Thursday, March 20, 2008

Friday Fun

Picks for tomorrow, before I wrap up my three hour workday and head to Verizon. And another picture for Whit.

(6)Oklahoma/(11)St. Joe's - I believe Oklahoma has lost games this year scoring 45 (twice) and 49 points. That's bad folks. St. Joe's beat Xavier twice...I love Xavier...therefore St. Joe's wins. Keep it simple stupid.

(3)Louisville/(14)Boise St - Siena thumped Boise by 20 during BracketBusters. I would have to believe Pitino and the boys win by at least that.

(7)Butler/(10)South Alabama - Butler got hosed with a 7 seed. And they might not escape this game because of it. Wait, 30 seconds of research...and I'm going South Alabama. We'll call it the Ronnie Arrow Redemption Story.

(2)Tennessee/(15)American - Some clarification please - it's not American coach Jeff Jones that pummeled the colon of Melissa Stark, right? Tennessee scores 100 in this one.

(2)Texas/(15)Austin Peay - Texas is good. Austin Peay has a funny name.

(7)Miami/(10)St. Mary's - I know absolutely nothing about these two teams. So we'll take the so-called mid-major. Plus, I need at least one WCC team to advance.

(8)Mississippi St/(9)Oregon - I believe it was Seth Davis who said this is more like a 6/11 game. We here at G:TB are big fans of Miss St. sophomore Jarvis Varnado, who averages 4.6 blocks a game. The SEC might, like the Ukraine, be weak, but I'm still trying to figure out how Ernie Kent's squad got into the Dance.

(1)Memphis/(16)Texas-Arlington - There are 328 teams in Division 1. Memphis is ranked 326th in free throw shooting. As a team, they shoot an abysmal 59.6% from the line. Obviously, it won't hurt them here, but sooner or later...

(5)Clemson/(12)Villanova - As I mentioned in the comments the other day, I was impressed by the veteran guard play of the Tigers, as well as the athleticism of the big men. And screw Villanofun - they forced my beloved Cuse to the NIT.

(5)Drake/(12)Western Kentucky - I like Drake's story. Don't hate the Drake, people.

(4)UConn/(13)San Diego - Hasheem Thabeet is also a G:TB fav. San Diego's star guard is apparently the grandson of crazy jungle juice drinkin' Jim Jones, so I'm not backing him and his crazy cult lineage.

(7)Gonzaga/(10)Davidson - Davidson was 20-0 in conference play. I don't care what conference you're in, posting a 20-0 is damn impressive. As is the backcourt of Stephen Curry (the well-known star) and Jason Richards (the underrated PG)...Richards just happened to lead the country with 8.0 APG. Right, I'm not talking about the Zags at all...no need to, they're out.

(2)Georgetown/(15)UMBC - For our boy Geoff, Roy will go 22, 15 and 5 in this game against a UMBC frontline with no one taller than 6'8".

(1)UNC/(16)Mt. St. Mary's - Moving on...

(8)Indiana/(9)Arkansas - Ugh, I don't want to pick the Hoosiers, but I kinda have to.

(4)Vanderbilt/(13)Siena - I saved the best for last. Since the beginning of the season I told anyone who would listen that Siena would win the MAAC, AND would win their 1st round tourney game. So far, so good...now we just need the Saints to find a way to outscore a very balanced 'Dores squad led by Shan Foster and Aussie big man A.J. Ogilvy. Go Saints.

138 comments:

T.J. said...

Dennis is going to be so bitter - I just pointed Danny Ferry in the direction of the nearest brew.

Whitney said...

According Rick Vaughn, high school classmate of Danny Ferry, he's the type of guy who's probably looking for a Coors Light.

Whitney said...

And it's the same Jeff Jones.

Also known for leaving his wife for the team manager while he was UVA head coach. The team manager was, in fact, female. And best friends with my high school girlfriend. They were occasional patrons of Arlington's Cowboy Cafe (North) for a while in the late 90's, if only on half-priced burger Tuesdays.

Oh, and he's known in some circles for playing and coaching basketball. But that stuff you can find in the media guide.

Sizzle said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Sizzle said...

