I just wanted to take this time to wish all you bloggers a happy holiday season. This will be my last post for 2008, don't fear my sports talking self will be back in full force in 2009. Until then I hope you all have a great, and safe holiday, and a happy new year! Knowing you guys makes blogging truly more fun.
As for me I am officially off work for 2 weeks WOOHOO! I plan to rest up, and see family. Tomorrow I am off to the Wooden Tradition in Indianapolis to see my Boilers play Mr Curry and the Davidson Wildcats. After that I have a family Christmas get together Sunday, and then will be celebrating at my mom's on Christmas day with my sister, brother in law, and three nephews, and of course my mother. I am ALMOST done shopping. I do have to admit to something though, is this wrong? I bought my sister 4 books for Christmas, but they are books I like too, and I read one already, wrong?? haha.
As for bowl season, good luck to all your teams, I am just not that into it this year since the Boilers aren't playing. I am playing ESPN's Bowl Challenge, and I am taking part in Booya's Challenge as well, but I don't like the confidence points system. Mostly because I am so lazy and don't feel like doing them half way through haha. I think the National Championship game will be a good one, and don't be too down Cheryl, I think your Tide are my pick for #1 next year! I am hoping you guys that were guest pickers this year will be involved in my Phats Third Annual Bracket Contest come march.
Everyone have a great Christmas, Holiday, and a safe New Year, see you in 09. Phats
If this doesn't get you into the Christmas spirit I am not sure what will.
So, I have been a BAD blogger lately, but with the holidays, and the end of the semester it's been CRAZY here. Here's a quick update, a good friend of mine sent me this and I thought it was great so I am sharing it with you. I promise to have at least 1 more post before Christmas.
WARNING BAD LANGUAGE IN THE VIDEO. My favorite part is at 1:39. I do not know this guy that made it, but I think it's pretty funny.
Alright with football season in the books it's time to focus solely on basketball now. Our Boilers are a top ten team, or at least they were we'll see what the pollsters do to them after our first last over the holiday. If you don't know we lost in the championship of the preseason NIT to #13 Oklahoma and that moose Blake Griffen. I have no problem losing to a good OU team, it will make us better in the long run, I have a problem with the way we lost. Anyone who knows me knows I don't blame the refs often, and if I do something is usually wrong well the refs blew a good game. We lost in OT, and that fact is amazing considering Oklahoma shot 46 free throws, and we shot 5. Sure people say you need to drive to the basket, we did nothing was called. However, the most baffling call of the day was when neither team had control of the ball(it was in midair) as it was going out of bounds and the ref gave Oklahoma a timeout, Coach Painter was especially pissed at that call. Anyway it's time to move on, and take down the Duke Blue Devils on Tuesday! Everyone should watch, I think it's going to be one hell of a game, 9 PM Tuesday on ESPN 2.
I have decided to invite a guest picker, and we are going to pick each game in the Big Ten/ACC challenge. It was easy to decide who to have pick with me, it's David who roots for the Duke Blue Devils, I couldn't resist having him pick when our teams are playing. If you haven't checked his blog out, you should all give it a read, it's good stuff in the links section named David(duh). Anyway onto the Challenge, first off I want to say this in my opinion doesn't determine who has the better conference, the Big Ten usually gets a raw deal with the match ups, that's why everyone in the big ten was shocked when Duke agreed to play at Mackey! Secondly the ACC bottom feeders are definitely better than the Big Ten's and that helps. Anyway onto the picks!
Before we get to the picks here is a little note from guest picker David It looks like another ACC victory over the Big Ten in what has become the highlight of the nation’s non-conference schedule. Yes, that will make it ten years in a row—good evidence to silence those annoying Big Ten fans who claim every other year or so that their conference is stronger than the ACC. But an ACC trouncing is not guaranteed this year. Michigan State and Purdue have legitimate Final Four chances this year, after all, and Wisconsin and Ohio State should be regulars in the Top 25. So some of the games in the Challenge this year will be outstanding.
