Monday, March 12, 2007
The NCAAs...first impressions
Some random comments on the Tournament:
Columbus Ohio is the place to be on Friday as 13th-seeded Holy Cross takes on 4th seeded Southern Illinois. Holy Cross would then face the winner of the earlier Virginia Tech-Illinois matchup two days later on Sunday. (Yes, so would SIU if they inexplicably beat the Cross). This is pretty much all I’ll be thinking about the next few days. Holy Cross To Face Southern Illinois In NCAA First Round :: Crusaders earn No. 13 seed in NCAA West Region.
What They Claim: “"Every year when we look at selecting teams, we start with a clean slate," [Committee Chairman]Walters said. "Once conference play is over, every team becomes an independent to us. Our job is to compare and contrast every team regardless of conference affiliation.” What Have You Done Lately?
What They Do: Duke as a #6 seed. A team from U State with the exact same resume as this year’s Duke team doesn’t even sniff a #6 seed and would be lucky to have a #9. Mark It – Duke loses first round to VCU.
Or look at Air Force – take their season, assign it to Duke and they’re comfortably in.
Missouri State – out. Arkansas – in. Clearly, it’s all about the conference despite what that Nike-shilling, empty (work-out) suit Walters claims about a “clean slate”...and obviously it’s still all about being Duke.
Famous Basketball Grads: Holy Cross – Bob Cousy; Southern Illinois – Walt Frazier.
Least Deserving Team to get In: Georgia Tech…especially as compared to Drexel. 7 teams from the ACC are too much.
If you’re not Duke, your RPI is irrelevant. 4 teams with RPI’s of less than 40 didn’t get in. Any guesses how many were from the so-called power conferences?
No Tears for Syracuse. All that wailing and gnashing of teeth and they are only a #2 seed in the NIT. 6 teams from the Big East are more than enough.
Niagara Got Screwed – finished winning 11 straight including one of the most entertaining games of the year – their conference final against Siena a week ago. Their reward is a Play-In Game just to make the Field of 64. It’s been said before – Automatic Bid winners should be exempt from these games.
Bucknell got screwed – as co-champs of the Patriot League, they should have at least gotten an NIT bid.
Boston College is a lucky 7th seed although I'm sure Al Skinner is somewhere whining about that. A few more weeks in the season and they are not even a consideration (unless, of course, you're putting together a police lineup). They lose first round to Bob Knight’s Texas Tech.
I can leave at noon on Friday and still get to Columbus comfortably before Friday’s 9:40 tip-off.
Go Cross!!!
Columbus Ohio is the place to be on Friday as 13th-seeded Holy Cross takes on 4th seeded Southern Illinois. Holy Cross would then face the winner of the earlier Virginia Tech-Illinois matchup two days later on Sunday. (Yes, so would SIU if they inexplicably beat the Cross). This is pretty much all I’ll be thinking about the next few days. Holy Cross To Face Southern Illinois In NCAA First Round :: Crusaders earn No. 13 seed in NCAA West Region.
What They Claim: “"Every year when we look at selecting teams, we start with a clean slate," [Committee Chairman]Walters said. "Once conference play is over, every team becomes an independent to us. Our job is to compare and contrast every team regardless of conference affiliation.” What Have You Done Lately?
What They Do: Duke as a #6 seed. A team from U State with the exact same resume as this year’s Duke team doesn’t even sniff a #6 seed and would be lucky to have a #9. Mark It – Duke loses first round to VCU.
Or look at Air Force – take their season, assign it to Duke and they’re comfortably in.
Missouri State – out. Arkansas – in. Clearly, it’s all about the conference despite what that Nike-shilling, empty (work-out) suit Walters claims about a “clean slate”...and obviously it’s still all about being Duke.
Famous Basketball Grads: Holy Cross – Bob Cousy; Southern Illinois – Walt Frazier.
Least Deserving Team to get In: Georgia Tech…especially as compared to Drexel. 7 teams from the ACC are too much.
If you’re not Duke, your RPI is irrelevant. 4 teams with RPI’s of less than 40 didn’t get in. Any guesses how many were from the so-called power conferences?
No Tears for Syracuse. All that wailing and gnashing of teeth and they are only a #2 seed in the NIT. 6 teams from the Big East are more than enough.
Niagara Got Screwed – finished winning 11 straight including one of the most entertaining games of the year – their conference final against Siena a week ago. Their reward is a Play-In Game just to make the Field of 64. It’s been said before – Automatic Bid winners should be exempt from these games.
