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| Friday, January 25 More than a few to consider ESPN.com |
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After uncovering the ESPN.com supercomputers from the deluge of Cinderella Watch email, we've skimmed off the best responses for your enjoyment and edification.
The most vocal complaints came on behalf of Tulsa fans, who wondered how the defending NIT champions and current WAC contenders failed to make our first Watch. At 15-3 heading into the weekend, we agree we may have sold the 'Canes short, which is why they're as good chance they've been added to this week's Watch. To Vermont fans, "Your welcome." To MAC fans, "Sorry, every team can't be on the Watch." And to the other fans below, keep watching each week, you're team may be on the next Cinderella Watch.
Golden Indeed
"Don't forget about those boys from Tulsa University, just ask those players from Kansas. They almost had a chance to beat Arkansas and Fresno State. They have a coach that has them playing well, who has been in the system since Coach Self began. The program won the NIT tournament last year so I think they should get some respect."
"I suggest you keep a close eye on Tulsa -- 2001 NIT Champs. They are beginning to make their run. They have several key games in the next 10 days, including Fresno and Hawaii. Their three loses are to Arkansas (4), Kansas (8) and Fresno (1) by a total of 13 points. This is a young and coming team."
" Even though they shouldn't be considered a Cinderella after playing well in the tournament year after year, Tulsa continues to get snubbed. Tulsa has been on the road most of this year and won their last two games without their leading scorer and the nations best 3-point shooter. Before those games they were 42 in the RPI and should move up now. They played in Kansas versus the Jayhawks and came extremely close to a huge upset. The Golden Hurricane is a young team that is getting better with every game, partly due to the fact that they have a new head coach this year. Tulsa also returns everyone except one starter from last year's team that won the NIT (since they got snubbed by the selection committee simply because they are in the WAC), and they did it on the road because they couldn't get any respect even in the NIT. If they win out at home the next five games, beating one of your picks Hawaii in the process, and have a record of 19-3 will people respect them then!"
"OK, maybe I am just a little bit biased being from northern Oklahoma, but how is Tulsa not on your list? The Golden Hurricane have a record of 14-3, and their losses were by a combined 13 points. Furthermore, one of those teams (Kansas) could be considered the best team in the nation outside of Duke, and the other two teams (Arkansas and Fresno State) have good records with tough schedules. Remember what Arkansas almost did to Oklahoma State? With as many as nine players who could be a threat to score at any time, TU is a deep team with lots of options. Add to that an aggressive defensive team, and I am thinking that the Sweet 16 (or possibly further than that) could be coming Tulsa's way in March."
More of the MAC
"I think that in the next two weeks that Bowling Green should start getting some respect for what they have done in the season so far. They had a very competitive non-confrence schedule that including four teams that went to the NCAA Tournament just last year. Sure, beating Ball State on the road would have probably let them crack the top 25 after beating rival Toledo after that, but they deserve to be looked at just a little more if they continue the consistent play that they have shown all year. They have a very accomplished core group of players that play the game in a very experienced and hard way along with role bench players that do what is asked. I think that Bowling Green in the NCAA tournament would be a great exhibit of what college basketball is supposed to be all about. With four senior starters and Kieth McLeod, who is having an All-American year, this team deserves respect across the board for what they have done and hopefully continue to do."
"Watch out for the Ohio Bobcats! You mention the MAC with teams like Kent State, Bowling Green and Ball State. What about the 'Cats? I know they don't have the 15 wins that these teams have right now, but they are 5-1 in the league and possess possibly the league's best player in Brandon Hunter ... the new Shaq of the MAC. This team will not lose a league game the rest of the year! Mark my words. Their only loss at Kent came without the services of Sonny Johnson, their excellent sixth man who averages near 20 points a game. It's the "Year of the 'Cats!"
"It's time for the Ohio University Bobcats to get some respect. You mention every team in the MAC with a 4-1 record except the Bobcats. Well we recently improved that MAC record of ours to 5-1 and the Bobcats are on a roll. With leaders like our stars Brandon Hunter, Patrick Flomo, and Steve Esterkamp, look for the Cats to keep on rolling through MAC play and into the big dance."
