Good afternoon internet! It's Saturday, the 26th of March , but you already knew that cause you're the all knowing internet. Random aside to start here, but the existence of the internet is something I think on a day to day basis we take for granted. I grew up on a 14.4kpbs dial-up modem but for as long as I can remember, really, when I wanted to know something quickly, procrastinate for hours, nut off, whatever, etc. The internet has always been there just a thought about how that's a staple of our generation in particular that has shaped our world. On to the next one....on to the next one...
Most people will have seen this video by now but if you haven't it's worth checking out. I'm all for the anti-bullying message it sends. Zangief Kid! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Byp5WH2hfJ8
So the NCAA tourney got off to a blistering start last Thursday with numerous upsets, buzzer beaters and unfortunately, I felt, sour feelings towards the officials. Embrace technology folks, get the calls right! Faww! Seriously though, Texas has a legit gripe! Washington too! By now everyone's brackets have been shattered to bits so I don't mind admitting I was wrong about a few things. For one, the SEC has been better than I thought, ALOT BETTER! While the Big East are the perennial media darlings with their infinite number our tourney team entries (Set a new conference record in 2011) it's the SEC leaders Kentucky and Florida who are still playing basketball. Connecticut is the lone remaining squad from a wide collection of Big East squads. North Carolina has continued to play great basketball as it has peaked at the right time and they look to be a formidable in what looks to be a great match-up between UNC and Kentucky. As much as I've been wrong about the SEC, the Kansas Jayhawks have easily the coziest match-up heading into tonight. Kansas faces the 11 seed VCU Rams on Sunday. The Rams snuck into the tournament with an OT victory in the play-in game on the Tournament's opening Tuesday. But then again, how has having the supposed "easiest route" worked out so far. Butler looks to have used their veteran leadership as well as their familiarity with the big stage, to show them the path back to the Big Dance.
With 3 of the 4 number 1s already eliminated it just goes to show what type of a year its been in college basketball, and how much parity exists. An incredibly level playing field in what is a very competitive business where coaches are trying to build a team of foundation guys that will be around for their 4 years, as well as peppering in the 1 and done phenoms. Every year coach Cal has to find another DRose, Tyreke Evans, John Wall, this year it was Brandon Knight; who may not be in company with those previous names yet certainly has seen his star rise in Wildcat lore with with his game winning shot over No.1 Ohio State on Thursday Night. All I'm saying is that it would be a tough gig with all that pressure, for example : Kyrie Irving will likely leave Duke after only playing 11 games!... Kyrie Irving should leave, he'll be a top 10 draft pick but Coach K must have put a tonne of time and energy into Kyrie Irving there only to see him be injured for 80% of the season and then bolt! I know it's the biz, I'm just saying! Besides as an old teammate of mine once said "Coach K's a slut!".
One great thing about Thursday Night's match-ups was that you had two major candidates for College Basketball's Player of the Year in BYU's Jimmer Fredette and UCONN's Kemba Walker. Both players have been scoring their respective teams to big wins in post season play. Fredette's antics have been well documented all season long. Walker has been rolling for the last month and half; single-handedly carrying the Huskies to the Big East conference crown with and unprecedented 5 wins in 5 days. After watching both players go I'd have to give the award to Walker after Thursday nights performances. I understand the voting is based on the whole season and I haven't seen a lot of the games by any means but I thought Walker had another riveting performance and more importantly the Huskies moved on. There is no question that Walker has a better supporting cast and as always this can help or hurt a players POY case. For Fredette his lack of supporting cast enables him to have the perpetual green light and he fires shots up unconscious to the existence of teammates - or defenders, or space or time, for that matter. And he often makes a lot of them. He shots ridiculous off balance scoops and yada, yada, yada. But I think his lack of supporting cast is what killed BYU in the end and also made him look a little more flawed. His 3-15 performance from behind the arc is more than a bit underwhelming, save for the fact that a couple of the ones he did hit should have been worth 6 or 7. (The pull up from next to the ribbon! I will check that ribbon again tonight to remind myself how deep that was!) Regardless, Jimmer struggled down the stretch and he had trouble covering Florida's Erving Walker off the dribble at times. They still pushed it to OT so I may be being a little over critical here but for me Jimmer's 32 were a lot less efficient and timely than K. Walker's 36, which also included numerous timely buckets down the stretch. Walker didn't fall in love with the outside jumper, instead got to the rack and set himself up to receive space to get his step back off. Without question Walker had more help, Jeremy Lamb was an ultra efficient 9-11 from the field, sparking the Huskies early on when Walker was struggling to find his shot. After the slow start Walker played big right on through to the finish and for me that was enough for me to suggest he is deserving of this seasons' Player of the Year.
(Ed's Note - Originally I feared I would have to make some kind of acknowledgement to Duke's Senior Leaders Kyle Singler or Nolan Smith, but then they both played later and an acknowledge for their legitimacy was no longer necessary)
Far as the NBA goes, it is my contention that Derrick Rose should be up for the winner of both the MIP award and the MVP. Think about how much better the Bulls are this season than they were last season, also consider Noah and were Boozer both out for considerable stretches. Deng has been good but I think the surest reason is Derrick Rose's quantum leap as both a leader and as a more well rounded offensive player. In my opinion a leap that takes Rose from the player he was last season...to MVP of league - also suggests a leap worthy of saying he was the most improved, which I think means something when you're already performing something at a ridiculously elite level. My two cents.
In leisure there are a bunch of movies out there I'd like to see but if you've seen them and you have an opinion you'd like to share drop a comment. Maybe I'll do a couple brief reviews of my own after I'm checked them out. In theatres now that I'd like to see... Limitless, Battle: Los Angeles, Paul, Hobo With a Shotgun and maybe Lincoln Lawyer, though I'll likely wait on that one. Also, Suckerpunch opens this week. In music, Snoop Dogg's Doggumentary has gotten some good initial reviews it comes out Tuesday, Wiz Kahlifa of "Black and Yellow" fame has his first major label debut "Rolling Papers" drop on Tuesday as well. E:40 has a couple of albums (2) drop on Tuesday and Big KRIT should have his independent release album "Returnof4eva". I've been bumping this tune by Big KRIT, check it out! I think that's it for today, was a busy week, hopefully get a few more updates flowing throughout each week.
http://www.okayplayer.com/news/audio-big-k-r-i-t-american-rapstar.html
Enjoy tonight's Elite Eight! Peace!
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