Why Not?

Why not relive great moments in history with Gus Johnson?

Great Moments in History with Gus Johnson from Gus Johnson

Your First Round Announcer Pairings

Sure this was supposed to be posted prior to the tip of the first game but getting beers, food and phoning in my early bets were far more important.

Anyways, this kind of stuff is a big deal for me. It determines which games are merely watchable because its the tournament and which ones are must see just in case there is an upset (i.e. any game Gus Johnson calls).

This year, I like what CBS has done with the pairings. Gminksi and Brando are great together. Elmore and Johnson are good too. Lenny seems to stay out of Gus' way just enough. Anything Jay Bilas does is professional so I like him with Dick Enberg. Not sold on Clark Kellogg. I think CBS needs to reevaluate after this year's Final and find a long term solution for the whole created by Billy Packer's "retirement".

THURSDAY

Greensboro, LSU vs. Butler, Jim Nantz/Clark Kellogg
Kansas City, Memphis vs. Cal. St. Northridge, Tim Brando/Mike Gminski
Philadelphia, BYU vs. Texas A&M, Dick Enberg/Jay Bilas
Portland, Purdue vs. Northern Iowa, Kevin Harlan/Dan Bonner

Greensboro, North Carolina vs. Radford, Jim Nantz/Clark Kellogg
Kansas City, California vs. Maryland, Tim Brando/Mike Gminski
Philadelphia, Connecticut vs. Chattanooga, Dick Enberg/Jay Bilas
Portland, Washington vs. Mississippi St., Kevin Harlan/Dan Bonner

Greensboro, Texas vs. Minnesota, Jim Nantz/Clark Kellogg
Kansas City, Clemson vs. Michigan, Tim Brando/Mike Gminski
Philadelphia, Villanova vs. American, Dick Enberg/Jay Bilas
Portland, Gonzaga vs. Akron, Kevin Harlan/Dan Bonner

Greensboro, Duke vs. Binghamton, Jim Nantz/Clark Kellogg
Kansas City, Oklahoma vs. Morgan State, Tim Brando/Mike Gminski
Philadelphia, UCLA vs. VCU, Dick Enberg/Jay Bilas
Portland, Illinois vs. Western Kentucky, Kevin Harlan/Dan Bonner

FRIDAY

Miami, Syracuse vs. Stephen F. Austin, Ian Eagle/Jim Spanarkel
Dayton, Oklahoma St. vs. Tennessee, Verne Lundquist/Bill Raftery
Minneapolis, Kansas vs. North Dakota State, Gus Johnson/Len Elmore
Boise, Marquette vs. Utah State, Craig Bolerjack/Bob Wenzel

Miami, Arizona State vs. Temple, Ian Eagle/Jim Spanarkel
Dayton, Pittsburgh vs. E. Tennessee St., Verne Lundquist/Bill Raftery
Minneapolis, West Virginia vs. Dayton, Gus Johnson/Len Elmore
Boise, Missouri vs. Cornell, Craig Bolerjack/Bob Wenzel

Miami, Utah vs. Arizona, Ian Eagle/Jim Spanarkel
Dayton, Louisville vs. Alabama St./Morehead St., Verne Lundquist/Bill Raftery
Minneapolis, Boston College vs. USC, Gus Johnson/Len Elmore
Boise, Xavier vs. Portland State, Craig Bolerjack/Bob Wenzel

Miami, Wake Forest vs. Cleveland State, Ian Eagle/Jim Spanarkel
Dayton, Ohio State vs. Siena, Verne Lundquist/Bill Raftery
Minneapolis, Michigan State vs. Robert Morris, Gus Johnson/Len Elmore
Boise, Florida State vs. Wisconsin, Craig Bolerjack/Bob Wenzel

What a Day in College Hoops

There is something magical about the Meadowlands in East Rutherford NJ.  Duke has not lost there since 1998.  It has been the home to some great moments in Blue Devil history (see video below).  Today was just another entry in the history book as the Devils dusted the 7th ranked Xavier Musketeers.  