Bucknell got screwed – as co-champs of the Patriot League, they should have at least gotten an NIT bid.
Boston College is a lucky 7th seed although I'm sure Al Skinner is somewhere whining about that. A few more weeks in the season and they are not even a consideration (unless, of course, you're putting together a police lineup). They lose first round to Bob Knight’s Texas Tech.
I can leave at noon on Friday and still get to Columbus comfortably before Friday’s 9:40 tip-off.
Go Cross!!!
Friday, March 09, 2007
BEAT BUCKNELL!!!!
Sometimes we can get all wrapped up in our petty political differences and lose sight of the truly important happenings in our lives:
Crusaders To Take On Bucknell In League Championship Game :: Holy Cross will earn a bid to the NCAA Tournament with a victory.
I cannot adequately describe how jacked-up I am for this game…or how much of a distraction the anticipation of it has been. We've lost the last two years to Bucknell in this championship game so that’s a string that’s gotta end.
If you’re in the Capitol Hill area around 4:30 this afternoon, stop by the Hawk 'n' Dove, let me buy you a beer and enjoy watching the game with my fellow Crusader fans.
To get a flavor of the game, read some comments from a Holy Cross Sports Board: CROSSPORTS
Crusaders To Take On Bucknell In League Championship Game :: Holy Cross will earn a bid to the NCAA Tournament with a victory.
I cannot adequately describe how jacked-up I am for this game…or how much of a distraction the anticipation of it has been. We've lost the last two years to Bucknell in this championship game so that’s a string that’s gotta end.
If you’re in the Capitol Hill area around 4:30 this afternoon, stop by the Hawk 'n' Dove, let me buy you a beer and enjoy watching the game with my fellow Crusader fans.
To get a flavor of the game, read some comments from a Holy Cross Sports Board: CROSSPORTS
Thursday, March 08, 2007
Holy Cross: 56 - AU: 48
Congratulations to the Holy Cross women's basketball team for once again earning a spot in the tournament.
ESPN.com - NCW - Hays: We're No. 64!
Eagles Get Close, But Lose in Final - washingtonpost.com
Neither the men’s nor women’s basketball team from American University has ever been to the NCAA D1 tournament. This season Holy Cross made sure that streak stayed alive…I like that.
ESPN.com - NCW - Hays: We're No. 64!
Eagles Get Close, But Lose in Final - washingtonpost.com
Neither the men’s nor women’s basketball team from American University has ever been to the NCAA D1 tournament. This season Holy Cross made sure that streak stayed alive…I like that.
Monday, March 05, 2007
Justice Thomas rules!!
During my first semester at law school, I meandered down to DC for a Holy Cross alumni reception. Standing right next to me and checking in while I was doing the same was Justice Clarence Thomas. A few hours later, as the last stragglers at the reception are receiving hints that it might be time to leave, Justice Thomas is still there talking with anyone and everyone.
“There was a wonderful fraternity—The Cross. When you were a crusader, you looked after each other—no matter where you were. That doesn't mean they would always be in a position to do you a favor. But they were there, just as a friend. I've never been turned away by a graduate of The Cross.” Online Extra: Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas Speaks
Followed by this wonderful quote:
“How did you find your experience at Yale?
"Let me put it this way: It wasn't the kind of environment Holy Cross was and I would not have done well there. I don't fit in there. It wasn't about them. I just didn't fit. I don't fit in an orchestra. I don't care how great the orchestra is. It's nothing against Yale. I'm extraordinarily pleased that through serendipity or, I like to think, almost divine providence, I wound up at Holy Cross.”
I feel the same way about the Cross. I love Justice Scalia but, for obvious reasons, Justice Thomas is my main man!!
“There was a wonderful fraternity—The Cross. When you were a crusader, you looked after each other—no matter where you were. That doesn't mean they would always be in a position to do you a favor. But they were there, just as a friend. I've never been turned away by a graduate of The Cross.” Online Extra: Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas Speaks
Followed by this wonderful quote:
“How did you find your experience at Yale?
"Let me put it this way: It wasn't the kind of environment Holy Cross was and I would not have done well there. I don't fit in there. It wasn't about them. I just didn't fit. I don't fit in an orchestra. I don't care how great the orchestra is. It's nothing against Yale. I'm extraordinarily pleased that through serendipity or, I like to think, almost divine providence, I wound up at Holy Cross.”
I feel the same way about the Cross. I love Justice Scalia but, for obvious reasons, Justice Thomas is my main man!!
