Old Spice Classic: Day 1 thoughts, Day 2 predictions

Ah, Thanksgiving weekend, a time for food, family, friends, football and corny alliterations college basketball. Yours truly has the privilege of being on site to cover the Old Spice Classic, an eight-team tournament at the HP Field House located at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, FL.

Day 1 thoughts:

No. 5 Oklahoma State 97, Purdue 87

As has been the case many times already this season, the NCAA’s new foul rules ruined what should have been an excellent game between two talented teams. The zebras called a staggering 60 fouls in the game which led to a ridiculous 74 free throw attempts.

Super sophomore Marcus Smart dropped 24 points in the first half for the Cowboys and finished with 30. Purdue valiantly fought back in the second half and trimmed Oklahoma State’s lead to four late after trailing by 23 at the break, mostly thanks to huge contributions from some of the team’s younger players. But again, sadly the story in this one was the piss-poor officiating which made the game unbearable to watch.

NCAA Tournament Thoughts: Day One, Early Session

I guess you could call this a running diary, but it’s really more just my thoughts as the games progress. There will be very little rhyme or reason to the updates, they’ll just arrive as things come into the cosmic skull jelly that rests between my ears. Enjoy.

Games on right now are: Butler/LSU, Memphis/Cal State Northridge, BYU/Texas A&M

12:36 P.M. – Someone in the bar I’m at just asked if it bothered me that 2/3rds of Butler’s roster should probably be playing at Indiana. *Sigh* No, not in the least bit. I love our scrappy players and our newly clean program and love watching coach Crean build it from the ground up *double sigh*. I mean we won a whole six games this year!

12:41 – So if you go to Cal State Northridge, do you just walk around waiting for the next earthquake to hit? I grew up in California, I’m pretty accustomed to acts of God, but even I wouldn’t spend four minutes in Northridge. Do you think the residents just walk around in a constant state of flinch?

12:49 – Anyone else think Jim Nantz just feels lost without Billy Packer?

12:52 – Texas A&M is currently up 26-8 on BYU. Off the top of my head I can’t think of a college basketball game I’d enjoy watching less than that one other than any Indiana game this year.

12:54 – I’d just like to add that BYU got in over San Diego State after the Aztecs beat them in the Mountain West tournament. Nope, not bitter at all. Enjoy the NIT Aztecs fans!

1:04 – Watching the LSU game reminded me that last year the Tigers’ coach, Trent Johnson was at Stanford and pulled one of the rarest moves in NCAA Tournament history. Johnson got ejected with 3:36 left in the first half of Stanford’s second round game against Marquette. I can’t remember another coach ever getting ejected during the tournament. I’m sure it’s happened but it’s gotta be one of the rarest things in sports, right?

1:10 – During Matt Howard’s senior year of high school The Baker had occasion to cover one of his games. After I told him I was bummed Howard had selected Butler over Indiana, he proceeded to tell me that Howard was only alright and would suck in college. Howard averaged 14.6 points and 6.7 rebounds this year as a sophomore. The Baker’s analysis = Fail.

Speaking of which, LSU enters the half with a 35-29 lead over the Bulldogs.

1:20 – Texas A&M leads BYU at the half 42-30. Even typing that sentence made me yawn.

1:21 – Cal State Northridge is hanging around with Memphis, they’re down just 34-31 at the half. Memphis is playing undisciplined, fouling a lot, turning the ball over and not guarding particularly well. Shocking.

A Northridge win would certainly shake up the tournament and bring a lot of people’s brackets tumbling down. Personally mine would be a huge pile of rubble.

Am I a horrible person because I’m making earthquake jokes or am I a horrible person who happens to be making earthquake jokes?

1:30 – Anyone else get really into the games when they’re on, then when they all go to the half at the same time you get the feeling like you’re starting to sober up in the middle of a night out? Rallying from that is always tough, you decide to down like 3 drinks in succession, end up really drunk really fast. Then the next thing you know you’re waking up in a dumpster in Hoboken. I know I’m not the only one that’s happened to, right?