Monday Dec 1st Wisconsin Badgers at Virginia TechHokies David- Wisconsin is going to be quite good this year; the Badgers are probably underrated so far in the polls. Look for Trevon Hughes to have a big game against the good but way overmatched Hokies. Wisconsin 72 Virginia Tech 57
Phats- I am going to be honest here I know nothing about the Hokies this year. Wisconsin is everyone's favorite team for some reason, that dumbass Joe Lunardi on ESPN has them a 2 seed in his bracketology. I do know that Wisky struggled to beat both Long Beach, and Iona, and was drubbed by UConn. I like Bo Ryan though they will defeat the Hokies WISCONSIN 67 virginia tech 59 EDIT FINAL SCORE WISCONSIN 74 virginia tech 72 Big Ten 1 ACC 0 David = WOOHOO Phats = WOOHOO
Tuesday Dec. 2nd ClemsonTigers at IllinoisFighting Illini David- Clemson, as usual, has started strong this year—but against clearly inferior opponents. Illinois isn’t at its best, but the home crowd will help. Clemson has a rare early season loss as the Illini pull this one out. Illinois 76 Clemson 73
Phats- If this game were at Clemson i'd take the Tigers, but it's in Champaign and the Illini are tough at home. Plus Illinois is coached by Bruce Weber, a former assistant under Gene Keady. Illini in a tight one ILLINOIS 72 clemson 67 EDIT FINAL SCORE CLEMSON 76 illinois 74 (Big Ten 1 ACC 1) David = D'oh Phats = D'oh
Tuesday Dec. 2nd Ohio StateBuckeyes at MiamiHurricanes David- Jack McClinton is a beast. Any guy that can score 27 against a wicked good Connecticut squad—as McClinton did last week—should be able to wreak havoc on a less talented Buckeye team. Miami 83 Ohio State 75
Phats- I am going with the upset here. I am actually really nervous to face the Suckeyes in conference, Thad Matta can caoch, and he has pretty good team this year. They will get a NCAA tournament resume win over the Canes, who I believe are overrated anyway. OHIO STATE 83 miami 79 EDIT FINAL SCORE OHIO STATE 73 miami 68 (Big Ten 2 ACC 1) David = D'oh Phats = WOOHOO
Tuesday Dec. 2nd VirginiaCavaliers at MinnesotaGolden Gophers David- Virginia and Minnesota will struggle this year. Both barely beat weaker opponents last week (Radford and Colorado State, respectively), and I’m looking forward to this matchup only slightly more than I would a clash between these two schools’ sad-of-late football teams. Although Minnesota looks stronger to me, I’ll give Virginia the nod. Not because of any faith I have in the ‘Hoos, mind you, but because my wife would make my life miserable if I picked her alma mater to lose to the Golden Gophers. Virginia 70 Minnesota 68
Phats- Again I know nothing about UVA, however I have been watching Minnesota play quite a bit and Tubby has the Gophers playing some good ball. However, I see Virginia winning this one. VIRGINIA 68 minnesota 66 EDIT FINAL SCORE MINNESOTA 66 virginia 56 (Big Ten 3 ACC 1) David = D'oh Phats = D'oh
Tuesday Dec 2nd Iowa Hawkeyes at Boston CollegeEagles David- Boston College and Duke are the only two teams that have never lost a game in the nine-year history of the Challenge. That could end this year, as I expect this game to be one of the closer ones. BC should pull it out in the end. Boston College 67 Iowa 66
Phats- Iowa is BAD, I mean really bad! I was impressed with BC when we beat them in the semi's of the preseason NIT. I think their hotdog guard dribbles too much, but Iowa won't have anyone who can handle him, I see this as one of the more ugly games. BOSTON COLLEGE 88 iowa 62 EDIT FINAL SCORE BOSTON COLLEGE 57 iowa 55 (Big Ten 3 ACC 2) David = WOOHOO Phats = WOOHOO
Wednesday Dec. 3rd North Carolina Tar Heels at Michigan State Spartans(At Ford Field) David- This could be a preview of a deep tourney (or even national championship) matchup. Michigan State is the only Big Ten team with a winning record in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge, and this year is its best in recent history. It’s too bad for Coach Izzo and the boys, then, that they are playing the undisputed top team in the nation. Carolina wins handily. North Carolina 98 Michigan State 84
Phats- This game is being played at the site of this year's final four, I fully expect one of these teams to be there come March. I really like Coach Izzo, and his mental toughness his teams bring to the table, but lets be honest here UNC looks REALLY REALLY good, I mean SCARY good. As much as i'd love to see State pull off the shocker, aint gonna happen. NORTH CAROLINA 100 michigan state 86 EDIT FINAL SCORE NORTH CAROLINA 98 michigan state 63(Big Ten 3 ACC 3) David = WOOHOO(Hit 98 on the nose) Phats = WOOHOO
Wednesday Dec. 3rd Indiana Hoosiers at Wake Forest Demon Decons David- Although I’ve never been an Indiana fan, I like what Tom Crean is doing there. Most folks say this will be the worst year in the history of Hoosier basketball—which I can believe after Notre Dame’s total beatdown of Indiana last week. Indiana might win more games than expected this season as Crean gets the best from his players, but it won’t start against the much better Demon Deacons. Wake Forest 85 Indiana 64
