NCAA Basketball FanHouse

NCAA Eliminates Useless Component From Tournament Selection

Chas Rich — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 22:35:00 EST

Filed under: March Madness, Media Watch, NCAA Tournament

Among the many criteria the NCAA tournament selection committee uses to select and seed the 65 teams for the NCAA tournament, the most statistically irrelevant is the "last 12 games" criteria. The NCAA has finally seen the light and eliminated the last 12 games from the toolbox.

There are many reasons for the stat's uselessness. There is little statistical correlation to how a team finished their season, and that team's performance in the NCAA tournament. It is generally misleading, especially in the power conferences where TV scheduling emphasizes that the projected top teams play each other later in the season while the teams expected in the lower half face each other.

It unfairly discounts what happened in the early part of the schedule. Something that can be very unfair to the mid-major teams that play and win games against good teams. It also sends a mixed message on the importance of the non-conference schedule when the final twelve games emphasized are almost always conference games. Something the Committee seemed to recognize when it decided to eliminate it.

"As the committee continues to hone its message regarding how it views the season, parsing a particular segment of games and implying it had greater weight than others seemed misleading and inconsistent," said committee chair and Southeastern Conference Commissioner Mike Slive. "The removal of this reference avoids confusion in the room and brings our reporting in line with our process."

Examining a team's last 12 games was a resource put in place for committee members to gauge how strongly a team finished its season. It was never intended that the last portion of a team's season should carry more weight than other portions of the schedule.

Now if they would only do something about that play-in game ...

NCAA Eliminates Useless Component From Tournament Selection originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 22:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Useless Talk of Taxing College Sports

Chas Rich — Thu, 21 May 2009 10:44:00 EST

Filed under: ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, Pac-10, SEC, March Madness, Campus, Fans, Media Watch

A great advantage for big-time college athletics is that they are tax-exempt. From the NCAA to the athletic departments at Texas and Ohio State, they can reap the revenue and not pay taxes because they are part of educational systems.

With the country in a recession, the national deficits rising and tax revenue declining, the U.S. Government has to find other revenue streams. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO), in a report, suggested looking into the commercial activities of collegiate athletic departments.

Senator Chuck Grassely (R-Iowa), who initially called for the CBO to investigate, at the very least would like to get some more transparency from the athletic departments around the country.

"The fact that congressional analysts had to rely on information collected by a major newspaper for source data highlights how little information is available about how these programs work. Given all the tax benefits involved, tight state budgets, and rising tuition despite the recession, it's pretty clear that Congress needs to engage and policymakers need to know more in order to act as responsible stewards of the tax policy that drives this fundraising and commercial activity. This report shows colleges receive tax benefits that aren't available to private businesses that engage in the same commercial activities. Colleges should explain how they use their commercial revenue to get the biggest bang for the buck in fulfillment of their educational mission."

The CBO used a database compiled by the Indianapolis Star in its report.

This will ultimately come to nothing. Congress will not, in any way, change the tax exempt status of colleges and their athletic departments. There will be, at best, a public hearing where Senators and/or Representatives can sanctimoniously berate some college presidents and athletic directors.

The college presidents and athletic directors will feebly counter with claims of how the athletic departments and programs support non-revenue sports, give back to the universities, and how athletic activities further the character and development of students. Nothing will come out of it, though, after a few brief moments in the news cycle.

Why? Because there is no way fans and alumni -- specifically voters in each state -- would be willing to see anything hurt their own school's athletic programs.

Do you think a member of Congress from Alabama, Florida or Texas would support legislation that would remove the tax-exempt status of corporate sponsorships, royalties and other revenue streams for the football programs? What are the odds of support to tax that revenue from an Ohio or Michigan Congressman? Do you think an Indiana or Kentucky Congressman would do anything that could be perceived as hurting the basketball programs in their states?

Royalties from licensing, corporate sponsorship programs and the like are huge income producers for programs like the Crimson Tide, Gators, Seminoles, Longhorns, Buckeyes, Wolverines and many other programs.

Fans of major programs are savvy enough to know that the money advantages translates into being able to have higher budgets for paying coaches, facilities and recruiting. They are not going to support losing that advantage. The BCS conference schools are in 35 states. There is simply no way that there would be political support in Congress for minimal tax revenue gains.

Useless Talk of Taxing College Sports originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Thu, 21 May 2009 10:44:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Year of the Spartan Still to Come

Matt Snyder — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 20:30:00 EST

Filed under: Michigan State, Big Ten, March Madness

The Michigan State Spartans concluded a very successful season just over a week ago. They rode a two-seed past the defending champions, the top overall seed, and a supremely talented Connecticut squad before falling to the obvious best team in the nation, the NCAA champion Tar Heels.

After a brief rest, the Spartans will eventually get back to work in East Lansing, and it won't be a rebuilding project. It will be a reloading one. They did lose Goran Suton, Travis Walton and Marquise Gray to graduation, but there's plenty left for Tom Izzo to make another Final Four run -- one that would be his sixth in the past 12 years.

A stellar cast returns to the Spartans, along with two highly-rated recruits.

- Kalin Lucas, the reigning Big Ten player of the year, grew by leaps and bounds as an on-floor leader during this past season. He showed flashes of being one of the top point guards in the country during the tourney run, including the ability to lead the Spartans to a victory by assuming any offensive role. He can let others take the shots while he plays distributor, or take the initiative and score himself. With Walton's departure, Lucas will be needed more on the defensive end next season, but he has the ability and tenacity to at least partially fill Walton's shoes.

- The silver lining of Raymar Morgan's health-ravaged season is two-fold. First of all, many more players were able to develop while he was either absent or struggling. Secondly, if he continued to flourish as he had his freshman and sophomore seasons, he was headed to the NBA. Instead, he pretty much has to stay, and he'll be hungry for a huge senior year. He showed in the Final Four against UConn -- where he had 18 points, 9 rebounds and 5 steals -- that he still has crazy talent, and that was with a protective mask over his broken nose.

- Durrell Summers has shown flashes of being a spectacular player, and it wasn't just the defining dunk of the Final Four, either. He scored over 20 points three times and in double-digits 16 times during the course of his sophomore campaign. And his defense will only continue to improve.

- Delvon Roe grew into a really solid rebounding and defensive presence during his freshman season, and with the departure of Suton, his offense will blossom as well.

- Chris Allen, Korie Lucious, Draymond Green have all shown the capability to play more than a few meaningful minutes in pressure situations.

