Tournament may be better off without "Cinderella's"

UCF beating Duke would have been fantastic, but it wasn't to be. Maybe that was for the better (Photo creds to the Orlando Sentinel)

By Joe Smeltzer

All non-Duke fans wanted, at least partly, to see Central Florida beat Duke.

Regardless of how far we had the Blue Devils going in the NCAA Tournament; and if you're reading this, you probably had them winning the whole thing or at least making it to the Final Four, at least part of you was pulling for the Knights. The thought of watching what would have been one of the greatest upsets in college basketball history was enticing, and if not for a poorly executed alley-oop attempt, it probably would have happened.

As likable as Johnny Dawkins is, and as fascinating as Taco Fall is to watch,  however, would UCF beating Duke have been a good thing for college basketball? At that moment, absolutely. When you think long-term, however, the answer is much more complex.
It's hard not to like a Cinderella story. We saw a great example of one as recently as last March when Loyola-Chicago made it all the way to the Final Four as an 11 seed. In a lot of ways, seeing Sister Jean become a national celebrity was a lot more interesting than, say, Virginia rolling through the South Region.

On the contrary, the best teams make the best games, and as the tournament moves toward its final stages, isn't that what we want? This year, only one top-four seed lost in the first round, and every top three seed made it to the Sweet 16. "Straight chalk" sounds boring, but it just might be preferable than having another Loyola.

Once again, let's look at last year's tournament for reference. Loyola had a great backstory, and it also played an exciting brand of basketball. When the Ramblers got to the Final Four, however, they were out of gas. Their underwhelming performance against Michigan, coupled with Villanova killing everybody it played made for one of the dullest Final Fours in recent memory. Loyola's Elite Eight win over a dull Kansas State team, well, dull. Would the final 10 days of the tournament held as boring had, say, Tennessee been in that spot over Loyola? Maybe not, but maybe so.

Another reason why we want high seeds in the later rounds of the tournament is that the best teams feature the best players. 12th seeded Murray State would have been an outlier in this regard, as JA Morant alone is more interesting than Florida State. Imagine, however, if Aubry Dawkins' shot fell, UCF went through and we didn't get to see Zion Williamson or RJ Barrett?  It would have stunk.

Sure, low seeded, small schools making it far creates great storytelling, but the NCAA tournament will always have compelling storylines. If Cinderella takes away from the quality of play on the court, I'm pulling for the glass slipper not to fit and for midnight to strike as soon as possible.

When the lights are the brightest, I want the best teams and the best players to fight it out. Whether they know it or not, I think most basketball fans feel the same way.

NCAA Tournament 2019: Champs, Busts and Sleepers for each region

It's time

By: Joe Smeltzer
This. Is March Madness. Here are the winners, the losers, and the potential bracket busters from all four regions. Of course, I'll give my Final Four picks at the end, too. Let's go.


East
Champion: Duke
With Zion Williamson back and not missing a step in the ACC tournament, the Blue Devils have snapped out of their funk that started when Zion went down against UNC Feb. 20. With Michigan State experiencing inconsistency this season and LSU missing its head coach, Duke is in by far the best spot of the top three seeds in the East Region, and it would be a massive disappointment if the most talented team in the country didn't make the  Final Four.

Sleeper: Belmont
Maryland is reeling, and LSU is, once again, without a head coach. That opens the door for the 11th seeded Bruins to make a run, but Belmont is capable of making noise in any region.

Averaging 87 points a game-- good for second in the nation-- the Bruins can score, led by guard Dylan Windler (20.8 PPG). Getting upset in the Ohio Valley Conference tournament could motivate Belmont, as well.  I have the Bruins in my Sweet 16, and I'd recommend putting them there as well.

Bust: LSU
It's been a fun ride for the Tigers, but it may well end on the first weekend of the tournament. While I see LSU getting past Yale because of their play on the interior, Belmont is ready, and it can easily take advantage of the distracted SEC regular season champs.

South 
Champion: Tennessee
If Loyola's Clayton Cluster's didn't get a friendly role in last year's second round, the Vols might well have gone to the Final Four. Instead, they were just another victim of the Sister Jean machine.

With the bulk of Tennesee's talent from that squad back in 2019, led by two-time SEC Player of the Year Grant Williams, the Vols are experienced and motivated.

Tennessee's biggest challenge in the South Region is Virginia, and the Wahoos are formidable for sure. With defensive minded-teams like Oregon and Kansas State in the region, however, the Cavs will be worn down by the Elite Eight. If Tennessee does its job in the first three rounds, they can take advantage of UVA's fatigue, get Rick Barnes to the Final Four and bathe in the tears of Longhorn nation.

