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- Go to The Polls have spoken. Florida is a repeat NCAA Champion.
Wow, Drew
I'd love to pull an assignment like yours. The weekly paper I write for now doesn't have the budget for me to cover things like the preseason NIT in person. The much larger paper I used to work for wasn't interested in anything but local high school sports and golf. Most of my reportage on major sporting events is limited to what I can catch on free TV.
I agree with your assessment of the number of teams that have a legitimate shot at the Final Four. In truth about half of this season's tournament qualifiers should be capable of making a run at the big prize if they have it together at the right time. All things being equal, I think the Tar Heels have the team to make it. But when it comes to the tournament so many things can go wrong that it's pointless to expect the best team to win it. One flat game, one chance encounter with a team on a roll -- or a team that is having their game of the season -- and it's all over until next season. The large number of really good teams, early jumps to the pros, and the number of games it takes just to get to the Final Four are all contributing factors to the rareness of a repeat champion. It's not going to happen many more times at all, if ever, within the rest of my lifetime.
Please do keep me posted on your estimation of both the Heels and Winthrop. UNC should be formidable this season, and Winthrop could be a real spoiler.
posted by
notapoet
on November 10, 2006 at 10:28 PM
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Surprisingly, no one is Picking George Mason to return to the Final Four...
Just like in football this year, the SEC seems loaded in basketball. I think any of three teams in the SEC have a great shot, Florida, LSU and Alabama. Add UNC to the mix and you have my Final Four predictions. Unless Gonzaga, UCLA, Duke and Arizona really come together. And, of course, you can't count out the Big East with Syracuse, Pittsburgh, Louisville or, who's that other decent program, yeah the one who one two NCAA Championships in 6 years, oh yeah, UConn. How great is it, unlike the great sport of NCAA Football, there are dozens of teams that can legitimately make it to the Final Four. Likely, George Mason will not return, but what about a team like Winthrop. How about Creighton (although they have been on the radar for several years now)? There's fourteen teams that could be there and I haven't even gotten to the Big Ten or Big Twelve. And, I would be remiss to not say, Boston College is going to be a serious contender when March rolls around.
I'll be covering the Preseason Tip-Off in Charlotte on Tuesday and Wednesday. It's my first NCAA Basketball assignment. Excited would be a proper word to describe how I am feeling about this college basketball season. I'll let you know what I see from the Tar Heels. Winthrop too.
posted by
The_TAO_of_Drew
on November 10, 2006 at 10:44 AM
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