Sorry for the lay off, St. Patty's Day is JJ's birthday so I'm just now sober. JJ however is in Vegas (lucky bastard) so this part will have a slightly different look as I don't want to be that crazy guy who talks back and forth to himself. JJ should be in time for the Final Four games, and we will be back to the format that brought us so much acclaim from the literally 10's of people who have read these articles.
Midwest Region:
Florida will make it to the Final Four over UNLV. The UNLV/GT first round match up was the one that I had the least confidence in my pick. UNLV is a veteran, smart team but I went with the young, athletic, high-upside guys who were too sloppy and inexperienced to win. Oregon reminds me slightly of that Georgia Tech team, though they don't have as many freshman, but they like to play a somewhat similar brand of roundball. I think the Runnin Rebs will slow the game down, for Oregon to work for each hoop, and eek out a win; only to get steamrolled by the Florida Gator Juggernaut.
Out West:
Kansas will get by UCLA to make it to the Final Four. Two of the most storied teams in the history of college basketball will clash but the Jayhawks get the edge due to their size and versatility. Ironically I like UCLA over Pitt because of their guard play, but Kansas gets good enough play from their guards and is too deep and talented for even this very good Bruins squad.
In the East:
UNC and Georgetown battle for an all expenses paid trip to Atlanta. In what should be a very close game between two very talented teams the Hoyas will prevail. NBA scouts will be all over the Continental Airlines Areana as this game could offer up an enitre pro team. Jeff Green and the doctor's son will be too much for the Tar Heels to contain. Georgetown is the most unique team in college ball, no one else plays quite like them, they offer so many match up problems to potential opponents.
Dirty Dirty South:
Aggie beats Buckeye. Ohio State is without a doubt the more talented of the two teams, but the expierence of the Aggie's top players that will be the difference in this game. In similar decision making process to the UNC/G'town game the team without the freshman point guard has a huge advantage. This could be one of the lowest scoring games of the tourney, as the two best defensive teams in the country meet. A&M has no answer for Oden, OSU has no answer for Acie Law IV so there will be some points scored. A&M playing just a 2 hour car ride away from campus is also a huge factor in this game as the Alamodome will be Marooned Out. A&M and OSU are too good defensively to be stopped by teams that just play good offense (Tenn and Memphis.)
Thus concludes the short sweet 16/final 4 blog. Tune in soon for our championship picks.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Sorry Your Holiness,
Due to the rimjob the Suns/Refs gave the Mavs tonight, our picks for the sweet 16/ elite 8 will be delayed. We were far to drunk and angry to post tonight. All picks will be posted before the games actually start, so no fear for all those gamblers who look to the sports bullies to bale them out of the hole.
Sincerely,
Sports Bully
Due to the rimjob the Suns/Refs gave the Mavs tonight, our picks for the sweet 16/ elite 8 will be delayed. We were far to drunk and angry to post tonight. All picks will be posted before the games actually start, so no fear for all those gamblers who look to the sports bullies to bale them out of the hole.
Sincerely,
Sports Bully
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
March Madness Extravaganza Part Two
On to the second round matchups. And might I say, we picked Niagara right, so if these trends continue, 100% of our picks will be right.
We will start with the Midwest again.
Florida vs. Zona
JJ: I think a gator could take a wildcat in real life. No reason not to use this logic for this game.
LH: Zona's magical run will end here. The defending national champs, are too big, well rounded, deep and experienced.
JJ: If this were a dance off though, my money is on Zona. Actually, if Florida magically loses Noah, they win the dance off as well.
LH: Noah and Horford down low will be the difference, the Gators' twin towers will force Arizona to settle for outside shots which is not their forte. The Wildcats only shot 34% on the year from the land of three.
Terps vs. Old Dominion
JJ: In the first round my partner and I debated who would win between Old Dominion and Butler, but it's really just semantics, because neither will beat Maryland.
LH: Not so fast. It's all about the power of Valdas Vasylius!!!! OD continues their magical ride. Drew Williamson, OD's senior PG, has led the CAA in assist-to-turnover ratio two of the last three seasons -- you can't make stats like that up! Greivis Vasquez, Maryland's freshman PG, was good in high school because all he had to do was pass to Kevin Durant. I'll take the grizzled senior lead team to play smart, aggressive D, force turnovers and keep it close enough so that the Australian Giant can score on a put-back at the buzzer.
JJ: Wow, our first uset special, and only 2 games in.
Oregon vs. Winthrop
LH: Oregon is a wide open, free wheeling, undisciplined team that will meet its match against the Garnet and Gold. Winthrop is a well coached, scrappy team filled with a bunch of guys who won't be NBA superstars but are just good players. Oregon doesn't have the size down low (lol) to dominate the game. Random note: part of The Rage: Carrie 2 was filmed at Winthrop
JJ: I too have Oregon going down, but to Notre Dame. But with that Carrie 2 fact, I suppose I can jump on the Winthrop magical mystery tour.
Wisconsin vs. Georgia Tech
JJ: Badger Badger Badger Badger Badger
LH: Mushroom Mushroom
JJ: Close game. Tucker is too much though.
LH: 'Sconsin beats the fiesty GT squad with more consistant, cohesive play. Thaddeus Young v Alando Tucker will be a very interesting 1 on 1 matchup but I'm going with the senior All-American to win that battle and his team to win the war.
On to the west.
Kansas vs. Nova
LH: Kansas had a scoring margin of +17 this year, in a very underrated Big 12. Nova is a nice team, but the Jayhawks are the real deal, they may not win by 17 but they will advance. Nova's D hasn't been as good this year as in years past, allowing .410 FG and .355 3PT, and this Kansas team put the ball in the hoop, 78 ppg.
JJ: Kansas also has the depth and athletic ability at the guard spot to contain Nova's unique 4-guard attack.
Va Tech vs. Salukis
JJ: As talented as the Hookies are, I think SIU is that much better. Take a look at Va Tech's ACC record and you see agaisnt tuff oponets, they are not as impressive.
LH: Wikipedia defines Southern Illinois University as "a university in southern Illinois." Also of note, Playmate of the Year 1977, Patti McGuire attended SIU.
Pitt vs. VCU
LH: Pitt has really good 3 point D, allowing only 31%, which should be good enough to shut down Bad Ass Walker and the Rams.
JJ: VCU's Black Awakening Choir won 1st place in the 2005 Baptist Student Union National Choir Competition in Atlanta, GA. This is such a tuff pick.
UCLA vs. Zags
JJ: Zags big men only get them so far. The Bruins make pretty easy work of a team that was far better last year than they are this year.
LH: I'm going with UCLA for one very important reason, and one reason only. I want to hear Dick Vitale say, "Luc Richard Mbah a Moute" [UCLA's power forward] as long as possible. These things are the reason I love March.
Onto the East region.
Tarheels vs. Spartans
LH: UNC had a scoring margin of +17.9 per game, best in the country while playing in the best conference in the country.
JJ: Hansbrough is an absolute beast. His play far outweighs Nietzel's.
Texas vs. Arkansas
JJ: Ahh, a battle of traditional enemies from the Southwest conference days.
LH: Woooooooooooooo, Pig! Sooie!
JJ: KEVIN DURANT!!
LH: Woooooooooooooo, Pig! Sooie!
JJ: KEVIN DURANT!!
LH: Woooooooooooooo, Pig! Sooie!
Continues for eternity...
Washington State vs. G-Dub
LH: I like GW in this one. WSU has struggled at the 1 guard position all year, and is a bad rebounding team -- two things that kill in March. GW, however, gets strong consistant play from Maureece Rice, PG, and has two guys, Regis Koundjia and Dokun Akingbade (and no I didn't make those names up), who are monsters on the offensive glass.
