Thursday, March 17, 2011

Drive and Dish 2011 Bracket

Drive and Dish came into existence one week before the start of the 2007 NCAA Tournament. In 2008, we began publishing our handwritten NCAA brackets (more here, and here) on the eve of the Tournament's opening day. Thanks to the explosion in popularity that March Madness has enjoyed over the last 20-25 years, the opening day of the NCAA Tournament has become one of the traditionally least productive work days in America. And since the Tournament opens on St. Patrick's Day this year, the tradition of blowing off work and/or school is only likely to continue.

On this fine day, Americans from all walks of life -- ranging from those at the top of the totem pole to those at the bottom -- will turn their attention to college basketball and green beer at the expense of workplace productivity. We at Drive and Dish, of course, applaud this. Our attention is turned to basketball (college basketball in particular) all year . It's nice to see the rest of the country catch up with us for two or three weeks every March. Unfortunately, over the last two years, time constraints have prevented our writers/editors from holding up the Drive and Dish tradition of dishing out season-long college basketball commentary. But on the opening day of the 2011 NCAA Tournament, this blog is doing what it can to make up for lost time. Hence, in the spirit of upholding tradition, Drive and Dish hereby reveals our handwritten, St. Patrick's Day green, official 2011 Drive and Dish NCAA Tournament bracket (note: Drive and Dish co-founder and former Atlantic Coast Conference bureau chief Mark Buckets has also kept his post-2008 tradition of declining to submit his bracket):


Notes:


1.) As we've said over and over, we love Ohio State. The Buckeyes are strong at every position, have good senior leadership, and present potential matchup problems for their potential opponents. But despite the season-long superb play of super freshman Jared Sullinger and Aaron Craft, it's never a good thing to have freshmen starting at the key positions of point guard and center (as Craft and Sullinger do for OSU). Sullinger and Craft certainly play with more composure and savvy than typical freshmen. But at some point in the Tournament -- particularly as Ohio State advances into the Tournament's later rounds -- their youth and inexperience is likely to catch up with them at crucial moments (even if it's only for a play or two).

2.) Duke lost Jon Scheyer, Brian Zoubek and Lance Thomas from its 2010 National Championship team to graduation (Scheyer was arguably the Blue Devils' most important player). But those losses are more or less offset by the presence of pre season All American seniors Kyle Singler and Nolan Smith. Scheyer was the steady senior leader who always made the right decision at the right time, and thus put his teammates in optimal position to succeed on every possession. He has been missed all season. That said, the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee rewarded Duke with a fairly easy bracket. Head coach Mike Krzyzewski has guided Duke to four National Championships; there's no question that he knows how to win in the Tournament. And while it's fairly apparent that Duke's 2010 team was better than the 2011 team, we think the Blue Devils have all the pieces necessary to survive and advance all the way through the relatively weak 2011 NCAA Tournament field.

3.) West Virginia lost most of the key players who led them through their 2010 Final Four run. But fortunately, Bob Huggins and his Mountaineers still have senior point guard Joe Mazzulla -- the guy who's run the show for the last four years. Mazzulla is hardly a future NBA lottery pick- in-waiting. But he's an experienced, heady, athletic point guard. And paired with with his long and athletic teammates, Mazzulla and West Virginia is better than most people think. They'll be a tough out in the Tournament.

4.) Rick Barnes' Texas teams fall apart at the end of every season (excepting the Longhorns' 2003 Final Four team). This year, the Longhorns have even more talent usual, and that's saying something, since the Longhorn teams of recent years have been loaded with talent. Freshman big man Tristan Thompson is a potential NBA lottery draft pick. The Longhorns have a talented and experienced back court. We usually pick Texas' first or second round opponents in our brackets. This year, we have Texas advancing past Oakland in the first round, despite the fact that we think Oakland is more than capable of catching the Horns off guard and giving them a run for their money. Oakland is a very good team. We wouldn't be shocked if they upset Texas. We picked Texas because we think the Horns' superior size, athleticism and depth will win out in the end. But, as usual, we're skeptical of Texas.

5.) We wouldn't be surprised if Richmond upsets Vanderbilt. As we've said before, we love head coach Kevin Stallings' Vanderbilt teams. And after much back and forth, we reluctantly picked them to advance in our bracket. But we expect Richmond to give them big trouble. And we won't be the least bit surprised if Richmond knocks Stallings' Commodores out in round one. After all, a twelve seed beats a five seed every year. We may come to regret not picking coach Chris Mooney's Richmond Spiders; they could very well end up being one of those notoriously dangerous 12 seeds.

