whitesoxfan101

I still think this pastor is going to get him killed in Pennsylvania with all the white, blue collar votes, however his speech today was very good. To see a politician not throw somebody who caused him trouble under the bus, openly talk about race, and actually seem genuine and honest was so shocking that I am not even sure how to react to it. I still don't agree with much of any of what he says politically, but he did a great job today on what is an ignored issue. The whack job far righties (as seen in this thread) are going to react negatively, but one thing that is for sure is people on the far right politically have no idea of what they speak when it comes to race (that comment will get me flamed, but sorry, it's the truth) so that's not all that relevant. This whole thing might turn out to be a blessing in disguise for him in the sense that Obama was forced to actually say what he thinks on a major issue (race) instead of saying blah blah blah I have hope, and I was pleasantly surprised by what I heard today. On a side note though, the fact that the press stood and applauded after the speech bothers me. I know these people have agendas and all, but that's ridiculous. Whatever happened to no cheering in the press box?

Bulls were up 84-75 after three at New Orleans, a 9 point lead going to the 4th is good right? Not for the Bulls, they were outscored 33-13 in the 4th and fell by 11, 108-97. They are just such dogs, it's amazing/funny to watch. Oh, and Ben Gordon is TRASH. Even when he scores 31 on 10-17 shooting, hits half of his 10 three pointers, and goes 6-7 at the line, he's a MINUS 23!!! He doesn't rebound, he doesn't pass, he doesn't defend (SEE: Chris Paul in the 4th quater tonight especially), he just is selfish and fires away. He's like a shorter Jamal Crawford.

I don't have too many this year, the bubble teams/mid majors just aren't very strong. 10. Arizona in the elite 8 (that's my craziest one by far, and will probably get me burned) 11. Baylor over 6. Purdue 11. Kentucky over 6. Marquette (likely to get me burned, but I refuse to take more than 10 min on a bracket) 4. Pittsburgh over 1. Memphis 10. South Alabama over 7. Butler 11. Kansas State in sweet 16 10. Davidson over 7. Gonzaga I know a 5 always beats a 12, but I couldn't do it. Villanova doesn't deserve to be in, I love George Mason but Notre Dame shoots too well, and Michigan State will beat Temple. To me, Western Kentucky is the most favorable #12 seed, but Drake is just too fundementally sound and experienced IMO. Overall, a very boring bracket for me with three #1's and a #2 in the final four, but I can't pick upsets that I can't see happening. I'm sure some of you (gage) will have crazy first round upsets though and so on.

Poor Georgia doesn't even get the extra day off, have to play Thursday.

UCLA Texas Kansas North Carolina Kansas vs. UCLA Kansas

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Mar 16, 2008 -> 05:58 PM) BTW, the committee absolutely loves pairing mid majors together the last 2 years. I can't decide if they do that because they want to see at least some mid majors in the 2nd round with a shot at the Sweet 16, or if they want mid majors gone as quickly as possible.

Looking at bracketology, it appears that Lunardi got every single team right this year. You know ESPN is going to be tooting that horn non stop come this time next year. And UNC is technically the #1 overall seed as they play the play in game winner and don't have to leave their own state until the Final Four, but the #1 overall seed is supposed to get the easiest region, and UCLA got that and it's not even close.

This might seriously be the weakest NCAA Tournament region I've ever seen, it's amazing. Party time in Westwood.

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Mar 16, 2008 -> 05:37 PM) I love UCLA as is, but there bracket looks pretty solid. I would cry if they ended up playing Duke and lost though. God I hate Duke. Every bracket looks solid when your team is in it, so trust me I understand. But trust me, you guys got a sweetheart deal with that bracket. UCLA fans can start buying final four tickets.

The west is AWFUL, Gage should be feeling good.

They give Duke an undeserved 2 AND put them in the weakest region IMO, what a joke. UCLA should be feeling good, I see them back in the Final Four.

