Jabe's NCAA Field of 65 - March 1, 2010

Last Six In:

St. Mary's
Illinois
Connecticut
Dayton (I know close losses are a tough measure, but look at Dayton's close losses against the top 25)
San Diego State (Case gets stronger by others getting weaker)
Virginia Tech (Should not be in, but who?)

First One Out:

Rhode Island?? (Would someone play there way in please!!)

Others under consideration:

Notre Dame
Arizona State
Charlotte
Mississippi
Mississippi State
Wichita State
Minnesota

Jabe's NCAA Field of 65 - February 23, 2010

Last 5 In:
Marquette (needs to win out in Big East)
Charlotte
St. Mary's
Illinois (has a more marginal resume than thought)
Connecticut (playing their way in with big W's)

First 1 Out:
Florida (will determine fate vs UK, Vandy and the Vols)

Still Under Consideration:
San Diego State
Cincinnati
Mississippi
Mississippi State
Arizona State
Memphis
Seton Hall

Jabe's NCAA Field of 65 - February 18, 2010

Last 5 In:

Marquette
Charlotte
Florida
Oklahoma State
Mississippi

First 1 Out:

St. Mary's

Still Under Consideration:

Cincinnati
Northeastern
Mississippi State
San Diego State
Wichita State
Texas Tech
South Florida

NCAA Field of 96 - Good or Bad Idea

By now you have probably heard the rumblings that the NCAA is looking at expanding the Men's College Basketball Tournament to as many as 96 teams. Opinions have been very strong in favor or opposed to this expansion. My initial thought was in favor, but I needed to do some more work on it. I put together a 96 team bracket based on games through Sunday, using current bracket forecasts, RPI and my own style in putting the bracket together. You can click on the bracket at the right for better viewing. My observations are as follows:

1) 96 teams appeared to be a few too many this year. When selecting the final at-large teams, I was selecting between the 13th team from the Big East or Mid-Majors with fairly weak resumes. My last four in were Missouri State, North Carolina, Iona, and Wright State. I gave the last two the nod over St. John's because they are the second place teams behind strong conference winners (Siena and Butler). The fact that North Carolina made the bracket shows how deep a 96 team field goes. The best news is I don't think there is a team who could argue that they were snubbed.

2) The games should be played at the same site as the first two rounds, expanding the opening rounds to 6 days and 3 rounds. Trying to geographically match-up the first 32 games would interfere with the integrity of seeding. I have heard rumblings about using home floor of the higher seeded team for the first 32 games - the beauty of the tournament is the neutralish sites.

3) The selection committee should make sure they are careful with the distinction between an 8 and a 9 seed. In the past, the designation only determined what color jersey you would wear in the first round. Now it means a bye and fresher legs. I gave preference to conference winners such as Old Dominion, Siena and UAB over mediocre teams from major conferences who are the 4th or 5th team from their league.

4) The biggest difference you will notice, is who the 1, 2 and 3 seeds get to play in their first round game. Typically, the last 10-13 teams in are automatic bids of teams from the weakest conferences. These 10-13 teams will be weeded out in the opening round in all likelihood and if they do win, the beneficiary will be the 6,7, or 8 seed. So instead of Jacksonville, Kansas could have a date with an underachieving UConn. Duke vs Coastal Carolina - nope - Duke against a young but more dangerous Memphis. The round of 64 becomes much more competitive and the potential for upsets increases.

5) That said, the opening round is only for die-hards. Very few big name teams will be playing, but there are really good match-ups in the 16-17, 15-18, 14-19, 13-20 and even 12-21 games - very similar to the tournament first round now where the 1-16 and 2-15 games are mostly unwatchable besides the one every year that is close for 30 minutes. But the stars and name teams will not be there, so ratings expectations should not be set too high.

6) The a 12 always beats a 5 will be replaced by a 20 always beats a 13. The 12's might still conquer the 5's, but they must first defeat the 21, adding a small layer of complexity.

7) Filling out a bracket will take a little longer and may decrease entrants in your office pool.

8) In the end, I am still in favor of 96. Although the last few at large teams are more deserving of a sandwich, the potential changes to the tournament from 64 to 1 outweigh this in my mind. Here's to 96 in 2011!!!

RANDOM THOUGHTS

Just some Random Thoughts on Sports - not Deep Thoughts, just random.

For what its worth, I think we will be watching Indianapolis and Minnesota in Miami in two weeks and the NFL bigwigs will *insert word* their pants they will be so happy.

NBA fans proved they are absolute idiots. Allen Iverson starting in the All-Star game? Seriously? He hasn't been an All-Star caliber player for several years now. Idiots.

I hope aging left-handed starting pitchers are a gold mine.

Why can't they just tell us how long they expect a college athlete to be out when they are injured. If Jon Leuer is done for the season, let Badger fans know that we have no chance in March. HIPAA blows.

I never got to say how glad I was that the Big Ten beat 4 Top 15 teams in Bowls this year and was the only conference to place 4 teams in the final Top 25. This from a conference whose typical recruit would lose a foot race with Rerun from Good Times. Experts, there is a reason that almost half the players on the field are huge and its called football, not track & field.

In a similar context, I can't wait for the NFL combine when general managers forget about a players on-field performance in College and focus simply on the workout numbers. Again, its called football.

Is there any way Tiger misses the Masters? Ummm...I don't think so.

I think they should expand the NCAA tourney to 66 this year....and let the UConn women in.

It would be easy to say pitching, so I am going to say Rickie Weeks holds the key to the Brewers season.

The NFL moved the Pro Bowl before the Super Bowl and will play the game at the same venue. Only problem is, unless the Jets win, like 15 players who were elected to play, and who are legitimate Pro Bowlers (NBA=idiots) will be unable to play because they have a kind of important game the next week. It might be time for the Pro Bowl to go the way of the 8 track.