6.) We don't necessarily think that highly of Georgetown, but we think they'll survive Virginia Commonwealth and upset Purdue in the second round. If that happens, Georgetown will likely face Notre Dame in the Sweet Sixteen. Notre Dame has probably been our favorite team in college basketball over the last two years (since the Drive and Dish retirement of Duke superfan Mark Buckets, the Duke-partisan sensibilities of this blog have decreased exponentially, the past two years' brackets notwithstanding). But we think the Irish are more vulnerable than most people realize. That's why we picked Florida State to upset the Irish in the Tournament's second round . Our pick is a long shot, though. Notre Dame should win that game (and probably will if the two teams do, in fact, meet). And if Big East rivals Georgetown and Notre Dame face off in the NCAA Tournament, Notre Dame will probably win. But due to how the two teams match up, a Notre Dame vs. Georgetown could be a lot closer than most people will be inclined to think.

7.) Notre Dame's Ben Hansbrough and Pittsburgh's Brad Wanamaker have probably been our favorite players to watch in 2011 (Ohio State's equally tough Aaron Craft deserves mention too, despite being a mere freshman). Hansbrough and Wanamaker are highly skilled, tough-as-nails, high basketball IQ seniors who seem to play with ice water in their veins. They're both great college basketball players. College basketball doesn't have enough stars who stick around for their senior years. But both of these guys did. And both are exactly the kind of star who's capable of carrying his team deep into the Tournament. We're big fans of both Notre Dame and Pittsburgh. Although we didn't pick either team to advance to the Final Four, we actually hope both manage to do so.

8.) We debated for days, but we ended up selecting Butler over Old Dominion in the first round game between those two outstanding mid major teams. Both clubs are talented and superbly coached. What's more, Drive and Dish editors have seen both play in person several times over the last two or three years. It's too bad that they have to play each other in the first round, because we think both teams are more than capable of holding their own in a potential second bout with Pittsburgh.

To be sure, Butler isn't the same team as the 2010 Butler team that made the most improbable run to the National Title game in recent NCAA Tournament history. Last year's early entry of superstar point forward Gordon Hayward in the NBA draft left the Bulldogs without the player who was most responsible for getting them to the Final Four. We waited until the last minute to fill our bracket out because we couldn't decide whether to pick Old Dominion or Butler. We came ever so close to picking Old Dominion. In the end, we decided that Butler's size and NCAA Tournament savvy will probably be enough to get them past what we think promises to be a major scare from Blaine Taylor's tough Old Dominion Monarchs.

9.) We think Kansas is over-hyped this year (again). We think they're more vulnerable than most of the experts realize. But the Tournament Selection Committee rewarded KU with a favorable bracket. In theory, Notre Dame would appear to be a tough possible opponent for Bill Self's Jayhawks. But if Notre Dame survives long enough to face Kansas (which we're, regrettably, not predicting), we think Mike Brey's Fighting Irish will have trouble matching up at key positions (particularly under the basket).

10.) While still on the subject of match ups, we turn our attention to the first round game between UCLA and Michigan State. Our bracket shows Michigan State (a ten seed) making an out-of-nowhere run to the Final Four. We don't really think that's likely to happen. But we couldn't help but notice that the Spartans' bracket shapes up nicely for them if they can get past a very tough UCLA ballclub in the first round.

We went against our better judgment and kept filling Tom Izzo's Spartans in the winners' spaces because Michigan State has Final Four level talent and experience, and because they appear to match up well with most potential opponents in their bracket. There is, however, one big problem with that scenario: one team they don't appear to match up particularly well with is UCLA -- their first round opponent. Ben Howland's Bruins are a rarity for a Pac-10 team: not only are they long, athletic and highly-skilled, they're actually rugged and physical. So although Michigan State's big, tough front line should be able to give most teams in the Spartans' bracket trouble, UCLA's front line is, at the very least, equally big and tough.

UCLA vs. Michigan State could be one of the most interesting first round games to watch. Despite many experts' pre-season projections that had Michigan State playing for a Championship in 2011, the Spartans have played inexplicably poorly all season long. If they can finally pull themselves together in time for tonight's NCAA Tournament opening game (admittedly, a very big "if"), MSU has the talent, size and experience to play with anybody.

22 comments:

Butler Bob said...

