We Goin' Dancin'

We're in!  After a lengthy and painful absence, the University of Michigan Wolverines are finally back in the Big Dance.  

First off, I'd like to give a big Stone Cold Steve Austin middle finger to CBS for making the South bracket the last to be read off; thus producing 73 gray hairs on my head, ass, and back.  I haven't been that nervous since I ate a Chipotle burrito before work and forgot to shit.  The Bad Bobs Barbecue Bathroom is not ready for a Chipotle Shit from me, that I can assure you.  

So Michigan settles in the South bracket, where they will match up with the #7 seed, the Clemson Tigers.  Admittedly, I have not seen much of Clemson this year.  A quick glance of their statistics shows that they are led by 6'7" forward Trevor Booker.  Booker looks like a grown ass man, and at 240 lbs, he will give Michigan some trouble down low.  He averaged 15.3 points and 9.7 rebounds a game, and is a solid free throw shooter at 70%.  If Michigan can limit his opportunities on the block, then their chances of success will rise.  Other players of note are 6'5" Senior guard KC Rivers and Sophomore guard Terrence Ogelsby (A surefire member of the Reggie Cleveland All-Stars: White Athletes that sound like they have a black name).  Rivers is a 40% 3 point shooter, who has a slashing dimension to his game.  Ogelsby is a dead eye shooter, pumping out a 40% clip with 230 attempts.  Clemson will certainly have the experience advantage, but I do not count out Michigan here.  Much of this outcome will be determined on if the Wolverines let the nerves of the first NCAA Tourney appearance since Louis Bullock and Robert Traylor affect their game.  

Should Michigan win, they are not advancing any further.  Oklahoma lies in their path, and with Superman post player Blake Griffin on the roster, chances are not good.  Griffin could score 89' points against Michigan's soft front court.  There hasn't been a mismatch like this since the vaunted duo of myself and Alex Kardos played anyone in NCAA Football 2003.  If Michigan wanted to have a chance in this game, a pre-game Tombstone Piledriver to Griffin by 6'10" walk on Eric Puls might do the trick.  

Other thoughts on the NCAA Tournament

• Arizona getting in kind of shocked me.  At 19-13, they really were an afterthought in my mind.  They showed up in the first region, and do have NCAA Tourney-type talent.  If they can put their struggles behind them, they could be a team that the top seeds do not want to see.
• I have the UCLA/VCU match up circled.  Eric Maynor could be this years Stef Curry.  UCLA can struggle when their big men do not produce.  If their shooting does not carry them, VCU can certainly pull the upset.  
• Is it a rule that Duke and Texas must meet in the NCAA Tournament?  If Texas gets by Minnesota, then I look for them to really give Duke trouble.  AJ Abrams is as good of a point guard as there is in the NCAA, and with Jon Scheyer now running the point for the Devils, that is a match up nightmare.
• I feel bad for Purdue, the Big Ten Tourney champs.  For their success, they get a possible second round match up against Washington in Portland.  Northern Iowa is no fluke in the first round, especially after they win the Missouri Valley conference tourney.
• Ohio State/Louisville would be a very interesting 2nd round match up (provided the Bucks get by Siena).  I would expect Thad Matta to employ his 2-2-1 press to try to slow down the Cardinals, as they do their version of Nolan Richardson's 40 Minutes of Hell.  The conflicting styles could come down to who exerts their tempo.  Ohio State certainly has the talent to compete with Louisville.  If BJ Mullens decides he wants to play like a potential first round draft pick and not like Drew Walker, then they could really give teams fits. 
• I think UConn is the #1 seed most likely to falter.  They lack the outside shooting to be able to come back if they fall behind.  Even though Haseem Thabeet looks like Marlo from The Wire, I don't think he has the fire to put this team on his back and carry them offensively.  They do have some grown ass men down low, and they will give any team in America besides Pitt trouble down there.  
• Upset city? Wisconsin over Florida State, Utah State over Marquette.  Nothing else really stands out to me.

Lastly, RIP to Andrew "Test" Martin who was found dead over the weekend in his Florida apartment.  WWE/F fans will remember him from his feud with Shane McMahon and the Mean Street Posse (Pete Gas, Rodney, and Joey Abs), and from his tag team stint as T and A (Test and Albert) managed by Trish Stratus.  

That is all for tonight.  Never run the toss sweep.

Coach Deuce