Congratulations Syracuse Orange. You outlasted the Connecticut Huskies through six overtimes, the longest game in Big East Conference history, to win 127 - 117. So what do you earn for this Herculean effort? A date with the Mountaineers of West Virginia roughly 18 hours later.
'Cuse guard Jonny Flynn carried the Orange on his shoulders over the Huskies, scoring 34 points and dishing 11 assists while playing all but three minutes. To compare, West Virginia leading scorer from Thursday played 40 minutes - an entire non-overtime game. Flynn played for 67 minutes, nearly the equivalent of two games.
Syracuse's talent has never been questioned this season, but their will and desire has. Thursday's game alleviated those doubts and have elevated the Orange to the level of championship contender. The team trailed in every overtime period, not taking their first lead of extra time until the final period. Once they got that lead the whole arena knew they weren't going to give it up.
Nevertheless, Syracuse will most likely get destroyed tonight by West Virginia. Even though the Orange are the far better team, there is no way they can come back after a 3 hour 46 minute game to even stay close with a Big East team.
'Cuse really does not even need to win tonight though. They were a lock for the NCAA tournament even before last night's game, and with the way they performed the selection committee has already penciled them in for at least a four seed. The best thing for Syracuse now is rest.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
D.R. KO'd by Netherlands
The World Baseball Classic played host to one of the biggest paradoxes of recent memory Tuesday - having less than half-a-million dollars being greater than three-fourths of a hundred million.
The Dominican Republic team, made up of athletes that combined to earn 83.4 million dollars in 2008, were knocked out of the WBC by a Netherlands team that collected 400 thousand.
One has to look at this Dominican team full of major leaguers and wonder what went wrong. How can a team made up of 23 current MLB players lose to a country with only two?
Showing off my college education, I'm going to use a philosophical theory known as Occam's razor to find out what went wrong for the D.R. .
The theory states that simplest and most obvious answer is usually the correct one. One can deduce from this to look at the top, or best players on the team, to place blame on the losses.
The highest paid player on a team is most likely considered the best, or most valuable. Alex Rodriquez was that person for the Dominican. Rodriquez reporter to camp for the team but was forced to leave in order to have surgery on an injured hip.
Nevertheless, whenever his major-league team suffers A-Rod is the first person to get the blame; therefore it makes sense that when his national team falls on hard times he should shoulder the shame blame.
Him not being able to play did leave a big hole at third base, forcing short stop Miguel Tejada to play an unfamiliar position.
Looking back at the last World Baseball Classic, the most disappointing team was an American team that could only manage an eight-place finish. What does that team have to do with this year's Dominican team? A certain Alex Rodriquez was a part of both teams.
So there's the answer. When in doubt - blame A-Rod.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Top 10 Tuesday: Excuses for not doing a top 10 this week
10. The economy
It's getting blamed for everything else going wrong right now, why not this too. In my mind though, if it wasn't for the bad economy I would have a real job and not be doing this blog in the first place - so it's also to blame for this whole site.
9. Daylight Savings Time
Not falling asleep until 3 a.m. two nights in a row would throw a wrench in your creativity too.
8. World Baseball Classic
Who would have guessed that baseball in March would be entertaining enough to distract people from things they should be doing? See no. 9: lack of sleep equals easily distracted.
7. It's so nice outside
Temperatures in the 70s are not normal for Nashville in March. Enjoy it while you can - highs in the 40s are just around the corner.
6. Too hot in my office
FYI - I'm calling the upstairs in the house my office - and it's ridiculously hot up here. Turning the air conditioner on in March is anti-religious in the Stone house. Instead we open windows. Any one else think they can be clever in a 82-degree room?
5. Facebook
It keeps college kids from doing their homework so I figured I could still use this excuse. I'm only less than three months removed from school.
4. Heyy TV!
If you read last weeks Top 10 you know that I like TV - a lot. Sometimes it can be a curse. (Have no fear employers out there. TV would not affect my work if this were a real job.)
3. Spider in the shower
Strange but true, I do most of my good thinking in the shower every morning. Something about the heat and steam just opens up my creative side. Tragically, my shower was interrupted before it even began today by an eight-legged assassin climbing up my foot. I did manage to send it on the most wicked water slide of its life before any damage was done, but the ritual was of course ruined.
