Big game last night, one of perhaps the most epic of all-time, now way to deny it no matter who you root for. SIX OVERTIMES...utter insanity
In honor of the win, The Daily Orange, Syracuse's school paper, went to town with their coverage from MSG, featuring not one, not two, not three, but FOUR articles related to the game, falling only two short of one for every overtime. I guess with so much to talk about, it makes sense.
The Daily Campus, having spring break as an excuse, were lighter and obviously more somber in their coverage. Here is the take on the game from Storrs.
Sorry we've gotten off the blogging path as of recently, mid-terms, spring break and constantly watching basketball all are to blame. In the next few days leading up to selection we'll be breaking down the BCS conference tournament finals as well as a few others from Saturday. Also we'll be doing small breakdowns of the teams who clinched their automatic bids already, looking for the proverbial "this years George Mason/Davidson/Kent State/Gonzaga" as will everyone else. I'll also be posting my final bracket predictions sometime on Sunday as I've been doing some bracketology stuff when I clearly should have been listening to my philosophy teacher enlighten the class to to Nietzsche's thoughts on morality....nah, breaking down South Carolina's chances on the bubble is much more interesting and educational (in serious jepordy, in case you were wondering, after losing to Mississippi State).
Well, get ready for the tournament, enjoy our coverage and laugh in our faces when pur predictions go horribly wrong.
March 13, 2009
March 6, 2009
First Bid In!
Congrats to...the Cornell Big Red!
A 25 point beatdown of Penn behind 25 from leading scorer Ryan Wittman (who shot 6-10 from deep) coupled with Columbia's win over Princeton clinched the Big Red the first automatic bid of the year. They also made the dance last year as a #14 seed but were unable to handle Stanford's Lopez twins it what had to be one of the most intelligent first round matchups in recent history.
Joe Lunardi has them as a 15 at the moment as does Bracketology 101 but depending on how the confernce tournaments play out and at larges fall I could see them moving up to a 14 or 13.
A 25 point beatdown of Penn behind 25 from leading scorer Ryan Wittman (who shot 6-10 from deep) coupled with Columbia's win over Princeton clinched the Big Red the first automatic bid of the year. They also made the dance last year as a #14 seed but were unable to handle Stanford's Lopez twins it what had to be one of the most intelligent first round matchups in recent history.
Joe Lunardi has them as a 15 at the moment as does Bracketology 101 but depending on how the confernce tournaments play out and at larges fall I could see them moving up to a 14 or 13.
And the Smart Shall Inherit a Bid
With the power conference tournaments still nearly a week away, the little guys have begun fighting for their tickets to the dance. In the monumental moment that marks the begin of bracket season, the first bid could potentially be locked up TONIGHT. In the enigma that is the Ivy league with its lack of tournament, four teams can technically still lay claim to the leagues automatic birth, but realistically it comes down to two, this years powerhouse Cornell and Princeton, the inventor of so many low majors saving grace, the Princeton offense.
Cornell is the lone team in the league with an above .500 overall record and they stand on the cusp of 20 wins if they can beat Penn tonight. Princeton is one of two other teams who sit right on the .500 mark (the other is...*cough* Harvard *cough*) and sit only a game back of the Big Red with an extra game to play in addition to the usual weekend two game set.
Bid can be locked up only with their win over Penn and a Princeton loss at Columbia tonight. As long as both teams produce the same result, or even if Cornell falls, tomorrow should be interesting as it would set up a matchup between Cornell and Princeton in Ithaca, NY. Princeton won the first meeting so a win on Saturday would turn their unusual Tuesday contest with Penn into a win and your in, lose and your out game for the Tigers, barring Cornell losing both home games this weekend.
To make things REALLY interesting, Yale could also sneak in with two wins, two Cornell losses and a 1-2 stretch run from Princeton. This is by far the most interesting Ivy league race in years. I'll preview the game tomorrow as I would a conference championship game if it turns out to have all its importance. As of right now my prediction for the Ivy league champs is the team I got to cover twice as a guest writer for the Daily Sun when they came to visit Chestnut Hill for the NIT Tipoff and was fairly impressed with, the Cornell Big Red.
Cornell is the lone team in the league with an above .500 overall record and they stand on the cusp of 20 wins if they can beat Penn tonight. Princeton is one of two other teams who sit right on the .500 mark (the other is...*cough* Harvard *cough*) and sit only a game back of the Big Red with an extra game to play in addition to the usual weekend two game set.
Bid can be locked up only with their win over Penn and a Princeton loss at Columbia tonight. As long as both teams produce the same result, or even if Cornell falls, tomorrow should be interesting as it would set up a matchup between Cornell and Princeton in Ithaca, NY. Princeton won the first meeting so a win on Saturday would turn their unusual Tuesday contest with Penn into a win and your in, lose and your out game for the Tigers, barring Cornell losing both home games this weekend.
To make things REALLY interesting, Yale could also sneak in with two wins, two Cornell losses and a 1-2 stretch run from Princeton. This is by far the most interesting Ivy league race in years. I'll preview the game tomorrow as I would a conference championship game if it turns out to have all its importance. As of right now my prediction for the Ivy league champs is the team I got to cover twice as a guest writer for the Daily Sun when they came to visit Chestnut Hill for the NIT Tipoff and was fairly impressed with, the Cornell Big Red.
