After a break, blog returns with Bracket Challenge wrap up

After taking a couple of days off in the wake of the NCAA Tournament, now's as good a time as any to revisit a few of the lingering leftovers from college basketball.

First, it's time to publicly recognize the guys who kicked my butt in my very own Hangin' With The Nuss Bracket Challenge. Reader Chris Cloke proved to be the best of the dirty half-dozen, posting an overall score 178 points, fueled by Florida's repeat as champion. Cloke, believe it or not, was the only one to pick Florida to win it all.

Coming in second was longtime friend Ryan Sadoski, who probably would have won had there been any actual money on the line. After a horrific start, I made a strong comeback to climb to third, fueled by getting three of the four Final Four participants. In fact, I had the fewest correct games out of anyone in the pool.

Thanks to all who played -- it was fun for me to do. We'll try and get some more readers involved next year!

Florida asserts itself as an all-time great team

My guess is that this is the first time in Greg Oden's life that he hasn't been able to will his team to victory with a superlative individual performance.

And that's precisely why we need to start talking about where this Florida team fits in the pantheon of all-time great college basketball teams.

While UCLA's great run in the 1970s will always be the standard of excellence, what the Gators accomplished this season has to rank up there with anything else that's ever been done by any dynastic program in NCAA history. To repeat as champions -- with the same five guys starting, no less -- in this era of early entry (or skip college altogether, before this year)?

It's almost unbelievable.

These Gators are true champions. They took everyone's best shot all year long, and still came out on top in the end. They proved they can beat anyone in just about any fashion, whether by pounding the ball inside or shooting it from the outside. Neutralize Horford and Noah, as the Buckeyes did Monday night? No problem -- Brewer, Humphrey and Green will kill you from outside.

I mean, if I had told Thad Matta that Greg Oden would play 38 minutes, score 25 points, grab 11 rebounds and block four shots, he would have asked me where we were celebrating his team's championship later that night.

It wasn't even close to good enough to beat these Gators, as the rest of the Buckeyes were harassed into a miserable 17.4 percent shooting performance from beyond the arc.

And that alone should say as much as anything about why Billy Donovan might be the best coach in the country not named Krzyzewski. (And why Kentucky better be prepared to throw $3 million-plus at him if it wants to lure him from Gainesville.) Donovan crafted a master game plan designed to send body after body at Oden and contain the rest of the team.

One might say that Ohio State killed itself with its poor shooting, but the reality is that nobody for Ohio State matched Oden's performance in either skill or intensity. It's not coincidence that it seems to happen when the Gators are involved; Florida has a way of doing that to people -- anyone remember UCLA on Saturday night looking like a junior varsity team?

There's a part of me that wants to see what would happen if this group came back for just one more year. But then I wonder: What do they have left to prove? They accomplished their goal, and they can be at peace with heading their separate ways to the NBA.

Could the go undefeated? Does it really matter?

It'll be interesting to see if Ohio State follows the Gators' cue, coming back together to resolve some unfinished business. Here's to hoping they do, so I can watch them for just one more year.

As for the Gators? Go to the NBA -- you can count on me to tout you as one of the greatest college basketball teams of all time after you do.

HALFTIME THOUGHTS: Florida rides hot shooting night to lead

With Florida running out to an 11-point halftime lead, let's revisit my keys to the game -- I think they're very telling as to why this game is a double-digit game at the break.

1. Greg Oden vs. the referees: Oden has just one foul, and has been a force on both ends of the floor 11 points, seven rebounds, two blocks and countless other shots altered. He's completely outplaying his Florida counterparts. Unfortunately for him and the Buckeyes, it's not making a difference in his team's performance. That's because ...
2. Florida's 3-point shooting: ... the Gators are hitting so many shots from long range that it doesn't matter. They're 6-of-9 from the 3-point line, and that's the main reason they've got a 40-29 lead. In contrast, Ohio State is shooting just 2-of-12 from 3-point range. One has to wonder if the Gators can keep it up in the second half, but it won't matter unless OSU starts hitting some deep shots. Ron Lewis -- who I said earlier might have been Ohio State's MVP of the regional -- has been nonexistent. He's got to get aggressive and hit some shots if the Buckeyes want to have a chance to come back.
3. Florida's defense on Mike Conley Jr.: Conley has been a virtual non-factor in the first half. He's finding gaps, but not finding any space to shoot. He's been so good at dictating tempo throughout this tournament, and did virtually none of that in the first half as he was saddled with a pair of fouls. Florida's Corey Brewer, one of the premier defenders in the country, has shut him down magnificently so far. Conley needs to start forcing the issue a bit, which might play right into Florida's hand.
   

I think Ohio State's got a good chance to come back, but it largely will depend on its perimeter defense. The Buckeyes simply can't let Florida have so many wide-open 3-point looks.

I'll be back after the game with a complete wrap.

M's win their opener in encouraging fashion

With about 10 minutes to go until the NCAA championship game tips off, I thought I'd offer up a few observations on the Mariners' season-opening win.

