The Big West is not top-heavy this year. Or maybe it’s all top-heavy. There is no one team that has clearly separated itself from the rest. UC Irvine has the pedigree. UC Davis has Chima. Cal State Fullerton has a big three. Long Beach State has history and the conference’s most experienced coach. Hawai’i has a steady hand and a bunch of steady dudes on a roster that makes sense. UCSB may have the best overall talent and a fresh new coach that is probably both an advantage and disadvantage early in the conference season. 

On a given night there are 2-3 AMAZING games in the conference. Basically, this race is shaping up to be a mid-major Royal Rumble cage match where only one team will be left standing. 

So let’s continue the metaphor (not a simile — I didn’t use like or as). Which team matches up with which WWF early-90’s wrestler?

Hawai’i (4-1)

Hawai’i is 3-1 in conference play. Eron Ganot’s program has transitioned into one with players who also know their roles and play mostly sound basketball. For me, they are Shawn Michaels. The Heartbreak Kid was a solid wrestling personality. Hawai’i is a solid basketball team. (I picked them 4th going into the season.) That said, they are also very confident. They like to jaw and trash talk. They maybe think they’re better than they are, though they might be just that good. 

While you could probably say it about any wrestler, the irrational confidence and all-around classic personality of this team reminded me of Michaels. 

Cal State Fullerton (4-2) 

The Titans are off to their best start in years. They have three very good players at their core with a supporting cast that understands their roles. Fullerton knows exactly who they are and aren’t. They do a few things really well and playing against them is like staring into the cold eyes of The Undertaker. The Undertaker is big and physical and knows exactly who he is. He joined WWF in 1990 — a sort of new kid on the block at our targeted time period. So, too, are Cal State Fullerton. 

Long Beach State (4-2)

I used to never pick Dan Monson’s team out of the top 4. They were always in the hunt for a conference title and a chance at the conference’s NCAA tournament bid. Some of the sheen is off Long Beach State. Recent years have brought transfers in and out, but they still play the toughest non-conference schedule and probably have the biggest overall revenue of any program in the conference. For that, this team is the Million Dollar Man, Ted DiBiase. DiBiase’s upfront capitalist attitude (“Everybody’s got a price!”) made so many people uncomfortable and made him a classic heel. 

DiBiase’s character didn’t just elicit emotional responses. He made you introspective about why you did or didn’t like him. He brought all your own moral defects to your conscious mind. In the end, you had to respect the character because he did what he did. At some point, as a fan, you knew what was coming.

UCSB (3-2) 

In a week, UCSB could be right back on top of the conference. For me, they are still the team to beat, though currently they’re in SIXTH place. SIXTH. 

Because of their big start, UCSB is Hulk Hogan. Even into the early 90’s, Hogan was still dominant and still a good guy. Eventually he turned, but the bright yellow hulk tank from ’92 screams Isla Vista to me. 

Oh yeah, Brother!

Really though, Hulk Hogan was a centerpiece of WWF for most of two decades and UCSB has a rich history and is still the favorite in my mind. The Gauchos as Hulk just makes sense to me. 

UC Davis (3-2) 

UC Davis was my preseason #1 pick. Jim Les has an intense game demeanor that, under the surface, I know is basically Ric Flair. The Nature Boy was a top-3 dominant personality in the sport for years. Kids at my high school used to put up both hands and go WOOOOOOOOOO on a regular basis. One of our student body presidents used to read the announcements in homage to Flair just about every morning. 

A few years ago, I might have picked Long Beach State to be Flair. They were the team who was always there — year after year. Davis has become that team now. They have the marquee talent in the conference in Chima Monecke. They have worked hard to get relevant and they’ll do everything they can to stay there, even if it means turning heel sometimes. 

UC Irvine (3-3)

Russell Turner continues to amaze. He’s lost two seven-footers in recent years, but still boasts the biggest team in the conference in the paint. Between Jonathon Galloway, Tommy Rutherford, Elston Jones, and Brad Greene, UCI’s power forward nearly always has a post-up advantage against the opponent. Last night, the Anteaters outscored Cal Poly 44-16 in the paint. UCI has talented guards too, but for me they are Big Boss Man. 

Big Boss Man was, first and foremost, big. He didn’t let anybody get away with anything, and that’s the way UCI has played over the past 3-5 years. The Anteaters take advantage of opponents’ mistakes and don’t let them get away with anything either. To beat the Big Boss Man, you had to be on the top of your game. Same with UCI this season. 

