Making Up For Effing Smith, Garcia, and Gaines

For tonight's Marquette game against Louisville, I had to go to a local Eau Claire establishment because the game was on ESPNU and like a bunch of communists, the station is not for all of us to see.  The worried level, which I described in my last Marquette post was at about 9.5 to start this game.  I have seen Reece Gaines, Francisco Garcia, and Jerry Smith hit game-winning three-pointers at the buzzer in the Bradley Center.  The Smith three sucked more than the others just because he played for rival high school Tosa East and memories of him destroying Tosa West were still very fresh. 

This is probably why the Warriors 68-49 victory felt so sweet today.  I love beating the shit out of Rick Pitno who has won the last seven of eight games against Marquette and I love sending Edgar Sosa, a nine year senior with a defeat.  Overall, there were a lot of good things I took away from this game.

I love the fact Marquette found a way to keep a huge lead without Lazar Hayward and Jimmy Butler for long durations of the game. In addition, Zar was only 2/14 and Jimmy was 2/4, poor nights from both of them and they still won by 21! This is something that I do not think the Golden Eagles would have been able to do in the month of January.  This something that can prove to be important in the coming weeks. I will also let you know the big reason why this happened?

Defense.  Marquette played probably one of their best defense games in the last two to three years. I cannot remember off the top of head when the Golden Eagles played this strong on defense.  Some stats for you from the game... shot 37% from the field, only shot 2 free throws all game, 17 turnovers, and NO Cardinal had double-figures.   Just a fantastic effort by the boys from Milwaukee.  

Player of the game had to be Darius Johnson-Odom who I am starting to get that feeling I got with guys like Dwyane Wade, Jerel McNeal, Wes Matthews, and Dominic James at certain points of their careers. I feel like every shot is going in and trust he will make the right the decision for the team.  DJO has another couple years left at Marquette and the combination of Vander Blue/DJO next year is just scary. Scarier than James and McNeal in terms of potential-wise.

I had to call my buddy Mach after the game and asked how good this Marquette team is?  He didn't really have a correct answer for me and I didn't expect him to.  But honest to Al McGuire, I think Marquette could make a Sweet 16 run in the tournament with the right formula of teams in the first and second round.  I believe they are a lock in the tournament.  Even if they lose against Notre Dame, and somehow lay an egg in the first round, it's pretty hard to keep out a top 5 team in the Big East. I personally would like to avoid 8 and 9 seed, rather have them play at either 7 or 10 therefore playing a 2 in the second round.  Wherever the pieces fall, I am excited to see Marquette in the round of 64 especially when I never expected them to be there.

-Charlie.

Pitno is the College BBall's Version of Pete Carroll

Today, some NBA news came out that was very interesting and about the hapless New Jersey Nets who right now are a stunning 4-47.  In addition, they only drew a little over 1000 fans to see the Nets play the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday.  So what could I possibly write about the Nets?  Rick Pitno seems to be interested in the job after the year is done and he denies it although I think its completely plausible. Here is why...

He knows that the hold he had on the state of Kentucky is absolutely gone.  John Calipari has came in super hot and stole it away from him in an instant.  Pitno is not a guy that wants to play second fiddle, he hasn't anywhere he has coached and I honestly couldn't see him staying at Louisville competing with Calipari all the time.

The reason I mentioned Pete Carroll in my blog title because I think Pitno sees what Carroll did with the Seattle Seahawks and wants to prove something in the NBA.  Like Carroll, he had a sub .500 record but he also had two playoff appearances.  Pitno knows that it will not take much to win in the Eastern Conference and there is another large factor...

The Russian mega-billionaire is taking over the team soon giving the Nets an influx of money and making any of the popular 2010 free agents a possibility. Although, unless one of the free agents is inspired by the Jersey Shore to live there... zero percent chance they go to Jersey. Like Carroll who went to a team owned by uber-billionaire Paul Allen, Pitno knows damn well that he will make a ton of money if he signs with the Nets.

The final reason why this might be true... Louisville got beat by 19 points tonight by the lowly St. Johns and then have to play at Syracuse on Sunday, rut-roh.  It's hard to explain a team getting blown out by a bottom-feeder in the Big East. Is there a chance that the team feels Pitno has given up on the players therefore they have given up on him?  The game against the Orange will really show their true colors.