(By the way, I apparently am in the minority in picking Ohio State; only one person out of about 25 consulted by ESPN -- Bobby Cremins -- actually picked the Buckeyes. And he did it because he thought they were "lucky." Not exactly a ringing endorsement. Anyway, back to baseball.)

You never want to read too much into one game in baseball, but today's game was encouraging.

The Mariners now have half as many wins against the A's this year as they had all of last year thanks to a dominating performance from Felix Hernandez. I won't say Hernandez's new physique was the cause for his eight-inning, 12 K, shutout performance, but a sleeker King gives me hope that performances such as this one can occur with some regularity.

The offense was so-so, but it did enough to win -- something that couldn't be said much of the time last year. On countless nights, the Mariners would be presented with a chance to break a game open, only to leave runner after runner in scoring position. Not so today, as a nice sac fly from Raul Ibanez and a three-run bomb by Richie Sexson were more than enough to put away the A's in one quick spurt.

Never mind the fact that the M's needed a big error from the A's to get it going. The fact that they actually made a team pay after an error makes me feel pretty good.

All in all, a nice start to the season for a team that desperately needs one.

BIG GAME PREVIEW: Sticking with my bracket, OSU pulls off upset

After 62 Tournament games and countless millions of brackets up in flames, we've finally arrived at the Holy Grail of the college basketball season: The national championship game. That it involves more great storylines than Law and Order -- the defending national champs playing for the first repeat in 16 years, two teams that held the No. 1 spot in the rankings for most of the season, two schools that just met for the BCS championship -- just adds to the fun.

Here's how I see it breaking down.

No. 1 Ohio State (35-3) vs. No. 1 Florida (34-5)

Line: Gators by 4.5.

TV: 6:21 p.m. PDT, CBS (Ch. 7/107 in Seattle area).

Media releases (all in PDF): OSU gameday release, Florida gameday release

How the Buckeyes got here: After surviving a number of close calls throughout the Tournament, the Buckeyes proved just how formidable they can be in dispatching Georgetown, even with manchild center Greg Oden spending about half the game on the bench. Mike Conley Jr. was especially impressive with 15 points, five rebounds and six assists. He completely controlled the tempo, perhaps proving that he -- not Oden -- is the team's most valuable player.

How the Gators got here: After being accused of sleepwalking through portions of the season -- and the Tournament -- Florida dismissed UCLA in the national semifinal with startling efficiency. The Gators, who returned intact for 2006-07 with the sole purpose of defending their crown, looked like a team that finally caught a glimpse of its prize. Forwards Joakim Noah and Al Horford were virtually unstoppable inside, and the Gators' sharpshooters made the Bruins pay every time they did try to stop Noah or Horford with a doubleteam. Long story short: This looks like a team on a mission.

Keys to the Game

1. Greg Oden vs. the referees: There's little doubt in my mind that Oden can handle Noah and Horford from a physical standpoint. After all, we're talking about the guy who's likely to be the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft, should he choose to come out. The question is, can he stay on the court long enough to make a big difference? Unfortunately, the referees in this Tournament have chosen to call it tight whenever Oden's around. Has Oden learned from the easy fouls he gave up against Georgetown? He has a huge opportunity to singlehandedly neutralize the players that drive Florida. Will he lose some aggressiveness in order to stay on the floor?
2. Florida's 3-point shooting: The Gators picked apart UCLA by feeding the post and kicking the ball out to open shooters when the Bruins double teamed. Those kinds of open shots probably won't be there as frequently tonight for Florida, since Ohio State won't need to double team when Oden's on the floor. That said, if Humphrey, Brewer and Green knock down the open shots when they get them, Ohio State will be stretched beyond what it likes to do.
3. Florida's defense on Mike Conley Jr.: Few freshman point guards in memory have played as well in the Tournament as Conley has. He's proved positively unflappable at every turn this year, and has elevated his play even as the stage has gotten bigger. There's no reason to believe the spotlight will begin to affect Conley now, but that said, the big stage has done some strange things to great players -- see Webber, Chris. Florida's got a long track record the last two years of playing great defense on good guards, and the Gators have proven they can handle all types with their rangy perimeter play -- see Afflalo, Arron; Collison, Darren. Conley's been better than both Afflalo and Collision; can he keep it up?
   

Prediction: All the momentum seems to be favoring Florida. The Gators looked as focused as humanly possible against UCLA, like everything they've worked for since the end of last season is finally within their grasp. Meanwhile, Ohio State continues to fly under the radar, discounted at every turn. A lot of people are expecting tonight to be something of a coronation, but I just can't shake the feeling that the Buckeyes are going to figure out a way to win this game, just as they have all through the tournament.

I have to believe the referees don't like the bad press the OSU/Georgetown game received, and that they'll let Oden, Noah and Horford play the way they play. That benefits Ohio State. And don't forget about that 26-point loss by the Ohio State to the Gators earlier this season; I guarantee the Buckeyes haven't. Unlike last year's championship, this one will go down as one of the all-time classics as Ohio State avenges its football loss. Ohio State 72, Florida 71.

When reading this post, remember: It could be Vitale

As you thirst for more information on this, the day between the Final Four and the national championship game, ponder this -- a fact that was brought to my attention by ESPN.com's Bill Simmons:

Billy Packer has announced every Final Four since 1975.

