Holy Hoops! Time for the Tournament
Seems like we are all pretty wound up these days about religious freedom, but so far it’s been nothing but trash talk.
Let’s get some skin in this game.
We’ve got the President’s picks in the 2nd Annual Ricochet NCAA Brackets Competition. Maybe those here with Vatican connections could get the Pope’s bracket?
I’ll speculate that the Pontiff selects Marquette from the West, but how’s a good Catholic to choose between Notre Dame and Xavier in the South? Or St. Bonaventure, Loyola, and Gonzaga in the East? How about Georgetown, Creighton, and St. Mary’s in the Midwest?
(Was anyone bold enough to pick an all-Jesuit Final Four?)
I guess His Holiness says a prayer, which is exactly what 16-seed Vermont hasn’t got against the vaunted Tar Heels of North Carolina, a No. 1 seed for the gazillionth year in a row. Then again, what other team has a player more destined to make it to New Orleans for the Final Four than Vermont guard Four McGlynn? (That reminds me, there’s a New York Times reporter named Jennifer 8. Lee. As a name, I think Four does 8 one better. Or four less.)
Okay, so who else here is rooting for an alma mater? (I am. Davidson tips off today at 1:40 against Louisville. Prayers appreciated.)
And who made it into your Final Four? Mine, based on approximately four minutes of college basketball watching this year, is Duke, Florida, Wisconsin, and North Carolina.
The time for trash talk is over.
- Comment (12)
- · Quote
- · UnfollowFollow (2)
Comments:
Apr '11
Re: Holy Hoops! Time for the Tournament
(Was anyone bold enough to pick an all-Jesuit Final Four?)
I. Love. This. (I'm just mad I didn't think of it myself!) Is this a record year for Jesuit and/or Catholic representation in the tournament?!
Ursula, you watched approximately four minutes more than I did this season. :-)
I always root for, but never pick (to win more than a round or two), my alma mater Marquette. They disappoint every single time. Those heart vs. head choices can be so wrenching!
May '10
Re: Holy Hoops! Time for the Tournament
I used to root for the 'Zags for sentimental reasons, but they always seem to disappoint in the end. The old Groaner graduated from Gonzaga Prep but left the college early because he had this misguided notion that one could make some serious heapings of that happy cabbage with the pipes.
May '10
Re: Holy Hoops! Time for the Tournament
Au contraire. We have weeks of trash talk ahead of us. Also, many cheerleader pics.
Re: Holy Hoops! Time for the Tournament
I've got some serious skin in the game since my alma mater, the Belmont Bruins, will be making their fifth tourney appearance this year (and their last as a member of the Atlantic Sun Conference). We've never won one (though we came within one point of knocking off Duke in 2008), which makes tomorrow's game against Georgetown all that much more important (it's the worst possible first-round draw for me because I generally cheer on Georgetown otherwise). As a good Nashvillian, I'm also hoping to see Vanderbilt knock off Harvard later today.
Apr '11
Re: Holy Hoops! Time for the Tournament
Go Lehigh!
Jan '11
Re: Holy Hoops! Time for the Tournament
I didn't pick an all-Jesuit Final Four, but only because I'm so bad at picking brackets that it's been years since I set myself up for so many disappointments.
Mike Golic (of Mike & Mike in the Morning ESPN Radio) has a bunch of bracket versions, but he has one "sheet of integrity." My sheets have no integrity, and I realize the pun I've created by admitting that.
When all of the 4 top-ranked teams lost in their conference tournaments, I think it was a sign of the chaos to come. This could be a great, exciting tournament. Anyone can win it.
May '11
Re: Holy Hoops! Time for the Tournament
Ms. Hennessey,
I take it you are a Davidson grad? I am a Louisville alum, both BA and JD. I don't think a Davidson win is out of the question, but the Cards have gotten hot in the last few weeks.
Here in Louisville, we are infested with UK fans since the Cats play Western Kentucky U tonight. No useful work will get done in Kentucky today.
May '10
Re: Holy Hoops! Time for the Tournament
I notice we don't do this for the NIT tournament. Who doesn't burn to find out who's the 69th best team in the nation?
May '10
Re: Holy Hoops! Time for the Tournament
Ursula -- From the standings it looks like you double-dipped! Is one set of picks from the brain and the other from the heart?
Re: Holy Hoops! Time for the Tournament
David Knights: Ms. Hennessey,
I take it you are a Davidson grad? I am a Louisville alum, both BA and JD. I don't think a Davidson win is out of the question, but the Cards have gotten hot in the last few weeks.
Here in Louisville, we are infested with UK fans since the Cats play Western Kentucky U tonight. No useful work will get done in Kentucky today. · 4 hours ago
I shall offer you sincere congratulations, Mr. Knights! Davidson done made me proud, just too tough a team.
Just curious, what is Pitino's reputation in the state these days? Do KY fans hate him? Has he lost any fans over his ... um ... indiscretions of a few years back?
Re: Holy Hoops! Time for the Tournament
Well, I don't see two of my names currently. For a while, my log on name from last year was still displayed, but I think that's disappeared. Am I wrong? Being a techno-numskull (sp?), I couldn't figure out how to be myself from last year, so I made a new me for this year. So, I guess you could say my picks are from the heart because there sure ain't a whole lotta brain working these days.
May '11
Re: Holy Hoops! Time for the Tournament
Ursula Hennessey
David Knights: Ms. Hennessey,
I take it you are a Davidson grad? I am a Louisville alum, both BA and JD. I don't think a Davidson win is out of the question, but the Cards have gotten hot in the last few weeks.
Here in Louisville, we are infested with UK fans since the Cats play Western Kentucky U tonight. No useful work will get done in Kentucky today. · 4 hours ago
I shall offer you sincere congratulations, Mr. Knights! Davidson done made me proud, just too tough a team.
Just curious, what is Pitino's reputation in the state these days? Do KY fans hate him? Has he lost any fans over his ... um ... indiscretions of a few years back? · 3 hours ago
Davidson played well. Pitino is both loved and hated by UK fans. He is still very popular in Louisville despite his legal/sexual troubles. He is still a fine coach but he doesn't have quite the fire that he use to. Everyone is speculating on when he will retire.