West: 1. UCLA 16. Mississippi Valley State 8. BYU 9. Texas A&M 5. Drake 12. Western Kentucky 4. Connecticut 13. San Diego 6. Purdue 11. Baylor (party time in Fort Worth, they get the last spot) 3. Xavier 14. Georgia 7. West Virginia 10. Arizona (they LOVE the Pac-10 in that room) 2. Duke (sweetheart seeding, no surprise) 15. Belmont Illinois State, Virginia Tech, Arizona State, Ohio State, VCU, etc...........despair.

I'd rather deal with Tennessee than Texas. At least with the Vols, you know your going to have lots of easy shots all game if you can get across half court.

South: 1. Memphis 16. Texas Arlington 8. Mississippi State 9. Oregon (Pretty good seed for a bubble team) 5. Michigan State 12. Temple 4. Pittsburgh 13. Oral Roberts 6. Marquette 11. Kentucky (kind of surprised they made it too) 3. Stanford 14. Cornell (Ivy league pride!) 7. Miami (good seed for them) 10. St Mary's (they made it, three out of the WCC, wow) 2. Texas 15. Austin Peay (fly is open, let's go Peay)

Midwest: 1. Kansas 16. Portland State 8. UNLV 9. Kent State 5. Clemson 12. Villanova (Whoa!!) 4. Vanderbilt 13. Siena 6. USC 11. Kansas State 3. Wisconsin (thought they might get a 2, but the committee appears to not like the Big 10) 14. Cal-State Fullerton (this should be interesting around the boards...) 7. Gonzaga 10. Davidson 2. Georgetown 15. UMBC Kansas State vs. USC is fascinating, i'm very surprised Villanova got in.

South Alabama is a really bad matchup for Butler, I wouldn't assume anything on that one.

QUOTE(Buehrle>Wood @ Mar 16, 2008 -> 05:10 PM) IU got a major screw job. The committee said they were taking a lot of stock into how teams play in their last 12 games. I don't agree with that logic, but if you are using that logic and look at the league IU is in, it's not too far off. I'd still say they are more like a 6 though, so they were a bit underseeded.

East region: 1. North Carolina 16. play in game winner (St. Mary's of the NEC, Coppin State of the MEAC) 8. Indiana (ouch) 9. Arkansas 5. Notre Dame 12. George Mason 4. Washington State 13. Winthrop 6. Oklahoma 11. St. Joseph's (second major bubble team in) 3. Louisville 14. Boise State 7. Butler (wow, kinda low perhaps?) 10. South Alabama (first major bubble team in) 2. Tennessee 15. American

No surprises among the #1 seeds: Kansas, UCLA, Memphis, North Carolina

What an AMAZING putt, had to be over 30 feet, to win that with a birdie by 1 shot. I can't remember the last time I saw him that excited, he is just ridiculous.

QUOTE(fathom @ Mar 16, 2008 -> 04:42 PM) Bo Ryan is a great coach, and a shockingly hysterical interview whenever he's on sports radio. He and Steve Lavin are money anytime Boers and Bernsie have them on.

Ah well, not a surprising result today, at least they showed some heart at the end and got close. I agree with fathom on replacing Pruitt and Randle. As for an NIT or CBI bid, I wouldn't mind it because guys like Tisdale and Davis and McCamey need all the practice/game time they can get. On a side note, congrats to Wisconsin. They have solid fans and a solid team along with their solid coach, so much that even an often bitter guy like myself can't hate.

What an amazing run by Georgia. 4 in a row, 3 in 2 days (more like 28 hours or so). Even if they go lose in the first round by 15 and finish 17-17 overall, they have their place in history for making this run in their homestate right after the crazy tornado, and winning as good of a conference tourney as I've ever seen. Major props to the Bulldogs.

I saw last night on ESPN (I think it was them) that only two "BCS" teams have made it with an under .500 record, and the last one was 30 years ago, the 1978 Missouri Tigers. Wish I had a link.

This is great, they should go for the 5 OT's like Baylor and A&M BTW, WAC Conference is repetitive. That's like saying "Western Athletic Conference Conference"