College Basketball Smells Like Awesome

First things first, yesterday's picks.

I did manage to get two picks right yesterday, but only finished with a .500 record for the day. Not good enough to get back to .500 for the year. Next picks will!

Wake beat Duke in an "instant classic". Duke fell asleep on defense on the last possesion allowing Wake to get an inbounds pass from under their own basket for an easy layup.

Kansas won a scary battle against Nebraska in which Cole Aldrich was completely ineffective (0 points and 0 rebounds in first half) AND completely effective (8 points, 8 rebounds in the second half).
The best part of the game was Doug Gottlieb being the color commentator, making references to video games (his partner in crime brought up Donkey Kong - totally random and did not fit at all) and also giving unbiased opinions about officiating calls that were pretty bad. He even admitted he was wrong on first judgment after seeing a replay! Unprecedented in the world of color announcing!

My losses for the day came at the hands of KState who got a good win over a pretty good Mizzou team. I can not tell you how relieved I am they won. I do not like Mizzou and will have to say that second to Kansas (duh) Kansas State is my favorite Big XII team. They won by getting a ton of points from Jamar Samuels and Fred Brown off the bench. Well done Kstate.

I did call a couple upsets and am darn proud of it. Georgetown looks just plain awful now and Syracuse is not the same team they were starting Big East play. Providence put up 100 on the 'Cuse.

Record to date: 4-5

Tonight: 8 of the Top 25 in action with 2 games featuring both teams ranked.

Illinois @ Minnesota

St. Mary's @ Gonzaga in a battle for West Coast Supremacy

I really really want to pick the Illini, but I just can't see them taking care of business in the Golden Gopher's house. Minnesota and Tubby Smith get the W.

Gonzaga has been too good for too long in conference play, especially at home. The 'Zags take it. I do like Micah Downs for the Gonzaga even if he was a punk leaving KU. He is a different style player and I am glad he found his calling in Spokane.

College Basketball. Check.


The biggest news of yesterday was the awesome post by Colin. Since I haven't written anything in so long, its time to cover everything.

The Chiefs coaching situation is better than it was. Herm Edwards is gone and that was a good move by Pioli. I don't know that I can really make a whole lot of opinions yet because the Chiefs do not have a coach.

I don't like Shanahan. I know he is a good coach, but just because he will forever be associated with the Broncos, I can not be a fan. I think that he might feel the same way about the Chiefs. I would love love love Cowher as a coach, but he is off the list. "Poop" (direct quote from Mark).

I totally agree that Gruden is a good coach, but I wonder about the recent stuff coming out about his personality. I don't really think that would work in the Chiefs organization.

Would he be a good coach? Yes.
Would the Hunt family like a man with this recent publicity? I don't think so.

The Hunt family kept Herm around for so long because he was loyal and respectful to the organiztaion. Those words just don't sound like Gruden.

The reason I think that Haley might not be a bad coach for the Chiefs is that I have read some articles giving him credit for pushing Larry Fitzgerald to an all-world reciever. Dwayne Bowe just needs someone to take him to the next level, because he is talented, but needs more incentive being on a terrible team like the Chiefs.

I would say the Chiefs need a defensive coach, but that didn't work with Gunther or Herm. Why not change it up? Plus, Haley did make the tough call to start Kurt Warner and uses intelligent guys (The double back pass in the NFC championship game was called at the right moment by third string quarterback Brian St. Pierre) to help him get the most of his team. And, any offense coordinator who can get to the Super Bowl without a running game is not too shabby.


The Royals signing Grienke was awesome.

He is a stud, and by getting paid should be able to hire a full time psychiatrist.

If Teahan can play second base (and his offensive production in the 6th or 7th spot of the lineup would be better than anyone else that could play) I say why not. He adjusted to outfield so well after playing third that I think the Royals should give it a shot before giving up. I am also skeptical about the change, but the organization doesn't have a good history of second baseman in their system (did someone say Carlos Febles?).

K-State did get fortunate with their AD stepping down. I wish Bob Krause (Kstate AD) would not have been put in that position. I think that the whole downfall with the athletics program started with Tim Weiser who I think is a weasel and should have been kicked out long ago when he couldn't get KState into the NCAA's a couple years before Huggy-Bear's reign. I also think that they buyouts they have put on contracts (Huggins' was too low allowing him to leave in a heartbeat and Weiser's was just freaking ridiculous so he could get paid to leave) really put a bind on the University. My opinion: It was Weiser's fault and KSU realized it a year too late.

Awesome Posts. Check.



NFL

Ok, so as promised yesterday a breakdown of the common opponents.

First, Arizona's results:
6 games (2 versus Philly)
2-4 Record
2-1 Home
0-3 Road

@ Washington - L 17-24
vs. Dallas - W 30-24
vs. NYG - L 37-29
@ Philadelphia (Regular Season) - L 48-20
@ New England - L 47-7
vs. Philadelphia (NFC championship) - W 32-25

129 (Arizona) - 211 (opponents) combined score

Pittsburgh's results:
5 games total
3-2 Record
1-1 Home
2-1 Road

@ Philadelphia - L 6-15
vs. NYG - L 14-21
@ Washington - W 23-6
@ New England - W 33-10
vs. Dallas - W 20-13

96 (Pittsburgh) - 65 (opponents) combined score

So, Pittsburgh outscored their opponents, while Arizona got destroyed. Pittsburgh won on the road and at home; Arizona, did not win on the road.

There were some trends on both teams when I dove into the stats.

List #8:
Trends for 'Zona and Pitt
1. Pittsburgh's offense was not good. They only gained over 250 total yards in 1 game. At New England. I guess what you can take from that is if Pittsburgh's offense takes off, Arizona loses by a ton.
2. Arizona really does not have a running game. As a team, they did not break 100 yards against any opponent. In 6 games. The Cards had 25 yards or less against two opponents. Yikes!
3. When the teams won the turnover battle, they usually won. In the Steelers 3 wins, they won the turnover battle 3 times. They lost were -4 and even in the two losses. The Cardinals only time they won the turnover battle was the playoff game against Philly. They were -2 in 3 games and -4 against Philly during the regular season.
4. Arizona gave up less than 100 yards rushing in their two wins and only once in their 4 losses. They gave up greater than 300 yards passing in their wins also. Cards fans are hoping Big Ben looks like Tom Brady on Sunday!
5. Pittsburgh lost Big Ben in two games and split those two games. A win at Washington (Leftwich looked great and it was in primetime) and a Loss at home versus Philadelphia.
6. In my opinion, Arizona won the "must wins". They beat Dallas at home to state that they were a team to reckon with, they got a "moral" victory hanging with the Giants until the end, and they won in the NFC championship game. Sure, they didn't show up in the other 3 losses, but they are in the Big Game, so who cares!?!??

NFL. Check.

Song of the Day:
Incubus "Love Hurts"
It's on their greatest hits album. Great song. And thanks to Lor for a great job on coming up with a song for the day.

Song of the day. Check.

I think that's it for the day. Check back tomorrow for my picks for the weekend Basketball and the NFL's biggest game of the year.

DDSF