Just let that wash over you for a second.

That, without a doubt, has to be the most astounding run in sports television. I once read somewhere that all college basketball fans fit into one of two categories: They either are Dick Vitale fans or Packer fans. Their styles contrast to such a great degree that it's virtually impossible to like both. If you like one, you almost by definition have to dislike the other.

I'll admit that I used to be among the throngs who couldn't stand Packer, opting instead for the high-energy antics of Dickie V. When I was in that 18 to 25 demographic, Vitale's catchphrases and volume added to the fun of the college basketball viewing experience.

Then something funny happened: I started watching a lot of basketball. That means watching a lot of games on ESPN, and hearing a lot of games called by Vitale. And I got sick of him. Really, really sick of him.

If you're a casual fan, it probably isn't real noticable to you, but Vitale repeats himself sooooo much. I used to think he knew a lot about college basketball, and it's true he knows a lot about the game. But it's like he learns one little nugget about a player or coach, then repeats it endlessly throughout the season. It becomes extremely tedious.

He also has a tendency to focus only on elite teams -- especially those teams that appear on ESPN. Does he even watch the Pac-10? (I suppose you could make that case for anyone at ESPN, but still ...)

And don't even get me started with the self-promotion -- It's not delivery! It's DiGiorno! Or is it Hooters? Or maybe it's Scott's lawn care products. I've lost track. I have a hard time not wondering if the "passion" he so fervently displays is genuine, or just an effort to promote the Vitale "brand."

This necessarily means I've since come around -- somewhat -- to Packer.

Yes, Packer is an unrepentant curmudgeon who is better than most at torquing people with insensitive comments. But that's what makes Packer pretty good at what he does. He's sincere in his observations, and makes no apologies for anything he says, which he can do because he's not obsessed with being buddies with all of the coaches, a la Vitale. He (appropriately) let's the game be the focus, as he makes clear here with his thinly veiled shot at Vitale:

"I love doing the preparation for the games – the game is the thing, it’s not me," Packer told the (Chicago) Northwest Herald. "I say what I see and based on my judgmnt and the research I’ve done, I have a pretty good record of standing behind what I’ve said. If somebody doesn’t like it, it doesn’t bother me at all. I have a right to my opinion and they have a right to theirs. I don’t ever do anything to create a scene, and if there is a scene, I don’t do anything to try and deflate it. It is what it is."

Packer doesn't spend a lot of time pontificating, and he doesn't spend any time talking about his personal "all-Diaper Dandy" team. He simply calls what he sees on the floor -- a refreshing change.

So now that you've gotten over the shock of never having watched a Final Four without Packer, just remember this.

It could be worse.

It could be Vitale.

Starving for more? Here are some good reads in the aftermath of the semifinals ...

• ESPN.com's "Around the Rim"
• "The Zebras' Whistles Ruin A Classic Matchup," by Bryan Burwell, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
• "Shotmaking is the Missing Ingredient Under Howland," by Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times
• "10 Questions from the Semis," by Gene Wojciechowski, ESPN.com

As predicted, Ohio State to square off against Florida

It turned out to be the night of disappearing stars.

First, it was Georgetown's Jeff Green forgetting to show up against Ohio State, then later it was Pac-10 player of the year Arron Afflalo getting shut down by Florida for the second consecutive year.

Both proved to be fatal to their team's chances of advancing to the championship game on Monday night.

Green absolutely was taken out of his game by the Buckeyes, who used a four-guard offense to swarm and overpower the Hoyas while center Greg Oden rode the pine with foul trouble. Afflalo finished with 17 points, but he scored the bulk of them with the game already out of reach. His team needed him, and he couldn't deliver.

Perhaps the thing that continues to surprise people is that the Buckeyes are far more than a one trick pony. So much was made by people such as myself of Oden's impact on that game, but the Buckeyes played some of their best ball while he was on the bench, as pointed out by reader drpezz. In fact, they were able to increase their lead in the first half while Oden was out of the game with two fouls.

Then, when Oden came back in with Hibbert in foul trouble, he took over, I believe scoring six consecutive points. Then when he got his fourth foul, the Buckeyes were again able to keep playing at a high level. Mike Conley Jr. is a heck of a point guard -- he dictates pace as well as just about any guard in this tournament -- and Ohio State proved it can beat a quality opponent in more than one way.

Other quick observations ...