Latest College Basketball Images

In this photo taken Jan. 8, 2009, Xavier coach Sean Miller, left, and assistant Chris Mack, right, watch an NCAA basketball game in Cincinnati,. Mack is to be introduced at a news conference Wednesday, April 16, 2009 in Cincinnati. Xavier has promoted assistant Chris Mack to succeed Sean Miller as basketball coach. Miller left Xavier to take the head coaching position at Arizona. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)

South Carolina's tailback Jarvis Giles picks up yardage during the annual garnet and black spring game at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina. (Kim Kim Foster-Tobin/The State/MCT)

MCT

This photo, supplied by the Michigan Governor's Office, shows Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm paying off her NCAA basketball tournament debt in a photo released Friday, April 10, 2009. Granholm poses in a Tar Heel jersey and hat to settle her wager with North Carolina Gov. Beverly Perdue on the tournament's championship game. North Carolina toppled Michigan State 89-72 on Monday.(AP Photo/courtesy of Nicole Haley)

UCLA basketball coach Ben Howland, left, speaks at a news conference in Los Angeles on Thursday, April 9, 2009, where freshman guard Jrue Holiday, center, with his father Shawn Holiday, right, announces he will make himself available for the NBA basketball draft, but will not hire an agent so as to maintain his NCAA eligibility. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)

With head coach Ben Howland in the background, UCLA freshman guard Jrue Holiday announces he will make himself available for the NBA basketball draft, but will not hire an agent so as to maintain his NCAA eligibility, at a news conference in Los Angeles on Thursday, April 9, 2009. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)

UCLA freshman guard Jrue Holiday announces he will make himself available for the NBA basketball draft, but will not hire an agent so as to maintain his NCAA eligibility, at a news conference in Los Angeles on Thursday, April 9, 2009. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)

Pittsburgh's Shavonte Zellous, right, holds up a Detroit Shock jersey as she poses with WNBA president Donna Orender after Zellous was chosen as the 11th overall pick iick in the WNBA basketball draft Thursday, April 9, 2009 in Secaucus, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

Connecticut head women's basketball coach Geno Auriemma, left, and player Renee Montgmery listen to the applause of the crowd at Gampel Pavilion at Storrs, Conn., Wednesday, April 8, 2009 during a homecoming celebration for the team. Montgomery holds the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball trophy. Connecticut beat Louisville 76-54 in an NCAA college basketball game on Tuesday in St. Louis to win the title for the first time since 2004. (AP Photo/Bob Child)

Connecticut's Maya Moore high fives the fans at Gampel Pavilion at Storrs, Conn., Wednesday, April 8, 2009 at the end of a homecoming celebration for the UConn women's basketball team. Connecticut beat Louisville 76-54 in an NCAA college basketball game on Tuesday in St. Louis to win the title for the first time since 2004. (AP Photo/Bob Child)

- Of the players mentioned above, only Roe is really at home in the post. That's okay, though, because the Spartans have two highly rated centers coming in as recruits who bring different elements to the team. Derrick Nix (6-foot-9, 285 pounds from Pershing, Mich.) brings power and bulk to the post and Garrick Sherman (6'10" 225 from Kenton, Ohio) brings a lanky shot-blocking presence who can shoot from both the inside and out. The two, along with Roe, give Izzo a variety of post options. Seven-footer Tom Herzog also adds depth -- he'll be a junior in 2009-2010.

The talent is there, the pedigree is there, and now they have Final Four experience. It's entirely possible that 2010 will be the year of the Spartan, adding yet another entry to the already impressive Izzo resume.

Year of the Spartan Still to Come originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Tue, 14 Apr 2009 20:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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For Blue Devils, a Loss in Name Only

Ray Holloman — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 21:45:00 EST

Filed under: Duke, ACC, March Madness

If you've ever seen a man get a five-figure bill from the IRS while an elephant simultaneously steps on his foot, you might have a general frame of reference for the level of rancor Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski can raise when defeat comes his way.

So, as he explained a 79-71 loss to North Carolina, the sixth Heel win in the last seven games and the second time in three seasons he's been swept by his rival, a funny thing happened.

Krzyzewski was calm, as though you had told him some trivial bit of bad news, like his rental car had been dented or dinner might be a little late.

""I thought both teams played really well, I know our team played well," Krzyzewski said. "We had an opportunity to win the game. You put yourself in this environment with the caliber of team that they are. They're a terrific team."

And like usual, the three-time national champion coach is exactly right.

Duke didn't win, but the Blue Devils have more to feel good about than just that they'll likely never see departing North Carolina senior Tyler Hansbrough again.

Call it glass half full with a slice of lime.

"We played better defense. I thought we had better shots. I thought we competed better. I just think we are a better basketball team than we were a month ago. But they're really good. Ya know, if they're not the top team, they have to be one of top two or three. I'm good with where my team is at.

"I mean that's a hell of a game, that's a real good basketball game."

Sure, Duke didn't stop Ty Lawson, but that just means the Blue Devils joined a club of about 340 other teams. Heck, the Hair Club for Men doesn't have this many members. Blaming Duke for not stopping Lawson is like blaming your pediatrician for not curing the common cold.

And sure, Duke gave up 17 to Hansbrough, but it seems like the longtime senior has been dropping double-digit games on opponents since uniforms still had belts. North Carolina gave Duke trouble on the boards too, but second chance points were an even nine to nine, and when you miss as many shots as the Blue Devils did in the second half, defensive rebounds are plentiful.

So, while there's no need to start TiVoing over your old Jason Williams highlights, Duke fans would probably be wise to take the lead from their leader.

Even with the loss, Duke should feel pretty good about itself. And when was the last time you could say that about a Blue Devil team heading into the postseason, a team that's crashed so badly in the postseason that even Sully Sullenberger himself couldn't have safely landed those teams.

The Blue Devils should feel good because Gerald Henderson is still a force on the court unlike last year's injury-induced slump, and, despite his best efforts has yet to crack the Earth's mantle with the force from a particularly angry dunk. Sure, he still struggles going to his left and finished with just 14 points, but he's still the biggest matchup problem this team has, unless the league lets the Devil play with pitchfork in hand.

"G can play better," Krzyzewski said, dismissing concerns about the only Duke player that could change the lights in the shot clock without a ladder. "We're fine with G."

The Blue Devils should feel good because Elliot Williams is still causing matchup problems and is slipping through defenses like he's wearing a jersey made of Crisco. The freshman had eight points, including a mix of whirls through the lane and played a solid defensive game in 38 minutes of work, ignoring his tendency to foul when the ball is so far away from the basket that the twine is barely visible over the curve of the Earth.

The Blue Devils should feel good because the Jon Scheyer experiment is working. In his six games at the point he's shooting 46 percent from the floor and 46 percent from 3-point range. Against North Carolina he scored 24 points on 7-for-7 shooting, with five assists, no turnovers and four steals. Scheyer could've handcuffed Tyler Hansbrough to a radiator in the second half and done only slight more to lead Duke to victory than he did.

"Jon had a great game," Krzyzewski said, "not a big game, a great game."

The Blue Devils should feel good because they simply missed a lot of shots and still kept North Carolina within seven points for all but the final 52 seconds of the game. Stars Kyle Singler and Henderson went 3-for-14 in the second half and yet the Blue Devils kept a tow-rope firmly attached to North Carolina's bumper.

The Blue Devils should feel good because Nolan Smith is on his way back, and, despite lacking their top perimeter defender, forced North Carolina to play at a pace of the Devils' choosing. And Smith should go a long way toward erasing that zero Duke put up in bench points.

And the Blue Devils should feel good because it's March and, instead of entering like a lamb and leaving like a sacrifice, these Blue Devils are actually starting to get better.

So to Duke, here's a toast. Mike Krzyzewski, please raise your half-full glass.

For Blue Devils, a Loss in Name Only originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Sun, 08 Mar 2009 21:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bubble Wrap: The Crowded Big Ten

Matt Snyder — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Michigan, Minnesota, Northwestern, Ohio State, Penn State, Wisconsin, Big Ten, March Madness

First of all, allow us a moment to give Penn State some credit. They had never won 10 Big Ten games in one season until they garnered their tenth of 2009 Thursday night. They apparently have a flair for the dramatic, as they trailed by six with under two minutes left. A Stanley Pringle three, a huge offensive board -- followed by two free throws -- from David Jackson, some good defense, and a clutch runner from Talor Battle propelled them to an unbelievable victory over a very solid Illinois team for the second time this season.

So, after Thursday night's showing, did Penn State punch their ticket to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since '01? What about the other Big Ten bubble teams?

