What an exhilaration, breath taking, heart pounding, phenomenal (feel free to add any other hyperbole) start to March Madness. Never in all my years of watching the Mens NCAA College Basketball Tournament can I recall a weekend with more buzzer beaters, overtime games, and Cinderella upsets.
The first day had drama and suspense from the very beginning to the very end. It started in fine fashion with Old Dominion knocking of the Fighting Irish by a mere point. Even though my disdain of Notre Dame is more geared toward there football program, it still rubs of onto there basketball team as well. Then there was the near historic upset of #2 seeded Villanova by Robert Morris who had the lead and control of the game all the way up to the very end before they succumbed in overtime. Helped mightily by there 40 free throw attempts to 26 by Robert Morris, can you say big school bias anyone. Lets not forget about the Racers of Murray State that calmly knocked off #4 seeded Vanderbilt on a 15 foot buzzer beater by Danero Thomas who was only the 3rd option on the play. Maybe its my anti SEC football bias creeping in but always nice to see the SEC fall flat no matter the sport.
As incredible as these 1st afternoon round of games were, the evening session said hold up we have some sprinkles to add. Now normally I would not be caught dead giving props to any school that has Ohio in its name but when its #14 seeded The State University of Ohio toppling a powerhouse like #3 seeded Georgetown I will happily make an exception. A precursor of things to come for the Big East that saw only 2 of 8 teams advance to the sweet sixteen.
These games were just the tip of the Iceberg for the weekend which saw three double digit seeded teams advancing to the Sweet Sixteen. With #9 seeded Northern Perhaps topping all of that by taking down overall #1 seeded Kansas on a cold blooded 3 point shot that will undoubtedly make its way into the NCAA archives and live on for years to come. It was #12 seeded Cornell becoming the first Ivy league school in over 30 years knocking of Wisconsin handily to advance to next weekend. It was Pac-10 regular season winner Washington storming back against Marquette in the 1st round and then soundly taking out #3 seeded and very new to the party New Mexico. Then the little school that could out of the San Francisco area Saint Mary's College knocking of everyones darling mid-major Richmond first and then beating the aforementioned over rated Villanova next.
I most certainly did not forget the Drama that our home state M.S.U. Spartans brought to the table as the advanced not so easily or healthy to the Sweet Sixteen for the 3rd straight year. However I will be forth coming with another update this afternoon that will give there Spartans there due and I would be remiss if I did not give a very special honorable mention to what the Red Wings accomplished this weekend. Scoring 2 goals with less than a second to go on back to back nights to force the 1st game into overtime and to win in overtime the next night, seemed to fit in nicely with the weekends theme.
Jason Behr
Monday, March 22, 2010
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Red Wings defeat Calgary 2-1 in key match up
Wow what an exciting late night game. Talk about a great way to start off the week by watching the Wings deliver a full 60 minute effort that results in a 3 point lead on the Calgary Flames for the 8th and final playoff spot.
It seems that our star players like Pavel and Hank have definitely heeded Mike Babcocks "our stars have to play like stars" mantra with both of them skating hard and making plays on both ends. I just marvel at a player like Holmstrom that can stand in front of that net take the physical abuse he does and still be so deft with his stick at deflecting in wide shots to the nets. The game winner with 1:19 left had to be a heart breaker for the Flames.
Of course we still have 2 key match ups with Nashville coming up and still need some teams in front of us to lose a game or two but all in all I like where the Wings are headed. I can't imagine either Chicago or San Jose looking forward to first round match up with a Wings team firing on all cylinders.
As always feel free to comment good, bad or otherwise
Jason
For an official recap go here
It seems that our star players like Pavel and Hank have definitely heeded Mike Babcocks "our stars have to play like stars" mantra with both of them skating hard and making plays on both ends. I just marvel at a player like Holmstrom that can stand in front of that net take the physical abuse he does and still be so deft with his stick at deflecting in wide shots to the nets. The game winner with 1:19 left had to be a heart breaker for the Flames.
Of course we still have 2 key match ups with Nashville coming up and still need some teams in front of us to lose a game or two but all in all I like where the Wings are headed. I can't imagine either Chicago or San Jose looking forward to first round match up with a Wings team firing on all cylinders.
As always feel free to comment good, bad or otherwise
Jason
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Michigan State bows out in big ten tourney
Does anybody remember that classic quote from Rob Schneider in the movie Necessary Roughness?
"Coach, nows not the time to make sure everybody has played. Hey, I haven't played yet, maybe I should go in."
That was actually one of his many classic quotes as announcer Chuck Neiderman.
