Yes Scheyer

Mike Krzyzewski has done it again. Once more Duke's evil genius has found the correct mathematical equation and grouping of talent to make it to another Final Four. From the way the announcers have been spinning it, you would have thought that Duke hasn't enjoyed tournament success since Kennedy, but the truth of the matter is that Krzyzewski has taken his team to the big dance a handful of times -- I'm entertaining a number like 16.

Baylor on the other hand, hasn't been to the Final Four since 1953. We're talking decades, back when people were just getting warmed up to the idea of the color television, a far cry from today's halftime Hooter's commercials.

Today's Elite 8 game was quite a battle however. Baylor did everything right up until the end, when Duke, led by a pesky John Scheyer, went on a mini run that gave the Blue Devils just enough momentum to dash any Bears hopes of making it to the Final Four.

Duke had no answer for Baylor's big men. More specifically, Ekpe Udoh and Quincy Acy, who combined for 30 points. Krzyzewski and an animated assistant coach Steve Wojciechowski, were shuffling big men in and out like Tiger Wood's uses up call girls. It was Duke's outside game, chiefly the work of Nolan Smith, who led all scorers with 29 points, that sealed the "W". Zoubek and the Plumlee boys experienced the wrath of the Baylor inside game, and were forced to kick the ball out to their guards.

Unfortunately for Bears fans, their team just wasn't able to pull it out.

Baylor loses a talented senior guard Tweety Carter this year, but the Bears will certainly be back. They gave every top seeded team they encountered a run for their money, and even brought a normally cool and collected Krzyzewski to his feet in angry rage during the first half. Kudos Baylor!

The Writing was on the Wall...

If you listened to the CBS announcers calling this afternoon's Elite 8 bout between Kentucky and West Virginia, you might be wondering when Jay Bilas plans to pop the question to Wildcat freshmen John Wall; alright, at least you would be confused as to who had actually won the game.

The sound of wedding bells might be a bit ridiculous, but it was a love fest from start to finish, as you could hear the agony in both Bilas and Dick Enberg's voices, as they watched Kentucky goon multiple three-point attempts, and brick free-throw after free-throw.

Every time West Virginia made a good play or took advantage of a Kentucky mistake, you received the impression from the announcers commentary that it was only through charity that the Mountaineers were beating the sports medias' darlings of the 2010 season. West Virginia's team may as well have been made up of nameless, faceless characters with the exception of maybe De'Sean Butler, as compared to the adoration given to the Wildcat's Demarcus Cousins and John Wall, who wanked and flailed their arms over every call that didn't go their way.

However, the love affair didn't begin in March, it gained steam over the course of the season when John Calipari made headlines when he left Memphis to take on the head coaching position at Kentucky. Promising young talent in both Cousins and Wall also lit up the blogosphere, positioning Kentucky as a worthy SEC opponent, something they've lacked in the past few seasons.

On the other hand, it didn't seem to dissuade the media too much when controversy erupted over John Wall's controversial comments criticized John Calipari's coaching earlier last year. You would think that the media would be disapproving of comments dished from a cocky freshmen to a seasoned coach, but still Vitale and the rest of the sports' aristocracy were intent on blowing this kid up, despite his bad attitude. Lucky for Wall and his squad, they were actually able to live up to most of the hype this season, as I watched them steam roll over most of the teams they faced, including the match ups during the tournament.

Today however, it was obvious that Bobby Huggin's team wasn't paying attention Bilas and Enberg''s gushing -- they were too busy smashing the Wildcats. The most satisfying feeling was at the end of the game when no amount of wanking or three pointers could save Kentucky from going home, and you saw Wall and Cousins, fouled out, watching their chances of final four action going up in flames from the bench in West Virginia's 73-66 victory.

I'm interested to see if Wall or Cousins will return next year, or take their chances on the NBA draft. If they decide the latter, Kentucky will look like a completely different team; a team that I doubt we will see making it to next year's Elite 8. Maybe by then at least the media will have found a new darling -- one from the East Coast most likely. In the meantime Bilas, get a room!

Mr. Belvedere...

Not that famous butler. This one hails from Indianapolis, is also a bit leaner and sans the British accent. This Butler also likes to wear hats, especially when they say "Final Four" on the brim. These caps will be worn all the way back to their home turf, where they expect to play the winner of tomorrow's game between Tennessee and Michigan State.

