The Secondary Break

Conspiracy Theory 2: The Lexington Chronicles

2012-02-20T22:19:00.000-05:00

University of Kentucky basketball fans are Mel Gibson, Conspiracy Theory, tin foil hat crazy. This was never more clearly displayed than after the yearly release of the MOCK NCAA Tournament bracket on Friday. A quick Twitter search of “#mock” following the bracket release, created by media members with NCAA guidance, revealed a level of crazy that is unique to Big Blue Nation. Wildcat fans flocked to Twitter to complain about how unfair the “committee” was to UK because of it’s difficult FAKE path to New Orleans. As always, paranoid fans of the Cats were also concerned with how easy the “committee” made the FICTITIOUS road for Duke among other teams. The fact 2-seed North Carolina was placed in Kentucky’s IMAGINARY South Regional despite being higher on the MOCK S-Curve while 2-seed Duke, lower on the S-Curve, was placed in the PSEUDO East Regional with Syracuse caused Wildcat fans to blow their tops. This level of fanaticism is over the top, but it does raise a larger question about the actual NCAA Tournament Selection Committee and the process used to select the teams and how those teams are placed in the bracket.

Following the release of the Mock Media Bracket on Friday I had a lively conversation with a co-worker, who happens to be a Kentucky fan, about the bracket and how unfair it was to Kentucky. After seeing the complete listing of all 68 teams(essentially the S-Curve), “Rob” was incensed that overall 8-seed Duke wasn’t assigned to overall 1-seed Kentucky in the Atlanta Regional, instead a potential rematch of the season’s best game with UNC was in the offing. A quick look at the S-Curve reveals some potential pitfalls for the committee when applying their bracketing procedures.

True S-Curve

ATLANTA

BOSTON

SAINT LOUIS

PHOENIX

Kentucky

Syracuse

Missouri

Ohio State

Duke

Kansas

North Carolina

Michigan State

Baylor

Marquette

Indiana

Georgetown

Wichita State

Louisville

UNLV

Michigan

34

34

34

34

Three Big Ten teams in the Phoenix, three Big East teams in Boston, a tournament rematch of Duke & Baylor, all NCAA no-no’s. Because of this, teams need to be moved along the seed lines, causing adjustments to the true S-Curve. As the overall 5-seed Michigan State gets preferred treatment when moved, this would be to Saint Louis. That’s the easy one in this bracket, it gets tricky after that. When considering UNC (and other teams on the top four lines); at what point does fair to the Tar Heels become unfair to the team above them; and even further, how much difference is there between the teams on each seed line? Is it fair to Kentucky to accommodate North Carolina with a regional location closer to home? Is it fair to North Carolina by keeping Duke closer to home in Atlanta despite being lower on the S-Curve? In the end, the media moved North Carolina to Atlanta, Duke to Boston, and Kansas to Phoenix. The top four lines in the Media Bracket are relatively balanced (see below), but the discrepancy between Boston/Phoenix and Atlanta is probably a little high for the real committee’s liking. Switching North Carolina and Duke creates a more equally balanced S-Curve for bracketing purposes, but still, is it fair?

The Media’s Top 4 Lines

ATLANTA	BOSTON	SAINT LOUIS	PHOENIX
Kentucky	Syracuse	Missouri	Ohio State
North Carolina	Duke	Michigan State	Kansas
Baylor	Indiana	Marquette	Georgetown
Louisville	Wichita State	Michigan	UNLV
31	37	32	37

Switching UNC & Duke

ATLANTA	BOSTON	SAINT LOUIS	PHOENIX
Kentucky	Syracuse	Missouri	Ohio State
Duke	North Carolina	Michigan State	Kansas
Baylor	Indiana	Marquette	Georgetown
Louisville	Wichita State	Michigan	UNLV
33	35	32	37

To answer this question I posed a purely hypothetical scenario to “Rob,” and in true Big Blue Nation style he held true to his persecuted beliefs. In this hypothetical S-Curve, he, allegedly, still wanted a true and immovable S-Curve.

DETROIT	BOSTON	TAMPA	SEATTLE
Kentucky	Duke	North Carolina	UCLA
Michigan State	Georgetown	Florida	Gonzaga
Kansas	Indiana	Missouri	Texas
Marquette	Syracuse	Ohio State	Louisville

In this extremely hypothetical situation there are three potentially unfair match-ups for number one seeds. Kentucky versus Michigan State at Ford Field, North Carolina versus Florida at Tropicana Field and UCLA versus Gonzaga at the new arena in Seattle. Logic would dictate that, as the number one overall seed, Kentucky should be given as many advantages as possible, but is playing, what could amount to a road game, with a spot in the Final Four on the line fair to Kentucky, even if it’s what the S-Curve dictates? “Rob” says yes, because Michigan State is the lowest ranked team according to the committee. Now let’s move to North Carolina and UCLA, also number one seeds. Gainesville is 130 miles from Tampa, Chapel Hill is 680 miles from Tampa. Eleven hundred miles from Pauley Pavilion to Seattle. Two hundred eighty miles from Spokane to Seattle. Three number one seeds, three potential road games. Three justifiable situations for playing with the S-Curve, if you accept the argument that these games would be more unfair to Kentucky, UNC & UCLA than playing games against a team that is not the true opponent from the S-Curve.

