The Survivor, Garcia is the Fifth, Buffalo is Bad
Yes, Duke is the last one seed left in our NCAA Men’s Bracket. Who is shocked (my hand is raised)?
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Now the Devils have taken down each team in very convincing fashion. Even at times when it looked like Baylor had a chance in the second half, Duke came back in that resilient manner that Coach K teaches. Syracuse went down and so did Kansas but I was surprised that Kentucky (I know WV is good) took the plunge. Duke became that last hope for # 1s.
I think this one is theres for the taking. West Virginia has talent but who is going to guard all those big guys AND MORE IMPORTANTLY stop the Blue Devils from getting too many rebounds(=second chance points). I like Duke in the Championship with Michigan State. Izzo always gets his team to the top. Can they avenge their romping last year? Nope, Duke will win without Lucas there. STRIKE ONE!
The St. Louis Cardinals named Jaime Garcia their fifth starter. This guys has a totally reconstructed arm (he turns 24 in July). He had arm surgery in 2008 and has had no real experience in the bigs since. La Russa has always liked this guy and the Red Birds have not had a lefty starter in two seasons.
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Garcia is not a dominating pitcher but he was a top prospect. He has the strikeout pitch too. Now, this means that Kyle McClellan’s bid is done. I like him in the bullpen though. He does good setting up Ryan Franklin. I always say if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.
The Cards needed a replacement for Joel Pinero-Brad Penny and the Brad Thompson/Todd Wellemeyer show-Jaime Garcia.Let me tell you this too. St. Louie better be happy that the Thompson and Wellemeyer crap is over. It was not pretty. STRIKE TWO! (more…)
# 1 Seeds?, Brady Quinn?, Florida not Tech or IL?
Today I might have three questions rather than strikes. Man, it’s good to be back.
What could the criteria for a number one seed be in the NCAA tourney? Kansas will get to the Sweet 16 but needs a half way decent game if they play UNI in the 16 to get to the Elite Eight. And if they get there, a death storm awaits. A possible Michigan State with something to prove or a possible ACC player of the year with Vazquez and Maryland. On the other side of this bracket lies Gtown, Tennessee, Ohio State, GA Tech, and a very underrated OK State.
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Kentucky’s Bracket contains Marquette, Wisconsin, and West Virginia. Also, they have to play Texas or Wake in the second round!!! The Syracuse bracket is no easier. A second round match-up with Gonzaga? Butler, Vandy, and Xavier on their side and a possible Elite with Pitt or Kansas State.
But Duke gets a cake walk (Should be West Virginia’s walk). No one should touch them until the Sweet 16 (Not Louisville, sorry). Purdue without Hummel probably won’t meet them there either, my guess Texas A&M. Baylor and Nova are the only notable teams that will only face them in this regions final. The committee sided with the veteran line-up at Duke this year. Coach K gets an opportunity to be crowned a third time this season, and it’ll be sad if they don’t get to the Final Four. STRIKE ONE!
[picappgallerysingle id="7476799"]The Broncos got Brady Quinn. Ew. I mean, it isn’t a bad trade for what they gave up. An ineffective Peyton Hillis along with a sixth rounder move to Cleveland who are settling for Delhome. Ew. I guess McDaniels wants some competing at QB. If Orton can’t beat out this combine-Notre Dame-produced actor than I don’t know what to do. STRIKE TWO!
Back to the NCAA. How did Florida get in over some of the other bubbles. I know all those ESPN experts said don’t get mad because they didn’t do a bad job this year. I beg to differ. I don’t care if the Illini had 14 losses, they played well in big games. Two big wins versus Wisconsin, Michigan State, and a ranked Northwestern. A tough loss to Gonzaga was what they probably needed but I liked the wins against Vanderbilt and Clemson (a huge comeback to save the Big Ten ACC Challenge for the first time ever!)
Florida wasn’t really competing and a few of their wins were miracles (literally). They finished under 500 in the two months and nothing impressive happened. Well, if you consider the fact they finished off Aubrun twoice in that time. Virginia Tech was even a better pick. Just because the ACC is down doesn’t mean that a good ACC team is worse than a mediocre SEC team.
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Virginia Tech had no real bad losses than at UNC and Boston College. Other than that, I have to say the only reason they were left out was because the ACC wasn’t strong. If it was a normal year for the conference the committee would have made them a six seed. It was silly. I guess they were left out because of a first round loss to Miami in the tournement. What a shame. STRIKE THREE AND I’M OUT!
Ted Maguire
Bye Bye LT, UConn and the Refs, Greene’s Not Coming
[picappgallerysingle id="7577091"]Nine years, 12,000 yards, 130 TDs, and that’s it. LT got the ax just like he said he would. LaDainian was owed too much for the Chargers wallet so they said good bye to the vet. I don’t know what they’re doing. A lot of experts don’t seem to think LT has anything left (he was sadly my first draft pick in fantasy last year). He must have something in the tank. He’ll be 31 in June. That’s not promising but he will rush for 1,000 again. He was the MVP in 2006. Oh, that was a while ago I know. This guy has had some injury problems but he wants a title. I hope he gets the chance to rush for 120 and three TDs against SD next year. Trust me, if he gets the chance he will. LT has been wronged. STRIKE ONE! (more…)