Xavier did not record a field goal until the 14:30 mark of the first half and Duke ran out to a 22-3 lead before slowly extending to 30+.  Jon Scheyer had 23 points and was automatic from behind the arc.  Duke's stifling defense over matched the best of the Atlantic 10 and the game was never close.  Great win for the Devils - a real team effort and a nice bounce back from the disappointing loss to Michigan. 

Speaking of the Big Ten, its turning out to a banner day for the oft-forgotten conference with big wins out of Minnesota and Michigan State.  Purdue has jumped all over Davidson early and short of some Steph Curry type miracle, they should make the Big Ten 3-0 against ranked teams.  

The Mich St/Texas game might be the match up of the day (although Gonzaga and UConn could have something to say about that.  No team led by more than 6 points the entire game and it came down to a clutch 3 by Durrell Summers to get State past the 5th ranked Long Horns.  

The 2nd half is about to tip off now out in Seattle and one can only hope this comes down to the wire.  Why?  Two words - Gus. Johnson.

And now, for old times sake, perhaps the best game ever played by a student-athlete.  Duke vs Texas at the Meadowlands just a few years back.  

41 points on 12/13 shooting.  

MMA's Primetime Debut

What a cherry popping night for Mixed Martial Arts. CBS debuted its Saturday Night Fights series with a great card of fights. I can't say I have been a long time MMA fan and really never found the UFC craze to be all that interesting. A few more nights like this and the sport just might have a new convert.

The fights tonight weren't technically UFC fights. They belonged to the Elite Xtreme Combat Organization which is the equivalent of double A baseball I guess??? This is where some research would come in handy but fuck it, I'm lazy.

The fighters were either brand new to the scene (Kimbo Slice, Kaitlin Young) or washed up deadbeats from the UFC (Phil Baroni, Brett Rogers). Despite all this, the action was solid. When the two chicks got after it, I got hard. One was kind of cute and man could she take a punch. That's wife material right there.

The fight of the night was easily Robbie Lawler vs. Scott Smith. Lawler was trying to defend the middleweight belt and the fight was set to go five rounds. It looked like it would be over in under 3 minutes but Smith held on. This thing went back and forth for the next round and a half before Smith caught a little thumb in the eye action. A couple of broad doctors got into the cage to take a look and decided to call it. Premature for sure and the two fighters plan to "run it back" real soon.

Kimbo Slice lived up to expectations...of being a terrible fighter in every technical aspect. He may be a youtube sensation but you won't be seeing him fight Tito Ortiz or that Hughues guy anytime soon. James Thompson almost put Slice into submission about 3 times before Slice got lucky and exploded Jimbo's cauliflowered ear all over National Television. Which was pleasant.

Anyways, the real hero was Gus Johnson. Can this guy do anything wrong??? He called this night like a 15 year vet. He made Jim Lampley look like a washed up, wife beating, Larry Merchant wanna be....oh wait.

As an aside, I have the current issue of ESPN magazine hanging over the towel rack in front of my shitter. Can you imagine dropping a deuce twice a day looking at Kimbo's mug staring right back at you?

Gus Johnson's Weekend Plans

Old pal Gus received his itinerary for the first and second round games - he will be in the Mile High City. He will be calling the Thursday and Saturday games with first round match ups as follows -

Notre Dame - George Mason
Wash St - Winthrop (This one has some serious Gus potential)
Mich St - Temple
Pittsburgh - Oral Roberts

He will be paired up with Len Elmore of ESPN fame. One of the best analysts on TV. This is the combo of the tourney right here.

As for the rest of the sites and announces -

Thursday/Saturday -
Washington: Craig Bolerjack and Bob Wenzel
Omaha: Kevin Harlan and Dan Bonner
Anaheim: Dick Enberg or Carter Blackburn and Jay Bilas (Bilas is the second best analyst out there. This will be a good mix too)

Friday/Sunday -
Birmingham: Verne Lundquist and Bill Raftery
Tampa: Tim Brando and Mike Gminski (Nothing like a little more Duke love)
Raleigh: Jim Nantz and Billy Packer (Douchiest Pairing)
Little Rock: Ian Eagle and Jim Spanarkel.