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Bubble
Trouble We are less than a week away from knowing the teams and their whereabouts for the NCAA Basketball Tournament. Between now and Selection Sunday, there will be tons of speculation involving RPI, quality wins/losses and teams' strength of schedule.....add it all up and you've got nothing until the official word is handed down at 6pm on Sunday. It is all based on your personal opinion and preference until the NCAA Basketball Committee determines who is truly worthy of making it to the Big Dance. The majority of conference tournaments are held this week, and the automatic bids that go to the winners will have a huge bearing on teams that need help from outside sources. A team like Davidson and their all-world performer Steph Curry will have to hope and pray for minimal upsets and a kind heart from the committee. There is no doubt that the Wildcats' early ouster from the SoCon Tourney along with an unimpressive non-conference regular season performance puts their March Madness in deep, deep trouble. I think Davidson is headed to the NIT unless everything falls perfectly into place in this week's conference tournaments. The good news for Davidson is that they are not alone in the agonizing week and selection process. Look at the SEC...just exactly who has impressed anybody the entire season? Only one team is currently ranked in the Top 25, and that's LSU. The Bayou Bengals finished off the regular season by losing at home to mighty Vanderbilt and on the road at the juggernaut known as Auburn. They enter the SEC Tourney as the number one seed and they have locked up a Big Dance invite, but after LSU, the league is an embarrassment. Kentucky sucks and might be granted an invite to the NIT. Tennessee looked like they were beginning to get their act together before losing in their finale at home to an inept Alabama team. South Carolina defeated hapless Georgia, but not before getting blown away by the Vols and Vandy. Florida is limping to the tourney, too. It's anybody's guess what might happen and who could capture the SEC Tournament. The ACC is in better shape, but the mystery threesome of Maryland, Virginia Tech and Miami is the big question entering the action down at the Georgia Dome. Personally, I feel the conference should be in good shape for 6 teams (UNC, Wake, Duke, FSU, Clemson and BC), but can the league figure out a way to squeeze in another team or two? Keep an eye on the Virginia Tech - Miami opening round match-up on Thursday....the loser is automatically out of the Big Dance discussion and the winner stays alive in the debate. The upcoming week is always one of interest and delight. The Madness is here well before the brackets are filled out....and I can't wait to watch it unfold. So, T.O. has landed in Buffalo....somehow, that seems fitting. Last week, the Dallas Cowboys surprised many people with their dismissal of one of the league's most talented and troubled wide receivers. You don't have to like Owens, but you can't deny the fact that the guy is a talent...and apparently a cancer, too. He has worn out his welcome in San Francisco, Philly and now Dallas. TO takes his act to Buffalo, where he can freeze his ass off while complaining about not getting enough touches with the Bills. You gotta give him some props for his press conference where he stated that he goes from playing with "America's team" to playing with "North America's team". Hey, TO....be sure to bring your mittens. Don't look now, but the Charlotte Bobcats have won a franchise record 6 games in a row. As we all know, any team that can go a week without losing is bound to pick up some serious ground in the weak Eastern Conference. The Bobcats have done precisely that, closing to within one game of the final spot in the playoffs. This week, the team travels to San Antonio and later hosts Houston. Can Charlotte pull off a Texas Two-Step and keep the streak alive for another week? I hope so, even though the trip to San Antonio will be difficult. The big question surrounding the Bobcats deals with the playoffs themselves. If the team makes it, they will have a first round match-up with Boston or Cleveland. While the buzz factor with either opponent would be great, there is a downside to the post-season. If the Bobcats make the playoffs, they will be without a first round selection in the upcoming draft, compliments of a deal they made with Denver in last season's draft. Playoffs, or first round pick? Choose your poison....or preference. I still think this team is a year away from really making some noise in the post-season. They will be a huge dog vs. the defending champs or LeBron's boys...and there is no guarantee that the ping pong ball falls right if you're in the NBA Draft Lottery. Even if you get lucky with the ping pong ball, do you trust Michael Jordan in making the right pick? I have more trust in Larry Brown, but that's another topic. This team is still a player away....I hope they make the playoffs, but the Lottery is probably the smart call. Last week, I watched a new series on the Golf Channel. It's called "The Haney Project". It involves Hank Haney, Tiger Woods' golf/swing coach, and former NBA star and current resident in jail, Charles Barkley. Needless to say, the outspoken Barkley has one of the worst golf swings in the history of the game, and Haney's ability to help will be tested to the max. The concept of the show is fun and interesting, but the opening episode left a little to be desired. It's still worth a notice and I suggest you check it out for a laugh or two. If Haney can help Sir Charles, he will do nothing but help solidify his place as one of the game's greatest instructors. |
Packman
on Sports Commentary
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