• I came away very impressed with Roy Hibbert. He comported himself very nicely against Oden. He's not the most athletic guy, but he uses his body pretty well to play tall. Georgetown's coaching staff deserves a lot of credit for turning that guy into the player that he is -- he's clearly been coached well.
• The big battle between Oden and Hibbert never materialized, thanks to fouls. There was a lot of outcry on ESPN in the aftermath about letting the big guys play, but I came away with a different take: These guys need to play smarter. Both Oden and Hibbert picked up some silly fouls -- Oden's moving screen and Hibbert's chicken wing rebound come to mind -- and that changed the game more than anything. They have to know that they're big, and they have to not commit such silly fouls -- it jsut shows tremendous immaturity. I do agree with Vitale on one thing, though: I wouldn't mind seeing college basketball go to six fouls. These are kids still learning how to play the game, and it would keep silly fouls -- or questionable calls -- from changing the outcome of games.
• How about UCLA getting outrebounded 42-25 by Florida? The Bruins' big men just couldn't physically matchup with the Gators, as I suspected. Al Horford and Joakim Noah combined for 28 rebounds all by themselves. Let me repeat that: Horford and Noah had more rebounds than the entire UCLA team! And so much for that vaunted UCLA defense. Florida shot 53 percent from the field and 40 percent from 3-point range.
• If there was any doubt about Florida's intensity on its way to the Final Four, the Gators clearly showed they were just waiting for this stage. All those guys came back for this opportunity, and they clearly were not going to let this night pass them by. Should be interesting to see if Ohio State wilts under the championship game pressure in the face of a motivated Florida squad.

I've also thrown in a Bracket Challenge update with just the championship game to do. After that debacle of a start, I've now moved up into third place -- thank goodness, because I was sweating having to face my faithful readers with such a pitiful performance. The first annual Bracket Challenge champion will not be crowned, however, until Monday night. Ryan Sadoski's got a 21-point lead on Chris Cloke, but Cloke can overtake him if Florida wins it all. Sadoski runs away with it if Ohio State wins, and I'll vault to second. Stay tuned.

We'll have some more notes in the next day or so, including a full-blown preview of the game on Monday night. See you then.

A quick look at the Final Four

Many have called this a Final Four that could go down as one of the best in history. I don't disagree at all, and I'm unbelievably excited to catch the games tonight. Here's my quick and dirty preview of tonights two Final Four games. I'll have analysis of the games upon their completion as well.

Game One: No. 1 Ohio State vs. No. 2 Georgetown

Perhaps nothing says more about how fortunate Ohio State is to be here that Vegas has installed the No. 1 seed Buckeyes as a one-point underdog to the No. 2 seed Hoyas. Many have tried to make this into a battle of Greg Oden vs. Roy Hibbert, but their impact on the game will not be felt in some kind of one-on-one matchup. Here are my three keys to the game

1. Which big man can stay on the floor and control the defensive end? This is how Oden and Hibbert will determine the outcome of this contest. Both have been dominant on the defensive end at times, and at times, both have been ineffective because of foul trouble. Which guy can stay on the floor? Will Georgetown be stifled on all those backdoor cuts, knowing that Oden is waiting? Or will the Hoyas bait him into foul trouble, which can happen if he's just a split second too late rotating? Will Hibbert have trouble guarding Oden? The team whose center spends more time on the floor likely wins the game.
2. Ohio State's perimeter defense against that Princeton offense of Georgetown. Ohio State has been prone to lapses in perimeter defense in this tournament -- how do you think Tennessee got that big lead? Any team that wishes to slow down Georgetown must demonstrate the appropriate amount of patience on every defensive possession, something UNC tired of. Can OSU's young guards keep the intensity for 35 seconds and avoid those deadly back-cuts?
3. Thad Matta vs. John Thompson III. Neither of these coaches has been to a Final Four, although JTIII spent plenty of years watching his dad do it. The bright lights can cause even the best coaches to wilt -- which coach will make the critical move that either saves his team or costs it?

Prediction: Hibbert is a nice player, but Oden controls a game's tempo like no one else. He'll get more than 30 minutes tonight, snuffing out those back-cuts and allowing his guards to pressure the ball like few opponents of Georgetown can. I don't think this will be as close of a game as most do; I think Georgetown's luck has finally run out. Ohio State 65, Georgetown 58.

Game Two: No. 1 Florida vs. No. 2 UCLA

The much anticipated rematch of last year's championship game finally gets its chance in the nightcap. While most have portrayed it as basically the same two teams as last year, UCLA actually only returned about 50 percent of its points from last year's game with the departures of Jordan Farmar, Ryan Hollins and Cedric Bozeman. However, this might be a better UCLA team than last year, while many wonder if Florida might have taken a step back. Here are my three keys to the game:

1. Can Florida handle UCLA's defense? Florida has not seen a team in this tournament that plays defense as hard as UCLA. In fact, this team plays harder defense than the team that looked so bad in losing to the Gators last year. The Gators have proven themselves vulnerable to stretches of sloppy play this tournament, something that absolutely will get a team into trouble against the Bruins.
2. How will UCLA's frontcourt handle Horford and Noah? As the interior guys go, so goes Florida. Can Lorenzo Mata and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute be servicable enough inside, keeping Horford and Noah from getting the offensive rebounds that so energize their team? If Horford and Noah go off, that's bad, bad news for the Bruins.
3. Can UCLA score enough points to win? Last year, the Bruins' offensive performance was atrocious. Particularly awful was Arron Afflalo, then just a sophomore. Well, Afflalo is now the Pac-10 player of the year and is coming off the best game of his career, given the stage. As the Bruins' primary scoring option, he must come up big against the Gators for UCLA to have a shot.

Prediction: Both teams have been here before, and they know each other well after last season, so there won't be any secrets. Both have great players and great coaches. But I think Florida's interior game is just too much for the Bruins to handle. It'll be close, but Florida goes for the repeat on Monday. Florida 71, UCLA 70.