1:37 – Somebody woke up the Butler. The Bulldogs are down just 1 right now. Their comeback was led by Matt Howard … FUCK! good for him.

1:39 – Wow, I was burned out on those John Mellencamp “This Is Our Country” Chevy commercials two years ago. Now I’m openly hostile towards them.

1:42 – WHITE GUY DUNK FROM NORTHRIDGE!!!! WHITE GUY DUNK FROM NORTHRIDGE!!!! 36-35 Memphis, 17:20 to go.

1:44 – Butler just went ahead 42-41 on a backdoor alley-oop. Athleticism at Butler? Next you’re going to tell me the Hoosiers are the sixth best basketball team in Indiana.

1:48 – Christ, Howard is an academic All-American too. Does he dress up in costume by nightfall and fight for truth, justice and the American way?

1:51 – Northridge actually tied Memphis at 40, but before I could do an update they were down 3 again.

1:52 – After and ill-advised 3-pointer from Memphis missed, Northridge answered with an ill-advised 3 that went in. 44-43 Northridge leads. For the first time in his life the look on John Calipari’s face is less than confident. I love March.

1:56 – WHITE GUY LAY-IN FOR NORTHRIDGE!!!! 46-43 CSN!

1:57 – Butler back in front of LSU 54-53 on a layup from someone other than Matt Howard.

2:04 – I can’t keep up with this Northridge/Memphis game. It’s 56-56 but it seems like they’re both just scoring at will. By the way, friend of the site Thporth is at the game. He claims everyone there not from Memphis is rooting hard for Northridge. 62-56 CSN with just over 10 minutes left.

2:11 – LSU is getting rescued by some timely 3-pointers. 63-58 LSU with just about four minutes left.

2:14 – For those who like average basketball, Texas A&M is up 72-57 on BYU with five minutes remaining.

2:17 – LSU and Memphis are starting to look like they’re settling into solid leads. Memphis up by 6 with four minutes left, LSU up 6 with 1:45 left.

2:21 – Howard just fouled out for Butler. Game over. 68-63 with 35 seconds left.

2:42 – Just left the bar and headed home for the later games. Good early round action so far. Memphis, Texas A&M and LSU Advance.

Coming up now: Purdue/Northern Iowa, Maryland/California, Connecticut/Chattanooga and North Carolina/Radford.

2:48 – I’m going to avoid the Purdue game as much as possible but because I live in Indiana that will be nearly impossible. Ugh.

2:59 – I can’t get over how much Purdue coach Matt Painter looks like Shane McMahon. It’s uncanny.

3:14 – Purdue up 32-20 at the half. Way to show up Northern Iowa. UConn and North Carolina are playing close with the 16 seeds, because that’s what 1 seeds do.

3:28 – Cal vs. Maryland is on here. How is this game supposed to be more compelling than watching the first half of either of the 1 seeds?

3:45 – Northern Iowa has closed to within 10 of Purdue. Yippie. These second session games have been the definition of disappointing.

3:56 – UConn 42, Chattanooga 17 with 2:40 to go in the 1st. Ouch.

4:10 – Northern Iowa still hanging around with Purdue. 50-44 with 4:46 left.

4:22 – I’m thoroughly enjoying the thought of Purdue fans squirming right now. Northern Iowa has cut it to 55-51 with 1:07 to go.

4:27 – 56-54 Purdue after a HUGE 3-pointer from the corner by UNI. 16.7 to go. Getting nervous Boilers?

4:29 – Annnnd that’ll do it. UNI made it interesting but Purdue advances 61-56 in a very lackluster performance.

4:40 – That’s going to wrap up my updates for the early games, as it’s time for me to head to the gym. Enjoy the rest of the afternoon and thanks for tuning in.

