<p>S called my H yesterday very happy to see Connecticut out!!!
They chatted for quite some time about all the #1 seeds ousted. It’s a guy thing…:)</p>
<p>There are 4 people in the ESPN pool that got all 4 teams. Granted, that’s out of 3M+ entries! </p>
<p>TheDad, while I would like to think my “other” alma mater (I’m blessed to be able to usually cheer for Duke in BB and LSU in FB – been a long time since I paid much attention to my Tigers during the winter/spring!) has it in them to take UCLA, I’m not holding my breath. I think if UCLA scores 60+, they win.</p>
<p>People are showing GMU and Fairfax a lot of love. If it’s only a commuter school in anyones mind, they’ll see it as much more now. Ran into the county board chairman Sat. morning and after saying hi, first thing he said was “how about Mason.” Yep, FFX is now on the map!!!</p>
<p>That said they haven’t been pressured at all on defense. I hope GMU can take it all, but Florida and particularly UCLA can play D, just ask Lute Olson.</p>
<p>LDerochi, I don’t know if UCLA will score in the 60’s against LSU…this isn’t the offensive juggernaut, to quote the LA TIMES, that the 1995 team was. Still, they used to be the team that everyone loved to hate and they’re a year ahead of schedule on getting back to that goal. Win or lose, next year’s team will be better. </p>
<p>I think they will defend Davis better than Texas did but will that be enough? I don’t know. LSU certainly isn’t unbeatable. But UCLA has been in an offensive funk, despite the wins. Not to mention that other teams have been bringing a fantastic D when UCLA has been at the free-throw line. :(</p>
<p>DudeDad, this season I think UCLA fans have particularly enjoyed sticking to Lute Olson. The Arizona fans are dismayed by UCLA’s resurgence and Arizona’s descent as Lute nears retirement. However, UCLA is just now emerging out of the darkness that fell after John Wooden’s retirement. The last two coaches in particular were sleazy and shallow. Lavin was all image, no substance…didn’t even run his own practices, didn’t concentrate at all on defense, and did lazy recruiting, promising kids pick-up games with members of the Lakers and that they could go to the NBA after one or two seasons (not the way to build a program). Thank goodness we finally have a good coach; right now, I’ll take Howland over anyone…this team is over-performing and they don’t know it yet…that’s all coaching.</p>
<p>This is going to be something like UCLA’s 29th or 30th Final Four game. Great to have the tradition back.</p>
<p>I see I’m predicting about as well as usual.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WK6uG4vqYc&feature=Views&page=3&t=t&f=b[/url]”>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WK6uG4vqYc&feature=Views&page=3&t=t&f=b</a></p>
<p>GO GMU…my dear wife teaches there occasionally. It warms my heart to see a small little “commuter college” play with the big boys</p>
<p>Thanks, tsdad. My heart is warm too for these kids, team and fans. Their day in the sun. And more to come.</p>
<p>March Madness :(</p>
<p>I’m sorry that GMU lost. </p>
<p>I’m bemused that UCLA was the highest seeded team left in the tournament and yet virtually all the national media were picking LSU.</p>
<p>Big Baby = Big Country Reeves. “They kept on coming in the same old way and we kept stopping them in the same old way.” --Wellington</p>
<p>All we need now is a quote from Florida promising UCLA 40 minutes of hell on Monday. (Cf., Arkansas, 1995.)</p>
<p>So I missed watching the Florida/GMU game today, was out with a client. What’s the profile of the Florida team beyond Noah?</p>
<p>And can the East Coast writers and media finally drop the “Pac-10 is soft” crap for, oh, I dunno, at least 10 months?</p>
<p>Disclaimer: This is a girl speaking.</p>
<p>Noah was a huge factor on defense, Not so much on offense until late in the game. Shot blocking by Florida was amazing. Being a girl, I don’t remember the names of the other Florida guys of note. But Noah is not the whole she-bang.</p>
<p>Having lost all my other irons in the fire, I will be joining you on the Pac-10 bandwagon tomorrow, TheDad. A nod to my Stanford and Cal pieces of parchment.</p>
<p>The bigs came up big…congrats to the Gators.</p>
<p>Won the pool tonight!! :D</p>
<p>Congratulations to the Gators. Noah was terrific. The shot blocking alone was the difference in the game, imo. Florida’s offense wasn’t nearly as much of a factor as their defense, which was outstanding. I’d say that Florida was the best balanced team I’ve seen all season.</p>
<p>Congratulations to the Bruins, too. They were picked for fourth in the Pac-10 and their offense isn’t supposed to pick-up until next year. They’ll be back.</p>
<p>And I still loathe the $EC on general principles.</p>
<p>Do we get any extra credit if the Duke women win tonight?</p>
<p>Damn Craig Esherick. <em>mumbles</em></p>