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Bleach: March Madness invades thinking

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Also by Michael Bleach:

Wildcats outsmart, outplay Badgers (November 23, 2009)
Wisconsin eyes 6th Big Ten win (November 20, 2009)
Oakland no match for Badgers at Kohl Center (November 19, 2009)
Bleach: Loss to OSU leaves Badgers wondering (November 18, 2009)

By Michael Bleach
Tuesday, March 24, 2009 10:56 p.m.

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With no Florida or Mexico trip to occupy my Spring Break this year, I did what any good college basketball fan would do: parked it in front of a TV and grew emotionally attached to large men I have never met before in my life (I’m looking at you, Cole Aldrich).

While other students were screaming over the music so friends could hear them in a Panama City Beach dance club, I was busy yelling at the high-definition athletes to throw the damn ball in the post and explaining to Clark Kellogg why coaches don’t foul when they are up by three with 10 seconds left in the game.

Just like 780 athlete-students (give or take), I had entered into tourney mode.

Normally, this wouldn’t be a problem. Break ended and I went back to classes without a hitch like everybody else (except, of course, the athlete-students who will blow off school to prepare for the NBA Draft and the others who will just blow off school for fun).

But when I sat down to write this column, I found I couldn’t escape my tourney mode daze with the Sweet 16 fast approaching. Instead of the concise, organized ideas I normally have for this column, a bunch of random thoughts were flipping on and off in my head like two simultaneous games in overtime on CBS.

Why fight it, I figured.

Like the 16 games we will see over the next four days, here are 16 sweet observations, thoughts and tangents about the Madness of March (hopefully they will be less predictable than the actual tournament).

1. Let’s be clear. Arizona did not deserve to make the tournament. Yes, they have won two games. Yes, they are talented. But getting hot at the right time doesn’t justify an otherwise incredibly mediocre season. In fact, it proves they just underachieved all year instead of playing at a consistently high level. I would rather watch a deserving St. Mary’s and Patty Mills any day.

2. Ty Lawson’s toe injury is not over with yet. Though the speedy point guard played well last weekend, one little piggy being hurt often bothers athletes more than they let on. Just remember if/when he sits out the second half of a game…

3. In an age with PowerPoint and whatever presentation tool Apple computers use, the bracket went old school and reverted to chalk.

4. Despite coach John Calipari denying free throws were Memphis’ Achilles heel, the Tigers lost in the finals last year converting only one of their final five attempts from the charity stripe. This season, UM jumped up 8 percent to a respectable 69.5 percent from the line as a team.

5. Fearless prediction No. 1: Despite Memphis and Missouri being two of the fastest-paced teams left in the tournament, the game won’t be the high-scoring thriller most are expecting. Both schools set the tone with their defensive acumen first.

6. The SEC and Pac-10 combined to put one team — the dominant force that is Arizona — into the second weekend of the tournament. Way to represent.

7. The Big East, on the other hand, proved once again how ridiculous the conference actually is. The usually reliable Pomeroy ratings screwed up somewhere placing the beasts from the east behind the ACC and the Pac-10.

8. Why does anyone outside of North Carolina ever root for Duke?

9. Star-driven teams are finding it increasingly difficult to succeed in the tournament. Wake Forest (Jeff Teague), Arizona State (James Harden) and Florida State (Toney Douglas) all tripped up with a lack of balanced scoring to support the future NBA players.

10. Fearless prediction No. 2: Gonzaga will try on the glass slipper once again (if a four seed can really be a bracket buster) and knock out North Carolina. I wouldn’t want to be a water cooler around Tyler Hansbrough if it actually happens.

11. Not so fearless prediction: Someone from Syracuse is going to score a two-point takedown on Oklahoma’s Blake Griffin. My money is on the lovable Eric Devendorf.

12. Shouldn’t Billy Packer be brought back for this weekend? After whining about too many mid-majors playing in 2006, Packer must be exhilarated to see so many big boys competing the second weekend.

13. It seems like the referees giving two quick fouls to some team’s most important player might end up deciding a lot more than fans are comfortable with. I say let the boys play.

14. Although college ball was obviously top-heavy talent wise this season, every contender still has a serious flaw to deal with. Whether its lack of perimeter shooting, a short bench or a stubbed toe, whichever team wins six straight will be the one that handles its weakness best.

15. Fearless prediction No. 3: The Big Ten has flown under the radar the entire tournament. Either Michigan State or Purdue will step on some toes at the dance before it is all said and done.

16. Despite the complaints about a lack of upsets, the competitive and quality basketball played over the next four days will make everyone forget about that darling Disney princess Cinderella.

Michael is a junior majoring in journalism. Have a problem with the inner workings of his mind? He can be reached at mbleach@badgerherald.com.

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