I've done so good in the East division, and totally blew it on all the others.  So far, I'm perfect in the east.

 

I was so disappointed in Duke.  I actually watched that game ( I have never watched a college b-ball game, ever ), and they kinda seemed like they didn't care.

really?  I didn't get that impression.  I just think they got outplayed in the second half.  They had the lead most of the game, then once WV caught them and got ahead it was all over b/c Duke, when they're not draining the 3s, can lose to anyone.  And that's what happened against WV and it nearly happened in Round 1 against Belmont too.  Last year Duke was bounced to VCU in the first round b/c VCU was like on turbo all game long, and they just outhustled Duke and blitzed them really all game and Duke was off balanced and not hitting the 3, which is key to their style of play, which is a perimeter based game.  Duke lacks a big man presence down low or on the post.  They desperately need a big man and a nice power forward too.  If they have even just one of these, they'd be pretty hard to stop.  They only lost like 5 games this year, so they're good without it, but they really need it because they need to have big man physical disruption in the tournaments cuz otherwise they won't last too deeply into it. 

 

the thing i was surprised by was not WV's win over Duke since a lot thought that would happen, but Georgetown going down hard to tiny Davidson.  Davidson's been good at bball for a while, but this was a big shock.  Notre Dame getting BLOWN AWAY was a huge shock too, for that matter.  Also, my Canes lost to Texas, no surprise, but when CBS left covering that game, there was like 6 minutes left and UM was down by 14 or 16 pts like they had been for most of the game, then they somehow only lost by 3 points, 75-72 and had the ball with 1.8 seconds left with a chance to tie, though it had to go full court to do so and so that meant a hail mary pass catch shoot type of thing that got broken up during the pass segment of that near impossible act.  

 

anyway, this is what makes the tournament so damn good and I hope my teams UM and Duke take the necessary steps to improve...for UM that means making damn sure McClinton doesn't bolt for the NBA since he's just a freak, and Duke needs to add some muscle down low.  I'm finally comfortable with Miami's coaching staff, and trust they will only continue to establish themselves as a contender in basketball (and being they're in the ACC I don't expect them to be champion status, but the future does look bright in terms of them being players).  As far as Duke goes, they will continue to be a power as they have been for decades, and people have forgotten that Duke wasn't expected to be this good this year.  Last year McRoberts (their big guy) oddly left for the NBA despite his lack of finishing moves down low and now rides the pine of the Portland Trailblazers, and the rest of Duke is quite young.  Sure they have Hendeson who's fierce and Nelson who's alright and Paulus who is a very good point guard, but everyone else on that team is fresh or soph.  And hopefully Hansbrough in UNC leaves after this year to the NBA so the Tarheels won't be the same, b/c even though Duke beat them in Chapel Hill this year, they've beaten us 3 years straight at our house.

See, y'all must really be lovin' me right now, as my presence keeps everyone else out of last place, lol.

 

Gawd I suck at this.