Final Four Observations and Predictions

America's most thrilling sporting event is heading into its stretch run. Duke, West Virginia, Butler, and Michigan State are all vying for a chance to cut down the nets in Indy. Here are my musings and prognostications:

---The Final Four is set, and Indianapolis will be rocking on Saturday night, thanks to Butler's stunning wins over Syracuse and Kansas State.

---The run to the Final Four by the hometown Butler Bulldogs serves as a reminder of the beauty of the NCAA Tournament. While I definitely prefer the NBA to the college game (let the hate mail begin!), there is no denying the fact that March Madness is extraordinarily compelling television, a true gift for sports fans everywhere.

---Butler may be thought of as a Cinderella, but this team is capable of winning the championship. Led by a superb coach in Brad Stevens, whose boyish, High School Musical-looks are startling, and by sharpshooter Gordon Hayward, the Bulldogs are a major threat to upset Michigan State on Saturday night. Go Bulldogs!

---However, beating a Tom Izzo-coached team in the Final Four is a monumental task. Izzo is, for my money, the best coach in college basketball. Even better than Coach K. Even better than Roy Williams. Izzo has had astonishing success in the NCAA Tourney over the years, and that is a testament to his unparalleled leadership and intelligence. There is no one better.

---This 2010 Michigan State Spartan team may be the team to beat. Yes, they will again be without their star Kalin Lucas, but guys like Durrell Summers, Raymar Morgan, and Korie Lucious have done a nice job of picking up the slack in Lucas' absence. My heart is with Butler, but something tells me Sparty will be back in the title game.

---And then there is Duke and West Virginia. I have been accused of being a Duke hater over the years, and I plead guilty to that charge. However, there is no denying the fact that Coach K's Blue Devils are an outstanding team. Led by Kyle Singler, Jon Scheyer, Nolan Smith, and Brian Zoubek, this Duke team is the best Duke team in a long time, and that's saying something.

---But call me biased, close-minded, whatever: I like West Virginia to win this game. Some would say the Mountaineers got lucky with the 3-ball against Kentucky, and that's just how Coach Bob Huggins likes it. Huggins' team has been flying under the radar all year long, and with Duke favored to win, West Virginia will feed off the fuel of their skeptics on Saturday night. If point guard Darryl Bryant is healthy, look for the Mountaineers to advance to the title game.

---If Michigan State and West Virginia do end up duking it out for the national championship, I would give the slight edge to Tom Izzo's team. Though they may not look like the best team on paper, the Spartans under Izzo always seem to get it done.

---My predictions: Michigan State over Butler; West Virginia over Duke; MSU over WVA

---My hopes: Butler, Butler, Butler, and anybody but Duke.

An Instant Classic in Salt Lake City

The basketball fans in Salt Lake City are used to a display of excellence on the hardwood. Home of the Utah Jazz, Salt Lake has been home to some incredible professional hoops action over the years. However, this Utah metropolis has never really been associated with basketball at the collegiate level. After Thursday night's insanely exciting double-overtime affair between Xavier and Kansas State, that has changed.

The Xavier-Kansas State showdown had a lot to live up to after Syracuse and Butler put on a thrilling show earlier in the evening at EnergySolutions Arena. That game, won by Cinderella Butler, was a reminder of why madness is associated with the NCAA Tournament. It was absolutely stunning to watch the amazing comeback by Butler, and the astonishing collapse of the Orange. That game would be a tough act to follow. Little did we know that it was only the warmup act. Xavier and Kansas State proceeded to deliver a wildly entertaining, double-overtime affair, won by Frank Martin's gritty K-State team.

The Wildcats' 101-96 victory made for a magical viewing experience for sports fans across the globe. It had all the makings of an instant classic: euphoric triumph for one team, devastating heartbreak for the other. It was a seemingly impossible test of endurance that featured undeniable greatness from a player on the losing team (Jordan Crawford). And the fact that the game featured the orgasmic awesomeness of the great Gus Johnson, calling the game for CBS alongside the terrific Len Elmore, made it all the more sweet.

I prefer the pro game to the college game, but Thursday night's classic served as a reminder of why March Madness is the most exciting event in all of sports. It was yet another chapter in a tournament that has already been filled with unforgettable stories and images. What a night.