CSUN (2-3)

I didn’t really know where to put the Matadors, so I enlisted some help. Ghizal Hasan, their radio voice, said Razor Ramon would be a good choice. So we’ll go with Ramon. 

Ramon was good times. CSUN can be good times too when things are going well. The hair is amazing. I had one other person vote for Hardy Boys for CSUN. 

Cal Poly (1-4)

The Mustangs won their first game in wild fashion, and thank goodness they did. Cal Poly has since lost three straight including last night in Irvine. They are at their best when their games are a little weird. They have some very specialized skills, and also some very specific weaknesses. 

I couldn’t find anywhere to put them, so maybe they’re Sgt. Slaughter. Maybe it works. Cal Poly is a pretty conservative campus overall. 

As a Cal Poly fan, I’ll say this — Sgt. Slaughter isn’t afraid of anybody. Neither is Cal Poly. Sgt. Slaughter is self-made. Lots of Cal Poly guys are too — many are JUCO transfers or transfers from other larger programs. Yeah, I think Sgt. Slaughter is a decent proxy for the Mustangs. 

UC Riverside (0-5)

I don’t want to pile-on. This group lost their head coach on New Year’s Day. They’ve been without their star point guard for all of conference play so far. What wrestler should UCR be?!

I thought about this one not very much, but the guy who I haven’t gotten on this list yet is Jake “The Snake” Roberts. Since it’s pretty unorthodox to fire a coach midseason, and having a huge python in the ring is also pretty uncommon, maybe this is a match made in heaven. Jake the Snake. 

Dude, how did they let Macho Man get bit by Jake’s snake? Holy crap. 

For two glorious minutes on Saturday night, this was what the crowd looked like at the MAC. By Owen Main

For a while now, I’ve been considering writing something about this. What is an ideal in-game experience to have a great time as a fan and for the team to be most successful? For me, an optimal outcome means having a raucous crowd that can make a difference for young athletes in college. Winning is always more fun, right?

This goes for football, basketball, soccer, etc… .

Cal Poly has an athletic tradition, mostly centered around the quality of student-athlete themselves. In soccer, the sport that is the fastest-growing sport on campus for fans, tradition has been refreshed and transformed over the past few years. Students have led the student section and continue to get to games early to lay the groundwork for singing and dancing in the stands. It’s not an option, it’s an expectation. The atmosphere they’ve created, without the help of in-game production, is second to none.

So let’s talk football and basketball.

The in-game production for football is probably the most complicated of all the sports at Cal Poly. In front of seven to ten thousand fans, replays on the video board, music playing, the band playing, and making sure commercials are read all contributes to the chaos. This seasons, there were several instances during big games when people in the stands and on the field could inexplicably hear the radio play-by-play through the PA system at crucial times in the game. When the fans should have been encouraged to get loud, they were simply confused.

In another instance, a photo was put on the video board of a Cal Poly employee. To everyone in the press box, it was hilarious, and I’m trying to remember why. Perhaps we was eating something and it caught him mid-bite. Again, though, for fans, it seemed to confuse. At a time where ALL efforts could have been used to help the fans know to make noise and make it harder on the opposition, there was again confusion.

In front of a nearly sold-out Mott Athletics Center (highest attended game of the year) on Saturday night, the Cal Poly men’s basketball team needed a lift. Someone could have simply told the crowd, “Be as loud as you can when the other team has the ball. Your team really needs you.” Instead, numbers for a raffle were read-off on consecutive breaks in play, during which time the band was told to “wait,” or “hold on” or something of that nature. Over the PA system.

Nobody tells the band to wait.

So here’s what I believe. I believe that a game is more fun when everyone in the gym is into the game, with a collective mindset. I believe that promotions, when done right during the game, can enhance the atmosphere and keep fans excited and engaged.  I believe that a venue full of disengaged fans is really frustrating and I believe that a fan reaction like the last two minutes at Mott Athletic Center on Saturday night is the most fun thing about sports.

I also believe that in-game production can help create an atmosphere that is expected to be engaged on a nightly basis. I think it can be done, even at Cal Poly.

The shoe scramble is fun. By Owen Main

On Saturday, the shoe scramble and free throw contest were especially fun. On Thursday, a football player broke a mini bike he was trying to ride. Awesome. These are fun and engaging contests.