JJ: Can you use Akingbade in a sentence please?
LH: Akingbade a new law allowing for the legalization of marijuana?
JJ: Country of origin?
LH: Nigeria.
JJ: Part of speech.
LH: ...
G'town vs. BC
JJ: So by how much does G'town crush the Eagles is the question. 10, 15, 25... Only time will tell.
LH: Georgetown is really, really good and they will be facing a not really, really good team (BC not TTU). The '84 national champs may have the most dominate inside game in the country (including THE Ohio State). Roy Hibbert is a big giant of a man, 7'2'' 278lbs, and he's teamed with Jeff Green the Big East POY who reminds me a bit of Josh Howard.
JJ: Yeah, Hibbert, son of the famous doctor from the Simpsons, is a man-child that eats whole teams for lunch. Next on the menu, fried eagle.
LH: Aren't those an endangered species.
JJ: They are now.
Once again we end with the South region.
Ohio State vs. BYU
JJ: BYU vs. The Program. Who to pick. Mormans or Polished man-beasts.
LH: The program, wasn't that a football movie with James Caan and Halle Berry?
JJ: Touche.
LH: THE Ohio State should win comfortably, Oden scares all opposing players from coming in the lane and the rest of the team has held opponents to just 31% 3PT. BYU's best player, Keena Young, is a low post player which means he will be dominated in this game.
JJ: Can't argue with that.
Tennessee vs. Albany
LH: This Tennessee ballclub will be involved in a shootout with Albany in the round of 32. Chris Lofton, Kenny's son, will go shot for shot with Jamar Wilson. This game comes down to who's teammates will collect more of the missed shots and get 2nd chances for their stud scorer. Despite the fact that the Vols are smaller than the Great Danes, they are a superior rebounding club. Wayne Chism and Duke Crews, the 2 headed-center for Tennessee, will get the ball back in Lofton's hands and let him win the game.
JJ: And the great motivator will buy icecream for the whole team if they win.
LH: As long as he keeps his orange jacket on...
Aggies vs. Louisville
JJ: Acie Law IV will single handedly take over this game. And I mean literally. He is going to tie one hand behind his back and score 30+ pts, he's that good.
LH: Aggies will beat the Cardinals because they will force Louisville to slow down and play a half-court game, which has been an Achilles' heel of the Cardinal squad this year. Acie Law IV will dominate Edgar Sosa, Louisville's freshman PG, forcing turnovers, creating easy buckets for Jost Carter, Joseph Jones and Antanas Kavaliaskas -- which is very fun to say.
Memphis vs. Nevada
LH:Joey Dorsey, Memphis' starting center, is a good shot blocker and rebounder, but he doesn't have the size or depth of skill to stay with Nick Fazekas. Memphis rolled through a bad Conference USA this year putting up big wins over bad teams. Nevada's stength is the Tiger's weakness, post play. The Wolfpack are also one of the most vertern teams in the country, starting three seniors and two juniors.
JJ: I don't know how to respond to that. That's impressive. I'm not even mad.
LH: Sports Bully.
JJ: In the truest sense of the word.
LH: Random note about Albany: Their school motto is "Sapientia et sua et docendi causa."
JJ: And it means?
LH: I think most of our readers speak Latin. I know for a fact the Pope has us as his homepage.
JJ: Good to see we are spreading valuable knowledge to the world.
Tomorrow it's on to the Sweet 16 and Elite 8, with the final article covering the Final Four and the Championship.
We will start with the Midwest again.
Florida vs. Zona
JJ: I think a gator could take a wildcat in real life. No reason not to use this logic for this game.
LH: Zona's magical run will end here. The defending national champs, are too big, well rounded, deep and experienced.
JJ: If this were a dance off though, my money is on Zona. Actually, if Florida magically loses Noah, they win the dance off as well.
LH: Noah and Horford down low will be the difference, the Gators' twin towers will force Arizona to settle for outside shots which is not their forte. The Wildcats only shot 34% on the year from the land of three.
Terps vs. Old Dominion
JJ: In the first round my partner and I debated who would win between Old Dominion and Butler, but it's really just semantics, because neither will beat Maryland.
LH: Not so fast. It's all about the power of Valdas Vasylius!!!! OD continues their magical ride. Drew Williamson, OD's senior PG, has led the CAA in assist-to-turnover ratio two of the last three seasons -- you can't make stats like that up! Greivis Vasquez, Maryland's freshman PG, was good in high school because all he had to do was pass to Kevin Durant. I'll take the grizzled senior lead team to play smart, aggressive D, force turnovers and keep it close enough so that the Australian Giant can score on a put-back at the buzzer.
JJ: Wow, our first uset special, and only 2 games in.
Oregon vs. Winthrop
LH: Oregon is a wide open, free wheeling, undisciplined team that will meet its match against the Garnet and Gold. Winthrop is a well coached, scrappy team filled with a bunch of guys who won't be NBA superstars but are just good players. Oregon doesn't have the size down low (lol) to dominate the game. Random note: part of The Rage: Carrie 2 was filmed at Winthrop
JJ: I too have Oregon going down, but to Notre Dame. But with that Carrie 2 fact, I suppose I can jump on the Winthrop magical mystery tour.
Wisconsin vs. Georgia Tech
JJ: Badger Badger Badger Badger Badger
LH: Mushroom Mushroom
JJ: Close game. Tucker is too much though.
LH: 'Sconsin beats the fiesty GT squad with more consistant, cohesive play. Thaddeus Young v Alando Tucker will be a very interesting 1 on 1 matchup but I'm going with the senior All-American to win that battle and his team to win the war.
On to the west.
Kansas vs. Nova
LH: Kansas had a scoring margin of +17 this year, in a very underrated Big 12. Nova is a nice team, but the Jayhawks are the real deal, they may not win by 17 but they will advance. Nova's D hasn't been as good this year as in years past, allowing .410 FG and .355 3PT, and this Kansas team put the ball in the hoop, 78 ppg.
JJ: Kansas also has the depth and athletic ability at the guard spot to contain Nova's unique 4-guard attack.
Va Tech vs. Salukis
JJ: As talented as the Hookies are, I think SIU is that much better. Take a look at Va Tech's ACC record and you see agaisnt tuff oponets, they are not as impressive.
LH: Wikipedia defines Southern Illinois University as "a university in southern Illinois." Also of note, Playmate of the Year 1977, Patti McGuire attended SIU.
Pitt vs. VCU
LH: Pitt has really good 3 point D, allowing only 31%, which should be good enough to shut down Bad Ass Walker and the Rams.
JJ: VCU's Black Awakening Choir won 1st place in the 2005 Baptist Student Union National Choir Competition in Atlanta, GA. This is such a tuff pick.
UCLA vs. Zags
JJ: Zags big men only get them so far. The Bruins make pretty easy work of a team that was far better last year than they are this year.
LH: I'm going with UCLA for one very important reason, and one reason only. I want to hear Dick Vitale say, "Luc Richard Mbah a Moute" [UCLA's power forward] as long as possible. These things are the reason I love March.
Onto the East region.
Tarheels vs. Spartans
LH: UNC had a scoring margin of +17.9 per game, best in the country while playing in the best conference in the country.
JJ: Hansbrough is an absolute beast. His play far outweighs Nietzel's.
Texas vs. Arkansas
JJ: Ahh, a battle of traditional enemies from the Southwest conference days.
LH: Woooooooooooooo, Pig! Sooie!
JJ: KEVIN DURANT!!
