I’m a bit late to the party on this band, but I implore you to check out Umphrey’s McGee. If you like Dispatch, moe., Phish, John Butler Trio, etc., then you’ll certainly dig this band.
–UPSET–No. 11 Texas 72, No. 3 Kansas 69. One of those games that wasn’t all that surprising—you could really sense that Texas was due for a win like this. I believe that the loss doesn’t hurt Kansas in terms of seeding, but only helps UT to ensure themselves an, at worst, 5 seed come March. To me, Texas is on a collision course with a 3 seed, though. I think Damion James’ two made free throws (he’s barely above 50 percent for the season) is what lifted the Longhorns to the win. If you missed it, you missed some high octane, balanced basketball that you’d never see in a place like the Big Ten.
–No. 8 Georgetown 55, Villanova 53. Sean McDonough was dead on when he declared the called the ending to this game a travesty (that’s a paraphrase). I think we all wanted an encore for this one. And no, the photo to the right isn’t the final play of the game, but it served as an omen. I’m also sure there’ll be plenty of ESPN pub today with this call (February is the slowest media month behind July). But forget the call, let’s look deeper. The game was exactly the type in which Villanova wanted to play, yet G’Town gets the win on the road at home. Few teams can morph into their opponent’s game like the Hoyas can. The Wildcats should’ve put together some sort of run (which they haven’t been able to do in the past three weeks) and put the game away. But not, there’s a bad foul call before overtime, then Jonathan Wallace drains to freebies and Georgetown escapes yet another game this year. Villanova may not be able to climb back from how far they’ve fallen.
–No. 25 Saint Mary’s 54, Santa Clara 50. I thought that the Gaels would take care of business here, but like any good band would do (sticking with this theme, I guess) they acquiesced to play a style out of their own genre. All it took was a 12-foot fadeaway from Santa Clara to tie this one, but ’twas not to be. Question: How will Saint Mary’s be rewarded if Drake (whose only loss came to SMC) enters The Tournament with only, say, two losses? Anything less than a 8 seed would probably be a crime.
Notable:
Nevada 85, Utah State 80. After this loss, the Aggies are not likely to be written on the selection committee’s set list for March.
See, I don’t get it. I love Dispatch, I’m getting into moe., and I just don’t see how I could like a band that’s called Umphrey’s McGee. But maybe I’m being a brat. I’ll check them out on LimeWire. Thanks for the tip!
Good call on all the bands listed above. Shaz, don’t let the name throw you off: UM is definitely worth checking out – especially their live stuff.
And wasn’t G’Town the home team last night?
They were. I’m an idiot – apologies here, I wrote this in a fury. The loss is still just as brutal for ‘Nova, anyway.
Note: I LOATHE alternate gray uniforms for home games.
Agreed on the alt home unis. You’re the home team, for christ’s sake. Act like it!
Hate the gray unis also.
Anyone else like Texas as a Final Four non-sleeper sleeper? You gotta think that if a 3 or 4 is going to make it, which almost always happen, they look as good as any to do it.
15Foot, I could definitely see Texas making a deep run, especially with their guard play. It’s just hard to trust Barnes in the tourney. He’s left me jilted too many times. If they get the right draw, however, even he couldn’t screw it up.
Spalding – you a UT fan, or have you just been burned by them in the tourney?
I agree on Barnes, by the way. He should never get a bigger job that UT. He’s just not that great of a coaching mind.
Just been burned by them in the tourney.
They’re the ultimate tourney tease – always a ton of talent (because Barnes is a fantastic recruiter) that ultimately plays below potential and falls short (because Barnes is a mediocre coach).