill-in the day)" is getting a real old, real fast. For example, on my way home from work tonight, ESPN Radio was talking about the Florida State/Clemson game, and called it an elimination game, hey guys, it’s in a tournament THEY ARE ALL ELIMINATION GAMES!!! Quite honestly neither of those teams should be going to the NCAA Tournament. Clemson started the season 17-0 (against mainly garbage teams) and is 4-9 since, how could ANYONE think they should be in the tournament. Florida State has already lost to Clemson twice (adding to my belief that Clemson has beaten NOBODY) but have a “quality” win against Duke.

*DUKE STINKS THIS YEAR!!! It pains me to say it because they are my second favorite team behind Pitt, but lets face it, they just are not good. They get special treatment because the name on the shirt and the coach on the sidelines, but beating Duke shouldn’t be considered an accomplishment this season by any ACC team.

*Dominic James is the biggest baby I have ever seen play basketball. He was injured AGAIN tonight in the game against St. John’s. This extended his streak to 42 straight games that he left at some point during the game, but miraculously healed in the closing minutes of the game in which he could re-enter and attempt to play the role of hero.

*(PRO HOOPS) Kobe Bryant should be suspended for more than the one game that he was for hitting Minnesota Timberwolves guard Marko Jaric with a forearm after Jaric blocked his shot. This is the second time this year that Kobe was suspended for the same thing. This guy is as graceful and agile as anyone in basketball while in the air. Yet, twice when his shot is blocked in the final seconds of a close game this happens?? Gimme a break.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqqEsZrdQ9Q

*Speaking about violence in sports, the suspension Duke guard Gerald Henderson received for hitting North Carolina center Tyler Hansbrough was an absolute joke. Anyone who as ever played a sniff of basketball could see that Henderson was clearly going for the ball. The ball was knocked away from Hansbrough, and Henderson swung his body towards where the ball was now going. Unfortunately, when he made this move he drilled Hansbrough across the bridge of his nose, and his nose pretty much exploded, leaving blood everywhere. Even Hansbrough said it is a physical game and stuff like that happens. He also said that he didn’t think Henderson hit him on purpose.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAR2tWAj49o

*We have reached conference tournament time and the debate on which conference is the best in college basketball is at an all-time high as conference fight for the fans viewer-ship. Let me help in this one. This is how each of the major six conferences were represented this week in the AP Top 20:
ACC (2 teams): North Carolina (#8) Maryland (18)
SEC (1 team): Florida (6)
PAC-10 (3 teams): UCLA (4) Washington St. (11) Oregon (16)
Big Ten (2 teams): Ohio State (1) Wisconsin (3)
Big XII (3 teams): Kansas (2) Texas A&M (7) Texas (15)
Big East (5 teams): Georgetown (9) Louisville (12) Pitt (13) Marquette (18) Notre Dame (20)

For quality and parity I think it is pretty clear that the best conference is the Big East.

*PREDICTION TIME:
ACC Tournament:
CHAMPION: North Carolina over Virginia
Upset Watch: #6 Georgia Tech over #3 Virginia Tech

Big East:
CHAMPION: Louisville over Syracuse
Upset Watch: #9 Villanova over #1 Georgetown

Big Ten:
WHO CARES?!!!!!!!

BIG XII:
CHAMPION: Texas A&M over Kansas
Upset Watch: #12 Colorado over #5 Texas Tech

PAC-10:
CHAMPION: UCLA over Washington
Upset Watch: #7 Washington over #2 Washington State AND #3 USC

SEC:
CHAMPION: Tennessee over Vanderbilt
Upset Watch: Tennessee BIG over Florida in the semifinals

Okay fine, Big Ten:
CHAMPION: Wisconsin over Michigan
Upset Watch: #8 Michigan over #1 Ohio State

There you have it, all the information you will need over the next few days. I will be back from New York and the Big East Tournament on Sunday with lots of stuff ammo for next week. Enjoy CHAMPIONSHIP WEEK!!!