Come Sleeping and You’ll Leave the Court Weeping By Riebeil Durley-Petty

The brackets are finally set, the 64 most worthy participants in the country have been chosen and the Big Dance is about to get poppin. Unlike last year with North Carolina, UCLA, Kansas, Memphis there are no prohibitive favorites. Every team, including heavyweight top seeds Louisville, Connecticut, Pittsburgh and North Carolina each team has a vulnerability that if exposed can be fatal.

The madness already began this past week in huge way with Kansas, Oklahoma, North Carolina, Connecticut, Pitt, Wake Forest and Arizona State each suffering unexpected defeats in conference tourneys. Last week’s mayhem may a precursor to the insanity that awaits this year’s tourney edition. With parity and mediocrity at an all-time high this year’s dance is guaranteed to satisfy hopheads appetite for upsets. This year’s field includes a clatter of underdogs waiting to cause mayhem and derail title aspirations. Who’s going to be this year’s George Mason or Davidson? Here’s a list of unheralded squads looking to do damage and knock the big dawgs off. Unlike Natalie Cole, they don’t have love on their minds. Come listlessly slacking and these crews will give your jaw a crackin.

East (6) UCLA vs. VCU (11)
Coming off three consecutive Final Four appearances and finishing runner-up in 2006, Ben Howland has successfully resuscitated the cache of UCLA’s storied basketball tradition. Senior guards Darren Collison and Josh Shipp have been the Bruins anchors the past three seasons and each have enjoyed career years in their senior campaigns. One of the nation’s premier floor generals, Collison is averaging a career high tying 14.5 points per game and personal best 4.8 assists a night. Shipp puts up 14 points a game and guard’s the opposition’s best perimeter player. Both shoot over 50 percent from the field and 40 percent on three-pointers.

Unfortunately Ben Howland’s signature suffocating defense has uncharacteristically given opponents more air surrendering opponents nearly 45 percent from the floor and 36 percent from treyland. The backline defense is soft as apple sauce with inside players Kevin Love and Luc Mbah a Moute both collecting paychecks in the NBA. With a less resistant defense and lack of interior presence UCLA is prone to penetration.

Two years ago Eric Maynor captivated the nation as he barbecued Duke like a Chile’s baby back rib and made a last second game-winning turnaround over Greg Paulus to knock Coach Krzysewski’s Blue Devils in stunning fashion. Leading the Commodores in scoring, (22.4ppg) dimes (6.2) and second in steals (1.7) Maynor habitually gets to the paint and is as cold as any of the country’s more publicized point guards. Sophomore center Larry Sanders (11.3 ppg, 8.5 boards, 2.7 blocks) has the wingspan of a pterodactyl and is a shot-swatting terror who punches shots like a bottle of Hawaiian. Guards Joey Rodriguez (9.4ppg, 41 percent) and Randy Burgess (7.4ppg 42 percent) are dangerous three-point bombers.

This one simply comes down to the point guard showdown between Collison and Maynor. Whichever quarterback outdoes the other will give his team a distinct advantage. If Collison neutralizes Maynor, not necessarily statistically, but in overall effectiveness and makes him work to get points UCLA will win. If Maynor gets to the cup getting buckets for himself and sets up his teammates for easy scores VCU will bounce UCLA back to Cali. Having suffered the disappointment of missing last year’s dance, Maynor and VCU have sought redemption the entire year and the only acceptable conclusion is at least advancing to the second round. UCLA better not let Maynor have the rock in his hands at the end of the game cause if so like acclaimed actress Angela Lansbery it’s murder she wrote.


South #5 Illinois vs. #12 WKU
Illinois has enjoyed a surprisingly good season. Picked to finish at the bottom of the conference in preseason rankings, the Illini lived up to their name as a fighting, gritty team coming in third in the log jammed Big 10 and occupying a spot in the top 25 the majority of the year. If anyone questioned Bruce Weber’s strategic ability he silenced any skepticism with a remarkable coaching job that should earn him Big 10 Coach of the Year. With leading scorer Demetri McCamey averaging only 11.5 points a game, Illinois has racked up wins with a team-oriented philosophy and stout defense. Unfortunately senior point guard Chester Frasier suffered a season-ending broken left wrist. Although Frasier averages a modest 5.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 5.3 assists his leadership and coordinating impact are immeasurable.

Western Kentucky made an unexpected run to the Sweet 16 last year, knocking off Drake in an opening round overtime thriller and San Diego before succumbing to UCLA. Dynamic backcourt mates Courtney Lee, currently playing for the Orlando Magic and Tyrone Brazelton are gone, but the Hilltoppers still boast dangerous perimeter players. A.J. Slaughter (15.8 ppg, 3.6 assists) and Orlando Mendez-Valdez (14 ppg, 4 rebounds, 4 assists) both increased their scoring average by over 9 points, ensuring no significant dropoff for WKU. Sensational sophomore Steffphon Pettigrew (12.7 points, 5.1 rebounds) is an emerging talent, and leading rebounder Sergio Kerush (11.2 ppg, 7.4 boards) is an athletic freak with more bounce then a Mexican jumping bean.