Boooooo Diggggggettty Deeeee Deeee

I be busting out theem new dancin moves I be seein on them America Got Talent. Teeeee Heeeeeeee. Chugga Chugga Chugga Chugga Choo Choo!! That train be a rollin! Butler be a stormin in them tournamint. Chugga Chugga Chugga Choo Choo!! That train gonna be passin all of them pay credit card universities. Them Butler kids be spendin them time in them library and be drinkin them carrot juice. Them Butler kids be seein them rim better than them ole communion or them bottemless Pitts or them smooki dookis. Soon we be cuttin down them nets! We be drivin them ole van with my wife and Bertha Jenny to them Houstin. Maybe Boomer and Steemer be comin as well. Butler! We be cutting down them nets. We be like them folk in them necessary roughness movie at them end celebratin and smoochin!! uh huh. uh huh. Then I be findin Shelley Smith and we be beein smoochin!! Teeeee Heeee

Mr. Rockso you be beein at them State Fair again in them summer? I be beein winnin them camra tripod last year. If you're passin through Monon come and have some of Bertha Jenny's famous Pea con pie. That always be bringin them local folk over even though they be sayin Bobby teach me about them Jacks playin tekneeq.

Butler. Basketball. We be cutting down them
nets!!! Teeeeeeeee Heeeeeeee!!! * jumpin off them stairs We Be CuTTin DoWn tHeM NetS!!!!!

Butler Bob said...

Boooooo Diggetty Deeeee Deeee

Chugga Chugga Chugga Chugga Choo Choo!!
That train be a comin full speed. uh huh. Uh huh
Krank up them diesil. Aohhhhh Aohhhhhhhh. Butler be stormin through them tournamint. uh huh. Uh huh. Them ole communins, bottomless pitts, and smukie dukies all be payin them players watching them stock portfolios while them Butler kids be studyin them books and seein them rim. * Dancin on them couch Teeeeee Heeeeeee!! We be CuTTin down them nets!! * doin summersalts wE bE cUtTiN dOwN tHeM nEtS!!!!!

drunk idiot said...

So its early mornin' Sunday, Sunday.
I'm still drunk from Saturday
My Badgers won on Saturday.
I partied hard on Saturday
I'm still shit-faced from last nite!!!

Three days ago was Thursday, Thursday
Two days ago w-as Friday, Friday (Partyin’)
We-we-we so excited
We so excited
We gonna have a ball today

Yesterday was Saturday
And Sunday comes after…wards
I don’t want this weekend to end

Today i-is Sunday
I don't want this weekend to end.

Partyin', partyin'
Partyin', partyin'
Fun, fun, fun, fun
Havin' so much fun this weekend
I don't want this weekend to end.

lolz!!!

drunk idiot said...

hellz yah!!! got my new fake id last week son.....got it just in time for me and my boyz to hit up da sportz barz in janesville for the badgers game last nite. was spittin game at some hottiez from delavan for a minute, kid. got one of dem shawteez numbers cuz im a str8 pimp!!! got shitfaced like tucker maxx during the badgers game. was big pimpin, doin shots of henny & patron. bought da whole bar patron shotz when da badgers won. wuz throwin benjamins around like diddy flossin' in da vip room with j-lo back in the day.

after da game, it was time to get out of janesville and get our party on in the city. So me and my crew bounced to the tilted kilt at the clock tower inn down in rockford illinois. me and my boyzz wuz runnin craaazy game on dem fly city girlz in rockford. wooo!!!

i got so drunk i was doin jello shots and sangin along with the bruno mars song the dj was spinnin on da 1's and 2's!!! i was big pimpin and runnin' game like mystery until da room started spinnin and i had to go outside to hurl.

last nite wuz craazy like a mutha. a good time was had by all. i got my buzz on and i got a couple shawteez's numbers. gotta jump on facebook and send dem hottiez friend requests before i fall asleep, playboy!!!

gonna be soo sick today. haha!!

lolz.

Butler Bob said...

Boooooooo Diggggettty Deeeeeee Deeeeeeeee

Chugga Chugga Chugga Chugga CHOO CHOO!! Chugga Chugga Chugga Chugga CHOO CHOO!!!! Them train be beein stormin through them tournamint and Butler be cuttin down them nets!
i aint be beein dancin them moves under them discoball like them this year and them last year since my wife and be beein in them bell bottoms boogyin to them T-Connection back in them 70s. Teeeeee Heeeeeeeeee We be cuttin down them nets! Most of them people be seein that studyin them books and playin for them academics be beein better than them credit card pay schools like them ole communin, them bottomless pitts, them northern whisky drinkers, and them smukie dukies. Butler. We be cuttin down them nets! *gettin them boogy goin We be Cuttin Down Them nETS!! * twirlin my wife round them livin room WE BE CUTTIN DOWN THEM NETS!! * Doin summersalts on them floor wE Be cUTtiN DowN TheM NetS!!! We gonna be loadin them van down to houstin and boomer and steemer gonna be joinin us for them trip. they been wantin to be seein them spaceship asteroid. Teeee Heeeeeeeee!!! They gonna be playin them One Shinin Moment and we be stormin them court. i be a grabbin them Shelley Smith and we be a smoochin!!!! Then them player be grabbin Bertha Jenny and we aint be fightin over them chair when i be beein lookin for Shelley Smith on them espns and she be wantin them soaps. I wood be beein missin them Peacon Pie. Maybe Tokie Wartooth be beein invitin me over for peacon pie in them future. Butler. We be cuttin down them nets!!

wrigleyville illini said...