2 & 1Upcoming NCAA Tournament
March Madness is so important that it takes up two spots in this countdown. Creating tables and updating records, RPI's, and SOS's took up the majority of my mid-afternoon. Nine teams have clinched tourney bids and six teams unable to win their conference tournaments have been added to the at-large side of the chart. Check back most likely Saturday for my full NCAA Tournament blog which should include seeds for every team I project to make the big dance.
It's getting blamed for everything else going wrong right now, why not this too. In my mind though, if it wasn't for the bad economy I would have a real job and not be doing this blog in the first place - so it's also to blame for this whole site.
9. Daylight Savings Time
Not falling asleep until 3 a.m. two nights in a row would throw a wrench in your creativity too.
8. World Baseball Classic
Who would have guessed that baseball in March would be entertaining enough to distract people from things they should be doing? See no. 9: lack of sleep equals easily distracted.
7. It's so nice outside
Temperatures in the 70s are not normal for Nashville in March. Enjoy it while you can - highs in the 40s are just around the corner.
6. Too hot in my office
FYI - I'm calling the upstairs in the house my office - and it's ridiculously hot up here. Turning the air conditioner on in March is anti-religious in the Stone house. Instead we open windows. Any one else think they can be clever in a 82-degree room?
5. Facebook
It keeps college kids from doing their homework so I figured I could still use this excuse. I'm only less than three months removed from school.
4. Heyy TV!
If you read last weeks Top 10 you know that I like TV - a lot. Sometimes it can be a curse. (Have no fear employers out there. TV would not affect my work if this were a real job.)
3. Spider in the shower
Strange but true, I do most of my good thinking in the shower every morning. Something about the heat and steam just opens up my creative side. Tragically, my shower was interrupted before it even began today by an eight-legged assassin climbing up my foot. I did manage to send it on the most wicked water slide of its life before any damage was done, but the ritual was of course ruined.
2 & 1Upcoming NCAA Tournament
March Madness is so important that it takes up two spots in this countdown. Creating tables and updating records, RPI's, and SOS's took up the majority of my mid-afternoon. Nine teams have clinched tourney bids and six teams unable to win their conference tournaments have been added to the at-large side of the chart. Check back most likely Saturday for my full NCAA Tournament blog which should include seeds for every team I project to make the big dance.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Weekend Wrap-up
In case you spent this past weekend under a rock - here's what you missed.
T.O. + Buffalo = ...?
Former Dallas Cowboy wide receiver Terrell Owens didn't stay on the open market long, signing with the Buffalo Bills over the weekend. Owens should bring a much needed boost in touchdown receptions to the team, as-well-as his usual baggage to the locker room.
World Baseball Classic
Surprise, the WBC is actually somewhat entertaining. Even more surprising is the play of the American team - they're actually taking it serious this time. With big wins over Canada and Venezuela, the U.S. men's Olympic basketball team doesn't look to be the only redeem team this calendar year.
T.O. + Buffalo = ...?
Former Dallas Cowboy wide receiver Terrell Owens didn't stay on the open market long, signing with the Buffalo Bills over the weekend. Owens should bring a much needed boost in touchdown receptions to the team, as-well-as his usual baggage to the locker room.
World Baseball Classic
Surprise, the WBC is actually somewhat entertaining. Even more surprising is the play of the American team - they're actually taking it serious this time. With big wins over Canada and Venezuela, the U.S. men's Olympic basketball team doesn't look to be the only redeem team this calendar year.
A-Rod goes under the knife
Yankees' third baseman Alex Rodriquez opted to have surgery on his hip last weekend instead of rehabbing it. The procedure should sideline the player for 7-10 weeks. It's a shame this couldn't have happened to Rodriquez any time between 2001 and 2003. Who knows the time he might have been out. Two weeks? Three weeks at the most right?
NCAA basketball heating up
Selection Sunday is less than one week away and things began to heat up last weekend. Pitt over UConn, Carolina over Duke, and Davidson bowing out early in their conference tournament were some main headlines from the weekend. Watch for my NCAA Tourney projections on this page later this week.
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