SIXTEEN CANDLES

SIXTEEN CANDLES

by The Fillerbuster

The Cast 032118

My new working tagline.  “Barely researched, barely edited, but all in regardless.”

We are getting there.  The best time of the year goes from 12 hour days to a more workable schedule.  Considering I sat in a seat for 12 hours a day in front of the television for four days last weekend, my couch is excited for the semi-break.  So, what is today besides World Poetry Day?  It is when I tell you my thoughts on this part of the tourney in general and my predictions and insight for the next round of games.

First, where are we?

 

WHAT IS THE SWEET 16?

What does the Sweet 16 mean in general?

• The teams left have survived the ultimate ferocity and will of the David’s of the world.
• All good traditional teams left have made the Final Four before, so everyone has succeeded to a point. Very little of “best to not get to the Final Four” talk.
• You had one less week to feel horrible about being eliminated (except for one of you eventually).
• You get to go to a NEW city. Yay!
• If six wins sounded like a lot in a row (except for the Cuse), know you are now at four.
• It is when people have to Google the brackets they can enter instead of them being shoved in your face when you go on a sports website.
• But, the bottom line is the Sweet 16 gives us BETTER basketball because both teams have both won twice.

No, but seriously, what does the Sweet 16 mean to me?

• Cinderella teams are cool, but now we get GREAT games.
• The last point is null and void since EVERY game has an underdog involved. Nova-WVU is the only really great matchup we hoped for from the beginning (in relation to seeds).

Hmmm.  This Sweet 16 is a little…weird.  Some contenders are out, but unless you find Loyola-Chicago or Nevada lovable (I don’t find them especially adorable), then you have mostly par for the season big conference teams.  You have teams that you didn’t think about getting to this step.  But, the Sweet 16 is when things now are realistic.  They are realistic for teams such as KU, Nova, Duke, etc. from the beginning, but for others the field is now only sixteen teams.  That is MUCH less imposing than 64.  If you are Nevada, then what WAS joy about just BEING there as an at large is now replaced with cautious optimism.  Sure, you still take one game at a time.  But, now you have a winnable game vs. Loyola-Chicago, and then are ONE win from the legendary Final Four.  It is the thing you practice free throws and three pointers as a kid in your driveway court for.  It is not the end game, but it is part of history.

The Sweet 16 is the next weekend.  It is the second step of three.  Bill Murray mad it through his movie with baby steps but now these guys are toddlers and a little more aware in their subconscious of the prize.  It is the middle step of the best month of the year.  It is precious.  It is beautiful.

Just not as precious and beautiful as the next step…

Curious on all of the terms like tourney?  I got you.

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/recycled/2010/03/why_is_it_called_march_madness.html

PREDICTIONS IN SHORT:

KSTATE/KENTUCKY:  When you watched UMBC get towered over by the longer squad, you knew the outcome might be done.  When you see the length and ridiculous athleticism of UK, you will understand the higher level of being a long squad.  UK wins decisively.

LOYOLA-CHICAGO/NEVADA:  If you haven’t watched a Nevada game, then you don’t know about the twins.  18 PPG and 13 PPG.  They are both good.  If you read this blog regularly, I already called them out as a team to watch.  I admittedly didn’t think they would figure out the Cincy defense so I was wrong on that, but I know they are good.  Great game, close, and Nevada wins it.  The good news?  The winner IS your Cinderella, folks.  It doesn’t matter who it is.

FSU/GONZAGA:  I have said the Zags come out of this region, and that hasn’t changed.  FSU will keep it close and has the height to not give the Zags and advantage in that realm, but in the end it comes down to talent sometimes.  The Zags have talent galore and have already had their close calls.  It stays close, but then they pull away.

MICHIGAN/A&M:  Someone who watched UNC play A&M is probably all over A&M.  Remember, UNC is somewhat bipolar, so use the asterisk in this case.  Plus, they were shooting lights out (50% and 40%).  Anyway, the talent levels aren’t separated by a lot, so I go with the coach and a week of preparation in this case.  Beilein will have his guys ready.  Plus, Michigan actually plays defense oddly these days.  That is weird.  Weird enough that this will be a barnburner but then Michigan will use up some more of its magic it summoned last week.

NOVA/WVU:  This is the best game of the week matchup wise.  We figured Nova and then either Wichita State or WVU to come out of their part.  So, this matchup didn’t split the atom.  But, this will be a phenomenal game regardless and VERY fast paced for you non basketball folks.  But, there are two reasons I marginally say Nova will win.  One, you can beat WVU if A) you are not playing on their home floor and B) you have time to prepare.  Two, you need guard play and ball handling.  Check and check for Nova.  They have a week to prepare almost, and the skill level to bypass the press.  I still might take WVU with the points, but Nova wins.

TEXAS TECH/PURDUE:  Everyone just simply heard that Purdue’s big man is out, so they are dead in the water.  True, they start four guards with just him, so not only does the substitute player have to replace that output, but they also have to adjust

KU/CLEMSON:  I didn’t like KU’s depth before and I don’t like it now.  Clemson is a decent all round team and I think they have momentum.  There will be foul trouble, and I smell an upset.

CUSE/DUKE: Two HOF coaches face each other.  The intriguing thing is that Duke has “resorted” to a zone and that is what the Cuse lives by.  And the Cuse is LONG.  But, basketball involves this thing called scoring, and although I think the Cuse keeps the game fun (and I WILL be taking the points and maybe even the moneyline), I don’t foresee them scoring enough points to win this game.  Duke wins a closer game than people expect.

Revised final four:

Kentucky, Gonzaga, Villanova, Duke

Who are you rooting for?  I can help you with that too.  http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/22833300/ncaa-tournament-sweet-16-rooting-guide

 

In light of it being World Poetry Day, I will leave you shortly with a Haiku:

March is the great month

Where a bracket cares not of like

Just need six games…SIX.

 

This and That, Truths, and other drop downs on my website now get my more random thoughts.  This week’s update won’t go out until the weekend.

That’s it, everyone.  As Samantha said in Sixteen Candles, “It’s very human of you to listen to all my bullshit.”  Enjoy the games.  Will I blog again?  That is a CLOWN question, bro.  Peace.