Kansas State seemed to come into today's game vs. Butler overly cocky and in my opinion, over-hyped. UConn transfer forward Curtis Kelly and Junior guard Jacob Pullen are big time players within their respective conference, but ever since last year's standout from Kansas State, Michael Beasley made headlines and entered the NBA after a stellar season with the Wildcats, analysts and various media responded with way too much cred, not to mention air time.

Of course, how can you argue with the swagger a team garners after they get to the Sweet Sixteen? They're good, we get it, but so is Butler, obviously more so than the Wildcats, but yet I can't recall seeing them broadcast even once on television. In fact, I never heard a national commentator make reference to Butler's talented squad. The likes of forward and scoring machine Gordon Hayward, or the crafty athleticism of forward Matt Howard shan't never be uttered on the same program as players such as John Wall or Sherron Collins -- I mean dude, they go to Butler.

Ultimately, Pullen's facial hair was the most impressive element that Kansas State brought to their Elite 8 performance. And if that's the case, get thee a razor, and some defense!

Butter Face

I remember the first time I heard one of my guy friends use the term "Butter face". I was later informed that it refers to a particularly unfortunate girl as having a "nice body, but-her-face". As a young woman, I found it completely derogatory at first. In the end however, cleverness won by a hair, or with regards to the match up between the Huskies and West Virginia game: a basket.

The first half of the sweet sixteen bout was ugly. Not ugly like your Aunt's hideous Christmas sweater, ugly like her sweater on steroids - think blinking lights and bedazzled reindeer. Quincy Pondexter incurred two offensive fouls within the first six minutes of the game, and left for the remainder of the half with a total of three, leaving UW without one of their top scorers for nearly five minutes. I am also suspicious of some evil genius watching the game; someone with a rift against the Huskies, who designed a joystick that kept any shot UW put up, completely out of range.

The biggest surprise other than Bobby Huggins not wearing a Guido track suit to match his slicked-back coiffure, was the Mountaineers Deniz Kilicli (aka the Balkan Balla'), who led West Virginia's team in scoring at the end of the half. About Kilicli - the freshmen didn't play much this season, but against UW, he seemed to shine. One more interesting fact on Kilicli - he bares a striking resemblance to Lurky, Rainbow Bright's cartoon nemesis (also one of my childhood favorite stuffed animals).

The second half wasn't much more glamorous than the first. Washington simply turned the ball over too many times. Isaiah Thomas didn't have even close to the game he had vs. Marquette. Matthew Bryan-Amaning was non-existent. About ten minutes in, they let West Virginia become heroes, and De'Sean Butler and cast sent the Huskies back home to contemplate their loss over a Starbuck's latte in Seattle.

Cornell on the Cobb

I can't predict what the rest of their tournament is going to look like, but Cornell is no joke -- these scholars aren't just interested in graduating suma cum laud, they want to win. Not only did they snag a "W" today, they creamed a talented Wisconsin team.

Led by Louis Dale who scored 26 points and Ryan Wittman who added 24, the Big Red ended the Ivy League Tournament drought that has lingered for the last 30 years.

Looks like Badger fans will be getting an early start in preparation for the upcoming Packer's season!

Cornell is set to play top seeded Kentucky next Thursday. I hope the Wildcats have done their homework, because Cornell's basketball GPA keeps getter better.

Sacre Bleu!

Today's game vs. top seeded Syracuse wasn't so sweet for Sacre and the Zags. Marc Few was "few-ming" as he saw his team lose by a mind boggling 22 points.

Maybe you can chock it up to seasonal depression, but no one from Gonzaga seemed to show up this afternoon. While they may have looked like a different team today, the reality is that they have so much talent - in fact they have fabulous players every season, from Casey Calvary to Adam Morrison to Dan Dickau.

The problem in my opinion is due to a lack of leadership. Sure Matt Bouldin is one of the country's most fundamentally sound players, but I swear the guy needs an adrenaline shot! The guy never changes expression. Additionally, it seemed like Steven Gray peaked earlier in the regular season, and hasn't had the drive that fans were able to count on like they did back in his less twisted coiffure days -- back when he had his "halfro" (a do somewhere in the middle between and afro and a short style).

