The final (and maybe fantastic) four.

Three straight may be asking too much

A winning streak it is. A winning streak that just so happened to tie a record that was so bad, yet so good at the same time. The Nets beat the Pistons for their second straight win and first winning streak of the season. They also picked up their 9th win. So if the streak refuses to continue, we are at least guaranteed a tie of the worst record ever. Whew. That was a close one.

In other news, Ohio State lost today. Another one bites the dust. But Duke still won, so the tournament hasn’t gone completely insane. Yet. Only Butler remains out of the cinderellas. So here is a breakdown of the Elite Eight. I’d hardly call them elite though:

Kentucky- Saw their news cameras outside the dome today. They probably had so much coverage here because nothing actually happens in Kentucky.

West Virginia- Syracuse beat them. They are overrated.

Michigan State- Not as good as last year’s team.

Tennessee- Our orange is better.

Butler-Bull[****]dogs.

Kansas State- Currently the best of Kansas. Behind Topeka CC, of course.

Duke- I actually don’t hate them at all.

Baylor- Dark horse?

This really is March Madness

Enough of these predictions. “Kansas will win it all.” “Syracuse is going to Indy.” This that blah blah blah. Guess what? We’re all wrong! Even the experts! Gasp! I have never done so poorly in a bracket. But this year the bracket exploded. Something happened, and everyone got messed up. I don’t even know what to think anymore. This year’s tournament has been like no other before it. All bets are off. Too bad Syracuse lost. They were better than Butler. They just didn’t play that way. Maybe next year the tournament won’t be so crazy.

Zoned in, in the zone

Here and there

The Sweet 16 is here in Syracuse. Two games, four teams. Tonight. At the dome. But Syracuse won’t be there. They’re out in Utah, where they will also be playing tonight. Obviously Syracuse couldn’t play on it’s own campus for the tournament. So while West Virginia/Washington is playing out at the dome, Syracuse-Butler will be playing thousands of miles away. So who’s watching the game in the dome? No Syracuse fans, that’s for sure. Cornell fans, who face Kentucky in the later game? I guess. Either way, the dome will still be pretty full. But for once, Syracuse fans won’t care about a men’s basketball game being played in the dome. They’ll have their eyes out west.

“The best keeps getting better”

Sweet. Syracuse demolished, throttled, destroyed, ripped apart, whatever you want to call it, they did it to Gonzaga. And to think I was worried about this game. This game was Syracuse basketball. Pure domination. However, the Orange have another tough test this coming week against Butler.

My bracket is busted. That’s what they call it. I don’t really care. Syracuse just needs to win. So far, so good.

Flying High

Orange in a gray zone

Today I walked around the Georgetown University campus. And what a nice one it is. I was a little surprised to see people out and about after their horrendous loss to Ohio just one night before. However, it does not shock me. I suppose they just do not care enough. I snapped up this picture of their oh-so creative signs. Beat Nova (original) and Juice Cuse (Which they failed to do…twice. We’ll forget about the BET). As I wore my own Beat Nova shirt on the campus, I nearly got hit by a frisbee and chucked at with a football. Although I’m pretty sure those were coincidental. I did, however, have someone with an axe run straight at me.

Just kidding.

Big game tonight for Syracuse! Shut it down!

GAME ON

When in doubt, don’t

Now, I’m not looking to jinx Syracuse here. I’m just looking to set some things straight. First off, there have been many doubters (myself included) about Syracuse’s chances to go all the way. Granted, I still think it’s Kansas’ tourney to lose, but Syracuse is awfully close. People are saying Syracuse may not beat Gonzaga, or Pitt, or Kansas State, or whoever. Yes, Arinze Onuaku may be out for a little, and yes, the team did lose two straight to end the season, but this is a team that was ranked number one just a week and a half ago. They hardly lost at all before last week and dominated in all aspects of the game much of the time. They are a team that beat Georgetown twice, demolished Villanova, and beat West Virginia, one of the hottest teams right now. Syracuse did not lose to a team that was bad. They lost to Pitt, Louisville and G’town. Meanwhile, I can’t think of another team that lost to only solid teams. Not even Kansas, who is the favorite by many to win it all. So, am I a little worried about Syracuse’s future? Yes. But will I be after they crush Vermont this Friday and later whoever else comes in their way? No. Let the doubters remain. We’ll catch them by surprise. Then they’ll wish they never underestimated Syracuse basketball.

He'll be back.

Bracketbracketbracketbracket

It’s been going on since November. And you have been hearing about it for the past week. Probably in every conversation. And today was the pinnacle. You should know by now what I’m talking about since I’m only the ten millionth person to discuss the topic.

The brackets came out today. They are all over the internet, all over the workplace. Online, in print, wherever. Everyone will be making their picks. Some will pick randomly. Some will spend hours. Some will look at the team colors or names. Some will do multiple brackets. It is quite the phenomenon. The NCAA tournament is here. In a few days, at least.

I’m not here to voice my opinion. You can go on any website and see some guy’s opinion. I’m here to talk about the craziness of it. There is nothing like it in sports. It is insanity. Everyone will be talking about it.

For me, I fill out my brackets pretty quick, then analyze it. I used to have different picks for different brackets, but not so much anymore. After I pick, I analyze. I look: do I have enough upsets? Enough balance among all the seeds? But overall, I’m not a stat person. I don’t overanalyze like crazy. I don’t let it take over my life. I only print out two brackets. Plus the one from the Washington Post and my Sports Illustrated. Plus the few I do online. That’s all. And I occasionally offer my services to those in need.

Most people will take some time to fill out their brackets. Games don’t start until Thursday. Syracuse (which is behind Duke; makes no sense) is the fourth number one seed. They play on Friday in Buffalo. Squeezin’ the maple syrup out of the Vermont Catamounts.

By the way, the title of this post is not your mind on drugs. It is your mind during bracket season. Yes, it is very messed up.

Enjoy the week! And don’t go too crazy.

Oh, and the tourney itself is fun too. There are always surprises and ‘cinderellas.’ Congrats to first-timers. Sadly, no AU this year, But for other non-powers, good luck! (Just not Vermont!)

Do I wish I had the confidence to pick Syracuse to win it all? Maybe. But I don’t think they can. But I wouldn’t mind being wrong!

With all of the above being said, I have two words left: GO ‘CUSE!