It was a long season, but ended perfectly with a close defensive contest, that was won by Duke by about a millimeter. It was a battle that should have led to two trophies given out, but alas....that's not the way it works. As a good friend put it, "Two clean programs. No one-and-done players...just true student athletes. Every possession was tough and it all came down to the end." You really couldn't ask for anything more from the best Tournament in any Sport (Pro or College).

Please don't bump the amount of teams up to 96, NCAA. A watered down version of the madness is not what we need. Congrats Duke....here's your "OSM"....

And by the way, the Jennifer Hudson version wasn't that bad. Yes, it isn't the same as Luther. Yes, she got a little bit crazy near the end there. But all in all....it wasn't that bad. I don't understand the decision to replace the Vandross version, but it could have been worse.

Sure there were a few close games in the opening round (I was even at the VCU-UCLA game but it certainly wasn't nearly as exciting as it probably looked on television), but tonight the tournament officially started. Within 10 minutes of each other, both Gonzaga and Duke survived with amazing finishes and advanced onto the Sweet Sixteen....

Ahh yes. That's more like it. I certainly would have liked to see the Duke-Texas finish the same way as the Gonzaga one, but I'll take it. Great play by Scheyer too. He may look like a freak, but the guy is damn intelligent.

Not sure if you all were watching, and it's been a long time since I've put up a highlights video, but Wake just knocked off number one Duke at the buzzer after a great comeback by the Blue Devils. Here's the end of the game in case you missed it....

That's three number ones to go down in just twelve days, and we're officially in the College Basketball season. Just a great game, and even though I'm not entirely sold on either team as a National Champion (one has too much inside game, one has too much outside), both teams have a shot of going pretty far in the Tourney.

The best part about all of this? Pittsburgh went down tonight, so that means that with a win against Providence (who put up 100 in a win over 'Cuse tonight), UConn will be number one. Why is that significant? Because the day after the Super Bowl, the Huskies travel to current #7 Louisville, and a fifth different number one could be crowned this season.

I figured since most of you wouldn't be staying up until almost midnight, checking out Dickie V's trip to the NBA, that I would pull some of the more entertaining clips for you. Here is your Heat-Nugs/Dickie V game in just 5 minutes and 30 seconds!

While I thought the swap was cheesy on the surface, both teams did a pretty solid job. The simple fact that the crews had to prepare more than they normally would showed, and Dick Vitale actually had something to talk about other than Duke and UNC (I kid....well, not really). I still don't see what the point of a College announcer heading to the Pros would be, but the NBA guys could gain some knowledge by doing both contests. Just look at the job Dan Shulman is doing calling both. Plus, neither Mark Jackson or Jeff Van Gundy had ever been to Cameron Indoor! How is that even possible, as much as they've been around the Sport?

All in all, it was a fun thing to do for a night, but I wouldn't make a habit of it. For Dickie V to call an a game in the league he first broke into broadcasting, before he retires, isn't a bad thing at all. And that retirement could be coming sooner than we all think.

I hate to pile on Duke fans but I can't believe no one brought this up over the weekend. Gerald Henderson took a pretty measured cheap shot on a WVU rebounder with the game out of reach and what happened next just blew my mind....

Haha. The slow motion instant replay is the best. I can understand you're frustrated, but hitting a dude in the back for no reason and then flopping just makes you look like a poor sport. And they wonder why everyone hates them.

This Would Not Qualify As a Duke Flop (Mister Irrelevant)

Figured I'd combine these two since I've still got the open thread going on. First, how could ESPN post this headline and think they would be able to slip it by me and tipster WM (click for larger)?



I guess they aren't shy about their Duke bias anymore are they? Also, can someone please tell me what the hell Bob Wenzel is talking about here???

I don't know how you can be looking at the clock and have your partner tell you three seconds and immediately try to recall rules for when tenths of a second are left in the game. Seriously, people who don't know the rules should not get to call games. It's that simple.

Sit down Wenzel....Gary Danielson saved you a spot on the bench. Thanks again to WM for the screencap.

I think I'm going to completely bypass all of the fun I could have with this situation because it's never good to see people hurt, but this is a must see video. The Duke Blue Devil Mascot was doing one of it's ever-so-cool stunts by surfing over some fans when he decided to jump off. Not a good idea....

So surfing over people and making a one foot leap to the ground ISN'T a good idea? Good to know (I love you Duke fans...please don't be pissed)! I think this is actually the second time Mike Patrick has completely cracked me up (the first being Britney). Too funny.

Lost in the whole Shaq-Kobe, UNC-NCST hububaloo was Duke losing to lowly Miami in ACC play. They were down 15 with about 4 minutes left to go and ended up only losing by one, but it was after the game when the fun happened.

Your team beats the number five team in the Country and you're a Miami fan....you should be allowed to rush the court. But not with the Big Show roaming the sidelines. Watch the big dude in the green shirt....

Now that's just wrong. Just let the kid celebrate, and why do you always have to pick on the tall ones. I know they stand out, but seriously.

Miami Fan Choke-Slammed While Rushing the Court (The Sporting Blog)

I know I make fun of Duke every chance I get but this just blew my mind. The Blue Devils lost to Wake Forest tonight and in the process the referees didn't just give Wake the advantage in Free Throws (+13)....they fouled out every Duke starter by the end of the game.


Yep....that's all five starters. I don't think I've ever seen that in my lifetime. Amazing.