It's the not the time to make sure everybody played that was eerily similar to the way Michigan State coach Tom Izzo handled his team on Friday. The Spartans loss to Minnesota in the Big Ten Tournament left many fans, media and even a few players scratching their heads over the way Izzo managed the player rotation.
With Chris Allen suspended for mysterious reasons, the Spartans were definitely in need of a lift at the guard play. For some reason though Durrell Summers was benched most of the second half again for mysterious reasons. In his place were seldom used Austin Thorton and walk-on Mike Kebler which left Spartan fans wondering why in the world is Izzo benching Summers for those two. Yes, Kebler did help the defense improve in the 2nd half, but offensively he was a liability. The stat line: 20 minutes, zero points, 2 missed free throws and two costly turnovers. One of those miscues was on a fast break where Kalin Lucas passed to him and he basically couldn't wait to release it back to a Minnesota player as if he were holding a hand grenade. The other was while grabbing a rebound after a Minnesota miss and basically tripping over his own feet out of bounds. Lucas was standing right near him and you could see the look of disgust on his face when they showed the replays.
So at the risk of making the offense look bad, Izzo thought at least he would make their defense look good. But Izzo didn't need to contribute to the offensive demise - the players did that on their own with all the missed free throws. Sparty was an aberration from the charity stripe in Friday's loss in which they were slightly over 50% including four straight crucial misses in overtime. Minnesota obviously didn't have issues with the basket as they were close to 75% in free throws. And did anybody notice how a few of the Minnesota players just step up to the line and calmly shoot it in no time? Usually their results are all net. Smooth and secure. The Spartan players stand at the line, stare at it too long, measure it, and almost aim it. Even a lot of their makes were rim rattlers that were fortunate to bounce in. Make a few more free throws and Michigan State could have been the ones facing the battered and bruised Boilermakers, which Minnesota dismantled on Saturday.
MSU's defense has actually improved over the last 4 or 5 games thanks in part to Chris Allen and due to Raymar Morgan playing up to potential. Get Allen back in. Get Summers some more playing time. And get the continued solid play from Morgan. Get all those in place and the Spartans can forget about the Minnesota meltdown and focus on a respectable run in the upcoming NCAA.
"Coach, nows not the time to make sure everybody has played. Hey, I haven't played yet, maybe I should go in."
That was actually one of his many classic quotes as announcer Chuck Neiderman.
It's the not the time to make sure everybody played that was eerily similar to the way Michigan State coach Tom Izzo handled his team on Friday. The Spartans loss to Minnesota in the Big Ten Tournament left many fans, media and even a few players scratching their heads over the way Izzo managed the player rotation.
With Chris Allen suspended for mysterious reasons, the Spartans were definitely in need of a lift at the guard play. For some reason though Durrell Summers was benched most of the second half again for mysterious reasons. In his place were seldom used Austin Thorton and walk-on Mike Kebler which left Spartan fans wondering why in the world is Izzo benching Summers for those two. Yes, Kebler did help the defense improve in the 2nd half, but offensively he was a liability. The stat line: 20 minutes, zero points, 2 missed free throws and two costly turnovers. One of those miscues was on a fast break where Kalin Lucas passed to him and he basically couldn't wait to release it back to a Minnesota player as if he were holding a hand grenade. The other was while grabbing a rebound after a Minnesota miss and basically tripping over his own feet out of bounds. Lucas was standing right near him and you could see the look of disgust on his face when they showed the replays.
So at the risk of making the offense look bad, Izzo thought at least he would make their defense look good. But Izzo didn't need to contribute to the offensive demise - the players did that on their own with all the missed free throws. Sparty was an aberration from the charity stripe in Friday's loss in which they were slightly over 50% including four straight crucial misses in overtime. Minnesota obviously didn't have issues with the basket as they were close to 75% in free throws. And did anybody notice how a few of the Minnesota players just step up to the line and calmly shoot it in no time? Usually their results are all net. Smooth and secure. The Spartan players stand at the line, stare at it too long, measure it, and almost aim it. Even a lot of their makes were rim rattlers that were fortunate to bounce in. Make a few more free throws and Michigan State could have been the ones facing the battered and bruised Boilermakers, which Minnesota dismantled on Saturday.
MSU's defense has actually improved over the last 4 or 5 games thanks in part to Chris Allen and due to Raymar Morgan playing up to potential. Get Allen back in. Get Summers some more playing time. And get the continued solid play from Morgan. Get all those in place and the Spartans can forget about the Minnesota meltdown and focus on a respectable run in the upcoming NCAA.