LH: Woooooooooooooo, Pig! Sooie!
JJ: KEVIN DURANT!!
LH: Woooooooooooooo, Pig! Sooie!
Continues for eternity...
Washington State vs. G-Dub
LH: I like GW in this one. WSU has struggled at the 1 guard position all year, and is a bad rebounding team -- two things that kill in March. GW, however, gets strong consistant play from Maureece Rice, PG, and has two guys, Regis Koundjia and Dokun Akingbade (and no I didn't make those names up), who are monsters on the offensive glass.
JJ: Can you use Akingbade in a sentence please?
LH: Akingbade a new law allowing for the legalization of marijuana?
JJ: Country of origin?
LH: Nigeria.
JJ: Part of speech.
LH: ...
G'town vs. BC
JJ: So by how much does G'town crush the Eagles is the question. 10, 15, 25... Only time will tell.
LH: Georgetown is really, really good and they will be facing a not really, really good team (BC not TTU). The '84 national champs may have the most dominate inside game in the country (including THE Ohio State). Roy Hibbert is a big giant of a man, 7'2'' 278lbs, and he's teamed with Jeff Green the Big East POY who reminds me a bit of Josh Howard.
JJ: Yeah, Hibbert, son of the famous doctor from the Simpsons, is a man-child that eats whole teams for lunch. Next on the menu, fried eagle.
LH: Aren't those an endangered species.
JJ: They are now.
Once again we end with the South region.
Ohio State vs. BYU
JJ: BYU vs. The Program. Who to pick. Mormans or Polished man-beasts.
LH: The program, wasn't that a football movie with James Caan and Halle Berry?
JJ: Touche.
LH: THE Ohio State should win comfortably, Oden scares all opposing players from coming in the lane and the rest of the team has held opponents to just 31% 3PT. BYU's best player, Keena Young, is a low post player which means he will be dominated in this game.
JJ: Can't argue with that.
Tennessee vs. Albany
LH: This Tennessee ballclub will be involved in a shootout with Albany in the round of 32. Chris Lofton, Kenny's son, will go shot for shot with Jamar Wilson. This game comes down to who's teammates will collect more of the missed shots and get 2nd chances for their stud scorer. Despite the fact that the Vols are smaller than the Great Danes, they are a superior rebounding club. Wayne Chism and Duke Crews, the 2 headed-center for Tennessee, will get the ball back in Lofton's hands and let him win the game.
JJ: And the great motivator will buy icecream for the whole team if they win.
LH: As long as he keeps his orange jacket on...
Aggies vs. Louisville
JJ: Acie Law IV will single handedly take over this game. And I mean literally. He is going to tie one hand behind his back and score 30+ pts, he's that good.
LH: Aggies will beat the Cardinals because they will force Louisville to slow down and play a half-court game, which has been an Achilles' heel of the Cardinal squad this year. Acie Law IV will dominate Edgar Sosa, Louisville's freshman PG, forcing turnovers, creating easy buckets for Jost Carter, Joseph Jones and Antanas Kavaliaskas -- which is very fun to say.
Memphis vs. Nevada
LH:Joey Dorsey, Memphis' starting center, is a good shot blocker and rebounder, but he doesn't have the size or depth of skill to stay with Nick Fazekas. Memphis rolled through a bad Conference USA this year putting up big wins over bad teams. Nevada's stength is the Tiger's weakness, post play. The Wolfpack are also one of the most vertern teams in the country, starting three seniors and two juniors.
JJ: I don't know how to respond to that. That's impressive. I'm not even mad.
LH: Sports Bully.
JJ: In the truest sense of the word.
LH: Random note about Albany: Their school motto is "Sapientia et sua et docendi causa."
JJ: And it means?
LH: I think most of our readers speak Latin. I know for a fact the Pope has us as his homepage.
JJ: Good to see we are spreading valuable knowledge to the world.
Tomorrow it's on to the Sweet 16 and Elite 8, with the final article covering the Final Four and the Championship.
Monday, March 12, 2007
March Madness Extravaganza Part One
Sorry for the delay in positng. I went bowling with Pac-Man Jones and had to lay low for awhile. Today we bring to you the first of a four part series on the spring extrvaganza known affectionatley as "The Tourney." Alright, for my final four I'm gonna pick Duke, Kentucky, Indiana, and UConn... Wait a minute, maybe I haven't paid that close attention to this season. Is Ron Mercer not leading a talented pack of Sophmores at Kentucky??? So for those of you who just saw the above picks and called your bookies (and in no way do we condone sports betting) this series of articles, is for you. The first thing we will tackle is the opening round.
We open with the Midwest.
Florida vs. Jackson State
LH: Gonna go out on a limb and pick Florida here. Tough call though, with Trey Johnson, the nation's 2nd leading scorer going for Jackson State, it makes this game interesting.
JJ: I concure. Defending champs. And a 1 has never beaten a 16; it's science.
LH: Quick note on Jackson State gaurd Charlie White. He was arrested on weapons charges earlyier in the year. That forced a 5' 6" man to replace him. Need I say more.
Zona vs. Purdue
JJ: As I am a good personal friend of Jet Terry's, he assures me this is Zona's year. With guys like Mustafa Shakur and Ivan Radenovic they have to be tough, I mean Tupac's brother and a Russian.
LH: Redenovic is the key to the game. Purdue's big man is barley taller than me (although I am a rather lanky gentleman). Plus, I think Chase Buddinger is the best white guy in this region. (Even better than half of Joakim Noah.)
JJ: Yeah, that half showed itself in the form of interpretive white guy dance.
LH: I will always go with the team who's head coach is named after a musical instrument. That's just a smart pick.
Butler vs. Old Dominion (A toss up)
LH: The beauty of the NCAA Tournament; picking games invloving two teams you know nothing about.
JJ: Yes, all I know about Butler is they upset Kansas a couple years back. Now they are a 5 seed, and that they have a +10.8 scoring margin. This is the dreaded 5/12 matchup though.
LH: Yeah I'm gonna go with OD on this one. Butler has problems offensivley if Graves, their 2 gaurd, doesn't have his stroke working. OD's Brandon Johnson has some size on Graves and is a hard-nose defender. I think Dominion is more balnced offensivley and they have a Russian power foward with the intials V.V.
JJ: Don't forget the back-up center. In the words of ESPN, he is an "Australian giant who intimidates in the lane and scores only on put-backs."
Maryland vs. Davidson
JJ: Hailing from the ACC, home to some of the best teams in the country, Maryland showed they could hang. Vetran leadership, found in 3 seniors, and 2 juniors is the force behing that.
LH: I agree. I think senior leaders Ibekwe, D.J. Strawberry, and Mike Jones..
JJ: Who?
LH: Mike Jones, will lead the Terps past the really overmatched Davidson team. They don't even have anyone named Harley, what a sham.
JJ: Fear the Turtle.
Note: The 02 national champs feature all 5 starters averaging double digit scoring.
Notre Dame vs. Winthrop (Toss up)
LH: It pains me to say it, because I am a huge Irish fan (Side note, I would be at Notre Dame had my high school guidance counsler not been an absolute waste of life) but I am going with Winthrop. This is a very tough first round match-up. The Irish feature a bunch of slow white guys who shoot the rock well, but play D like the Phoenix Suns. I think Winthrop's outside shooting will lead them past the Irish and their zone derfenses.
JJ: The Irish are very balanced though. They have 4 starters averging double digit scoring. Their outside shooting is very impressive. They also had a quality win over Marquette on the road. Winthrop never winning a Tourney game before also leaves me waery of them.