Sleeper: Oregon 
While I don't think the old cliche "defense wins championships" holds as true in basketball as it does football, Oregon's D won it the PAC 12 and got the Ducks to the tournament despite Bol Bol being out for most of the year.  With neither Wisconsin or Kansas State scoring efficiently, and UC Irvine being, well, a 13 seed, the Ducks have a great chance to frustrate to ride their defense to the Sweet 16.

Bust: Purdue
My mother is a graduate, so I write this partially out of caution. I always want the Boilers to make a run, but the team has been inconsistent all year. While Carson Edwards is capable of winning a game on his own, if he's not hitting his shots, that's a problem. Assuming Purdue gets by Old Dominion in the first round, it'll either face defending national champion Villanova or red hot St. Mary's. That's a tough draw, and I wish the Boilers the best.

West
Champion: Texas Tech
I've loved the Red Raiders all season.

Their defense is arguably the best in the nation, and don't think they can't score it, either.  Jarrett Culver will be in the NBA next year, Davide Moretti is a 47 percent three-point shooter, and Matt Mooney can make it from outside as well. What makes the Raiders, however, is their defense. If Tech follows St. Mary's blueprint against top-seeded Gonzaga, who it would likely face in the Elite 8, the Raiders will be in good shape. That's exactly what I think they'll do.

Sleeper: Murray State
I was hesitant to call the Racers a "sleeper," because its hard for a player as good as JA Morant to sneak up on anybody. Nonetheless, I think Murray State fits the build of "Cinderella" more than anybody else in the South Region. Buckle up for Morant vs. Marquette's Markus Howard round one.

The Bust: Florida State
I've always liked Leonard Hamilton.  The Noles, however, have the misfortune of facing one of the 10 best players in college basketball, whether that'd be Morant or Howard, in the second round. Good luck with that.


Midwest

Champion: North Carolina  
I don't think I'd get much debate here. The Tar Heels are the best team in this region, and might well be the best in the country. Then again, they might not be the best team in their own conference or state, either.

Sleeper: Seton Hall
I don't see the Pirates getting past the second round. With that said, Seton Hall did beat there would be second-round opponent, Kentucky, earlier this season, and have wins over Marquette (x2) and Villanova. Not to mention, Myles Powell is a stud. So don't be super duper shocked if Seton Hall is still kicking after Sunday.

Bust: Kentucky
Any thing short of a Final Four is a failure for Big Blue Nation. Since I don't see the Wildcats getting past the Sweet 16, I don't envision Wildcats fans being pleased with how this tournament turns out

Final Four
Duke over Texas Tech 
The Red Raiders played Zion and co. tough when these teams met at Madison Square Garden in November, but it never felt like the Dukies were in danger of losing. This game will be a similar story.

Aside from Culver, there are no first-round talents on the Raiders. Duke has three of them, and I think this semifinal game will be a case of talent winning out.

UNC over Tennessee
North Carolina does everything well. It can shoot it, and it can beat you down low, too. The prospect of playing Duke in the championship game for the first time will be too juicy for the Tar Heels to let slip.


Championship 
Duke-UNC
I don't know. I honestly don't know. Both teams are so good, but because Duke will have most of the pressure on it, because UNC is experienced and because they are one of few teams in the country that's close to Duke talent-wise, I'm going with the Tar Heels. I know it can go both ways, and it's the title game I'm hoping for. God I hope we get it.

AB will be remembered as a jerk, and it didn't have to be that way

By Joe Smeltzer

On the surface, it's hard not to like Antonio Brown.

Without context, that sentence is hilarious given what's transpired over the past three months, so here's my explanation.

From an on-field standpoint, Brown was easy to root for in Pittsburgh. Every fan loves an underdog story and Brown had a good one, growing from humble beginnings that included a brief period of homelessness to earning a division one scholarship. The journey continued in the NFL when Brown rose from pick No. 195 to become the best wide receiver in the world, and the best in Steelers history at his position.

Every fan loves a player who can deliver in big games. While his team consistently fell short in the postseason, Brown didn't take a step back when the chips were down. Even before he became a star, Brown, as a rookie, made some of the biggest plays of the Steelers' Super Bowl XLV run, particularly his "boombox" catch against the dirty birds in the divisional round. So when the Steelers traded possibly one of the ten best players in their esteemed history, while he's still a few years off from his expiration date, fans were, at least to some extent, happy about it.

