It’s a Love/Hate Relationship: Volume XI
Posted by jbaumgartner on February 14th, 2011
Jesse Baumgartner is an RTC contributor. In this weekly piece he’ll review the five things he loved and hated about the previous seven days of college basketball. This week, Jesse jumps on the St. John’s bandwagon, reminisces about his UNC vs Duke days, and wishes Ohio State hadn’t lost.
The Five Things I Loved This Week
I LOVED…..this tweet from North Carolina freshman Kendall Marshall this past Tuesday, just two days after tearing apart Florida State’s defense: “Just got turned down for Valentine’s Day. Confidence is low right now lololol.” As a buddy of mine phrased it, come on Chapel Hill – 16 assists doesn’t cut it for the ladies?
I LOVED…..the biggest shot of the weekend coming from college basketball’s version of Carrot Top. Wisconsin’s Mike Bruesewitz splashed a monster three from the top of the key with the shot clock running down to seal Ohio State’s first loss of the season. It’s hard to miss his fire-colored curles on a telecast, and even harder when he’s front-and-center in the game’s biggest moment. A few more of those shots and Bruesewitz will have a cult-like following from the fad hair lovers in America.
I LOVED…..a good ‘ol fashioned Duke-UNC throwdown. I was around the rivalry for four years during college, and I’ll never for one second believe that there’s a better annual game than the regular-season matchup at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Like no other rivalry, records seem to go out the window and emotions reach some sort of twisted, chaotic climax. This year we even had the UNC chancellor hatin’ on the campers of Krzyzewskiville — via Twitter no less. Alas, we now have to wait 51 more weeks for the next edition at Cameron.
Take Heart, Kendall. Your Rising APG and the Love of the UNC Nation Will Keep You Warm
I LOVED…..St. John’s continuing its resurgence under Steve Lavin. There’s something extremely cool about reviving a program that has such an amazing history and plays in MSG, the Mecca of basketball stadiums. New York City is so connected with our game’s history that it’s fun to see an energetic coach put some excitement back into the program. Let’s hope this isn’t a one-season deal.
I LOVED…..that Tennessee lost another big game. I know, I know, you’re not supposed to wish bad things upon others, but I reeeeeally think I’m vindicated here. I loved it because it continues Tennessee’s rocky and mediocre play despite a lot of talent on the floor. I loved it, in short, because it means that losing Bruce Pearl for eight games really did hurt the Vols. Had UT stormed through that stretch and been 20-5 when Pearl returned, it just doesn’t seem like any lesson would have been learned, or consequences felt. But with the losses and struggles, it feels like we have some vindication. Perhaps the Vols will pull it together and make a run, but at least we know their coach’s stupid move made it tougher.
The Five Things I Hated This Week
I HATED…..OK, it’s not hate, but I’m not sure I liked the recent news about staggering the NCAA Tournament start times so that everything isn’t happening at once. Crazy endings happening at the same time is one of the things I love about March. CBS is great about flashing into the chaotic endings, splitting screens, or doing whatever is needed. If it’s really simultaneous, I’ll go get my computer and put the other game on that. Crazy endings all at once are one of the things that makes March mad, and I don’t know that I’ll enjoy this new system as much.
I HATED…..Ohio State losing. I’m completely neutral on the Buckeyes in general (great team, good shot to be in the Final Four), but I’ll admit I was pulling for their undefeated season. In fact, outside of a few teams which shall remain nameless, I’ll always root for the spotless record. I’ve spent my entire life listening to that question from fans and commentators – can so-and-so do it, can they match Bob Knight’s Indiana team, etc. For the love of UNLV, can someone just man up and get it done?
I HATED…..bits and pieces of Dick Vitale this week. Again, I like what Vitale stands for, but on occasion his ability to suck up to everything that moves in college basketball can be a bit nauseating. If my ears remember correctly, during the OSU/Wisconsin game Vitale somehow managed to hype up the word “superlatives” (whose definition is already rather grandiose) by prefacing it with the adjective “scintillating” – all of this before he began to slather all over Jordan Taylor (who was, indeed, ballin’ this weekend). We’ll put you in the LOVE column, too, Dickie, don’t worry – we just can’t have you thinking that you are in any way normal.
I HATED…..that Arizona and star Derrick Williams aren’t getting enough love. As a West Coast resident, I’ll cry East Coast media bias till the day I die. But seriously, it’s time to pay attention because the Cats are back. Williams is every bit as legit as our other POY candidates at this point and a certain lottery pick (check out his ridiculous one-handed alley against UCLA off a poor pass on the break…with the off hand). And yes, it’s not a great year for the Pac-10, but UA’s four losses are against Kansas, BYU, Washington on the road, and Oregon State on the road. Those are all perfectly fine losses (even OSU, because it was away), and a team with a 21-4 record and a legit superstar deserves a higher ranking than No. 15.
I HATED…..trying to figure out Georgetown again. They’re great, they’re terrible, they’re OK, they’re rolling. You want to say it’s because the Big East is so tough, but it seems like we’re scratching our head about the Hoyas every other year. So given the confusion they’ve caused me thus far, I won’t address them the rest of the season and I hereby pronounce that they won’t make it to the Sweet 16.