Whatever the Zags problems are, they will definitely be back next season with an allstar cast, including Gray, freshmen center Kelly Olynyk, Robert Sacre and stunner Elias Harris. The Bulldogs will come back next year minus Matt Bouldin and his tall look-a-like Will Foster, but they are likely to be tournament contenders, and will undoubtedly have had the necessary time to come up with some new and exciting hair styles. One suggestion however, lay off the Lord of the Ring do's.

Meet Me at the Alamo

I came up with this title earlier this morning when I had predicted that two Texas teams would make it to the 2nd round. It turns out only one, Texas, who knocked off Wake Forest, will be cattle herding it up amongst their UTEP peers. Oh well, the title stays, not just because it's catchy, but because of my love for John Wayne.

Fast forward to 9pm and the list of winners has migrated to the right; that much closer to the middle of my bracket.

One note about my bracket, or should I say brackets. I have devised three different brackets to satisfy my own March Madness. The first, displays my heterotopian view of the teams that I want to win (fyi, some picks are about as likely to win as Elton John performing a singing tour for the troops), the second bracket determines who I think will most likely win, as far as RPI and talent are concerned, finally, the third follows the tournament in real time, where the blanks are filled in those who are actually moving on. I know, reality bites, like Winona Ryder said.

As far as accuracy is concerned, the only surprises today with regards to my predictions, were Old Dominion's upset over Notre Dame and Ohio's victory over the Hoyas. Murray State beat Vanderbilt, which probably shocked a few, but I don't have too much faith in the Ivy Leaguers -- remember they're not running for political office.

Before I catch up on my own Z's, I want to give a shout out to the teams I consider "Sleepers", starting with St. Mary's. The Gaels hail from the West Coast Conference, where the only team that makes headlines is Gonzaga. Sandham and the rest of his Aussie Posse (nice rhyme if I do say so myself), took it to Richmond with unmatched play in the interior from their Big Man, who combined for 29 points and 12 rebounds in the 80-71 victory.

Believe it or not, I think Utah St. also has "Sleeper" potential. I've come to this conclusion after doing extensive research, including the donning of a lab coat, the use of a beaker, as well as exploding gasses -- er, I went on the teams' website and caught their conference championship game. The Aggies were 14-2 leading in the tourney and beat BYU earlier during the season. Just keep an eye on them as they take on Texas A&M tomorrow, you might be shocked that Cache isn't just the valley their University is located at.

I won't delve into any more potential "upsetters" with the exception of the University of Washington. The beginning of their season showed a team stumbling like Bambi to find its legs post John Brockman's departure to the NBA last year. However with 7 of 7 in wins leading into the tournament, not to mention the Pac-10 title, they have much to be proud of, and should not be taken lightly by any opponent, particularly when you have stars like Quincy "Q-Pon" Pondexter and Isaiah Thomas who along with their teammates, accumulate the most points per game in all the Pac-10. I see them making a big Splash on Saturday vs. New Mexico.

For the most part, the games today were excruciatingly close, depending on who you were rooting for. Both Kansas' annihilated their opponents, but no big surprise there. In fact, most of the matches were relatively close. Look at Villanova's win over Robert Morris - the Wildcats barely clawed their way to a victory.

However, now that the day is over, I'm able to slip into my Snuggee, turn on Project Runway and prepare for tomorrow's slurry of match ups. If today was any reflection of how tomorrow or the rest of the tournament will go, I look forward to watching who ends up being the fairest of them all. One thing is for sure, however, I'm going to have to replace my deodorant with a prescription strength version; one more suited for the perspiration inducing excitement of March Madness! Maybe I should ask Dick Vitale what he would suggest? He usually looks pretty greasy.

Wallyworld

Wallyworld was once touted by Clark Griswald as his family's utopia in "National Lampoon's Vacation". Twenty years later, I concur -- only this time my Wallyworld refers to Wally Szczerbiak.

I've watched him go from college standout at the University of Miami of Ohio to NBA knockout.

Amongst the rest of his colleagues, Szczerbiak looks more fitted for a Daytime soap opera than he does on a basketball court. On the other hand, one only need look at laser beam like shooting to see that he's not just a pretty face.