Penn State (21-9, 10-7)
Big Wins: Illinois home/away, at Michigan State, vs. Purdue. vs Minnesota, vs. Michigan
Bad Losses: none
Last 10: 6-4
RPI: 66
Remaining Game(s): at Iowa, conference tourney
What they need to do: Win at Iowa. If they do that, they'll get a three-seed in the Big Ten tourney. Um, hold on. Actually, if they win in Iowa and Purdue loses in Michigan State (obviously, that's entirely plausible), Penn State will be the number two seed in the Big Ten Tournament. Can you even fathom that? With a conference this good and this deep, the second-worst program -- pedigree-wise -- is behind only the mighty Spartans? Anyway, I digress. It's tough to tell who they'll face in the conference tourney in this scenario, because of a muddled middle in the standings, but after the bye I don't think they really have to win a game. Thursday night's victory along with a road win in Iowa Saturday should do it (as long as Purdue loses to MSU). You can't keep the technical second-place team of the number two RPI conference in the nation out of the Big Dance. You just can't. (Just in case, though, don't lose to Iowa should they happen to pull an upset in the first round)

Michigan (18-12, 8-9)
Big Wins: vs. Duke, vs. Illinois, UCLA (neutral), vs. Minnesota, vs. Purdue, vs. Penn State
Bad Losses: at Iowa
Last 10: 4-6
RPI: 47
Remaining Game(s): at Minnesota, conference tourney
What they need to do: They absolutely have to win at Minnesota Saturday, and that's not an easy task. If they do that, they'll probably get either Northwestern, Indiana, or Iowa in the first round of the Big Ten tourney. That would be another must-win game. If they get those two, they will be squarely on the bubble. A second Big Ten tourney win would go a long way in solidifying their spot, but they need to win two straight before we discuss that.

Minnesota (21-8, 9-8)
Big Wins: Louisville (neutral), vs. Illinois, Wisconsin home/away, vs. Ohio State, vs. Penn State
Bad Losses: none
Last 10: 5-5
RPI: 32
Remaining Game(s): vs. Michigan
What they need to do: A win at home against Michigan should pretty much do it. They have a solid enough resume that a 10-8 record in this conference should do, especially considering their win over the Wolverines would eliminate another bubble team from the conference in one fell swoop. Winning their first Big Ten Tournament game would likely be gravy, but there's no reason to leave anything to chance. The mantra in Tubby Smith's locker room would be: Just get that dubya.

Ohio State (19-9, 9-8)
Big Wins: vs. Butler, vs. Purdue, vs. Minnesota, Michigan home/away, at Miami (FL), vs. Penn State
Bad Losses: none
Last 10: 6-4
RPI: 40
Remaining Game(s): vs. Northwestern
What they need to do: If they take care of business against a tenacious Wildcat team at home Sunday, they should be pretty firmly in. Just as I said with the Gophers, though, it couldn't hurt to nail down that spot with one Big Ten tourney win as well.

Wisconsin(18-11, 9-8)
Big Wins: vs. Illinois, vs. Ohio State, Michigan home/away, at Virginia Tech
Bad Losses: at Iowa
Last 10: 6-4
RPI: 31
Remaining Game(s): vs. Indiana, conference tourney
What they need to do: Don't screw it up. Winning over Indiana at home -- which should be an absolute given -- seals their birth. If they lose, they'd likely to have to win at least two conference tourney games to make up for losing to IU at home this late in the season.

Northwestern (17-11, 8-9)
Big Wins: at Michigan State, vs. Florida State, vs. Wisconsin, vs. Minnesota, at Purdue, vs. Ohio State
Bad Losses: at Stanford, at Iowa
Last 10: 6-4
RPI: 70
Remaining Game(s): at Ohio State, conference tourney
What they need to do: Man, if only they could flip those bad losses into wins. They'd be sitting at 19-9 with a 9-8 conference record, plus, a better resume than Michigan and Penn State. Instead, they need to do some work. First of all, they'll have to win at Ohio State. This team isn't getting in with an 8-10 conference season record. If they win that game, they'll need at least two wins in the Big Ten tourney to get on the bubble. At that point, they'd really have a legitimate shot. You'd be talking about a 20 win team with a serious list of quality victories from a deep conference.

All told, I really think the Big Ten is getting seven teams in. That means there are two on this list not making it, but four that will. If you like "on the bubble" action, pay attention to the Big Ten for the next week and a half. It's going to be exciting as everything sorts itself out.

My personal prediction is that it's Northwestern and Michigan left out in the cold.

Note: This is assuming Michigan State, Illinois, and Purdue are in. It's also assuming Iowa and Indiana are out (I know, a huge leap of faith there).

Bubble Wrap: The Crowded Big Ten originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Fri, 06 Mar 2009 08:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Christian Laettner, Rick Pitino Relive 'The Shot' in Vitamin Water Ad

Will Brinson — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 19:20:00 EST

Filed under: Duke, Kentucky, ACC, SEC, March Madness, Coaches, Fans, Media Watch, Video

Christian Laettner did many amazing things in his four years at Duke. But one instance stands out above the rest, a pump-fake, turnaround, buzzer beating jump shot against Kentucky in the 1992 regional final which gave the Devils a single-point victory in overtime against Kentucky, then coached by Rick Pitino. Vitamin Water relives that classic moment in hysterical fashion with the following awesome commercial (via Rush the Court).

Christian Laettner, Rick Pitino Relive 'The Shot' in Vitamin Water Ad originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Thu, 05 Mar 2009 19:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Boom Goes the Bubble

Ray Holloman — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 07:00:00 EST

Filed under: Boston College, Florida, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi State, NC State, Virginia Tech, March Madness, University of Miami, Georgia

March started days ago. The Madness started Wednesday night.

On an evening where bubble teams could've punched their ticket to the NCAA tournament and boosters could've started humming bars of "One Shining Moment," teams turned down invitations like they were to a wedding without an open bar or the People's Choice Awards.

A memo, fellows. This isn't an invitation to a candlelight dinner with Randy Johnson. "Big Dance" doesn't mean you're cutting a rug with Mark Madsen or waltzing cheek-to-cheek with Mike Tyson.

You actually want to go to this thing.

Yet any team with bubble aspirations did its best impersonation of your 401k.

Virginia Tech had the equivalent of a print-at-home ticket to the Big Dance, but had no more luck finding their way into the tournament than coach Seth Greenberg would have recommending a good barber. But at least they lost to North Carolina. What's your excuse, Boston College?

The Eagles, who have already cleared a whole carton of egg of their face by losing to Harvard in a something that doesn't involve fractals, lost to N.C. State, a team that could only generously be described as a bubble team if, in fact the NIT has a bubble.

The formerly storied Kentucky Wildcats lost to a Georgia team that's 11th in what might be a three-bid conference and long ago fired its coach. Then again, that's what playing with the passion of a man waiting on a bus will do to you.

Miami, which made Duke and North Carolina sweat like Gary Williams in back-to-back games in early February, and looked like a possible Sweet 16 team a month ago, ensured its postseason wouldn't get in the way of Spring Break, falling to Georgia Tech.

Minnesota, a borderline-out bubble team beat Wisconsin, a borderline-in bubble team in the Big Ten, officially giving the league more possibly qualifiers than the total of points some of its teams have scored in a half this season.

And then there was the Gators, a team that just two years ago was flirting with Tom Emanski territory as back-to-back national champions.