Phats- Umm it's no secret I hate IU, I could be playing an IU fan in checkers and I would want to kill them. I want them to lose, and if it could happen I don't even want them to score. They suck this year, and almost lost to Chaminade, and IUPUI, they are pathetic and will get beat down! WAKE FOREST 98 indiana 35 EDIT FINAL SCORE WAKE FOREST 83 indiana 58 (Big Ten 3 ACC 4) David = WOOHOO Phats = WOOHOO
Wednesday Dec. 3rd MichiganWolverines at Maryland Terrapins David- Michigan impressed everyone with its victory against UCLA in the 2K Sports Classic but couldn’t beat Duke in the championship. Thankfully, Maryland is no Duke. The turtle hides its head after this one. Michigan 68 Maryland 60
Phats- Maryland will try to sweep the state of Michigan, after getting a win over MSU in the Old Spice Classic over Thanksgiving. UM did stun everyone with their win over UCLA, but I don't see them winning this one, since it's at Maryland, it will be close though MARYLAND 73 michigan 67 EDIT FINAL SCORE MARYLAND 75 michigan 70(Big Ten 3 ACC 5) David = D'oh Phats = WOOHOO
Wednesday Dec. 3rd Florida StateSeminoles at Northwestern Wildcats David- Although both Florida State and Northwestern are doing surprisingly well in football this year, I can’t say either has much hope to get a ticket to the Dance this year. I’ve seen just enough of Florida State to know that Toney Douglas should carve up the Wildcats for a Seminole victory. If he has an off night, Northwestern could pull it out. Florida State 73 Northwestern 63
Phats- Plain and simple Northwestern is BAD. Florida State gets an easy one here FLORIDA STATE 77 northwestern 59 EDIT FINAL SCORENORTHWESTERN 73 florida state 59(Big Ten 4 ACC 5) David = D'oh Phats = D'oh
Wednesday Dec. 3rd Penn State Nittany Lions at Georgia TechYellow Jackets David- It took overtime for Georgia Tech to beat Mercer, which doesn’t bode well for the Yellow Jackets. But this is a team that can put up some points. Alade Aminu is overdue to rip one up, and playing Penn State at home is a good place to start. Georgia Tech 88 Penn State 75
Phats- The natives are getting restless at PSU for them to finally do something in mens hoops. A lot of people feel like this could be a bubble team come tournament time, and this would be a really good win for the Lions. Tech is usually pretty athletic, which Penn State struggles with, it will be a close one, but I am going with the slight upset and Penn State in a squeaker PENN STATE 65 georgia tech 61 OT EDIT FINAL SCORE PENN STATE 85 georgia tech 83(Big Ten 5 ACC 5) David = D'oh Phats = WOOHOO
Tuesday Dec. 2nd Duke Blue Devils at Purdue Boilermakers David- This might be the best matchup of this year’s Challenge (even though the UNC-MSU game will be fun to watch, too). Purdue should battle Michigan State for this year’s conference title, and Coach Painter’s recent recruiting successes have the Boilermakers on the cusp of creating a Big Ten dynasty. Robbie Hummel will be a nightmare for the Blue Devils, but Duke has a much-matured set of starters (especially Kyle Singler and Jon Scheyer) and its deepest bench in years. Unlike most observers, I don’t see this being a tight finish; regardless of who prevails, one team will probably pull ahead midway through the second half without looking back. And I see Duke being that team. Duke 89 Purdue 78
Phats- I am biased, but in my opinion this is the best match up in the challenge this year, and I think David would agree. This game has been hyped in West Lafayette since the pairings came out this past summer. I expect the most electric atmosphere at Mackey Arena with the Paint Crew in full force, as it's ever been. We match up well with the Dukies, and I totally respect what Coach K has done, but this is a pissed off Purdue team looking to take it out on someone, and that someone happens to be Duke. I think the loss and the way it happened was a good thing, and I think you'll see us start slow, but then putting on a three point shooting clinic, get used to SMOOGEEEEEEEEEEEE for three, Hummellllllll for threeeee, because you're going to hear it alot. Boilers pull away late, sending Mackey into pure madness. BOILER UP! PURDUE 81 duke 74 Edit Final Score DUKE 76 purdue 60 (Big Ten 5 ACC 6) David = WOOHOO Phats = D'oh(Boo!!)
David's Final Challenge Predictions ACC 8 Big Ten 3 Phats' Final Challenge Predictions ACC 6 Big Ten 5 EDIT FINAL ACC 6 Big Ten 5
Hail Hail to old Purdue all Hail to our old gold and black Hail Hail to old Purdue our friendship may she never lack Ever Grateful, ever true thus we raise our song a new FIRE UP! Of the days we've spent with you, all Hail our own Purdue GO BOILERS!