Last night was it for me. I'm through with this program until coach clown shoes gets booted out on his arse. Weber's gotta go. Now! We're a freakin' joke. Bail $elfish made clown shoes look like the little beotch that he is.

At the end of the day, Weber had Final 4 talent this year, and he totally screwed the pooch. DMac was a lottery pick earlier in the year, but clown shoes ruined him. He wont even get drafted now. Mike Tisdale had the height and the skillset to be special, but he was soft and he never got strong enough to hold his own on the block. That's on Weber. Same story with Mike Davis. Mike D was on his way to a long, successful NBA career after his soph year. But he never got strong enough to be effective under the basket. Now he'd be lucky if he got on a pro team in Iceland. That's on Weber. DJ Richardson was the best player to come out of Peoria in 5 years, but he went backwards this year. Jereme Richmond was a McDonalds All American, but clown shoes started a slow, white Bill Cole instead of him all year. At any other program, Richmond starts from day 1 and dominates all year long. But not here. Not with Bruce markerface Weber as coach.

Richmond made a mistake when he came back and joined the team in January. He shoulda stuck to his guns and transferred right there and then. Weber held him back and he was never allowed to become the vocal leader he should of been. If we had a real coach, JRich would of started from day 1, and he would've won the freshman of the year award after he lead us to a Championship, just like Carmello Anthony did at Syracuse.

No wonder JRich keeps getting in fights with his teammates in the locker room and at practice. The kid's a winner, and he's got a stupid, mid major coach and a bunch of looser teammates. I don't blame the kid for that at all. Actually, I like his fire. He's a competitor and he wants to win. His teammates are pu**ys and his coach is an idiot who wears clown shoes and smears ink from the magic marker on his face during games. I wish JRich wouldnt of just fought his teammates in the locker room at the B1G Tournament, I wish he woulda landed a few haymakers in on Weber too.

Fire Weber. Promote Jerrance Howard to Head Coach before he leaves for the Bradley coaching job. Or fork out $5 mil a year and hire Brad Stevens from Butler. If you cant get Stevens, hire Anthony Grant from Alabama. I like Grant. He's black, so he could recruit Chicago and relate to the players.

Hail to the Chief!!!!!!!!

Butler Bob said...

Booooooo Digggettty Deeee Deeeeee

That sound be gettin louder and lounder. uh huh. uh huh. That sound be passin them pay credit card schools that be thinkin about them stock market. Uh huh. uh huh. Chugga Chugga Chugga Chugga CHOO CHOO!! That sound be beein them Butler train steamrollin through them tournamint. Butler. We be cuttin down them nets!

I been goin in them attick and wearing them ole tux that I aint been wearin since them 70s. That ole tux been dusted off them last year and be madin them alterashins because Bertha Jenny be makin them pea con pie. She be beein with us since them ole boyfriend been kickin her out. That be fine when I be beein by them Jacks tournamint by them Flyin j or them Serbian club but i be thinkin that she be eatin my food. i be lookin for them soup i be bringin back from them cracker barrel and Bertha jenny be havin them slob from them stew on them shirt when she be watchin them soap. i bee ragin mad like them bobby night when them refs make them bad call. i be wantin be beein watchin them espns channels and looking for them shelley smith. i be lookin on them internet for them shelley smith videos but shes hard to catch them carp in them lake. Steemer be working on them new deck and we be thinkin about havin them ice cream social there. There Bertha Jenny can be learnin some new man and i can have them couch back for them espns. I be beein tryin them men to bring back to them house where Bertha jenny be cookin them fine meal. Steemer, Boomer and them good ole boys be havin them wives. My wife she been at them beaute parlor all them time.

I get excited when i be thinkin about them real college kids playin them ball and spendin them time at them library. uh huh. uh huh. Butler. Them kids be drinkin them carrot juice while them northerners be drinkin them whiskey and aint be seein them rim. *gettin excited We be Cuttin Down Them Nets * tryin them splits We be CUTtin DOWn thEM Nets!!! TEEEE HEEEE!!! We be cuttin down them nets and soon i be smoochin with them Shelley Smith!!! Steemer said he be ballroom dancin with them Linda Cohn and them real ncaa students be winnin them tropy. Butler. WE BE CUTTIN DOWN THEM NETS!!!!!!!

Clemson Clyde said...

