Prediction for Badgers vs. Iowa

Prediction: Badgers defeat the Hawkeyes 71-57 in a very special night for Alando Tucker. The Badgers will come out with emotion from the start and defeat the Hawkeyes. With one point Alando Tucker becomes only the 2nd Badger in history to score 2,000 points in his career. Tuck is set to have a major game playing against a major rival on a game being played on ESPN. As we all know Alando plays fantastically while on national t.v. It also gives him another chance to prove to writers he is the player of the year and not Texas freshman Kevin Durant. Look for Tuck to have at least 20 points and the continuing development of Iowa native Jason Bohannon. Bohannon has played well of late with expanded playing time and is always going to be motivated when he plays his home state Hawkeyes.

Enjoy Badger's Sucess While it Lasts

I have to admit I have been guilty of not fully appreciating the Wisconsin Badgers success in men's basketball this season. Although I have certainly enjoyed the great wins over Pittsburgh and Marquette, I have been unimpressed with the average margin of victories over teams like Purdue, Northwestern, and Iowa. But what I have to remember is 2 of thses 3 games were on the road in usually hard places for the Badgers to win. In previous years we would come out losing these games. But this year we have found a way to win tough games on the road, and done just enough to win games at home. As they say a win is a win. I can never remember such a sucessful season thus far in my 20 years of being a rabid Badger fan. We are 23 -2 with a veteran team who has just a good a chance as anyone in the country to make the Final Four. Barring a major catastrophe we also should be a #1 seed in the upcoming NCAA tourney playing games close to Madtown. Also in big games the Badgers always seem to be ready. In games versus Pitt and Marquette this season we pretty much dismantled them. They are two of the better teams in the country at this point. Anyways I guess the point of this article is to just say "Enjoy the 2006-2007 Badgers team as much as you can!" Next year we will be a young team with many young players having to play a major role. Also we will lose our 2 major go to scorers in Alando Tucker and Kammron Taylor. Not saying we will be a bad team , just that seasons like this come few and far between. I guess from now on I will not take for granted small margin victories or Big Ten road wins. So lets just enjoy this wonderful season and hope we all will be partying in Atlanta come late March!

Cinderella Proves Why NCAA Tourney is Best In Sports

I have to admit I was the first one to mock George Mason's admission into the NCAA Tournament. The Patriots had lost to Hofstra twice in 10 days, didn't win the CAA tournament, and 6 of their 7 losses were to non-NCAA tournament teams. They looked like a team destined for the NIT. But the Patriots had one thing on their side. Their athletic director was on the selection committee for the tournament. How he was able to convince his fellow committee members to give George Mason and at-large bid, as well as an 11 seed, I will never know. But now I am proud to say I was wrong. Hugely wrong. The Patriots has opitimized exactly why the NCAA Tournament is by far the greatest sporting event in sports. In 2 weeks, George Mason has defeated perennial national powers Michigan St, North Carolina, and possibly the most talented college basketball team in history, Connecticut. They also defeated a Witchita St. team which they narrowly defeated in BracketBuster Sunday by double-digits. The Patriots tallest players are only 6-7, yet their heart cannot be measured. GM made all of us believe that any team with heart and desire can beat anyone on any given day. Do you honestly think this would happen in any other sports tournament? I don't. The Super Bowl is usually lop-sided, the World Series almost always has a power in it, and hockey always has powers in it. Nothing could take away from George Mason's run to the Final Four but lets all hope Cinderella doesn't lose her glass slipper before it ends in a National Championship.

New Up to Date Predictions

Although I will stick with my sleeper teams and my cinderellas, I would like to change my final four now that the brackets are straightened out. (Previous picks before were based on Joe Lunardi's ESPN Bracketology bracket. In the Minneapolis region my pick is Boston College. Boston College is playing extremely well right now and their defense is outstanding. I believe their inside game will be too much for Villanova in the Sweet 16 game and therefore the Eagles will be flying high all the way to Indianapolis. My pick for the the D. C. region is Connecticut. The Huskies loss to Syracuse will ignite them and get them playing up to their potential. And the Huskies potential is limitless. Look for the Huskies to coast their way to the RCA Dome. In the Oakland region I am going with the Zags of Gonzaga. I believe Adam Morrison and the Zags are sick of second round exits, and the moustached man will not be stopped in the Tourney. Look for inspired play by the zags as they bark their way all the way to Indiana. In the Atlanta region my pick, and as much as i hate to say this is the Duke Blue Devils. The freshman are stepping up at the right time and Redick and Williams will flat out refuse to lose as the Blue Devils burrow their way to Indy.
Semis: Duke will defeat Gonzaga 75-65. Redick with 40 and Williams with 19 and 10.
Connecticut will edge Boston College 72-68.
Championship: UConn defeats Duke 82-74.