My March Madness Bracket

Yesterday was Selection Sunday, one of the greatest sports days of the year. The 2010 NCAA Tournament kicks off on Thursday, and with no further ado, here is my bracket. Let the madness begin!

ROUND OF 32

Kansas
UNLV
Michigan State
Maryland
San Diego State
Georgetown
Georgia Tech
Ohio State
Syracuse
Gonzaga
Butler
Vanderbilt
Xavier
Pittsburgh
BYU
Kansas State
Kentucky
Texas
Cornell
Wisconsin
Marquette
New Mexico
Clemson
West Virginia
Duke
Cal
Utah State
Siena
Notre Dame
Baylor
St. Mary's
Villanova

SWEET 16

Kansas
Michigan State
Georgetown
Ohio State
Syracuse
Butler
Pittsburgh
Kansas State
Kentucky
Wisconsin
New Mexico
West Virginia
Duke
Siena
Baylor
Villanova

ELITE EIGHT

Kansas
Georgetown
Syracuse
Pittsburgh
Kentucky
West Virginia
Duke
Baylor

FINAL FOUR

Kansas
Syracuse
West Virginia
Baylor

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Kansas over West Virginia

Williams, Durant, Zito, and random observations on the wonderful world of sports

In the words of the great San Francisco Chronicle sports columnist Scott Ostler, here are my deep thoughts, cheap shots, and bon mots:



---With all due respect to Chris Paul, Steve Nash, Chauncey Billups, Jason Kidd, and Rajon Rondo, Deron Williams is the best point guard in basketball. D-Will has exhibited consistent brilliance this season for the surging Jazz, a big reason why Utah will be a tough out come playoff time.



---Speaking of the Jazz, aren't they glad they didn't trade Carlos Boozer? Without Boozer, Utah would have no legitimate big man to challenge the likes of Bynum and Nene out West come playoff time. By keeping Boozer, and pairing him with the superb Paul Millsap, Jerry Sloan's team is a smart dark horse pick to win the West.



---Last night on "Inside the NBA", E.J., Kenny, Sir Charles, and Chris Webber had a fascinating discussion about the frustrating inconsistency of the Los Angeles Lakers. Talent wise, the Lakers tower over the rest of the league. With Kobe, Gasol, Bynum, Odom, Fisher, Artest, Farmar, and Brown, the Lakers have eight players who are capable of going off for a double-double on any given night. On paper, L.A. should be even more dominant than they actually are. But they occasionally play with a careless sense of entitlement, and their laziness could very well prevent them from repeating as champs. This complacency was painfully evident in last night's loss to Dwayne Wade and the Heat.



---The NBA MVP award belongs to LeBron James. That is an undeniable fact. After King James, though, there are a handful of candidates that many consider to be runner-up in the MVP race. For me, it's not much of a debate as to who should come in number two. With all due respect to Carmelo Anthony and Kobe Bryant, the runner-up is clearly Kevin Durant. K.D. may very well be the most prolific scorer in the NBA, and he is the biggest reason why the Oklahoma City Thunder should be taken seriously come playoff time.



---Great article from Chris Ballard in this week's Sports Illustrated on the battles between Reggie Miller and the Indiana Pacers and Patrick Ewing and the New York Knicks in the 1990's. Ballard's article shows why the NBA is the best league.



---The baseball season is fast approaching, and I am giddy with excitement. I can't wait for my beloved Orange and Black to commence their regular season. But the San Francisco Giants don't have to wait until Opening Day to make some headlines. In Yesterday's Spring Training opener against the Brewers, Barry Zito drilled Prince Fielder in retaliation for Fielder's foolish home-run celebration against the Giants last year. One could argue the merit of retaliation in the game of baseball, but Zito did what he needed to do. He sent a message and protected his players. Job well done.



---You can look for my comprehensive preview of all 30 MLB teams in my season preview, coming to a computer near you in a couple of weeks.



---March Madness is right around the corner, and the parity in college hoops this year is bound to make for one of the most exciting tourneys in recent memory. It's any one's guess as to who will be cutting down the nets in Indianapolis, but as of today, my money is on Syracuse.

---With stars like Wes Johnson and Andy Rautins, Jim Boeheim's team is a good bet to make the Final Four.

---Today was the first day in NFL free agency, and several key players (Julius Peppers, Brandon Marshall) changed sceneries. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Wake me up in September. Look, I love football just as much as the next guy, and I will pay attention to the NFL Draft in April. But right now, basketball and baseball deserve the spotlight. Until September, football should remain on the down-low.