McD’s Bowl Picks Part One

Right off the bat (what does that phrase even mean, by the way?) I’m telling you this: there is absolutely no way I’m risking my .500 record against the spread with unpredictable bowl games between random schools from the Sun Belt conferene and C-USA. Nope. Ain’t happening. .500 against the spread is what I’ve been waiting for. I have redeemed myself after the Great Bowl Gambling Debacle of 2007-08 and nothing can take that away from me (though I did finish last regular season one game over .500). Especially a bunch of terrible bowl games. Work, work, work, work.

The bowl season is a totally different animal from the regular season. Teams have weeks to prepare for one game, so they put tons of wrinkles into their game plans which means many teams look nothing like they did during the regular season. Then you have to deal with coaches coming and going in between the end of the regular season and the team’s bowl game, so who knows who will actually lead a team onto the field that random day in late December? And I don’t just mean changes at the head-coaching position, either. Teams change coordinators at this point in the season too. Auburn hired Tony Franklin before it’s bowl game after the 2007 season and he only had a couple of weeks to make the O look good. Everyone looks different this time of year, so I’d be crazy to risk my successful record on this crap. Besides, I got my ass kicked last year in bowl season, so I’ve learned my lesson.

That doesn’t mean I’m not going to be gambling away for the next few weeks. It’s just when I finish 15 games below .500, I need to have explained my incompetence beforehand.

So fire up for the first weekend of college football bowls…with the Eaglebank Bowl, the New Mexico Bowl, the St. Petersburg Bowl, the Las Vegas Bowl, and the New Orleans Bowl. Uh, sweet. It’s probably not a good idea to pick games I won’t even be watching (except for one), but I’m going to do it anyway. I’ll be updating with scores on each of these games, plus I’ll be picking every other bowl game too, so join in the epic fail!

With this spate of terrible bowl games, isn’t bowl season the perfect time for ESPN or another station to adopt the FanZone? The EPL has used it for a few years and it’s absolutely wonderful. I’ve made my case for it in the past, but now more than ever with these very underwhelming games, isn’t it time to add a little spice to the broadcasts? Wouldn’t you rather watch a couple of crazy fans from Troy and Southern Miss call their bowl game instead of a couple of disinterested professional announcers? And how great would the games that actually do matter be with a couple of fans calling them? Florida/Oklahoma? Utah/Alabama? Hell, even Missouri/Northwestern — the fantastically nicknamed “Prose Bowl”? The FanZone’s time has come in college football. Viva FanZone!

Saturday, December 20, 2008

11am ET

EagleBank Bowl

Wake Forest (7-5) at Navy (8-4) (+3)

The first time these two teams played, Wake Forest shat the bed with six turnovers. That’s pretty much the only reason Navy’s offense was able to score that many points. I seriously doubt Riley Skinner is going to come out and throw another four picks against Navy. That said, the Demon Deacons really need to run the ball well or they’re screwed.

For it’s part, Navy is going to do exactly what it always does. They’ll run the option and play bend-but-don’t-break defense. This game is practically guaranteed to be close, and though I love me some option football, especially when it’s played by service academies, I just can’t get behind Navy in this one. Wake has enough time to prepare and fix the mistakes they made during the regular season. And no, I don’t want Jim Grobe to become Indiana’s new coach after next year.

Pick: Wake Forest

Update: Wake Forest 29 Navy 19.

Wake did what it could do to lose this game. Usually, Navy and other option teams hold the ball too much for teams to come back on them. But Wake got it together and won a game they should win, though the cover was in doubt until the last minute. It was good to see the Demon Deacons run the ball well again. Riley Skinner only had to throw 11 passes, completing all of them, and thus Wake was able to play their game. It seems as though Skinner used to be their guy, but now it’s important for them to get the game out of his hands. Something to watch for heading into Skinner’s senior season in 2009.