TJ, before the festivities begin today, I had to ask if you named your bracket "More OJ, No Mayo" ?

T.J. said...

I went with "No the (D.J.) White Phone" instead.

T.J. said...

Georgia...

rob said...

all right, all right, all right.

can't wait to see what google searches bring people our way after teejay's latest.

zman said...

What's all this about Melissa Stark's colon? Is it at all related to John Starks' testicle?

rob said...

gives a whole new meaning to the old snl skit about colon blow cereal.

rob said...

portland state is killing my bracket.

rob said...

tough time for deadspin's server to crash.

T.J. said...

Sundiata - not a name.

T.J. said...

No one told me Jimmy Kimmel coached Xavier.

rob said...

sean miller: a few years from becoming rick majerus.

T.J. said...

Dennis says Miller has a better metabolism.

TR said...

I'm out from the bunker finally. It just dawned on me that I don't have to work tomorrow, meaning I have the whole day to drink scotch, watch basketball and drink beer.

I'm dying to talk about my big upset pick in the first round, but the karma gods will punish me. Or so said Gregg Easterbrook, before he went to stare through the window of his local high school's ladies room and masturbate.

One last comment - that girl in the Wheelhouse photo with Bruce Pearl is phenomenal. It looks like Bruce Pearl waxes his chest, but it's hard to rip on the guy after that shot. You kinda admire him in the same way you admire Joe Francis. And you KNOW Bruce did more than put his arm around that girl. I bet it's good to be loved at Rocky Top.

I think there's a similar photo of Coach Shaver with his arm around a Tribal Dancer. Except she was wearing a turtleneck. And he couldn't really get his arm all the way around her rolls of flesh. Go Tribe.

rob said...

are we beyond the subprime crisis? can i go spend profligately on risky ventures like peep porn once again?

Geoff said...

We'll be back with more "Comments on Gheorghe About Pictures Posted on the Wheelhouse" after this message from Munsignwear.

Mark said...

There's been remarkable progress in my hate for Georgia this year. I mean, first the cocktail party and now they're gonna Xavier out of the tourney this early? Fuck, fuck, fuck.

Mark said...

There we go fellas...

rob said...

nice reverse jinx, mark. well played.

teejay would be on the edge of his seat, but it's likely he's already passed out underneath it.

rob said...

gotta confess that i'm a little worried about being able to stay awake for the 9:50 pm mason/notre dame tip. really makes me wish i hadn't quit my coke habit.

Geoff said...

Do what TJ does...wait til your wife goes to bed and then drink 9 vodka red bulls out of oversized red wine glasses.

Mark said...

I'm betting TJ just made some stranger uncomfortable after that second 3 in a row for Xavier.

T.J. said...

What a fantastic game.

And Geoff, she doesn't have to be asleep...

T.J. said...

I punched Dennis very hard in the ribs.

T.J. said...

Woooooow

zman said...

Further thoughts on mustaches:

http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/news/story?series=2&id=3301695&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab3pos2

Mark said...

Sundiata Gainese just needs to start shaving his head.

T.J. said...

Game on bitches...game on.

Mark said...

Somebody named Carter Blackburn is announcing the Marquette-Kentucky game. Who has names like this?

T.J. said...

So that was a damn satisfying game.

The suprise suite spirits didn't hurt.

T.J. said...

Geoff's high school friends.

Geoff said...

Chase, Carter, Reed, Bryce, Chadwell, Hewlett...to the Hamptons!

Whitney said...

Is it true that Geoff was born Jeff Burgdorf and changed his name to fit in with that gang?

Whitney said...

I like to say that I always root for the underdog, and that's a lie. Georgia was a huge underdog, and it would've been an exciting story -- fans of other SEC schools notwithstanding. I couldn't bring myself to root for them because a Xavier loss would've really screwed up my pool(s). It's personally disappointing, and next year I am picking the underdog in each and every game. Which may hurt my chances.

Geoff said...

Underdogs are overrated.

T.J. said...

It puts the lotion in the basket...

Geoff said...

or it gets the hose again...

rob said...

baylor, killing the dream.

rob said...

vegas, wow. didn't see that coming.

Whitney said...

