Swag Award of the Week March 23-March 29

I thought last week's entry was painful to write...This one is worse, but for the sake of being fair and balanced, I have no choice.

The Villanova Wildcats mens basketball team is the winner of this week's Swag Award following two statement victories in the NCAA tournament. The Wildcats stifled Dukes array of shooters and crushed the Blue Devils 77-54 on Friday to advance to the Elite 8. Nova trailed 5-0 1:30 into the game, responded, took the lead, and did not relinquish it for the remaining 37 minutes of the contest. 

Last night, the Wildcats made an even more impressive statement defeating the Pittsburgh Panthers, the #1 seed in the East region. Nova was on the verge of blowing the game wide open, stretching their lead to 10 at one point, but the scrappy bunch of veterans from Pittsburgh showed resolve and kept it close.  

The outcome was not decided until the final play of the game. Scottie Reynolds, Nova's junior point guard received the ball near mid-court, weaved through defenders, and scored on a lay up with .5 seconds left on the clock (video below).

<

The basket by Reynolds ended Pittsburgh's outstanding season much earlier than the Panthers had anticipated. Pitt had the talent, tenacity, and coaching to make it to Detroit if not win the entire thing. Reynolds was named the Most Outstanding player in the East Region for his contributions. 

Villanova is the only team to beat Pittsburgh twice this season, also ousting the Panthers 67-57 in January. The victory sends Villanova to the Final Four for the first time since 1985. In '85, Nova, an #8 seed defeated Patrick Ewing and #1 seeded Georgetown 66-64; a game that many call one of the greatest upsets of all time. 

Ok, I'm done blowing smoke in the direction of a Big East team other than Syracuse, but I had to give credit. Nice job Villanova. Thank you for continuing to validate the Big East's supremacy in college basketball. Good luck in Detroit. 

And this is why we love March Madness

A few days back in my March Madness post, I wrote about a series of commercials I saw on selection Sunday by Nike that featured highlights of various great tournament performances from the last few years or so. 

The commercial that I have seen the most on air involves a police officer from Illinois who gives a speeding ticket to a driver from North Carolina for doing 36 in a 35 mph zone. The cop is still bitter over UNC's defeat of Illinois in the 2005 championship game...

There is one where a father in Washington State won't speak to his daughters new boyfriend because of what Richard Hamilton did against the Univ. of Washington in the 1998 NCAA Tournament. 

In my favorite spot, and the one that I saw first, a Texas fan is dejected on his daughters birthday because her birthday also marks the anniversary of Carmelo Anthony and the Syracuse Orange ousting Texas in the 2003 Final Four en route to a National Championship that year. 

The common thread here is that these games leave lasting impressions on sports fans. The upsets, the "cinderellas," all of it. Some critics have said that this year's Sweet 16 with the top 12 seeds advancing is anti-climactic, but I think it allows teams to end the debate and prove who really is the best team in the land. You have to beat the best to be the best right? Well, that certainly seems to be the case this season.

Say hello to the bad guy: Eric Devendorf revels in his role as college ball's most-hated

There are players that seem to get a bad rap, regardless of the circumstances. Players whom everyone loves to hate. The kind of players whose skill and competitive spirit make them ideal teammates and bona fide villains. On the court they come off as smug, cocky and full of trash talk. Teammates and close associates speak highly on those individuals behalves, begging the question; What is this guy/girl really like? 

Eric Devendorf is no different. The 5th year junior shooting guard for the Syracuse Orange has reached bona fide villain status, arguably from the day he set foot on campus. The fact that he hails from Michigan, and has an eerily similar demeanor to Eminem doesn't help. The fact that he has numerous tattoos painted on the canvas of his pale arms & neck don't help either. The fact that he is one of the best players on a perennial Big East powerhouse with long-standing rivalries doesn't help. The fact that his actions off the court have given the critics more content with which to judge his character doesn't help. The fact that he hits big shots, and lets his opponents know about I'm sure rubs some people the wrong way as well. 

Following Syracuse's 78-67 win over Arizona St. last night, ESPN.com did a piece on Devendorf. Last week, sports blog The Big Lead.com ranked the 5 most hated players in the NCAA tournament, and Mr. Devendorf beat out the competition for the dubious title. 

In recent weeks, Devendorf has had ample opportunity to showcase his talents in front of a national audience and garner more support for his 'most-hated' cause. Against Seton-Hall, Devendorf scored 19 second half points after a gentleman on the Seton Hall team put his hand in Eric's face (bad decision, watch the highlights).

The following night against UCONN, Devendorf hit what he thought was the game-winning three pointer at the end of regulation, which lead to this photo:

According to fans who were in the vicinity, Devendorf dropped a few F-bombs from his perch high atop the scorers table. Syracuse went on to win that game 6 overtimes later.

Fresh off the UCONN win, Devendorf nailed a half court shot heading into overtime the very next night:

Syracuse needed another overtime to win that game 74-69.

