The Beast from the East

3 thoughts on “The Beast from the East”

1. Dear Drew,

   Every year it seems I keep hearing how some conference is so dominant that it might get anywhere from 7-9 total bids (including the automatic) then more years than not the overwhelming number of those years in the first two rounds they drop like flies. One year it was the ACC, another year I heard it was the SEC. With rare exceptions it has always been east coast conferences that get this sort of press (Media Bias?).

   I think it was Will Rogers who once said,”There are lies, damn lies, and statistics.” I’m not going to say that the man you quoted was incorrect. However those games he talked about happened at the beginning of the season. Now many teams have fine tuned their squads and the Big East may not find them to be pushovers this time.

   Congrats to University of Northern Colorado. Maybe what you did will rub off on the C.U. Buffalo’s who almost pulled off another choke against Iowa State. Wouldn’t it be a kick in the pants (in a good way) if the Bears were joined by the Buffalo’s and the Rams in the NCAA? Yes I know the other teams I mentioned are on the bubble but hey a guy can dream right?

   All the best

   Louis

2. Good Morning from Omaha,

   I was hearing on espn that the big east might get 11 teams in the dance…not following basketball so I am speaking from a lack of knowledge…that seems like a lot of teams from one conference. I mean as in years past there are a lot of conferences that get automatic bids, including the conference that features UNC. By the time those bids are extended the slots that get them to now 68 teams are precious.

   To give one conference 10-11 slots is silly, unless there is that famous “east cost bias” that we keep hearing about in football. How many people actually stay up and watch a game between ASU and UCLA. The committee does there best and then the old guy on CBS will get all in a lather about how either the committee did a great job or the committee fouled up beyond belief…he does it every year on sunday night after the picks are made just like a red light is followed by a green one.

   and now there are two other tournaments the NIT and the CBA and there might even be one more..Back in the 50’s everyone wanted to get to the NIT…and then money and the NCAA was formed and the NIT faded away in its glory. But the key ingredient was MONEY! but isn’t that the story with everything anymore.

   Strive for excellence, nothing but your best.

   Gene

3. You’ve got this one right, Drew! We not only don’t exist in the NCAA but in all other sports and in the News world, too. But, there are advantages to having the Easterners thinking all we do is roam the prairies and rule the ski slopes.