Review of Championship Week

Well we've come to the end of championship week in college basketball (unless you count tomorrow). I meant to get a haircut this past Monday, but always there was a college basketball game, so I said to myself, "I'll watch the game and maybe I'll get a haircut tomorrow." But, my friends, tomorrow has yet to arrive.

Of the many memorable moments, only a few are memorable enough for me to remember them right now. We'll start with today's Conference USA championship. Now my brother and I were rooting for Louisville, to free up another tournament spot. The Memphis freshman Darius Washington, who had played beautifully when it counted the most, drew a foul shooting a three with no time left on the clock. Memphis was down 2. Washington strolled to the line with a confidence seldom seen from a freshman. He made the first, they were down 1. The second shot rimmed out, still down 1. The final shot: Washington released the ball from his hands, the ball struck the rim and rolled around until it fell. And with the ball, Washington fell too, his head buried in his jersey in mortification. He fell to the ground. The announcer appropriately mentioned, "Somebody's gotta help that kid up." A teammate and his coach tried to pick him up, but Washington was pasted to the ground. In his mind he had lost the opportunity to play in the NCAA tournament for his team.

I heard a delayed yell from upstairs. It was my brother, Ian, in glee. I couldn't help but think to myself, as much as I wanted Louisville to win, I wish he would've made just one more and then Memphis lose in overtime? Ian came downstairs and I jumped into his arms screaming with joy. Ian was screaming for joy too. Then, when we collected ourselves, I said how truly heartbreaking that moment was. Ian replied, "I was kinda hoping he'd make one and then Louisville win in overtime."

Of course, that miss got his senior teammate off the hook, who fouled a Louisville player while the player was shooting and making a three.

Early in the SEC tournament South Carolina was playing Ole Miss or somebody. The SC player made a three to tie the game with very little time left. Ole Miss inbounded the ball and SC intercepted the pass and called timeout. During the timeout the refs determined the shot was only a two-pointer. South Carolina eventually lost. Of course this brings up a couple of issues. First, there was no indisputable evidence according to replays that says whether that shot was a two or a three, so you have to stay with the original call on the floor, which was a 3. Then, Ole Miss, threw an errant pass forcing the issue, because they assumed they were tied. Of course, up one, they would have taken a more conservative approach.

The Big East semifinal between UCONN and Syracuse featured over 50 offensive rebounds from both teams combined. 50 offensive rebounds!

Nate Robinson from Washington earned my respect big time. Not only is he short, although much taller than me, this guy can play. Short people can play, often times much better than big guys. Washington impressed me, especially winning a couple close games.

A tip for Nevada: When you're up by one, and the other team is shooting a free throw, you might want to box out. I apologize for not giving you this memo before your game with Boise State.

A New Mexico Lobos fan held up a horrible sign during their semifinal game in my Mountain West conference tournament. It read:

SEE YOU AT
THE DANCE
DYKES!

Of course, it's not that bad, because the sign was referring to ESPN college basketball announcer Jimmy Dykes, who felt the Lobos poor strength of schedule may have kept them out of the NCAA Tournament unless they won the MWC championship, which they did. The fan evidently realized the potential disaster and a friend held up a makeshift sign that said "Jimmy" beside DYKES to reprieve the unintentionally offensive poster.

Who I strongly feel should be in or out:
IN:
NC State - They've done enough in the ACC tournament to compensate for their below .500 conference record. Beating Wake Forest solidified their selection.

Miami (OH) - They won the regular season MAC championship. The MAC was rated the 9th best conference. The 9th rated conference always gets 2 teams in. Miami is the logical choice winning the regular season title and beating teams like Purdue and Witchita St. on Bracket Buster weekend.

St. Mary's - They should probably get in because they have so many wins in the 7th rated conference. They are clearly the 2nd best team in a conference that includes Gonzaga.

OUT:
Maryland - I've live in Maryland my entire life, they should not make it this year. They beat Duke twice, which is very good. But they were below .500 in their conference and did nothing in the ACC tournament. They lost to Clemson 3 times. 3 times! They couldn't win when it counted. They're also on a bad losing streak to end the year. It would be a sports travesty if they made it in.

Notre Dame - I've actually grown to like Chris Thomas, but their RPI is bad. They also lost when it counted in the Big East tourney. To Rutgers! They also lost some important home games towards the end.

Virginia Tech - If you put Maryland in, then you got to put Vtech in too, and Clemson for that matter. Virginia Tech actually won as many conference games as they lost, until they lost in the tournament. Their weak schedule hurts too.

Miami (Fl) - If they make it in, we know that the commissioner of the ACC and the Miami (FL) athletic director have had sex with people other than their spouses within the last week.

Indiana - Their run a few years ago was really inspiring. I really like Mike Davis. Please, please, please don't fire him you racist hicks. But at 15-13, unless many of those 13 losses were against NBA teams, Western Conference NBA teams, (not the Warriors), then there is no way they should make it in.

DePaul - nope, pick a more deserving non-major conference team (see above).

Vanderbilt - hell no.

Teams that I don't care so much if they get in, but here's my opinion anyway:
Georgetown - I root for Georgetown. They'll make it next year. They struggled at the end too much to make it this year.

Iowa - I'm not so sure. Logic says no. They were behind Indiana in the conference, but they may have played their way in the tournament.

Texas A & M - Not this year. That tourney loss sealed their fate.

UAB - Beating DePaul helps, but how many teams does Conference USA deserve? I say 3, Louisville, Cincinnati, Charlotte.

UCLA - An announcer said if you give their resume to a different school they're not getting in. But, barring some immediate discovery involving teleportation, they'll make it, and have a good seed.

Seeds:
Gonzaga - don't screw 'em just cuz they lost last year.

Pacific - give 'em a decent seed, like a 7.

Georgia Tech - If they win the ACC tournament, maybe a 6, or stretching it, a 5. Remember they were 8-8 in conference play. Elder is not Lew Alcindor.

Illinois is a 1. if Duke wins, they're a 1. If Kentucky wins, they're a 1. If Kentucky loses, they still might be a 1. The other 1 should go to Louisville or UNC. Don't give it to Kansas. Can't wait til the Big Dance!