Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Coaching Searches are OVER

Well that was quite a rush for a pair of Virginia schools. First let me start with UVA, a school that people know I don't particularly care for. Tony Bennett is an outstanding hire. The man has done a lot with Wazzu and this past year's effort should be the reason why you like him. Wazzu wasn't expected to do squat in the PAC 10 yet this team made a late push for a potential at-large and got an NIT bid instead. He's shown he can recruit and he's shown that he can win. Bennett's going to do well. Don't worry about the style of play. Clearly the up and down style (see: no defense played) of Dave Leiteo didnt work. Cougar students showed up for Bennett's team, UVA students will do the same or pay for it. Sounds familiar like another Virginia school.

VCU's hire is good as well. Shaka Smart is a stud, bar none. Florida fans arent happy he's leaving while we took another "Anthony Grant" from their school. Grant was a one of a kind coach and his departure will leave a void temporarily. He's class personified and those condemning him for leaving should look in the mirror and tell themselves they wouldnt have done the same. Grant will prosper in Alabama and those who were unhappy he left, will quickly turn around and root for him in the end. Smart keeps Eblen and the rest of the current Rams squad, Mason and ODU fans will be complaining once again that VCU is too good. VCU made the "smart" hire. hehe

It's almost baseball season...So excited for it because for the first month or two the Marlins are hanging around.

Later on fellas
Matt

PS..... Villanova must go down

Sunday, March 15, 2009

NCAA Tournament Dancing and NIT

Well the brackets are out and VCU is coming home to my town to play the west coast Bruins of UCLA. What a great matchup for the Rams as they will be staring at a mirror image of them. UCLA features all world PG Darren Collison, Shipp and Aboya and a lot of youth. At times the Bruins are a turnover prone team and one that has gone cold for long stretches of time. Don't expect this one to get to 70 points. If either does then, they will win. I just don't see it happening because the one consistency for the Bruins is a stout defense. Plus, never count out Ben Howland or Anthony Grant. This one has classic written all over it. VCU 67-64.

If they win, they play the hated Villanova Wildcats...well...err at least I hate them....and..that's if Jeff Jones American team doesnt knock off the Vilecats. Nova isn't a tall team outside of Dante Cunningham and has guards out the wazoo. This one would be a higher paced game because both teams push the pace. Nova has given up exorbitant totals at times in the Big East.

Elsewhere:

Va Tech gets Duquesne in the NIT. This is big time trouble for them. What will the Hokie mindset be? Will they take this as a challenge and make a run to send Vassallo off or will they bitch and moan and piss awy the home game. The Dukes are an explosive team and will be tough to prep for. This will be an intriguing one especially if Duquesne is hot from the outside.

Mason made the NIT and will get Penn State in a 2-7 matchup. Another case of mindset as most NIT games are. Especially if PSU is unhappy to have not made the tourney. I havent seen too many PSU games this year as Big 10 bball is unwatchable. I'd like to think Mason can hang around and clamp down on the Nits. This one wont reach 70 either.

Teams to watch in the NCAA tourney:

Temple of course
Washington -- Watch out for the VCU of the west. Final 4 talent when it all gets put together.
Ohio State -- Only because they are "home" which is a crock (PS...How the hell did Maryland get a 10 when they didnt even belong in the tourney. No team should make the field of 65 when you've lost games by at least 30 points)

That's all for now

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Welcome Back

Hardly Workin is back on the air and it feels great especially since i've started to catch some march madness fever. The CAA tournament is one of the more underrated tournaments in the mid-major country. Great crowds, great action and good rivalries. The Mason-VCU final tomorrow will be outstanding. I feel like the Rams will come out on top because they can't let Eric Maynor's senior year be sullied by an NIT bid. VCU's defense as of late has been out of this world and the tired Patriots had way too many mental lapses. Rams take it 67-60.

The Spiders are going into the A-10 tourney with a ton of momentum. I'm feeling at least one victory with a good chance for two. Richmond's bigs are going to be the key. We know that the Spiders guards will score and we've seen games where Martel/Gonzo/KA have carried the team to a victory but it's the bigs who will need to contribute as well. Rhode Island's guards are good, Dayton's are underrated. Spiders get two wins but bow out in a close one in the Semi's.

Would you call me crazy if I said UVA had a better chance of winning their first round game then the Hokies do? I know about the crazy stretch Va Tech has had but UVA is "hot" right now. You never know where the points are gonna come from outside of Sylven but the Hoos are playing with house money. There's even a projection out there the Hoos make the CollegeInsider.com tournament. Meanwhile the Hokies big 3 have struggled mightily lately. They will be playing a desperate Canes team in the 1st round and will need Delaney, Vassallo and Allen to step up big to prevent Miami from gettin back on the bubble.

March Madness is alive and well and soon before we know it, it will be baseball season.