Florida lost to Mississippi State in a game that wasn't even as close as its 80-71 score indicates. The Bulldogs took a nine-point lead in at the half, led by 16 in the second and never once so much as had the Gators in drafting distance in the final frame. The Bulldogs, we're fairly certain, could tell you where the CBI will be held without looking it up.

And Florida's loss could be magnified for all the teams that counted the Gators among their top-50 RPI wins, like Syracuse and South Carolina. The Gators were 49th in the RPI before falling to the Bulldogs. And that number will certainly gain a few pounds after getting dumped by Mississippi State. In fact, should the Gamecocks lose tonight against Tennessee, they could conceivably enter Selection Sunday with double-digit SEC wins and zero victories over the RPI top 50.

Of course, this is America. There's always a reward for kicking back and laughing at the misery of others (This, we suppose, is why Detroit Lion games make it on television). So who benefits from the bubble burst?

Maryland, who has four wins in four tries over N.C. State, Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech, and whose two top wins over North Carolina and Michigan State match up with anyone on the bubble, should get a bump out of all the wreckage, provided the Terps beat ACC doormat Virginia this weekend. Providence might find its way in now with a solid league record and, like Maryland, a recent marquee win, over Pittsburgh. Michigan can play the big-win card too, with victories over Duke and UCLA, but the Wolverines' most notable victory in the past two months, Purdue, perhaps predictably for last night, lost to Northwestern, a team whose good old days involve Evan Eschmeyer.

And Penn State, who has no great wins to speak of, must look a lot more attractive this morning because the Nittany Lions have nothing that's even in the same Congressional district as a bad loss. If last night proved anything, it's that avoiding embarrassment might be the toughest thing to do in college basketball.

That, or get Wojciechowksi spelled correctly in caligraphy.

But each of those teams are written in pencil, and lightly at that.

So who was the real winner? The conference tournaments. These weekend events were usually three and four-day practices for the NCAA Tournament, an exercise in seeding and souvenir programs. Now they'll be stage for nearly every team to play their way onto, or off, the bubble.

And, of course, the college basketball fan. Beacuse the Madness is finally here.

Boom Goes the Bubble originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Thu, 05 Mar 2009 07:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bracketology Busters: Beware the Bruins

Jacob Wheatley-Schaller — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 15:45:00 EST

Filed under: UCLA, Pac-10, March Madness

Each week, ESPN's Joe Lunardi predicts the NCAA tournament field if the season ended today. While he's good at this, Lunardi only focuses on past performance, and wins and losses. Bracketology Busters looks at which teams should be expected to perform significantly better or worse than their projected seeds.

This week we'll look at a team that's seen their perception drop after a great three-year stretch, but is primed to make yet another late season run.

UCLA | Current Seed: 5 | Status: Underrated

One of the great things about the NCAA tournament is that what you did in past years is completely irrelevant. Despite three consecutive Final Four berths, the Bruins find themselves on just the fifth line of Joe Lunardi's current bracket. UCLA is second in the Pac-10 standings, but at 11-5 is two games behind Washington. That, along with the weak non-conference resume, explains the relatively low seed.

Despite what the standings may suggest, the Bruins have actually been the best team in the conference thus far. They have a slight lead on the Huskies in scoring margin, and they've played the most difficult schedule possible in the Pac- 10. They host Oregon State and Oregon, the two worst teams in the conference, in their final two regular season games. That means they're a near lock to both finish an entirely respectable 13-5 in the league, and lead the league in scoring margin, a much better predictor of future success than won-lost record.

UCLA's latest loss, and the one that seemed to cause most people to lose faith, was at home to Washington State last Saturday. But really, that's not a particularly bad loss; it was only by one point, and the Cougars went on to sweep the Arizona schools this past weekend. The Bruins bounced back from that loss pretty well themselves, beating Stanford and Cal on the road. They would've taken 2-1 over that three-game stretch any day of the week.

The smart guys in Las Vegas certainly haven't lost confidence in Ben Howland's crew. Even after the loss to Wazzu, they were favored by five against the Cardinal, and then 2.5 against the then 21-7 Bears. Those numbers square up almost perfectly with the predictions derived from Ken Pomeroy's ratings, and he has them as the ninth best team in the entire country.

Latest College Basketball Images

Northwestern guard Craig Moore, left, makes a pass around Purdue guard E'Twaun Moore during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in West Lafayette, Ind., Wednesday, March 4, 2009. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Northwestern center Kyle Rowley shoots between Purdue's Lewis Jackson (23) and JaJuan Johnson during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in West Lafayette, Ind., Wednesday, March 4, 2009. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Purdue forward JaJuan Johnson, right, comes from behind to block the shot of Northwestern forward John Shurna in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in West Lafayette, Ind., Wednesday, March 4, 2009. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Northwestern guard Craig Moore, left, shoots in front of Purdue forward Robbie Hummel in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in West Lafayette, Ind., Wednesday, March 4, 2009. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Washington forward Jon Brockman (40) goes between Seattle forwards Austin Powers, right, and Michael Wright, left, to make a shot in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, March 3, 2009, at Hec-Edmundson Pavilion in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Washington guard Isaiah Thomas (2) drives past Seattle guard Chris Gweth in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, March 3, 2009, at Hec-Edmundson Pavilion in Seattle. Washington beat Seattle 87-60. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Washington coach Lorenzo Romar talks to guard Elston Turner in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Seattle Tuesday, March 3, 2009, at Hec-Edmundson Pavilion in Seattle. Washington beat Seattle 87-60. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Seattle head coach Joe Callero watches game action against Washington in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, March 3, 2009, at Hec-Edmundson Pavilion in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Washington forward Jon Brockman smiles from the bench in the final minutes of Washington's 87-60 win over Seattle in a NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, March 3, 2009, at Hec-Edmundson Pavilion in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Seattle forward Mike Boxley looks on at left, as Washington's Jon Brockman, center left, and Quincy Pondexter, center right, battle for a loose ball with Seattle's Michael Wright, center lower left, and Shaun Burl, right, in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, March 3, 2009, at Hec-Edmundson Pavilion in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

With two games they should win to end the regular season, followed by the Pac-10 tournament near home at the Staples Center, the Bruins have a chance to enter the Big Dance with a seven-game winning streak for the third time in four years. But while they hope the results are the same, UCLA has certainly gotten things done differently this year.

In each of their three Final Four years, Howland's Bruins have finished in the top three in the nation in adjusted Defensive Efficiency. The Bruins had a reputation for stifing D, and it was very much deserved. But this season they've dropped to 47th in the country; losing Kevin Love, Russell Westbrook, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, and block machine Lorenzo Mata-Real will have that effect.

Fortunately, the offense has stepped it up, ascending all the way to third in the nation in offensive efficiency. Darren Collison has had an absurdly good season, shooting 92 percent, 58 percent, and 42 percent on free throws, twos, and threes, respectively. Fellow senior Josh Shipp has improved his three-point stroke, up to 42 percent from last year's 32 percent, and freshman Jrue Holiday has been very effective from inside the arc.

No, UCLA isn't quite as good as in years past. They've seen too much talent depart for that to be realistic. But they're still one of the top-10 teams in the country, and are certainly going to be a tougher out than fellow projected No. 5 seeds LSU, Marquette, and Xavier.

Bracketology Busters: Beware the Bruins originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Wed, 04 Mar 2009 15:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Seth Davis' 'When March Went Mad'

Will Brinson — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 17:45:00 EST

Filed under: Michigan State, Mid-Majors, March Madness, Media Watch

Even the casual basketball fan knows about the Magic Johnson-Larry Bird rivalry, and its beginnings in the 1979 NCAA National Championship Game. Seth Davis' book, "When March Went Mad: The Game That Transformed College Basketball," chronicles the beginning of that rivalry in '79, and the long-lasting effect that the game has had on the way we all watch college basketball. The book drops Tuesday, just in time for the 30-year anniversary of the game (you can purchase it here). Read FanHouse's review of the book after the jump.

