Mailbag

Sometimes we get very interesting e-mails from our readers. Such as this one from a mgrealdeals:

"Dick Vitale is a grade 1 Psychopath... He is always about HIMSELF everything has to do with him!!! "me" this "i" that ....ughhhh....He is ignorant and is always trying to call attention to himself. He has ruined more games for me than I can count. I now just turn off the volume when he is announcing..ABSOLUTELY THE WORST EVER!!!!!!!!"

Except for the "grade 1 Psychopath" comment we have similar feelings but we also realize he is a college basketball institution. He is not going away anytime soon. The way we deal with him is purely from a comic relief perspective and we do not rely on him for any sort of knowledgeable insight to the game.

For example, when he says something absolutely absurd like this we respond "Oh you funny silly old man!" Perhaps if you look at him that way it will ease your pain.

Mahalo for your readership.

Know your enemy (VCU edition)

No music or introductions like we normally do since this isn't concerning San Diego State. But with one of us living here in Richmond, VA we are getting besieged with questions about the Rams upcoming matchup with Butler so here we go -

Don't expect VCU to blow out Butler like they have done to previous opponents. The way the Bulldogs are built they simply will not allow that. Whereas Kansas tried multiple times to take control of the game and exert their will on VCU, Butler will simply hang with the Rams and make it a close game. This is where they are dangerous (see example one or example two). Their modus operandi is to wait for when you are the weakest and then try and kill you (see example three). You can count on luck as Duke did last year or you can attempt to make it a horse race as Butler's opponents have tried in vain to do this year.

The third option would be for VCU to play Butler's game, essentially neutralize Butler in the paint with their second (and third and fourth) chance shots. Then it comes down to who can shoot more effectively from beyond the arc, which the Rams have a slight advantage (Rams 48% to Bulldogs 27%).

So there you go. Now that you have this simple road map we Richmond folks are expecting great things. We're looking at you, coach Smart...

Sleep in heavenly peace

So really kids, was it fucking worth it?

Bitter? No, why do you ask?

Mmmmm, salty tears

Would you like a little sobbing with your lunch?

Central Missouri women's coach Dave Slifer requested that referees waive a technical foul in order for injured opposing player Cassie Hunt to score in her last game ever.

Five year old boy breaks down after realizing that he will never see Michigan State's seniors play in East Lansing again.

Seniors, man. We'll miss them. Especially in San Diego.

(HT: The Dagger)

Dance, little monkeys!

One of the many many reasons why we love college hoops. Thank you Northern Iowa. And fuck you to these guys.

Poll positioning

So the always amusing Gary Parrish is talking about how all these top 10 losses would (or should) affect the AP/Coaches poll this week and we came across this...

Now we appreciate it. Not saying there are a few of us here who aren't thinking about it. But look guys, if you were to think about all those teams ranked above the Aztecs (Duke, Ohio State, Kansas, Pittsburgh and Texas) can you truly say the following: "SDSU would beat any of those teams if they played them in San Diego."

We can't. We can't even say right now that we could beat BYU this Saturday. And that's all it comes down to. If Team A is ranked above Team B then it is assumed that Team A would beat Team B. To be honest there are a few teams ranked below us that could beat us at home.

It's about managing expectations and not getting caught in the whirlwind of excitement. Just be cool people. Five days and counting.

Temple beats up on Richmond for damn tacos

Temple 73 - Richmond 53

Tacos... The Owls put on a clinic and embarrassed the Spiders just so students could get free tacos at the local Qdoba Restaurant. The NCAA Selection Committee will remember this, Richmond:

Temple - IN
Richmond - BUBBLE BUT OUT

James Madison loses game on travel call

Virginia Commonwealth 70 - James Madison 66

So, there was a travel call on James Madison with less than a minute left which cost the Dukes possession and the game only down by 2 at that point. And let's just say the Dukes were none too happy. We couldn't make out much but here is what we did make out:

Fucking Ref! Fuck!

Now now kids. You know what they say about profanity.

We beat Kentucky! I'm gonna hug my PAWG!

Ole Miss guard Trevor Gaskins getting some congratulatory snow bunny love...

(Seen during last night's Kentucky/Mississippi upset)

Easy on the sugar, Georgia Tech parents

As seen during the Yellow Jackets / Tar Heels fiasco.

That's wood, son

Those cabinets were probably installed by a jealous Mizzou fan. They be hating on the Jayhawks.

Oh this is just all sorts of awesome

We thinks the cameraman was a little bit distracted my dear... Happy Friday.

(HT: Mr. Spenser Hall of SB Nation and Every Day Should Be Saturday)

Introducing - Waving Cleavage Girl

Seen during the Green Bay/Marquette throwdown:

Wonder if she will be at the Green Bay/SDSU game on Saturday...

It's getting closer...

College basketball invades everywhere. Even ESPN's ubiquitous college football GameDay. Missouri supports Kentucky's Enes Kanter, y'all.

So sing songs of praise. Enes be the best since DeMarcus Cousins.

Daughter + Mother = Hatred

Seen during the West fuckin' Virginia / Villanova epic overtime battle. Some mother-daughter repulsion in the upper right side of the vid.

If it was our daughter we would have walked away from the bitch.

The Crazies

March to Madness. Yeah, we're everywhere. 'Sup?

Game watched last night

1) West fuckin' Virginia 62, UConn 73

Connecticut finally gets a NCAA Tournament worthy win. West Virginia's coach Huggins gets ejected from the game. And UConn fans are the most masochistic fans out there. Go Huskies!

Saluki downshift

"Yesterday all my trouble seemed so far away
Now it looks as though they're here to stay
Oh I believe in yesterday"
- Paul McCartney, Yesterday

Oh what a difference 3 years make. The Southern Illinois Salukis were the talk of the town, their coach was the queen of the ball getting them to their 3rd Sweet 16 in school history, along with numerous job offers.

My how things change...



If you can stomach the hi-larious Hitler reference therein lies a point. SIU has been in a horrific talespin losing nearly every other game. In a world of "what have you done for me lately" no matter how rational the defenders of coach Chris Lowery are, you will always have haters.

Long live the haters. And happy Friday.

Have you seen Banana Man?

Below is an unaltered photo from the Syracuse/Marquette game on Saturday...

We'll keep you posted on this phenomenon.

Stop fouling!

We can't figure it out, was Georgetown that bad or Syracuse that good? The Hoyas got absolutely manhandled out there losing 56 to 73. The Orange outblocked Georgetown 4 to 1. Georgetown had twice as many fouls as Syracuse. There were chunks of time where the Hoyas did not score anything because the Orange either stole or blocked the ball. Georgetown coach John Thompson III begged his team on three different occasions to stop fouling Syracuse so he could get the hell out of there quickly.

And now, a special comment from a Syracuse fan...


(HT: Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician)