Pelletier's Perspective: 3.26.08 Tourney Time
Posted by Justin Pelletier on 03.26.2008
We here at the Perspective would like to announce the addition of our newest staff member, MY DAUGHTER CARLEIGH ELIZABETH! We’ll also talk a little about that tournament thing going on.
My daughter was born a week ago last Friday so my recent days have been filled with a blur of dirty diapers and screaming feedings. I have, however, been able to catch a little NCAA Tournament action and the following is a stream of consciousness on the first weekend (because, to be honest, my lack of sleep leaves well constructed thoughts out of the question).
Thursday afternoon I woke up just in time for the tip-off of the first contest as Carleigh slept 45 MINUTES the night before. Her cry is like getting awaken by a fire alarm. My night was nowhere near as bad as Temple's afternoon, though, as I watched the Owls get SERVED by Oklahoma.
In between unwanted visitors and shitty diapers, I watched Michael Beasley cement the fact that he's the best freshmen (hell, the best player) in the country as Kansas St. took it to USC.
Two-hours deep into the 2008 tournament and my bracket looks GREAT!
SONG THAT REPRESENTS MY BRACKET'S CURRENT STATUS: SHINY HAPPY PEOPLE - REM
The night game I was treated to by my local CBS affiliate nearly hurt my bracket and I couldn't have been happier. Despite having Duke in the Sweet 16 I was pulling hard for Belmont to pull the huge 2 v. 15 upset. (As a UNC fan it is my duty to detest all things Duke related.) When Belmont took the lead late I woke Carleigh with a shout of joy. I could picture Donald, (this jackass I went to high school with, and hard core Duke fan) crying and cutting himself. Alas, it wasn't to be as Prick U. pulled it out but the victory left my bracket nearly perfect after day one.
Day two, on the other hand, well that was a different story.
CURRENT SONG: I FEEL GOOD – James Brown
Friday allowed me to finish watching the holy trinity of average Philly teams as St. Joe's played Oklahoma and Villanova took on Clemson. Living 10 minutes outside the City of Brotherly Love I'm pretty familiar with all of its middling teams so, in my infinite wisdom, I chose The Hawks to upset the Sooners and Nova to take the fall against the athletic Tigers.
CURRENT SONG: UNDER PRESSURE – David Bowie
As the day went on I was able to catch two awesome games. The first was Stephen Curry's Superman act against Gonzaga. Gonzaga pisses me off. If it wasn't labeled as a "mid-major", and treated as the top-50 basketball power it truly is, people would shy away from them like that chick at the bar with the sore on her lip. But since they are "scrappy-underdog" Gonzaga, even their opponent's parents pick them in their office pool. I too fell into that trap as I went against my rule of "always pick the team with boasts the player who is clearly superior to all others on the court" and I got burned.
So Davidson stung me with a minor upset but it was in the West where everyone saw the number one reason the tourney is great, as well as, the number one reason brackets get burned. This year's fire starters are Western Kentucky and San Diego. The Toreros will face the Hilltoppers after they knocked off UConn and, one of my Sweet 16 teams, Drake, respectively. Once again, I strayed from one of my steadfast rules I as bought into mid-major hype.
IT IS NEVER A GOOD IDEA TO PICK A MID-MAJOR TO MAKE A RUN IF THEY ARE SEEDED HIGHER THAN 10th. At that point they are no longer Cinderella and teams are prepared to face them. Even if they do win a couple, what satisfaction do you get?
For all the hell Western Kentucky and San Diego put many through, either really stung me that badly. Sure UConn was in my Sweet 16 but one Sweet 16 team out on the first day isn't too bad. Unfortunately, I spoke too soon.
Every year I select one, under-the-radar, school from a power conference to make a run into the Elite 8. Often, it's a team like Wisconsin, or Oregon, or Clemson. My thought process this year was simple; "Why not take a team from the conference that produced the last two national champions?" Seemed like a great idea.
May I present to you the bane of my existence; THE VANDERBILT COMMODORES!
Two or three times a year I make the, four-hour, trip to visit my family in the Albany area. Every time I make the trip I pass by a quaint school situated on Route 9 in Latham, NY. That school is Siena. I've seen the Saints campus for years growing up. Then, to top it off, one of my good friends from high school received a baseball scholarship to attend that very school. Talk about a small world.
So with all this karma one would be led to believe that I would have a soft spot for the Saints and would be likely to choose the Albany-area school to make a run. NOPE, bounced out by Vandy! I'm a freckin' moron.
To make matters worse, Vandy was my sweet heart this year. Upset over Kansas and a trip to the final 8? Why not! I'm screwed!
CURRENT SONG: CRYING – AEROSMITH
The weekend started better as Tennessee escaped past Butler and those damn Dukies got knocked off by West Virginia. Even my surprise Final 4 participant, Stanford, continued to win.
CURRENT SONG: STAYIN' ALIVE – THE BEE GEES
Easter Sunday is the day Jesus, allegedly, resurrected from the dead. My bracket, however, is not so lucky. It's dead and buried and it's all thanks to Dell Curry's damn son. So long Hoyas. So long my optimistic thoughts. So long my bracket.
CURRENT SONG: TAPS
So heading into the round of 16 my bracket is hurting. I'm missing EIGHT OF THE 16 TEAM, FOUR of my final eight (Georgetown, Duke, Pitt and Vandy) and one of my Final Four participants (the Hoyas). It's like I let Bob Knight fill out my sheet.
On the bright side, I still have three of my final four teams and my national championship match-up. On the dark side, my final consists of UNC and UCLA, the final even Rick Patino, John Calipari and Coack K picked. So it looks like another year and more of my hard earned cash down the drain.
I'm not worried though, baseball is right around the corner and I never miss with my MLB picks.
No…It wasn't me who picked Bill Hall to win NL MVP last year. You must have me confused with some other Justin Pelletier.