DETROIT	BOSTON	TAMPA	SEATTLE
Kentucky	Duke	North Carolina	UCLA
Gonzaga	Florida	Georgetown	Michigan State
Missouri	Indiana	Texas	Kansas
Syracuse	Marquette	Louisville	Ohio State
32	34	35	35

This balanced bracket eliminates any unfair advantages for lower seeds in potential games versus higher seeds, but it does move around teams on the S-Curve creating theoretically more difficult games for the higher seeds, but in friendlier conditions. After watching the 2009 Final Four at Ford Field and how the city of Detroit supported the Spartans, Kentucky can’t be too upset with the potential match-ups in the hypothetical bracket, but when I presented this situation to “Rob,” he said he wanted Kentucky to play the easiest team possible and location didn't matter. I have a feeling Coach Calipari, despite his sizeable ego and bravado, would disagree wholeheartedly.

There is no perfect bracket, just ask Kentucky fans, but the tournament selection committee (and the media) have set up criteria for the bracketing procedure and have to stick by those rules. Because of this, teams will be moved and higher seeds will play teams that are deemed “better” by the committee because of it; but they also won’t play road games in a tournament that is set up to be 67 neutral site games...unless Dayton makes the First Four.

The $8 Beer vs. The Living Room Sports Bar

2012-01-27T21:31:00.000-05:00

The Dunkin' Dutchman

Season tickets for professional sporting events, and some colleges, are expensive. Parking passes cost big bucks. Concessions need a home equity loan. Despite all this, I love going to sporting events. To me, the game experience at the stadium or arena can't be topped. The crowd, the closeness to the action, it's all intoxicating. My first NBA game was the Bulls vs Pacers at Market Square Arena during the Bulls first three-peat. There is no substitute for standing 15 feet from Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen as they go through pre-game warmups. There isn't a television big enough to accurately reflect Rik Smits' Dutch-ness. Notre Dame Stadium, Dean Dome, Gator Bowl, Fenway Park, Wrigley Field - been to all of them and watching on my couch doesn't hold a candle to being there. Apparently others disagree because attendance is waning and television sales keep rising. If the mighty (and I use that term very sarcastically) Cameron Crazies can't fill their bleachers, something must be up.

Ah, Wrigley Field

Despite my love of the in game experience, I have 90 inches of television on my living room wall. Many a weekend I also have two computers, two tablets, sometimes a third television and my smartphone fired up following action - can't do that from my seat at the arena. Haven't counted, but I think I have close to 100 sports channels, ESPN3, FirstRow.tv, and Twitter when I'm at my house - at the game, all I have is Twitter, and that's only if I can get a signal. Beer is cheaper at my house. I can count on one hand the number of beers I have bought at sporting events in the last five years. To me it's just not worth it. For the price of one beer at a game I can buy a six-pack of the same beer at grocery store. Chicken tenders don't cost $9 at my house. I'm not a high-roller sitting in the club seats or private boxes, if I want to eat at the game it's peanuts, popcorn, or cracker jacks. All of those delicacies are cheap when bought at the grocery, but are priced outrageously high at arenas and stadiums.

All of these factors have caused the casual fan to rethink where and how they are dolling out their time and money to the local sports teams. For the price of one season ticket, parking pass, and a seasons worth concessions, the average fan can buy a new television and the NFL Sunday Ticket (or other sports package) and still have money left over for wings and beer every weekend - all of this without having to deal with traffic, drunk obnoxious fans, and bad weather. Hard to imagine why anyone would want to go to a game anymore doesn't it?

The nine minute standing ovation after Pete Rose broke Ty Cobb's hits record. Notre Dame running out the tunnel with Touchdown Jesus in the background. Michael Jordan hitting a fadeaway from the block. Everyone has seen these on television and could find them on YouTube in thirty seconds, but the experience in-person cannot be matched. It's special and unique; and a television, no matter how big it is or how many 'D's' it has, can't reproduce the feeling in the building when those moments happen.

The Blame Game

2011-12-13T20:54:00.001-05:00

For two days every sports media member has had his say on the events Saturday at the Cintas Center; the last two days its been the water cooler aficionados turn. The name-calling and finger pointing is outrageous. Each fan base firmly believes that its players and coaches were the victims and the other players and coaches are the real cause of all the problems.
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From Bad to Worse

2011-12-12T16:46:00.000-05:00

Forward to 3:15. This couldn't have been handled any worse by Xavier. Why are they back on the floor? Why are players in the UC family & friends section? Where is the coaching staff?

"That's what the Crosstown Shootout is about, Guys getting ejected, guys throwing elbows."