Monday, February 22, 2010
U.S. defeats Canada 5-3 in Olympic Hockey
Wow what an exciting game that was last night for both countries. In Canada they estimate that 2/3 of the entire population watched portions of the game and MSNBC recorded there 3rd highest show rating ever with only Presidential debates topping it.
For an official recap see US stuns Canada 5-3 to win Group A
This game really reminded me of old fashion playoff hockey pre-Lockout with the physical hard skating nature of the game and the officials just letting them play. I did not see to many ticky tack holds or interference penalties being called and the faster and more aggressive team coming out on top with the U.S. team. I found myself waiting for the announcers to mention names like Crosby, Iginla, Thorton, etc but instead it was mostly the 3rd and 4th line muck and grind types for the Canadian team being called. It did bring joy to my heart seeing Crosby sprawled out on the ice in front of his own net after a U.S. score.
The United States team used the tried and true formula of hot goal tending by M.S.U.'s own Ryan Miller stopping 42 of 45 shots with lots of effort and work in there own zone fighting of the Canadians and taking advantages of turnovers and mistakes on the other side. I am not sure where Dearborn's own and current Detroit Red Wing Brian Rafalski found all of this offense with 2 goals and an assist in the game coming on the heels of scoring the last two American goals the game before. The United States team really used there youth and speed to take it to the big guns of the Canadians who have only known the new NHL and never had to fight through the vaunted New Jersey Devils neutral zone trap and deal with defenders obstruction, hooking and holding til there hearts content. And yes I am talking to you Mr. Crosby, Nash, and Iginla you might want to talk to some of the older players on the team to get a handle on just how much effort and work is required in those tight checking games.
Now Canada faces the unenviable position of facing the Russians in the Quarterfinals and they better be ready to give all they can or the unthinkable could happen by missing the medal round completely.
Jason
For an official recap see US stuns Canada 5-3 to win Group A
This game really reminded me of old fashion playoff hockey pre-Lockout with the physical hard skating nature of the game and the officials just letting them play. I did not see to many ticky tack holds or interference penalties being called and the faster and more aggressive team coming out on top with the U.S. team. I found myself waiting for the announcers to mention names like Crosby, Iginla, Thorton, etc but instead it was mostly the 3rd and 4th line muck and grind types for the Canadian team being called. It did bring joy to my heart seeing Crosby sprawled out on the ice in front of his own net after a U.S. score.
The United States team used the tried and true formula of hot goal tending by M.S.U.'s own Ryan Miller stopping 42 of 45 shots with lots of effort and work in there own zone fighting of the Canadians and taking advantages of turnovers and mistakes on the other side. I am not sure where Dearborn's own and current Detroit Red Wing Brian Rafalski found all of this offense with 2 goals and an assist in the game coming on the heels of scoring the last two American goals the game before. The United States team really used there youth and speed to take it to the big guns of the Canadians who have only known the new NHL and never had to fight through the vaunted New Jersey Devils neutral zone trap and deal with defenders obstruction, hooking and holding til there hearts content. And yes I am talking to you Mr. Crosby, Nash, and Iginla you might want to talk to some of the older players on the team to get a handle on just how much effort and work is required in those tight checking games.
Now Canada faces the unenviable position of facing the Russians in the Quarterfinals and they better be ready to give all they can or the unthinkable could happen by missing the medal round completely.
Jason
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Olympic Hockey gets under in Vancouver
In light of the NHL Olympic break and the NBA All Star break plus the sad rebuilding state of the hometown Pistons I feel compelled to jot down some random Olympic musings.
The biggest story line from the Olympics for me is the mens Hockey Tournament which is sure to feature some dynamite games from powerhouse's like Russia, Canada, U.S. and Sweden and of course the ever present dark horse that is just 1 hot goalie away from a run in this one and done format.
It is such a crap shoot between the Russians, Canada and Sweden because they all feature such top level talent from with Russia featuring Ovechkin and Malkin along with Datsyuk and Canada with all world goalie Martin Brodeur along with Crosby, Nash, Iginla etc... just to many names to mention and of course the Red Wings affiliate Sweden team with hometown hero's Zetterburg, Lidstrom, and Franzen. The main strength of the U.S. team is youthful exuberance with just a veteran or two thrown in like Brian Rafalski, the sort of team that just might not know how nervous they should be. I predict the preliminary rounds will go according to form with all the favorites easily making it thru and I see 3 of the 4 in the medal round with Sweden or United States losing in the quarters.