Bowl Record: 1-0, 1-0 ATS

2:30pm ET

New Mexico Bowl

Colorado State (6-6) at Fresno State (7-5) (-3)

I love it when two teams coming from conferences with “west” in the name have to travel the hell over to New Mexico to play a football game. It’s even more fun when neither team is particularly good at defense. The part that gets me is the opposite direction these teams have gone this season. No one expected anything out of CSU, who hadn’t had a first-year coach take them to a bowl…ever. 6-6 and a New Mexico Bowl bid isn’t going to blow anyone away, but it’s a start. Fresno State was initially one of those teams threatening to go undefeated and break into the BCS. Then they had a close loss at home to Wisconsin and proceeded to lose four more games after that, including a serious blowout at the hands of Boise State.

Colorado State hasn’t won a bowl game since 2001, while Fresno State has won three of their last four bowl games. To me, that speaks mostly to the style each team plays. Pat Hill’s Fresno squad favors a balanced, pro-style attack and enough defense to win the game. Colorado State’s teams have historically been running squads that de-emphasized the pass. This year, however, CSU is averaging nearly 250 yards per game throug the air and their quarterback has thrown for more yards than Fresno’s much-hyped QB Tom Brandstater.

I’m also worried there won’t be as much offense as the experts think because both teams are soft against the run and are facing teams who favor the run. There ought to be some big plays, but I’m not so sure there will be as many as people think, especially with a couple of weeks to prepare. Look, I know no one cares about this game any more than I do, so let’s just get on with it.

Pick: Fresno State

Update: CSU 40 Fresno State 35.

I’m a believer in Gartrell Johnson after this game. That guy’s a beast. I’m also a believer in the non-clutchness of this year’s Fresno State team. They blew leads in quite a few big games, including the Wisconsin game, got blown out by Boise, and now this mess. I respect Pat Hill’s ethos and I respect his decision to stay in Fresno despite several offers. But, man that team needs to get it together for 2009.

Record: 1-1, 1-1 ATS

4:30pm ET

Magic Jack St. Petersburg Bowl

Memphis (6-6) at South Florida (7-5) (-12)

I don’t know much about Memphis, but I know USF has a hell of a lot to prove in its last game of the 2008 season. At one point, the Bulls were 5-0 and on their way to winning a shitty Big East conference, but then they went 2-5 the rest of the way, and now they’re stuck in a pointless bowl aganist a C-USA team. But hey, at least they only have to drive to St. Pete.

On paper, the Bulls should win this one going away. Memphis has done some nice things, but they’re just 6-6 and not particularly impressive in any facet of the game. Their strength is running the ball, but that doesn’t help beacuse USF’s defensive strength is stopping the run. Apparently, Memphis has some dude who’s six-eight at receiver, but like James Hardy for IU in the Insight Bowl last year, tall guys can be stopped.

This game rests squarely on the surprisingly underpowered shoulders of Matt Grothe. He’ll get his rushing yards no matter what, but if he keeps the Tarvaris Jackson act up, this will be another embarrassing loss for the Bulls. All he’s gotta do is make smart decisions, not throw the ball to the other team, and try to run for a bunch of yards on a suspect Memphis defense. Keep it simple, guys.

Pick: USF

Update: USF 41 Memphis 14.

Memphis has a running back named Curtis Steele. And knowing what I know about Visanthe Shiancoe, I am pretty shocked that’s not his porn name instead of a running back for Memphis. Alas, Mr. Steele didn’t get to run like he normally does, as the Bulls pretty much dominated the whole game.

Matt Grothe is now the all-time career total offense leader in Big East history, and he hasn’t even played his senior season yet. In the game, he passed Pat White and pretty much never looked back. Grothe has been starting since he was a true freshman, but I had no idea he’d been THAT productive. Jeez. Imagine how far ahead he’d be if USF hadn’t sucked for so much of this season.