Oregon vs. Miami (OH)
JJ: It's pretty simple, shut down Pollitz, and you beat the Redhawks. Their only hope is if the Ducks confuse Tim with Eric, his less talented brother on the team.
LH: I feel the Ducks can defeat the Fighting Roethlisbergurs with far superior athletic ability, provided they don't sucumb to the Aaron Brooks glitch. Miami was a crazy 3 pointer off the backboard away from even making the tournament. Their slow, half-court, Princeton style offense won't be able to keep up with the running and gunning Ducks.
Buzz vs. UNLV
LH: 1990 Champs vs. the '04 runner-ups. Gonna go with the team that had the most recent success. Tech is quicker and far more athletic then the Rebles. Plus they have the best player on the floor, Thaddeus Young. (He's black.) They are also one of the hottest teams in the nation right now. This pick scares me a bit though, GT can be reckless with the ball at times and UNLV has a senior point guard that might make them pay.
JJ: They also have 9 guys averging over 12 mpg. This game is pretty evenly matched should be a beauty. I'd say if Grandmama had a year of eligabilty... But he doesn't, the consensus pick is Tech.
Wisconsin vs. Texas A&M- CC
JJ: All I can say is the A&M CC players better be pre-med majors, becasue they need about 50 CC's of talent.
LH: ...
JJ: Medical jokes aside, there's not much doubt about the outcome of this game.
Now on to the West region.
Play-in Niagra vs. Florida A&M
LH: Whatif FAMU and Niagra combined squads? I think Kansas should have to play both of them at the same time, 10 v 5.
JJ: Niagra should definatley win the "who gets killed by Kansas game."
LH: FAMU actually allowed more points than they scored, but somehow ended up with a 21-13 record.
JJ: Somewhere Bill James is rolling over in his grave.
Note: Florida A&M is coached by Mike Gillespie Sr. furthering my theory that all A&M schools have to be coached by a Gillespie.
Kentucky vs. Nova (Toss up)
JJ: I garuntee a Wildcats win.
LH: ...
JJ: In seriousness, I think Kentucky takes this. Decent gaurd play plus they have super fan Ashley Judd.
LH: No way. Nova's gaurd oriented attack will slice-up Kentucky who has really played lethargic this year. Villa' can attack from any spot on the floor and while this year's squad isn't as good as recent versions, they're too good for Kentucky. (Moves to front of line to console Ashley Judd.)
Va Tech vs. Illini
JJ: I think Va Tech is that dangerous team no one is talking about and I think Illinois shouldn't even be in. I would have taken Drexel, 'Cuse, or OK State over them.
LH: Illinois might not crack 50 in this game. They can't score and Va Tech plays a really tight half-court D. They have 3 terrific defenders in Zabian Dowdell, Jamon Gordon, and Dante Hall.
JJ: Ah, the x-factor.
LH: The Hookies have 4 starters who average double-figures ppg while those racists from Illinois have just 2.
JJ: Yes, my personal favorite is 3-point specialist Nigel Munson. He sounds like a cross between a butler and a one-handed bowler. But he shoots the trey like no ones business.
Salukis vs. Holy Cross
JJ: The Salukis defeat the Bill Simmons' with ease.
LH: The Salukis, an old indian word for "the girl who's hard to get", are too talented for any team from the Patriot league (sorry Liberty.) Holy Cross is small inside (You can add, "that's what she said") and SIU big man Randal Falker, 12.5 points and 7.5 boards, should dominate.
Duke vs. VCU
JJ: Our upset special. The number one reason VCU wins is because their SG is a 3-point specialist named B.A. Walker. Could that be short for Bad Ass Walker?!?!
LH: Has to be. VCU is a bit vulnerable down low, aren't we all? But with some deadly outside shooting, which they can provide, the Dukie's go down.
JJ: It may not be a rape, but a win is a win for VCU.
Pitt vs. Wright State
LH: 6'8" 220lb vs 7'0" 270lb -- That is the size mismatch at the center position, Jordan Pleiman of Wright State vs Aaron Gray of Pitt. Levance Fields and Antonio Graves should be good enough defensively to shut down DeShaun Wood, the Horizon League POY (I can't believe I know who the Horizon Leaugue POY is -- thank you March Madness.)
JJ: Pitt is too big and strong for Wrong State.
LH: It's Wright State
JJ: Right.
LH: No Wright.
JJ: 10 min. later...
Zags vs. Indiana
JJ: It is a slight upset and their lack of talent on the blocks could hurt them, but I don't think Indiana has the low post talent to exploite that weakness. The gaurd play of the Zags has me picking them.
LH: I agree. The loss of Heytvelt hurt the Zags chances of going deep in the tourney, but the strength of this team is it's gaurds and they match up well against the Hoosiers who run Kelvin Sampson's 3-gaurd attack. Strength vs strength. But Gonzaga is the team I would most like to party with so they get the edge in my book.
JJ: Did you know Bing Crosby enrolled at Gonzaga in the fall of 1920, intending to become a lawyer. He became a drummer, then a singer, before finally dropping out his senior year in favor of Hollywood. Gonzaga awarded him an honorary doctorate in 1937.
LH: Wow, Bing Crosby. Zag's have the karma factor going for them.
UCLA vs. Weber State
LH: The most storied franchise in the history of college basketball against, ... who?... I'm going with the Bruins.
JJ: Random note here about Weber. On the road against Sacramento State, before a 'crowd' of just 735, the Wildcats laid an egg, losing 105-83.
Heading back East now.
Tarheels vs. Eastern Kentucky
JJ: Quick philosophy here. Typically, if you have a direction other than North, South, East, or West, you aren't a very good program.
LH: Yes. The Heels should make quick work of the Colonels.
Marquette vs. Michigan State
LH: This a very close game, as 8 vs. 9 matchups tend to be, but 9 seeds actually have the edge 53-47%. Another matchup involving gaurd oriented teams, Michigan State has the best gaurd in Drew Neitzel who had an All-American season: 18.3 ppg, 4.1 apg and the best white-guy-ballhandler since Pistol Pete.
JJ: Yeah and I can't pick a team that boasts Dwayne Wade as an alumnus.
USC vs. Arkansas
JJ: I have to go with the Razorbacks because frankly, I'm not that impressed with USC. Also, this is a 5 vs. 12 matchup, where upsets seem to come with more frequency.
LH: USC beat Arkansas 50-14 earlier this year.
JJ: Yeah in football. Plus Charles Thomas is a less dominate version of Corliss Williamson circa college, which is still good.
Texas vs. New Mexico State
JJ: All I have to say is KEVIN DURANT!!
LH: REGGIE THEUS!!
JJ: KEVIN DURANT!!
LH: REGGIE THEUS!!
JJ: KEVIN DURANT!!
LH: KEVIN DURANT!!
JJ: REGGIE THEUS!!
LH: Got ya.
JJ: Whatever. Horns by at least 25. Texas Fight!!
Vandy vs. G-Dub
LH: In what should be a fast paced, high scoring game between two vetran teams, George Washington gets the nod because they can actually play defense. If the Commodores have their outside shots working they can beat anyone. (They beat Florida by 13.) But when it's not they can lose to anyone. (Furman beat them by 8.)
JJ: Yeah, plus they get bonus points for having alumnus Pops Mensah-Bonsu, D-Leauge All-Star game MVP!!
LH: G-Dub allowed just 32.6% of opposing shots to enter the hoop from beyond the arch while amassing 9.3 steals a game. That is why the Foggy Bottom Boys should win.