Oral Roberts just went on television and proclaimed that unless he gets 65 second half points, the Lord is going to call him home.

rob said...

compelling games this session. glad i left work for this.

T.J. said...

The guy next to me has Care Bear gummi bears.

Swint, get excited.

Geoff said...

Yeah, the guy with the care bears just emailed me this:

The guy next to me keeps blogging on his blackberry, laughing silently yet uncontrollably for no apparent reason, has consumed 17 coors lights and mistook the pebbles in the centerpiece for jelly beans...twice.

zman said...

I still don't understand what Melissa Stark's colon (or her stay-puft goodness -- or her mallowy sweetness) has to do with any of this.

Mark said...

Is dominic James the dumbest player in America? I say yes.

rob said...

there is evidence to back you up, mark.

rob said...

why do the mottrams keep giving those dead tree crew douchenozzles free publicity?

T.J. said...

So, Oral Roberts..bad.

T.J. said...

I worry about Chris sometimes

Greg said...

overdogs are underrated

rob said...

bill walker has a thing or two to say about his friend's press clippings.

Whitney said...

If there is a dearth of upsets, do we congratulate the committee on a job well done?

(I hope not.)

Mark said...

Which friend Rob, Mayo or Beasley?

Also, TJ has got to be really, really enjoying Duke's struggles with Belmont.

Jerry said...

USC doesn't look interested in playing basketball.

T.J. said...

Tim Floyd's the Norv Turner of the Pac 10.

Mark said...

I don't even know what that means...does he have an awful complexion?

rob said...

i was thinking mayo, but beasley works, too.

Jerry said...

Tim Floyd is the Robert Palmer of coaching.

T.J. said...

Belmont...

Mark said...

Jerry emerges from underneath hs pile of Apple Skoal cans...

Mark said...

Even Serge Zwikker thinks brian Zoubek is a stiff.

T.J. said...

Greg Koubek hates him.

Mark said...

Greg Koubek has Thomas Hill's bird is his mouth right now but nodded in agreement.

Jerry said...

Is Vince Gill really a big enough celebrity to warrant this much air time?

I really hate Washington State.

Mark said...

Evidently not, my gf just said that's not Vince Gill. Of course, I said, "um yeah, thats Vince Gill, you know, the country singer".

To which she replied, "Oh, I was thinking of Johnny Gill."

T.J. said...

So was Swint

Jerry said...

Just got paid....Friday Night....

Whitney said...

What the hell do you have against (the late, very good? Robert Palmer? Just because he had a lot of success with other people's tunes? He did just fine with his own songs as well, which is more than a little fellow named Elvis Presley could say. Sheesh.

Mark said...

Man, quick guards with questionable jumpers sure give Duke a lot of trouble...

T.J. said...

Someone go check on Dennis.

Jerry said...

Kevin Harlan has used "laser" as a verb at least 5 times in this K-State game.

Mark said...

I keep thinking USC's gonna take over the lead but everytime they get close KSU goes on a 5-6 point run.

Jerry said...

They did have to travel all the way to Washington.

Jerry said...

Suck it Greg! K-State 69. USC 58.

T.J. said...

Michael. Beasley.

Jerry said...

BEEEEEEEESLEY!!!!!!!

T.J. said...

Winthrop gonna crack 40?

Mark said...

OJ Mayo's better than he gets credit for but he wastes so much time either dribblign or holding the ball out top.

And Beasley nails a three...fuck me.

Mark said...

If you're not rooting for Belmont, well, you're the devil.

Jerry said...

Mayo's game seems to be different than his personality and I think that confuses people.

Jerry said...

A school that's named after a horse race...

T.J. said...

I had to have the day games...

Mark said...

Good point.

Is Geoff at the late games tonight in DC? If so, nice timing on his part.

Jerry said...

If Duke played D like that all game, they'd be in the locker room already.

Mark said...

Take a charge for christ's sake. Henderson went 90 feet straight up the floor.

Mark said...

A lob under the basket is the best play you have in that situation? Duke's not the biggest or most athletic squad but I'm pretty sure they get the nod over Belmont.

T.J. said...

Is Vitale the time keeper in this game?

Mark said...

beat me to it.

