a bit "Stew"-ed
in deference to Dave's comment, i will agree that Utah State got jobbed. royally and thoroughly. and sure, yesterday i was stomping mad about it, though i didn't really have any sympathetic ears to rant to.
but when i really looked at the bracket today and saw that BYU, Richmond and UTEP had all made it, i just couldn't maintain the moral indignation for very long. so i'm sorry, Dave, but the acrid invective for the selection committee just wasn't there. blame it on a sick dog.
Comments
Well, then, allow me to rant--though not necessarily about Utah State. Oh yes, the Aggies should have gotten in, and my vote for the team they should be there in place of goes to Air Force. I don't take much joy in that, b/c Air Force is a nice underdog story, but they sucked at the end of the season. BYU could have been left out, b/c they only beat one even team of any note out of conference. Of course, that team was Oklahoma State. But BYU's like a little Notre Dame in its arrogance, and I would shed no tears if it was left out.
As for OK State, it should be a No. 1, not Duke. I don't understand why the Blue Devils were considered such a lock for the No. 1, other than the fact that they're Duke. The selection committee sez it loves how a team played in its last 10 games, and Duke went 6-4. Is that so great? The Dookies will not make the Final 4. Neither will St. Joe's, but everyone already knows that, and besides, I'm pulling for the Hawk to go as far as possible.
Biggest screw job among those that made the tourney hands down goes to Pitt. The Panthers had a decent argument for a No. 1 seed; instead they're a 3 in at worst the second-toughest bracket, and will probably play Wisconsin in Miilwaukee in the second round. I hope Pitt destroys the Cheeseheads and their ghastly style of play (though Devin Harris looks kinda nice based on the little I've seen him play).
And let's hear it for the East Rutherford Bracket!
Posted by: David | March 15, 2004 07:05 PM
It all goes back to John Cheney's quote. I guess Duke can do no wrong. When Duke loses it shows just how stacked the ACC is; when Pitt loses it shows that the Big East is overrated.
Of course, the Big Ten can scream as well. UConn split with Pitt in the regular season, lost the regular season championship to Pitt by one game, beat Pitt for the conference tournament championship and got a spot one seed higher than Pitt. Wisconsin split with Illinois, lost the Big Ten by a game, beat Illinois to win the tourney and got one seed lower. The only thing consistent about the selection committee is their inconsistency. At least BYU isn't set to play on Sunday this year.
As far as Pitt-Wiscinsin, two years ago, Pitt got to play a higher ranked team in Pittsburgh, so what goes around comes around.
Thursday can't get here soon enough.
Posted by: jake | March 16, 2004 11:22 AM