Page 110 - mcdanielfreepress2005-06

MARCH 9, 2006- Page 10 FEATIJRES NCAA Hoops: "Tourney Time" Marches In RYANCHELL Conference and the Big East playing field is cut in half. Maryland native and beating Memphis last week. STAFFWRITER have had drastic changes on Soon there will be 32 teams, Archbishop Spalding grad George Washington, despite a their tournament over the the "Sweet 16", the "Elite 8", Rudy Gay, along with guard bad Atlantic 10 conference, "March Madness" is years due to the realignment the "Final Four", and then the Marcus Williams, helped the could "surprise" some people here and for the next few of teams into different confer- Championship game. Then Huskies go 8-1 against ranked even with a 25-] record. weeks, it will become a part of ences. Ultimately, this is the our champion is crowned and opponents. That one loss There are a lot of life for many sports fans. With time for "bubble teams", or we will have to wait for next came against Villanova, who teams out there and many the Super Bowl and the teams not yet guaranteed a year's tournament to see it all they beat in the final matchup. middle-seeded teams were Olympics in the past, the spot in the NCAA again. And Memphis, despite their dominant performers. One NCAA Tournament is the next Tournament, to show they One of the interesting loss to VAB last Thursday last tip to help choose winners "Big Thing" on a sport fan's deserve a chance to win that topics is who the dangerous (blemishing their 12-0 C-USA in brackets is to look at the list. Many people will be fill- National Championship by teams are going to be in the record), comes into March coaches. Coaches like Mike ing out brackets and compet- beating the best in their own tournament. Usually, the #1 with a 26-3 record overall. Krzyzewski(Duke), Roy ing in office pools, and watch- conference. seeds are quite dangerous; last The Tigers had big wins Williams(UNC), Jim ing the numerous games in After the conference year's championship was against ranked Gonzaga and Calhoun(UCorm), Tom hope of seeing the next NCAA championships have been between #1 seeded Illinois UCLA teams. Izzo(Michigan State), Lute men's basketball champion. completed, the national selec- and #1 seeded North Carolina But, there are 60 more Olson(Arizona), and Jim The various confer- tion committee made up of (who won the game). Despite teams in this tournament; all Boeheim(Syracuse) all have ence tournaments will be college presidents and media the fact that three of these have an equal chance of win- tournament experience and shown this weekend, as teams persormel will choose which teams lost key games in the ning it aU. To get a good look know how to win here. The try to fight for good positions teams get to go to the "Big past week, I think the obvious at each of these tearrrs,look at players are important, but in the tournament bracket, or Dance."This will be decided choices for #1 seeds are Duke, their respective conferences. these coaches know the for- there may be "bubble teams", this Sunday; a day commonly Memphis, Villanova, and For example, an average team mula for winning and they such as Syracuse, Indiana, and referred to as "Selection Connecticut. from the ACC, BigEast, or Big have championships to prove our own Maryland Terps, Sunday". You can then turn Senior guard and Ten could take out a weak it. looking to just get in the tour- on to ESPN and see basketball Player of the Year candidate conference champion like Oh, you want a p.i€- nament. With these games commentators Dick Vitale and J.J. Redick and Duke (27-2 Gonzaga, Memphis, or George diction? Most predictions at still to be decided, let's just Jay Bilasfall in love with Duke overall, ]4-1 ACC) have been Washington. It isn't all about this time are wrong, but I'll focus on the circumstances of and its star player, J.J. Redick many people's favorite to go wins and losses. give it a shot. My final four is the tournament and offer a (Bilasplayed at Duke, so we'll all the way. Even though the With that, every year Connecticut, Pittsburgh, few early predictions for this let him off easy). ACC has been down this year, there are "Cinderella teams" Illinois, and Villanova. Why tournament. The selection process the Blue Devils still had a long that upset a powerhouse, win not have VCOIUl and To start out, "March can be a difficult process. wad to travel. They went a few games, and destroy peo- Villanova face off for maybe Madness" will start in a few With 32 major conferences and undefeated against ranked pie's brackets. Last year, no the fourth time this season? days with the upcoming con- their teams fighting for 64 opponents, induding key one expected Bucknell to beat This time, it is the NCAA ference tournaments. Some spots in the "Big Dance", it wins against Memphis and a Kansas. Speaking of Bucknell, Championship, not the Big smaller conferences had con- seems like a difficult process blowout of then #2 Texas. they kept their team intact East "Championship. Rudy ference games last week. to do. How do teams get Connecticut (26-2 from last year's tournament. Gay leaves the Huskies for the Based on the size of the con- selected? Who gets in and overall, ]3-2 Big East) beat They also compiled a 12-game NBA, going out on top as a terence, teams with the best who has to wait till next year? conference rival and fellow winning streak during the reg- winner. conference records will battle What are some of the circum- #l-projected Villanova (23-3 "ular season. They could be re- for the conference title. .For stances that decide a teams' overall, 13-2Big East) back on writing that story all over February 26th to help solidify UAB is another team ~ tie for""'the Big- East-crown. their cause @'TI'£!illill)lf.IJIDill) Wrn£'TI'lIDOOrn®: MACPHERSON STRUT FRONT SUSPENSION + AM/FM/CD WITH 6 SPEAIERS + SmE ROCKER PANELS + 31 MPGHWyt = YOUR NEW CAR AS SHOWN '17,3SDtt @TOYOTA I mavin t. d ~PA ESliMAlED /.fG FOR 2005 COROllA S MODELIBI2 4 SPElD AUTO. ACTUALMI~AGE MAYVARY.rtMSRP FOR 2006 SPORTMODEl 1812 EXCLUDINGTAX TAGSAND l'ENS Ii orwa~• , ,E FEES DEALERSETSfiNAL PRKE