I believe we will see a rematch of the famous 1972 Summit Series between Russia and Canada in the finals. A finals that will shatter many many Olympic Television rating records with the same result as it was in Mother Russia with Canada winning the biggest Hockey Game ever played anywhere.
On a foot note I think for once the Olympic break will greatly benefit the Red Wings given the precarious health of the team all year. I think the 3 weeks off will really allow the players staying home a good long recovery time and a player like Franzen just coming back from a major knee injury a great chance to get his conditioning and timing back. I expect a very hot start for the Wings after the break to safely put them in that 5th or 6th seed slot.
Feel free to comment on any other Olympic moments that stand out to you
Jason
The biggest story line from the Olympics for me is the mens Hockey Tournament which is sure to feature some dynamite games from powerhouse's like Russia, Canada, U.S. and Sweden and of course the ever present dark horse that is just 1 hot goalie away from a run in this one and done format.
It is such a crap shoot between the Russians, Canada and Sweden because they all feature such top level talent from with Russia featuring Ovechkin and Malkin along with Datsyuk and Canada with all world goalie Martin Brodeur along with Crosby, Nash, Iginla etc... just to many names to mention and of course the Red Wings affiliate Sweden team with hometown hero's Zetterburg, Lidstrom, and Franzen. The main strength of the U.S. team is youthful exuberance with just a veteran or two thrown in like Brian Rafalski, the sort of team that just might not know how nervous they should be. I predict the preliminary rounds will go according to form with all the favorites easily making it thru and I see 3 of the 4 in the medal round with Sweden or United States losing in the quarters.
I believe we will see a rematch of the famous 1972 Summit Series between Russia and Canada in the finals. A finals that will shatter many many Olympic Television rating records with the same result as it was in Mother Russia with Canada winning the biggest Hockey Game ever played anywhere.
On a foot note I think for once the Olympic break will greatly benefit the Red Wings given the precarious health of the team all year. I think the 3 weeks off will really allow the players staying home a good long recovery time and a player like Franzen just coming back from a major knee injury a great chance to get his conditioning and timing back. I expect a very hot start for the Wings after the break to safely put them in that 5th or 6th seed slot.
Feel free to comment on any other Olympic moments that stand out to you
Jason
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Michigan State plays Purdue in conference contest
Today we are going to talk about turnovers.
Not the kind bakeries churn out to satisfy the sweet tooth. It's the kind that happens in sports when you give up your possession of the ball to the opponent. When talking about Michigan State's basketball team, they've been churning out plenty of turnovers lately and how sweet that has been for their opponents.
This season's State basketball squad has been giving the ball away to their opponents at an alarming rate. Following Saturday's 78-73 loss at Illinois, the Spartans are the leaders in the big ten in turnovers. In their 11 conference games, MSU has 157 total turnovers. The next closest is lowly Iowa who are near the bottom of the big ten standings. MSU is the conference leader in the standings, but also the conference leader in miscues.
The total turnovers would not be as concerning if they were forcing their opponents into even more miscues. Unfortunately for State, their opponents aren't coughing it up as much. Their opposition is at 122 turnovers which puts State at 8th place in that category. In only 2 of their 11 conference games thus far, they've turned it over less than their opponent (in that category, less is good).
Turnovers are a double edge sword in which you're taking away an opportunity for you to score, but then handing your opponent an extra chance to score. Empty at your end, but a bonus possession at the other end. It's kinda like carrying around a handful of money on a windy day—you're going to get poorer, but chances are someone is going to find those bills and they'll get richer.
So who is to blame? Are big ten defenses that good? Or is MSU's ball handling that bad? Smart money is on the latter. While State may be the epitome of carelessness, several big ten teams are the cornerstone of carefulness. An amazing 4 big ten teams are in the top 20 nationally at fewest turnovers. National statistics here folks, not conference. Wisconsin turns it over less than anybody in the land and Michigan coughs it up the 10th fewest times. Michigan State's next opponent, Purdue, is also a top-20 member of the protecting-the-rock club.
This seems to go against the grain of one of coach Tom Izzo's greatest traits….discipline. His Spartans aren't showing the discipline needed when it comes to maintaining the ball. That will be crucial against Purdue on Tuesday. If State can maintain the ball better, chances are they'll get a win to maintain their conference lead better.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Saints defeat Colts 31-17 in Super Bowl 44
The NFL concludes its season with a very exciting Super Bowl game. Saints pick off Manning, Colts to win Super Bowl Drew Brees definitely laid claim to his place in the elite Quarterback conversation and Congratulations to Who Dat Nation in New Orleans.
Jason
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