Maan, them Tar Heels and them boys from Duke keep gettin' all the whistles. Just like in the ACC season. Clemson cain't get no luv from the stripes, know what I'm sayin. Thats ok tho. Ima be aiight. Clemson goin be aiight too. That new coach Brownell been doin a real nice job keepin'my boy Oliver Purnell's team keepin' on keepin' on. Everything goin' be ok.

That's all I got to say bout that.

Now I gotta holla at my boy Butler Bob. Ole boy craazay as a muthafunka, but all these comments ol boy been writin done been makin' me bust a gut for a minute. Butler Bob always talkin' bout "them Butler boys drankin all that carrot juice and hittin all them books in tha library." LOL! Butler Bob finna drive his old ass down to the final four to watch them Butler boys cut down them nets. Ol boy gonna be out there in H-Town lookin all over the damn place for Shelly Smith's thick ass. LOL. Butler Bob been noticin' Shelly Smith. Aaaayy, I ain't mad atcha, know what I'm sayin. I'd be tryin to holla at ole girl if I was out there too.

I gotta show some love for Butler Bob's music too. Been feelin that T-Connection since back in the day. Maan, back in tha summer of '79, before fall practice started up for my senior season in high school, I used to put the T-Connection 8 track in the customized 8 track player in my '71 Pinto, light up a fat spliff and cruise around downtown Aiken all night. Maan, those days were the bomb. Been a long time tho. And I ain't gettin any younger. That's why I got my grandson DeMarrio to put that link in here for me. Man, I ain't know how to do all this damn computer nerd bullshiit. But I love my dusties, know what I'm sayin. Aint' noboby makin' real music no more, maan. I mean, I'm down with all the new hip hop. I been feelin Lil Wayne and Young Jeezy and dem. But ain't nobody makin no music like we had back in the day.

Peace.

Butler said...

Booooooooo Digggggetttty Deeee Deeeeeeeeee

I be beein forkin them rust from them ole van that be sittin out front. Soon we be hittin them road. I aint be talkin about them Jacks tournamints. We be drivin down to them Houstin and be watchin them real college athleets playin them ball. uh huh. uh huh. Butler. We be cuttin down them nets! Every day I be wakin them wife and be sayin hun one less day until we be cuttin down them nets!!
She be sayin that them Texas folk be burnin them waffles at them breakfist places.

Clemson Clyde if you Be passin through them Indiana crossroads where them sycamores be roastin them smores, we be beein glad be havin you for them pea con pie. Bertha Jenny be spendin them time in them kitchen like I be spendin for them Jacks playin at them vfw. I aint be beein sellfish by invitin them folk just to get them Bertha Jenny a man. That be beein true but I be enjoyin them company from them kind folk. We be sittin at them table and talkin about them topics like them new Red Robin burgers and Steemer be showin pictures of them new deck he be bildin out back.
I been in them South Carolina for them Jacks tournamint
. It be beein amazin where Jacks be bringin me. Unfortunitaly them espn folk aint be bringin them jacks on them espn. Then I culd be meetin them Shelley Smith. Teeeeeee Heeeee

Them kids at them Butler be practicin them Basketball and be readin them books while them ole communins, bottomless pitts, northern whisky drinkin folk be playin for them credit card and aint be seein them rim. This
year we havin them real students cuttin down them nets. That be beein Butler and not them smooki dookies. uh huh. uh huh. Butler. We be cuttin down them nets!! I be polishin them shoes and and showin my moves on them court when we be cuttin them nets to them Shelley Smith! They be playin them One Shinin Moment and we be a smoochin!! Teeeeee Heeeeeeee *doin them Electric Slide WE BE cuttIN DOwn thEM NEts!!! * hurdlin over them couch wE Be cUtTiN dOwN tHeM nEtS!! * doin them worm * wE Be cUTtiN DowN TheM NetS!! * screamin out them window WE BE CUTTIN DOWN THEM NETS!!!!

Butler Bob said...

Booooooooo Digggggetttty Deeee Deeeeeeeeee

I be beein forkin them rust from them ole van that be sittin out front. Soon we be hittin them road. I aint be talkin about them Jacks tournamints. We be drivin down to them Houstin and be watchin them real college athleets playin them ball. uh huh. uh huh. Butler. We be cuttin down them nets! Every day I be wakin them wife and be sayin hun one less day until we be cuttin down them nets!!
She be sayin that them Texas folk be burnin them waffles at them breakfist places.

