Hey there guys,
Well yesterday was another Eh kind of day for me and my picks as I went 7-3 (6-4 ats) in the NBA as the Spurs up ended the Thunder in the OC despite Durantula's monster 45 point performance, Dwayne Wade (27 points 12 assists) helped lead the Miami Heat to a 2nd half comeback over the dismal New Jersey Nets, Jason Richardson's 34 points helped the high scoring Suns barely get by Monta Ellis (30 points) and the Warriors, and in what may very well be a playoff preview the Bucks BARELY got by the Hawks 98-95 as John Salmons dropped 32 points. Man what a grade trade that brought John Salmons to Milwaukee. Dark Horse contender anyone? Anyway in the NHL I went 2-1 as the Kings took out the Avalanche in overtime 4-3, the Senators shut out the Canadians in Montreal 2-0 as Goalie Brian Elliott racked up 29 saves, and the Red Wings took out Sid the Kid and the Penguins behind Henrik Zetterberg's 3 points (2 goals 1 assist) and Goalie Jimmy Howard's 26 saves. Well I have some thoughts on the NCAA Tournament today so I am going to talk about those, hey for once my I haven't given up on my bracket 2 days into the tournament ha ha, but there are also some solid games going on today, only 4 games total in the NBA but there is one, no playoff implications, but one that looks like a great game to watch, as Indiana heads over to Detroit for a battle in the City that Build RoboCop. There are some solid games in the NHL as well as Boston heads to Atlanta a point ahead of the Thrashers for the 8th spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs, that should be a great game, the struggling Flyers and Senators battle for seeding in Ottawa, Nashville tries to keep up their 6 game win streak as they take on the Stars at home, likewise San Jose tries to end their 6 game skid on the road at Minnesota, and then in what should be an amazing game to see the two teams tied for first in the Western Conference, the Coyotes and the Blackhawks, go head to head in Chicago. Man Hockey has some great games today. Should be fun. Hope you guys enjoy.
My Thoughts.....
-NCAA Tournament, Thoughts on the Tournament heading into the Sweet Sixteen
Let's be honest, whose bracket isn't shot by now? For the most part I am actually in the midst of my best bracket ever. Using the ESPN scoring system, through 2 rounds, I have 440 points, which means I am doing better than President Obama (430), LeBron James (390), Dick Vitale (340), Joe Lundardi (330), Bill Simmons (410), Matthew Berry (270), Mike Greenberg (370), Mike Golic (420), Colin Cowherd (400), Michelle Beadle (340), Scott Van Pelt (420), and Tony Realis (380). For those of you wondering why I listed off some random names, those ESPN's "Featured Brackets." Yet I am still #2 in my group. Sigh. Damn Logan. Anyway to actually be doing well with my bracket is a real surprise for me as I am really used to be rooting for the underdogs at this point of the bracket. I mean really this is getting kind of confusing. I really want #13 Murray State to upset #5 Butler but WAIT, I still need Butler to win. Ack. Hell I was rooting for #11 Washington against #3 New Mexico. I didn't want Washington to win that game. Hell I could be 10 points off the lead instead of 30 if New Mexico was actually worth a #3 seed. So right now the actual Bracket part of me NEEDS Ohio State to beat Tennessee, want Syracuse to beat Butler, Kansas State to beat Xavier, Duke to beat Purdue, St. Mary's to pull out another upset over Baylor, and West Virginia and Kentucky to end the upset runs of Washington and Cornell. But in the Fan in me wants to see UNI vs. Ohio State, Butler vs. Xavier, Cornell vs. Washington, and Purdue vs. St. Mary's. Hell I am rooting for St. Mary's to win it all now. And I CAN STILL WIN MY BRACKET. Man this is confusing.
Ok apart from my own bracket worries let's take a look at the Sweet Sixteen and see if we can make out what might happen. Starting with the West. I picked all 4 Sweet Sixteen teams in the this one and at first I thought that Kansas State would end up taking the Region, purely only because that would've meant another chance to face off against Rival Kansas. Now? I don't think there will be as much fire, yes a National Championship would be wonderful, but Kansas State has rolled through their first two opponents winning by 20 and 12. Now that Kansas is out I would not be surprised to see the Musketeers of Xavier give the Wildcats a helluva game. I won't go out as far as to say I think that Xavier will upset K State. But don't be surprised if you see this one go to overtime. Butler and Syracuse? I'll be honest at one point I thought Butler might be the surprise team and make the Elite Eight. Hell I even considered them as a Final Four team. They are pretty good. Problem though is that at times they have not played well against the better teams, like losses to UAB, Georgetown, Clemson, and Minnesota. But at the same time they have beaten Ohio State, Xavier, and then UTEP and Murray State so far in this tournament. It will be interesting to see how they handle themselves against Syracuse, who has yet to see a real challenge so far in this tournament winning handily by 23 and 22. I have to like Syracuse to come out of this bracket now. In the South I picked 3 of the teams that have made it this far in Duke, St. Mary's, and Baylor, and I did not foresee Purdue playing so well without Robbie Hummel. Maybe he is playing with them in spirit. Like Ghost but with basketball and less of the romance. That being said I think their run ends here as Duke, who has played fairly well so far will end their dream run, albeit in what I think will be a very close game. St. Mary's and Baylor. Hmmmm. Now way back when I posted my bracket I picked St. Mary's to not