Washington State vs. Oral Roberts
JJ: So I have to take the Drew Bledsoe's over the traveling Baptist's. Also, Washington St. are the Cougars, and there is nothing more scary than a live Cougar. I just don't think Oral Roberts can handle the fear.
LH: Plus their coach is Tony Bennett, which is close enough to a musical instrument. A random note on this game: This is the highest seed for either team. Washington State has never been above an 8 seed and Oral Roberts, not to be confused with the Anal Johnson, has only ever been a 16 seed.
BC vs. Texas Tech (Toss up)
JJ: I'm picking Tech and Bobby Knight out of blind, unaudultrated love for all things Texas.
LH: I'm gonna take BC in this one. I think Jared Dudley will dominate which ever reality show TV star Coach puts on him. Dude lead ACC in rebounding and was #2 in scoring. Really good PG matchup with Tyrese Rice going against Jarrius Jackson, but Dudley is the diffrence maker. Plus, BC has a center named John Oates, and as a Ranger fan I can't go against that.
Georgetown vs. Belmont
LH: G'town agains the Bruins! Huge game!! Two classic programs batteling... Wait... it's not UCLA?
JJ: Nope it's Belmont man. This could get real ugly. G'town by like 30.
The final region. The south.
Ohio State vs. Central Conn State
JJ: I know it's picky but Ohio State's jersey's look like freakin junior high jersey's. So in the uni battle, Central Conn wins. That is about the only kind of win they are going to see.
LH: THE Ohio State will have this one wrapped up in time for Oden to get the early bird special at Luby's.
JJ: Yeah, he does look like a senior citizen. I want to se a birth certificate.
LH: I thought of something good to say for CCSU... The Association of American Colleges & Univesities selected CCSU as one of only 16 "Leadership Institutions" in the nation -- and the only one in Conneticut.
JJ: Wow, I might have to change my pick now.
BYU vs. Xavier
LH: I'm gonna go out on a limb and say any team that gives up 93 points to Duquense doesn't play enough D to win in March. Not only are the Musketeers a poor defensive team, they are matched up against a first round opponent with great offense, BYU.
JJ: Yeah BYU is an up-tempo, good shooting, unselfish team that starts 4 seniors.
LH: Give me the guys who can't have coffee.
JJ: Somewhere, Shawn Bradley is weeping.
Tennessee vs. Long Beach State
JJ: Tennessee wins for the fact that their coach is the best motivator of all time. And that includes Matt Foley, motivational speaker. Also, their being a 5 seed from the SEC doesn't hurt their chances.
LH: A team averaging nearly 80 ppg while only giving up 74 in the SEC is very different than a team doing it in the Big West. March Madness is all about the Mid-Majors, but the 49ers are going to be overmatched against a deep, athletic, aggressive Volunteer squad.
JJ: A random note: Long Beach State starts 5 seniors, the only such team in this year's tournament.
Virginia vs. Albany (Toss up)
LH: The Great Danes win outright in this one. Albany has the best player in the country that no one knows about, Jamar Wilson the 2x America East POY who will will Albany to victory. Along with their superstar, Albany hosts several role palyers who play hard and do all the things that win ball games. They finished 21-6 and matchup well with Virginia. You heard it hear first. Albany wins!!
JJ: I think you might be hitting the Kool-aid a little too much. The only thing they win is a mascot contest. Virginia rolls.
Louisville vs. Stanford
JJ: This is a no brainer. Louisville runs the Tree's out the gym.
LH: The Cardinal is strong inside, with the Lopez brothers manning the paint (Brook and Robin, think the parents thought they were getting girls?) Louisville won't get many second chance points, but that is because they shoot the rock well. (49% FG and 41% 3PT.) Louisville also nearly averaged 10 points more in scoring margin over Stanford. I have to go with the CardinalS over Cardinal.
Aggies vs. Penn
JJ: The Aggies won't be doing much quaking when Penn comes around. Led by Acie Law IV and a tenascious D (not the band), the Aggies will send Penn packing.
LH: All religous puns aside, I can't argue with this pick.
Nevada vs. Creighton
LH: Nevada has too big a size advantage in this one. Future disappointing lottery pick Nick Fazekas will be gaurded by a tree stump. Nevada is going to make some noise in this tourney.
JJ: Yeah Creighton is a very good 10 seed, but Nevada might be the best team people overlook.
LH: You've said that for like 14 teams.
Memphis vs. UNT
LH: This is actually a good matchup for the Mean Green, they're not facing a top-notch team with a dominate inside game. I think they can keep it closer than many expect, but in reality Memphis is too good. The Tigers don't have to win, but they more than probably will.
JJ: You have it all wrong. The actual talent level is a wash, so it comes down to coaching. And UNT coach Johnny Jones played in a Final Four with LSU and coached Shaq to one as well. Which is good, because that is exactally where the Mean Green Eagles of North Texas are heading.
LH:Such a homer.
JJ: Fine. I concede Memphis wins, but only in double OT. Satisfied.
Our next article will cover all the second round matchups.
We open with the Midwest.
Florida vs. Jackson State
LH: Gonna go out on a limb and pick Florida here. Tough call though, with Trey Johnson, the nation's 2nd leading scorer going for Jackson State, it makes this game interesting.
JJ: I concure. Defending champs. And a 1 has never beaten a 16; it's science.
LH: Quick note on Jackson State gaurd Charlie White. He was arrested on weapons charges earlyier in the year. That forced a 5' 6" man to replace him. Need I say more.
Zona vs. Purdue
JJ: As I am a good personal friend of Jet Terry's, he assures me this is Zona's year. With guys like Mustafa Shakur and Ivan Radenovic they have to be tough, I mean Tupac's brother and a Russian.
LH: Redenovic is the key to the game. Purdue's big man is barley taller than me (although I am a rather lanky gentleman). Plus, I think Chase Buddinger is the best white guy in this region. (Even better than half of Joakim Noah.)
JJ: Yeah, that half showed itself in the form of interpretive white guy dance.
LH: I will always go with the team who's head coach is named after a musical instrument. That's just a smart pick.
Butler vs. Old Dominion (A toss up)
LH: The beauty of the NCAA Tournament; picking games invloving two teams you know nothing about.
JJ: Yes, all I know about Butler is they upset Kansas a couple years back. Now they are a 5 seed, and that they have a +10.8 scoring margin. This is the dreaded 5/12 matchup though.
LH: Yeah I'm gonna go with OD on this one. Butler has problems offensivley if Graves, their 2 gaurd, doesn't have his stroke working. OD's Brandon Johnson has some size on Graves and is a hard-nose defender. I think Dominion is more balnced offensivley and they have a Russian power foward with the intials V.V.
JJ: Don't forget the back-up center. In the words of ESPN, he is an "Australian giant who intimidates in the lane and scores only on put-backs."
Maryland vs. Davidson
JJ: Hailing from the ACC, home to some of the best teams in the country, Maryland showed they could hang. Vetran leadership, found in 3 seniors, and 2 juniors is the force behing that.
LH: I agree. I think senior leaders Ibekwe, D.J. Strawberry, and Mike Jones..
JJ: Who?
LH: Mike Jones, will lead the Terps past the really overmatched Davidson team. They don't even have anyone named Harley, what a sham.
JJ: Fear the Turtle.
Note: The 02 national champs feature all 5 starters averaging double digit scoring.
Notre Dame vs. Winthrop (Toss up)
LH: It pains me to say it, because I am a huge Irish fan (Side note, I would be at Notre Dame had my high school guidance counsler not been an absolute waste of life) but I am going with Winthrop. This is a very tough first round match-up. The Irish feature a bunch of slow white guys who shoot the rock well, but play D like the Phoenix Suns. I think Winthrop's outside shooting will lead them past the Irish and their zone derfenses.