So, there you have it. I'll possibly be checking in during the games, but at least after them. Until then, happy watching! I know I'll be glued to the TV.

Hoyas complete Final Four field with shocking comeback

With about eight minutes to go and North Carolina leading Georgetown by 10 in the last regional final of the day, I made the cardinal sin of the NCAA Tournament: I gave up on the game.

Apparently, so did the Tar Heels.

North Carolina has been as bipolar as any team in college basketball this season, and that was as evident as it ever has been as the Tar Heels put together one of the more spectacular collapses of this NCAA Tournament as I attempted to finish putting together my son's dresser that had been taunting me, half finished, for day.

One minute, North Carolina's up by 10, and I'm telling my wife that Georgetown has practically no chance, because rarely do teams track down the Tar Heels from behind. The next, I'm sitting on the couch, kicking myself for finally tearing myself from the TV at the most inopportune time.

It turned out to be exhibit 1a of why I picked the Tar Heels to be the first No. 1 seed upset in this Tournament.

In the best of times, they wear teams down with their superior depth and athleticism, putting away opponents with a relentless flurry of fast breaks capped by dunks and layups. It's how they built a 10-point lead over No. 2 seed Georgetown with roughly eight minutes to go in the game.

In the worst of times, they're undisciplined, giving away possessions on both offense and defense. That's how they made just two baskets over the final nine minutes of regulation and five minutes of overtime in frittering away a trip to the Final Four in a most unlikely manner.

All the credit in the world goes to Georgetown for not giving up on the game. The Hoyas were not intimidated by the Tar Heels from tip to buzzer, and they've made a believer out of me. I still don't think they'll get past Ohio State, but they're a darn good team.

Other observations ...

• In the early game, it was live by the sword, die by the sword for Oregon. Tajuan Porter lost his golden touch, and Florida's strong inside game was just too much for the undersized Ducks. Maarty Leunen is one of the most underrated big men in the Pac-10, but he was clearly overmatched against Joakim Noah and Al Horford. Frankly, it was only a matter of time before the Oregon was done in by a cold shooting performance; the Ducks should feel fortunate it didn't happen sooner.
• For as much as everyone loves Tyler Hansbrough -- the toughness, the "Psycho T" persona, etc. -- the guy sure disappears for long stretches of games. Any player who is a true go-to guy doesn't let his team go the final 15 minutes of a game with only two buckets. There's talk about him coming out for the NBA Draft, but the guy clearly needs to stay in school and figure out a way to become a more consistent force.

On the Bracket Challenge front, Ryan Sadoski has slipped into the lead by just a mere point ahead of Chris Cloke, who had the Heels heading to the championship. I'm still looking good for third place, if Ohio State does its job.

I'll have more Final Four talk this week, and probably ease into some more baseball. See you then.

Back home, 'Reign Over Me' is really good, just like UCLA

For everyone who thought that "Reign Over Me" looked like a great movie simply based on the premise (a guy loses his entire family in 9/11 and goes crazy) and the actors (Don Cheadle and Adam Sandler), you were right -- it is a great movie.

And for everyone who thought UCLA was going to come up short of another Final Four run based on its back-to-back losses to Washington and Cal ... well, you were wrong.

The Bruins are headed to their second consecutive Final Four for the first time since John Wooden patrolled the sidelines in Westwood, and they did it against the team that many thought was the best team left in the tournament based on its performance through the first three games.

Perhaps most impressive is that UCLA beat Kansas at its own game, playing better defense (holding the Jayhawks to 41.1 percent shooting) and executing better on offense (shooting 53.3 percent from the floor) than the No. 1 seed. And Arron Afflalo -- 24 points, 10-of-15 from the field -- is showing the rest of the country why he was the premier player in what is proving to be the best conference in the country.

The net result is that I'm now 2-for-2 in my Final Four picks, and I have now ascended from the basement in my own Bracket Challenge, and I'm eyeing third place. Good thing, because I was starting to look like one heck of a moron for letting my readers whip my butt!

The best I can do tomorrow is get one more team in the Final Four (Florida) as the winner of UNC/Georgetown is of little consequence to me. However, it will have a major effect on
the top of our Challenge: Chris Cloke, our leader, has UNC all the way to the championship; Ryan Sadoski, traling first by nine points, has Georgetown in winning the regional final.

Tomorrow should be fun! I'll be back with more then.

Oden proves to be the difference as Ohio State marches on

Greg Oden numbers don't make your eye pop. Don't get me wrong, they're respectable -- 15.4 points, 9.4 rebounds, 3.4 blocks -- but what I'm learning with each game that I watch the Buckeyes is that you simply cannot measure Oden's impact in numbers.

I am among the legions of basketball fans that assume Oden is heading to the NBA after this year, along with Texas super-frosh Kevin Durant. I even joined in the debate of whether Oden or Durant should be the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft.

That debate, in my mind, is absolutely over.

Yes, Durant is an unbelievable player who can take over a game on the offensive end pretty much anytime he wants. But Oden is a guy who can dominate a game without ever touching the ball.