Because of the media coverage -- and the general proliferation of technology -- in today's world, countless "bloggable" stories emerge from every major sporting event. When we look back at particular sporting events in a very generic historical sense, it's easy to miss the trees for the metaphorical forest that is the overall theme. This is especially true with the 1979 national championship game between Indiana State and Michigan State, which is looked at today as "Magic vs. Bird."

But Seth Davis, in "When March Went Mad," does an outstanding job of recapturing that season in a narrative-styled, insider's look at the perfect storm that formed to lift college basketball into the national spotlight.

The subject matter, on its face, is simple enough: Magic and Bird meet in Salt Lake City for a game that, despite its underwhelming nature (the game itself was actually pretty lopsided in favor of Michigan State), jump-started a longstanding rivalry between the two players. But as Davis' narrative weaves back and forth between each program's season, it manages to lift an incredible number of story lines to the forefront.

There is the stark comparison -- on any number of levels -- between Magic and Bird. There are the vast differences between Michigan State and Indiana State. Michigan State coach Jud Heathcote and Indiana State's Bill Hodges maintain many similarities but their coaching styles juxtapose fascinatingly in Davis' narrative.

And that's what this factual retelling of events actually becomes a narrative. You can tell, while reading the book, that Davis spent countless hours re-watching old game film, listening to radio broadcasts of games and interviewing the various subjects of the book.

There are innumerable quotes from everyone ranging from Bird himself, to both schools' team managers, on up to the bigwigs at NBC (as well as this little fledgling-at-the-time network named ESPN). What makes all the interviews so compelling, though, is that Davis took media, player and coach reactions throughout the season and combined them with his own interviews from modern day.

It's a blend that works especially well in this setting, because while it's one thing to hear Heathcote's immediate reactions to his team's mid-season troubles, it's especially fascinating to listen to an elderly legend removed from coaching as he ruminates on his possible failures at the time (and they called Bird a perfectionist).

Taken as a whole, the book is actually a history lesson. That might be considered a bit of a turnoff for someone under 40 years old, even if they're a basketball fan. But the truth of the matter is that Davis' method of transitioning back and forth across figurative state lines while also building a foundation for understanding the Bird-Magic rivalry is enough to intrigue any fan of college basketball, regardless of age.

Seth Davis' 'When March Went Mad' originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Mon, 02 Mar 2009 17:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Billy Packer Would Have Loved the Upcoming NCAA Tournament

Shiloh Carder — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 01:00:00 EST

Filed under: Butler, Davidson, George Mason, Gonzaga, WCC, Xavier, A-10, ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, Mid-Majors, MVC, MWC, Pac-10, SEC, March Madness, St. Mary's (CA)

One of the biggest gripes against former CBS basketball analyst Billy Packer was that he didn't respect the mid-majors. He famously complained that there were too many mid-majors in the 2006 NCAA Tournament. That was the year that George Mason upset Michigan State, North Carolina and UConn to get to the Final Four.

This will be the first Packer-less tournament in decades as he retired after last year's Final Four. It's a shame for him because he would have loved the makeup of the brackets this time around. Going against the recent trends, it looks as if the major conferences will get most of the at-large bids, leaving the mid-majors out in the cold.

According to ESPN's Joe Lunardi, there aren't too many mid-majors that are locks to get in if they do not win their conference tournament. Siena, Utah State and Davidson have the strongest cases to be at-large teams but there are factions that believe they won't. Utah State has that win over Utah, but nothing else. Davidson has actually lost a couple of SoCon games this year and their biggest win is against West Virginia on a neutral court. Siena just lost to Niagara last night. All will be overwhelming favorites to win their conference tournaments but they could be in trouble if they don't.

Gonzaga will snatch a bid if they don't win the West Coast Conference tournament. Butler does the same if they fail to win the Horizon.

Lunardi is also projecting that 31 of the 34 at-large bids will be going to the so-called "BCS conferences". The ACC leads the way with eight teams, followed by the Big East and Big Ten with seven each. The SEC, which is suffering a perceived down period, is projected to get five teams in the tournament. The other three bids are penciled in for the Atlantic 10's Dayton and two from the Mountain West (Utah, BYU and UNLV should all get in; one should win the conference tournament). The only non-BCS school that is currently seeded as a No. 4 seed or better is Memphis.

Even Lunardi's last four out includes nothing but BCS schools. The "next four out" features two more Mountain West schools and two Big XII schools.

All this leads up to schools from power conferences fighting for those last spots available in the tournament. It will also lead to more name matchups in the first and second round. Right now, Lunardi has first round games of Kentucky-Texas, Florida-California, Oklahoma State-Arizona State, Boston College-Tennessee, Michigan-LSU, Penn State-UCLA and South Carolina-Wisconsin.

Billy Packer Would Have Loved the Upcoming NCAA Tournament originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Sat, 28 Feb 2009 01:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NCAA or NIT: University of Minnesota

Matt Snyder — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 13:15:00 EST

Filed under: Minnesota, Big Ten, March Madness

College basketball has gone past the halfway point of the conference season. Now every game takes on greater importance for the teams that are trying to make the NCAA Tournament. FanHouse will take a look at the teams that find somewhere between the NCAA or NIT.

Team: Minnesota Golden Gophers

Record: 20-8 (8-8 Big Ten)

Good Wins: Louisville (neutral), Illinois (home), Wisconsin (road), Ohio State (home)

Bad Losses: There's nothing awful here. The two losses to below 60 RPI teams were to Penn State and Northwestern, and both were on the road.

Comments: If it wasn't for that Louisville game, their non-conference schedule would have been laughable. Still, they won every one of those games and haven't -- as stated above -- suffered any bad losses.

The problem, though, is that they are playing their way onto the bubble with a terrible stretch in conference play. Since a convincing January 29 victory over Illinois, the Gophers are 2-5. Their remaining two conference games are at home, but easily losable with the way they've been playing recently. Should Wisconsin and Michigan both come in and take down Tubby Smith's troops in The Barn, well, Minnesota's in trouble of missing the tourney after an 18-3 start.

Other Views: They sit 36 in the RPI, 40th in the Basketball State, and 34th in Sagarin Ratings.

Verdict: As things currently stand, they are in, but they better watch their step. Let's say they go 2-2 from here on out -- including the conference tournament. That's a good resume, but not an ironclad one. Let's say Butler, Gonzaga, and a few other tournament locks fall in conference tourneys, while someone like Northwestern comes from out of nowhere to take the Big Ten tourney. Those at-large bids would start dwindling and the Gophers would really start sweating.

Simply put, "The U" needs to take care of business here with back-to-back home conference wins to close out the regular season. They've got until March 4 -- when the Badgers visit -- to think about it.

NCAA or NIT: University of Minnesota originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Fri, 27 Feb 2009 13:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GM Sticks With NCAA Tournament

Chas Rich — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 15:33:00 EST

Filed under: March Madness, Media Watch

General Motors may have fled from advertising in other major events like the Super Bowl and the Academy Awards. The struggling automaker, though, is not leaving in the middle of its multi-year deal with CBS to be a major marketing partner for the NCAA tournament.