When asked what he thought about his perception, Devendorf told Pat Forde of ESPN "off the court I'm a whole different person. I'm a good dude man. I'm a down-to earth dude. They (people) spend a day with me, they'd have some fun." I concur with those sentiments. During my four years at the Cuse I had a chance to hang out with the guy nowhere close to a basketball court, and you know what? He is a good dude, and a better ballplayer. I'm just happy I don't have to root against him. 

During the Orange's post season run, Devendorf is averaging 19.2 points per game and has his team in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2004. I'm sure if Syracuse can put together a few more wins and make it to the Final Four in Detroit, Eric Devendorf will have a few more haters on his bandwagon. I don't think he minds. 

President Obama picks the Cuse in an upset!!

That's right baby! The leader of the free world just chose my alma mater over the #2 seed Oklahoma Sooners in his bracket.

ESPN ran a segment on the noon Sportscenter called 'Barack-etology." Obama knows more than just fiscal & foreign policy.

 

Here's the President's entire bracket on paper.

The Syracuse pick comes with 2:16 remaining..

March Madness is officially upon us

This week begins one of my favorite times of the year. Spring is around the corner, baseball season starts in a few weeks... Oh...and the NCAA tournament begins this week!

The selection committee has made their picks, the brackets have been set, and now the road to Detroit has been paved for all 65 teams. The questions now become, which teams will run out of gas? Which teams will shock some people? Which teams will underachieve? Which teams have the talent and intestinal fortitude to survive the slugfest that is the NCAA Tournament, and make it to Detroit for a chance to lift that much sought after trophy?

The Big East, which by most accounts was the best conference in the land this year comprises 75% of the #1 seeds: Louisville, Pittsburgh & UCONN, with ACC powerhouse North Carolina taking the last top spot. 

This year's tournament could prove to be one of the most competitive and hardest to predict. Last year, all four #1 seeds made it to the Final Four for the first time in history. I will be shocked if the same happens this year. 

This year's tournament is particularly exciting for me as my Syracuse Orange (see last weeks Swag Award), fresh off an impressive showing in the Big East Tournament are back in the NCAA tourney for the first time since 2006. 

By now, I'm sure all the sports fans have their brackets or know where to get them, so I won't bore you. 

Last night, I saw a great commercial by Nike that featured Carmelo Anthony and the 2003 Syracuse team that won it all. I can't find the video yet, but when I do I will post. Until then, enjoy another good March Madness spot from Nike.

"There are no cinderellas." LET'S GO CUSE! Become legendary.

Swag Award of the Week March 9-March 15

LET'S GO ORANGE!!! Wow, talk about a thriller. The #20 Syracuse Orange defeated the #4 UCONN Huskies 127-117 in 6 overtime periods last night at Madison Square Garden in one of the most epic games I have ever seen.  

Now, I am a diehard Syracuse fan and am not afraid to let it be known, but that is not why my boys get this weeks Swag Award. The 'Cuse wins the Swag Award this week for that incredible effort on floor of the "world's most famous arena," against the once #1 ranked UCONN Huskies and their monster in middle, Hasheem Thabeet. UCONN handled Syracuse earlier this season in Connecticut, and held Cuse to its lowest point output of the season, but the Orange got the upper hand last night.

The Orange have been playing their best basketball of the season down the stretch winning 6 straight and 7 of their last 8. 

Syracuse turned up the heat in the Big East Tournament Wednesday Night, following a technical foul by Eugene Harvey of Seton Hall. Harvey put his hand in Eric Devendorf's face, and Devendorf went on to score 19 points in the second half as the Orange beat Seton Hall by 15. 

Syracuse is averaging 91 points during this six game winning streak. 

Back to last night though..a few numbers from the game.

244 points scored, 226 minutes, 6 overtimes, 2 days, 8 players fouled out, 93 free throws attempted, 58 three pointers attempted. Incredible.

Syracuse faces West Virginia tonight in the semifinals of the Big East Tournament. WVU is coming off an upset of the Pittsburgh Panthers. I don't know what kind of effort the Orange will be able to muster after last night, but it matters not because last night's game was incredible. Enjoy the highlights.

Rick Pitino: Dapper Don Award winner

Every so often, something or someone is so fashionable that I get compelled to blog about it. When these times occur, I will award what is called the 'Dapper Don Award.'  This award won't be a on a weekly basis like the 'Swag Award', but occasionally when someone or something goes above and beyond to make a fashion statement.

The first recipient of the Dapper Don Award goes to Rick Pitino, Louisville men's basketball head coach.

Pitino broke out the white suit for the first time this year last weekend as his sixth ranked Cardinals hosted tenth ranked Marquette.

Louisville won 62-58.

College basketball fans will remember that Pitino pulled this stunt last year when Louisville, then ranked #13 hosted the eighth ranked Georgetown Hoyas. The Cardinals won that contest 59-51.

Whatever you think about the white suit, you can't argue the results...wins over Big East teams ranked in the top 10 two years in a row.

Congrats coach Pitino for being so clean. Don't wear that suit in the Big East tournament though...You might get some ORANGE spilled on it...Let's go Cuse!