This game will be determined by who dictates the tempo. Illinois prefers a slower, more deliberate defensive tussle, the exact antithesis of WKU. The Hilltoppers want to make it a frenetic, uptempo affair. Pettigrew, Mezdez-Valdez and Kerush each connect on over 36 percent of their treyballs. If the Hilltoppers bade the Illini into a run and gun game and their vibrant trio makes it rain Illinois might get blown out the frame.

South #6Arizona State vs. #11 Temple
Arizona State head coach Herb Sendeck deserves major ups for resurrecting the Sun Devils like a phoenix from the Pac-10 abyss. Sendeck has transformed ASU into a prominent program in his second year of duty. After narrowly missing the 64 team field last year, the Sun Devils made sure they received an invitation to this year’s jumpoff. Sophomore guard and leading scorer James Harden (20 ppg, 5.5 boards, 4.2 dimes) and senior Jeff Pendergraph (14.5 ppg, 8.4 boards) give ASU a potent inside-outside combination and have spearheaded them all year. A multi-faceted sureshot All-American, Harden is a certified baller and a match-up nightmare for opposing defenses because of his penchant to get to the rack and consistent jumper. Sophomore Rihards Kuksiks (10 ppg, 44 percent three’s) provides the outside shooting with his cheddar jumper.

However, like their West Coast foes Temple has a dynamic swingman of their own in underappreciated senior Dionte Christmas. The Owls had to earn their way in the field winning the Atlantic 10 conference championship and Christmas was pivotal in achieving the feat. Christmas (19.2 ppg, 5.8 rebs) is a straight up combustible flamethrower that can go off at any time. He possesses an expansive offensive catalog, which includes his gross NBA caliber step back j which he can bust from the Cuba. Running mate Ryan Brooks (10.7 ppg, 41.7 threes) provides floor spacing with his threeball accuracy and leading glassman Lavoy Allen (10.9 ppg, 8.9 boards, 1.6 blocks) patrols the paint.

Temple’s befuddling match-up zone has always wreaked havoc for opposing offenses, and it shouldn’t be any different for Arizona State. The Sun Devils will have to have good ball movement to loosen the Owls zone and create driving lanes. If Harden is able to hit the gaps he can dispense the rock to his cohorts for open looks. But if Temple is able to minimize penetration and make it a methodical half-court game it will favor the Owls and they’ll have a chance to hoot their way to the second round.

East #5 Utah vs. #12 Arizona
Now I know what you’re probably saying to yourself. Like Avant I can read your mind, I know what you’re thinking. How in the world is Arizona beating Utah considered an upset? This man is really buggin. I know it sounds inconceivable I could make such an assertion, but be easy and let me explain my rationale.

Though not nearly as illustrious as their west coast counterpart Utah is a quality program. The Utes compiled wins over BYU, San Diego State, Gonzaga and bludgeoned LSU by 30 points this year. Don’t get it tangled, the Mountain West Tournament champion is a formidable opponent that legitimately gets it in. They are a mature team comprised of veterans who are undaunted by anyone. 26 year-old Luke Nevill (16.9 ppg, 9.1 rebounds, 2.7 blocks) maybe the Methuselah of college basketball, but the 7’2 265 pound Australian senior center (16.9 ppg, 9.1 rebounds, 2.7 blocks) is a lane clogging behemoth who can loves to bang and swang. Nevill can score and rebound with the best big men. Fellow classmen Lawrence Bortha (11.7 ppg, 41 percent three’s) and Shaun Green (10.4 ppg, 4.9 rebounds, 41 percent three’s) are solid players who provide the outside stroke.

Arizona has been a conundrum at times and sputtered down the stretch of the season dropping 5 of their last 6 games with center Jordan Hill hobbled by a sprained right ankle. They slipped, fallen but unlike DMX they have more than enough ability to get up. Many questioned the Wildcats inclusion in the field finishing with a 19-13 record. Bill Parcels made the infamous statement you are what your record says you are, but in this case Arizona’s pedestrian record isn’t emblematic of their ability. With victories over UCLA, Kansas and Gonzaga, as well as conference Pac-10 rival USC the Wildcats have strong credentials and are capable of beating anyone, anytime anywhere.

Juniors Chaser Budinger (17.9 ppg, 6.3 rebounds, 41 percent three’s) leading scorer, rebounder and shot blocker Hill (18.5 ppg, 11 boards, 1.8 blocks) and Nic Wise (15.1 ppg, 4.6 helpers, 42.4 percent three’s) form one of the nation’s supreme trios. Budinger is the college version of Dirk Nowitzki with his Aquafina like jumper and capacity to use his 6’8 frame to powerman and score over smaller defenders. Wise frequently zooms to the rack like a Lamborghini, and Hill is a paint patrolling beast who’s a certain lottery pick in this summer’s NBA draft.

This game will come down to which Arizona team shows up. Will it be the hungry, synchronized squad that beat some of the country’s heavyweights? Or will we see the temperamental team that faltered into the tourney. Utah is very disciplined, fundamental and doesn’t get rattled. It’s imperative the Wildcats don’t get frustrated and get ganked into reckless individual jousts trying to serve the Utes. If they maintain their composure and Hill wins the battle of the bigs Zona could move on and definitely wreck something.

Comments

sluggahjells said…
spitting that fire fam, oh boyyyyy

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