In fact, CBS Sports has plenty of auto manufacturers that are eager to advertise on its streaming March Madness on Demand aspect. Mercedes, Toyota, Lexus and Audi all have signed on to advertise in the online broadcasts. CBS Sports expects online advertising sales to easily exceed the $23 million it took in last year.

There is a certain logic to automakers wanting to advertise in the online stream. CBS Sports has estimated that 90 percent of the online viewers are doing so from work. That means online advertisers are reaching viewers that still have a job. In the present economy, that is the best target audience to reach.

GM Sticks With NCAA Tournament originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Thu, 26 Feb 2009 15:33:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Let the One-derful Upsets Roll

Ray Holloman — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 01:00:00 EST

Filed under: Pittsburgh, March Madness

Long ago, somewhere around the time you broke your first New Year's resolution in a flurry of Haagen-Dazz and Oreos, dangerous stopped being an adequate word to describe college basketball's pole position.

Asking Jim Calhoun about his W-2s is dangerous. Tailgating LenDale White is dangerous. Taking tax advice from Barry Bonds is dangerous.

Being No. 1 is just plain stand-between-CC-Sabathia-and-the-training-table, accept-an-Evite-from Pacman Jones, asking for trouble

Yes, college basketball's top ranking long ago stopped being just dangerous.

Now it's just great.

This season, you'd have an easier time holding on to a bar of soap in the middle of a rainstorm. No team is unbeatable.

No team, that is, except whoever is lucky enough to play No. 1

There have been six different runs at No. 1, including two by Pittsburgh. If two more top teams fall, Octomom can name each of kids in honor of a flopped school.

There was North Carolina which left its defense home on Christmas break and promptly dropped its first two ACC games. Then came Pitt's first run, followed by back-to-back crashes by Wake Forest and Duke so disastrous the NTSB is still investigating. Connecticut took over from the Blue Devils, then Pitt dropped a sequel so bad you'd be forgiven for assuming a Wayans brother suited up.

Good luck to the next guy. We'd tell you you'll last as No. 1, but then we'd be blowing more smoke than Michael Phelps.

But your misery, next No. 1 team, is great for college basketball. And it should be great for a March full of madness and loony pairings.

Sure, it was interesting to see four No. 1 seeds make the Final Four last year, but it was exciting only if your other favorite teams are the Yankees and IBM, and you still get angry that Goliath didn't think about defending against the slingshot.

Now, if history is any guide, it's everybody else's turn.

To find a stretch where there were seven separate reigns at No. 1 in a 11-week period, as there likely will be Monday, you have to go back to 1995, when there were eight total reigns at No. 1, and 1994 when the top spot traded hands nine times. In those two tournaments, just two top seeds made it to the Final Four, both winning in memorable title games. The 1994 tourney gave us Bill Curley and ninth-seeded Boston College upsetting defending national champion North Carolina in the second round, and Tulsa running to the Sweet 16 as a 12 seed. Only eventual champion Arkansas represented the pole sitters. In 1995, only UCLA advanced to the Final Four from the top seed line and that was only with Tyus Edney's miracle dash against Missouri in the second round.

Nearly a decade-and-half later, without the senior laden teams of the mid-1990s, the results could be even more surprising.

After all, who among these top seeds is invulnerable? Not Pitt. The Panthers lost the No. 1 ranking in their first road game both times they held the top spot. They aren't the same team without rebound tree DeJuan Blair, and even with him they trailed bad-side-of-the-bubble team Providence by 18 at the half. Don't mention North Carolina either. Rocket point guards Tyrese Rice and Jeff Teague ripped them to blue-and-white ribbons in losses, while Duke took a halftime lead on the Heels with point guard Greg Paulus at the helm, a man whose 40-time would make global warming seem speedy..

It's certainly not Oklahoma. While Blake Griffin's still woozy with post-concussion symptoms ,the Sooners are just another team one short piece of contending and, without an elite defense might not have been a title contender to begin with. How about Memphis? The Tigers might steal a No. 1 seed, but their best win is over Gonzaga. How good is Gonzaga? Who knows, its best win is over Tennessee, a team that plays defense with the kind of intensity that makes your cat seem industrious. Connecticut? The Huskies lost to Georgetown, a team that's campaigning feverishly to be the best team in the storied two-year history of the Collegiate Basketball Invitational (that is, the tournament NIT kicks sand in the face of). Now they're down Jerome Dyson as well. How about Duke, Marquette, or a Wake Forest team that even Roger Clemens thinks can't keep its story straight?

Take the lessons of this season to hear and don't beat on them.

At least, unless they're playing No. 1

Let the One-derful Upsets Roll originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Wed, 25 Feb 2009 01:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NCAA or NIT: Georgetown Hoyas

Chas Rich — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 13:53:00 EST

Filed under: Georgetown, Big East, March Madness

College basketball has gone past the halfway point of the conference season. Now every game takes on greater importance for the teams that are trying to make the NCAA Tournament. FanHouse will take a look at the teams that find somewhere between the NCAA or NIT.

Team: Georgetown Hoyas

Record: 14-12 (5-10 Big East)

Good Wins: Maryland (neutral site), Memphis, Syracuse, at UConn

Bad Losses: At Seton Hall, Cinci, at Cinci

Comments: The Hoyas climbed to eighth in the polls in early January. They had lost only once in the non-conference schedule. They opened Big East play by beating UConn in Hartford. At that point, the Hoyas were 12-1. The question was not if they were an NCAA team, but how silly the preseason prediction of Georgetown finishing 7th in the Big East. Talk about peaking too soon.

Georgetown split their next four games and then the bottom really fell out. They have gone 2-9 since mid-January.

Other Views: Georgetown is 48th in RPI, the Basketball State has them 63d, while the Sagarin Ratings have them at 35th.

Verdict: The NCAA is not going to happen. But for their very impressive performance in the non-conference schedule and winning at UConn, the Hoyas would not even be in this discussion. Their collapse in the conference was stunning after the way they started. Not only did they play a quality non-conference schedule, but they scored big wins. That is why they have clung to the bubble even as they slid to 11th in the Big East.

As it stands, with three games left, they are going to be sweating their chances of making the NIT. To get an NIT invite, you still have to finish at .500 or better. The way Georgetown is playing, even that is not a lock.

NCAA or NIT: Georgetown Hoyas originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Tue, 24 Feb 2009 13:53:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NIT or NCAA: Penn State Nittany Lions

Matt Snyder — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: Penn State, Big Ten, March Madness

It's bubble time in college hoops, so FanHouse is here to determine whose gets popped and who rides the bubble to the Big Dance. Check back for more NCAA or NIT calls.

Team: Penn State Nittany Lions

Record: 19-8 (8-6 Big Ten)

Good Wins: at Michigan State, at Illinois, vs. Purdue, vs. Minnesota

Bad Losses: Really, none. I guess you could say that neutral loss to Rhode Island didn't help matters.

Comments: Penn State has fared better than several of its similars in Big Ten play, but the problem is its work in non-conference play. Temple and Rhode Island were the only non-conference teams they played who currently reside in the RPI top 100 -- and Penn State lost both of those contests. Neither was a road game. The best win outside the conference came against Mount St. Mary's.

What the Nittany Lions really have going for them is their overall strong showing in what has proven to be a very solid conference this season. Of their four remaining regular season games -- at Ohio State, vs. Indiana, vs. Illinois, at Iowa -- they'll need to split at the very least. Winning three of the four would go a long way in solidifying a spot.

If they can get solid inside-outside play from Talor Battle and Jamelle Cornley, Ed DeChellis and his troops will find themselves in great position to go dancing for the first time in several years.