Who Needs Hockey?
"Vermont may not play a tough schedule, but they are a legit contender for the Watch. Keep in mind that the America East champ has given teams fits in the NCAAs (ie: Delaware and Hofstra) and also has a win in recent memory (Drexel). And any team that wins this conference has a shot!"
"Go VERMONT! OK, so our RPI isn't hot and there are no 'quality' wins, but give the Catamounts some respect. No One talks about Sophomore guard T.J. Sorrentine or his record 11 3-pointers and 45 points in one game. But VT could finally go to the tourney for the 1st time in school history"
" Vermont is having their best season in DECADES! If that isn't a Cinderella story, I don't know what is!"
From the Island Your inclusion of Hawaii as a team to watch is sweet recognition to a deserving team with a top 25 type-record. Your timing, while belated, is well appreciated by Bow fans (most of us believed ESPN only covered six conferences). It's wonderful to know Hawaii is being mentioned by your media for admittance to the DANCE; albeit, as an "unknown invited" with a glass slipper. The key to a successful season for the Bows or any other WAC team will be PLUS-5 on the road: To win the WAC this season, Hawaii will have to do well on the road against Tulsa, Fresno State, La. Tech, SMU and Nevada. That is not to say the remaining WAC teams are road pushovers. Geographically the WAC stretches 4-5 time zones depending on daylight saving time. Travel is always brutal for the Warriors who must take as many as NINE of these trips across the pond every season. Most teams bellyache for taking ONE trip to Hawaii (Would you rather travel to misty Manoa or Rustin, La.). Still, after mainland teams lose at the 'Stanley' you will always hear a parenthetical sidebar about the travel. Implying an asterisk be placed alongside their loss. Which brings me to complain about why certain cyber-gurus from Connecticut demand Hawaii WIN ALL THEIR GAMES ON THE ROAD as prima facile evidence for warranting a back door, at-large, invitation to the Tournament. With all due respect I believe this is a bursa covering the face of smug regional bias. The Bows travel in one road trip, in miles, what most teams travel in a season. Hawaii played 3 games in Hilo this year (on another isle), a distance of well over 250 miles, yet the electric-Mollahs see this as home games. How far does Duke travel to play UNC, UNCS, Wake Forest, or UCLA to play USC? Duke's trip to FSU was a bus ride compared to Hawaii's itinerary. Yet they lost! Road games in some of your Super 6 is a joke in terms of miles! Mileage is probably the biggest factor in wearing down an athlete's body! Try 11 days on the road; reverse jet-lag (when traveling from west to east you lose time and it takes 48 hours to completely stabilize to normal); unchartered flights; 9-11 airport procedures; extreme altitude changes; and eating fast food on the run! We played Boise State in Idaho and won. The team went from a balmy 85 degree warmth to freezing temperatures way above sea level. This followed a win over UTEP near the Mexican border(Hawaii crossed the width of USA)! Not an easy task! Two wins each by two points you say...we'll take a "W" on the road any way we can! Upon returning to Hawaii, the Bows pounded La. Tech (a team one of your "Graney" Mullahs picked as a potential tour de force in the WAC) by 20 points! We also beat a tough SMU, a "no excuses-made" team. A class team with an equally, classy coach. Over the years, Hawaii coaches have consulted with psychiatrists, dietitians (recommended eating health food grass), and the US Air Force. All to maintain our athletes while traveling under physically, debilitating conditions. Nationally, most paid-pundits, measure a good season as winning 50 percent of your road games (Check out the Big 10 Conference road win percentages; and Goliath of Butler from the Horizon Conference as it travelled to play an unheralded David of Detroit). Why should Hawaii be any different? C'mon guys, don't geographically profile Hawaii as a winning aberration. The Bows deserve to be evaluated with the same type of measurements you apply to mainland teams "on the road". Apply the 'ruler' fairly! Especially since Hawaii is the only NCAA Division I team with their very own time zone! Thanks again for recognizing our Warriors as a potential candidate-Cinderella."
