Down to Business
http://www.atomicsportsmedia.com/articles/715/1/Down-to-Business/Down-to-Business.html
Vaughn Hines
Vaughn Hines is an avid sports fan looking to turn his proud obsession into a craft. He is a Dallas Cowboys, Atlanta Braves, and University of Alabama fan. Plus he hates everything orange. Vaughn enjoys long walks on the beach, moonlit dinners, and OOPS! Sorry about that got "my spaces" mixed up. Anyway, he is the new fish in the sea looking to make a huge splash in the industry! Also check out his humble beginnings @ ictruth.blogspot.com
GodSpeed
Vaughn Hines aka Kool-Ice
GodSpeed
Vaughn Hines aka Kool-Ice
By Vaughn Hines
Published on 02/19/2007
With just a few weeks remaining before the bubbles are officially burst, many of college basketball's bluebloods find themselves on the outside looking in. Atomic Sports columnist Vaughn Hines lets you know what some big-time programs need to do if they want an invite to the Big Dance next month.
With just a few weeks remaining before the bubbles are officially burst, many of college basketball's bluebloods find themselves on the outside looking in. Atomic Sports columnist Vaughn Hines lets you know what some big-time programs need to do if they want an invite to the Big Dance next month.
Down to Business
The dust has settled in Miami, the Las Vegas slot machines have stopped ringing and battery tandems in Florida are just charging up. February is a very fickle month for casual sports fans, because the four major sporting events: the Super Bowl, NFL Pro Bowl, NBA All-Star Game and Daytona 500 are too close together. These events occur during the first couple of weeks of February, however, after the All-Star MVP Trophy is given and some driver sprays Pepsi all over his pit crew, all of the hyped ballyhoo is over.
Plus, today is a holiday. Sales are galore even in the NBA as the trading deadline hastily approaches. While Pau Gasol is being shopped, the San Diego Chargers look to lure a big tuna and pitchers try to add pitches to their repertoire; one sport will provide a buffer to its own big-time predecessor. While casual fans gear up for March Madness, die-hard fans know that the final two weeks of February, dubbed February Frenzy, determine whether teams will go in to March with their bubbles ready to burst.
The third week in February is very pivotal because every sport takes a backseat to the purest sport known to man, College Basketball. There are no contract years. There are no endorsed players. There is no coasting in the regular season. There are no teams that possess magical switches, which they use to turn on their competitiveness. During this time of year, every minute counts, every possession counts and every shot counts. The next two weeks highlight the end of the college regular season. Now analysts will start talking about a very unlikely group: RPI, strength of schedule, Cinderella and bubbles.
Is your team on the bubble? The question ranks somewhere between, “Are you on the list?” and “What’s in Paula Abdul’s cup?” The NCAA selection committee is watching as teams audition for a berth in the tournament. Normally, certain teams are such a lock that their conference tournament is just a formality. However, like the rest of the sporting world, parity has reared its ugly head in college basketball’s business.
What would Major League Baseball’s playoffs be without the New York Yankees? What would the NBA playoffs be like without Shaquille O’Neal, Tim Duncan, Steve Nash and Kobe Bryant? Would you watch? The ratings for the ’06 World Series were at an all-time low, because it lacked star power. Contrary to popular belief, America loves the juggernaut. Either you love ‘em or you hate ‘em; either way you are watching. Who wouldn’t tune in to watch a NBA Finals featuring Shaq versus Kobe? On the flip side, George Mason might have excited fans with their David-like run, but nobody watched the National Championship game last year. Well that could happen again this year.
Duke, Syracuse, Michigan State and Connecticut find themselves in unfamiliar territory. They are on the spherical elasticity, aka the Bubble. These four teams not only are tournament stalwarts, but have also won five of the last eight tournaments. These teams are considered college basketball royalty. Now they are in danger of not being invited to the dance they made famous. In the past, these teams have burst more bubbles than a bully, but this year they need to avoid the bully.
Plus, today is a holiday. Sales are galore even in the NBA as the trading deadline hastily approaches. While Pau Gasol is being shopped, the San Diego Chargers look to lure a big tuna and pitchers try to add pitches to their repertoire; one sport will provide a buffer to its own big-time predecessor. While casual fans gear up for March Madness, die-hard fans know that the final two weeks of February, dubbed February Frenzy, determine whether teams will go in to March with their bubbles ready to burst.
The third week in February is very pivotal because every sport takes a backseat to the purest sport known to man, College Basketball. There are no contract years. There are no endorsed players. There is no coasting in the regular season. There are no teams that possess magical switches, which they use to turn on their competitiveness. During this time of year, every minute counts, every possession counts and every shot counts. The next two weeks highlight the end of the college regular season. Now analysts will start talking about a very unlikely group: RPI, strength of schedule, Cinderella and bubbles.
Is your team on the bubble? The question ranks somewhere between, “Are you on the list?” and “What’s in Paula Abdul’s cup?” The NCAA selection committee is watching as teams audition for a berth in the tournament. Normally, certain teams are such a lock that their conference tournament is just a formality. However, like the rest of the sporting world, parity has reared its ugly head in college basketball’s business.
What would Major League Baseball’s playoffs be without the New York Yankees? What would the NBA playoffs be like without Shaquille O’Neal, Tim Duncan, Steve Nash and Kobe Bryant? Would you watch? The ratings for the ’06 World Series were at an all-time low, because it lacked star power. Contrary to popular belief, America loves the juggernaut. Either you love ‘em or you hate ‘em; either way you are watching. Who wouldn’t tune in to watch a NBA Finals featuring Shaq versus Kobe? On the flip side, George Mason might have excited fans with their David-like run, but nobody watched the National Championship game last year. Well that could happen again this year.