If you don’t think Cal Poly students can stand and jump around and make noise for the entirety of a 40-minute basketball game, then I say look at soccer. During a soccer game, they stand, unwavering, for more than twice that long. Students are capable of creating a great game-day atmosphere. They just need a little leadership. They need to know they’re rekindling tradition.

So, get a more organized student section. Get some student leaders, like the Mustang Manglers, and get some fan traditions started (for instance, standing until your team scores or like jumping up and down like crazy people and yelling whenever the opponent has the ball, if not for the whole game, at least for the final 10 minutes, etc…).

Then, pander to the pandemonium. Don’t stifle the best band in the conference. If you have an insane student section for 40 minutes on a nightly basis, more community fans will want to come see the spectacle too.

Right now, the Cal Poly fans and student section are good. Very good. So good, in fact, that the basketball team had won 16 consecutive home conference games before Saturday night. But, as the current business vernacular will tell you, good is the enemy of great.

If you think the crowd can’t affect a game, know this — for the first 38 minutes on Saturday night, the atmosphere at Mott was eerily average, despite the near sellout. Then for two minutes, Mott was great. The atmosphere was electric, the noise was deafening, and the basketball team made up nine points in 119 seconds. Now, the question is, for anyone who cares, can that greatness from the people in the seats be sustained?

The Big West Conference will add ESPN3 to its video platform. By Will Parris

The Big West Conference announced today that it will have up to 60 games from various sports on ESPN3 over the next eight years, starting this school year.

The conference already has national deals with ESPN and Fox Sports, who will continue to have first rights to broadcast games nationally, but adding ESPN3 gives the conference a new level of online game coverage. For the past few years, the conference has streamed live video feeds of games via Big West TV. Those will continue for games not covered by ESPN, Fox Sports, or ESPN3, though the BigWestTV feed can vary in production quality. The production quality of the ESPN3 platform will have to match ESPN’s standards.

Each game on ESPN3 will include a three-person team: play by play analyst, color commentator, and sideline reporter.

Games featured on ESPN3 will be broadcast from Southern California locations, including UC Irvine, Cal State Fullerton, Long Beach State, UC Riverside, and Cal State Northridge. While ESPN3 games will not be broadcast from the other four conference schools, it is a conference package and all schools will be featured. For example, the games will probably prominently feature teams like Cal Poly, UC Davis, Hawaii, and UC Santa Barbara on the road against one of the other five schools.

A schedule for basketball has yet to be released, but the first event featured on the new ESPN3 platform will be the semifinal and final round of the Big West Women’s Soccer Tournament, all from Cal State Fullerton’s Titan Stadium.

The semifinal begins on Thursday.

The bright orange of Syracuse and head coach Jim Boeheim joined Pitt in bolting the Big East for the ACC. By Briles Takes Pictures (Flickr: Scoop and Jim), via Wikimedia Commons

Are you a College Football fan who is excited for the new conference alignment?  Good, I hope you’re satisfied, because this process of realignment virtually destroyed the greatest sports conference that College sports has ever seen.  The creation of the Big East as a basketball conference is one of the most significant events to take place in the history of college sports. Current Big East schools have been to 16 Final Fours. The dissolution of the original Big East that has taken place over the last eight years should be considered one of the most significant travesties American sports have ever seen, and it was all because of the desire to make the most money off athletes who are, first and foremost, considered students.

Student athletes, that’s a dynamic term, isn’t it?  Can anyone actually explain to me how we should accurately classify a student athlete, because it seems as if the individuals in charge of college athletics have forgotten about the student portion of this dynamic term.  When describing why they are leaving the conference, monetary gains are a driving force. So you’re telling me that a school is willing travel farther, subsequently taking a chance on the academic success of their students’ grades, just so that they can make more money?  That sounds absolutely disgusting if you ask me.  I’m one of the biggest College Football fans you will ever meet—I bleed orange for my Beavers—but I start having problems when school officials start sacrificing a student’s grade just so their schedule looks appealing to the voters who decide the weekly rankings.

The Big East’s basketball pedigree rivals the football dominance of the SEC. The Big East had a 16-team basketball super-conference years before the SEC moved to 14 schools.

