We now have the Final four set for the 2010 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. Over the weekend we saw Michigan state squeeze out Tennessee 70-69 to take the Midwest Region title, Butler earn a trip back home to Indiana by beating Kansas State 63-56 in the West Region, West Virginia end the dream for Kentucky’s young Wildcats 73-66 in the East Region and Duke end Baylor’s run to glory 78-71 in the South Region.
This weekend sees West Virginia face off against Duke and Michigan State match up against Butler in the Final Four.
I went 1 right three wrong, leaving me no chance to break even prediction wise this year for the tourney as I stand at 28 right, 32 wrong…ugh!!!! My year was as bad as the beloved Tarheels!!
Later in the week I will look into the shattered pieces of the Crystal Ball and soldier on with picks!! LOL!!
ROBILLIARD TO LEAD SYDNEY KINGS The newly resurrected Sydney Kings today announced that they have appointed former Australian Boomers and Sydney Kings player Ian ‘Moose’ Robilliard as their Head Coach to take them into the 2010/11 NBL season. In a playing career that spanned 11 NBL seasons, Robilliard started his NBL playing career for the City of Sydney Astronauts in the inaugural NBL season back in 1979. He then joined Newcastle in 1981 to play with the Newcastle Falcons. ‘Moose’ became a household name in the Newcastle district during his six years with the Falcons due to his tenacity and intensity on the court. In 1989 then Kings Head Coach and current Kings General Manager Bob Turner enticed Robilliard back to Sydney to join him in his first season at the helm of the Kings. Robilliard played three seasons with the Kings and then joined Turner as assistant coach for two seasons. After his retirement, Robilliard spent over a decade working with the Australian PGA before starting the highly successful Central Coast Academy of Sport, where he has been the Managing Director since 2004. “The consortium was looking for someone who could establish a solid and respected culture from the start,” stated Turner. “The key attributes the consortium was seeking were competiveness, a motivator, a leader of men and someone with great people and media skills to handle the pressure of Sydney. We also wanted a person affiliated with the Kings and Sydney, as well as a coach committed to the development program and who understands and supports the business of sport,” added Turner. “His basketball and rugby background, affiliation with the Kings, experience with the PGA over ten years and ability demonstrated in the creation of the Central Coast Academy of Sport from scratch are all attributes that have provided valuable experience for Ian that will now benefit the Kings,” added Turner. Robilliard said he was excited at the opportunity that the Kings head coaching role now presented to him with. “To be appointed to the role as Head Coach of the Sydney Kings is an absolute honour,” said Robilliard. “it is a role that I will undertake being mindful of the history of the club and with a keen eye to our future. The Sydney Kings is an iconic sporting brand in Australia and I will ensure the team to be assembled will represent Sydney with the passion and commitment we would all expect.” “The investor group that has been assembled are basketball enthusiasts; they each have a true passion for the sport, and I must admit that I am humbled to be working with them to make sure the Kings are again competitive, that we play an attractive brand of basketball and we establish a footprint in Sydney that will be here for years and years to come. I accept that I have been charged with an incredible responsibility, to which I will invest all my time to give the venture every possible chance of success,” Robilliard added. Brian Goorjian, the three-time Sydney Kings NBL Championship Coach, endorsed Robilliard’s appointment and also threw his support behind the resurrected team. Currently committed to Chinese club the Dongguan Leopards, Goorjian will add support for both Robilliard and the Kings in a newly-established role of Ambassador. “I know as well as anyone what it takes to be successful in the NBL and in the difficult Sydney marketplace,” said Goorjian. “The outstanding qualities Ian possesses and the philosophy and work ethic he has always displayed are the hallmarks of great NBL coaches and I have every confidence he is the right man for the job. I will be doing everything in my power from China to help him re-establish the Kings as one of the great Australian sporting teams.” Since the press conference last week to announce the Kings’ return over 400 individuals have registered their interest to sign up for season tickets. The Sydney Kings have also announced that their website will be launched shortly at www.sydneykings.com. Sydney Kings games will appear on free-to-air television on Network Ten and its digital sports channel ONE this season following the announcement of a new five-year with the NBL announced on Friday.
With today’s wins by Duke over Purdue 70-57 and Baylor’s 72-49 thumping of Saint Mary’s, the South Region’s final two is set. The same for the Midwest where Michigan State put an end the Northern Iowa’s Cinderella story with a 59-52 victory that puts them in the regions title tilt against Tennessee who escaped with a 76-73 win over Ohio State.
The results of the last two days left me at 3 correct and 5 wrong for the Sweet 16 Round and 27 right, 29 wrong for the Tournament. Why quit now….I may just break even!!!
For the Regional Finals:
Kentucky by 3 over West Virginia in the East
Butler over Kansas State by 6 in the West
Tennessee over Michigan State by 6 in the Midwest
Baylor over Duke by 8 in the South
Ok, they’re out there, now I’m going to rest up for another early morning of hoops here in Australia.