-Charlie

PS I know that Pitno has completely denied this story and compared this to Barack Obama stepping down from office to move to Hawaii.  He can say what he wants but when the chips are down, I think there will be some interest.

February Goes to the Big East

I am dedicating the month of February to the Big East because in my opinion, it figures to be the most exciting conference with multiple teams on the bubble or hanging on to tourney hopes by a thread. Now, I am not saying it's the best conference this year (that belongs to the Big 12), but there are many teams who need a big February to be dancing come March.  Let's look at these teams.

Marquette Golden Eagles (13-8, 4-5)- Best win: vs. Georgetown, at 19. UConn  Worst defeat: at DePaul.  Hardest games left: a three-game road trip versus two bubble teams potentially a third. Cincinnati, St. Johns, and Seton Hall.  Outlook: I think they will be a solid position going into the Big East Conference Tournament likely needing one win to help their cause and another to solidify it. In addition, they cannot drop a home game to South Florida or DePaul.   CHANCES: Probably

Cincinnati Bearcats (14-7, 5-4)-  Best win: vs. Vanderbilt, vs. Maryland  Worst defeat: at St. Johns   Hardest games left: Ending the year at 6. West Virginia, vs. 2. Villanova, and at 8. Georgetown. Outlook: They still have to play Cuse and Nova albeit it both at home, also add in the other two top 10 teams. It could be shaky for the Bearcats come March. If they could win one of two against the Orange or the Cats, they would be in great shape.  CHANCES: Maybe

Louisville Cardinals (14-8, 5-4)- Best win: vs. Cincinnati  Worst defeat: at Seton Hall  Hardest games left: home/away with 4. Syracuse  Outlook: Also the Cards have to face Georgetown, UConn, Marquette, and the Orange to end the year.  Likely, if they can come out 3-1 in that stretch and win the games they are suppose to, they may become locks for the tourney.  CHANCES: Not Likely

Notre Dame Fightin' Irish (15-7, 4-5)- Best win: vs. West Virginia Worst defeat: at Rutgers  Hardest games left: at 8. Georgetown Outlook: They have some tough games like Marquette but only two ranked teams left in Gtown/Pittsburgh on their schedule with a variety of road/home games.  The Irish cannot afford any more hiccups on the road like last Saturday.  CHANCES: Probably

South Florida Bulls (15-7, 5-5)- Best win: at 8. Georgetown Worst defeat: vs. Central Michigan  Hardest games left: at 2. Villanova  Outlook: The Bulls might be the suprirse team of the season now winning five straight games, they face one ranked team left plus the equal amount of home/road games. I think this team needs to split those four road games for them to be a factor. CHANCES: Maybe

UConn Huskies (13-9, 3-6)- Best win: vs. (then) 1. Texas Worst defeat: at Louisville  Hardest games left: at 4. Syracuse, at 2. Villanova  Outlook:  The Huskies have a ton of tough road games left and with the uncertainty of Jim Calhoun, it doesn't look promising for UConn.  CHANCES: Not good.

If you are scoring at home, I think the two teams who can control their own destiny are Marquette and Notre Dame. In addition, I think South Florida and Cincinnati both have chances to make some waves of their own. When it's all said and done I think the Big East only gets seven teams in. 

-Charlie.

Rut Roh Rick

For about the last five months there has been much talk over the woman who was trying to extort ten million dollars from Louisville Cardinal Basketball Coach Rick Pitno. When it was first being discussed, I like many others thought this was just a crazy women after a sports figure. Well I was completely wrong. According to Karen Cunagin Sypher (the woman) that her and Pitno had sex in 2003 which lead to her getting knocked up two weeks later. Pitno then paid her a cool $3000 to get the baby aborted. Not good Rick, not good Rick.

I think this will not hurt him recruiting wise at all because there are not going to be many people saying "You are the coach who asked that girl to get a baby aborted, no way am I signing with you." He will still bring in the same recruits that he did before all these allegations happened but the one thing I think this will do is stick with his legacy.