Clemson Clyde if you Be passin through them Indiana crossroads where them sycamores be roastin them smores, we be beein glad be havin you for them pea con pie. Bertha Jenny be spendin them time in them kitchen like I be spendin for them Jacks playin at them vfw. I aint be beein sellfish by invitin them folk just to get them Bertha Jenny a man. That be beein true but I be enjoyin them company from them kind folk. We be sittin at them table and talkin about them topics like them new Red Robin burgers and Steemer be showin pictures of them new deck he be bildin out back.
I been in them South Carolina for them Jacks tournamint
. It be beein amazin where Jacks be bringin me. Unfortunitaly them espn folk aint be bringin them jacks on them espn. Then I culd be meetin them Shelley Smith. Teeeeeee Heeeee

Them kids at them Butler be practicin them Basketball and be readin them books while them ole communins, bottomless pitts, northern whisky drinkin folk be playin for them credit card and aint be seein them rim. This
year we havin them real students cuttin down them nets. That be beein Butler and not them smooki dookies. uh huh. uh huh. Butler. We be cuttin down them nets!! I be polishin them shoes and and showin my moves on them court when we be cuttin them nets to them Shelley Smith! They be playin them One Shinin Moment and we be a smoochin!! Teeeeee Heeeeeeee *doin them Electric Slide WE BE cuttIN DOwn thEM NEts!!! * hurdlin over them couch wE Be cUtTiN dOwN tHeM nEtS!! * doin them worm * wE Be cUTtiN DowN TheM NetS!! * screamin out them window WE BE CUTTIN DOWN THEM NETS!!!!

Butler Bob said...

Booooooooo Digggggetttty Deeee Deeeeeeeeee

I be beein forkin them rust from them ole van that be sittin out front. Soon we be hittin them road. I aint be talkin about them Jacks tournamints. We be drivin down to them Houstin and be watchin them real college athleets playin them ball. uh huh. uh huh. Butler. We be cuttin down them nets! Every day I be wakin them wife and be sayin hun one less day until we be cuttin down them nets!!
She be sayin that them Texas folk be burnin them waffles at them breakfist places.

Clemson Clyde if you Be passin through them Indiana crossroads where them sycamores be roastin them smores, we be beein glad be havin you for them pea con pie. Bertha Jenny be spendin them time in them kitchen like I be spendin for them Jacks playin at them vfw. I aint be beein sellfish by invitin them folk just to get them Bertha Jenny a man. That be beein true but I be enjoyin them company from them kind folk. We be sittin at them table and talkin about them topics like them new Red Robin burgers and Steemer be showin pictures of them new deck he be bildin out back.
I been in them South Carolina for them Jacks tournamint
. It be beein amazin where Jacks be bringin me. Unfortunitaly them espn folk aint be bringin them jacks on them espn. Then I culd be meetin them Shelley Smith. Teeeeeee Heeeee

Them kids at them Butler be practicin them Basketball and be readin them books while them ole communins, bottomless pitts, northern whisky drinkin folk be playin for them credit card and aint be seein them rim. This
year we havin them real students cuttin down them nets. That be beein Butler and not them smooki dookies. uh huh. uh huh. Butler. We be cuttin down them nets!! I be polishin them shoes and and showin my moves on them court when we be cuttin them nets to them Shelley Smith! They be playin them One Shinin Moment and we be a smoochin!! Teeeeee Heeeeeeee *doin them Electric Slide WE BE cuttIN DOwn thEM NEts!!! * hurdlin over them couch wE Be cUtTiN dOwN tHeM nEtS!! * doin them worm * wE Be cUTtiN DowN TheM NetS!! * screamin out them window WE BE CUTTIN DOWN THEM NETS!!!!

wrigleyville illini said...

how does Bill Carmody keep his job? northwestern took it up the wazzuu from Wazzu in teh NIT tonight. bill freakin comedy cant even beat washington friggen state. dude's never got teh mildcats to the ncaa tournament. and he never will (even though he kicks Webers' arse every year). bill comedy and the mildcats are a staple in teh NIT every year. lol. that team has sucked every year comedy's been there. what a friggin joke. dude's gotta have pictures on the president up there or somethin.

Don't get me wrong, its not like i wanna see the mildcats actually get any better. i mean, as long as clown shoes Bruce Weber is our coach, their already going to beat us at least once every year as it is. and how fookin' sorry is that. i mean, the worst 2 coaches in the B1G are at schools in teh state of illinois. hands down, comedy and "bubbles" weber are the worst coaches in the conference. at the end of the day, nothing changes until bubbles gets kicked out on his arse.

hand weber a 1 way ticket back to carbondale, promote jerrance 'snacks' howard to head coach before he takes the coaching job at bradley, and bring back Chief Illiniwek!!!!!!

Butler Bob said...

Boooooooooooo Digggetty Deeeee Deeeee

Back in them day I be beein on them dancefloor doin them boogie listenin them T-Connection. My wife and them Bertha Jenny be wearin them Bell Bottoms. Steemer been smoochin with Bertha Jenny way back when and we be wonderin if them folk be visitin them had Bertha Jenny been makin them pea con pie by them Steemer.