JJ: The Irish are very balanced though. They have 4 starters averging double digit scoring. Their outside shooting is very impressive. They also had a quality win over Marquette on the road. Winthrop never winning a Tourney game before also leaves me waery of them.
Oregon vs. Miami (OH)
JJ: It's pretty simple, shut down Pollitz, and you beat the Redhawks. Their only hope is if the Ducks confuse Tim with Eric, his less talented brother on the team.
LH: I feel the Ducks can defeat the Fighting Roethlisbergurs with far superior athletic ability, provided they don't sucumb to the Aaron Brooks glitch. Miami was a crazy 3 pointer off the backboard away from even making the tournament. Their slow, half-court, Princeton style offense won't be able to keep up with the running and gunning Ducks.
Buzz vs. UNLV
LH: 1990 Champs vs. the '04 runner-ups. Gonna go with the team that had the most recent success. Tech is quicker and far more athletic then the Rebles. Plus they have the best player on the floor, Thaddeus Young. (He's black.) They are also one of the hottest teams in the nation right now. This pick scares me a bit though, GT can be reckless with the ball at times and UNLV has a senior point guard that might make them pay.
JJ: They also have 9 guys averging over 12 mpg. This game is pretty evenly matched should be a beauty. I'd say if Grandmama had a year of eligabilty... But he doesn't, the consensus pick is Tech.
Wisconsin vs. Texas A&M- CC
JJ: All I can say is the A&M CC players better be pre-med majors, becasue they need about 50 CC's of talent.
LH: ...
JJ: Medical jokes aside, there's not much doubt about the outcome of this game.
Now on to the West region.
Play-in Niagra vs. Florida A&M
LH: Whatif FAMU and Niagra combined squads? I think Kansas should have to play both of them at the same time, 10 v 5.
JJ: Niagra should definatley win the "who gets killed by Kansas game."
LH: FAMU actually allowed more points than they scored, but somehow ended up with a 21-13 record.
JJ: Somewhere Bill James is rolling over in his grave.
Note: Florida A&M is coached by Mike Gillespie Sr. furthering my theory that all A&M schools have to be coached by a Gillespie.
Kentucky vs. Nova (Toss up)
JJ: I garuntee a Wildcats win.
LH: ...
JJ: In seriousness, I think Kentucky takes this. Decent gaurd play plus they have super fan Ashley Judd.
LH: No way. Nova's gaurd oriented attack will slice-up Kentucky who has really played lethargic this year. Villa' can attack from any spot on the floor and while this year's squad isn't as good as recent versions, they're too good for Kentucky. (Moves to front of line to console Ashley Judd.)
Va Tech vs. Illini
JJ: I think Va Tech is that dangerous team no one is talking about and I think Illinois shouldn't even be in. I would have taken Drexel, 'Cuse, or OK State over them.
LH: Illinois might not crack 50 in this game. They can't score and Va Tech plays a really tight half-court D. They have 3 terrific defenders in Zabian Dowdell, Jamon Gordon, and Dante Hall.
JJ: Ah, the x-factor.
LH: The Hookies have 4 starters who average double-figures ppg while those racists from Illinois have just 2.
JJ: Yes, my personal favorite is 3-point specialist Nigel Munson. He sounds like a cross between a butler and a one-handed bowler. But he shoots the trey like no ones business.
Salukis vs. Holy Cross
JJ: The Salukis defeat the Bill Simmons' with ease.
LH: The Salukis, an old indian word for "the girl who's hard to get", are too talented for any team from the Patriot league (sorry Liberty.) Holy Cross is small inside (You can add, "that's what she said") and SIU big man Randal Falker, 12.5 points and 7.5 boards, should dominate.
Duke vs. VCU
JJ: Our upset special. The number one reason VCU wins is because their SG is a 3-point specialist named B.A. Walker. Could that be short for Bad Ass Walker?!?!
LH: Has to be. VCU is a bit vulnerable down low, aren't we all? But with some deadly outside shooting, which they can provide, the Dukie's go down.
JJ: It may not be a rape, but a win is a win for VCU.
Pitt vs. Wright State
LH: 6'8" 220lb vs 7'0" 270lb -- That is the size mismatch at the center position, Jordan Pleiman of Wright State vs Aaron Gray of Pitt. Levance Fields and Antonio Graves should be good enough defensively to shut down DeShaun Wood, the Horizon League POY (I can't believe I know who the Horizon Leaugue POY is -- thank you March Madness.)
JJ: Pitt is too big and strong for Wrong State.
LH: It's Wright State
JJ: Right.
LH: No Wright.
JJ: 10 min. later...
Zags vs. Indiana
JJ: It is a slight upset and their lack of talent on the blocks could hurt them, but I don't think Indiana has the low post talent to exploite that weakness. The gaurd play of the Zags has me picking them.
LH: I agree. The loss of Heytvelt hurt the Zags chances of going deep in the tourney, but the strength of this team is it's gaurds and they match up well against the Hoosiers who run Kelvin Sampson's 3-gaurd attack. Strength vs strength. But Gonzaga is the team I would most like to party with so they get the edge in my book.
JJ: Did you know Bing Crosby enrolled at Gonzaga in the fall of 1920, intending to become a lawyer. He became a drummer, then a singer, before finally dropping out his senior year in favor of Hollywood. Gonzaga awarded him an honorary doctorate in 1937.
LH: Wow, Bing Crosby. Zag's have the karma factor going for them.
UCLA vs. Weber State
LH: The most storied franchise in the history of college basketball against, ... who?... I'm going with the Bruins.
JJ: Random note here about Weber. On the road against Sacramento State, before a 'crowd' of just 735, the Wildcats laid an egg, losing 105-83.
Heading back East now.
Tarheels vs. Eastern Kentucky
JJ: Quick philosophy here. Typically, if you have a direction other than North, South, East, or West, you aren't a very good program.
LH: Yes. The Heels should make quick work of the Colonels.
Marquette vs. Michigan State
LH: This a very close game, as 8 vs. 9 matchups tend to be, but 9 seeds actually have the edge 53-47%. Another matchup involving gaurd oriented teams, Michigan State has the best gaurd in Drew Neitzel who had an All-American season: 18.3 ppg, 4.1 apg and the best white-guy-ballhandler since Pistol Pete.
JJ: Yeah and I can't pick a team that boasts Dwayne Wade as an alumnus.
USC vs. Arkansas
JJ: I have to go with the Razorbacks because frankly, I'm not that impressed with USC. Also, this is a 5 vs. 12 matchup, where upsets seem to come with more frequency.
LH: USC beat Arkansas 50-14 earlier this year.
JJ: Yeah in football. Plus Charles Thomas is a less dominate version of Corliss Williamson circa college, which is still good.
Texas vs. New Mexico State
JJ: All I have to say is KEVIN DURANT!!
LH: REGGIE THEUS!!
JJ: KEVIN DURANT!!
LH: REGGIE THEUS!!
JJ: KEVIN DURANT!!
LH: KEVIN DURANT!!
JJ: REGGIE THEUS!!
LH: Got ya.
JJ: Whatever. Horns by at least 25. Texas Fight!!
Vandy vs. G-Dub
LH: In what should be a fast paced, high scoring game between two vetran teams, George Washington gets the nod because they can actually play defense. If the Commodores have their outside shots working they can beat anyone. (They beat Florida by 13.) But when it's not they can lose to anyone. (Furman beat them by 8.)
JJ: Yeah, plus they get bonus points for having alumnus Pops Mensah-Bonsu, D-Leauge All-Star game MVP!!