Since 1979, the Big East has produced six National Champions and 15 of the 16 teams—South Florida being the lone exception—have made it the Final Four — the most of any conference. In 1985, six years after its creation, the Big East sent three schools to the Final Four—Villanova, Georgetown and St. John’s—with ‘Nova beating Georgetown 66-64, in a game that many consider the greatest College Basketball game ever played.  Villanova, as an eight-seed, became the lowest seeded team to ever win the NCAA Division I Basketball Tournament, a record the stands to this day.  Of course, Wichita State will have a chance at breaking this record when they take on top seeded Louisville—of the Big East—in this year’s Final Four on Saturday.

Fast forward over two decades to 2009 and you can find the historic game between Syracuse and Connecticut in the Big East Tournament which lasted six overtimes.  Syracuse beat Connecticut 127-117 in a game that started at 9:30 PM ET and ended well beyond 1 AM in the morning; Syracuse did not lead in any of the previous overtime periods.  102 of the 244 points came in the overtime periods, in a game that is the longest game in the shot clock era.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=3koPRFXzi3o

Unfortunately, the opportunity for fans to watch games of similar pedigree involving the iconic Big East has ceased to exist.  Nevertheless, the Big East name will continue to exist through a new conference created by the “Catholic 7” universities—DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, Providence, St. John’s, Seton Hall, and Villanova—along with the recently added powerhouses of Butler, Creighton, and Xavier.  Even without schools like Syracuse, Louisville, and Connecticut, the “new” Big East still has potential to bring excitement that may one day match the historic competition that the Big East provided for over the past 30 years.

Not NCAA Tournament-related, but Andrew Bynum’s going to get suspended for that. Whether Beasley deserved it or not, Bynum’s not going to be playing the Lakers’ next game. The NBA doesn’t like that kind of thing… — OM

Fri 3/18 9:19

A question someone asked Ben Howland today:

QUESTION: To hear the Florida media and then the Florida coaches talk about Josh Smith, you’d think he was a unicorn. They’ve never seen a guy like him ever. Is he that unique to you? Obviously you’re his coach, but is he someone that shocks you when you see what he does or who he is and his body and everything?

Fri 3/18 8:57

Still not the 2nd round. Just wanted to make that clear. Quit trying to tell me it is!

Loco- Fish used to drive to the hoop all the time in college. He was a circus shot artist actually… funny to think of now though. — OM

Fri 3/18 8:50

Really impressed with the Huskies Isaiah Thomas. So under control, so comfortable within himself. I love the way he faces people like Derick Fisher with that left shoulder pointed toward the hoop, then with better speed than Fish, he explodes to the cup for an easy score.–Loco

Fri 3/18 8:39

Washington has been the most talented team in the Pac-10 for the past few years. The Lavin-Romar similarities (at least for Lavin’s time at UCLA) are pretty interesting. Washington seems to always be a really talented team that loses to teams it shouldn’t. Does that remind you of anyone?

Lavin and Romar both assisted Jim Harrick on the 1995 UCLA team that won the National Championship, but neither have ever been able to get their teams over the “hump.” Maybe Romar’s team this year will be better than that. It’s more likely, though, that they’ll play a team with similar talent who is mentally better and they’ll break the Huskies down like Alka-Seltzer in water. It might not happen ’til the Sweet 16 or maybe Elite 8, but when they go down, they’ll go down hard. Makes for interesting viewing. — OM

Fri 3/18 7:54

Watching Georgia v Washington. Isaiah Thomas is a stronger version of Damon Stoudamire. The Bulldogs guard Travis Leslie is the 2nd coming of Corey Maggette: strong build, athletic, and poised.–Loco

Fri 3/18 7:53

The ghost of Eric Maynor haunting Georgetown and helping his alma mater, Virginia Commonwealth. VC by eleven at the half. Hoyas senior guard Austin Freeman: 4pts on 1-5 shooting. Not gonna cut it–Loco

Fri 3/18 7:35

That guy on Syracuse looks freaking huge. He makes Lamar Odom look like a short-armed little person. Baye Moussa Keita is 6’10” and 213 pounds. A LONG 6’10”.

