30. Gonzaga Bulldogs
“Gone? You think he’s gone? You think hes gone? Hes NEVER GONE!”
- What About Bob?
Thought they were dead after their 4-5 start? No? Well, then you certainly thought they were done after their 13-8 start. And again, everyone stuck the fork in them after losing to Memphis in Seattle. Since then though, they’ve won nine straight, won the WCC tourney, and are looking like a potential danger to teams again. Kenpom actually has them ranked better than the heralded 2006 team with Adam Morrison (that blew the game to UCLA as Gus Johnson screamed at the top of his lungs for five straight minutes). That doesn’t mean they will get back to the Sweet 16, of course, as they benefited largely from a #3 seed in 2006. For what its worth, the highest rated Gonzaga team ever was in 2009. They were underseeded when they got a #4 seed, and ran into the buzzsaw of UNC and Psycho-T.
29. Villanova Wildcats
“Sweet Mother Mercy, is this the end of Rico?”
- Little Caesar
An Italian gangster, Rico, realizing his end. An Italian coach, Jay Wright, might see similar writing on the wall for Villanova. After seeding 2, 3, 5, 5, 1, in the last five years, they are now seeded 9, which is pretty beneficial in its own regard. Theyve lost 7 of 9 games. After the season, they're losing their two leading scorers, Corey Fisher and Corey Stokes, and three of their top four.
I know what you're thinking. You’re saying. "Wait a minute, theres a high profile team, that has been ranked all year, who has two good players, both named corey, and they haven't been going around as 'The Two Coreys?'" This could be what ultimately doomed Nova's season.
28. Georgetown Hoyas
- The Godfather
To Georgetown. Gone are the days of Patrick Ewing, Alonzo Mourning, and even most recently, Roy Hibbert, Jeff Green, and Greg Monroe. Even with Chris Wright returning for Georgetown, they seem to be a team on the downswing. Both Freeman and Wright, the teams two leading scorers, are leaving after the season.
27. Clemson Tigers
- Dirty Harry
Clemson should answer ‘no,’ to this question. Kenpom has Clemson as the second unluckiest team in the tournament, ahead of only Washington. They have to be accountable for their own actions too; failing to score the final four minutes against UNC and blowing that game may or may not be luck. They played UNC about even this year, with an 0-2 record to show for it. Maybe, if their luck changes, they can win a couple of games.
26. Kansas State Wildcats
“We’ll uh, brace the kid – he’ll be a pushover. We’ll get that fucking money, if he hasn’t spent it already. Million fucking clams. And yes, we’ll be near the, uhhh- some burgers, some beers, a few laughs. Our fucking troubles are over, Dude.”
- The Big Lebowski
The team coming in, possibly overconfident off their elite eight run last year, primed for an upset. Plus, Frank Martin reminds me of Walter Sobczak in a way. In his crazed way to attempt to control the game/situation at all times, things will backfire. Utah State is not a pushover, and once Kansas State shows up, asks Utah State if this is their homework, and realizes that the Aggies are “stonewalling” them, what will happen?
25. Arizona Wildcats
“Get away from her you bitch!”
- Aliens
What Sean Miller might be saying to NBA scouts, agents, GMs, etc. this year, except 'him', instead of 'her'. The 'him' is Derrick Williams, 6'7" 250 lb sophomore freak of an athlete. If Miller wants to keep the rebuilding at Arizona up, he better hope Williams doesn't leave early.
And the truth is, he probably shouldn't. He doesn't figure to be the number one pick. Other than the block which won the Washington game, and he isn't great on defense (Vucevic from USC tore him apart in their meeting at the Galen Center). Despite his size and unbelievable shooting touch for a big man (shooting 61% from the field, 60% from three), he could benefit from another year in the Pac10. Also, Arizona seems primed for an early upset, and will not match up well with Texas should they meet.
24. Connecticut Huskies
“You think he’s funny? You think this is cute? You think he’s bitchin’, is that it? Lemme tell you something. Look at him, hes a bum. You wanna see something funny? You go visit John Bender in five years. You’ll see how god damned funny he is. Whats the matter John, you gonna cry?”
- The Breakfast Club
To Connecticut. More specifically, to Jim Calhoun. He may be a hall of famer, a legend, a whatever now, but look him up in a few years, and see where hes at. Will the sanctions take a significant hold on the UConn program? Will more details and evidence come out? I have never been sold on Connecticut this year, and would not be surprised if they fell to Bucknell.
23. Cincinnati Bearcats
“You truly belong here with us amongst the clouds.”
- The Empire Strikes Back
Lando Calrissean at his smooth talking best. Perhaps less is known about Cincinnati than any other team. For a majority of the season, they were considered the Big East’s least popular, yet good commodity, if that makes sense. Turns out, they’re very much in the mix of competing, and can be dangerous come tourney time. Yancy Gates is playing much better, and is capable of carrying the team.
Cinci does not have a favorable draw, however. They have to play Mizzou, and then most likely, UConn. They lost to Connecticut at home three weeks ago by eight. I don’t doubt their ability to be amongst the clouds, but they could be out just as quickly as they got there.
22. West Virginia Mountaineers
“Badges? We don’t have no badges. We ain’t got to show you no stinkin badges.”
- The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
This is apparently what Bob Huggins said to the NCAA committee this year to earn a 5 seed and get to play a play-in game winner. WV is not what would amount to the 17th or 18th best team in the nation.
While were at it, can someone explain the new play in games? Theoretically they should go to the best five seeds, correct? Then why is one game just randomly for the 11 seeds? Why not just make one of the other 12 seeds an 11 (like Utah State). Then, out of all the six seeds, why is it that Georgetown gets the play-in winner? They really earned it by losing every game down the stretch. This whole committee is such a farce.
21. George Mason Patriots
“Sir would you like me to suggest what you can do with that promotion?”
To coach Jim Larranaga. If he hasn't left yet, he may never leave. And why would he? He's coached GM to 13 straight winning seasons, with a Final Four you may have remembered in 2006. This year, he's ready to strike again. He also teaches classes part time in the MBA program at George Mason. He may continue to refuse promotions to better schools, but at least it wont be for the same reasons Colonel Dax (Kirk Douglas) was in Paths of Glory; namely, to cover up the French Army's execution of soldiers wrongly accused of cowardice. Their loss in the CAA tournament may have cost them a higher seed, and I certainly wouldn’t be thrilled with having to play Villanova and then Ohio State. But hey, they’ve done crazier shit before.
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