LH: G-Dub allowed just 32.6% of opposing shots to enter the hoop from beyond the arch while amassing 9.3 steals a game. That is why the Foggy Bottom Boys should win.
Washington State vs. Oral Roberts
JJ: So I have to take the Drew Bledsoe's over the traveling Baptist's. Also, Washington St. are the Cougars, and there is nothing more scary than a live Cougar. I just don't think Oral Roberts can handle the fear.
LH: Plus their coach is Tony Bennett, which is close enough to a musical instrument. A random note on this game: This is the highest seed for either team. Washington State has never been above an 8 seed and Oral Roberts, not to be confused with the Anal Johnson, has only ever been a 16 seed.
BC vs. Texas Tech (Toss up)
JJ: I'm picking Tech and Bobby Knight out of blind, unaudultrated love for all things Texas.
LH: I'm gonna take BC in this one. I think Jared Dudley will dominate which ever reality show TV star Coach puts on him. Dude lead ACC in rebounding and was #2 in scoring. Really good PG matchup with Tyrese Rice going against Jarrius Jackson, but Dudley is the diffrence maker. Plus, BC has a center named John Oates, and as a Ranger fan I can't go against that.
Georgetown vs. Belmont
LH: G'town agains the Bruins! Huge game!! Two classic programs batteling... Wait... it's not UCLA?
JJ: Nope it's Belmont man. This could get real ugly. G'town by like 30.
The final region. The south.
Ohio State vs. Central Conn State
JJ: I know it's picky but Ohio State's jersey's look like freakin junior high jersey's. So in the uni battle, Central Conn wins. That is about the only kind of win they are going to see.
LH: THE Ohio State will have this one wrapped up in time for Oden to get the early bird special at Luby's.
JJ: Yeah, he does look like a senior citizen. I want to se a birth certificate.
LH: I thought of something good to say for CCSU... The Association of American Colleges & Univesities selected CCSU as one of only 16 "Leadership Institutions" in the nation -- and the only one in Conneticut.
JJ: Wow, I might have to change my pick now.
BYU vs. Xavier
LH: I'm gonna go out on a limb and say any team that gives up 93 points to Duquense doesn't play enough D to win in March. Not only are the Musketeers a poor defensive team, they are matched up against a first round opponent with great offense, BYU.
JJ: Yeah BYU is an up-tempo, good shooting, unselfish team that starts 4 seniors.
LH: Give me the guys who can't have coffee.
JJ: Somewhere, Shawn Bradley is weeping.
Tennessee vs. Long Beach State
JJ: Tennessee wins for the fact that their coach is the best motivator of all time. And that includes Matt Foley, motivational speaker. Also, their being a 5 seed from the SEC doesn't hurt their chances.
LH: A team averaging nearly 80 ppg while only giving up 74 in the SEC is very different than a team doing it in the Big West. March Madness is all about the Mid-Majors, but the 49ers are going to be overmatched against a deep, athletic, aggressive Volunteer squad.
JJ: A random note: Long Beach State starts 5 seniors, the only such team in this year's tournament.
Virginia vs. Albany (Toss up)
LH: The Great Danes win outright in this one. Albany has the best player in the country that no one knows about, Jamar Wilson the 2x America East POY who will will Albany to victory. Along with their superstar, Albany hosts several role palyers who play hard and do all the things that win ball games. They finished 21-6 and matchup well with Virginia. You heard it hear first. Albany wins!!
JJ: I think you might be hitting the Kool-aid a little too much. The only thing they win is a mascot contest. Virginia rolls.
Louisville vs. Stanford
JJ: This is a no brainer. Louisville runs the Tree's out the gym.
LH: The Cardinal is strong inside, with the Lopez brothers manning the paint (Brook and Robin, think the parents thought they were getting girls?) Louisville won't get many second chance points, but that is because they shoot the rock well. (49% FG and 41% 3PT.) Louisville also nearly averaged 10 points more in scoring margin over Stanford. I have to go with the CardinalS over Cardinal.
Aggies vs. Penn
JJ: The Aggies won't be doing much quaking when Penn comes around. Led by Acie Law IV and a tenascious D (not the band), the Aggies will send Penn packing.
LH: All religous puns aside, I can't argue with this pick.
Nevada vs. Creighton
LH: Nevada has too big a size advantage in this one. Future disappointing lottery pick Nick Fazekas will be gaurded by a tree stump. Nevada is going to make some noise in this tourney.
JJ: Yeah Creighton is a very good 10 seed, but Nevada might be the best team people overlook.
LH: You've said that for like 14 teams.
Memphis vs. UNT
LH: This is actually a good matchup for the Mean Green, they're not facing a top-notch team with a dominate inside game. I think they can keep it closer than many expect, but in reality Memphis is too good. The Tigers don't have to win, but they more than probably will.
JJ: You have it all wrong. The actual talent level is a wash, so it comes down to coaching. And UNT coach Johnny Jones played in a Final Four with LSU and coached Shaq to one as well. Which is good, because that is exactally where the Mean Green Eagles of North Texas are heading.
LH:Such a homer.
JJ: Fine. I concede Memphis wins, but only in double OT. Satisfied.
Our next article will cover all the second round matchups.
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
Hope and Faith
With a tip of the cap to baseballprospectus.com here is my version of how the Texas Rangers can win the world series.
1) The AL West is a very winnable division.
You can't win the world series without making the playoffs, sounds simple. Once in the tournament anything can happen (see; Cardinals, St. Louis) The A's lost their best pitcher (Zito) and their new ace (Harden) is a major injury risk -- along with half of their team. Seattle doesn't have enough pitching or hitting. The Angels seem to be the biggest rivals for the Rangers. LA has major offensive holes in LF, 1B and DH and CF, SS, 3B are all borderline (and we don't know how the GMJ 'roids investigation will distract the team.) Vlad is really their only hitter they can count on. Their pitching, specifically starting pitching, is deep and talented, but I really don't see them making the playoffs if they only score 750 runs this year.
2) The Rangers are improved over last year.
Franky Cat and Lofton will soften the blow of losing GMJ and DeRo from last years team (not that those guys should be counted on for replicating their performances this year.) The biggest offensive improvements should come from Brad Wilkerson, Mark Teixeira, Ian Kinsler, and Hank "the Hawk" Blalock. Brad should be healthy and contribute the .260/.370/.480 season he had in Montreal (a HUGE improvement over the .222/.306/.422 season he posted last year in the Rangers uni.) Tex suffered through a freakish first half of the season when all of his home runs turned into doubles; post-all star break he was one of the best few hitters in the game. I fully expect Tex to have an MVP type season as the Rangers contend for a playoff spot all year long. Kinsler should improve on his rookie campaign, but even if he doesn't Texas will get solid production from the 2B slot. I believe that a large part of the season's success rests with Blalock. All Ranger fans know the troubles Hank had last year, no reason to bring up old wounds. The Hawk has spent tons of time this offseason with Wash and Rudy, fine tuning his game and getting back to the All-Star level that made him a fan favorite early in his career. We all know Hank is capable of being a productive middle of the order bat, and I believe that he will be that again this year. I'm a stat guy but scouting Blalock this offseason brings me more hope than his numbers. Blalock has gotten his balance back, he's gotten his confidence back, he's gotten his game back. A productive Hank (.275/.350/.500) would give protection to Tex as he knocks in Lofton, Cat, and MY. All this and I haven't even mentioned the possibilities for breakout from Nelson Cruz, Jason Botts, Gerald Laird, or Sammy.