March 4, 2009
Super Tuesday Wrap-Up
Last night provided a chance for many bubble teams to prove there worth and shine in the eyes of the selection committee. Some teams rose to the occasion, while others faltered. The run down:
Big East
Syracuse 70, Rutgers 40: The Orange were in excellent shape to begin with, and a 30 point win at the Carrier Dome solidifies the Orange's resume. If Syracuse did not have a recent history of getting screwed by the selection committee this game would not even be mentioned here. They are a lock for the post-season.
St. John's 59, Georgetown 56: This game killed the Hoyas' chances at an at large bid, they have to win the Big East tournament to get to the dance. Bigger question: Did anyone envision St. John's and Georgetown tied in conference play this late in the season? No didn't think so.
South Florida 70, Cincinnati 59: This game was a shocker. Cincinnati's resume would have looked much better with a 9-8 conference record, and a road win. Instead the Bearcats got outplayed by a South Florida team that came in with three conference wins. Cincinnati now faces major pressure and must make a splash in the Big East tournament in order to get an at-large bid.
ACC
Wake Forest 65, Maryland 63: An absolute heart breaker for the Terps, who now fall to 7-8 in the conference. A win would have meant another shocker at home and another quality win to chalk up. Maryland isn't dead, but they still have major work to do.
Big 12
Oklahoma St. 77, Kansas State 71: Two teams that have strong resumes played a strong game in Stillwater. This game would have been a great win for the Wildcats, but they still have a strong resume with 20 wins and a good conference record. The game was a must win for the Cowboys who notched every one's magic number of wins (20) while beating a quality opponent at home. Both teams are in favorable position to earn an at large bid.
Big 10
Ohio State 60, Iowa 58: The Buckeyes needed this win. A loss to Iowa would have been a disaster, especially since the Hawkeyes have collapsed in conference play. A blowout would have looked great, but a road win in the Big 10 is still a good win. The Buckeyes need to avenge a crucial defeat by beating a game Northwestern team at home to straighten their resume.
MWC
New Mexico 77, Utah 71: The Lobos won at home, getting win #20 and providing a strong case. The Utes hung tough and are still an at large candidate. Strong showings in the conference tourney would probably lead to both these teams getting in.
SEC
Auburn 77, Alabama 73: Honestly if you read an earlier post, you understand my feelings for the SEC. However, despite not having to deal with Ronald Steele, Auburn beat their archrivals on the road in a game that would have been tough no matter who was playing. Twenty wins and a 9-6 conference record would get you in any other year in the SEC, but with the state of the conference this year, Auburn's work is far from done.
Big East
Syracuse 70, Rutgers 40: The Orange were in excellent shape to begin with, and a 30 point win at the Carrier Dome solidifies the Orange's resume. If Syracuse did not have a recent history of getting screwed by the selection committee this game would not even be mentioned here. They are a lock for the post-season.
St. John's 59, Georgetown 56: This game killed the Hoyas' chances at an at large bid, they have to win the Big East tournament to get to the dance. Bigger question: Did anyone envision St. John's and Georgetown tied in conference play this late in the season? No didn't think so.
South Florida 70, Cincinnati 59: This game was a shocker. Cincinnati's resume would have looked much better with a 9-8 conference record, and a road win. Instead the Bearcats got outplayed by a South Florida team that came in with three conference wins. Cincinnati now faces major pressure and must make a splash in the Big East tournament in order to get an at-large bid.
ACC
Wake Forest 65, Maryland 63: An absolute heart breaker for the Terps, who now fall to 7-8 in the conference. A win would have meant another shocker at home and another quality win to chalk up. Maryland isn't dead, but they still have major work to do.
Big 12
Oklahoma St. 77, Kansas State 71: Two teams that have strong resumes played a strong game in Stillwater. This game would have been a great win for the Wildcats, but they still have a strong resume with 20 wins and a good conference record. The game was a must win for the Cowboys who notched every one's magic number of wins (20) while beating a quality opponent at home. Both teams are in favorable position to earn an at large bid.
Big 10
Ohio State 60, Iowa 58: The Buckeyes needed this win. A loss to Iowa would have been a disaster, especially since the Hawkeyes have collapsed in conference play. A blowout would have looked great, but a road win in the Big 10 is still a good win. The Buckeyes need to avenge a crucial defeat by beating a game Northwestern team at home to straighten their resume.
MWC
New Mexico 77, Utah 71: The Lobos won at home, getting win #20 and providing a strong case. The Utes hung tough and are still an at large candidate. Strong showings in the conference tourney would probably lead to both these teams getting in.
SEC
Auburn 77, Alabama 73: Honestly if you read an earlier post, you understand my feelings for the SEC. However, despite not having to deal with Ronald Steele, Auburn beat their archrivals on the road in a game that would have been tough no matter who was playing. Twenty wins and a 9-6 conference record would get you in any other year in the SEC, but with the state of the conference this year, Auburn's work is far from done.
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