Truth be told, I once interviewed one of Wally's former college friends for a job. I'm less than proud to admit that I took more of an interest in the potential employee's 7 degrees of Wallydom, than I did his qualifications. Turns out that the candidate attended a wedding soiree with Wally as well as being a locker room buddy, while he served as a player on University of Miami of Ohio's soccer team. I was hoping that maybe knowing him would bring me one step closer to Monsieur Szczerbiak.

In the end, I didn't hire the former pal. It may have spelled the end of a second hand Wally connection, but my adoration will continue, as if I was a thirteen year-old girl with his picture plastered on my bedroom wall like a Tigerbeat centerfold.

Separated at Birth -- I think I've found my new calling

Oregon State Coach Craig Robinson vs. his sister Michelle Obama -- SAME PERSON!!!

Florida's Alex Tyus vs. the Predator



Arizona Guard MoMo Jones vs. Carlton Banks

Separated at Birth: More Sightings

USC's Mark Gerrity vs. Mr. Peepers

NBA Commentator Jeff Van Gundy vs. actor Vincent Schiavelli



Baron Davis & Mateen Cleaves vs. Disney's Humphrey the Bear

WSU's Klay Thompson vs. Avatar Na'vi

Tournament Projections: East Coast Bias

Cal is predicted by Andy Glockner of Sport's Illustrated to go into the Big tourney as a No. 12 seed. Are you serious? Is the East Coast bias such that premier Cal players like Jerome Randle, Patrick Christopher, and Theo Roberson are not even going to see themselves in the top ten?

Look, while there is no denying the fact that the East Coast has fabulous programs, including tremendous teams like Duke, Syracuse, Kentucky, and Florida to name a few, but it is so obvious each time a new Coaches or AP poll comes out that the basketball reporting press suffers from a serious case of East Coast bias.

When ESPN set up shop in Seattle last week to broadcast the network's main prime-time matchup between the University of Washington Huskies and the UCLA Bruins, I almost blew a gasket to see Jay Bilas and Bobby Knight reporting in my own background -- in the same time zone no less. In fact it provoked an awkward, giddy feeling like the way you feel on a first date: anxious and excited, while simultaneously espousing strange body twitches and sweaty palms.

Think of the last time you saw Dick Vitale announce from another venue besides the ACC or SEC, or any East Coast "C" for that matter? I certainly can't. Maybe throw in a Texas vs. Oklahoma game for kicks, but in my experience I've never heard "Diaper Dandy" references to any West Coast players. It is my belief that the closest Vitale has been to the West Coast in recent years was most likely a Hollywood studio that he filmed his last Hooters commercial at.

In the wake of countless predictions that the Pac-10 will only receive one bid to the tournament, my question is: What's the beef ?

Certainly it has been an up and down season in the Conference, where the top five teams have traded in-conference rankings like musical chairs, but it doesn't signify a lack of talent, or that a top Pac-10 team can't beat a highly ranked East Coast opponent (think USC's win over Kentucky in January).

Maybe it has something to do with the convenience of the East's broadcasting schedule, particularly for those living on that side of the country. A blogger for instance, from Kansas, is going to be able to make a report that afternoon depending on which teams are scheduled. Whereas the WCC, or Pac-10 teams typically don't begin play until 7, he/she is going to be in bed by that time. As a result they garner less cred and often don't make it to deadline.

Ultimately, the combination of timing, the lack of viewership (with the exception of the handful of local West Coast sport's networks), and most of the dominating voices on television hailing from places like Duke, Notre Dame and Michigan (think Jay Bilas, Digger Phelps and Jalen Rose), talented teams on the West Coast are often snubbed and undervalued come ranking and tournament time.

Yuck!

Seperated at Birth?

From time to time I see players, coaches or other sports related figures that may resemble the likes of someone else. I ask you not to hate, but just to watch, and let me know if you think there are any others that may have looked as if they shared the same baby mama...

Matt Bouldin of Gonzaga vs. Frodo Baggins

UCLA's Michael Roll vs. Matt Damon

+
=
Skeletor Master of the Universe + Lance Armstrong = Gonzaga coach Mark Few


Okay, Maybe a longshot -- WSU coach Ken Bone vs. Bill Paxton



Christoper Walken, a lighter version of Lenny Wilkens? At least they sound similar.