Out West
"Oh, come on. Utah State has no business being on the Cinderella Watch. With an RPI of 22, the have got to be considered for "promotion" or "graduation" to non-Cinderella status. The highest RPI ever left out is like 33 or something, right? The committee is going to leave out a team at 22! No way. Two different prediction sites that I have seen have Utah State with "favorite" seeding (ie: above 8!). This team isn't a Cinderella at all!"
"While your comments regarding UC Irvine are hard to swallow, I agree that Utah State may still be the team to beat in the Big West. And no matter what happens in the regular season, it all comes down to the conference tournament -- a tough lesson that UCI had to learn in 2000. Still, I'm an Anteater (Zot-Zot-Zot!) and I have faith that this year's team is better than last year's. For one, we still have Jerry Green (9th leading scorer in the NCAA). Secondly, we added two solid starters in Jordan Harris and Mike Hood and as a result we are leading the nation in field goal percentage. I know Utah State has a higher RPI, so I can only hope that we can continue our perfect season in league. I we had only seized the opportunity to take out UCLA at Pauley Pavilion, our wins at Utah State and against Pepperdine could have propelled us into the Top 25. Go Eaters!"
"I read your reasons for not including the 'Eaters of UC Irvine over USU in the watch, and I agree with it for the most part. But a lot has happened since then. Yes, Irvine proved to be human at home, and lost to Northridge by one point in OT, very tough to take while watching the game at the Bren. Having our 19-game home winning streak snapped after ending the Aggies' 31 game streak is hard to take. But Northridge moved up to 5-2 to join UC Santa Barbara as the teams that are -- one game back behind 6-1 Irvine. Utah State lost to winless (in conference) Fullerton. I guess this proves that maybe the Big West is more balanced that many though. Either way, we won't know who's going to the dance until the tourney is over with, but Utah State's RPI might get them in if they slip up in the tournament."
"Hi, as a UCI student I cannot possibly understand how Utah State is chosen to be a Cinderella Watch over the Anteaters. Even when UCI has beaten the Aggies at home and demolished there 30-something home win streak, the Aggies are considered a Cinderella over us? Even though Utah State is 5-3 in the Big West and losing again to Cal State Fullerton yesterday, how could you possibly consider then a better team for the watch than Irvine. UCI has always been underrated and disrespected, it about time we get some recognition."
"How about Pepperdine in your Cinderella Watch ... Although they are incredibly inconsistent, they have shown that they can knock off the big teams -- USC, UCLA, Gonzaga ... never thought Gonzaga losing would be considered an upset, but in this year's tournament if Gonzaga doesn't make it to the Sweet 16 it will be an upset. But anyway, Pepperdine is definitely not a dominant team but they have shown that at any point in time they can surprise a team."
"Pepperdine will be included on the Cinderella Watch this week, right? RIGHT? If not, expect another response from me next week."
"It seem that in spite of the results of the college football season, you haven't yet learned the name of the state between Washington and California."
"I agree with all the teams you picked for your most recent list. I would like to ask however if the San Diego State Aztecs will get any consideration. Granted they have lost to Utah and BYU on the road and were just barely beaten by Wyoming in Cox arena, they do have some quality wins and some nice shows.The quality wins being at Hawaii, and beating a then ranked Fresno State. They also played much better than anyone in the country thought they would at Duke. They have the MWC's top 2 scoring players and 3 in the top 4. Fisher certainly is no slouch at coach and SDSU's RPI and strength of schedule are not bad either. I know they will have to have some quality wins in the Conference, but SDSU looks like they are ready to break out. NCAA or NIT ... my feeling is NIT, what's yours?"
Emptying the Inbox
"Most sportswriters are very quick to write off Butler because of a mid-season slump. Just remember, they are still 17-3 after last evenings crushing of Horizon leader Loyola, 78-48. They won't be back ... They never went anywhere!"
