Sadly, the run is over for Butler. Tennessee was bigger, faster, more athletic and they still needed overtime to shake the ‘Dawgs. It was a helluva 2 year run for Butler. I know that a great recruiting class is coming in, but it may not be a quick return trip to the ‘Madness if the young kids don’t perform.

     For a mid-major to have the kind of success that Butler has had over the last 2 years is amazing. Think about this, 10 years ago, Butler would have been happy just to make it in the tournament, now they are expected to be there. On top of that, they did it “The Butler Way.” I know it sounds cheesy, but Butler has handled things with class and dignity the entire time. The players were true student athletes (Streicher is a freaking med student) and the administration has poromoted from within,. I can think of a certain NBA team and Big Ten school who could leran a lot from Butler.

     Enjoy the ride that the ‘Dawgs took you on. It doesn’t happen too often. Brad Stevens now has his work cut-out for him. He does have a great class coming in, but no Graves, Green, Campbell, Betko and Streicher will hurt on and off the court. The small private school from Indy made us believe in “Hoosiers” type of basketball. Great ride!…Enjoy it!

How does the NCAA reward a team that has beaten teams from most all major confrences, won their season and post-season tournament and has been in the top 10 in the nation most of the second half? The answer is screwing them over! Butler was hoping for a 4 seed and would “settle” for a 6, ends up a shocking 7! This means that the NCAA isn’t sold on what Butler is selling.

     If the ‘Dawgs want to make noise in this year’s NCAA tournament, they need to beat an athletic S. Alabama team IN ALABAMA nonetheless, THEN if they survive, the best #2 seed in the field awaits in Tennessee. Not a good draw at all for Butler.

     As bad as the draw was for Butler, Indiana has a much tougher road. They battle a scrappy Arkansas team in a tough 8 vs 9 game. The winner gets top overall seed North Carolina IN RALEIGH, NC. Nice! If the Hoosiers survive, it will be fun to watch DJ White and Tyler Hansbrough mix it up inside. However, for that to happen, D.J White needs help. It is time for Eric Gordon to forget about shooting three’s and go back to dribble penetration.

     The road for Matt Painter’s crew is a little easier. They get #11 Baylor in Washington, D.C. The winner of that game gets either an overrated Xavier team or a Georgia team happy to be there. The Boilers could land in the Sweet 16 if they can find some offense and their Freshman play with more maturity.

     Finally, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish are a mystery. Which team will show up? When they are right, they are as good as anyone in the country. Harangody inside and their guards outside could make some noise. However, tournament play hasn’t been too kind to the Irish lately. Both NCAA and Big East. Notre Dame takes on the cinderella from a few years ago in George Mason. Mason isn’t the same team as they were then, but their goal is to make George Mason…this year’s George Mason!

Here are the times and dates for the local teams. Games all on CBS.

#6 Purdue vs. #11 Baylor 2:50 on Thursday Afternoon from Washington, DC in WEST REGION

#5 Notre Dame vs. #12 George Mason at 9:50 on Thursday Evening from Denver, CO in EAST REGION

#7 Butler vs. #10 S. Alabama 2:45 on Friday Afternoon in Birmingham, AL in EAST REGION

#8 Indiana vs. #9 Arkansas 9:40 on Friday Night from Raleigh, NC in EAST REGION

 Random NCAA Notes:

-North Carolina doesn’t have to leave the state until a possible trip to the Final Four. First 2 rounds in Raleigh and next two in Charlotte

-Memphis is #1 seed in South, but could play a “road” game against Texas in the South Regional Final. The #2 seed is Texas and the game would be in Houston.

-I think Duke could be gone by the Sweet 16….again.

Best first round game:

#6 USC vs. #11 Kansas State: O.J Mayo of USC against the best player in the nation in K-State’s  Michael Beasley. 2 of the nations best players (both freshman) playing in the first round is good stuff!

-Possible upsets to keep an eye on:

1.) #10 Davidson over #7 Gonzaga. These guys can play. They gave North Carolina, Duke and UCLA all great games early in the season and ALL were on the road.

2.) #12 Villanova over #5 Clemson. Most years, a 12 beats a five at least once. ‘Nova out to prove they deserved an at-large bid against a Clemson team who may be emotionally drained after beating Duke and losing to Carolina in ACC Tournament.

-Toughest Region: The East

Even though Carolina is at home THE ENTIRE TIME, they have to get by some heavyweights in Tennessee, Louisville, Notre Dame, Indiana, Washington State and Butler.

My Final Four:

North Carolina, Kansas, Texas, UCLA
(North Carolina vs. UCLA in title game and UCLA wins it all.)

     I am at a loss. I have officially run out of things to say about this group of Pacers. From Marquis Daniels having a rapist in his house to Shawne Williams having a murderer in his, I am done. I am not done with the team. I will always love the blue and gold, but I have run out of thoughts to express about the off the court antics. What more can you say?

     The Pacers are like your worthless drunk brother who has served time for robbing an elderly lady. You are embaressed by them, but you still have a place in your heart for them at the same time.  They are still your family at the end of the day (or season.) That being said, I know that thi steam is going nowhere and I actually hope they lose every game. I want this team to tank and get a better lottery pick in the draft. I understand that to fix this mess, it has to be from the draft because no free agents are coming here and the last few draft choices not named Danny Granger are worthless (Harrison, Williams, and STANKO!)

    My friends think I am being “fair-weathered” by hoping they lose, I couldn’t disagree more. I care too much. I want to see this team matter again. I know what has to happen for that to go down. The Pacers must trade J.O and Tinsley to free some cash and rid themselves of Jamaal. The team needs to draft an athletic player in this years draft and build around Granger. Will they be title contenders? No, but they will be heading in the right direction. You build success from the draft, not from allowing Larry Bird to make one horrible trade after the other. When the Pacers mattered, how did they build that team? Reggie Miller…DRAFT, Rik Smits…DRAFT, Dale Davis…DRAFT, Antonio Davis…DRAFT! See my point? Winning games this year only hurts this teams chances to rebuild the right way. It may take a while, but I am willing to wait to see my team turn it around and rid its’self of thugs and players who don’t care.