The Butler Bulldogs sent Syracuse packing in the semi-finals of the West Region in today’s NCAA action 63-59. With Syracuse leading by four, Butler scored eleven unanswered points before a late layup by the Orangemen. The Bulldogs will now meet Kansas State, 101-96 double overtime winners over Xavier in the West Regional final. A Butler win would send them on to the Final Four in their hometown of Indianapolis, Indiana.
The East Region results saw both West Virginia 69-56 over Washington, and Kentucky 62-45 over Cornell advance to a showdown for the Regional title and place in the Final Four.
Next up we have battles between Tennessee and Ohio State followed by Northern Iowa versus Michigan State in the Midwest Region. The South Region will see Saint Mary’s meet Baylor and Purdue lock horns with top seeded Duke.
Ok, I have yet another Crystal Ball (lucky I bought in bulk), and I’m seeing:
The 2010 NCAA tourney has reached the Sweet 16 phase with a few surprises along the way. On Friday morning ( Thursday night US time), the East and West Regions come to the fore with the Washington Huskies facing the West Virginia Mountaineers in game one followed by Cornell facing Kentucky in a David versus Goliath battle in the East. Out West it will be Butler against Syracuse followed by a matchup between Xavier and Kansas State.
EAST REGION
Washington-West Virginia
Washington comes into the game with a 26-9 record and on the crest of a two upset wave after pipping Marquette 80-78 in the first round and blowing out favoured New Mexico 82-64 in the second round. West Virginia heads into the game on a run of their own with relatively easy wins over Morgan State 77-50 in the first round and a 68-59 victory over Missouri in round two that pushed their record to 29-6.
In a bit of bad news for West Virginia, point guard Darryl Bryant suffered a broken foot in practice this week but the Mountaineers have a deep bench and should survive.
PREDICTION: West Virginia by 6.
Cornell-Kentucky
Cornell comes in from the lightly regarded Ivy League but with a giant killing reputation after topping Temple 78-65 and Wisconsin 87-69 in the first two rounds. The Big Red feature something most big time teams no longer have most seasons---seniors and chemistry. Kentucky is full of stars and prized recruits but at this time of year, under the spotlight, could be primed for a loss. In tournaments past, the Wildcats have been known to lose a big one or two.
PREDICTION: Cornell by 2.
WEST REGION
Butler-Syracuse
The teams enter the match with identical 30-4 records with Butler on a twenty two game winning streak. The Butler crew slammed UTEP 77-59 in Round one before escaping against Murray State 54-52. Syracuse ran rampant over Vermont 79-56 and Gonzaga 87-65 in the first two rounds.
Syracuse has been solid thus far and Butler will be hard pressed to match them in this one.
PREDICTION: Syracuse by 18.
Xavier-Kansas State
Not a lot of info on this one for me, just beware Xavier, they are rugged and proven.
The Cornell Big Red continued their tear through the NCAA tourney field with a dismantling of the Wisconsin Badgers on Sunday by an 87-69 count. The only other minor upsets of the day were a 71-68 Xavier victory over Pittsburgh and Michigan States 85-83 squeaker over Maryland.
Purdue continued to survive with 63-61 overtime win over Texas A&M. Meanwhile, favourites Syracuse 87-65 over Gonzaga, Duke 68-53 over California, Ohio State 75-66 over Georgia Tech and West Virginia 68-59 over Missouri continued their run through the bracket.
We now have a few days off to recover from the excitement before the Sweet Sixteen games this weekend.
I rebounded for a respectful 5 right, 3 wrong day after the horrors of yesterday.
Overall for the tourney, I stand at a break even 24 right, 24 wrong for the tourney. I will be making my predictions for the Sweet 16 as soon as I put my Crystal Ball back together!!!
The highly fancied Kansas Jayhawks were shocked by little known Northern Iowa
69-67 in the latest upset of this years NCAA tournament. The Northern Iowa Panthers looked like the favourites down the stretch as they calmly made their shots and free throws to preserve the win.
Meanwhile, the Kansas St. Wildcats put away the pesky Brigham Young Cougars
84-82.
It was a day that also saw the surprising Washington Huskies top New Mexico 82-64, Kentucky blow out Wake Forest 90-60, Tennessee ease by Ohio 83-68, Baylor trip Old Dominion 76-68, and Butler eek out a 54-52 win over Murray St.
The other big one of the day saw St. Mary’s send Villanova packing 75-68.
Today’s action reminds me of something a wise man (my grandfather) once said to me when I complained about having to show up for a game against a fellow baseball team in younger years, after getting our hats handed to us, he simply said, “that is why you play the game, you just never know when surprises are gonna happen and teach you a little humility”.
As for my predicting, ouch, I had a 2 right, six wrong day!!!!