--And finally, I have succumbed to the temptations of 21st Century technology. I now have a twitter page, and you can follow me at twitter.com/tjb1121.

Musings on an Instant Classic

Reflections on an awesome hockey Sunday:

---It's only February 28, but today's U.S.-Canada Gold Medal Classic was far and away the most exciting sports moment of 2010, even surpassing the Saints' Super Bowl victory in terms of excitement.

---I was rooting hard for the United States to win, and in the immediate aftermath of the overtime defeat, I was devastated. In hindsight, though, Team USA should be enormously proud of their spectacular performance in these Olympics. Up until the final horn sounded, Team USA played with incredible grit, heart, tenacity, and poise.

---After his performance in these Games, Ryan Miller earned himself a place alongside Lincoln, Washington, Roosevelt, and Jefferson on Mt. Rushmore.

---Congratulations to our neighbors to the North. Team Canada lifted the spirits of a nation today, and Sid "The Kid" Crosby will go down as a national hero.

---Today's game was so awesome, I'm going to make a conscious effort to watch more NHL from now on. So look for more hockey discussion on this blog in the future.

---Okay Commissioner Bettman, I hope you learned your lesson today. After watching today's un-freaking-believable game, you better not scrap hockey from the Olympics in 2014. If you do decide to pull hockey from the Olympics, your reputation will stoop to Bernie Madoff-type lows.

Team USA Beats Canada: A Great Olympic Moment

Musings from Sunday's scintillating hockey battle between the United States and Canada, won by the U.S.:

---I am not a loyal follower of the NHL, but I absolutely love Olympic hockey. For my money, it is the most exciting Olympic sport. The United States' thrilling upset of host Canada on Sunday served as a reminder of why I adore Olympic hockey so much.

---While yesterday's game came nowhere close to approaching the historic magnitude of the Miracle on Ice thirty years ago, it was still a shining moment for our country, the most memorable moment of the Olympics thus far. And most importantly, the victory for the U.S. showed that Team USA should be taken seriously as a gold medal contender in hockey at these Games.

---Both Team USA and Team Canada are flush with NHL stars, but make no mistake: This was a big upset. Hockey is Canada's national past time. Nothing means more to Canadiens during these Vancouver Olympics than winning the gold in hockey. And up until yesterday, Team Canada was considered the clear-cut favorite to win the gold. After all, Team Canada has a loaded roster that includes Sid "The Kid" Crosby and Joe Thornton, and they have a rabid fan base rooting for them every night. According to popular belief, Team USA had no business walking away with a win.

---The unquestionable MVP yesterday for Team USA was Ryan Miller. Miller's goalie work was beyond extraordinary. Much of the third period was played in front of our net, as Canada continually threatened to score. But Miller smothered practically every cup that came his way. It was a truly spectacular performance by Miller, a performance that conjured memories of the great Jim Craig.

---On the flipside, Canada's goalie, the legendary Martin Brodeur, is under fire for his underwhelming performance. There is talk that Team Canada is considering replacing Brodeur, but that would be an epically stupid decision. Brodeur is one of the greatest to ever skate the ice. Who are you going to find that's better?

---Rumor has it that NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman is complaining that his league gets no benefits from the Olympics, and that there may be no more Olympic hockey after these games. If this comes to fruition, it would be a tragic shame. Let's hope Bettman comes to his senses and realizes that the Winter Olympics brings the sport of hockey international attention, something that can only be good for the NHL.

---Anyone who watched yesterday's hockey game and still insists that the Olympics are no big deal is clinically insane. As yesterday shows, the Olympics are a symbol of exhilarating athleticism and national pride. It's hard to find anything better than that.

NBA Trade Deadline Winners and Losers, and the Awesomeness of the Olympics

The NBA Trade Deadline was today, and while some teams immediately bolstered their chances at winning it all, other teams squandered a major opportunity. Here are my trade deadline winners and losers:

WINNERS

Cleveland Cavaliers: The Cavs were already the best team in the NBA, with the best player in the league. But a lack of sufficient support surrounding LeBron James would have been a worrisome weakness come playoff time. Add Antawn Jamison to the mix, and that problem is solved. Jamison is a terrific player, especially on the offensive end, and he will take some of the load off of King James' shoulders. Coach Mike Brown struggles at times with his offensive gameplan, but all he has to do now is sit back and let LeBron and Antawn work their magic. G.M. Danny Ferry had been in pursuit of Amare Stoudamire, but Jamison makes for a better fit in Cleveland than Amare anyways. The fact that the Cavs were able to acquire a big-name player without parting ways with supremely talented rookie J.J. Hickson makes this trade all the more sweet for Cleveland.