While some are upset with Brown now being richer than ever and/or the Steelers not getting enough back for him, nobody is pissed that Antiono Brown is no longer with the Pittsburgh Steelers. What does that tell you about Antiono Brown, the person?

It tells me that Brown's "underdog story" of being drafted in the sixth round may have had more to do scouts being turned off by is attitude than undervaluing his ability. After all, how many two-time all-americans, even from Central Michigan, fall to the sixth round?

It tells me that, frankly, Brown just don't give a damn about the organization that gave him a platform to accomplish what he has, and put up with his baloney for several years along the way. It reminds me of how powerful agents are in the sports world, as a lot of AB's words are products of Drew Rosenhaus, the kingpin of NFL handlers. 
It also says a lot about the Steelers. It tells me that they shouldn't have let AB's shenanigans that started with celebrating every first down reception like it was VJ day, turn into much more of a monster. It tells me that maybe extending him weeks after the Facebook live nonsense wasn't a great idea.

It indicates that Brown is  partly a product of Mike Tomlin letting his stars roam free (not that Tomlin is the only NFL coach that does that, but it's sure blown up in his face more than his colleagues, hasn't it?)

The way Joe Smeltzer sees it, the whole AB saga can be summed up by two things; Brown being a child with a horrendous mustache, and the Steelers' family style way of doing business smacking them in the face. The former is what I care more about, and because of it, when Brown gets into the Hall of Fame largely for his contributions as a Pittsburgh Steeler, it's going to be an intriguing ceremony. It's a shame that a player who was so beautiful to watch on the field is so voliatle everywhere else in life.

Big time conference tourney picks.

Alright, we've gotten through the little guys. Now, the big boy conference tournaments are in session. We have some big bois in our family, and here is who they see taking home conference gold.

Ryan 
ACC:  Duke over UVA 

Photo creds to Sporting News

With Zion back, the Blue Devils roll through Syracuse, UNC and UVA en route to the number one overall seed.

Big East:  Nova over Seton Hall

Phil Booth is one of the last remnants of last year's National Championship squad (Photo creds to Sporting News).

Despite Nova having a "down year," I don't expect them to be challenged in this tournament.

Big Ten: Michigan State over Purdue

With injuries threatening to slow down Michigan State, Cassius Winston has developed into the team's leader, and one of the best players in the country (Photo creds to Spartan Nation). 

Purdue knocks off Michigan before being bounced by Sparty and then bounced again in the first weekend of the big dance.

Big 12:  Texas Tech over Kansas State

Fear the beard

Chris Beard is a pretty good coach. In fact, he's better than Bruce Webber, which I don't think says much.

PAC 12:  Washington over Utah
It's the worst conference in America. Should we even count this as a major conference?

SEC: Tennessee over LSU 

The Vols are led by Grant Williams, who is likely to repeat as SEC Player of the Year (Photo creds to Detroit Bad Boys).

The Vols are the real deal this year.  Tennessee is well coached with, senior leaders, and this tournament is in Nashville, so they'll have a lot of support.


Jeff
ACC: UVA over UNC
Big 10: Michigan over Michigan State
Big 12: Kansas over Kansas State
Pac 12: Washington over  Utah
SEC: Kentucky over LSU
Big East: Villanova over Marquette

Rutz
ACC: UVA over UNC
SEC: UT over LSU
Big 10: Wisconsin over Purdue
Big East: Villanova over Marquette

Pac 10: UCLA over Washington

Joe
ACC: UVA over Duke 

While he'll probably be the eighth most talked about player in the ACC tournament, Ty Jerome is one of the ACC's best, and Joe says he'll lead UVA to glory (Photo creds to Basketball Society). 

With Williamson back in the picture, I don't see Carolina beating Duke for the third time. Unfortunately for the Blue Devils, however, I don't see them beating UVA thrice, either.

In my opinion, this is Tony Bennett's best team because of how balanced it is. The Cavs still have to prove they can win in the NCAA tournament, but they've won the ACC before, and I think they'll do it again because of their defense and outside shooting.

Big 10
Michigan over Michigan State

Ignas Brazdeikis put up 20 on Michigan State in a loss this past Saturday. He'll ball out again, says Joe, with a much more positive result.

Since Sparty took the Big 10 regular season title, I think its number one rival gets a measure of revenge in the conference tournament. This time of year is when Michigan gets hot, and they have the pieces for it to happen again starting in the Big 10 tournament.