Avatar just looks weird.

The NFL owes us this weekend - 6 of your 8 playoff games have been duds. Yes you gave us one classic. A big thanks for that one.

I like pizza.

Until the next one.....

PACKER PLAYOFF HEARTBREAK

The Green Bay Packers 51-45 loss to the Arizona Cardinals yesterday was gut wrenching. I don't get too excited about regular season games anymore, but playoff games are a different story. I was a nervous wreck yesterday. I sat in different spots, different positions, I stood, tried to put a hex on a kicker - all to have my heart drop to the floor when Karlos Dansby ran into the end zone. Today, as I thought it over, I realized, this is the way of life for a Packer fan. They have been to the playoffs 13 times in my 35 years. They won the Super Bowl in 1997. So there have been 12 playoff losses in that time. The first four were to the Dallas Cowboys, all on the road, but none were really that close. The 1995 NFC Championship Game was difficult because I knew the Packers were getting close - which was validated the next season. But since that Super Bowl victory, 5 of the 8 losses, including yesterday's, have been absolute heartbreakers. And the other 3 had heartbreaking aspects of their own. Maybe it is more healthy to be home for the playoffs. Re-live these with me for a moment:

1997 (Season) Super Bowl loss to Denver - The NFC had not lost a Super Bowl in over a decade. The Packers were double-digit favorites. Freeman catches a TD on the first drive. Heartbreak follows. And we must forever watch John Elway do that helicopter play.

1998 Wildcard loss to San Francisco - The pre-replay game. The Packers fought from behind to take the lead. Jerry Rice fumbles, but he doesn't. Only time for one play. Terrell Owens provides the heartbreak this time. I will never understand the Packer Safeties being 3 yards deep in the end zone. It didn't work. We will miss you Mike Holmgren.

2001 Divisional playoff loss to the Rams - Not heartbreaking - unless you consider that our Superman QB throws 6 INT's. How about a repeat in 2010 vs the Cowboys Brett??

2002 Wildcard loss to Atlanta - Once again, not a heartbreaker as the game developed - but who saw the Packers losing a cold weather playoff game to Michael Vick and the Falcons of all people. This game single-handedly altered the Packers Lambeau advantage for some time.

2003 Divisional playoff loss to Eagles - 4th and 26. OT Interception. This one stung because of all the missed opportunities. I still think Sherman should have challenged the spot on the Favre scramble prior to the 4th and 26. And even then, a conversion on 4th and less than one wins you the game too (the Belichek theory). But Sherman punted, the Packer Safeties moved back again, and the Packers lost a great opportunity to get back to the Super Bowl.

2004 Wildcard loss to Minnesota - Randy Moss fake moons the crowd - despicable to Joe Buck - but not as despicable as a home playoff loss to the hated Vikings. While not as heartbreaking as some of the other games, I had to watch this one in the presence of my #1 Viking friend. Ouch.

2007 NFC Championship loss to New York - All the cards fell into place - the Packers got to host the game when New York upset Dallas, it was freezing, and it appeared #4 would have his last moment in the sun (or cold). But some uninspired play, missed opportunities and an all-to-familiar interception dashed our hopes again. To be so close again and fall short.

2009 NFC Wildcard loss to Arizona - An instant classic, but one you hate to watch from the losing end. The band-aids that were put on in the second-half of the season must have gotten wet, because they definitely fell-off. But even so, 99.9% of humans, including the Cardinals, thought they had lost when Green Bay won the toss in overtime. The rest is history.

So what will next year bring. Well, this looks like a playoff caliber team. So don't be surprised if it is a 34-27 loss to New Orleans on a blocked field goal return for a TD on the last play.

Year in Review - Wisconsin Sports 2009

Team of the Year:
UW-Whitewater football - The Warhawks defeated Mount Union to win their second D3 championship in 3 years. The resurgence of the Packers and Badgers was good, but an undefeated championship tops them both.

Game of the Year:
Wisconsin basketball over Duke. I never thought this would happen in my lifetime - but it makes me smile every time I think about it. And the Badgers controlled the game from start to finish, showing that this program is firmly established as one of the best in the nation. Too bad no one realizes it.

Disappointment of the Year:
Milwaukee Brewers - the Crew followed up their first playoff appearance in 26 years with a disappointing 2009. The pitching staff fell apart (didn't we see that coming in the Exhibition season?) and too many players has sub-par years (Hart, Hardy, Hall). The Fielder/Braun window is closing fast, but the team does not have the means to get the necessary pitching. I fear I will be able to write this same paragraph next year.

Most Electrifying Newcomer:
Brandon Jennings, Milwaukee Bucks - Jennings got people excited about the Bucks, at least for a few weeks. Injuries and inconsistent play have hit again (and what has happened to Michael Redd??), but Jennings seems like a building block to get things going again.

Most Heartwrenching Moment(s):
The Green Bay Packers losing twice to the Brett Favre-led Minnesota Vikings. Ouch. Still hurts. Could we have one more chance please?? I know the Packers made the right decision and Aaron Rodgers is awesome, but if Tavaris Jackson was the QB of the Vikings, I would feel much better.

Biggest Reason for 2010 Optimism:
Wisconsin Badger football. The Badgers lose a few key players in O'Brien Schofield, Garrett Graham, and Chris Maragos, but after a 10-3 season, a victory over Miami in the Champs Sports Bowl and the return of John Clay, Scott Tolzein, Chris Borland, Nick Toon, JJ Watt, Mike Taylor, Lance Kendricks, and all 5 offensive lineman - I have three letters for you - B-C-S!!!