Record: 2-1, 2-1 ATS

8pm ET

Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl

(16) Brigham Young (10-2) at Arizona (7-5) (-3)

The spread and the experts seem to think this is Arizona’s game. And yet, if BYU’s increasingly shitty defense will be able to stop anyone, I would think it would be Arizona’s offense. What is it the Wildcats do, offensively, anyway? They hired away a coordinator from Texas Tech, of all places, so you’d think they’d be a throwing team. Instead, they have a balanced offense and rely heavily on running backs Nic Grigsby and Keola Antolin. I know, I know, I love Willie Tuitama too, but though the Wildcats have scored a ton of points in a few of their games, their O is definitely containable.

Which means this game depends on BYU’s D to make enough stops so their offense can keep up and take the lead. That’s been an issue in their last few games, though, in which the Cougars have not been impressive at all defensively. I realize BYU is at a disadvantage since all their players seem to be in their mid-twenties, having finished their missions already, but you would think that age issue would balance out in disciplined play and experience. Not so much. BYU players are old, I tells ya! Old!

Sadly, this game is our best option on Saturday for obvious reasons. I love the rising amount of bowls each year, but it means there are quite a few shitty games and only a few that create matchups worth watching. Yeah sorry, St. Petersburg Bowl, that Memphis/USF matchup just isn’t that sexy to anyone outside of half of Tennessee and Tampa/St. Pete. Deal with it.

I’m just not sold on Arizona. Though BYU had a ton of SNAFU’s to end the season, they’ve had some time to prepare and fix their problems. Arizona spent the whole season playing about as well as it possibly could, and they’re still only 7-5. I’m going to go with Max Hall and pray the Cougars can find the high level of football they had early in the 2008 season.

Pick: BYU

Update: Arizona 31 BYU 21.

Fucking figures. I thought it was odd as hell that Arizona was favored over a very good BYU team. Hell, I’ve SEEN Arizona play multiple games this season. They aren’t that good. Don’t get me wrong, I love me some Willie Tuitama, but I never expected BYU to totally shit the bed like this. I like saying “shit the bed” instead of “choked,” by the way. Much more colorful, especially when referencing Mormons.

Worse, Bronco Mendenhall seemed okay with the loss, saying 10-3 is a good season, or some complacent shit like that. Go ahead, pretend your team didn’t just drop an easily winnable game to a mediocre team. But at least Mike Stoops’ job is safe for another season. He finally got his guys to a bowl game, UA’s first since 1998. I can’t believe Arizona has been this bad for this long. That’s insane.

Anyway, Stoops will be back, which is surely good news for the rest of the Pac-10, unless you’re USC’s horrible offense. The Wildcats seem to be good at shutting them down lately. Then again, everyone is good at stopping USC’s offense lately. Eh, Phillips? Eh?

Record: 2-2, 2-2 ATS

Sunday, December 21, 2008

8:15pm ET

R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl

Southern Miss (6-6) at Troy (8-4) (-4.5)

When third-tier schools from Mississippi and Alabama get together, you know it’s going to be hot hot hot! And there’s no way the fans of these two schools are only making the roadie because the game is in New Orleans and they can party the entire weekend. Nope, not possible. I wonder if they’ll even remember to go to the game. “Dude, let’s just watch it at the bar!”

This Troy team is the same one that blew a huge leage against LSU in Baton Rouge in a game that was delayed because of a hurricane. The Trojans are very good for a small-conference team and have some legit players at several positions. They run well, they throw efficiently, and have a serious advantage along both lines.

Southern Miss, on the other hand, is in just its first season under Larry Fedora. I’d say this is a good first step for them, but they have several holes and that should cause them some issues against Troy. Didn’t it used to be Troy State? Whatever.

Pick: Troy

Update: Southern Miss 30 Troy 27.

Know this, Troy: no one likes you or your conference. I’m embarrassed for everyone involved. How the hell is anyone going to make an argument for a playoff that includes all 11 conference champs when you go out and lose to Southern freaking Mississippi. Even if Brett Favre were still their quarterback, their record wouldn’t be any better than 6-6. They’re that mediocre. Guh.