Fri 3/18 6:43

North Carolina 102, Long Island 87. North Carolina is bar none the most uber athletic, deep, and talented squad in the country. Harrison Barnes, Tyler Zeller, and Henson are fantastic. But they better start playing some defense.–Loco

Fri 3/18 4:20

Decent games today. The game of the night will be Marquette and Xavier. Funny how coaches like John Beilein and Mark Few and teams like Xavier, Marquette, West Virginia, and others always seem to do well in the tourney- whatever the seed. UCLA’s win over Michigan State was an exception to that rule, but Xavier and Marquette both fall into the “always do well in March” category and are facing off in the first round. Happy Friday! — OM

Fri 3/18 3:43

God dang,  Oakland can shoot the three. But I like this Longhorns team and think Barnes youngsters needed a grind out game like this. Tristan Thompson was what he’s been referred to all year, a PTPer. They are deep and will challenge the Dukies in the sweet sixteen.–Loco

Fri 3/18 3:37 PM

Tennessee looked dead and have Bruce Pearled over like a stump of roadkill: slimy and pearly with fat..gross. How do you lose by thirty when the winning team shoots ZERO freethrows?–Loco

Fri 3/18 2:32 PM
Most entertaining game thus far has been Arizona v. Memphis. What a game! I like Josh Pasten’s future with the Tigers in Memphis. Zona is getting back to where to where they used to be. How good is Derick Williams going to be in the pros? Dang.–Loco

Fri 3/18 2:30 PM

Jay Wright and Nova’ are in the worst shape of any Big East team going into next year. Lose 11 of their last 16. Blow a twenty point lead in the first game of the Big East tourney to a mediocre South Florida and blow a ten point lead today to George Mason. –Loco

Fri 3/18 11:15 AM

Commentators are saying that Tenn. is crumbling. You could argue they’ve been crumbling since before the season started. It’s a testament to the players’ skills and talent that they are in the tournament. Don’t think they’re moving on this year. One more loss in my bracket… Don’t fret Loco. OM

Fri 3/18 9:55 AM

Still in the first round. I don’t care what they say or what it says at the bottom of the screen. The “Play-in” games are cool, just don’t try to tell me they’re a round unto themselves.

Second point to make- how cool is the Internet. You can watch these games from anywhere, anytime. Good for the NCAA for making their games available on the web. You can get there from ESPN, Yahoo! Sports, NCAA, etc… It’s super-handy.

Third thought of the morning: Bruce Pearl: How long will he last? If he loses today, will it be his last game as a Tennessee coach? Should the Vols keep him on? Have they only kept him there thus far because there weren’t any other options at that point in the calendar? I guess all the Pearl-related questions will be answered soon… OM

Fri. 3/18 7:16 AM

The reason they call this thing March Madness is because it truly can make one feel that way. I lost two of my final four teams yesterday: Louisville and St. John’s. I dreamt all night of what it would be like to wear fishnet stockings and high heels. I remember the blisters that formed on my feet. Take a breath Luke, take a breath. –Loco

Fri. 3/18 7:00 AM

It’s the second day of the tournament. Can Loco’s teams rally? Will Andy’s brackets maintain their hot start. Stay tuned to fansmanship throughout the day! OM

13 of 16 picks correct on day one.  I’m pretty stoked about that.  Hopefully tomorrow will be just as fortunate.  O, UCLA won.  Sometimes you have to win dirty in a tournament format.  Quit complaining.  Be happy about the Bruins advancing!  – ADS

Thurs. 3/17 8:32

UCLA makes me freaking crazy sometimes. I would press them ALL GAME if I was the other team. They do so many things that good teams don’t usually do – miss free throws, give up open shots when they shouldn’t, have bad body language and questionable ball handling, etc… As a fan, that’s the kind of crap that makes me crazy.  OM

Thurs. 3/17 8:20

Loco- it will be OK. UCLA is a good defensive team. Bruins look so good at times and at times, especially against the press, they look like they don’t have a plan- especially Nelson. He’s my favorite Bruin I think but he doesn’t need to be handling the ball on the press… If Honeycutt stays and Smith stays, then the Bruins might be Top-10 next season. The good thing about UCLA’s future is that they’re all pretty talented, but not uber-talented enough to go to the show next year. Bruins in 2012. OM

Thurs. 3/17 8:10

Steve Lavin! If a team is outrunning and outgunning you, the last thing a team should do is try and run faster. Slow this game down! St. John’s could be another final four pick of mine who loses today.–Loco

Thurs. 3/17 8:08

Without a doubt Michigan St. is the most underachieving team in recent years. Kalin Lucas can go play in Iceland for all I care. My bracket is donzo. Put me in heels. –Loco

Thurs. 3/17 4:58

Wofford missing a lot of easy shots early. Will hurt them later. Count on it.