Duke, Syracuse, Michigan State and Connecticut find themselves in unfamiliar territory. They are on the spherical elasticity, aka the Bubble. These four teams not only are tournament stalwarts, but have also won five of the last eight tournaments. These teams are considered college basketball royalty. Now they are in danger of not being invited to the dance they made famous. In the past, these teams have burst more bubbles than a bully, but this year they need to avoid the bully.
Down to Business
Of the four teams, Syracuse is in the best position to make the tournament, but will probably earn its lowest seed in the past eight years. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Connecticut needs an act of congress to make it… just to the conference tournament. And judging by the way congress has been acting, President Bush has a better chance at getting more funds for war relief. The only hope the Huskies have is to make the conference tournament and snag the automatic bid. Otherwise, they will be playing their postseason ball in Madison Square Garden. Now for the other two teams, they have a puncher’s chance to get an invite. However, they play in two of the toughest conferences in the nation: the ACC and Big Ten.
Duke has North Carolina, Clemson and St. John on the road and Maryland at home. Three of these are winnable games, which would leave their record at 21 wins and 8 losses. Now, with two wins in the conference tournament Duke should get an invite. Their resume isn’t exactly spectacular but quality wins against Boston College, Georgetown, Gonzaga and Air Force will get them consideration and making it to the conference semifinals should put them over the hump. However, if Duke only wins one of the conference games left on their schedule they would have to win the ACC crown and grab the automatic bid to get an invitation.
Michigan State has Wisconsin and Indiana at home and Wisconsin and Michigan on the road. Two of these are winnable games, which would leave their record at 20 wins, 10 losses. At this point they need set the Big Ten tournament on fire and take the automatic bid. If they don’t take the bid then they have to steal the game at Wisconsin, because they lack a signature win. They are currently sixth in the Big Ten standings and have only one win against the top half of the Big Ten. Actually, Michigan State needs to finish with a four-game win streak and win two games in the Big Ten Tournament to seriously be considered for an invitation.
While the bluebloods have tarnished their image this year, some common folk have created an uprising. Boston College, Virginia Tech, Wisconsin, Butler and Washington State are straight ballin’. These teams usually achieve moderate success and make mini-runs in the tournament to the Sweet 16, or if they catch fire to the Elite Eight. However, this year these teams might be poised to do a little damage control in the big dance.
Boston College, Virginia Tech and Wisconsin are known for their gridiron glory, not hardwood excellence. The current leaders in the ACC were recruited because their football teams would give life to a one-sided conference. Instead, Boston College and Virginia Tech are giving the conference more than they bargained for, and Wisconsin is starting to steal media attention from the “Thad Five”. However, the regular season was nothing compared to the damage they intend on leaving in the tournament.
BC’s Jared Dudley and Wisconsin’s Alando Tucker might just single handedly “will” their teams to the Final Four. With the exception of Syracuse and Florida, most teams that win the tournament have a star player that embodies the winning qualities: experience, leadership, and heart. Everyone knows experienced wing play takes you deep in the tournament, and these two gentlemen are waiting to take their place among the great experienced guards.
While the princes of the college basketball look to clean up their resumes, the paupers are enjoying their seats and refuse to relinquish them; ironically, the only way to clean up is to avoid the soap and get down and dirty these last two weeks.
Duke has North Carolina, Clemson and St. John on the road and Maryland at home. Three of these are winnable games, which would leave their record at 21 wins and 8 losses. Now, with two wins in the conference tournament Duke should get an invite. Their resume isn’t exactly spectacular but quality wins against Boston College, Georgetown, Gonzaga and Air Force will get them consideration and making it to the conference semifinals should put them over the hump. However, if Duke only wins one of the conference games left on their schedule they would have to win the ACC crown and grab the automatic bid to get an invitation.
Michigan State has Wisconsin and Indiana at home and Wisconsin and Michigan on the road. Two of these are winnable games, which would leave their record at 20 wins, 10 losses. At this point they need set the Big Ten tournament on fire and take the automatic bid. If they don’t take the bid then they have to steal the game at Wisconsin, because they lack a signature win. They are currently sixth in the Big Ten standings and have only one win against the top half of the Big Ten. Actually, Michigan State needs to finish with a four-game win streak and win two games in the Big Ten Tournament to seriously be considered for an invitation.
While the bluebloods have tarnished their image this year, some common folk have created an uprising. Boston College, Virginia Tech, Wisconsin, Butler and Washington State are straight ballin’. These teams usually achieve moderate success and make mini-runs in the tournament to the Sweet 16, or if they catch fire to the Elite Eight. However, this year these teams might be poised to do a little damage control in the big dance.
Boston College, Virginia Tech and Wisconsin are known for their gridiron glory, not hardwood excellence. The current leaders in the ACC were recruited because their football teams would give life to a one-sided conference. Instead, Boston College and Virginia Tech are giving the conference more than they bargained for, and Wisconsin is starting to steal media attention from the “Thad Five”. However, the regular season was nothing compared to the damage they intend on leaving in the tournament.
BC’s Jared Dudley and Wisconsin’s Alando Tucker might just single handedly “will” their teams to the Final Four. With the exception of Syracuse and Florida, most teams that win the tournament have a star player that embodies the winning qualities: experience, leadership, and heart. Everyone knows experienced wing play takes you deep in the tournament, and these two gentlemen are waiting to take their place among the great experienced guards.
While the princes of the college basketball look to clean up their resumes, the paupers are enjoying their seats and refuse to relinquish them; ironically, the only way to clean up is to avoid the soap and get down and dirty these last two weeks.