The Rangers should be improved on the bump, too. Brandon McCarthy, Eric Gagne being added to the staff and full seasons from Robinson Tejeda, Rupe, Littleton, CJ Wilson, and Frank Fransico will make this staff the best the Rangers have ever had. The Rangers allowed 784 runs last year and a healthy Gagne and a McCarthy who can keep the ball down will decrease that amount by themselves enough to add a few games to the win colomn. (Side note: Millwood, Padilla, McCarthy, and Tejeda will all be under club control for another 4 years!!) If McCarthy has the type of breakout season many predict he will the Rangers will have a legit 1-2-3 punch in the playoffs, not to mention Aki and Gagne shutting down the 8th and 9th innings.
3) The Rangers deserve to get lucky one of these years.
The last two years Texas has fallen well short of its Pythagorean win projection. Every championship team has a few good bounces go their way during the course of the year. Squeaking out a few more one run wins this year could put Texas over the top in the division, and a healthy Gagne/Aki combo at the back of the pen should help the Rangers achieve that.
New manager Ron Washington has the whole club, as well as the entire fan base feeling like this could be the year. With a little hope and faith it will be.
1) The AL West is a very winnable division.
You can't win the world series without making the playoffs, sounds simple. Once in the tournament anything can happen (see; Cardinals, St. Louis) The A's lost their best pitcher (Zito) and their new ace (Harden) is a major injury risk -- along with half of their team. Seattle doesn't have enough pitching or hitting. The Angels seem to be the biggest rivals for the Rangers. LA has major offensive holes in LF, 1B and DH and CF, SS, 3B are all borderline (and we don't know how the GMJ 'roids investigation will distract the team.) Vlad is really their only hitter they can count on. Their pitching, specifically starting pitching, is deep and talented, but I really don't see them making the playoffs if they only score 750 runs this year.
2) The Rangers are improved over last year.
Franky Cat and Lofton will soften the blow of losing GMJ and DeRo from last years team (not that those guys should be counted on for replicating their performances this year.) The biggest offensive improvements should come from Brad Wilkerson, Mark Teixeira, Ian Kinsler, and Hank "the Hawk" Blalock. Brad should be healthy and contribute the .260/.370/.480 season he had in Montreal (a HUGE improvement over the .222/.306/.422 season he posted last year in the Rangers uni.) Tex suffered through a freakish first half of the season when all of his home runs turned into doubles; post-all star break he was one of the best few hitters in the game. I fully expect Tex to have an MVP type season as the Rangers contend for a playoff spot all year long. Kinsler should improve on his rookie campaign, but even if he doesn't Texas will get solid production from the 2B slot. I believe that a large part of the season's success rests with Blalock. All Ranger fans know the troubles Hank had last year, no reason to bring up old wounds. The Hawk has spent tons of time this offseason with Wash and Rudy, fine tuning his game and getting back to the All-Star level that made him a fan favorite early in his career. We all know Hank is capable of being a productive middle of the order bat, and I believe that he will be that again this year. I'm a stat guy but scouting Blalock this offseason brings me more hope than his numbers. Blalock has gotten his balance back, he's gotten his confidence back, he's gotten his game back. A productive Hank (.275/.350/.500) would give protection to Tex as he knocks in Lofton, Cat, and MY. All this and I haven't even mentioned the possibilities for breakout from Nelson Cruz, Jason Botts, Gerald Laird, or Sammy.
The Rangers should be improved on the bump, too. Brandon McCarthy, Eric Gagne being added to the staff and full seasons from Robinson Tejeda, Rupe, Littleton, CJ Wilson, and Frank Fransico will make this staff the best the Rangers have ever had. The Rangers allowed 784 runs last year and a healthy Gagne and a McCarthy who can keep the ball down will decrease that amount by themselves enough to add a few games to the win colomn. (Side note: Millwood, Padilla, McCarthy, and Tejeda will all be under club control for another 4 years!!) If McCarthy has the type of breakout season many predict he will the Rangers will have a legit 1-2-3 punch in the playoffs, not to mention Aki and Gagne shutting down the 8th and 9th innings.
3) The Rangers deserve to get lucky one of these years.
The last two years Texas has fallen well short of its Pythagorean win projection. Every championship team has a few good bounces go their way during the course of the year. Squeaking out a few more one run wins this year could put Texas over the top in the division, and a healthy Gagne/Aki combo at the back of the pen should help the Rangers achieve that.
New manager Ron Washington has the whole club, as well as the entire fan base feeling like this could be the year. With a little hope and faith it will be.
Tuesday, March 6, 2007
What We've Learned
We learned several things this weekend.
1) Jerry Jones reads this blog, but he only started to after Bly was traded to Denver.
2) Louisiana has a major problem with Chupacabra's.
3) You can make it rain in bars in New Orleans.
4) There is no breakfast in Lafayette. Anywhere. Period!
5) I still hate pledges.
6) No shirt, no shoes, no service does mean you can have no pants and still get a drink at a bar (it really happened)
7) My streak of being the best looking person in an IHOP is still intact.
Quotes from this weekend:
"Sir, would you please stop screaming and asking for burritos?"
"What? All I heard was 'skullfucking.'"
"I'm not, NOT asking for road head."
"We're going to have to ask you move away from the window."
1) Jerry Jones reads this blog, but he only started to after Bly was traded to Denver.
2) Louisiana has a major problem with Chupacabra's.
3) You can make it rain in bars in New Orleans.
4) There is no breakfast in Lafayette. Anywhere. Period!
5) I still hate pledges.
6) No shirt, no shoes, no service does mean you can have no pants and still get a drink at a bar (it really happened)
7) My streak of being the best looking person in an IHOP is still intact.
Quotes from this weekend:
"Sir, would you please stop screaming and asking for burritos?"
"What? All I heard was 'skullfucking.'"
"I'm not, NOT asking for road head."
"We're going to have to ask you move away from the window."
Thursday, March 1, 2007
Rangers Extend Young
Great day in Rangers' History! The franchise player will remain the franchise player and avoid Ryan Smyth treatment.
From Evan Grant, "The contract will keep Young, 30, with the Rangers through 2013. The club will pick up its $5 million option for 2008, then guarantee five years at $16 million per season. "
"Young also said that he is "100 percent" convinced that the Rangers will be a winning team soon, which was something he wanted to be sure of before he decided whether to re-sign."
Can't wait for the season to start!
Other notes:
The Bronco's agreed to trade for Dre Bly. Giving up Tatum Bell, George Foster and a pick. Really good value for the Lions. It would be like the Boys giving up MBIII and Columbo.
I'm off to New Orleans to check out the possibility of the NBA All-Star game being played their next year. If the city can handle me and my friends, all-star weekend will not be a problem.
More on the Young signing, Rangers upcoming season, Mavs greatness, Cows draft/free agency, sports nerds, and other musings when we return!
From Evan Grant, "The contract will keep Young, 30, with the Rangers through 2013. The club will pick up its $5 million option for 2008, then guarantee five years at $16 million per season. "
"Young also said that he is "100 percent" convinced that the Rangers will be a winning team soon, which was something he wanted to be sure of before he decided whether to re-sign."
Can't wait for the season to start!
Other notes:
The Bronco's agreed to trade for Dre Bly. Giving up Tatum Bell, George Foster and a pick. Really good value for the Lions. It would be like the Boys giving up MBIII and Columbo.
I'm off to New Orleans to check out the possibility of the NBA All-Star game being played their next year. If the city can handle me and my friends, all-star weekend will not be a problem.
More on the Young signing, Rangers upcoming season, Mavs greatness, Cows draft/free agency, sports nerds, and other musings when we return!
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