Pitno will probably never be able to coach at a private school with a Catholic backing and people have the opinion that Pitno is a great coach yet not the cleanest guy. This story drove that opinion home because its obvious that Pitno didnt want this to get out and he tried to cover it up as much as possible. Once she started asking for a ton of money, he drew his line in the sand knowing that she will probably leak out the information about the abortion.

I would be utterly shocked if the Cardinals decided to fire Pitno for his actions but it took like 500 recruiting violations for USC Head Coach Tim Floyd to get fired. Same with how Jim Calhoun has kept his job with all the things swirling about him.. Face it, college basketball when it comes to coaches is one of the dirtiest sports and it will not get better.

-Charlie.

Friday Picks

Well I am making it a goal to actually make it through the games tonight and not pass out early like last night. I was surprised to see how Missouri played last night and the three Big East schools won flexing their muscle.

MIDWEST:
(1) Louisville vs. (12) Arizona- I think this game is going to be a lot better than people expect it to be. Arizona was a team that underachieved all year and have picked the right time to find their step. I like how they matchup with the Cardinals tonight and the big factor will be if Chase Bundiger can stop Terrence Williams. I am not a huge fan of Williams but I guess I have to give him credit for his play in the recent weeks, it seems like no one can stop him. Jordan Hill vs. Samardo Samuels will be another key match up in the game. Edgar Sosa always seems to come up clutch in big games so look out for him. I think the run for Arizona ends tonight because I think Louisville is too tough for them to keep up with. LOUIS 79-75

(2) Michigan State vs. (3) Kansas- This game is a rematch from earlier on this season where in the previous matchup, the Spartans got the best of the Jayhawks in Breslin. This is a new Kansas team though with the improved play of Cole Aldrich. I watched Michigan State on Sunday and I never realized how smooth their offense runs plus Kalin Lucus is an absolute stud for them. I think a key factor will be if the Jayhawks can find a third scorer because if not, it could be a long night. I think the Spartans are too much for Kansas tonight with good play from Lucus, Goran Suton, and Travis Walton. MSU 69-63

SOUTH
(1) North Carolina vs. (4) Gonzaga- This game has interested me more in the past couple of days because I feel like the Zags have the formula to beat North Carolina if they put their best effort. Jeremy Pargo can keep up with Ty Lawson and Josh Heytvelt can neutralize Tyler Hansbrough. Although when it comes down to it, the bench of North Carolina is the reason they are going to win this game with the improved play of Ed Davis and others. It will be close but the Tar Heels pull it out. UNC 84-78

(2) Oklahoma vs. (3) Syracuse- The best game of the night by far. Both teams matchup so well with each other, it will be hard to pick a winner. The question of the night will be if Arinze Onuaku and Rick Jackson will be able to neutralize Blake Griffin. On the outside, I think Johnny Flynn can contain Willie Warren but I would watch out for Austin Johnson when he is on, its lights out for other teams. The same could be said about Andy Rautins. Look for a close battle with the Orange coming out victoriously. CUSE 86-83

-Charlie.

Your White Suit Sucks

As you know whenever you dont get the typical wrap-up title that means that Marquette lost which they did 62-58 and there were one big reason Marquette went down today... Jerel McNeal and also a few words about the officials that worked the game.

I hate to put a game on one player but really it would of been better if Jerel McNeal sat on the bench for a couple minutes at least. His state line today was.. 10 pts. 3/19 shooting 2/10 from three. Good lord that was probably my stat line on Friday afternoon when I got embarrassed on the courts. My statisician Mach calculated that Marquette would have shot 10% better if McNeal didnt shoot in this game and also suggested Buzz should have settled him down. He was trying to make up for James' absence today.

Before we get to our favorite thing the officials, Jimmy Butler is proving to the world why he is going to be a great player for Marquette. He grabbed 10 boards today and five of them were offensive. He is such a team player and does all the little things for Marquette.

Alright, I understand that complaining about the refs are the worst thing to do as a fan but this guys just sucked. The illegal screen called on Lazar Hayward in late in the game was one of the worst calls I have seen lately and then how did Wes Matthews not get fouled at the end of the game. He should have been going to the line for three shots but whatever.

On to Wednesday at Pittsburgh.

-Charlie.