Many folk be a askin what it be takin to be beein them Jacks tournamint winner. I be sayin that it be takin them special concentratin and them lovin for them game. Butler be havin them concentratin. Them other schools be drinkin them whisky or be beein discratin with them danish in them bakery. Soon I be beein polishin them shoes and dancin like them last year. uh huh. uh huh. Butler be makin them history in them books.

There be beein many schools in them tournamint that be playin for them credit card. Them smookie dookies be playin for them agents and them whiskey drinkin northerners be drinkin for them next tab, but them kids from Butler be studyin and spendin them hours in them gym preparin them jump shots and be drinkin them carrot juice. uh huh. uh huh. That be beein why them Butler kids be cuttin down them nets! We be headin in them ole van and be watchin them asteroids and be beein cuttin down them nets!! I be chargin them floor and they be playin them One Shinin Moment and I be a smoochin with them Shelley Smith!!! Teeeeeeeeeee Heeeeeeeeee We be cuttin down them nets!! * Makin Figur 8's with them duster We bE CuttiN DowN TheM NetS!!!! * Tryin them flagpoll move on them stairwell WE be CUTTIN down THEM nets * Shoutin at them dogs out back * WE BE CUTTIN DOWN THEM NETS!!!!

wrigleyville illini said...

Ratface and the Dookies are out of the tournament. bwahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahhahhhhhhahahahahahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahahah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Suks to be puke tonight bioteches!!!!!

Puke gets every whistle and Ratface only got 1 game further then us anyway!!!!! lol. Shows how overrated duke is. Ratface only gets 1 more tournament win then Bubbles Weber this year.

Bring back the Chief.

wrigleyville illini said...

FIRE WEBER. HIRE JERRANCE 'SNACKS' HOWARD BEFORE HE TAKES THE BRADLEY COACHING JOB. OR SHELL OUT THE $10 MIL A YEAR IT WOULD PROLLY TAKE TO GET BRAD STEVENS AWAY FROM BUTLER. STEVENS IS HANDS DOWN THE BEST COACH IN THE GAME, AT ANY LEVEL. DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO GET HIM HERE. IF WE GOTTA GIVE HIM HIS OWN GULFSTREAM G6 TO GET HIM TO COME TO CHAMBANA, THEN GO OUT AND GET IT FOR HIM. IF HE WANTS TO GO TO OUTER SPACE ON RICHARD BRANSON'S SPACE PLANE AND PRETEND TO BE A COSMONAUT, SHELL OUT THE FRIGGIN FEE. DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO GET HIM HERE. HE'S THE BEST COACH IN THE HISTORY OF THE GAME. SO I GUESS ITS A FRIGGIN PIPE DREAM THAT HE'D EVER COME HERE.

FIRE WEBER.

WEBER SUCKS!!!!!!!!

DUKE SUCKS!!!!!!!!

RATFACE, KYLE SINGLER AND DICKIE V CAN EAT A BAG OF DICKS.

BRING BACK THE CHIEF!!!!!!!!!!!

hoosier hank said...

all you idiet illinoy fans hoo thank stevens is fixin ta go to illastinkinoy need to yer heads fixed. stevens aint goin nowhere. least not fer the time beeein. that kids gonna stay at butler til the IU job comes open wen tom crean retires after brangin 5 more championsheep banners ta bloomington. creans gonna run fer president someday, once he gets them next 5 championships outta the way. then stevens moves in at IU and brings us 5 or 10 more.

Butler Bob said...

Booooooooooooo Diggggetty Deeeeee Deeeee

I be sprainin them ankil after Butler be beetin them whisky drinking northerners. Them doctor say I be beein okay and I be ready for them to them Houstin! Them bags be a packed and we be ready be beein watchin them Butler cuttin down them nets! uh huh. uh huh. Them Butler kids be working hard at them jump-shots and be beein in them library gettin them education and aint be beein playin for them credit card. Them other schools be wearin them party cones and them Butler kids be wearin them Thinkin caps. uh huh. uh huh. They be drinkin the carrot juice and be seein them rim while them other schools be seein them rings and them dollar signs.