Thurs. 3/17 4:57

Key to the Bruins/Michigan State will be turnovers and rebounding. How many shots can UCLA knock down from the outside and how many transition buckets do they give up/ get.

If Nelson, Smith, and Lee get going, then the Bruins will be a tough out. If they are all playing bad, UCLA will struggle to stay in games. For my bracket’s sake, here’s hoping they play well. OM

Thurs. 3/17 4:55pm

OK something’s really bugging me so far today. During every game I watch, they’re calling this the SECOND round and saying that teams are advancing to the THIRD round with wins today. This really sets me off. It is the FIRST ROUND. The past two days, while part of the tournament, are not the first round. The first round stated today, and OH BOY what fun it’s been so far. Morehead State’s win was HUGE… Probably the shot of the first day… OM

Thursday, 3/17 – 4:30pm

Through the barrage of the first 8 games, I have picked 7 of the 8 correct, including 2 of my 3 major first round upsets.  Now Belmont needs to take out Wisky.  I consider a major upset a 12 beating a 5 or worse.  Morehead State and Richmond are moving on, and the winner of that matchup will take on Kansas in the Sweet 16.  This was considered in my bracket when I chose Kansas as the national champion.  The fact that they will face a team of Richmond or Morehead State’s caliber in the Sweet 16 means they basically won’t be challenged or won’t have to give a true 110% effort until the elite 8.  This gives them an advantage in that elite 8 game and in the Final Four.  My prediction is taking flight.  So far, so good.  – ADS

Thurs. 3/17 2:50

Doug Gottlieb=Frodo Baggins.–Loco

Thurs. 3/17 2:48

Memories of the little man Princeton beating the big boy popped. Close but not close enough. No consolation bracket in March. Calipari and co. survived a serious scare, 59-57. –Loco

Thur. 3/17 12:55 PM

There goes my bracket. I had L-Ville losing by four in the tournament championship game to Ohio st. Rick Pitino are you serious? I am all for cross dressing yall’, but can I shave my legs first? Damn it.–Loco

Thur. 3/17 12:37 PM

Quick informal poll for those of you with a smart phone: What is more entertaining – Angry Birds or the first day of the tournament? Keep in mind the “staying power” of Angry Birds…

Thur. 3/17 9:52 AM

I woke up really excited this morning. Today the real tournament starts. How long until someone pulls off a buzz-worthy upset or a play that turns the Internet upside down? UCLA’s not playing until tonight, so at least I won’t miss that. I picked them to beat Florida before I looked at where the game was. The Gators will have a home-court advantage in Tampa… Gotta stand by your picks though. Whose brackets are blown up already? — OM

Thur. 3/17 8:58 AM

One game you wont want to miss today? #2 San Diego st. vs. #15 Northern Colorado. San Diego st. is the most overrated high seed I have seen in recent years. Let me make myself very clear, ff they don’t lose today, they will lose in the 2nd round to Temple. Steve Fisher’s Aztecs like to get up the court and pressure teams with their hectic team defense. But Fisher’s team has faced only a couple of half-court squads during the season (BYU), and are 0-2 against them. Reigning Big Sky Conference champion Northern Colorado, is a slow tempo, low possession team, that can hit the three as good as anybody in the country. Look for Big Sky player of the year, Devon Beitzel to make a name for himself today.–Loco

Thur. 3/17 8:47 AM

Luck of the Irish? Does Mike Brey serve his two seeded Irish team green beer on the sidelines? I say yes. No luck needed today. Irish in a blowout. –Loco

Thur. 3/17 8:37 AM

Twenty three minutes and counting until the best playoff format in the world of sports tips off. Unfortunately we are beginning with a grind-it-out poor shooting affair in WV v Clemson. Bob Huggins is 23-18 all-time in the Madness. Better known for his brooding personality on the sidelines then he is a brilliant coach, Huggins has arguably does his greatest job this season.  Without their two leading scorers from last seasons final four squad, the Mountaineers won eleven games in the stacked Big East and come in as a five seed. Can you say overrated? Don’t think so. This is a low possession v high possession game. Usually in the March tournament, a low possession team wins out. WV 59, Clemson 55.–Loco

Thursday 3/17 12:20am

Couldn’t believe the selection committee selected UAB instead of Colorado when they did it, and the Blazers getting curb-stomped in the field of 4 by 18 only re-affirms it.  How can a team that beat Kansas State three times, and Texas not get a bid?  Ridiculous.  Anyways, visions of buckets about to dance in my head!  It’s almost like Christmas Eve!  Good night!  – ADS