only upset Villanova but to do the same to the Bears of Baylor in the Sweet Sixteen. Although my confidence is still somewhat shaky, I still stand by that pick. Baylor has beaten #14 and #11 seeds by 9 and 8 points respectively. St. Mary's has beaten #7 and #2 seeds by 9 and 7 points respectively. St. Mary's has the right components to beat the Bears 2-3 zone as well. A big man and some solid shooters. And don't forget that St. Mary's lead Villanova and Richmond big during those games and held off rallies. I like St. Mary's to do the same. Duke wins the region though. Sorry Gaels. My East Bracket is not so pretty but I can still salvage it if I can get both my Elite Eight teams there. Kentucky vs. Cornell. Man how about these Cornell Bears huh? These guys have torched to stingy defenses for 78 and 87 points. Just how good are these guys? They are well coached, shoot the ball extremely well, play solid defense, and I would bet that nobody wants to win this thing more then these guys. Remember folks, Ivy League schools don't give out Athletic Scholarships. This is a group of Non Scholarship Nerds that not only beat two ranked teams, but took lit up two of the best defenses in the country. Which is why it saddens me that they are going to lose to Kentucky in this next round. What saddens me is that Kentucky won't win on effort or coaching but just by pure talent. Cornell has yet to face a John Wall or DeMarcus Cousins. They haven't seen a dynamic F like Patrick Patterson, or solid shooting, assist machine, in Eric Bledsoe. Kentucky will win this one. Sigh. As far as Washington and West Virginia? OOOO. This is THE game I can't wait to watch in the Sweet Sixteen. Washington hasn't just looked good but they have looked great. Once they found themselves in the 2nd half against Marquette they tore it up and it continued against New Mexico when they trounced them 82-64. West Virginia is better coached and more talented but don't be surprised to see this game go down to the wire. This is another case of me rooting for the underdog. Even though I need my team to win. In the Midwest I only have 1 Sweet Sixteen team left. Ohio State. And I have them in the Elite Eight. And they play a very dangerous Tennessee. A game which a certain someone (Jerrell Powe's Scooter) needs to lose so that I can comfortably coast into a top 2 finish. And I do think that Tennessee's run is going to end as well. Yes they have seen Kentucky but who on Kentucky resembles Evan Turner? An actual TEAM PLAYER. It is going to be interesting to see how this game plays out as the SEC normally smacks the crap out of the Big Ten. I CAN ROOT FOR THE UNDERDOG IN THE OTHER GAME, because I didn't think that either Northern Iowa nor Michigan State would have made it this far!! I mean I'm pretty sure that Michigan State will win the game but go UNI! Man what a tournament. Should be fun to watch when they resume action on Thursday. In the mean time I'm going to rest, relax, and pray for a Buckeye win. -throws up deuces-
My Picks.....
NBA
*Game of the Day*
PACERS by 1 @ pistons (-4) <----- UPSET
I am really surprised to see the Line where it is in this game considering that the Pacers are 3-0 this year against Detroit and looking for the a season sweep. The big key in this game has to be for Detroit to play some kind of 3-Point defense, as the Pacers have beaten the Pistons based off of some very good 3 point shooting 36%, 37%, and 55% in their 3 previous match ups. Brandon Rush, Troy Murphy, and Danny Granger are all shooting 44% or higher, with Rush shooting 67% against from beyond the arc against the Pistons so far this season. Detroit still needs to play an aggressive style defense as they have been forcing turnovers, forcing at least 16 turnovers in every on of their previous games with the Pacers. But they need to have some kind of safety, something to keep the Pacers from lighting them up from beyond the arc. Offensively the Pacers have shut down both Tayshaun Prince and Rip Hamilton holding them to 9.6 and 11.0 points average in their meetings so far. If they Pacers can do that again they will win. Again. That being said, with the season pretty much over for both teams, I do think the Pacers take the sweep of this series as the Pistons are on a 5 game skid and the Pacers have won their last 2.
The Rest:
BOBCATS (-6) by 7 @ wizards
NUGGETS (-5.5) by 9 @ knicks
clippers @ MAVERICKS (-9.5) by 14
NHL
blue jackets @ DEVILS
panthers @ MAPLE LEAFS
bruins @ THRASHERS <----- UPSET
You think that Thrasher fans don't know that they are a point out of the Playoffs? Watch this game tonight and tell me if they don't change your mind
flyers @ SENATORS
In the last game between these two the Senators played some cleaner Hockey (only 2 Penalty Kills) and won it fairly easy. I think they duplicate that success against a Flyer team that has lost it's last 2 and 5 of their last 6 on the road.
hurricanes @ LIGHTNING
stars @ PREDATORS
sharks @ WILD <----- UPSET
The Sharks have looked pretty bad in their current 6 game skid including a loss to woeful Edmonton 1-5 and Dallas 2-8. Despite their struggles the Wild are on a 1 game winning streak and defend their home very well.
coyotes @ BLACKHAWKS
ducks @ FLAMES
CANUCKS @ oilers
Alright guys, I am going to keep working on my MLB Previews, I am almost finished, and will post them Division by Division Starting with the American League soon, and my NFL Draft Position Rankings and first Mock Draft. Oh and tonight I am going to be rooting on my Ole Miss Rebels as they take on the Texas Tech Red Raiders in what amounts to the Elite Eight of the NIT. Woo! If you guys have any questions, comments, or ideas just let me know.
Thanks for Reading
Batteman
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