Record: 2-3, 2-3 ATS

Derrick Rose Is A Candy Connoisseur

We all know the art of picking a sound NCAA Tournament bracket is beyond the reach of most. Hell, it’s not even an art. A baboon could randomly select a better bracket than most of us who consider ourselves knowledgeable could.

But when it comes to picking which team will win the final game, well, that’s a lot easier. It’s just one game. And this year I’ve come up with the perfect logic.

Everybody seems to be riding the Derrick Rose-Chris Douglas-Roberts bandwagon straight to the net-cutting ceremony. In fact, 59 percent of the country thinks Memphis will win tonight, according to ESPN.com’s latest poll.

In the words of Lee Corso, not so fast my friends.

While I do tend to lean toward guys with three names to get the job done in pressure situations (like Lee Harvey Oswald…too soon?), I’ve got reason to believe Kansas will outlast Memphis tonight.

The reason is simple: Kansas is a well-oiled machine. The Jayhawks are men, guys who have been playing together for awhile and play stingy defense. They have the ability and personnel (Brandon Rush) to shut down Derrick Rose.

Rose, on the other hand, appears to be a 5-year old trapped in a 6-4 point guard’s body. Seriously, who misses a media session because he’s eaten too much candy? And, as we all heard earlier, he’s deathly afraid of needles.

Hopefully Calipari can keep him away from the honey buns long enough for him to play tonight. Now I see how he got Rose on the Memphis campus in the first place:

Calipari: As you can see, we run a high-speed, free-flowing offense that will accentuate your abilities.

Rose: Um coach, I don’t weally know what that means. Do you have gummy bears and coworing books? That would be neat.

Calipari: Sure, uhh, yeah. We could get gummy bears. And gummy worms even.

Rose: Yay!!! I’ll pway for you.

Seriously, you’re going to trust that guy to deliver in a championship game? No way.

Greatest Photo We’ve Seen Lately? Yes.

So this weekend there was a much-publicized postgame fracas following No. 1 Memphis’ 79-78 win over UAB. Above is one of the greatest action shots of a postgame fracas I’ve ever seen (sorry I really like the term “postgame fracas”). We love this picture for so many reasons, we thought we’d list a few. Note: you may have to click on and open the photo to behold it in all of its glory. That’s the biggest blogger would let us make it.

-You have to love the big “We beat Mempis not our girls!” sign. This, of course, is a reference to Memphis player Robert Dozier’s recent legal difficulties. Note to UAB fans: It’s a funny sign, but in the future, you might want to do some spell checking. Either go with Memphis, or Mempiss, but not something in between.

-Continuing with the physical abuse theme, we love the girl in the front row with the “I dated Dozier” shirt and a black eye. Bravo young lady.

-Then there’s the guy on the right in an orange vest getting slapped in the face by an unidentified Memphis player.

-Middle finger count: 13

-Cell phone camera count: 4

-Flying pompom count: 5

-Attractive female count: 2

-Angry white guy count: 60 (approx.)

-Guys in collared shirts and ties: 3

-Smiles: 2

-Lime green shirts: 1

At this point we’d like to turn this into an interactive exercise. Something like a cross between “Where’s Waldo” and the back of Highlights magazine. Click on the photo to expand it and see if you can find some of the things we spotted. And if you notice anything we didn’t catch, feel free to add them in the comment section.

Here’s your checklist:
1. A Che Guevara lookalike biting his fingernails.
2. A really angry guy in a red/orange hat about to do something that will surely lead to him getting his ass kicked by a much larger man.
3. A guy in a yellow afro wig.
4. The 10 painted faces.
5. A d-bag wearing a pink shirt.
6. A cop with a “bitch please” look on her face.
7. An Asian guy who apparently finds something to his right FAR more interesting than a huge fight.
8. A guy in a suit.
9. Guy in a white shirt and a grey hat who someone tells me looks like one of the brothers from Good Charlotte. Are they even a band anymore? Because that would help explain why he was there.
10. Three examples of Bama Bangs.

You guys have fun with that. Let us know how you did.