Oden's final line from the win over Memphis: 17 points, nine rebounds, one block. Not the kind of numbers that knock you over, but that's not why he's so special.

He is just such a presence, the kind of player that anchors championship teams. On offense, teams constantly have to find him, lest he get an easy, uncontested bucket. On defense, he alters far more shots than he blocks, and there are countless others that never even get taken because his long arms lurk. Wherever he is on the floor, teams must account for him.

All you need to know was that the Buckeyes' win over Memphis was a tale of two games: the time that Oden was saddled with foul trouble and the time that Oden was on the floor. I don't have access to plus/minus stats for the game, but I'm sure it wasn't even close.

That to me, folks, is the biggest reason why Ohio State is heading to the Final Four -- and well on its way its first national championship in a long time.

Other thoughts ...

• Sometimes lost in the shuffle of the attention showered on Oden and fellow freshman Mike Conley Jr. is just how awesome Ron Lewis has been in this Tournament. He averaged 24.7 points in the final three games of the regional, and he has been in the middle of every big moment for the Buckeyes, including hitting that huge 3-pointer against Xavier. The guy is tough and smart, and if I had a vote for the regional MVP, it would go to Lewis.
• Really surprising to me that Memphis allowed itself to consistently get beaten off the dribble by Ohio State. The Tigers had proven themselves to be a pretty good defensive team, but the Buckeyes really exposed them by going to the line 41 times.
  
• Want more evidence of Oden's impact? Powerful Memphis forward Joey Dorsey -- who reminds me of a poor-man's Dwight Howard -- was an absolute non-factor in the game, finishing with zero points and three rebounds in 19 foul-plagued minutes. Though never much of an offensive factor this year, he's been a rebounding machine. Not so much against the Buckeyes.
• Checking in on the Kansas/UCLA game at half, I like what UCLA is doing. It seemed the Bruins had a bit of difficulty through the first 10 minutes meeting Kansas' intensity, but they soon woke up. They closed out the half on a 12-2 run, thanks to a terrific play by Arron Afflalo at the buzzer. I'm not sure I've ever seen Afflalo give up the ball in a situation like that, and Kansas didn't look like it had, either. As the Jayhawks got sucked in, Afflalo calmly found Josh Shipp in the corner, and Shipp calmly drained the 3. That's the UCLA team I saw for most of the year.

Change in plans: I'll be home, after all

Softball's loss is your gain today, as the wonderful Western Washington rain has sent me back indoors, relegated to watching the NCAA Tournament regional finals from the comfort of my couch.

Can you detect the sadness in my voice?

What that means for you, my faithful reader, is that I'll be posting throughout the two regional finals as they unfold with the thoughtful analysis you've come to expect. In the meantime, check out the post that immediately follows on Mariners' 2006 first round draft choice, Brandon Morrow, who's pushing hard for a roster spot coming out of spring training.

Wrapping up Friday night: UNC, Oregon finish off Elite Eight; Plus: What to expect tomorrow

I'm heading to bed, so I'm not going to write a whole bunch. Just a couple of quick thoughts on the two late games:

• Is there anyone in the country that can play with North Carolina when the Tar Heels are on fire like they were for about a 10-minute stretch against USC? The Trojans completely outplayed UNC for 3/4 of that game, and all of their effort was completely erased in one spectacular burst. When Jim Nantz described it as "turning on the afterburners," that's about as apt a description as I can think of. The problem? UNC's effort still comes and goes. They seem to rely on wearing teams down with their superior depth. Makes me wonder if they can do the same thing against a team with comparable talent and depth, such as Florida. That said, it was downright scary how slow the Tar Heels made USC look during that burst.
• Oregon's offense is what gets all the attention, but what really is driving this run by the Ducks is their defense, which really is remarkable considering how horrible that part of their game was midway through the season. Since the end of the regular season, Oregon has only allowed an opponent to shoot better than 42 percent once -- Miami of Ohio. This from a team that couldn't stop anyone for periods this season. They'll need all of that newfound defensive intensity to have any kind of shot against Florida.

That's it for tonight. I've posted the latest Bracket Challenge standings. UNC and Georgetown winning really hurt my chances to make some hay, although I've still got three of four Final Four teams alive.

As for tomorrow, I'll be away from an Internet connection all day, although I will be near a TV. So be looking for more analysis as we head into the Final Four -- my favorite three sports game sof the year!

I hate you, Vanderbilt

It's bad enough that Vanderbilt sent my Cougs packing in the second round of the Tournament. But to choke away a huge chance knock off Georgetown and get me back in every bracket pool that I'm in because of poor shooting and poor defense?

That hacks me off.

Much was made of Jeff Green's effort in the immediate aftermath of his game-winning shot against the Commodores -- Billy Packer was absolutely gushing -- and I'm not going to take anything away from Green, who made an acrobatic shot.

But putting the fact that Green obviously traveled aside -- and it was EXTREMELY obvious -- the more glaring breakdown happened on the defensive double team that was supposed to keep Green from getting a clean look at the hoop.