Mike Patrick continues to blow my mind every single broadcast. This time it happened only 10 seconds in. Wait for it...waiiiiit for it...

The best part is how the producer feeds him the line and he actually thanks him. Oh and I love those 80s prescription automatic tint glasses as well. Nice touch Mike!

(Be sure to check out Mister Irrelevant's post on Douchebag Smurf as well.)

Oh and just for the hell of it.....I'm pretty sure Ron Pawlus played Football for Notre Dame in the 90s, but I could be wrong....

It was well documented how dreadful Paulus' flopping was against FSU, but his antics were nothing compared to Deron Washington's show last night. In a game against Duke the Virginia Tech Forward proceeded to flop, trip players, try to get into the Duke huddle, start a fight with Paulus, AND undercut Demarcus Nelson on a dunk attempt.

Here's the video.....

It's one thing to flop and look like a complete idiot (*ahem* Paulus) but actually trying to injure people during a game is unforgivable. That undercut of Nelson was premeditated and dirty as hell. Washington should be suspended for at least a game if not more.

It's a shame because he's a talented player that just let's his frustration get the better of him.

Va Tech-Duke: Deron Washington Plays Dirty (Fanhouse)

You're going to have to bear with me as I change my Sports team hatred over real quick....OSU Football-Out, Duke Basketball- In (I kid I kid), but seriously was anyone else aware that Duke is getting nine more fouls (5 tonight) called for them a game? Were you also aware that Greg Paulus learned his acting skills from a combination Manu Ginobili and Marlon Brando?

I spliced these together so they'd fit on the clip, but they happened on back-to-back possessions.....

Neither the refs or the announcers could get the call(s) right at all and Duke ended up running away with a game that should have gone to the wire. My favorite part of the whole clip is when Mike Patrick says that Paulus gets hit in the back of the head and the kid grabs his nose (this isn't the first time that Patrick has fallen for Paulus either).

Seriously, Paulus needs his SAG card after that set of performances.

You Duke haters are going to love this one. Duke Blue Devil fans are pissed at ESPN for what they are calling a "cynical exploitation". I have no idea if this is a new thing, or an existing feud, but here's what one of the leading Duke Basketball Websites wants the Crazies to do.....

Well, here it is: Duke fans, and specifically the Crazies, have a chance to hold ESPN accountable. It would be great to deny them that money shot of Crazies in full splendor. It would be classic if, rather than that, whenever the camera panned over them, the Crazies just crossed their arms en masse and stared at the camera until it went away. It would be a mild but effective protest. It probably wouldn’t be as hard to explain as signs and cheers against the Bullies from Bristol, but hey - you guys are creative. We’re sure if you want to let ESPN know you object to their recent maltreatment of one of their major moneymakers, you can come up with something.

I honestly have no idea where this came from, and it seems a bit whiny and we're not getting enough attention, but if this goes down tonight I'm going to be laughing my ass off.

ESPN - Time To Push Back? (Duke Basketball Report)
Unreal: Cameron Crazies Mad at ESPN!! (The Big Lead)

Update: As an anonymous commenter pointed out this could be in response to ESPN's coverage of the Duke Lacrosse case. If that's the case I think it's a little late for that, but whatever makes you feel better.

God I can't wait for the tournament to start back up again....I really have nothing to talk about. I mean am I really going to write a post on the women's tournament? Well....maybe. Someone make Jay Crawford use the "F" word on Cold Pizza....er, First Take.

Well in the meantime you get the results from a recent Harris Poll which figured out which College Basketball Teams are the most liked in the United States. It's funny....I don't see TAMCCU on the list. That's odd......

            1993  1995  1996  1997  1998  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007
North Carolina
(UNC)           2      3      7     2     3     7     2    3      2    1
Duke            1      2      2     3     2     1     1     1     1    2
Ohio State      8      9      4     *     *     *     *     *     4    3
Kentucky        5      1      1     1     1     5     2     4     *    4
UCLA            *      5      *     5     5     4     7     7     8    5
Texas           *      *      *     *     *     *     *     9     7    6
Georgetown      9      7      8     *     *     *     *     *     *    7
Michigan        4      8      3     4     *     2     *     *     *    8
Indiana         3      4      4     *     4     *     4     *     9    8
Syracuse        *      *      *     *     *     *     *     7     6    10
*Not in the top 10.

How in the hell did you Cameron Crazies let Duke fall out of first?!?!?!?! I'm so disappointed in you. You know what you need to do? You need to get your face paint on, and march right up to Harris' main....um, distribution center/office building/factory/sweat shop, and demand a recount.

The poll obviously didn't stop in Krzyzewsksskasvasidkae......ville. And America......Seriously......Michigan??? Come on.

(P.S.- Sorry the 10 O'clock post is late....I just spent 30 minutes in Microsoft Paint changing the letters C-R-A-Z-Y to F-U-G-L-Y.......I'm just THAT good at manipulating pictures!!!)

Couple of things.....

First, I can't believe that the Ty Thomas video became the #20 video viewed on YouTube for the week, and #1 Sports Video at one point. There are/were over 350 comments for that video alone. These Ebays are amazing, and my TivoToGo purchase seems to be worth it.

Second, maybe you can do the same for this video? College kids are so creative these days.......




Anytime you use a caveman in a sign I'm going to take notice. Anytime it's about beating Duke......I'm doubly going to take notice.