Other Views: Penn State currently sits 62nd in RPI, Bracketology has them as one of the last four teams in, the State of College Basketball has them 62nd and rising, and the Nittany Lions currently sit at 54 in the Sagarin Ratings. Pretty much every single place you look has them firmly planted on the bubble.

Verdict: As of today, I'd have them squeaking in the NCAA by the skin of their teeth, but they have a good amount of work to do in order to complete their tourney resume. It begins with a huge contest Tuesday night in a nationally telecast tilt with the Ohio State Buckeyes. Winning that one would give the Nittany Lions another RPI top 50 win (for now) in addition to chalking up another quality road win. Needless to say, it's a big one.

NIT or NCAA: Penn State Nittany Lions originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Tue, 24 Feb 2009 09:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bubble Trouble Like Never Before

Ray Holloman — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 17:10:00 EST

Filed under: March Madness

There was a time when February belonged to college basketball and the intricate puzzle of creating a 65-team bracket from a list of 340-some-odd candidates.

Then we got Rick-rolled by the steroid investigation.

So to get things where they should be here's a steroids tip that doesn't involve digging through someone's garbage:

Investigate the NCAA Tournament bubble.

Forget Barry Bonds, whose head long ago petitioned for its own zip code and whose ego already has its own senator. Forget Roger Clemens, the dyspeptic fellow with so little charm you might assume his family tree runs through Dick Cheney and a bran supplement.

Look into the bubble.

Because if it were any more fearsome, it would be sitting on the dais next to Alex Rodriguez explaining how a little Boli turned it into the monster that is it today.

In fact, somebody go ahead and check what its cousin, the NIT, has been passing its way.

This is the year of parity in college basketball, where good is great and darn near everyone has some claim on good most nights. Five teams have already been No. 1, a sixth is likely to be crowned Monday. North Carolina and Pittsburgh have established themselves as the best teams in the nation, but the difference to No. 3 and the rest of the schmoes is so thin that even Lindsay Lohan thinks it should eat a sandwich.

And so that minefield of teams not-quite-as-good has officially the most dangerous bubble since the housing market turned you from millionaire to Dollar Menunaire.

When the draw comes out, this year, Roy Williams won't be the only coach getting his mouth scrubbed with Ivory.

Just take a look at the teams lurking on the bubble. Miami, currently 10th in the ACC, whooped Wake Forest by 27, took Duke to overtime in Cameron and beat Kentucky and Florida State. They've got eight losses and none are to teams outside the RPI top-100. And then there's Jack McClinton, who has more range than Tiger hitting Superballs. Enjoy that as an 11 seed.

Florida State, the tallest team in the nation, could start a roofing company with no need for ladders. North Carolina needed a running 3-pointer at the buzzer to avoid overtime against the Seminoles, and they toppled Clemson in Littlejohn Coliseum. Enjoy that in the second round, No. 1 seed. And if you miss Florida State in the second game, you might get Davidson, Kentucky or Texas. Enjoy explaining to the alumni that Stephen Curry, Jodie Meeks and A.J. Abrams just torched you for more points than Mike Krzyzewski has endorsements.

Heck, West Virginia is currently projected as a seven seed and it's sixth overall in the Pomeroy Ratings, 11 spots higher than projected No. 1 Oklahoma.

And the further down the seed lines you go, the more brutal it gets. Boston College, which beat both Duke and North Carolina (and that in Chapel Hill), is an 11 seed.

Latest College Basketball Photos

The UCLA faithful cheer on their team during UCLA's 85-76 victory over Washington at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles, California, Thursday, February 19, 2009. (Kevin Sullivan/Orange County Register/MCT)

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UCLA's Nikola Dragovic celebrates a three-point shot against Washington during game action at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles, California, Thursday, February 19, 2009. UCLA defeated Washington, 85-76. (Kevin Sullivan/Orange County Register/MCT)

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Washington's Justin Dentmon (5) defends UCLA's Darren Collison during game action at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles, California, Thursday, February 19, 2009. UCLA defeated Washington, 85-76. (Kevin Sullivan/Orange County Register/MCT)

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UCLA head coach Ben Howland instructs his players to "box out" during game action against Washington at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles, California, Thursday, February 19, 2009. UCLA defeated Washington, 85-76. (Kevin Sullivan/Orange County Register/MCT)

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UCLA's Jerime Anderson (5) watches as Washington's Venoy Overton dunks on a breakaway during game action at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles, California, Thursday, February 19, 2009. UCLA defeated Washington, 85-76. (Kevin Sullivan/Orange County Register/MCT)

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UCLA's Nikola Dragovic pumps his fist while standing over Washington's Quincy Pondexter during game action at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles, California, Thursday, February 19, 2009. UCLA defeated Washington, 85-76. (Kevin Sullivan/Orange County Register/MCT)

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UCLA's Josh Shipp dunks over Washington's Jon Brockman during game action at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles, California, Thursday, February 19, 2009. UCLA defeated Washington, 85-76. (Kevin Sullivan/Orange County Register/MCT)

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UCLA's Josh Shipp (3) is all smiles while chatting with teammate Darren Collison, left, during the final minutes of UCLA's 85-76 victory over Washington at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles, California, Thursday, February 19, 2009. (Kevin Sullivan/Orange County Register/MCT)

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UCLA's Darren Collison, center, comes up with the ball between teammate Nikola Dragovic, right, and Washington's Venoy Overton during game action at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles, California, Thursday, February 19, 2009. UCLA defeated Washington, 85-76. (Kevin Sullivan/Orange County Register/MCT)

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UCLA's Josh Shipp tries to defend Washington''s Justin Dentmon on a shot attempt during game action. UCLA defeated Washington, 85-76, at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles, California, Thursday, February 19, 2009. (Kevin Sullivan/Orange County Register/MCT)

MCT

UNLV is projected as a 12 seed and it's 4-3 against the RPI top-50. Michigan is currently projected out but has beaten both Duke and UCLA and gave UConn all the fight the Huskies could handle. Georgetown is sitting outside the bubble. You want to try and stop Greg Monroe? Those same Huskies couldn't. At home. Want to bet against him on a neutral court in a one-and-done setup?

Yes, the E! Network is sending the USC song girls to scary places for a reality show, but unless one is a candlelight dinner with Randy Johnson, nothing is as frightening as the prospect the top seeds face.

Meanwhile, all those projected top seeds just aren't all that frightening. Duke will get a No. 2-No. 4 seed, but the Blue Devils, who have lost four of their last seven, couldn't look more beatable if they wore Detroit Lions jerseys. Louisville is its own brand of enigma wrapped in a riddle wrapped in a full-court press. Xavier, currently a No. 3 seed in Joe Lunardi's projections (albeit before Thursday night's loss), has dropped its last three road games, two to teams wondering whether the CBI is still around. Tennessee has all the enthusiasm for defense that Joe Paterno has for contact lenses.

Even at No. 1, there is uncertainty. Memphis, which owns the nation's longest winning streak, and Oklahoma could both claim top seeds, but the Sooners lost to 12-11 Arkansas and Memphis' best win (according to the RPI, though Gonzaga might disagree) is over Tennessee. The Sooners' defensive efficiency rating is 49th in the nation. No team in the past five seasons has made the Final Four with an efficiency rating anywhere near that low.

So how exactly did we get to this free-for-all?