Big 12: Kansas over Iowa State

Kansas has lost a lot of key players for various reasons, but it still has Bill Self (Photo creds to Washington Post). 

We all know this team isn't Bill Self's best. Nonetheless, they've still proven that they can beat the Big 12's top teams, with wins Kansas State and Texas Tech. I think not winning the Big 12 for the first time since Moses parted the Red Sea pisses Self off. His Jayhawks are still capable of beating the  best, and that's what they'll do in this tournament.

Big East: Seton Hall over 'Nova
Marquette's Markus Howard gets most of the attention as the best player in the Big East, and he deserves it. But Seaton Hall has a stud in Myles Powell, who's averaging 22 PPG. The Big East has been unpredictable, and I don't think many are picking the Pirates to win in MSG. Because of Powell and The Garden being close enough to New Jersey, you know what, why not?

PAC 12: Washington over doesn't matter
This conference stinks. Washington is the only team that has any chance of being worth anything in March, so I'm riding with the Huskies.

SEC: Kentucky over Auburn
Fifth-seeded Auburn will take advantage of a distracted LSU team that might be without Javonte Smart to make a somewhat surprising appearance in the championship game. Kentucky, on the other hand, is still the best. I think the Wildcats have a better roster then Tennessee, so I'm comfortable picking them over the Vols in what most will see as the de facto championship game. After a rough start to the season, coach Cal turned the corner, and Big Blue will show the rest of the much improved SEC conference that the king isn't dead.

College Basketball: Five small school players to pay attention to in March

The greatest three-point shooter ever was a small school just. Just saying (Photo creds to USA Today)

By Joe Smeltzer

College basketball is kind of a big deal this time of year, and most of the nation, myself included, focuses its attention on the Duke's and North Carolina's of the world.

Because the average fan only notices the "big boys," some good teams and, subsequently, good players are left, by-in-large, ignored.

Some of America's best talent comes from mid-major schools, and here are a few of those that I would highly advise myself and everybody else to pay attention to before its too late.

1. JA Morant, Murray State/Chris Clemons, Campbell
I grouped these two because both of them are well known in the world of college basketball. Morant could be a top-five pick in June's NBA draft, whole Clemons scored his 3,000th point a few weeks ago. Nonetheless, Murray State and Campbell aren't teams that fans go out of their way to watch.


 Campbell has to win the Big Sky tournament to make it to the big dance, so we might not have much time to watch Clemons. Murray State is 25-4, so Morant looks to be set.

Next game (s)
Campbell: Tonight at 6:00 vs. Hampton
Murray State: Friday, March 8 at 9 p.m. vs. TBD. 

2. Mike Daum, South Dakota State

Photo creds to Sporting News

Like Clemons, Daum joined the 3K club earlier this season, and in addition, he is one of the nation's top rebounders. If you've watched Daum and the Jackrabbits play this year, you're probably lying. Daum probably won't make it in the NBA, so take advantage of your last few chances to see him if you have the opportunity.

Next game: Western Illinois, Friday, 6 p.m. 

3. Justin Wright-Foreman , Hofstra

The pride of the pride (Photo creds to Hofstra University Athletics)

If Hofstra doesn't win the CAA, it's tournament hopes are in the air. Which would be a shame, since Wright-Foreman (26.8 PPG) is one of the nation's top scorers. The senior guard isn't a 3,000 point man and isn't a projected lottery pick, but that doesn't mean he isn't a baller. The scary thing about small school studs in March is that any conference tournament game could be their last, so don't miss your chance to catch a glimpse of Wright-Foreman before he plays his final game at Hofstra.


Next game: Sunday, March 10. Noon vs. TBD

Next game: Sunday, March 10. Noon vs. TBD
4. Matisse Thybulle

Photo creds to GoHuskies.Com

Ok, so I lied. But hey, Washington may as well be a small school because of how little the world pays attention to it.

Something that makes Thybulle unique from everybody else on this list is that he's known for his defense. Thybulle averages less than 10 PPG, but more than makes up for it by leading the country in steals per game. The Huskies rank in the top 20 in defensive efficiency, and for them to make a run in the tournament, they'll have to excel in the less celebrated side of the ball; and Thybulle will need to be at the center of it.


Next game: Saturday, March 9 at 10 p.m. vs Oregon

4. Tacko Fall

Photo creds to USA Today.Com

Look at this monster. UCF's win over Houston essentially assured its place in the Big Dance, and if you haven't watched Fall yet, just his size is enough to be worth it.

Next game: Tonight at 7:00 vs. Cincinnati