2011-12-11T19:52:00.001-05:00

Snowballs chance in hell. That's what I would have told you the chances were of me ever writing anything in support of Mick Cronin. However, the events of the last day and a half have left me no choice. The Xavier - UC game was a horrible event. Both sides should be embarrassed to no end and actions of individuals on both sides were deplorable. That being said, Mick Cronin rose above the fray and acted how a leader of young men should act in that situation. From the jump he was contrite, apologetic and vowed repercussions.

On flip side you have the Xavier reaction. Immediately, 21 words in to his press conference, Chris Mack referred to the brawl as a scuffle. My little sister and I scuffled as kids. What we were all witness to yesterday was a street fight, complete with trash talking, sucker punches and cowardly kicks. Next, Mack flat out lied to the media, "We’re not in the locker room talking about, ‘Let’s go after their throat or anything like that.’ " We know this is false because Terrell Holloway (Tu is not a name), told us as much after yesterday's game (and apparently after the Vanderbilt game as well), "We’ve got a whole bunch of gangsters in the locker room—not thugs, but tough guys on the court. We went out there and zipped them up at the end of the game. That’s our motto: We zip them up. That’s what we just did to them.” So which is it? Is your motto to "Put 'em in a bodybag" Cobra Kai style or is it not? Someone is lying, and judging by Terrell's general lack of shyness, my money is on him.

All this being said, UC doesn't get a pass just because their coach has handled the post-game better than its Jesuit counterparts across town. It was the UC players that acted most "gangsta," in Terrell's words, during the "scuffle." (Oh Chris you slay me) It was the UC players seen clearly throwing sucker punches, kicking Frease when he was on the floor, and attacking Redford as he was just getting there. And unsurprisingly, the UC players received the harshest suspensions today.

If it were up to me Gates would have been done for the year, everyone else at UC that threw a punch would have received 5 game suspensions, and anyone that left the bench, 2 games. As for the Muskies, I would have cancelled the trip to Maui (not realistic, I know), but it would have sent a message. I'm actually fine with Wells' four games, but Lyons & Terrell deserved more. It was their actions that set the whole course of events in motion...that and the glorified GCL referees assigned to the game.

Talk leading up to the game was about the decreased interest in the game both locally and nationally, well they did a bang up job making sure everyone pays attention next year. Well done to both sides.

Not a good weekend in sports

2011-12-05T21:57:00.005-05:00

Ya take the good, ya take the bad...

That's what this weekend was in the sports world. Sure there were some
great games with great individual performances - did you see Tebow
intercept that pass at the end of the game to set up the FG by Tebow -
but we were also reminded this weekend of what's wrong with sports as
currently constructed.

The BCS sucks. Next subject.

Football has become a glorified game of two hand touch. Almost every
tackle has become a game of wait and see. Will he be flagged or won't
he. Big hits, that several seasons ago were celebrated on MNFs "Jacked
Up", are now outlawed and demonized. Players play every down in fear
that a 15 yard penalty and thousands of dollars in fines wait at the
other end of the whistle. Because of this; every player, college and
pro, is now thinking too much and going against what every coach
they've ever played for taught them, "Just play." How can you just
play when the are no universal rules - roughing the passer to one
referee is a good clean hit to another. Watch the last four weeks of
NFL play and the college bowl season. Examine the tackling, it's awful
because players are thinking and not playing.

Ron Santo is not a Hall of Fame baseball player and 96% of the voters
in his first year of eligibility, 1980, agree with me. Santo has zero
RBI, zero hits, and zero HRs in the ensuing thirty-one years, yet he
is now worthy of induction to a once exclusive club? How is this
possible? It's possible because the sporting world is soft. Santo, may
he rest in peace, was, by all accounts, a helluva guy, decent husband,
loving father; his baseball numbers, however, are most similar to Gary
Gaetti, Chili Davis, and Dale Murphy. Only Murphy is even a borderline
vote worthy player. The Baseball Hall has become the participation
trophy at the end of tee ball season with Santo's inclusion, who's
next...Sean Casey?

The Mrs. is the best.

2011-11-29T22:39:00.001-05:00

Not a lot of women would let this occur, but not only does The Mrs . allow it she usually partakes. She's the best.

The Nose vs. Rat Face

2011-11-29T22:03:00.001-05:00

Holy Shit! I totally forgot about the Greg Paulus aspect of this game. This is like Luke vs Darth but only if Luke was a whiny bitch that couldn't shoot.

Welcome

2011-11-29T21:23:00.001-05:00

I have no idea what I'm doing here or where this is going, but I'm going to give it a shot. My wife, from here on out known as "The Mrs.," told me I needed to do this because she thought I "should share your knowledge of sports." Lucky for you I KNOW A LOT! So here we go...this will either go very well and I'll get rich and famous or this will die after a week. Either way, sports will be watched and enjoyed. We'll start it off with the coolest sporting moment I've ever witnessed.