Bracketology Class is in Session…What Do We Know?
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by user LastRow
Now that Selection Sunday has come and gone and the 2007 class of Bracketology is all filled up with its allotment of 65 teams, there’s only one thing left to do. And that is to be consumed by the Madness! Don’t fight it…You know you want it to control your whole body for the next three plus weeks! Over this period of time we all will suffer from many different symptoms that ordinary doctors just can’t explain…There’s no medicine to help us get over when our brackets are blown up steaming from a 15 over a 2, 14 over a 3, or the pain in the ass 5-12 matchups. Just as the selection committee does, we too pull our hairs out one by one in hopes of having that perfect bracket, but more times than not at the end of the first weekend it ends up looking like a coaches whiteboard after drawing up a play during a timeout.
So the Madness commences tomorrow night with the annual "Play-In Game" between Florida A&M vs. Niagara. Okay, so I know technically it’s not a "Play-In Game" considering the fact that it’s part of the tournament, rather it’s more like a "Thanks for Coming Game". Congratulations on the win, now go play number one seed Kansas three days later and get your asses handed to you. Although, I can’t believe I’m about to say this, but I do agree with Billy "Fudge" Packer on the notion that someday a 16 will knock off a top dog. Hell, it just about happened a year ago with Albany & UConn…Princton almost did it to Georgetown back in the day, so why not believe that it won’t eventually happen? If a 15 can knock off a 2, then it’s bound to happen! In all honesty there’s no difference between a number one & two seed…Same goes for a 15 & 16 seed respectively. Both hold the same weight. Hey, if a car can drive itself, then surely this will happen at some point. However, it’s very unlikely to see it happen to Kansas after the past two years bowing out in the first round…Thanks for playing either FAMU or Niagara…Some lovely parting gifts await!
With that being said why is there so much attention given to who will be the four number one seeds? This happens all the time…It’s like that uncle in the family who gets drunk every Christmas, what’s the big deal? It’s not like it’s a formality that the four number ones will reach the Final Four…That has never happened either. Number One or a Number Two seed…Does it really make a difference? Um, No! That’s like trying to say some dumb shit prefers a blonde Playboy Playmate over a brunette one. Now this is just my way of thinking here, but I could care less! Playboy Playmate, that’s really all that must be said. Same holds true for these top eight teams…What’s the difference, what’s the big deal? All it is, is another media driven story…That’s all! Here’s a crazy thought…If a team is good enough, a little numeral isn’t going to affect whether your cutting down the nets in Atlanta…Your play is! Sure, the higher seeding the easier road there’s to travel, but the tourney isn’t about smooth sailing. It’s about upsets and Cinderella’s making a name for themselves! If I had to bet, I’d say we’re more likely to see all four number ones make the trip to Atlanta rather than a 16 beat a 1…Though betting this time of year is very, very, very bad! For some it’s career suicide, isn’t that right Rick Neuheisel? So I just leave the betting up to Rick…I wonder who he has heading to Atlanta, or perhaps you think he switched over to the Women’s Bracketology course instead of the Men’s? Fall under the radar screen a little, perhaps?
Speaking of suicide, for the teams that failed to register for the 2007 Bracketology class are contemplating just that. For all the Arkansas’s out there, there are the Syracuse’s. For all the West Virginia’s out there, there’s Stanford…Air Force gets bounced by Illinois. Kansas State gets stung in the ass by Georgia Tech. For all the snubs, they’ll be participating in not the "Big Dance", but the "Big Social"…Better known as the NIT. The NIT has one hell of a field year, many in fact think too good. By no means do these teams deserve the consolation prize of the NIT…The same can be said for the teams that were fortunate enough to make the NCCA Tourney. With this being said, isn’t it about time for the NCAA committee to look at the possibility of expanding the 65-team field. With more and more Mid-Majors yearly showing they deserve accolades with earning bids, is 65-teams really enough? No! Why? It’s quite simple…It’s called parity! Choosing these teams for the field is hard enough and for the most part the selection committee does a good job, but why not make their jobs a little easier? Look, this is the greatest time of year…For these next three weeks sports fans and non sports fans will tune in, it happens every year. This is the one event that anybody can get drawn into…By looking at the possibilities of expanding this puppy, it just builds upons and further enhance what is already the greatest sporting spectacular of the year! This is the one sporting tournament that’s a democracy so to speak, why be forced to hand out snubs? Besides, doesn’t money teams mean more money? And we all know the NCAA is all about that, right? Although, of course, it’s always academics first…Yeah, sure it is!
In case anybody gives a flying, well you know how to finish it…Here are my Final Four Picks! You can take these to Vegas if you want, but there’s a booky’s fee! I put my onions on the table…Now where’s yours?
MIDWEST: Oregon
WEST: Kansas
SOUTH: Texas A&M
EAST: North Carolina
On Monday Night: North Carolina over Kansas …Better known as the "Roy Williams Shootout!" Tissue optional, but highly recommend!