Wed. 3/16 8:13 PM

I wonder, what if Brandon Davies had stayed celibate? If so, things would be different. BYU can Fredette going anywhere in the tournament. –Loco

Wed 3/16 8:04 pm

It looks like my ideas about the Pac-10 surprising the pundits might already be crumbling. VCU is fun to watch though. They look better than USC, but I also think USC might have a lot better chance to pull an upset on Friday. They sure could use Bryce Jones’ athleticism out there. Here’s a fun story about Jones’ high school team, Taft High School from Woodland Hills, CA:

When they came to a tournament in San Luis Obispo (Jones won the slam dunk contest and his team won the tournament), there were more adults on the bench than players. Really. It was like every player had their own personal handler. Timeouts were like Chamber of Commerce Mixers. And the fun didn’t stop there. Taft also brought their public address announcer to announce their lineup at the tournament. He was good, but it was awkward and hard to get excited knowing that he wasn’t introducing both teams. It was quite a spectacle.

When that is the world a young player “grows up” in, it’s no wonder that some adversity causes that player to break down and act in a dysfunctional way. That’s the chance a coach takes by recruiting players like Jones who are high risk and high reward. With VCU’s athleticism and length, I’m sure Kevin O’Neill wouldn’t mind another talented athlete to turn to. The way USC is turning the ball over though, having another freshman on the court (no matter how talented) probably wouldn’t help them much. OM

Wed. 3/16 7:35 pm

Yes, the tournament technically started on Tuesday night, but the brackets catch fire for real on Thursday. Follow us here for continuous updates and analysis from the Fansmanship.com crew.

Since winning the National Championship last year, all I’ve heard from people is how much they hate Duke, how much Duke is over-rated, how people are sick of hearing about Duke, how much people hate Coach K, blah blah blah.  But in reality, is there anything to hate about Duke?

Let’s take a look at some facts:

Coaching

– Mike Krzyzewski has been coaching Duke Basketball for 30 years. (For current active coaches, he is only second to Jim Boeheim of Syracuse).

– Coach K is 4th on the list of all time winning coaches, 1st in the last 10 years. 888 wins 281 loses.

– Loyalty:  In all 30 years, Coach K has been offered numerous jobs in the NBA for high profile teams and top dollar. In all cases, Coach K has declined NBA jobs to stay loyal to Duke.

– Tapped to restore United States pride for USA Olympic basketball after a dismal and embarrassing performance with a bunch of “know it all individuals” from the NBA. (Coaching and earning a Gold medal in 2008 with the Redeem Team).

– Pure Class:  When is the last time Coach K has made the news about NCAA violations, scandal or any other bad press?

– Coach K Has led Duke Basketball to 26 tournament appearances. Probably would have been 27 and 27 in a row if he didn’t have back surgery in 1995 and had to leave the team.

Team

– 26 total NCAA tournament appearances

– 14 final four appearances

– 4 National Titles

– 9 players of the year, 11 if you count all the years (Jason Williams and J.J. Redick have won this honor twice)

– 11 ACC player of the year, 13 if you count all the years (Danny Ferry and J.J. Redick have won this honor twice)

– 18 ACC Championships

– 71 players drafted into the NBA

– 89 percent graduation rate (players leaving early for NBA counts towards this ratio, school has a 97% graduation rate)

– 55 All Americans

– 14 Academic All Americans

So let me get this straight, people hate Duke Basketball because they win, have a loyal coach, have a strong history of class and discipline in academics and athletics, as well as develop phenomenal/well-rounded individuals when they leave college (when is the last time a Duke basketball player in the NBA has gotten arrested)?  This makes absolute sense…. *cue sarcasm*

I understand that there is an “elitist” mentality when it comes to Duke, but can you blame them?  Duke only expects the best from their athletes, coaches and students; is that so wrong?  (I blame Christian Laetnner for this reputation, but everyone deserves a gimme, great winning shot though).  Also, let’s be real, North Carolina is Tar Heel country; there are obviously more Tar Heel fans than Duke fans and they loathe each other.  Weird coincidence, but do you ever hear any hatred towards Roy Williams?

So go ahead, hate Duke, encourage the scandal, the shady coaching/recruiting, the academic mediocrity; discourage excellence, loyalty and class– That’s America for you, Land of Frauds, Home of the Bullshit.