When you see the replay on SportsCenter tonight look for this: Shan Foster was the primary defender on Green, and he poked the ball away with about eight seconds to go. Instead of maintaining his defensive posture, help defender Ross Neltner hesitated for just a split second, trying to decide whether to go for the loose ball. It put him ever so slightly out of position (as you see from the photo above) and gave Green just the crack he needed to get the shot off with a look at the basket that I think -- when you look at it from the camera under the basket -- was better than most people realize.

And don't get me started on how a team facing WSU can shoot 50 percent in a half from the field and 3-point range, then go ice cold against a Georgetown team that played down the stretch without Roy Hibbert!

Ugh. I'm so irritated right now.

Other thoughts ...

You know, Joakim Noah gets all the pub when it comes to Florida thanks to his performance in last year's Tournament, his famous father, the hair, the chest pounding, etc. But if I'm a team at the top of next year's NBA Draft, there's no way I take Noah before I take his teammate Al Horford. That guy is an absolute beast -- his coach's word, not mine. He is agile, strong and has a nice face-up game when he needs it. He reminds me a lot of Elton Brand, except taller, which makes him a better defender. Did you see that block he had of that driving Butler player (sorry, can't remember his name) at the end of the game? Unbelievably athletic. That guy is going to be a freak in the NBA. For all the talk about Noah's motor, it was Horford's return from an ankle injury that really got Florday going this year.

By the way, how cool did Florda look in that game? Every time I looked up, I kept wondering how Butler was so close. Yet I never felt like Florida was going to lose. They just have that championship feel going. It's going to take a very special effort from a talented team to dethrone the Gators.

That's about it for now. I'll be back later tonight to break down the state of the Bracket Challenge, as well as offer observations on the late games.

What to expect tonight, plus a little Mariners

Once again, I will be planted in front of the TV to watch eight teams battle it out for the right to go on to the Elite Eight.

Of particular interest to me is USC/North Carolina, which I think has the potential to be the game of the night. North Carolina has not seen a team that plays as good of defense as the Trojans, and with the Tar Heels' relative inexperience, one has to wonder if they have the composure to hang with such a tough-minded team.

I'm also interested to see if UNLV's defense can do anything with the high-powered Ducks, or if the Ducks will finally just hand one over with a cold shooting night. Don't forget, this game takes place in a cavernous dome -- the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis -- and that's been known to be death to teams that rely on shooting in the Tournament.

Lastly, a little bit of bonus material as I slowly try to transition into baseball season. (I fully realize the NBA will keep going into June, but I don't really care ...)

Here is the Mariners' opening day lineup, as reported by The News Tribune reporter Larry LaRue on his Mariners Insider blog. Does it strike fear in you?

1. Ichiro Suzuki, RF
2. Adrian Beltre, 3B
3. Jose Vidro, DH
4. Raul Ibanez, LF
5. Richie Sexson, 1B
6. Jose Guillen, RF
7. Kenji Johjima, C
8. Jose Lopez, 2B
9. Yuniesky Betancourt, SS

Starting Pitcher: Felix Hernandez

Unbelievable comeback by Ohio State ... wish I coulda seen it

As Vanderbilt wrapped up its double-overtime win against the Cougs, I was fairly certain that would go down as the game of the tournament.

Turns out I was wrong.

What a comeback by the Buckeyes. Never mind the fact that I was relegated to watching the deficit shrink incrementally via the scoreboard in the corner of the screen. I found myself paying less attention to UCLA and more attention to that scoreboard.

I did get to see the last four minutes, and they were spectacular. Ohio State looks like it might be a team of destiny. Absolutely nothing rattles these Buckeyes, although that could be looked at one of two ways -- either they're unflappable, or they're flirting with disaster and it's going to blow up in their faces before the championship.

I think it's the former. They beat a motivated Tennessee team bent on revenge without a great game from Greg Oden, and they're only getting stronger every time they have to figure out another way to win a game.

Meanwhile, UCLA looked very workmanlike against Pitt. That game never felt in doubt, and UCLA/Kansas ought to be a heck of a treat. I can't wait to watch that on Saturday. Two teams to play defense, each with superb athletes? It could be one for the ages, if you like that kind of hard-nosed basketball.

Oh, and as for the Bracket Challenge? Everyone had UCLA and Ohio State winning -- except for Oldham, who had Virginia beating the Buckeyes -- so just add eight points to their score from earlier tonight.

Hear that sound? That's the sound of me cruising out of the basement!

Well, at least my bracket isn't as screwed as some peoples' -- at least pending the Tennessee/Ohio State game.

Although I had Texas A&M advancing one more round, the Aggies' loss screwed a lot of other people a lot worse that it did me. For example, both Dan Oldham and JoJo Roberts had Texas A&M going to the Final Four -- or beyond -- and I can look forward to passing them soon.

The race to win my Bracket Challenge is shaping up nicely as a three-horse race between Chris Cloke, Ryan Sadoski and Mike Larson. Although Cloke holds a five-point advantage over Sadoski, all three can still come out on top as all three have different champs. The standings you see above are with the last two games of the night still to play.