NCAA Tournament Predictions

As the NCAA Tournament approches, my excitement level rises to new heights. I have watched nearly every game that ESPN, CBS, and ABC had to offer this college basketball season. I consider myself fairly knowledgeable about the game and can hold a conversation with anyone. But when the brackets come out on Monday, I guarentee I will be no where near the winner's board. Do you ever notice that it's always the guy who never watched a game who wins the bracket. Or a female in your office who picks her teams strickly by the team's mascot? "Well, I like an Eagle better than a bear, I guess I will pick Boston College." Even though I know I won't win, here are my preditions for the NCAA Tournament:

Sleeper: Alabama or Arkansas. Both are highly athletic teams with awkward styles and personnel. Will give other teams match-up nightmares. Look for them to make the Sweet Sixteen.

Cinderella: San Diego St. or Bradley. Both are quality teams in good conferences. And both have not been highly scouted and could surprise some people in how good they actually are.

Final Four: Conneticut-The loss to Syracuse will wake them up and they will finally play up to their outstanding abilities. Texas- The Longhorns are playing their best when it counts and it will carry them far into the Tourney. West Virginia- Their unorthadox style will be unseen by NCAA opponents until they reach the Final 4. Also their region is filled with young, talented teams, without a lot of tourney experience, (see: Memphis, Kansas, North Carolina) and West Virginia has 5 seniors. Villanova - Villanova's region maybe one of the weakest with Illinois probably a 2 seed, Tennessee a team with no tourney experience, and Boston College the next best team, whom the Wildcats have already beat this season.

Champion: Connecticut- If U Conn plays up to its abilities no one will beat the Huskies. The loss to Syracuse was just what the doctor ordered, telling UConn they can't play 20 minutes of good basketball and expect to win. Jim Calhoun will pull them together and they will play outstanding. Look for the Huskies to be cutting down the net in early April.

Nothing's a Sure Thing in College B-Ball

Thanks, Michigan! Once again you proved the Wolverines are nothing but choke artists when it comes to must-wins at the end of the year. You start off something like 14-0 with mediocre non-conference opponents and then you shit the bed in the Big Ten. You have beaten Minnesota by 16 and 22 respectively during league play and you play horribly and lose to them in the Big Ten conference tournament. If I sound so angry at the Wolverines, it's not because I am a fan, but because I am a losing bettor because of them. I had Michigan by 4 points on www.bodog.com and lost $10 because of their lackluster play. But it just comes to show you that any team can be beaten in the conference tournaments. Look at Syracuse. They got rocked both times by Connecticut and because they played with much more emotion, they will join the field of 65. Long story short, any team, no matter how bad, can beat any team, on any given day!

Goodbye Kirby, We Will Miss You!

Today, March 6, 2006 the world lost one of its best: the legendary Kirby Puckett. I know I was crushed when Kirby retired, but I thought I had a while until I had to mourn his death. Kirby had meant so much to my life. And until today I must admit I hadn't thought of him in quite a while since seeing game 6 of the 1991 World Series on ESPN Classic. 3 of my close friends called me today and told me the grim news. Besides Brett Favre, I know of no other athlete who was so beloved by my group of friends. And that was including two die-hard Brewer fans whos favorite all-time player just happened to be Kirby. I will always remember his ever-present smile, his love for the game and his amazing catch and home run in game 6 of the 1991 series. But most of all I will remember how Kirby helped me and my father develop the type of relationship we have today. He is my best friend and means the most to me in the world, and our love for Kirby and the Twins started an on-going love affair with sports that still goes on today. It's days like these that make you realize life is so short. Kirby was only 44. If we can take anything from his early death, it is that anyone of any size can do anything they want to as long as they have heart. And that we should always go about life with a smile. Kirby, we will miss you, and someday when I go, I hope I will be able to play catch with you and see your smile.

Hooray for Ken Williams!

Yesterday, White Sox GM Kenny Williams called out a washed up, fat bastard. I mean, Frank Thomas. He called Frank an idiot, a whiner, and that no one in the clubhouse or management would miss him. He also made Thomas look like an even bigger chump, saying the owner had to borrow Frank money numerous times. This is a man who has had a couple decent sized contract in his life, and he had to ask another man for money? How weak! For the last 5 years Thomas has been nothing but a cancer in the clubhouse even though the White Sox have tried to treat him like part of the team. Is it their fault you got hurt every year and showed up 50 pounds overweight? I appreciate the fact that someone finally called out one these overpaid babies and told them exactly what they thought. More GM's should have the kahones and do this. Hooray for Williams for finally doing what needed to be done!

6 or 16? Young WILL be a Flop in the NFL!

As you may heard yesterday, the brilliant Vince Young scored a 6 on the Wonderlic test. Or was it 16? Either way it doesn't matter. Regardless of the score, mark my words: VINCE YOUNG WILL BE A FLOP IN THE NFL! If we have learned anything from Micheal Vick, quarterbacks who can run and can't throw do not belong playing quarterback in the NFL. Just because he can run, his mechanics don't matter anymore. If Young was Brooks Bollinger and he threw the way Young does, he would be torn apart for bad mechanics. Name 3 great quarterbacks who throw sidearm?............. Huh, you can't think of one either. Young's passes will constantly get knocked down by bigger defensive lineman then he played against at Texas. Young also is a below-average downfield passer, something that is essential in the NFL. Besides that, how many extremely mobile quarterbacks have won the Super Bowl in the last 10 years? None. Tom Brady, Ben Roethisberger, Kurt Warner, John Elway, Trent Dilfer, Troy Aikman, Brett Favre, and Brad Johnson all had decent mobility, but the overwhelming factor in all of them was they all could pass. Don't get me wrong, Young is an athletic freak, but as a quarterback he is nothing more than another one who can run but not pass. He'll electrify us with some dazzling runs, but when his team is asked to go 90 yards for the win, Young will have to win with his arm, something he will fall 80 yards short.

