Back to the MLB previews later today, but first some basketball. I only managed to catch a small bit of the Purdue game this weekend, after it was already out of reach, but I was unlucky enough to see the Kentucky game in its entirety. Now that's what I call a piss-poor performance. Anyway, it got me thinking because Purdue went out and did all they could with a solid 23 point drubbing of Big Ten bottom-feeders Northwestern while Kentucky continued their downward spiral towards total mediocrity against Florida. What it got me thinking about is which team really deserves to go to the NCAA tournament more (assuming the selection was made today).It's generally assumed that UK is in and Purdue is tiptoeing around on the bubble, but the first thing you notice about these teams is identical 20-10 (9-7) records. Yet, still, Kentucky is a "lock" according to everybody who doesn't matter. Okay, so surely Kentucky has some of these "marquee" wins to their credit, right? Well, no. For a week or so now the announcers have loved pointing out that this could be the first season in something like 30 years that Kentucky hasn't beaten a ranked team. Both teams beat Indiana (both at home, UK in December and Purdue in February) and at least that win was in-conference for the Boilers. UK lost twice to Florida, Tennessee and Vandy (!!!) while Purdue had to play OSU twice, at Wisconsin (where they hung tough) and pounded MSU at home. Plus, the SEC is down this year (after Florida) and the Big Ten has an argument for two number one seeds.
Look, I hope both teams get in, but the only thing I can tell here is that the Wildcats are getting preferential treatment based on name only. This sort of thing happens every year, but Purdue is certainly no Drexel or Winthrop. Of course, all of that being said, if MSU 21-10 (8-8) gets in over Purdue with a worse conference record I might be out on a ledge somewhere.
(Thanks to the J&C for this awesome picture of David Teague's senior day afro. And God said "let there be an awesome 'fro." And it was good.)
8 comments:
I hope your note about AFL highlights and Sportscenter also holds true for NASCAR. I fucking hate NASCAR, and ESPN is really pushing that shit now.
On Sunday, they had the same race on ESPN & ESPN2 (one was in spanish for some fucking reason.) And then on ESPN news they were showing hightlights of that same race. I almost bought a gun and drove to Bristol...almost. But then I took a nap instead.
Wasn't it a Busch series race too? I don't really follow NASCAR, but Busch is like the minor leagues of stock car racing, I think. That's ridiculous.
On topic, what do you think Purdue needs to do to get into the tournament?
Coldplay lead singer Chris Martin said Sunday his band is working on a new album featuring what he called a quintessential song that everybody should hear "before we die."
He added that the record will include what could be Coldplay's best song yet.
"In order for us to get excited about a new album, we have to have one song that we feel like everybody has to hear ... before we die, otherwise we'll be terribly depressed," Martin said. "So luckily with this new record we're going to make, we have that one song."
"I can't tell you about it, but it's basically genius."
I think it's pretty simple. Purdue needs to beat Iowa in the tourney to get in. It would help if they then lost to Ohio State by less than 20, but they may not need to, depending on how things shake down with a bunch of other bubble teams.
Teague's afro is a thing of beauty.
As gage knows, Coldplay is the best band ever, even without the best song ever yet to come. His head might explode when he hears this song.
I'm seriously pondering deleting some comments...
I think every post here is on the mark. NASCAR is stupid. Let us call it a sport to drive in a circle for three hours, polluting the earth.
I think Purdue must win in the Big Ten tournament to get into the big show. Good for Purdue this year for winning some games. Maybe this is the start of basketball being good and football sucking again. Perhaps Tiller is in his I don't give a crap years like Keady was 5 years ago.
Can Coldplay write a song better then "Yellow" or "The Scientist"? Yes. Just having this thought enter my consciousness is forcing me to clean up a gooey mess in my nether regions.
I agree with Brian on this one, beat Iowa and we're in. And then playing OSU tough again couldn't hurt. If we lose to Iowa, I think were a high seed in the NIT. Unless, of course, Teague promises to go afro all tournament, then the commitee should let us in no questions asked.
And if it makes you feel any better Gage, I think Coldplay is for pussies.
coldplay is so emotional...
you know..
like...
emo.
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