I’ve got a theory that if you give 100% all of the time, somehow things will work out in the end. – Larry Bird
Puns Abound
With a name like The Shockers, opportunities for puns abound. How shocking is Wichita State’s run to the Final Four?
- The Shockers are the first 9 seed to reach the Final Four since 1979 and the first to do so since the tournament expanded to 64 teams.
- They are also the first team from the Missouri Valley Conference to reach the Final Four since the same year, 1979, when Indiana State did it. You might have heard of that team’s superstar player, Larry Bird.
- The Shockers probably didn’t gain much respect until they manhandled Ohio State this evening. Their path before that went through an unimpressive Pitt, a Gonzaga team most thought didn’t deserve a #1 seed (a suspicion most considered validated by Wichita State’s win), and a LaSalle team that, honestly, had spent all its March Madness Magic already. But this win over Ohio State should silence the naysayers. The Shockers are a true Cinderella, but they are not to be taken lightly. They rebound well. They are tough. They can shoot, and when they hit a hot streak, they can shoot the lights out.
OK, That Was Ugly
I don’t have much to say about Syracuse’s punishing win over Marquette. It was ugly. It was boring. It may have been the most un-fun basketball game I’ve ever half-watched. I suppose I should be impressed with the Orange’s stifling zone defense, but frankly, I’m more disgusted with Marquette’s rank inability to score points (and the “rank” pun is most certainly intended). Thirty-nine points in an entire NCAA tournament game, in the Elite Eight, no less, is … I don’t know what that is. If you have an apt description, let me know.
Fruit Basket Turnover
Today’s games really shook up the standings, and due to the remaining possibilities of some really high point value Scategories bonuses, it is not clear who has the upper hand just yet. I love this contest!
- The Most Irritating Use Of A Worn Out Knock-Knock Joke award goes to Shane “ORANGE you glad you didn’t pick IU?” Rose. Shane is from New York, which is part of what makes it so irritating. Shane is in 10th place, which is even worse.
- The Lone Ranger award goes to Chelsea “Punkin Doodle” Goodwin, the only, solitary contestant who picked Wichita State to make the Final Four with an original pick. This feat vaulted Chelsea from 49th to 5th place.
- The It IS Easter Season After All award goes to Doug “It would take a miracle” Goodwin. Perhaps his prayers have been answered. Doug climbed from 652nd to 35th and is well positioned for the remainder of the contest.
- The It Was Fun While It Lasted award goes to Tammy Stewart who spent all of two hours in first place after Syracuse beat Marquette. That is because she was quickly replaced by…
- Tyler Drone, current contest leader and winner of the Best Correlation Between Last Name And Winning Team’s Mascot award. (Get it – Drone – Shockers. They’re bees. Never mind.)
Two more games tomorrow (today, actually, but I digress), and the good news is, I have tickets to the Louisville-Duke match-up. I’ll be back tomorrow evening with a full report and the Final Four awards.
The Wizard of Whiteland