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Wednesday, January 31, 2007
The wreck that is Tech
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
March Madness in Atlanta:
Check out the AJC’s Final Four pageNot trying to elbow in on Matt Winkeljohn’s terrain on the Georgia Tech beat (he’ll have his take on ajc.com later today), but the Yellow Jackets’ beautiful dream of making the NCAA tourney field and vying for a hometown Final Four shot is turning into an absolute nightmare.
Thought I’d start this inaugural entry of HoopHead (your daily college basketball blog fix, running through the Final Four) by revealing a bit of how Yellow Jackets Nation is reacting to what looks to be some March Sadness at Tech.
The fulminations are less than the lamentations over a season that may have gone beyond the brink. As the game wound down, Deacons fans jeered Tech about the ACC football final! Trying to get a handle on what’s ailing the Jackets (and also the Terps) is a formidable mystery.
Other Techies are simply looking ahead to “beesball” season.
Reversal of fortune might as well be the theme today. Over in Athens, the Bulldogs were considered a longshot to get an NCAA bid, but now they’re in an enviable position. The next few games — Vandy and Florida come up next — could sort out their chances, although the SEC’s cluttered with post-season hopefuls. Here’s somebody who thinks UGA might be a team to watch out for in March. Also beware of: Wahoos and Salukis. Overrated: Buckeyes and the Dookies.
The following was written before Tuesday’s 57-50 grinder won by Illinois over Michigan State, but it might further confirm this blogger’s premise: The Big Ten is kinda dull. It’s written in the dry, wintry but humorous style that can only come from a true Heartlander. If you love hoops wonkery, you’ll find a never-ending supply there.
Here’s hoping tonight’s Wisconsin-Indiana clash in Bloomington will defy the trend. Ditto for Ohio State-Purdue in West Lafayette.
The best hoops story thus far coming out of the Hoosier state is Butler, which is ranked No. 13 this week. The “Hoosiers” theme is for real, as the true-life inspiration for Jimmy Chitwood talks about his present-day likeness, Butler guard A.J. Graves.
Adding to the mystique: He hails from Switz City, Ind., which has gotta be even smaller than French Lick, right?
And of course, the Bulldogs play their home games at Hinkle Field House, where the movie’s triumphant finale was filmed, and where the storied Indiana state tournament was played B.C. Before Conseco.
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Tony Barnhart’s 65 daily picks
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
If he made his bracket today, AJC’s Tony Barnhart would pick these teams to make it to the Big Dance:
1: North Carolina (ACC champ)
2: Florida (SEC champ)
3: Wisconsin (Big Ten champ)
4: UCLA (Pac-10 champ)
5: Pittsburgh (Big East champ)
6: Texas A&M (Big 12 champ)
7: Oregon (at-large)
8: Ohio State (at-large)
9: Duke (at-large)
10: Oklahoma State (at-large)
11: Kansas (at-large)
12: Butler (Horizon champ)
13: Arizona (at-large)
14: Air Force (Mountain West champ)
15: Nevada (WAC champ)
16: Marquette (at-large)
17: Virginia Tech (at-large)
18: Kentucky (at-large)
19: Clemson (at-large)
20: Memphis (C-USA champ)
21: UNLV (at-large)
22: Alabama (at-large)
23: Texas (at-large)
24: Washington State (at-large)
25: Vanderbilt (at-large)
26: Michigan State (at-large)
27: Boston College (at-large)
28: Texas Tech (at-large)
29: Southern Illinois (MVC champ)
30: Northern Iowa (at-large)
31: Florida State (at-large)
32: Indiana (at-large)
33: Arkansas (at-large)
34: Southern Cal (at-large)
35: Syracuse (at-large)
36: Stanford (at-large)
37: Georgia (at-large)
38: Gonzaga (West Coast champs)
39: Georgetown (at-large)
40: Notre Dame (at-large)
41: Creighton (at-large)
42: VCU (Colonial champ)
43: Louisville (at-large)
44: West Virginia (at-large)
45: Wichita State (at-large)
46: Davidson (Southern champ)
47: New Mexico State (at-large)
48: Holy Cross (Patriot champ)
49: Drexel (at-large)
50: Texas A&M-CC (Southland champ)
51: Vermont (America East champ)
52: Penn (Ivy champ)
53: Toledo (MAC champ)
54: George Washington (A-10 champ)
55: Winthrop (Big South champ)
56: East Tennessee (Atlantic Sun champ)
57: South Alabama (Sun Belt champ)
58: Delaware State (MEAC champ)
59: Oral Roberts (Mid-Continent champ)
60: Austin Peay (Ohio Valley champ)
- Cal State Fullerton (Big West champ)
62: Jackson State (SWAC champ)
63: Weber State (Big Sky champ)
64: Loyola, Md. (MAAC champ)
65: Central Conn. State (Northeast champ)
How do you see it?
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