Alford's Big Mistake???

Last week Indiana coach Mike Davis announced he would be resigning at seasons end. In his press conference he said that the Hoosier family "needed one of their own to embrace." So who was Hoosier nation's obvious choice to replace Davis? That's right Steve Alford. The Golden Boy from the Hoosiers in the mid-80's. Obviously Alford would not comment saying only that he needed to concentrate on his team and that he wouldn't be discussing it at this time. Translation: I can't wait to be considered for this job, and contact me as soon as my Hawkeyes are eliminated from the NCAA tournament. I am here to say he would be making a GIANT mistake taking the Indiana job. Yes, it is his alma mata and yes he is an Indiana folk hero, but that is exactly the reason he shouldn't take the job. Hoosier fan's expectations would be unreal and he would only be bound for failure. Iowa fans are just happy making the NIT or the NCAA tourney. Indiana fans want nothing short of a national title. And with Davis leaving, the 2006 season Alford would already be short on quality recruits. Plus, rumor is Indiana's super sophmore D.J. WHite may follow Davis to wherever he may coach next. That would leave Indiana with one quality player: Robert Vaden. Not only do I think Alford would make a mistake by signing on to coach Indiana, but I believe Indiana would be making a mistake getting Alford. Before this season, Alford only has a .570 winning percentage at Iowa and has only led them to two NCAA tournaments. Indiana should be looking for a better recruiter, a coach who has been to many more NCAA tournaments, and a non-Indiana related coach. Hoosier fans will expect far too much from Alford and he would be done there within 4 years. Sometimes dream jobs are only that; a dream. So please Steve, stay at Iowa, be mediocre, and have the Hawkeye fans continue being satisfied with average teams.

Badgers vs. Ohio St.Prediction

All I said on my guarentee to Barry Metropolis was that the badgers would win. Well here is my prediction on the score: Badgers 73 Ohio St. 69. Alando Tucker leads the Badgers with 26, followed by Kam Taylor with 22. Ohio St's shooting cools off tonight at the breezy Kohl Center and Terrence Dials will be in foul trouble. I know the rest of you who respond to my blogs are Badger fans, but if my prediction is wrong tonight feel free to rip into me Barry! But I guess I already know you will.

Shutup Sammy!

I have one simply plea for Sammy Sosa: Shutup! Recently the Nationals have offered Sammy Sosa a non-guarenteed $500,000 contract. Sosa has called their offer a humilation and he believes he is someone who shouldn't have to beg for a roster spot. Well, I don't know if you have noticed Sammy, but the Nationals offer is the only one you have even received this year. No one wants you! You are a washed up ball player whose career has passed you by. The one thing you could do was hit, and even that isn't their anymore. You are a horrible right fielder and run the bases as stupidly as an 5 year old that doesn't know his way to first. If you feel you deserve more money than half a mil for this season, than I suggest you pay back the Orioles the 17 million you cost them last year for batting .221 with 14 home runs and 45 RBI's. I suggest you retire rather than hang on for your 600 career homers. You are a sure-fire hall-a-famer already, and you can do nothing more than further tarnish your already questionable image. (Note your pityful display in front of Congress, when you suddenly could speak no English) And if you decide not to retire, I suggest you take the measely $500,000 from the Nationals and see if you can even make the team. If you can make the team, which I highly doubt you will, produce for them and I am sure they will gladly come up with some more money. So for every sports fans sake please shutup Sammy!

A Guarantee For Barry Metropolis!

As an avid reader of my terrific blog, I have a guarentee for Barry Metropolis: The Badgers WILL defeat Ohio St. tonight. Although we lost by 10 the last time we played the Buckeyes, here are a few good reasons we will win:
1. The Buckeyes have been one of the hottest shooting teams as of lately. Will it STILL continue tonight?

2. The last time the Badgers played the Buckeyes, it was the Badgers first game without Marcus Landry and Greg Stiemsma. We now have expierience without them, and have gained a great contributor in Kevin Gullixson.

3. We're playing at the Kohl Center. Even with an embarssing loss to NDSU and a loss to Illinois, we still are extremly tough to beat at the Kohl Center.

4. The SWING offense which is talked about in almost all Badger games, actually is working the way it is supposed to with players moving without the ball and the Badgers getting easier looks at the hoop.

5. WE AREN'T THE GOPHERS! Even though the Gophs got a big win over Michigan St. recently, we have Kam Taylor and Alando Tucker instead of Adam Boooooooo ne and Vicent (I could fit a golf club between my teeth) Grier!