NBL Finals Series is on....

Aussie Basketball Finals series underway

The Australian NBL Grand Final series would have just tipped off in New Zealand with the Perth Wildcats visiting the New Zealand Breakers to start the best of three series.

In short, I predict the series will go the distance with New Zealand pulling it out in the end.

Unfortunately I do not have time to write a full preview at the moment but please have a look at the series preview from the NBL website here, the game schedule and fast facts here, or two other lead up articles here and here.

Ok, time to settle in and watch the action.

Title Time!!

NCAA Title Tilts are on!!

The 2011-2012 NCAA mens and womens championship games are set with Kansas facing Kentucky later today in New Orleans for  the mens title and Notre Dame meeting Baylor for the womens crown in Denver on Tuesday.

Kansas vs. Kentucky

Not many predicted Kansas to be here in the pre-season. Most looked at it as a rebuilding year for the Jayhawks after losing the Morris twins and others. They have hit a hot streak at the right time of year after losing to Baylor in the Big 12 tournament. 

Kentucky has lived up to the hype but several experts are saying there could still be a loss of focus by the young team. The Wilcats have been shaken not too long ago when losing the SEC championship game to Vanderbilt.

Kentucky beat Kansas on a neutral court back in November but the Jayhawks would like to think they have improved since then. This game is also a championship rematch coaching wise with Bill Self facing off against John Calipari just as they did in 2008 when Kansas topped Calapari's Memphis squad. 

There is temptation to pick the upset here. Instead I''ll go with Kentucky surviving a major scare to grab the crown.

Kentucky by 7

Notre Dame vs. Baylor

Notre Dame returns to the Women's NCAA championship game to face another Big 12 opponent this season. After losing to Texas A&M in the title game last season, the Irish face an even tougher foe in undefeated Baylor.

In November, Baylor was too strong down the stretch for Notre Dame in their win over the Irish. This time they will have to keep their composure if they want to end the season a perfect 40-0. Expect them to do it.

Baylor by 8.

Women's Final Four picks....

Ladies Night...Final Four Style!!

The 2012 NCAA Women's Final Four comes to a head on Sunday night when UConn squares off against Big East foe Notre Dame in the first game before Baylor takes the court against Stanford for the two spots in Tuesday's championship game. 

UConn vs. Notre Dame

This will be the fourth meeting of the season for these two. Notre Dame swept the home and away regular season games before losing to UConn in the Big East tourney title game.

Both teams are on familiar ground in the Final Four. Neither team has been seriously tested thus far in the post season but this one could go down to the wire. I will give it to UConn purely on pedigree.

UConn by 3.

Stanford vs. Baylor

This one also shapes up well on paper as Stanford has only a loss to UConn and Baylor comes in undefeated. 

I think Baylor is slightly above the rest of the Final Four teams and will sweep past the Cardinal in this one.

Baylor by 11.

Back tomorrow with my pick for both Championship games (Mens&Womens).

Enjoy the games.

Final Four picks!!!

Four will become two

The 2012 NCAA season has reached the Final Four in New Orleans with Louisville battling Kentucky for the right to represent their state in the Championship game and Kansas squaring off against Ohio State for the other berth.


My bracket was busted long ago and none of my picks for the Final Four made it through after North Carolina and Baylor were beaten last weekend. Oh well, there’s always time to start working on my 2012-2013 predictions!! 


Now on to this weekend’s predictions, may as well try to end on a positive note!!


Louisville vs. Kentucky


This one is bigger than the normal bragging rights tilt which Kentucky won 69-62 on New Year’s Eve.


Form is out of the window for this one, though conventional wisdom says Kentucky should win but Louisville is looking UConn-ish this season.


I have predicted their demise a few times this season so now I will probably put a curse on them by giving the nod to the Wildcats.


Kentucky by 9


Ohio State vs. Kansas


This one is another rematch with Ohio State hoping to reverse a 78-67 loss at Kansas in early December. After losing to Michigan State in the Big 10 title game the Buckeyes have picked themselves up and powered through the tourney. 


The story is the same for Kansas who have advanced after losing to Baylor in the Big 12 title affair.


This time around, the game will be closer and I will have to give the slight edge to Ohio State on a neutral court.


Ohio State by 4


I will have a quick look at the NCAA Women’s Final Four tomorrow along with preparing my pick for Monday night’s championship game.

Aussie Hoop playoffs start tonight....

Playoff time in Australia 

Australia’s National Basketball League has reached the postseason with four teams vying for the title. The semi-finals which are the best of three start later today when the New Zealand Breakers host the Townsville Crocodiles. In the other semi-final the Perth Wildcats will meet the Gold Coast Blaze.


New Zealand finished the regular season on top of the ladder with a record of 21-7, Perth went 19-9 in finishing second, Gold Coast finished 17-11 and Townsville came in at 15-13 for fourth.


New Zealand is hoping to send the retiring CJ Bruton off in style and is favourites to take the crown. Breakers Gary Wilkinson, Thomas Abercrombie, Cedric Jackson and stalwart Daryl Corletto will be integral in making that happen. Perth will continue to look to NBL MVP Kevin Lisch to lead their charge. Jesse Wagstaff and Shawn Redhage round out the major threats for the rugged Wildcats lineup. For the Queensland teams, the Gold Coast  squad of Coach Joey Wright to advance, they will need solid play from Captain Adam Gibson and forward Mark Worthington. Finally North Queenslanders Townsville  is hoping Peter Crawford and Eddie Gill can lead them to a couple of upsets on the way to the title.


Prediction wise, I will give the nod to New Zealand and Perth for a championship series.


You can read the preview from the NBL site here.


I’ll be back with my NCAA Final Four picks tomorrow.

Lesson of Perseverance

Lesson of Perseverance: CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – North Carolina had every opportunity to make excuses for not reaching its 19th Final Four on Sunday. Instead, the Tar Heels focused on maneuvering around the considerable obstacles that injuries presented along the way in hopes of finding a passage to New Orleans.

Elite Eight picks...

Final Four spots available!!

I had a decent day, prediction wise yesterday with only NC State not getting through from my picks. Oh well…today I will give my picks for all four regional championship games.

Here we go:

West Region:

Florida (7) vs. Louisville (4)
Louisville is healthy and the Cardinals have shown it in this UConn like run through the Big East tourney and the NCAA field thus far. This matchup is also a teacher versus pupil game with Rick Pitino facing off against his former player Billy Donovan. 


I will give an edge to “teacher” in this one…Louisville by 8.

East Region:


Ohio State (2) vs. Syracuse (1)
This region went to form in the end with a 1 vs. 2 for the ticket to NOLA. But Syracuse may have survived as long as they can without being exposed. Ohio State has been brutal inside and has gotten good results from beyond the arc.


Ohio State by 3 in a close one…

South Region:


Baylor (3) vs. Kentucky (1)

Hmm….I will predict the end of the line for Kentucky here. 


Baylor by 5.


Midwest Region:

Kansas (2) vs. North Carolina (1)

Carolina is hurting … Kansas has overachieved…Roy Williams vs. former school … this one has a bit of everything…not to mention a few “Duke” fans I know who would love to shut me up if Carolina loses!! Well, in spite of it all. Look for the ‘Heels to roll on. 


Carolina by 7.

Back later in the week with my Final Four picks….remember I predicted Carolina over Baylor for the title!!!