NCAA Championship Game

Hippos!
Originally uploaded by pete4ducks.

The Duke-Baylor game was really like much of the tournament was - exciting finish in a game either team could have won but at the same time ugly. I guess I still prefer the emotion that is in the college game over the much better individual play of the NBA. I do worry though that this will be the last great NCAA tournament. It seems a certainty that next year 96 teams will be in and the tourney will be on ESPN. In the end the 96 team thing will lessen the popularity of the tournament and it will become more an event for college sports fans only rather than the water-cooler event it is now.

Evie and the Ducks

This is Evie in at Hat Rock near Hermiston, Oregon:

Travelin'

Columbia River Gorge
Originally uploaded by pete4ducks.

We've been out of town the last three weekends which is quite the feat with a 3 year old and a 5 month old. I took this photo while we crossed from Washington in to Oregon on the Hood River Bridge. We spent a nice night in Hood River, then the next weekend we spent a night in Cannon Beach and then last weekend we visited family in Hermiston. Always nice to get out of the house but looking to an enjoy a weekend at home this week.

Man Those Picks Stunk

Looking at my picks below those are terrible. Only Kentucky left in my Final Four. Lots of change this month at the UO - two huge hires are out there and for the first time since 1989 Mike Belloti won't be part at Oregon. End of an era, I think Mike will be great on TV and I figure he'll probably stay in the Eugene area.

Quick Tourney Takes

Commonwealth Lake Park
Originally uploaded by pete4ducks.

We were at the coast Saturday night and Sunday and I kept my phone off so just catching up with the brackets via the DVR. A few first impressions. Overall I have no problem with anyone being left out of the field, the bubble sucked Va Tech only has themselves to blame with such a crud OOC SOS , same for Miss State. Illinois probably should have gotten in over Utah State, too bad they lost that Ohio State game but I shed no tears with their 75 RPI. I don't get too hyped up about seedings since many teams are moved up and down due to conference match-ups not till the Elite 8 ideally and the pod system. Probably worst seedings were Cal, Notre Dame and Texas. Does anyone right now consider Texas one of the 34 best teams right now? Probably not but with the great early start hard to keep them out.

Hardest road to the Final Four for a 1: Easy answer is Kansas, would have to beat the Gtown/Ohio State winner in the Elite most likely and a possible Mich St in the Sweet 16. On the bottom of the bracket are OSU and the Vols two teams that KU lost too.

Easiest route to the Final Four: Kentucky, shouldn't be challenged till the likely match-up versus West Virginia in the 8 though West Virginia is a really tough out if they match-up.

Most likely 12-5 upset: UTEP over Butler, Butler like Gonzaga before them has gotten to the point where they have started to get overseeded. Not their fault but they don't get to play a high level schedule the last 20 games of the year due to their conference. Butler is much more dangerous in the 7 10 or 11 spot. Hate to see a mid-major/mid major first round game. Been a trend the last 3 years or so.

Best chance for a non 1/2 seed to make the Final Four: Pitt, they've beaten some really good teams and are in a region they can win. If not Pitt then Georgetown and Baylor would be the best chances.

Sweet 16 game I want to see: Nova vs Baylor - I think the winner of this one can take down Duke, good matchup for Baylor who has the size to give Nova fits.

Final Four: Kansas, Pitt, Kentucky, Nova

Champ game: Kansas over Kentucky