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| Friday, February 22 Those who also should be Watched 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.
"Thank you for recognizing Tulsa as a potential Cinderella team come March! As a northeast Oklahoma native, it's good to see that Tulsa (overshadowed by OU and another of my favorites, OSU) is getting some recognition, finally. People have said, 'Well, you haven't beaten anybody.' I have two responses for that. First off, there's an old saying that says, 'You play with the cards dealt to you.' Tulsa has done that. They didn't slip up in Ruston vs. a dangerous Louisiana Tech team, for example, whereas Hawaii did. They also won that game, might I add, without one of the best guards in the nation, Dante Swanson. Second, what most people don't realize is, first of all, how close Tulsa was to beating KU, and second, that Tulsa slept walked in the second half of the Hawaii game (which is the main reason they lost that game). If Hinrich hadn't bailed out KU late in that game, TU probably would have come away with a huge upset. If Tulsa finds a way into the dance, everybody better watch out for them. Guards rule in the tournament, and Tulsa has some of the best in Swanson, Antonio Reed and Greg Harrington. They also have depth behind their starting, they shoot the three extremely well, and they have a very aggressive defense. We'll see you all in March for some upsets."
"Anyone who has actually seen the Catamounts of Vermont play would NEVER dream of leaving them off their Cinderella Watch! Their level of intensity and unselfish play is only outdone by the size of their heart and perhaps the magnitude of the challenge ahead of them in their upcoming first-ever Tournament bid! Watch out for the Cats, or they may pounce on the unsuspecting!"
"Gentleman, like it or not the Hampton Pirates should be at the top of the list for Cinderella stories. This years performance has shown marked improvement in both offense and defense in addition to sound conditioning which lacked last season. If you look at size factor, they can match up this year, plus there is NCAA Tournament experience at key positions. Needless to say, because of lack of sports media coverage, both the team and the coach has an axe to grind. Wishful thinking? Naw, somebody is going to walk the plank."
"The Yale Bulldogs are the perfect Cinderella story. The team has no seniors, but spreads its scoring out over an incredibly deep roster. They have five players averaging over 10 ppg., and 10 players with over 12 minutes per game. They're on top of the Ivies and might be making their first NCAA appearance since 1962. The campus is pumped for them, and emotion is running on their side. With their depth and strong shooting from the outside, they could make an impact in the tournament. Add Yale to the Cinderella Watch!"
"How about the Yale Bulldogs for the Cinderella Watch? They would fall into both categories, not only would it be a Cinderella story for anyone besides Penn or Princeton to represent the Ivy League, but having already beaten Clemson, Penn State and Rhode Island, and given the Ivy's reputation of giving the big boys all they want in March, they could win a game or two. Yale is definitely a Cinderella story to keep an eye on."
"Look about 35 miles south of Bristol at Yale University. They have a great chance to break Princeton and Penn's NCAA Tournament streaks. There in first place after they beat Princeton and Penn last week. If they beat Columbia which they should, then they beat Princeton, and Penn next weekend they'll be three up on Princeton with two to play. They also have quality wins at Penn State by 13 and at Clemson by 3, and Clemson also beat Virginia and Wake Forest. So Yale deserves to be on your Cinderella Watch."
"Okay, so I read your resume for Central Connecticut State. Good for them. But when it comes to Selection Sunday, the team I do not want to draw is Southern Illinois. As a lifelong Hoosier fan I can attest to what they can do. So, please, let us draw Central Connecticut. Just not Southern Illinois (or Kent, for that matter, no Kent...)."
"Butler, Hawaii, Pepperdine and Tulsa are too good to be underdogs. They should be consensus favorites based on quality wins, conference record and overall record. This site is slipping away from true Cinderellas. Go with Hampton, Davidson, Tennessee Tech, Rutgers, Valpo, UC-Irvine, UNCC, Penn, Utah State, Bowling Green, Kent State, Creighton, Wyoming and New Mexico State. I realize this is a lengthy list, but it gives more Cinderellas than favorites."
"I am not a big fan of this team and as a matter of fact, I hardly ever watch them, but I feel that the Rutgers Scarlet Knights have to be a Cinderella team on your list unless they are already definite for the tourney. Rutgers beat three of the Big East's best teams in Notre Dame, Georgetown and Syracuse, but they still get no respect. Having lost their main man in Dahntay Jones to Duke, their season seems to be a Cinderella story in itself."
"Hey, what about Rutgers. They've beaten Connecticut, Syracuse, Notre Dame and Miami. If you think they have to many losses, look at Pepperdine. They have seven losses. Rutgers only has eight. If you're not going to put them in the top 25, at least make them a Cinderella team. This team is a bubble team that will be fun to watch in March.This team deserves a lot of respect."
"Is Kent State really a Cinderella team? After all, they have a returning team that is doing very well and this is the same team that beat Indiana last year in the tourney. This is a proven team from a solid conference."
"Great to see my Utah State Aggies back on the Cinderella Watch, where they belong. The Aggies have now rattled off seven wins in a row and look positioned to be playing their best ball come March once again. The boys from Logan proved they belong on the Watch and that they were a true Cinderella team last year when they upset Ohio State in the first round. The Aggies want nothing more than to prove that game was not a fluke and go further into the Big Dance this year. That's 76 wins and counting in the last three years and lot of ball still to be played. Lets get them back to the dance where they can show once again they belong with the big boys. GO AGGIES!"
"Hey, how 'bout some press for Jeff Lebo's Tennessee Tech team. Okay, they haven't beaten the couple of bigger teams they faced earlier in the season, but they played them tough. They've blown through their conference schedule and every guy on the floor can shoot. They lead their conference in both field goal percentage and 3-pt percentage. I think they could make some noise...assuming they win the conference tournament."
"Don't you think it is time to remove Western Kentucky from the Cinderella Watch? They have over 20 wins and are now nationally ranked. Let's not forget that they beat a Kentucky team that was ranked. Calling this team a Cinderella this late in the game is just a slap in the face to this quality basketball team, which is severely underrated. Hawaii, Central, ... quality Cinderellas. What about Yale?"
"Please add the University of Kentucky to your list! We deserve it. At the rate we are playing at least one win in the tourney will be a Cinderella type effort. If we lose from here on out (very possible with the play recently) could we make the Watch? We stink!"
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