"It's great stuff! I love the five-man sport of basketball because a Gonzaga or a Ball State can beat a 45,000 student university. The only team I think is missing is my Ohio State Buckeyes. 14 and 2, and alone at the top of the Big Ten. No real talent, just good teamwork and, I think, top-caliber coaching. Lots of tough games (especially on the road) ahead but I just love what they have done so far with a line up that looks like they should be the Cleveland Cavaliers of the Big Ten! Go Bucks!"
"Pittsburgh baby! Pittsburgh is the team to watch. You can say our schedule is weak, and we play nobodies, but you cant take away our wins against Big East powerhouse Syracuse, and then Ohio State, Georgetown, Boston College and St. John's. We don't need the hype, actually we don't want it. We just want respect. (We've been getting some lately). We don't have your flashy Jason Williams, or your All-Around Mike Dunleavy but better yet, we got a team that shows more heart that any team in the nation. The Panthers hustle never lets up."
"You need to take a look at the Wisconsin Badgers, now in third place in the Big Ten. Wins over 3 ranked teams -- Marquette (15), Illinois (7), Michigan State (22), snapping home win streak. Close losses to Hawaii and Temple (double OT). Their first 5 losses were by a total of 16 points. This is a young team that graduated all five starters, lost two recruits to health issues, and another player to injury. They only have eight scholarship players. Devon Harris for freshman of the year. Keep an eye on this team."
"What will it take for Loyola University of Chicago to be considered a "Cinderella" team. They are currently 6-0 in their conference and they play Butler this Thursday at Butler. Do they need to win that game to be considered? What happens if Loyola were to lose that game? Would they drop back to relative obscurity? I understand that the Horizon League is weak at best, but Loyola has put up some good numbers and some good road wins. I believe that they will threaten to win the Horizon League outright. Will it take a conference tournament championship to get them into the tournament? Thanks, and keep your eyes on the RAMBLERS!"
"Watch the Manhattan Jaspers out of the MAAC. They have a great young coach (Bobby Gonzalez) and a bunch of kids who have bought into the idea of a team. After a season-opening loss at Syracuse in the Preseason NIT, they rattled off 12 consecutive wins, including the likes of St. John's, Hofstra, Fordham, and two-time defending MAAC champs Iona. They then lost two of the next three, but are without the services of two significant contributors due to illness. Their key is the backcourt, with senior Muggsy Green and transfer Luis Flores (from Rutgers). Guards rule in the tournament, which makes them so lethal. I know the MAAC is a one-team-in-the-tournament conference, but the Jaspers could do real damage as a 12 or 13 seed."
"Having seen Southern Illinois play both on television and in person, I feel that they deserve continued consideration on the Cinderella Watch. They are as solid a team as I have seen in the MVC and are destined to be a real standout as the season progresses."
"I really am getting tired of watching the disrespect St.Bonaventure is getting in the polls. They beat UConn,and Temple. They should have beaten BC and Oklahoma.They are the most underrated team in basketball this year. Look out they will surprise a lot of people"
"How can you leave the Jaspers off your list? Sure they stumbled of late and lost two games, but that was without one of there most important players Justin Jackette. With him back in the line up, they might not lose again. Plus, look at the way St. John's is playing and Manhattan beat them by 18 in the Garden. Looks like a pretty good team to me."
"Keep your eye on Dayton. Their record is not gaudy and they haven't beaten any real big names yet, but there defense is flat out scary. They held Miami University to 23 points -- 8 in the first half! That's no typo, 8 points (9 percent shooting!). I was at that game, Miami scored two 3s and two free throws in 20 minutes! The only reason they broke 20 points for the game was because Coach Purnell emptied the bench at the end of the game. On the road against Duquesne they were leading 50-33 at the half and Purnell tore into them for there defensive laxity. They responded by only allowing 11 points in the second half! All in all they have held teams under 20 points in a half SEVEN times this year ... Remember: great defense doesn't go into a slump. You will be hearing from Dayton in March!"
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