Boston Celtics: The Celtics still remain well back of the Cavs in terms of championship potential this season, but credit Danny Ainge for making a move to keep the Celtics in the title hunt. Boston has looked like a bunch of aging veterans this season, but the addition of Nate Robinson gives the C's some much-needed youth and athleticism. Robinson clashed with Mike D'Antoni in New York, but his reputation as an immature player is unfair. Here is a guy who just loves to play the game of basketball, and he was justifiably upset in New York over Coach D'Antoni's stubborn refusal to grant him playing time. Robinson is a much better player than most people realize; he can do much more than just dunk. Now that he is in a winning environment, Robinson will be a rejuvenated force off the bench for Doc Rivers. The loss of the reliable Eddie House was a small price to pay for Boston in their acquisition of Nate Robinson. Well done, Mr. Ainge.

Houston Rockets: Today was a win on two counts for the Rockets. First, they were able to snag Kevin Martin away from Sacramento. Martin struggled to coexist with Tyreke Evans in Sac-town, but he will thrive alongside Aaron Brooks in Houston. Secondly, the Rockets were able to rid themselves of the overrated distraction that is Tracy McGrady. So for G.M. Daryl Morey, today was a fantastic day.

Dallas Mavericks: This trade happened well before Thursday's deadline, but it is still worth noting: Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood have arrived in Big D at the expense of Josh Howard, a talented player who also had a knack for being complacent on the court. What a spectacular trade for Rick Carlisle's Mavs. Butler never got the recognition he deserved in Washington for being an efficient scoring threat night in and night out. And Haywood gives the Mavs a much-needed inside presence. This trade doesn't quite bring the Mavs to the level of the Lakers and Nuggets out West, but it makes them the dark horse pick to upset those two teams and reach the Finals.

Portland Trail Blazers: Now this blogger still believes that the Blazers are the fourth best team in the loaded Northwest division, behind Denver, Utah, and Oklahoma City. But the Marcus Camby trade practically ensures Portland of a playoff spot in the West. And as crazy as it may sound, any playoff team in the West can make a deep run. Camby may be on the downside of his career, but he is still stellar defensively, and he will help the Blazers this season. However, while the Blazers will never regret saying goodbye to Steve Blake, they could regret parting ways with Travis Outlaw, a player with a promising future. But this is a trade for the present, and by those standards, it is a success.



LOSERS

New York Knicks: Granted, today was a financial win for Donnie Walsh and the Knicks, as the organization looks to clear cap space in hopes of luring big free agents this summer. But does anyone honestly believe that the likes of LeBron, Wade, and Bosh will be more inclined to join the Knicks simply because they acquired Tracy McGrady, a past-his-prime, self-centered, injury-prone burden? I don't think so.

Miami Heat: So your superstar (Dwayne Wade) has continually threatened to leave if you don't do anything to improve your team, yet you sit back and do nothing at the trade deadline. You went after Carlos Boozer and failed. You went after Amare Stoudamire and failed. Unless Pat Riley can grab Chris Bosh in the offseason, it looks like D-Wade may be purchasing a plane ticket out of South Beach.

Orlando Magic: The Cavs improved, the Celtics improved, the Magic stayed the same. They may pay the price of their inactivity come playoff time.

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The 2010 Winter Olympic Games have been widely criticized on many levels. You will find no such complaints here at TJB Sports Universe. Sure, the weather conditions in Vancouver have been less than ideal, but the city still serves as a stunningly beautiful host. I love everything about the Olympics. So while cranky curmudgeons will continue to complain, I will be rooting on Team U.S.A each night, ready to witness the incredible skills of Shaun White, Apolo Ono, Lindsey Vonn, Johnny Weir, Shani Davis, and Bode Miller. I will continue to be glued to the television every night. Yes, I will even watch every minute of figure skating and curling. I love it all. The Olympics are one of the most consistently exhilarating events in the world. Case closed.