How come John Wooden never talks about having somebody in the shadows who can illegally bankroll your talent in those insurance commercials/

Jerry said...

Let's go you mormons.

Jerry said...

Are these TV Timeouts longer than the regular season?

T.J. said...

Fucking Aggies.

T.J. said...

Hahaha Billy Gillipsie...

Jerry said...

Damn. I picked the Mormons on all 3 brackets. It's all slipping away.

Mark said...

I just refused to believe that A&M could win. Why would I put that much trust in the damned Mountain West?

Oh right, I'm racist.

Jerry said...

Wow, the CAA and a realtors commercial? It's all coming together here.

Whitney said...

TJ's overwhelming disdain for A+M seeped into my selections. I blame him.

Jerry said...

Does the CAA have any teams in that new loser tournament?

Mark said...

The CBI? They've got to, you don't even have to be .500 to get in.

T.J. said...

Yep...ODU.

Geoff said...

Nope, I'm at home. Just going to the Saturday games. And I was rooting for Belmont...but I'm sure Dennis wasn't.

George Mason is this year's. George Plimpton...dead on arrival.

Jerry said...

And a hot plate!

Jerry said...

First mention of William and Mary during a NCAA tournament game? Put it in the books.

Mark said...

It doesn't sound like the collective fan bases of Arizona and West Virgina have traveled in large numbers.

Jerry said...

Nobody cares about that game. These 7/10 and 8/9 games need a major vs. a mid-major to have juice.

Geoff said...

What's getting lost in Mason's horrible play is ND's crappy performance.

Jerry said...

UCLA's cheerleaders are a significantly more attractive than Kansas State's.

rob said...

odu faces uva in the cbi quarterfinals. they'll be the last caa team standing.

rob said...

folarin campbell looks like poop. mason has one guy that belongs on the floor with notre dame right now.

Geoff said...

Everytime the Irish score Gus Johnson sounds bummed. He's clearly an alumnus of the Buckhantz Broadcast College (aka "the other BBC).

rob said...

jordan carter's been deeeep in larranaga's doghouse for weeks - coach is pulling out all the stops.

Geoff said...

It appears that Donovan McNabb is one of the Mason cheerleaders. Unexpected...

rob said...

i've been dangerously close to that girl (as has teejay). she could kick our collective asses.

Mark said...

I'm willing to bet there's not a single person who frequents G:TB or the 'House who picked Cal-State Fullerton...

Geoff said...

Anyone who picked Cal State Fullerton is either from Fullertown, an asshole, or both.

Mark said...

It's California Geoff, they're all assholes.

Geoff said...

Seth Davis--who ever sold you that suit has a fantastic sense of humor.

Geoff said...

Yes, California is full of assholes. "Hey, look at me--I'm wearing a t-shirt to a meeting...but I'm fucking awesome cause the t-shirt cost me $400."

Geoff said...

Sad to see Huggins didn't choose to don his lapelled vest for the tourney again.

Geoff said...

Jim Nantz could make describing a gang rape sound schmaltzy.

Geoff said...

By the way...I've had a few...

Jerry said...

I'm not sure that came off the way you were intending...

Geoff said...

Rarely a day goes by where I don't mistakenly implicate myself as a victim of gang rape...

Mark said...

Speaking of gay...Chase Budinger is a poor man's Rudy Gay

Geoff said...

Gus Johnson on Luke Harangody:

"Kid is a tremendous looking athlete...(pause) Man!

Mark said...

If I didn't shave my head, I'd look like Smalligan from West Virginia...

Geoff said...

Thank god you shave your head.

Mark said...

Pretty solid night in DC.

Geoff said...

Let's hope this pattern of great games at Verizon Center keeps up thru Saturday.

Mark said...

Oh yeah, lets...

Mark said...

Lorenzo Mata...Ugliest player in college basketball?

Geoff said...

God I hate you Hughes...

Geoff said...

By my count, Texas A+M is the highest seed to advance today...as a 9. Right?

Mark said...

Yeah. Not the most earth shaking first day ever.

On paprer, you've got a nice doubleheader on Saturday.

Mark said...

Or paper...

Geoff said...

Nevermind...the boys from the little apple were an #11.