(Incidentally, I've officially got no chance to win, since my three Final Four teams left mirror three of Sadoski's Final Four, and we've got the same chance. So, I'll officially concede that Ryan is smarter than I am. Congrats Sado!)

I do have Ohio State winning it all, so unless the Buckeyes can figure out a way to quit turning the ball over, missing free throws, missing shots, and giving up layups, I'll probably be right back where I was a week ago. Oh well -- such is the tournament. That's what I get for counting on some upsets in a tournament where there haven't been any ...

Other observations from tonight:

• Didn't get to watch a lot of the Texas A&M/Memphis game, but one thing I did some away impressed by was Memphis' toughness. I think most people assumed the Tigers would wilt in this tournament after beating up on the cupcakes of C-USA -- I know I did -- but they proved worthy of everything the Aggies threw at them. I wasn't sure they could win a close game, but they did it, and impressively at that. No miracle heroics from Acie Law ...
• Did get to watch a bunch of the Kansas/SIU game. The most impressive thing to me? The Salukis' swarming defense. That reminds me of what the Cougars will be like once they get some better athletes in the program. Don't get me wrong, I love Weaver, Low, Cowgill, etc., but those guys do it mostly on guts and guile. SIU's got some guys who really get after you. Unfortunately for them, they ran into a team that plays defense just as hard, but has elite athletes. They never really stood a chance against the Jayhawks, who look more and more impressive each time out.
  

What to expect today/tonight

The NCAA Tournament returns tonight with the regional semifinals, and I'll be back at my familiar station, keister positioned squarely in front of my television. I'll give some of the same analysis I had last week as I watch the games unfold.

Looking forward to seeing you then.

Wrapping up the second round of the Tournament

After looking shaky in the first round, the Pac-10 seems to be comporting itself well as the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament wraps up.

It appears the conference will advance three teams to the Sweet Sixteen -- assuming USC's big lead against Texas holds up -- and was one shot and a double overtime away from putting a fourth team in. Barring a comeback by Kentucky against Kansas, the only other conference with three is the SEC.

As for the vaunted ACC, with its seven bids? Just one team -- No. 1 seed North Carolina -- into the second weekend. And the Big Ten, with its six bids? Also just one team -- No. 1 seed Ohio State.

Other observations:

• I mentioned on Friday that if Texas could survive the first weekend, it would be dangerous. Ain't gonna happen. The Longhorns look flat gassed against a USC team that quite frankly seems like it could have the makings of a Final Four run. Of all the Pac-10 teams left in the Tournament, USC is the team I'd want to play the least. They are explosive offensively from so many positions and play suffocating defense. I cannot wait to watch them play the Tar Heels next weekend.
• As I watched Oregon's Aaron Brooks slice and dice Winthrop, I'm left to wonder: How different might the result of the Cougars game have been if they had a playmaker along the lines of Brooks or USC's Nick Young? I know that would change the dynamic of that team, but after watching the way Derrick Byars took over for Vandy, I can't help but think what a difference it might have made to have someone who can create his own shot whenever his team needs. However, this realization leaves me that much more in awe of what that team accomplished ...
• I went bold in picking Nevada to beat Memphis, who I thought was a bit overrated. And while I've pretty much looked silly in all of my upset picks -- more on that later -- I maintain that the Tigers are ripe for the picking. Nevada missed a lot of easy shots down the stretch -- gong four-plus minutes without a point in one late period -- and Memphis made free throws like it hasn't all year. (The Tigers shot about 67 percent for the entire season, yet made 76 percent against the Wolf Pack.) Don't let the final margin fool you -- this was a two-point game with four minutes to go.
  
• What a great college career Nevada's Nick Fazekas had. I remember watching him as a freshman in the NCAA Tournament against Gonzaga and wondering, "How is this skinny kid taking over this game?" I wondered who he was, where he came from, and if what I was seeing was a fluke, as the Wolf Pack shocked the Bulldogs at KeyArena. Four years, 2,400 points and a few added pounds later, Fazekas proved to be no fluke, and is on his way to the NBA.
• I'll admit I knew very little about UNLV. I wish I had known more -- they beat Wisconsin at their own game and simply made more plays down the stretch.
  
• Oregon is going to be as tough as anyone to oust from this Tournament if they shoot 47 percent from 3-point range again.

That'll do it for today. I'll be back tomorrow with some thoughts looking toward next weekend, and maybe even a few more thoughts on the Cougs. I hope you had fun with me this weekend -- I know I had a heck of a lot of fun writing and watching basketball.

See you tomorrow.

Home from church -- keeping an eye on UO/Winthrop, Purdue/Florida

I'm now settled in front of the TV, and I'll be keeping tabs on the two games mentioned above. I didn't get to see much of Virginia/Tennessee, but I'll admit that I thought Tennessee was pretty vulnerable coming into this tournament. From what I saw, the Vols looked awful tough today.

For those keeping track, the SEC's already got two teams in the Sweet Sixteen, with a chance to get another two in today.

Here's the latest Bracket Challenge standings. I'll have a full breakdown on each person's chances of winning tomorrow, but I'll post the updated standings as much as I can. Yes, that's me bringing up the distant rear. But I've still got all Final Fours alive, so I've got a chance ...