Soon we be beein in the van and headin to them Houstin. I be passin some ole Jacks friends along them way. Anyone that be wantin some one to go fishin with between Monon and Houstin be glad be havin some nice company. Maybe we be findin Bertha Jenny them man at one of them Craker Barrels along them road. It be beein difficult be fittin all Bertha Jenny's belongins. She be stichin them dress for them moment we be stormin them court. I be wearin them ole shoes for them special occasion for when we be stormin them court. Teeeeeeeeee Heeeeeeeeee. Then I be findin them Shelley Smith and we be a smoochin. They be playin them One Shinin Moment and we be celebratin like in them Necessary Roughniss movie. Teeeee Heeeeeeeeeee! This year them real school be cuttin down them nets and not them pay credit card uni like them smookie dookies, ole communins, them bottomless pitts, them whiskey drinkin northerners, and them everglades swamp dwelers. uh huh. uh huh. We be cuttin down them nets!! the doctor be tellin me I aint be needin them T-Connection dance moves till we be beein in them houstin winnin them tournamint but I be beein so excited. *tryin them lambada We bE CuttiN DowN TheM NetS!! * doin them summerslalts * wE bE cUttIN dOWN thEM nETS!!! * Slidin downt hem stair rale WE be CUTTIN down THEM nets!!!!!!!!!!!!

Butler Bob said...

Booooooo Digggggetttty Deeeeeeee Deeeee

Chugga Chugga Chugga CHOO CHOO!! Chugga Chugga Chugga Chugga Chugga CHOO CHOO!!!! That sound be beein heard by all them folk round them country. Chugga Chugga Chugga Chugga CHOO CHOO!!! Them folk be hearin them sound throughout them tournamint. Chugga Chugga Chugga Chugga CHOO CHOO!!! That sound be beein them Butler steamrollin them credit card competition in them tournamint!!!!

All them secret agents and them pay credit card schools be wanting them purchase them Title. Then journalists on them espn and them drive n dish be beein saying that them Butler aint be beein them same team and them success be beein them special year. Them Butler kids be teachin them folk them fundimental game and them heart like them Deltha O'Neal been showin on them football field. Then Butler kids be wantin be beein them Champion more. They be drinking them carrot juice while them other kids be drinking them puss like them Steemer be drinkin at them vfw. Butler. We be cuttin down them nets!!! Teeeee Heeeeeee!!

In them mornin we be heading for them Hot Springs Arkansas be beein catchin up with Jerry who been playin Jacks for them many year. Then my wife, Bertha Jenny, Steemer, and I be seein them asteroids and be lookin for them tall chinese guy who be playin basketball. My wife
be insistin we be bringin them waffle maker while they be
burnin them waffles and toast in them Texas. Bertha Jenny be bringing them Michael McDonalds tapes for them music. She be wantin be beein on one of them soaps. Then I be havin them time be beein on them lookout for them Shelley Smith on them ESPNs. Teeeeee Heeee!! Soon we be having them One Shinin Moment playin for us and I be headin to them Shelley Smith and we be a Smoochin!! I dusted off that refitted tux from all them peacon pie and we be dancing on them floor and we be CuTTin Down tHEM nETs!!! *


I be wearin them new bo tie and be shinin them shoes for when they be playin

wrigleyville illini said...

Told ya so....Is there any question that Stevens is the best coach in college basketball anymore? Fire Weber now. Give Stevens a blank check. Do whatever it takes to get him to Illinois.

Like I've been saying all along, fire Weber, hire Stevens before he takes the IU job, and bring back Chief Illiniwek!!!

wrigleyville illini said...

Two words ...... Shaka Smart!!!!!!

I've been saying it over and over for as long as i can rember......fire Clown Shoes Bruce Weber, hire Shaka Smart and bring back the Chief!!!!!!!

Sister Therese said...

Dear Basketball Children,

I hope you are enjoying your basketball games and are having a hoot working on your techniques. I tried my best to reach out to Dr. Rocks and other fellow children who have lost the way. The only solution in this situation was to contact the authorities who placed Dr. Rocks in a rehabilitation program. This decision was not reached without a lot of thought and care. In the end we must help and pray for Dr. Rocks in his fight against addiction. Thank you for your understanding.

Sincerely,

Sister Therese

Bill Clinton said...

Butler Bob, Hot Springs is my hometown. Yeah, I know my '92 campaign made a big deal about me being the "Man From Hope." But that was just campaign bullshit. "The man From Hope" was too damn made-for-Hollywood good not to use. I'm not really from Hope ... Mike Huckabee is from Hope; I'm from Hot Springs.

But enough about me .... OK, I lied .... I'm not really done talking about me. I mean, when did I ever stop talkin' about me!? I could talk about me all day...and sometimes I do. But right now I want to talk about Bertha Jenny and your trip to Hot Springs.

What does Bertha Jenny look like? Is she hot? Do you have any recent pictures of her? How, um, well - if you don't mind me askin' - how does she roll? What's she down with?

When are yall gonna be in Hot Springs? I got a jet and I got Secret Service detail for life. I could get from LaGuardia to Hot Springs in just over 3 hours.