— Matt Nguyen (aka Nuge)

Disagree?  Email me at matt@fansmanship.com

How do I know? The 7-8 record isn’t exactly remarkable. The team’s 54.6 points per game going into Thursday night’s game ranked them fourth from the bottom in all of Division 1. That’s 332nd – in case you’re keeping track.

Several key Mustangs have missed games, including guards Drake U’u and Kyle Oddister, both of whom figured to log big minutes for Coach Callero this season. On paper, the Mustangs look like a team whose chance to be a great team was never really there.

Like most things in life however, the success of Cal Poly Men’s Basketball can be seen in the details. The first such detail is with body language and attitude. In previous years, Cal Poly teams seemed to always wear their frustration and emotion on their sleeve, on their face, and with their body language. After a furious rally to go up by two points midway through the 2nd half on Thursday night, the Mustangs gave up a three-point play to Cal State Fullerton on the next possession- a turn of events that might have caused previous Mustangs team to lose focus, become anxious, and give up a devastating run to the other team. On this night, the players never showed frustration or angst. They maintained their composure and won an ugly game.

Composure typically isn’t something a team gets from freshmen. Redshirt freshmen big-men Ryan Pembleton and Ben Eisenhardt provided a spark off the bench Thursday when starting center Will Donahue had to leave the first half early with foul trouble. With U’u and Oddister still injured and watching from the bench, true freshman Malik Love kept the Mustangs’ offense running at the pace coach Callero wanted. Another freshman, Jamal Johnson, also provided some back court minutes off the bench. When U’u and Oddister return, Cal Poly will have a deep and experienced back court, something that makes a difference at the end of the year.

If freshmen need to remain composed, then so too does your most talented player. Standing 6’ 4’’, senior Shawn Lewis displayed how his decision-making on the court has continued to improve. An alley-oop dunk that saw Lewis hang in the air for what seemed like forever will be the lasting memory of those in attendance Thursday night. But details during the game like not repeating the same mistake twice and reading Cal State Fullerton’s offense to steal a cross-court pass are little things that show signs of progress for Lewis. In games I saw last year, the ball tended to stop when it came toward Lewis. After watching Thursday night, you can’t help but think that Lewis and the rest of the team are understanding what sharing the basketball and a patient, deliberate, and team-oriented offense can get them.

Any good team needs role players – guys who sacrifice themselves for the team and who know exactly what they are on the court to do. In Will Donahue and Jordan Lewis, the Mustangs have those guys. Donahue’s clear role is to play defense, rebound, and score inside when given the opportunity. He is the last line of defense and when he fouled out with seconds remaining Thursday night, I felt like he had used all of his fouls wisely and hadn’t wasted a moment of his time on the court. His ten rebounds and three blocks were hard-fought and well-deserved.

Jordan Lewis put his stamp on the game as well. Midway through the second half, Lewis stole the ball and went coast-to-coast for a slam dunk that ignited the Mott Gym crowd and the Mustangs comeback. The junior sealed the game for Cal Poly in the final minute when he poured in a fadeaway three pointer from the corner at the shot-clock buzzer to put the Mustangs up by five. Though Lewis contributed nine points during the game, his defense, strength, and leadership kept the Mustangs steady through tough times and helped them pull away at the end.

Junior David Hanson will be the story in the newspaper. A player with a line like his – 25 points, 8 rebounds, 3 blocks – always will be the lead. Hanson, like Donahue, Jordan Lewis, and on this night Pembleton, always looks like he’s giving just a little more effort than everyone else on the floor. Whether he just airballed, made, or even banked in a 3-pointer, Hanson runs back on defense with purpose and seems to play the next possession as if his life depends on it. In this game, a noticeable difference in effort or explosion can mean the difference between winning and losing. Hanson’s 38 minutes was a team-high. Hanson’s spirit has become the Mustangs spirit.

After the game, the players walked around the court- as I imagine they do after every home game. Their clapping for the fans and showing their appreciation is a bigger deal than even they understand. San Luis Obispo is a small town, but that doesn’t mean people don’t have other options for entertainment. The crowd that was loud and raucous in a mostly-full Mott Gym, had a feeling of being connected and excited, to come back and do it all over again Saturday night. I know I’ll be there.

There is something cooking at Mott Gym. Nobody, except perhaps Joe Callero, knows exactly what’s cooking or when it will be done, but it sure smells good.

–Owen Main