Part of it is performance. The ACC and Big East have been so good all season long that teams which, in a normal year, might find a comfy spot somewhere in the middle of the top seeds are pushed to the bottom of the bracket. Add the lack of depth among mid-majors -- only the Mountain West and Atlantic 10 seem like certain multi-bid conferences - and the result is a host of teams fighting for the bubble that have already proved what they can do against the nation's best. In perception, at least, that makes for a bubble that seems much more fearsome than one filled with teams you'd need a satellite package to see regularly.

The rest, of course, is parity. The SEC, Big Ten, Mountain West and particularly the Pac-10 all have a host of very good teams, whose records are as much a factor of when, where and how games were played rather than serious differences in talent.

All of which makes for one heckuva March cocktail and the kind of eruption to come that usually involves a volcano full of sulfur or John Daly and an economy-sized tub of bean dip.

So just kick back and enjoy one unforgettable bubble show.

Assuming, of course, the bubble doesn't get indicted first.

Bubble Trouble Like Never Before originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Fri, 20 Feb 2009 17:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Most People Who Watched the NCAA Tournament Online Did It at Work

Chas Rich — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 01:53:00 EST

Filed under: March Madness, Media Watch

CBS Sports is gearing up for the NCAA Tournament. That includes their popular March Madness On Demand online streaming video service. Arguably it would be useful to watch out-of-market games in your area. Especially, for example, if you went to a Big East school and live in a Big Ten market.

The reality, is that it was primarily utilized by people at work. According to CBS, about 90% of the online viewership were at-work viewers. This, of course, shocks no one. It merely confirms the assumptions, and makes it increasingly likely that network administrators will be attempting to block the site this year.

Most People Who Watched the NCAA Tournament Online Did It at Work originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Wed, 18 Feb 2009 01:53:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NCAA Blames Media for Confusion Over Vitaminwater Deal

Chas Rich — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: March Madness, Media Watch

The NCAA and Vitaminwater were not happy with the spate of news and blogs covering its corporate sponsorship agreement. Specifically, they were unhappy with reports on how the NCAA was restricting which flavors of Vitaminwater would be made available to the student-athletes at championship events because several contained impermissible or banned substances. In response, the NCAA issued a press release.

They claim the coverage was the problem with a press release titled, "FOR THE RECORD: NCAA Corrects Inaccurate Media Coverage of the NCAA/Vitaminwater Relationship."

Recent media and blog coverage, including the February 10, 2009, AdAge.com post "Vitaminwater Runs Afoul of NCAA Banned-Substance Rule," incorrectly states that student-athletes should not drink six of Vitaminwater's varieties or they might test positive for banned substances.

In fact, normal daily consumption of any of the 13 Vitaminwater varieties will not place a student-athlete at risk for testing positive for banned substances.

Of course not, why would anyone inaccurately state that? Oh, that's right, because of the notes from a January Student-Athlete Advisory Committee [SAAC] meeting right on the NCAA's own site stated the following:

The SAAC also heard from Latrice Sales, NCAA assistant director for health and safety, about issues in the drug-testing area, including the availability of Vitamin Water at NCAA championships. Some flavors of the product contain impermissible or banned substances, and the student-athletes believe that an aggressive educational effort will be necessary to help student-athletes understand that consuming some flavors of the drink could result in a positive drug test and the consequences that follow, including lost eligibility.

[Emphasis added.]

Then there was the poster that Deadspin received that was purportedly created by the National Center for Drug Free Sport -- a company that performs drug testing for the NCAA. It warns against various flavors of Vitaminwater being off-limits. The National Center for Drug Free Sport and the NCAA deny authoring they made the poster.

The NCAA has not clarified where the errors were in the reporting of the story that led to the claimed inaccuracies.

The NCAA itself in its initial FAQ on the Vitaminwater sponsorship helped create the "inaccuracies." The FAQ explained how some Vitaminwater flavors would not be made available to the student-athletes and why. Curiously, the link to that FAQ is now gone -- instead it shows the new press release that blames the media.

The good news, is that Google Cache still has the original (for now). Just in case, the cache gets scrubbed or updated, here's a screenshot. The FAQ contained the following statement.

The entire line of vitaminwater products (all 15 flavors) may appear in retail displays next to NCAA championship themed promotions, but there will be no direct association between the impermissible 6 flavors and the NCAA. There also will be a visible disclaimer in those situations.

Clearly, this was all the media's fault.

NCAA Blames Media for Confusion Over Vitaminwater Deal originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Fri, 13 Feb 2009 14:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NCAA's Message to Athletes on Vitaminwater: Try It Carefully

Chas Rich — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 12:10:00 EST

Filed under: March Madness, Media Watch

Coca-Cola is a major corporate sponsor for the NCAA. Especially when it comes to the NCAA Tournament. Coke is also the corporate parent of Vitaminwater and those "Try it" commercials. That has led to a marketing agreement for vitaminwater to be on the sidelines of all of the NCAA Championships including the NCAA Tournament, and available to the players.

The problem is that of the fifteen flavors of vitaminwater, six have banned or impermissible substances in the ingredients that could result in a failed drug test by the player. A failed drug test, could cost the player a suspension or even losing his scholarship. Do not worry. The NCAA has a plan on how to handle this.

The first part of the plan is simple. None of the flavors with the banned and impermissible ingredients will be made available on the court to the players. They will be available for sale to those attending the game. No worries that there might be confusion or mistakenly stocking any of the wrong flavors down on the court. That could never happen.

As for the second prong is, well, the players are just going to have to know the risks.

The [Student-Athlete Advisory Committee] SAAC also heard from Latrice Sales, NCAA assistant director for health and safety, about issues in the drug-testing area, including the availability of Vitamin Water at NCAA championships. Some flavors of the product contain impermissible or banned substances, and the student-athletes believe that an aggressive educational effort will be necessary to help student-athletes understand that consuming some flavors of the drink could result in a positive drug test and the consequences that follow, including lost eligibility.

"An aggressive educational effort," over which beverages by a corporate sponsor are safe to drink? Because the corporate deal the NCAA set up could inadvertently screw over the student-athlete? Good to see the NCAA showing that concern for the student-athlete they like to stress.

NCAA's Message to Athletes on Vitaminwater: Try It Carefully originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Wed, 11 Feb 2009 12:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Economy Won't Effect Tourney Seeding

Will Brinson — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 23:00:00 EST

Filed under: WCC, A-10, ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, MVC, MWC, Pac-10, SEC, WAC, March Madness, Coaches, Fans, Rumors, South

Travel costs for universities are a big deal in this economic climate. Look no further than the bowl "selections" that occurred this year -- there were a substantially larger number of teams hanging close to home, presumably to allow for cheaper travel for both the schools and their fans.

But the NCAA says that will not be a huge deal this year, and supposedly, geographical distance will not affect a team's pairing.

Selection committee chairman Mike Slive said during a conference call Tuesday that while the committee is sensitive to the economic climate, it has a responsibility to the nation to provide balanced brackets for the NCAA's marquee event, which begins in mid-March.

Whether or not this actually happens (I think it will, personally), this is still a tremendously positive statement for college basketball fans. There would be nothing worse than to see March Madness' inherent beauty -- the cross-country scramble to converge on one location -- tainted for the greater good of "economic stability."

Geographical selection isn't necessarily a problem for college football, though. Outside of the BCS bowls, any reduction of costs is substantial enough of a win for a team to validate staying close to home, not to mention an increase in ticket sales. But for college basketball, where the postseason actually matters, any sort of regional favoritism would be highly detrimental to the basic setup of the postseason itself.

Economy Won't Effect Tourney Seeding originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Tue, 10 Feb 2009 23:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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